This was a rather quiet, but productive, weekend in the household.  

Friday was Addi’s birthday, and since it was a Friday, we just made it a joint celebration and celebrated my birthday as well. Mine was actually on Monday, March 14th. For the kids’ birthdays I let them choose whatever they want for dinner - no matter how weird it is.  One year Joe had Pumpkin pancakes and blueberry pancakes. This year Addi wanted buffalo chicken strips and tater tots.  I chose steak with roasted red potatoes, and Roy did up a few scallops for me.  (LOVE scallops!) And then it was time for the cake. Roy coaches for the youth football league in our town, and we know a local baker from the team. She does specialized cakes and cupcakes. The first one she did for us was Dean’s birthday cake based on Ni Hao, Kai Lan, a preschool show on Nick that he used to be in love with - he has moved on to the Power Rangers now. As shown in the picture posted here, it came out beautifully and Dean still talks about it. So for our joint celebration, Addi and I decided on a Zombie-themed cake. Since I didn’t want oozing brains, I asked our friend if she could look to the tv show, The Walking Dead, for inspiration. We weren’t disappointed, and you can see the finished product already posted here.  We got Addi a new mountain bike for his birthday, and he loves it!  Roy and I are just glad to see him getting out more and wanting to be active.

Saturday we were going to head down to Busch Gardens, but I just wasn’t up to it.  Addi’s allergies were going crazy, and truth be told, Roy seemed a bit out of sorts as well.  But the night before, I got it in my head that we would start our spring cleaning.  We decided, or rather I did and I made everyone help me, that we would tackle the family room first.  And as I sit here now, it looks great, if not a little empty, but more on that later.  So, we moved furniture, we dusted, we vacuumed, we repaired couch cushions - we cleaned.  And then we just relaxed.  Roy puttered around with the four wheeler - which he got working again. Addi and Hayden rode their bikes, I did laundry, and the older boys caught up on some homework.  That night we had family movie night - though the pick this time wasn’t really a family movie - Ninja Assassin.  My first thought was, this is a very bloody movie - and I have no problem with gore! But the more I watched the more I realized how cartoonish and over the top it was.  It was a fun, cheesy movie.

Sunday was tough, well for Roy at least. We got rid of our saltwater fish tank.  I told Roy it just seemed to come out of the blue, but I am sure it was something he had been thinking about for awhile. At least I hope it was, because we spent thousands of dollars collecting all of that stuff, and I don’t want to go through with it again.  Anyways, it was a beautiful tank.  Flowing corals, beautiful fish, but it was a lot of work. And truth be told, Roy was the only one that did anything.  Corey would take care of little things (feedings and water top offs) when Roy was out of town, and I helped (grudgingly) when asked, but for the most part the cleaning, the water changing, and the upkeep fell to Roy.  We have a lot going on, and I think he just got to the point where it was a lot for him to deal with (even with all the automation he added to the tank), and he felt it would be better off with someone that could enjoy it.  So he put up an ad and someone jumped on it - as they should because it was really a beautiful tank at a low price.  Yesterday, Roy spent a couple of hours helping the new owners break it down and pack it up.  Now, we have a big blank spot where the tank used to sit, and the family room seems really empty. 

See, like I said, a quiet, but productive weekend.