The Neal Family

A couple of months ago, Patrick auditioned for his school's Primary Grade play....the first one they've done for just 1st and 2nd graders. They do a bigger scale production for 3-6th graders that we attended and Patrick was bitten by the theater bug as soon as he saw that and was SO excited to try out for the play. He was cast as the Brother in The Cat In The Hat. I thought it was really fun that they did the Suess plays in March, for Dr. Suess' birthday. I'm a dork like that. Patrick loved attending rehearsals after school and worked really hard to memorize his parts and learned a lot about voice and acting from the teachers in charge and the 5th and 6th grade mentors. The big night arrived March 14th. The kids actually stayed at school after the day ended, had a cast pizza party and one last rehearsal and families showed up for the show at 6 PM. All the kids did a terrific job, and it was fun to watch the results of their labors. We knew quite a few of the kids in the show, which was fun. And, well, not to toot my kids horn, but man, is he ever an actor! Gets that from his dad, obviously, and he was GREAT! Not one shred of nerves or hesitation; he just worked that crowd!  He definitely shines on the stage.

We did video the production, but unlike SOME people, we were unwilling to set up our camera in the way of other people who were watching so Sean stepped to the back to tape. Unfortunately this means that the lighting on the tape is AWFUL, but it's something. It's about 10 minutes long, so unless you're a grandparent, you are under no obligation to watch.

Earlier in the day I had been talking to Kennedy about the fact that sometimes people take flowers to family members in shows and we brainstormed up this little alternative, since we decided that 6 year old boys don't care much for flowers. Kennedy assured me that "when she is six and at Sidney Glen and in the 1st grade play of Suess on the loose" she will happily accept flowers. Noted, darling girl.
Our little actor, tired but happy. And one more with the lead teacher directing the play. Funny guy. He teaches sixth grade and is quite a hoot from what I hear. Patrick has great plans to be in his class someday...

And that is that. Said the Cat in the Hat. We'll all be speaking in rhyme at our house for the next year, I swear. Fun times.
These next pictures are just another example of Maren's disgusting eating habits. Honestly, it's like she thinks food is supposed to be a full body experience. I've always been a big fan of letting kids learn to feed themselves very early on (really, I just hate the tedium of spoon feeding) and with the other two, they got less and less messy over time. Maren....well, she may defy all odds. Lessons in eating properly, perhaps. Sickening. But still cute!

We went to open gym night at the school one evening last week, Patrick and Kennedy and I. Sean stayed home with Mare-bear which was smart because it was a zoo of kids. Kennedy spent all of her time in the other room doing tumbling with some big girls who took her under their wing and taught her some fun tricks. She learned how to do a back bend and can ALMOST do a head stand. For some reason, I have no pictures of her. Meh. Patrick played a crazy game of volleyball, and then an even crazier game of Star Wars dodgeball. They have a FUN PE teacher that the kids adore and he has all kinds of fun games for them to play. This was the night that I realized that my little boy is fully a BIG school aged boy. We got there and he ran off to play with all the kids and teachers and I didn't see him again until it was time for popsicles and going home time. He knows everyone at that school, and everyone knows him. He's got this whole life that is seperate from me, and it's good and right for him, but it was a bit twingy just to realize that those years of having his life totally enmeshed with mine are behind us.




Oh, Maren. We love this girl. So much. She's just her own little person now, with opinions and plans and a Very Loud Voice. On St Patrick's Day morning, the big kids went with Sean to our stake's Pinewood Derby and Maren and I stayed home to clean. After I put her in her hand me down St Patty's day shirt I realized that it was a total belly shirt on her. Darn. Anyway, I went to cleaning the kitchen and left her to her own devices. She, very cutely, made a bed in the sunshine by the window, gathered her current favorite books and settled in for a read. Is there anything better?



After lunch and  a nap, her belly shirt was dirty, so a change of outfit was in order. Unfortunately nothing else green was clean, so we had to find some stickers and beads so she wouldn't get pinched! Then, of course, the others wanted some. Pictures!


We got all dressed up to attend a VERY cute construction themed birthday party for two little two year old boys we know. Adorable! It was a fun party and the kids really enjoyed themselves.


Our final stop on St Patrick's Day was a visit to our friends Dotti and Dorothy, between baths and bedtime, hence the PJ's in the pictures. Both of these lovely ladies are in our ward at church. Dotti is the music director in Primary and just a sweet, wonderful person. The kids ADORE her. Dorothy is her sweet mom, and has been in a transitional care unit for a few months, following a broken femur from a bad fall. We've been trying to get over there to see Dorothy as often as we can, and the kids just love to spend time with both of these awesome women. I love adopted grandparents in our kid's lives and I think there's so much good for the kids in having relationships with people beyond their own ages. Tonight after dinner we were headed out for a walk as a family and both kids suggested that we walk down to the care facility and see Sister Culley. Kennedy said, "Yeah, we don't know if she's had any visitors today and we need to make sure she knows she is special to us." Sweet, sweet girl. THAT is what it's all about.

Every week or so, I sit down here and scroll through the pictures I've taken and realize that time just keeps ticking, another week has come and gone. It's kind of nice actually, to reflect on the week that has passed, the good things, the less-good things, and to see how everyone in our little family grows and changes inch by inch over time. The other day I searched my blog for past easter posts and it was so fun to watch the years scroll back, one post at a time and see how we've grown in numbers and how each child is different and the same from year to year. That's what makes it worth taking the time out to keep posting. I love it. I picture myself in my old age, just surrounded by my blog books, or a big print iPad; with all the memories at my fingertips. :)

So, here's a peek at life the past week or so:

Now, I have to tell you that the girls are finally healthy, and hopefully will stay that way but, man, did we ever spend our share of time and money at the doctors office this past month! I think they got to read every book that office owns! They also got some strep swabs, and other delightful tests. Hint: it's no fun to test a one year old for a UTI. Awesome fun for all. Pleeeaaaaaassssseee stay healthy, little girls!


