Dance Your Toes Off

First:  Trip to Menards in our heels

Second:  Spring Dance Show

The girls did so good at their show.  I know I always say that but they always do!  They don't seem to be nervous, they smile and they clearly know their moves.  Makes for a very proud mama!

 

Third:  Selfies!

Sticky Situation

HealthEast is embarking on a Lean Journey.

Our Model Clinic (Grand Ave) has been chosen to run one Kaizen per month to improve workflows and processes.

A Kaizen (which means Change Good/Continuous Improvement) is a week long workshop where a group of people look at a problem statement an inch long and a mile deep.  The idea is to dig into the root cause of the issue and then develop counter measures to dissolve the root cause for the current pain points.  During this week the group is asked to run multiple PDCA cycles to prove that the suggested 'new' workflow can work.

The week can be very intense.

I have been asked to attend many of these events at Grand and I feel honored to be a part of this work.  We have made a lot of positive changes so far. 

It's exciting to see so much energy being directed to our operations.  I feel hopeful that we are moving in the right direction for our employees and our patients.

It's Ready

Shoot.  It's ready.

I have made a lot of mixtures.

I have made a lot of trips to the store.

I still have not made a stain decision.

Oops

Decision Woes

The furniture is almost done and it is time to pick a stain.

Oh man!  This is going to be impossible...

I am trying to get a more rustic look.  Even though I love the dark stain, I have so much of it in the house and I think it's time to do something a little different.  The only problem is I have no idea what that means.  I have a hard time making decisions already and then when you add a timeframe to that decision.....no good.

Grown Up Furniture

Brian started working on some grown up furniture for our bedroom.

I can not wait to get rid of the furniture we have in our bedroom currently.  I bought the set for $300 around 1994 at the Slumberland Clearance center.  I would say that I have gotten my monies worth.

I am in LOVE

I am in love with this little guy.

Davis had his newborn pictures taken.  They turned out so good!

It makes me sad that this type of photography wasn't as popular and widespread as it is now.  I would have LOVED to have pictures like this of my girls.

Let the Games Begin

This morning we had the opening ceremonies for the softball season.

All of the teams came out for the team parade and kick off to the season start.

Only half of my team was able to make it, which was fine, it was a lot of standing around.

Later in the day we had our first game.  We lost (0-3) the girls had a good time and that's all that matters.   For most of these girls this is their first time playing softball.  We have a lot of work to do.

Kaitlyn, Marie, Ella, Bella, Becca, Victoria
Ella, Megan, Samantha, Brooke, Hannah and Mallory

Hello and Goodbye

Hello paint!

I worked from home today so that I could let the painters in!  I am so excited for today.

They came around 9, took a break for lunch and were gone by 2 pm.

Well worth the money! We could have never done this so quickly and perfectly. 

They did a fantastic job! 

 

Goodbye Prince

The world lost a great one today.

I saw this post while checking in on Facebook today.

It was clear that it was probably Prince, why else would this be posted with no additional information.  Later in the day it was confirmed it was Prince. 

The state is in shock.

Flocks of people are gathering at Paisley Park leaving flowers, signs, and lighting candles.

I am not sure it has totally sunk in.  It feels like a sick prank although it's on every channel. 

 News of his passing is everywhere.

I am a fan of Prince.  I am not going to lie about it, he's not in my top 10.

I was way more into Michael Jackson than I was into Prince.  I like his songs but don't ever remember seeing his movie.  I have NEVER found him attractive and there are plenty of songs that I down right hate.  I can appreciate his influence and I love his attitude.

I dated a guy who's best friend was Prince's bodyguard (back in the 90's) and was given multiple opportunities to go see him in concert or attend parties at Paisley Park.  I never did take him up on any of the offers and now, many years later, regret it.

What did I do?!?!

Softball signups happened a few months ago.

Shortly after the messages started coming out to the parents that coaches were needed and they were calling for volunteers.  Brian had asked if I was going to do it.  Ummmm no thank you.

