Easter 2011....

Easter was later in the year this year, but for some reason, it snuck up on us very quickly, we almost forgot to color Easter eggs!! But when we got around to it, it was a lot of fun. Tessa was so into it, I think this is the first year she may remember. We had a lot of splashes on the table which was funny because it really scared the girls, but Carlee showed Tessa how you are supposed to put your egg into the color. My favorite egg that I did not take a picture of was Porter's fart egg, yeah that's right, I said fart. He took the wax crayon and scribbled all over it, and when I asked him what it was he said it was a fart!! I don't know where he comes up with these things!!


Carlee talking Tessa through what to do.


Marin trying to attack the eggs.


Porter's triple threat egg.


Coloring eggs Marin style.


Tessa trying to be more careful.


The kids could not believe how blue the egg turned out, Tessa literally gasped.


Mommy and Tessa with the finished products.

Easter day was wonderful. It started with me taking the kids to church, Andy had just gotten home from work so he didn't come. I have to give myself props for making it to church with the four kids all dressed up, and not just on time, but early, so that I could practice with the choir. I taught a fun lesson in Relief Society, then we came home to find that the Easter Bunny came while we were at church. The kids were so into it running all over the place finding their eggs and baskets. Later in the afternoon we had some families over for dinner. It was great, tons of food, and good company. I love after everyone leaves and I look to Andy to get his evaluation of the evening, this time he said "today was a good Easter".


The kids in their Easter clothes from Grandma KayLee.


The kids eating dinner, it was the only picture I took of the whole night.

I heard it four a.m.....

Yes I did, I know I did. Marin was having a bad night, she has been having a lot of those lately, only wanting me and nothing else. Andy was on nights, so there really was only me and that is fine. But in the middle of the crying at four a.m. I said "Marin come one, no more" and that is when I heard it "Mama, Mama, Mama". The crying no longer mattered. I pulled her into closer to me and gave her a big squeeze and said "Mama is right here." And we went back to sleep.


*this picture was taken in Utah at Grandma Great's funeral

The crib is full....

My kids have a a terrible habit of going to rescue Marin as soon as she wakes up from a nap, the poor girl cannot even moan once and they are in there giving her a very rude and loud awakening. This particular day when Porter went in her room to get her, I noticed a few minutes later that he still had not come out of her room. These thoughts of "where is he?" were soon interrupted with some loud laughter, and as a parent of four children, I have learned that anytime there is loud laughter, it is not good. I went into Marin's room only to discover this....









Luckily we have a very awesome and sturdy crib that has somehow made it through many, many, many, many, did I say many, moves.

I love seeing these pictures, they are so cute, and it is crazy to believe that they are all mine, I am responsible for each of one them. And as crazy as they make me sometimes, especially when Andy is working so much and I feel like a single parent, not a day goes by that they don't make me laugh and smile. I am so lucky.

Two kids on two wheels....

Kind of sounds like a Dr. Suess book, but really I am talking about how Carlee is doing so well on a two wheel bike. Sunday (4/10) was a beautiful day, it was so hot, in the upper 70's. After we had the missionaries over for dinner we went out to the front yard and just enjoyed our time outside. Carlee noticed that the library was closed, and that is the perfect spot to practice riding a two-wheeler. (Aubrey do you recognize the bike??) Andy took her over and within a minutes time she was off. Carlee kept looking over at me to make sure I was watching that she almost crashed, but she would have crashed with a big smile on her face. That girl feels so free on her bike, I love her smile.







While the bike riding crew was across the street I stayed in the driveway with these cute girls....


(don't you love the duct tape on the front wheel of the bike? The wheel has lost it's traction from being ridden by three kids, so we are trying to make it work. Poor Tessa will pedal with all her might and that tire would just spin, the duct tape has helped a lot.)





Sundays really are the most beautiful days.

The Best Day Ever....

You know you had a good day when at some point the kids are yelling with excitement "This is the BEST day EVER!!!!!". We had that recently. Andy was off for a few days, we were planning on going to KS, but decided last minute that we shouldn't, so on Saturday morning we woke up and just started doing stuff. The best thing about it all was that the kids had no idea what we were doing. Andy and I would just tell them okay, moving on, go pee, and let's go.

Our city was doing a Easter activity with games, eggs, crafts, etc. So we headed across the street for that. They were so excited when we got there and Carlee saw one of her good friends which made it even better for her. They of course got some candy and played games, but then the mood changed for Tessa when she saw the Easter Bunny walk into the room. She immediately was trying to hide.


Carlee and Sophie


Porter in the spinning thing, crazy kid.


Carlee was the first one to get her picture taken with the bunny.


Tessa doing a craft.

So we wrapped it up there and went to our next destination....

The dollar store. Andy let each of the kids choose one box of candy or candy item. Porter chose RUNTS, Carlee chose a giant lollipop, and Tessa chose Ring Pops, Andy chose some grape chewy candy and some Junior Mints for me. Next stop.....

Lunch. Subway for mom in the effort to be healthy and McDonalds for the kids and Dad. $5 for 20 chicken nuggets, you can't beat that. Next stop.....

The used book store. Porter chose a Flat Stanley book, Tessa a Felicity book, and Carlee chose a Molly book, all for $7, can't beat that either. Next stop....

The movie theatre to see HOP. A super cute movie about Easter, maybe a little too much for Tessa, but cute overall, I don't think I would buy it though. Oh, and Andy spilled all of his chewy purple candies, bummer. After this the kids were feeling that it was the end of the surprises, but little did they know that they have the coolest mom and dad in the world. Next stop....

the Lego store. Ohio just got it's first Lego store at a mall about 30 min away and it happened to open that day. Porter and Carlee were so excited to help build the R2D2 that would be going into the Lego store, they even got special certificates saying that they helped build R2. We waited in an hour long line to just get into the store which was terribly long, but we had gone this far, what was another hour. The kids immediately ran to the Ninjago stuff where Carlee located Nya, the only girl in the Ninjago collection. Tessa went home with a blue lego building board which she has spent many hours playing with.


The whole R2 Lego.


Following the how to build R2 instructions.


Tessa waiting in the line with mom. Just as I told her not to hang on the rope line it started to fall over on her. It was so funny to see how much it surprised her.


Marin was so good the whole day, this was her first nap.


P and C with the beloved Ninjago.

Next stop....

home. It truly was a great day, one that we haven't had as a family in a long time, we really needed "fun" time. I went to bed with a big smile in my heart.

Field Trip with Dad....

Andy had the great opportunity a few weeks ago to go on a field trip with Porter. It is not very often where Andy is off during the day, so it was perfect that his class scheduled to go downtown to the museum and they needed parents to tag along. Andy said that it was a lot of fun and I know Porter felt so special to have his dad with him.