March: In like a lion, out like a smaller lion

March began with an ice storm.  I was sitting in the kitchen and heard a light "click click click" sound.  I started walking around trying to figure out what is was.  I finally realized it was the sound of the freezing rain hitting our windows.  It was beautiful.  It looked like the sky was filled with glitter.  Sparkles everywhere!  It turned the top layer of the snow into a smooth sheet of ice.  Seriously majestic looking.  I was driving and thought to myself: "I am going to get into a car accident cause I keep staring at the snow instead of the road!"  These pictures don't do it justice.

Luckily it was a bit warmer so the girls enjoyed playing outside.  

Scarlett calls this dog on her scarf a "chilala" [chihuahua] Why? "Cause it's a small puppy." And I can't correct her cause I really only know two breeds of dogs: dogs I'm allergic to and cartoon dogs.

The twirls are in a new phase where they are testing their limits.  But what's unique is they are testing to see if the same limits apply to them as their twin.  For example: if Jaide hits Scarlett I'll say "Jaide!  No hitting Scarlett!  That's a bad choice.  Now we have to go to time-out."  Then while we are sitting in time-out (I say "we" cause I have to sit there and hold her in place) Siena will go over to Scarlett and hit her just like Jaide did.  What stinkers!  They want to see if the same rules apply to them.  Often they are in time-out together.  Here I found them ripping Scarlett's Rainbow from her bday party.  Luckily Scarlett thought it was funny and went and joined them.

Indoor kite flying.  We also spend a lot of our day fish-gazing.  Poor Rainbow Dash probably has high blood pressure from all the little fingers touching her tank all day.

Grocery shopping only really works at Target and Sam's Club.  And only if I buy food.  And only if they are rested.  And only if my cart is empty.  Once we have a full cart I usually end up waiting in line for 90 min while they scream (I doubt it's 90 min, but that's what it feels like).

The twirls love playing with Scarlett's bday presents.  She's sweet and likes to share (most of the time).  Jaide got to try on her goggles.  And they LOVE the lite brite.

Jake and I had to get our blood drawn for our insurance's annual physical.  We were waiting at the blood place for THREE HOURS.  The girls were champs.  We took them to Burger King after.

The girls love any opportunity they can get to sit on mom.  Seriously?!?  Haha!

But they also like to climb on dad - especially while he's trying to work out.

I found Jake "playing" with Scarlett in her tent.  He was sound asleep!

My girls love to play with Scarlett's fake makeup.  I had to take away the lip gloss thought cause they just sit and eat it.

One time when we were driving Scarlett asked me "Mom, is nothing that starts with the letter P can be outside?"  Confused at this random question, I told her there are many things that start with P: poles, pine trees, parks, etc.  She was quiet for a minute then pointed outside and said "But look at the sign with the red line through the letter P."  Oh my goodness!  She's so observant.  The street we were on had these "No Parking" signs every 20 feet or so.  I love her little mind and how she's always trying to figure stuff out.

Scarlett and Lyla playing doctor.  And then decorating cookies with left over rainbow frosting.

On our way inside the church for playgroup.

More funny Scarlett quotes:

• "Mom I will find the trash can, cause Scarletts are excellent finders."
• I walked in the bathroom to wipe Scarlett's bum one morning.  I was still in my underwear and had my bite guard in my mouth and very groggy.  I opened the door and *whack* something soft smacked my head.  I opened my eyes and saw Scarlett's pull up from the night before landing on the ground while Scarlett yelled "ha! nailed ya!"  haha!  Not the ideal way to start the day.  Thank goodness she usually doesn't pee in them!
• I asked Scarlett who her best friend is - that's a kid (cause otherwise she would answer "Aunt Jami").  She told me "umm, it's Kaylie *sideways glance to the twirls with a little shoulder shrug* and these twins."
• "Mom, I'm not tall as you... cause my legs are closer to my bum."

Siena and Siena just hanging out in the hallway.

Finally the snow melted and the sun started to shine. It was 44 deg outside and Scarlett asked "Is it summer now?" That's our little Michigander!

Even though March was still cold, the girls - all three - would throw HUGE tantrums when we finally dragged them back inside the house.  Hysterical crying like we were physically torturing them.  Ugh.  I know that the more often we play outside the crying will get less, but the tantrums make me want to keep them locked in the house all day.  It's a vicious cycle.  Finally I decided to only take them outside when Jake was going to be home in time to help me corral them up to the shower where they could cry their eyes out until they were distracted by their bath toys.  It's getting better, but still some days ... ugh.  Poor little girls just want some fresh air!

Some random thoughts/stories from the month of March:

If I say "I'm allergic to all type of nuts."  I've had - several times - someone ask "Are you allergic to tree nuts AND peanuts?  Cause Peanuts are not really a nut, you know.  They are a legume."  Umm, thanks.  What would I do without you?  Now that I know the proper classification of a peanut I'm magically healed from my allergy!  Thank you!  Ok, I'm not always that sassy (out loud) but don't you think that the girl living with the life-threatening reactions would know this information?  Nutheads. ;-)

I made enchiladas for dinner one night.  I was packing the leftovers into small tupperwares for Jake to take to work that week.  While I was dishing them up I asked him sincerely "Do you want the whole enchilada?" haha I heard it after I said it!

I was sitting next to a friend in RS.  She said her tummy wasn't feeling well.  I reached in my purse, opened my pill organizer and pulled out 2 chewable pepto tabs.  She couldn't open them, so I reached back in my purse and pulled out my pocket knife scissors.  She looked at me and asked "What else is in there!?!"  haha!  A few weeks later she told me that I inspired her to go through her purse and stock up on supplies.  Got to be prepared!  :-)

Jake spoke in Sacrament Meeting one Sunday.  He did a fantastic job.  At the beginning of his talk he very briefly introduced our family.  I was in the back wrestling our girls and trying to listen (thank goodness Abby and Gina were sitting with me!)  Jake gestured to me and said "My wife is the one with the funky hair."  I felt like a million faces turned around to look at me.  The rest of that day all sorts of people kept commenting on my "funky hair" and how they liked it (maybe they were just being nice but I'll take it!)  I told Jake he made me a ward celebrity that day!  But Jake really did a great job.  He told a story about how he was dirt biking in Moab and he and my dad went off the trail.  Then Jake's bike wouldn't start and they were stranded in the hot sun for hours.  He talked about we can't leave the marked trail to find an easier path in life.  While he was talking, all the girls at different times pointed to him and yelled "dad dad dad dad!!!"  They sure do love their dad!

And finally, I was talking with my friend Ashley.  She was a teacher and she was telling me a story about some of her fellow teachers who were inappropriate with their students in different ways and how she was always sooo stressed to be very professional in her relationships with her students.  I told her that I had a Junior High teacher who left me a very personal and (I feel) inappropriate note in my yearbook.  I started off that school year really liking him as a teacher.  I probably acted flirty (I was 14 and liked to joke around).  But during the year he started flirting back.  By the end of the year I hated him.  I really got a gross feeling around him and I didn't appreciate the way he was acting to me.  I was just a kid for goodness sake!  Ashley wanted to see the note.  I haven't looked at it in years.  I had never told Jake this story (I didn't really remember it til Ashley and I were chatting that day).  I read it to Jake and he asked if I told the principal.  I remember showing this to my mom but I don't remember what ever came of it.  I think I was too embarrassed to show it to anyone else.  I heard though that years later he got into trouble with the law and got fired from the school.  I don't know, maybe I am overreacting... here's the letter if you're curious and want to read it.  I blurred out some of his personal information...