Seach The Maas Family Blog

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Star Performer

The Second Graders had a performance a few weeks ago.  A great friend had won 6 - 2nd row tickets and asked if we would like to join she and her son for the performance.  Heck yes!  It was a mostly filled high school auditorium.  It was delightful to have so many people whispering about us as the kids and I sat in the RESERVED chairs!  Finally (after whispering with the principal), the Music Teacher came over to tell me that these seats were reserved.  Yes, I know - for me!  I told her who I was with and all was right in the world!
 Ben did absolutely fabulous!  He came home from school, did his homework, took an hour bath (he asked for the sweet smelling shampoo), and got ready in his suit.  Such a stud!
 The kids got to choose if they wanted to play an instrument.  Ben picked this big drum (that I can no longer remember the name of).  He also chose to participate in the dance they performed a little bit later.  He did a great job staying on beat and with his footwork!
 I love how he is sitting while they wait for the girls to sing.  All of the songs centered around America and the States.  I really wanted to cheer when one of the kids said, "Texas," but I restrained myself, as I was in the RESERVED seats in the second row!
 The Jackson Polar Bears!  Can I just tell you how much we love our school?!?  They really go over and beyond for the kids!  You'll notice Mitchell screaming - just as he did through the entire performance.  My sweet friend, Cindy (who won the RESERVED seats), took Mitchell out and walked the halls with him while he cried for 25 minutes.  Her kiddo is in 3rd grade, so she didn't miss him perform.  She is a Saint and deserves an award!!!  (The show started at 7 and that's when this little guy goes to bed, so I knew it was going to be rough, but I didn't expect it to be that bad; although, he slept A.W.E.S.O.M.E. when we got home!)
Great job, Ben!  We all love supporting you!

Friday, March 25, 2011

It's the Little Things

One night I was just done.  I needed to clean the kitchen and have some type of order more than I needed to sit on the sofa and have kids on my lap.  I asked Ben if he would read books that night instead.  He doesn't love to read to the girls; I think he runs out of patience.  He doesn't have the drive to finish books like I have.  Anyway, it was a HUGE energy booster for me to hear the story, as I've read it at least 27 times!
 Mitchell is trying to roll over - sometimes I have to tempt him!  He's rolled a few times but doesn't know how he did it.  He did sit up for about 20 seconds today.  The other kids were all sitting and rolling by now.  However, Mitchell doesn't get as much tummy time because he spits up SO much and SO often.  I feel bad when he spits up and before I can get to him to clean it up and turn him, his little head will drop down and he comes up with a white face.  Probably too much information, huh?
 These two have so much fun together.  I really just wanted a picture of Emily, but she wouldn't pose without her little brother!
 Oh, the silliness that can come out at bedtime!  Yes, Annie is in a trash bag.  I don't know what they were playing, I just came out from changing the clothes in the dryer to find lots of laughter and fun!
 We had a late-March snow storm which gave us ANOTHER snow day.  The storm ended up not being as horrific as predicted, and the snow was B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L!!!  I didn't mind doing dishes all day long!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

More Proof!!!

We had a huge snow storm a few weeks ago.  Typically the father in this house plays in the snow.  I've done a great job this season because, "Someone needs to stay in the house with Mitchell!"  This Sunday afternoon, Andy stayed in while the kids and I made our little snow family.
 Emily and I working together to make part of it.  Typically we get fluffy snow here, but this was wet and compacted really well.  We had such a fun time rolling all the snowmen - I was really surprised at how easy it was!
 The family is coming together..we only had baby carrots to decorate the noses and just made do...
 The sad, but sometimes typical Annie.  Ben helped Emily make her snowman bigger, so Annie's wasn't as big.  This caused major drama and falling to the ground in tears.  Thankfully (I'm sure the neighbors agreed), it didn't last long and then she was back to work.  She just has to get some emotions out before she can put herself to a task and then excel (speaking of, so fun to hear her read!!!).  Those beginning moments of doubt and "I can't do it!!!" are hard for all of us to deal with!
 What's gonna work?  TEAMWORK!  That snow was H.E.A.V.Y!!!
Fun afternoon!  I'm so glad I got coaxed into going outside.  After making our snowmen, we played snow baseball.  All the kids got to bat and run the bases (while I tried to get them out with snowballs) and then it shifted into a little snowball fight with snow angels after little bodies collapsed!  Fun afternoon!!!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Let's Go Zips!!!

