Easter

Preschool Easter egg hunt at the church


My handsome boys

Easter 2011

We had a nice Easter this year. We had an FHE lesson about the last week of Christ's life on Monday. Livi had her preschool Easter egg hunt at the church because the weather wasn't cooperating. Friday night was the Battle of the Bulge with Scott representing the stake and Ben in the bishopric battling in basketball. It was a lot of fun to watch even though I was sick. The kids actually sat through most of it. The bishopric won, but not from lack of effort on Scott's part. He's going to lose a toenail and had blisters on his feet. Saturday I had been planning on running the 5k for months but was still sick so didn't. But the kids got to hunt for eggs and we had a couple soccer games. That night we had a family dinner with the Reeces and an Easter egg hunt and then the girls went to see Jane Eyre. I had high expectations, but it was good. The next day the kids got cotton candy, chocolate bunnies and water toys in their baskets. I had been asked to direct the stake children's choir for a performance that night (only because they didn't see me during the Primary program) so we had a practice and then a performance. It went very well. Then to the Thompsons for dinner and another hunt.

I am so grateful for our Savior and His sacrifice for us. I am grateful for the knowledge that we will be resurrected and able to live with our families again. I love that Easter comes at this time of year when things are (slowly) coming back to life. Such a great reminder of the new life we get through Christ. Happy Easter!

Soran's 2!

I can't believe my baby is 2. She doesn't fit perfectly in my arms anymore. Her legs are too long and her body too big. She doesn't walk or crawl anymore, she runs. She goes into nursery happily by herself. She can get dressed and feed herself. It's bittersweet.

Scott videod all her birthday so we didn't get any pics except one of her cake. I love you, Soran! You are the happiest little girl. Daddy used to say you had happiness busting out of your face and it's still true. You are always happy and excited. You love your brother and sisters and watch all they do with awe, and they spoil you in return. You love to jump and are the best 2-year-old jumper I've ever seen. I have never had a baby as into things as you are. You love to figure it out by yourself. I wish I could keep you small, but it's so fun to watch you grow. Happy birthday!

Goblin Valley

First hike of the morning (Grandpa's shoe is near the top--he wanted to climb the hard way).

Goblins


Amber on the goblins--it got really windy in the afternoon and coated everything in fine red sand .

Canyon hike--the trail was about a foot wide and very curvy through walls of dried mud. It was weird because there was no vegetation for a mile and half, just dirt.

The kids did awesome on this hike. Grandma stayed with the little ones and the rest of us did a 3-mile hike in a little over an hour. This picture shows the otherworldliness of the area. It kind of looks like Mars.

Camping with Grandma and Grandpa

Anna and Amber

Soran and Grandma (who spoiled her rotten)

Soran playing with the flashlight

Monkeys

The brown Green River

Since spring break was in the middle of April I was sure it would be nice weather and we could go to the park every day and be outside all week. Ha! Winter/spring in Utah lasts forever. So we decided to head south with Grandma and Grandpa and find some sunshine. Scott couldn't take time off work so I loaded up my kids, Jacob and Anna, and gear and we headed to Green River. Not a pretty city, but the weather was perfect. Our campsite was right next to the river and the kids had fun playing by it. Then we played some games (capture the flag and Red Rover) while the foil dinners cooked. And then of course we had s'mores. I was pretty proud of my mom and me setting up our 10 person cabin-tent with no instructions or help. It was cold that night so not much sleeping was done but the next day was gorgeous and we headed to Goblin Valley!

Christian's room

Christian has always wanted someone in his room with him. He doesn't like to be alone. A few weeks ago Scott and I went out after the kids were in bed and when I got home I was checking on them but Soran wasn't in her bed. After freaking out for a couple seconds I looked in Christian's bed and there she was. They were so cute I had to get a picture. A couple days ago I was checking on the kids again and couldn't find Christian this time! I looked in Soran's bed (she's still sleeping in a playpen) and there he was! I don't know how Soran stayed asleep through all that but she did. Anyway, we're getting bunkbeds soon and I was going to give Christian his own room, but I think to save myself the trouble of having to track down children every night I will just put Amber in with him for awhile!

Amber turns 7

Wierdest-looking fairy cake ever
Alyssa's fairy house we decorated for mother-daughter book club (the blue one)

All the pretty little fairies

Amber with the fairy king

Using their best fairy manners

Amber wanted to do the fairy tea party for her birthday again this year, and I think the girls enjoyed it more than they did last year. They all acted more proper and watched the dancers with more interest. This year they got fairy charm necklaces and some fairy dust to take home with them. Then we came home and had pizza and cake (I forgot to freeze it before cutting it so there were crumbs all over and in the frosting and it looked terrible. But she didn't seem to mind). Then they opened presents and played.

I can't believe my little girl is already 7. The older she gets the more I see myself in her. She is my little mini-me. Things about Amber:

She has really cute freckles. The perfect amount sprinkled on her nose.

She loves to write notes and stories.

She is a very good student and reads well.

She is a natural mommy. She loves to help with the little girls--and I don't even have to ask.

She can figure things out by herself. Scott says she has a mechanical brain.

I love you, baby! Happy birthday!

Love month

I want to raise kids who are aware of other people and are able to see when they are in need. It doesn't help that Scott is always on failblog and showing them videos of people getting maimed and hurt and laughing his head off. Now all my kids think human suffering is the funniest thing ever. So in February we had a lesson on compassion and then dedicated the month to showing love to others.
We visited a nursing home and took some ugly homemade Valentines made by yours truly (the residents loved them anyway), went to the food bank and donated food and decorated goodie bags for the kids that come in, and took cookies around to our underappreciated primary teachers. I hope we were able to do a little good.

"Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves, the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others. By and large, I have come to see that if we complain about life, it is because we are thinking only of ourselves."

President Hinckley