- Spring Break -

This post is a bit late - Spring Break was last week. For journaling purposes and also so that I have proof when my kids tell me I "NEVER" take them anywhere, I am writing this post.
We planned on going to Classic Fun Center and were headed that way, until my husband called me to say that the freeway was closed because of a fire. So, instead, my friend and I drove the opposite direction and took our kids bowling! The kids had a great time thanks to the bumper lanes (which they didn't have when I was growing up). The bowling alley also had laser tag and an arcade. According to little B - laser tag was "A-W-E-Sssss-O-Mmmmmm-E!" I thought he would be scared with all the big kids in a dark but he loved it. Next time I think we'll skip the bowling and just buy a couple rounds of laser tag.

Also, during spring break, I - by myself - took all of the kids including the 3 year old and infant - to see "How To Train Your Dragon" in 3D. I didn't buy the kids any candy, popcorn, or drinks because it cost us $48 just for the tickets. I did have a Megaplex card someone gave me worth $20 which definitely helped. We all loved the movie and my kids keep quoting it all the time - "Thank you for nothing, you useless reptile" is their favorite line.

My neighbor and I organized a neighborhood Easter egg hunt. Unfortunately it snowed and snowed and snowed. So instead of being at the park, we opted for inside our ward house. The kids didn't care either way so I guess it was fine.
At the end of the week we listened to General Conference and went to my in-laws for a wonderful dinner. I relaxed and the kids played with their cousins. Then Easter came and we watched general conference from home and then from my parents house (I didn't hear much of that session) but relaxed and enjoyed not having to stare at my dirty house.

I didn't get pictures of anything that week but thought I would post a couple of Boo at the Salt Lake temple. She recently went with her activity days group.


Oh and here are some fun ones of the baby in her Easter dress - she is finally sitting up by herself and rolling around getting into everything. She has extremely good fine motor skills. She can find the tiniest things on the carpet and pick them up. This week I've pulled easter grass, a lucky charm, an M&M, and a fiber of carpet from her grasp. Pretty soon she'll be crawling and then walking and climbing and that will be the end of my sanity (which is pretty scarce as it is).

Here are the kids on Easter morning -

We are playing a new game the Easter bunny brought - Wits and Wagers Family edition And here's one of us in our new Suburban (2004 Chevy Sub) - S fell asleep the minute we pulled out of the driveway. The best part is - WE ALL FIT!

Pinewood Derby and Easter

Warning! Long post as I'm playing catch up for April.

FIRST PLACE! That's what G placed in the pinewood derby! He was so happy he could hardly stop smiling (which is something he rarely does). He was also conscious of other people's feelings and told me that the race was for fun and that having fun was the most important part, not winning. Me? I was jumping for joy! DH was secretly singing himself praises (he did an awesome job with getting the mechanics just right). Our neighbor came in 3rd place. It was fun to see these two fresh 8 year old boys sail past the rest of the competition. GOOOO COUGARS!

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt! What joy and chaos! My friends and I organized a little neighborhood egg hunt for the kids. It was the first of many egg hunts to follow that weekend. We split up the kids into big kids and little kids and hid the eggs in two different back yards. I hid the eggs for the big kids, and when all was said and done, there were still four eggs the big kids were unable to find. I am just soooo good at this hiding thing. Maybe TOO good since the oldest was 13 and the next oldest was 9. Next year we want to make this a bigger event and get ALL the kids in the neighborhood involved.
The Saturday before Easter was packed with excitement - We took the kids to an Easter egg hunt at my DH grandparents' retirement home. The kids were scoping out the golden eggs before the hunt began. From the word GO until the hunt was over took all of 2 minutes! Not kidding, but the kids had a great time. Little B almost got his golden egg but another little kid wrestled it out of his hands. B was a good sport about it - but his big brother was pretty ticked off! I had to calm him down afterwards. Draper Temple - We went to the open house in March, then went to the dedication, then were invited to a temple session and sealing (marriage) for a young couple in our ward. It was a beautiful ceremony and so peaceful to be in the temple that day. It set the mood for the Easter holiday and kept my thoughts on the Savior who made the ultimate sacrifice for us all so that we might live again. Thanks Grandma L and Grandpa A for keeping the kids for us so that we could enjoy the blessings of the temple that day.
That night I got a haircut (to be seen in a picture below) and we colored Easter eggs. The kids really had a great time.
We thoroughly enjoyed our Easter Sunday. After church, DH took the kids Geocaching while I got a much needed nap. Then we spent the evening at DHs parents and got to spend some quality time with his siblings, parents and grandparents. (Jeff and MaryAnn we missed you and remember spending a great Easter with you last year in Colorado).

The picture below is of my brood and DH's grandparents. One of the best things about moving back to Utah is being able to spend more time with them. Our children have been able to develop a love for their Great Grandma Edla and Great Grandpa Carl. They often ask to go visit and love to give hugs and kisses. We missed getting to spend time with my family on Easter, but can't be in two places at one time. I can't wait to see them tomorrow when we get together to welcome my nephew home from his mission to Switzerland.