spring break

Fiona loves to pose for pictures now.

me looking very round

Since last Monday the boys and Fiona have been out of school for Spring Break.

Monday we were able to have my neices Chaicee and Paityn come up to play with us.  Katie, my sister, also came over with her children, Noa and Malachi.  We went to the park and had a picnic.  It was a lot of fun and a beautiful day.  The kids played at the park for almost 2 hours and then still didn’t want to leave.  Wes, Ian, Fiona and Lydia were so happy to have a day to play with their cousins.  Their favorite game was pretending that they had a ‘bacon’ shop where they could order bacon sandwiches and any kind of ice cream they could imagine.  Katie and I got quite a laugh out of their imagination.  I’m still not sure what ice cream had to do with a bacon shop, but I wouldn’t complain.

Tuesday was our zoo day.  First I took the kids to IKEA for lunch.  They have such yummy Swedish meatballs.  I love them with the lignon berry sauce.  Then we headed up to the zoo.  It was quite full of people, all taking advantage of the beautiful weather and having time off of school.  We spent a good 3 hours enjoying the animals, riding the carousel and playing at the park. 

Wednesday we spent at home mostly and got some yard work done.  The puppies are keeping us busy; they sure love to make a mess.  The kids helped Austin pick up rocks off the lawn and the garbage that the puppies have created and been dragging all over the yard.

Thursday brought a storm and cooler weather so we decided to take the kids to Jumpin’ Jack’s.  It’s an indoor playground of blowup slides, obstacle courses and jumping areas.  It’s a great place to take the children and wear them out.  After Jumpin’ Jack’s, Austin and I got a sitter and caught a matinee movie together.  We were able to get tickets for “The Hunger Games”.  We have both read and enjoyed the books.  The movie was very well done and followed the books closely.  We really enjoyed it and had a good time getting out just the two of us for a little bit (thanks Alli!).

Friday we all went to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point.  I’ve wanted to see it for several years and always miss it.   It only lasts about 2 weeks each spring.  It was lovely in the gardens and very enjoyable to walk around with the children and Austin.  They had a koi pond where we could feed the fish.  Big groups would gather underneath us and follow us along the boardwalk with their mouths open wide.  There was also a special children’s area where they could float plastic boats down a little stream and into a small pond, a stage to dance on and metal bells to play music.  So fun, I would love to get some things like that in our own backyard.  After walking around for a little over an hour and enjoying the gardens we got rained out.  But we had such a good time together as a family.  For dinner we decided to get Chinese takeout, we don’t do that very often and it was a fun treat.

Saturday was a ‘stay at home and get chores done’ day.  I was able to finally finish the skirt I’ve been making for myself to wear at Alli's wedding this Friday.  It was really frustrating me, but it is finally done and I think it turned out pretty nice.  Austin has been working on his 20 page paper that is due Monday.  He is almost done and it has truly been a fun, busy week.  I have to admit that I’m glad the kids have school tomorrow so I can get back on schedule and get a little bit of the housework done.  I kind of let it go this week, but we had such a good vacation together.  I hope the kiddos remember it as fondly as I do.

I had to include this photo of the meerkats.  It makes me laugh every time I look at it.  That one sitting up with his little legs sticking out just reminds me of how I feel right now, 30 weeks pregnant. 

Easter

Happy Easter!  What a beautiful Sunday this turned out to be.  It was quite cold yesterday and Friday.  We even got about 6 inches of heavy, wet snow.  Saturday egg hunts were all done in the snow, but it made finding the brightly colored eggs even easier.

This has been quite the week.   Monday night we did our special Easter family home evening about the Savior’s last days and the reason we celebrate the holiday.  We made resurrection rolls, which were so much fun.  We baked jumbo marshmallows dipped in butter and cinnamon sugar inside biscuits.  The marshmallow melted and left the little ‘tombs’ empty.  The kids had a lot of fun making them.  We got a laugh when we found some of the unmelted marshmallow inside a couple and Lydia said, “We melted Jesus!”  I also bought some white carnations and put them in water with red food coloring.  I read the kids a scripture in the Book of Mormon, Alma 7:11, that says, “And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.”  Then we talked about how the Jesus Christ took all our sins, our suffering and pains on Him so that we could receive mercy and exaltation to be with our Heavenly Father and him again.  Fiona has really enjoyed watching the flowers turn from pure white to a pinkish color from the food coloring.  It was a really simple and fun lesson that I think we’ll start as a new tradition each year.

Wednesday I went with Wesley and his 2^nd grade class to Harward Farms on a field trip.  We learned about all sorts of farming from vegetables, minks, even bees.  We saw them shear a sheep.  I am always amazed how the sheep just lays there complacently while the farmer tosses her to and fro to get off all the wool.  We saw a lot of baby animals: a calf, several lambs, a kid and two piglets.  Wesley kept talking about the piglets and the tractors.  I think those were his favorite.

Thursday was the 2^nd grade school program.  So Wes was able to perform with his class lots of the songs they have been learning all year.  He did so much better than in past years.  It’s so hard for him to pay attention and stay on task.  This year he got his part right on and only spaced out on the songs once or twice.  He’s really maturing and he got to sit next to his cousin Emmalee, who really helps him a lot. 

Friday we were hit by the snow storm that took us all by surprise.  Fiona barely got to preschool, because we don’t have 4 wheel drive.  She had a fun Easter party with her little class and her teachers gave her a cute bucket and shovel.  They do so much for those children.  I also had another doctor’s appointment that morning to check on little Everett.  He’s seems to be growing well (today in church one of the older sisters told me I look ‘really’ pregnant.  I feel really pregnant right now.)  The projected day for the c-section will be around the 20^th of June, unless there are unforeseen obstacles.

Yesterday we took the children to the city egg hunt and an egg hunt at one of our neighbor’s farm.  They were both really fun and fortunately, we remembered to bundle every one up.  The kids came home with plenty of candy and small toys.  After the egg hunts I spent the rest of the afternoon at the church helping with a funeral.  A dear brother had passed away last Sunday.  He was almost 90 and really ready to go.  He has battled cancer twice.  The great sadness was that his dear wife was left alone until she can join him.  Their family all came in town and since I’m in the Relief Society presidency I helped set up, serve and clean up the luncheon.  The funeral ran long, but it wasn’t a surprise.  This brother was known for his stories and love for visiting and he passed that on to his children.  His one son spoke for a little over an hour during the funeral.  The Stake president and Bishop both spoke, but they kept their remarks short and sweet.  They spoke about the plan of salvation and that this life is truly not the end.  I am so grateful for the knowledge and testimony that I have of our Savior, his Atonement and his Resurrection.  I know that we can be with our families forever, that this life is only just a small part of eternity.

This morning we had a little grumpiness from Wesley because the Easter Bunny hadn’t come while they were asleep.  We explained that the Easter Bunny likes to surprise them and this year he decided to come during quiet time later in the afternoon.  He was still quite grumpy about it, but we told him that his attitude will affect what the Easter Bunny will bring just like at Christmas.  It’s amazing how that affected his attitude.  We had some wonderful lessons in church today about the immortality of the soul and being a disciple of Jesus.  I felt like I really learned so much, the spirit was truly speaking to me during the lessons. 

enjoying lunch at the kidman's annual easter egg hunt, katie and mick were able to make it, too.  so good to see them!

i love new easter clothes