Easter 2013

Easter was, you know, that holiday we had a couple of months ago. Yeah, we did celebrate it. And we pretty much rocked it, too.
 

 

On the Saturday before Easter Andrew took the kids up to the county fairgrounds for a community egg hunt. I headed myself out to Beaverton for a 5k with my awesome friend, Heidi. I think I got the better end of that deal! Every year there is the possiblity that the kids will find "golden tickets" in their eggs and win prizes. The grand prize being a pet rabbit.
I always cross my fingers that there are no tickets. Let's keep it real. I do not want them coming home with a furry friend--just chocolate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I may have told hubsters the wrong start time so they were there in plenty of time for the kids to get to ride the horses. Reagan did not get to ride...she said she needed to go potty when there were 2 people in front of them. After Andrew hiked it to the toilets with her she then "just tried." She's still bummed that she didn't get a turn to ride a horse. You should fake have to go potty little miss!

 

 

I didn't really do Easter clothes for the kids this year. But, my mom did find this cute dress on Zulilly for Reagan and spoiled her as usual.

 

(Ignore her leprosy face. She was still getting over impetigo.)

I dream of pressure washing...

One of the things on our never ending to do list for this year was to take care of the yuckiness that was our patio and all the sidewalks around our house. We wanted to get it done before we started painting this beast and so we took on the challenge! I am so glad that we finally did this. I couldn't let Andrew have all the fun and ended up taking over half way through;) It reminded me of using the prophy jet to polish teeth at work (of course with waaaay less pressure!) and I also couldn't help but think of those old Tarnex commercials. I love doing things that have immediate results.

Such a stud!

 

I know the old leaves are still around, but can you believe the difference?! I didn't realize how completely nasty everything was until we started and then we could. not. stop. I guess since we've lived in this house 6 years now and never done this, it was about time. Hopefully we won't be here still in 6 years so we won't have to do it again...

My list of excuses...

I just realized today that it has now been just over a month since I posted anything. It's not that there haven't been things to post...I just plain haven't done it. Sometimes I wonder if I post for any reason other than that I can count it as "scrapbooking" and not feel guilty that I don't keep a journal;) I just uploaded pictures and realized that I also have some really good excuses for my lack of blogging! And here you probably thought I was just eating frozen twinkies and watching Downton Abbey all day long (doesn't that sound like fun?!)

I will do some belated posting, but just as a preview here are some of the things we have been up to around these parts:

St. Patty's day

Easter

Pressure washing

Painting the house

Redoing the laundry room

Spring break

Thinking about spring cleaning;)

Pulling weeds

Dealing with drama (not going to talk about it!)

Teaching Jonathan how to read

"Fixing" computer issues

Dental Conferences

Working

Scouting

Homework

School

Caring for each other

Eating

Laughing

Having fun

Living life!

I wish I could say with some certainty that I would get back to this whole blogging business with regularity and then I realize that one of my goals lately has been to spend less time on the computer and more time interacting. Although I have missed recording what we are up to, I have found that after a couple days of withdrawals (totally joking!) I have now reached a point where I don't really want to sit at the desk in front of this screen. I guess it helps that our computer has been on the crazy side lately and I have to jump through hoops to get it to work correctly:( There have been many wonderful things happening in this thing called life and I am so glad that I am here to be a part of them. I miss my kids when we are apart, but I love them more than ever when we are back together. I look forward to reading to them at night and lately one of my favorite things to do is sit and have Jonathan read books to me. Sometimes I have to pinch myself and remember that he is only 4! Children are amazing creatures and I thank my Heavenly Father for every moment I get to be with my own.

Out of the mouths of babes...

I was cleaning out the Sunday bag and scripture cases the other day and came across some talks that the kids have given in primary. It is always nice to find little reminders that my children really are getting some of what we are trying to teach them. Especially on days when I feel like I want to run away;)

"What I can do to prepare for my mission is to save money for my mission. I can also teach people around me about the gospel. I can invite my friends to church and church activities. I can read my scriptures every day. I can go to church every Sunday." -Adrian (Age 11???)

