No April Fool's

Mom has been horrible with our family journal and is going to work harder on this. We had an eventful March.

Dad's birthday was kind of funny with the kids. Mom took them shopping and let the girls pick something and the boys (Xander mostly). The girls picked out a shirt with fishing poles on it and Xander had to get him a nerf gun. Mom explained that this was for Dad and not him. He said he knew that but wanted to get this for Dad because he could play it with him. How could Mom have confused this? Xander is so funny! Mom made him a different kind of cake. It is called a mojito cake. Little did Mom know that this is a cake patterned after a cocktail. But it turned out so yummy anyways! She was going for a light & fresh type of cake for Dad this year. It has fresh mint, rum extract and lime zest. Mom was surprised that it turned out so well. We didn't do candles even though the kids wanted to. Mom told them we would need to many. Dad was happy with his gifts and enjoyed his day even though he had to work.

Mom & Dad's anniversary was not celebrated so much. We did do our big weekend last month. Dad had to work late and Staci had a school activity. Mom decided to just take the kids to that. We didn't go last year and Mom had told Staci we could go this year. It just happened to fall on a bad day. Our friends Dave & Tiffany share the same anniversary and he had to work as well. So we took our kids to McTeacher's Night at McDonald's. It is a fundraiser to help earn money for the school and the kids get their pictures taken with their teachers. The kids had a blast & had black feet to prove it from the filth of the playland.

Brayden actually started walking the weekend Grandma came to visit just before St. Patrick's Day. We got home from church and Mom noticed that he has been walking one handed along the furniture and letting go more but not quite confident to walk yet. She told Dad it would probably be a short matter of time before he is walking. Sure enough. Dad came in and got him to take about 10 steps to him from the couch. It was so exciting!!!

Xander lost his teacher for Taekwondo. His teacher was fired from his job and was moving back to Oregon. When Mom was trying to explain things to Xander he was so sad and just kept saying WHY? Mom had told him that he was fired from his job and a few hours later said again how sorry she was but that if he wanted he could send him a thank you card. He immediately called out to Mom in the car, "But is he all burned up yet?" Now Mom knew why he was so confused and then explained what the difference from being fired from a job and a real fire that burns you. It was too cute and he didn't understand at all why Mom was laughing.

Dad put the slide on the swing set outside and almost completed it. We bought the swings and now all that he needs to do is add a roof and an actual ladder. The kids use Dad's work ladder to get up. They have played out there for so long in the last two days since it has been complete than they have in a long time. They love it!!!

Mom started the exercise program Insanity and realized just how out of shape she really was. She was so worn out on the first day and all she had to do was an initial strenth test to see how fit she was. It kicked her butt! She is hoping to stick with it though and get out of this lazy stage she is in.

Dad got nominated to be on the board to get maritorious promotion to gunnery sargeant. It would be so great if he got it but we won't find out for a few months.

We also found out some major news. Congress has not passed the budget that was due in October yet. So Dad got an email from his commanding officer giving us a heads up. The new dead line in April 8th (next week). If the budget doesn't get passed by that day the government will go on lockdown. The military won't get paid and they expect all military to continue serving our country with out pay. Can you believe that? We are just praying for the best.