Good thing they're so cute to make up for all the trouble they cause! The love to match and do so whenever the matching clothes are clean. They also love towel-head-wrapping to dry their hair after baths. I have to admit, it is kind of fun to have girls so close in age. They're starting to become good friends and play together much like Patrick and Kennedy did a few years ago. Kennedy has risen to the challenge and become the "cruise director" in charge of activities and Maren follows faithfully.

 Patrick got some new beads/belt loops/other cub scout bling at the last Pack Meeting and Sean snapped some photos. He is still very much enjoying scouting and is on track to earn his Tiger Badge at the April pack meeting. He's getting very excited to attend Cub Scout day camp this summer as well.



So, here's the funny story of the day I became famous in our school district. A few months ago, Maren and I were asked to take part in a photo shoot representing the Ready For Kindergarten program that the district offers and I teach classes for. The newspaper with the insert came out this week, and there we were. Now, simultaneous to this, it turned out that this blog post, that I wrote a few weeks ago, had been read by several people in our school district that week. I made the blog public briefly so that a friend could share the post with her school's principal, who shared it with a few more principals, who shared it with....well, by the time it was over the superintendent approached Sean at an event to tell him to thank me for saying nice stuff about the school. Or something like that. I felt kind of awkward about it, but I was glad that the people I was thanking in that post did get to read it, even though Pam had to help me share! ;)


So, Turn Off TV Week. Here's what I have to say about that. Well, first off, Patrick taught a truly awesome lesson for FHE the week before about all the screens in our lives and all the good and bad things they can do for us. He is quite the little teacher....sounds like mini-me, actually. :) We agreed as a family to try and tackle TV off/screen free week. Sunday and Monday went great, Tuesday and Wednesday got harder. The kids were grumbly, and I was finding that I don't know how to get anything done without the computer! We had only commited to be screen free during the day, and I was checking the important things in the evening, but we were totally TV free for those days. And by Thursday? I threw in the towel. I was way over it. I needed the girls to watch a show so I could take a shower. I needed a detox show here and there in the evening. I  admit it: we failed at Turn off TV week. But we learned some things, and it was interesting to try and take a total break from all the screens. Patrick's lesson was spot on: so much good, and so much bad. Moderation in all things!

On Wednesday, while the girls and I were out running errands, I realized that it was Pi Day (March 14, 3.14?) and decided it was time we started observing this important holiday in our home. We used to do it at school, and I decided to introduce it with Banana Cream Pie. Yum! Kennedy helped me make it that morning, and we enjoyed it that night after Patrick's school play and stage debut!


 I didn't really plan to take a picture of her praying, nor would we normally pray over pie...but she was just in a hurry to eat her pie and thought if she got set to pray it would speed things along! She is really turning into such a fun kid to be around these days. I swear, the closer my kids get to 4 years old the more I like being around them again. I adore the new baby year, and 1 year olds are charming, 2 year olds get tricky, but 3 year olds are HARD, and it's so nice to move out of that age! Yay for almost 4 year olds.

Next post: Patrick's school play. It was a hoot!

March kicked off as usual....enjoying Dr. Suess' Birthday. This year we kept things simple and attended the library's bash and enjoyed a few more Suess books than usual that day. That's saying something because, friends, I have most of those books memorized now. Maren is obsessed with "Hop On Pop." Kennedy can read all of "Green Eggs and Ham." And Patrick loves all the longer Suess stories these days. Huge fans over here. The library put on a good party, as usual.



The next morning, Sean took the older two hiking with Patrick's Cub Scout Pack. From what I gather, they had a wonderful time and after the hike Sean took them to visit the local bike shop and bakery down on Main Street to check off some additional requirements for Patrick's Tiger award which he's hoping to finish before the next pack meeting.  Maren helped me clean the house and enjoyed some rare one-on-one time with Mama that morning. She was a little sick, or we would have joined the fun, but it was sure nice to chill for a few hours.





Other than that, the first half of March has seen more sick kids, on and off, quite a lot of rain and gloom, and stupid-dumb daylight savings time. Usually this transition is the one I LIKE, cause the kids sleep a little later. But, no dice--they were ALL awake at 6 AM, body time of 5 AM, grumpy and confused and unable to return to sleep.
Combine that with the fact that we decided to participate in National Turn Off TV week this week.....grrrrr. I finally gave in and told them to go watch a show this morning so I could go back to sleep but nooooooo, my little rule followers were adamant about being in strict compliance. "We decided no TV until Saturday! We decided in Family Meeting! You can't change the rules!" Yeah, it was a fun morning. So far tonight, they are all having some trouble falling asleep, since it feels early....praying it means they will AT LEAST sleep until 7 tomorrow. We've been having such good mornings lately, with everyone waking up just around 7 and very few very early mornings, so I'm especially bitter about the insanity of Daylight Savings this go-round. Here's hoping!

PS Wish me luck on the no TV thing. Turns out Maren is the biggest addict. We've done two days now, and I swear she still hasn't stopped looking at me all hopeful like, " Geo? Bot? Um-zoom? Ma-mouse? Baby Signing Time? Pease!!!!" Also, children make a lot more messes without television. Just saying. Hopefully we can make it through and then go back to TV tokens next week....they had kind of been neglected and the TV monster was a little out of control the past month or so, which was why we decided to try a forced seperation. Wish me luck! I don't so much miss the TV myself, but I do miss them having some TV time!