Easter

4 egg hunts!!! FOUR! Well no, Leah got 5 (one extra at school) and Dillan will NOT let me forget that. We are up to our EARS in candy!
We tried a few new Easter projects like the sea-diving eggs we found online.

A big highlight for Mommy was our lesson we had about Jesus. GGMa gave us the Gospel Art Kit a while ago and we found 10 pictures of Jesus that we strung up on the wall.

The kids noticed them every day and would ask the occasional question. It was exactly what I wanted to happen, and I believed it improved their behavior, at least at meal times. Dillan doesn't want it taken down.

We started out with the ward Easter party, then had a ding-dong visit from Grandma Donna's Easter Bunny who left a basket of goodies on our doorstep. Later in the day we went to Uncle Mark's new house where we dyed eggs, decorated cookies, had an egg hunt with cousins, and an over-the-top fun visit with the family.

Sunday morning the bunny hid baskets around the house, leaving clues to find them. Leah's were pictures and Dillan read each one of his without help. Even baby Drew got a basket. This bunny didn't put one single piece of candy in the baskets nor in the eggs he hid outside. They were full of little toys and money.

We put on our Sunday best and headed to church. It was touching to see Dillan raise his hand during Sharing Time when he recognized the pictures of Jesus and the story of his atonement and sacrifice. Score. Something is sinking in!

After church we were treated to a fabulous afternoon with Grandma and Papa, Great Grandma Mary, Chad and Lindsie, and a young couple serving in the singles' branch. We were spoiled with good food, another egg hunt, and hours of playing and visiting.

Live in all things outside yourself by love, and you will have joy. That is the life of God; it ought to be our life. -Robert Browning

Springtime Fun

Dillan and Max
Lately we have been outside a lot and love it! Chris and Dillan were supposed to take a trip to Arizona to be at Chris' nephew's baptism. But at the last minute, we ALL decided to go! I'm so glad we did!

Easter crafts with Grandma
The family got to love up Baby Drew and we got to be with some of our most favorite people. Dillan got in some good boy-time with all his cousins, and Leah was primped and pampered by Grandma Donna who was also visiting.

Watermelon on a hot day
We were very well taken care of, it was like an all inclusive resort experience. All I did was feed the baby the entire time while being waited on! Steve and Jenni took great care of us!
Their park has a train and carnival rides!
We love getting together with everyone, one day I'm sure we'll all live close together and won't have to say goodbye!

Circus with Grandma

So as to not lose these pictures.
Grandma took the kids to the circus that came to town!



There must be something about Grandmas and the circus. I know I went with my Grandma when I was younger and my souvenir cup is still used at my mom's house!



They came home sticky and full of sugar goodness. Their excitement has lasted for days. They play with their swords and drink from their glasses regularly.

Definitely SPOILED!




Thanks Grandma!

General Conference

My conference tradition for the past few years has been pulling out our 72-hour kits and car kits to change clothes and throw out expired food. We also had to add Baby Drew and get him set up. But I've been trying to establish more family/kid friendly conference traditions, so the kids and I were hard at work before the weekend. We searched online and printed out a few helps to get us started. Add our primary journal and a few treats and we were ready!



I also told the kids they could sleep in their dino-tent, which was a great cause for excitement. The whole family was going to try to camp out in the front room, but Mommy and Daddy chickened out with Baby D at the last minute.



We missed Saturday morning conference because of soccer, but recorded it to watch later. Saturday afternoon the kids pulled out their primary journals and crayons and got to work. Of course, it didn't last the entire conference, and some of the small additions I tried to include didn't go off very well. Live and learn.
Sunday morning we got up early and headed to Grandma and Papa's to spend the day. We took our Conference Bingo cards and some treats with us. Bingo was great, even the adults got into it. We stayed the whole day at their house and had a lot of fun and learned a whole lot.


playing with Mommy's camera
Some highlights for Mommy and a few new tried and true traditions :
-Let it Alone
-Stop waiting on your Road to Damascus
-Parents are examples of faith
-Find your desire to change
-Don't forget service
-Personal Revelation comes gradually
-Difference between be and do. To be or not to be.
-Accept correction
-Bedlamites
-hot dog cookies
-Magnum bars (ooo la la!)
-family tent camp out


and I'll just stay cute then, shall I?

San Clemente

We survived another week at the beach! This year was extra special because we had our cousins come from Tennessee to be with us!



No, the weather wasn't perfect and a few family members got sick, but we did our best to have a good time!


Four generations of family in a place that holds a lot of my childhood memories and being able to share them with my children is very unique. Plus we had baby Drew with us this year who proved to be a champion camper.



Dillan's confidence riding his 2 wheeler bike skyrocketed this year. He got the bike last year on his 5th birthday, but has only rode it a dozen times since, and mostly with "advanced" training wheels. This week he rode without training wheels, rode fast, and figured out how to start on his own without using the curb! He was very proud and called himself the show-off on the bike.

Leah loved being around her cousins Roxy and Jo-Jo. She also hung out with Grandma and begged snacks. She had fun doing whatever the big kids were doing, including sprinting down the steep beach trail. Of course she eventually tripped and scraped up her elbows and knees pretty well. But that didn't stop her from enjoying the sun, sand and water!

It's always fun to be together with family!



Side note: Thanks Cougars for an exciting season! Jimmer shoots from Provo! POY!

March Madness

It's tradition. There winner gets a prize, like picking a date night of their choice. I know I have a losing record with my brackets to Chris', but I KNOW I won at least once. He says I haven't, and I have nothing to prove otherwise.

So here we are again. I refuse to listen to the experts on "bracketology," I don't see how you can be an expert. Any team can win and lose at any time, so it's not really a science. I love cheering for the underdog. And why wouldn't I pick my beloved Cougars to go all the way? Who says they can't? This is as good a year as any, in my opinion. And as a true blue fan, I will always believe. JIMMER'D!

Chris takes the brackets very serious. He pays close attention to all the teams in the country throughout the season, and very carefully makes his selections. He throws in some upsets to mix it up. He won't tell me his strategy for his selections, but it must be complex. It takes him hours.
Me? Well, I choose my favorite first of all, then have my own system from there, working backwards. Like if I don't like the schools' colors, they lose. If I've heard of the school in another sport, like football, and think they are overrated, they lose. I hate the teams that every year are always listed in the top 10 because their programs have amazing successful reputations. Blah.
It takes me 3 minutes to fill mine out.

Let the fun begin!

Drew's Blessing

On Sunday our sweet little boy was blessed at church. It was amazing to see all the love from in the people who were there. The Taylors were well represented, Chris' mother and stepfather came from St. George and my sweet friend drove from Las Vegas that morning to be there.

Four generations were present.

All weekend I had been making preparations for that day, including a luncheon after church for the family. It was crazy. Even as the meeting began there was the constant greetings taking place, keeping the kids happy, and catching up with one another.
Before I knew it, Chris was carrying him to the front of the chapel. It hit me that we hadn't discussed the blessing at all. I was surprised that I hadn't mentioned it to him before, because that sounded like something I would do. And I'm grateful I didn't.



Chris was cool as usual and did an amazing job. I don't believe he knew what he was going to say beforehand, he just spoke the words that came to him.



It was the first time the family had seen him, so he was passed around the entire rest of the day. Lots of love, it was a beautiful day.