"Missionary work blesses everyone. Ammon was a prophet that taught the king of the lamanites and baptized him and his people. After they were baptized they buried their weapons and made a covenant to never kill again. When they died, they got to live with Heavenly Father again and were blessed. Missionary work has blessed me because I have grand-parents who are members of the Church. They taught my parents about the gospel and then it was passed on to me. I bear my testimony that Jesus will live again and that the gospel tells the truth." -Adrian (Age 11???)

"In Moroni chapter 10:5 it says: And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. This scripture teaches me that the Holy Ghost teaches the truth of everything. Two years ago, I wanted to play basketball with my friends. My mom said that I needed my watch on and to come back inside at 6:30. I started looking, but couldn't find it. I said a prayer and a still small voice told me to look under my bed. I looked and there it was! I was so happy, I thanked my Heavenly Father. I bear my testimony that the Holy Ghost can tell you many things." -Adrian (Age 10???)

"I know that I am a child of God because He lives in Heaven and loves me so much. My daddy reminds me of my Heavenly Father by loving me so much. Heavenly Father sent me to earth to get a body and choose the right. He gave me my family who loves me and I love them. Heavenly Father has a plan for me and the purpose of the plan is to make me happy." -Jonathan (Age 4)

The funny thing about Jonathan's talk is that the original version he wanted to give went something more like this (CC refers to one of his best friends):
"I just want to say that I love CC. I am so happy that CC is my friend and I want to play with him everyday. I just love CC so much! Oh, and I love Jesus, too."
I thought it might be a little awkward for him to give a talk in primary all about how much he loves one of the children in particular;)

I just love my kids so much and I am surprised everyday by the testimonies that they have and their willingness to act on the promptings that they have. Last Sunday I had a primary teacher tell me that she has never heard a 4 year old pray the way that Jonathan does. He says thank you for all kinds of things and tries to remember all the kids in his class. I guess he even thanked Heavenly Father that it was his grandpa's birthday that day! Lately my favorite thing is that he closes his prayers at night with "and please bless everyone that I know and that I don't know that they will have good dreams and be good in the morning."

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Contrary to every single year of my life thus far, I decided that it was high time I did some St. Patty's day decorations! I have pinned so many cute things on pinterest that I felt like I really should do something...at least a couple of easy things.

I'm not going to lie: I really enjoyed separating out the skittles and the starburst jelly beans to make a rainbow. Rolos are always a favorite around here too. I would be lying if I said those jars were still that full;)

 

Having a mantel to decorate is so much fun! I finally got to decorate with my souvenirs from Ireland that Andrew got for me. Love having a piece of the blarney stone out!

May your days be lucky and full of mischievous fun over the next couple of weeks!!

It is there!

The other day Reagan was convinced that Jonathan had drawn on her back with a crayon. She was devastated and positive that he wrote something mean. As a logical adult I knew that there couldn't be any transfer to her skin, but she just didn't believe me that there was nothing there. The only way to convince her was to take a picture and show her.
 

Even with the photo for evidence she declared "It is there! I see it!" When I asked where she pointed to random spots on her back. I finally convinced her that there was no crayon only for a new "problem" to arise. Now she is adamant that there is something wrong with her back. Her concerns: the shoulder blades and spine. They look "weird."

This kid...

Mornings come early around here...too early. I often send them to play until it is a decent time to get out of bed (aka 6:30). Some mornings Andrew will play with them and after teaching Jonathan all about lincoln logs the contest was on. "Our next house" in the making.

Somehow wearing gloves and a hat increases super hero abilities. In case you didn't know.

 

I'm not really sure where this kid gets his sense of fashion from. My guess would be the inner-old man of his father;) Knee high argyles paired with a sweater vest over spider-man tee. Maybe he is attempting his own version of the hipster look?