Where is Spring?

So I was hoping for a early spring, but instead was dumped on with 12 inches of snow, WHAT? WHY? Ok, ok so we need the snow so we don't go into a huge drought this summer, I am just saying it would be nice. 

Here is the up date with me and family. Kinley passed Level 2 in tumbling but is still to young to move her to Level 3, we have started reading a series of books and she now is on the 4th book. I really want to teach my kids piano but one problem, I don't have a piano. Oh we also are looking at a Charter school for Kin, we are not sure we can get in but its something we are looking into. 

Madilyn is still small as ever but is speaking better every day and her vocabulary is expanding like crazy, every week I hold a preschool class with just her and me, where we learn a letter of the week. Madi has also started in the Preschool tumbling class in which she did very well staying with the class. Madi's progress with potty training is about the same I have to constantly remind her, he favorite underwear are her little boy toys story ones she picked out, this morning she put them on and ran around pointing at her bottom saying dinosaur butt(there was Rex the dinosaur from toy story on her undies). 

Thomas is still working hard and just had a tumbling meet and crashed a soon as he got home last night. We did got to a USU Gymnastic meet last Saturday as a family and I have to say was not impressed, tumbling is much more interesting to watch. 

 2 weeks you can see the onions sprouted, tomatoes are nice, and the peppers are just coming through the soil.  you can also see I started some lettuce, I did that so I can eat some in a couple weeks.

I just was listening to the radio and heard that gas prices are going to possible reach 5 dollars a gallon, which would also mean that food prices are going up, this made me thankful that we are going to grow a large garden this year and really hope many people fallow too. 

Busy yet fun!

Monday started very Bland since Jeana skipped out on Formosa Monday, but Tuesday was a blast I went over to my sister in laws for desert Tuesday and we made Creme Bu lee, which I have never made before but was very delicious, after desert we took Kin to her tumbling class, I was quite impressed on how well she is doing with her cartwheels. Wednesday was pay day which of course meant time to get Groceries, so me and the girl crew headed off to Lee's for our shopping spree, Madi and Kinley each got their own little baskets, what a miracle we got a two page shopping list done in hour and the girls didn't break anything with their carts. Thursday was a blur and Friday was our fun day we dropped kin off at preschool and took madi to her Parent tot tumbling class, Madi is doing amazing she is making so many new friends and she is trying really hard with learning her tumbling skills. Later I went to Kins Preschool and watched her sing in her Valentines program, we also played Bingo, made bracelets, and decorated cookies. I loved watching Kinley sing and the best part was you actually could hear her, she also did some wiggly dance moves while singing it was so so cute. On Saturday Thomas's Tumbling team performed at the USU half time show, Me and Clara went while the other two enjoyed some Parents night out time and time with their Nanna. 

On Saturday Thomas also took me to Home Depot and we picked up some seed starting soil and a jiffy seed starting kit. So yesterday I had a total of  16 tomatoes, 12 Bell peppers, 10 jalapeño peppers, and 3 trays of onions. 

Onions are quite easy to start and when they start growing long enough were they start to droop you can cut them down to about 3 in. and use the tops to cook with. There are 3 different ways you can start onions, Sets which are a year old onion about the size of a pearl, these often bolt (When an onion bolts they flower, the quality and taste of the onion go down hill, use onion a soon as possible if this happens). The second way  is starting the seeds in flats about 8-10 weeks before last frost in doors, then transplanting them outdoors about 4 weeks before the last frost. The last way is to direct seed in which you will plant directly into the ground when the soil reaches about 50 degrees, Plant about 3-4 in apart.

 Madi after tumbling class

                                                  Day 2 of  onion, peppers and tomatoes

Girls after we just ate cake for Thomas's Birthday

I have done sets and started oinions indoors, I did not like the sets because they  bolted quickly and my onion starts did quite well I think I need to put them in a sunnier location. The plan this year is I'm going to start some indoors then transplant and the other half I will start by direct seeding. 

Mr. Ground hog did not see his shadow

Autumn Sedum

Tulips

Japanese Iris's

According to the ground hog, spring should be arriving early and I have proof that it is. I recently went outside and found my Japanese Iris's, tulips and Autumn sedum sprouting right out of the ground. Tulips bring me joy and hope that winter is almost over and now I just need to get though this next month of bitter cold.
I love to relate plants to real life, how many of us go through dark times of trouble and you seem to feel like you can't see the end of things, until something good happens that gives you hope that more brighter times are  a head. Taking pictures of these beautiful plants in 10 degree weather has made me realize we have a lot to learn from  these plants.
Kinley this last week had started throwing some terrible tantrums and calling people names I have no clue how to deal with. Kinley is learning the letter N this week in school and has really been excited that she is going to kindergarten in the fall. Madilyn has had more progress with her speech and also has been wearing underwear during the day and pull ups at night. Thomas's tumbling team did really well at their first meet  with 18 1st places, 10 2nd places, and 8 3rd places. The High Point Cheer team also took 1st place at their competition this last week. 
As for me this last week as been good I made cupcakes with my girls and their cousin in was fun and really nice to get out of the house.  I am learning a lot from a friend I have spent sometime with the last few days she is so patient with her children and I enjoy watching and learning many things from this remarkable person, I am truly blessed to have such an example in my life.
 Tomorrow is my awesome husbands Birthday and I am so grateful for him in my life, he bring so much fun and joy into my day. I never thought I would make a pink cake for Thomas but he wanted a strawberry cake so I have that and pink frosting.