Andy is such a stud!  He stays up on fun *free* opportunities for our family and for others!  The University of Akron had a family-night.  You reserved and paid for your tickets 6 weeks in advance, only knowing the date of the basketball game, that you would have seats, that you would be served dinner, and that your money would be returned to you when you showed up to the game.  (No catch - there was a disclaimer that the game might be televised - we think they were trying to guarantee a larger audience.)
 So, we got together with a bunch of Zips LDS fans and went to a basketball game!  It was a blast having so many friends together; one family is was their first college sporting event!  This picture is most of our group, minus Andy and the guy in the red on the far left - I think we bought 32 tickets.  Below are the kids with Zippy - between him and the Chick-fil-a cow, the little ones were very entertained!
 One of the new law students this year has twin girls that are 4 months older than Emily - they are so darn cute together!!!  (They have an older sister Annie's age named Emily and their dad is Ben; it's a little bit confusing!)  Ring-around-the-rosie over and over!!!
 Halftime downstairs with pizza and salad - although not just any pizza - Papa John's!!!  We've only had it once since we've lived here because it's kind of far away, so we've learned to love Hungry Howie's, but this night brought back memories of home!  They ran out of plates and waters, but it was a fabulous night!
 Another group of friends.  Each family had a little baby with Mitchell the youngest at 3 months and Gwen the oldest at 9 months - except for the newly wedded Summers!
Such a fun night - especially when the Zips won!  Thanks, Andy, for paying attention to the fliers on campus!  Thanks to UofA for realizing some students have families!!!  So fun to attend a college game - makes me long for the BYU days!  Speaking of....go Jimmer!!!

Sanity Saver

 We were in charge of feeding the missionaries for their Zone Conference a few weeks ago.  30+ Elders, 2 Sisters, a couple of Senior Missionaries.  Pork roasts went on sale, so we decided to do my personal favorite: Cafe Rio meat with Jalapeno Cilantro Ranch dressings, rice, beans, and colorful marshmallow salad.  Was great fun!  We prepared and were set up and waited until their training meetings were over.  Sister Sorenson (the Mission President's wife) came to get us.  The missionaries all stood to sing their Cleveland, Ohio special song: Army of Helaman with special verses at the end as a thank you.  It was just incredible!!!  I held Emily (Mitchell was sleeping by the kitchen) and she pointed out to me all the missionaries that we know.  It was so great to serve!!!
 Fast forward to nighttime!!!!
 There was a special deal on a cooking class, so with a few hours notice, some friends and I signed up for an evening out!  We had to pick a class time that would work with three busy wives nad three busy husbands, but we finally found one!
 Heather, Marianne and I spent an evening in Jennifer's Kitchen sampling *and helping prep* the following recipes: Spinach Salad with Sautéed Mushrooms, Aged Gouda, and Walnut Balsamic Vinaigrette (my favorite part of the night - I learned how to better saute mushrooms *in duck fat!*)  The salad was completely delightful!!!
 Marianne playing with Mitchell while we chatted amongst ourselves during a tedious part of the evening.  He was the first baby our chef had ever had at a class (really?!?) in all her years of cheffing, and he was absolutely (mostly) perfect - including quietly falling asleep towards the end of the night!
 I helped knead the dough for Homemade Buttered Noodles.  Heather learned to cut them and use a nice sharp Hinkel...lucky!
 Braised Beef Short Ribs with Red Wine and Rosemary - this was good, but not worth the time, although it did have chocolate in it!  Was very tender and tasty and I learned about making the celery/onion/carrot mixture that goes in most French dishes, although I don't have my recipes and notes right next to me to remind me of what it is called...
 And the crown of the evening: Julia Child’s Clafouti Aux Pommes   Yes, I made *watched someone make* a Julia Child recipe.  And, I'm pretty sure I could do it again - although I don't know that I would make this one.  It was good, but not quite in line with my taste buds.  Fabulous evening - we enjoyed Jennifer's Kitchen and would love to go back again!!!!  (Come on Living Social - do another deal!)