Spring Break visitors

I have several blog entries to write.  I just keep putting them off because I'm too busy and I know if I sit down to write I'll be here forever and write far more than anyone wants to read at a time.  So, I'll try to be brief yet cover everything...mind just went blank.  I guess the blog is over.  I was thinking earlier that I wish I could just post as easily as I did in facebook and lo and behold I sign in tonight and they've heard my wish...no more clicking through several screens to make a post! 

Here's what's been crackin' around here...

Over spring break some friends came to visit.  We hadn't been in touch with them for many years (like almost 10)!  They are true friends though, the kind that you just pick up where you left off no matter how long it has been...good people.  She's an inspiration to me; a very good example of what kind of mother I wish I could be.  Sam says we did as much with them in 2 days as we usually do in a year.  Monday we did some grocery shopping and touring of the commercial side of town.  The kids drove RC cars, launched rockets, made baking soda & vinegar water bottle bombs, and played in the yard.  In the evening we hosted a birthday barbecue in the evening for a friend in the Relief Society Presidency.  The whole presidency came with their families and a neighbor girl from the robotics team and maybe a neighbor boy too.  Of course, there was four wheeling despite the mud.  I managed to get out and plant the peas that soaked all weekend long in the garden boxes in the morning.

Monday morning, my teammate at the YMCA mentioned she had a milk cow.  So, I arranged with her to bring everyone out and milk her cow on Tuesday morning.  Everyone took a turn except for Matt.  He got tired of waiting for his turn and went chased the chickens.  She had new baby chicks to see too.  We now are regular milk customers and have more cream than we can use at once.  She's going to teach me how to make sour cream and mozzarella cheese.  After that, we drove a big loop out to the church orchard and around and back into Caldwell to show them some of the rual area.  Her husband stayed home sick resting and preparing for his evening job interview.  Tuesday evening was school board meeting and job interview for the men, so Maria and I took the kids to the YMCA to swim.  Wednesday, she and her husband went house hunting and I watched the kids (6 of the 7).  I paired up one of theirs with one of ours to get the housework done quickly (inspiration!) and then they played.  We made breadstick dough for lunch and everyone got a piece to play with and cook up how they liked.  Lastly, we planted seeds while they packed up and got ready to go. 

p.s.
Our friend got the job as prinicipal at the boys' school and so we are now so excited to have them move out here and get to see them more often and continue the friendships.  We are very excited to him as the new principal.  He's exactly what we need at the school and it is a real blessing that we got him.  I'm expecting great things.