The basement is starting to take shape...Finally!!!
Need I say more???
"Mustache March" I am glad the mustache is being left in Iraq!
When Derrick arrived they had a contest for their groups coin. (For those of you who are not military...The bases, squadrons, operations, etc. have a unique coin. It is just larger than a silver dollar and they are two sided & are often collected throughout military careers.) Derrick's group is the 506 EMEDS & Derrick's design won the contest!! This was the PowerPoint prototype that was sent to Derrick for his final approval before the coins were made. The design will also be painted on one of the Cement walls, like he is standing in front of in the picture above.
Derrick in his P.T. gear in front of a MRAP (mine resistant ambush protected vehicle)
Before I packed away my sewing machine, I had a few projects to complete! This is a table runner I made from some Christmas scraps to experiment with a quilt design for Macall's quilts for our new house. I am happy with my Christmas project, but what good is it in March?!? It did feel good to do this little sewing project that was done in a day & made me excited to start sewing again!
Preston had his first Pinewood Derby for scouts April 28th. We were given the car kit the week we returned from spending the week with Grandparents in Utah where Preston went with Grandpa Walker to work in the wood shop. I was sad & frustrated that we didn't get it before, so he would have Grandpa's experienced help making his car. Come to find out, he didn't want much help anyway! He knew exactly what he wanted & pretty much made his car by himself. He did a nice job too! He drew his shape on the block of wood, a friend's mom took him to get it cut out, I put a quick sand on it & he painted it while I was sewing a bonnet for Maddy's field trip! We duct taped some washers on the bottom & # 99 was ready to race!
Macall & Madeline made a "Flower Power" car for Belle out of an extra kit Grandma & Grandpa L. had given us last year. Several of Maddy's friends had also made cars & they raced them after the scouts were done.
Now that looks like a very happy, little scout!!! Win or loose he had fun and he has a lot to be proud of for making such a great car without having Dad here to help. I am soooo glad he will be here next time!!!Maddy brought home a paper from school that had her New Year's Resolutions on it. They were classic Maddy. I love her!!!
List your resolutions for becoming a better...
Student: Get my work done quickly.
Daughter: Help Mom with jobs while Dad is in Iraq. (She has been very helpful.)
Sister: I can play with Macall more often.
Friend: Get my jobs done quickly so I can play with my friends sooner.
If you could make one New Year's resolution for our country or world, what would it be? I think everybody should clean their rooms. (Forget about world peace, or get out of debt, or improve our economy or even clean up our environment. If we would all just clean our rooms we would have a better world to live in!!! She can pretty much forget about winning the Miss America Pageant with that answer! As her Mom I appreciate that this is so important to her.)
I dressed up to go spend some time & have lunch with her. 
Madeline's 4th grade field trip was Wagon's Ho. It was at a park in town & the kids spent the day rotating between 12 stations that let them experience what life was like on the Oregon Trail (which goes right through this area.) She loved it & said it was "the BEST field trip ever!"
Macall fell off the "slippery swing" at school and landed on her face. Ouch! If that wasn't bad enough; later that evening we went to an Activity Days Mother & Daughter picnic that I was in charge of. While I was setting up Madeline & her friend were playing Frisbee with her. It was nice of them to try to keep her entertained, but instead of catching the Frisbee with her hands she caught it in the cheek. She ran over crying as it was already turning into a bruise. She spent the rest of the picnic crying for her Daddy! We went home & took this picture so she could send it to Dad. It sure will be nice when he comes home!!! We miss you Daddy!
Madeline is not too impressed with our white eggs the Easter bunny hid. We didn't get a chance to dye them before Easter so we had the Easter bunny hide them white & we dyed them that night! Oh well, you do the best you can & that isn't what Easter is about anyway!!
March 26th was our 15th Anniversary. Derrick sent these gifts from Iraq. Flowers (similar to the flowers in my wedding bouquet) and chocolate covered strawberries (we had them at our reception.) It was fun to reminisce & share the memories with the kids.
Spring break was spent in Utah this year. Grandma & Grandpa Walker always have fum things planned!
We went to an indoor inflateable place that was tons of fun for the kids. 
and Hogle Zoo
Benny & Macall
Maddy, Macall & Preston at Hogle Zoo!
Grandma & Grandpa layton came to see us in March too! Thanks for the visit, I so appreciated help with my crazy sewing projects!