A few weeks later another email came out, coaches were still needed and Brian asked me again but this time he also told me that he thinks I should do it. 

Ummmm really?!  Hmmmm, let me think about it. 

I decided to give it a shot.

I recently received my team roster.  Our team is the Flamingos.

I went out and bought some yard flamingos.  I plan to stake these in the ground at the field/bench so that the parents and kids can find us easier as they make their way to the field.

Wish me luck!

Farmer Hannah

 

One thing that I love/hate about CBPA is that its an environmental science magnet.  I love how much the girls are learning about plants, animal and the earth but I am not a huge fan of how many days they get sent home with plants, seeds or dirt that then I am expected to care about.

I kill things.  I am not good at raising plants.  I over water.  I don't know if they need sun or rest or just a good chat.  I don't know what to do when they start to sprout and grow.  When do they need to move, do you repot, when are they suppose to flower, is this an inside plant or outside plant?

I know that part of the intent is so that the kids do the care and feeding.  You know better.  It doesn't work that way.  It's fun for them to see the progress and sure, they will do the work but someone needs to tell them to do the work and that's the part I hate.  Sorry.  Sorry to admit it but I do.

Hannah was given some beans from school.  Something they started growing at school and it was now time for them to take them home to continue the process.  After a few days on the counter it was time for these things to go.  Hannah wanted to plant the beans in our yard but again, not going to happen so Steve and Katie let her use their yard since it would be a few weeks before they had landscaping.  Pays to have good neighbors!

Ice Cream in April

The weather is starting to change.  Winter is quickly becoming a distant memory and Spring is in full swing.  The kids decided to run through the sprinkler today and the Blue Moon ice cream truck made it's first appearance of the summer.

Can you spot Hailey?  ha ha- the kids were playing hide and seek

Here she goes...

Tonight's menu: Chipotle and Lee Ann Chin

When Brian and I get Chipotle the girls always get Lee Ann Chin.  Tonight Hannah decided she wanted to try a burrito.  Even though it was the size of her head she made some great progress!

She also informed us tonight that from now on she would choose Chipotle.

Round 1

 

We decided it's time to start the 'repainting of the house' project.  This bathroom on the main level and my bedroom are the two rooms that we are starting with.  I want to finally have a grown up bedroom and before I start to decorate or get new bedding or anything I wanted to get a paint color that I love.  The main level bathroom is my least favorite room of all.  It's awkward shape and in general I have no idea how to decorate a bathroom, I need this room painted and then I can start working on a plan.

I chose two colors for each room, painted them on white paper and taped them to the wall for a few days.  Every so often I moved them around to see how they looked in different lighting. 

I wish I could make decisions :-(

Depressing

How depressing.  I decided to take some time tonight to catch up on my blog.  When I logged in I saw that my last post that has been published is from one year ago.  Man, I have a lot of work to do :-(

For anyone still checking in, thank you for not giving up on me :-)  I do plan to get caught up.  

Sleeping Angel

It's so nice to have a baby in the family again! 

Davis was a little jaundice so he had to spend some time under the Bili-lights.

Family Fun Night 2016

Tonight was Family Fun Night at the kids school.
It is always pure chaos.  Excited kids bouncing from room to room to check out what games and activities have been set up.
Hannah's class set up a store of items that the kids made or donated.  They will use the money to Send a Kid to School.  Hannah was excited to show us her poster she made to advertise this event.

We won two inflatable monkeys and a dino baby.

Crazy Day

Tonight at dance was Crazy Day. 

I think she nailed it!

Snaggle Tooth

Hailey wants this tooth out.  She has been playing with it so much that she has actually turned it into a snaggle tooth. 

It was time.  This thing is not going to straighten back out.  I texted Mary and made an appointment with Sophia, the neighborhood dentist :-)

Less than 10 minutes later Hailey came back with one less snaggle tooth.

TGFS