Happy Easter

I know... it feels like Easter was AGES ago. How the time flies...

I've gotta catch up on the last few months.
Luke looks like he's really enjoying this, doesn't he? It rained again this year on Easter morning. Didn't stop the kids from running out to see what the Easter Bunny had left. They found his pawprints leaving our house and wondered why his prints didn't continue on to all of our neighbor's houses. Noted.

We hurried and had our hunt so we could get to church and truly celebrate Easter :) I kept asking the kids while they were opening their eggs if this was really what it is all about and Kate piped up immediately and said, "No, Mom. Easter is about Jesus. He died so we can all live again."
Eat on, my dear chocolate lover.

"And I'm Proud to be an American...

where at least I know I'm Free....." Oh man. I LOVE that song. I could listen to and belt out those words over and over again. They send chills up my spine. So the radio is usually on all day on the 4th of July so I can hear it again and again. I should just download it on itunes! I drove the kids around in the car and we went up and down the neighborhoods counting how many flags were up in front of people's homes. We did it when I was a kid and I wanted to make sure that tradition continued. I want my kids to know how blessed they are to be living in this country and to be excited when they see our flag. Kate asked me why more people didn't put flags up. Sadly, I wondered the same thing.

Fireworks come with the territory on the Fourth. We got together with my sister's fam, Chris and Dad (Mom was still in Italy) and met up in San Ramon for a great show.
There's just something wonderful when you spread out blankets and eat brownies and sing to patriotic songs and hear your kids "ooohs and aaahhhhs" as they watch art explosions in the sky.

Happy Fourth of July!

Easter Morn

Twice a year, in the spring and fall, we are lucky enough to have a General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This is a time when we have the opportunity to listen to our prophet and his apostles and other inspired leaders. I love General Conference because it inspires me to be better and to focus on what's most important--those things that will bring me closer to my Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. The conference is broadcast worldwide, and so it is actually one Sunday when we are able to "have church at home" while we tune in on the TV or computer at www.lds.org . This year, because Easter was the first Sunday in April, it coincided with conference. What a perfect way to celebrate Christ's resurrection and His gift to us of eternal life. So, we tried to to make it fun for the kids and made a fort for them to snuggle up in. It didn't hold their attention for the entire time, but at least we got a good 10 minutes of silence ;)When it was all over, the bunny ears were put on and the kids were ready for their Easter egg hunt. The starting block-- our back porch steps.

Unfortunately, it was freezing outide! It looked and felt as though a huge storm was about to hit!

Showing off their goods as the first raindrops began to fall

What kind of goodies await???

Jake found ONE he liked... the Reeses Peanut Butter Egg...

TWO

THREE

(I didn't know his mouth was big enough to handle that egg whole!)

Is that it?!

Putting A Lotta Color into Easter

It was 3 days before Easter and Kate was BEGGING me to play princess with her...again... this consists of picking out fancy dresses from her closet and mine, choosing at least 4 different pairs of shoes (hers and mine) and then pretending that we are princesses, which involves putting jammies on, "going to sleep," waking up, getting dressed for a day out of the palace, and going to the park (backyard), coming home and getting dressed once again into our ball attire, complete with jewelry, crowns, etc... you get the idea. I don't mind it every once in a while, but I was not in the mood for changing countless times and then putting it all away! I already don't like putting my laundry away! So I suggested we try a different activity! Thankfully, she couldn't wait! Jake was down for his nap, so I figured it'd be a good time to pull out the dye!!!

I showed Kate how to do it and let her at it. She had so much fun and kept checking the eggs to see if they were bright enough. The egg in the pink dye took the longest to get just right! But she was so thrilled when it came out!

I was impressed with her diligence at getting the colors just right...but this activity was NOT over. The dipping and checking and soaking lasted well over an hour and by the time Jake was awake, the water in each cup looked black and all of the eggs started taking on a similar hue.

We were nice enough to save three white eggs for Jake.

"The professional" showing him how it's done.

Even though Kate begged me to "just let Jakey sleep a little longer" when she heard his first wake-up cry, she admitted it was fun working together with him for a short while!

She left him after a few minutes and then Jake's own creative juices began to flow...

What a fun afternoon!

Although there is a lesson to be learned...

We need to be grateful for all of God's colors--if He soaked us all in green, like the fate of 90% of these eggs, the world would be a pretty boring place ;)

Happy Easter!

I Have Just One Question...

Is anyone else out there just as ecstatic as I that the Mini Eggs have returned for yet another wonderful Easter season???

So long M&M's... (at least until my stash runs out!)

Heading Up to the Snow

Ok, so we didn't quite make it to the snow over the holidays-- everyone got sick. But we at least donned our snowgear and headed to Del Osso Family Farm for a little sledding! I made this mad dash to Target about 2 hours before we decided to go. We were going sledding! The kids needed snowgear! We thought there'd be more white stuff on the ground :) The cousins looked cute anyway!

The girls showing off their matching coats

Always the one who is ready to pose for a picture

Jake loves cousin Ben--although he looks a little ticked in this shot--I think he didn't like the hood...too constricting.

The farm was great. It had a train of lights, real reindeer, a petting zoo, an area for snow play and off course--the Sledding!!!

My kind of sledding--no hiking up the hill! You just hopped on and let the ramp take you up!

"Are we sure about this?!"

Brett couldn't wait!

The double tube--Gracie looks ready

My action shot while we were flying down the hill! I think Kate liked it!

Here's a little clip to really prove she did it :)