We are a happy family

It seems like lately we have been having a lot of fun just being together as a family. Flying kites, lying in the grass soaking up the sunshine, watching movies together every Friday night. It's not that we are doing anything too exciting, but we are making memories and finding joy in one another. 

For example, this is how we wake up on Saturday mornings. All the kids come to our bed to snuggle/tickle fight and inevitably someone lets the dog up so she's part of the fun. With four kids, we have lost the luxury of sleeping in, but at least we wake up happy!

Little Max has become an expert at sitting. I love how liberating it is for me as a mom when my babies learn to sit. Now if I'm holding him and I have to pull something out of the oven or wipe someone's bum, I can just sit him down for a second and not worry about it.

 In case you were wondering what I look like. It seems like for every 100 pictures of my kids there is one picture of me.

Kate's Field Trip

When I was a kid, I was always jealous of the kids whose moms got to go on field trips with them. So now, as a mom, I try to do as many field trips with my kids as I can, even though it is a bit exhausting taking my younger two with me. Max was in the Snugli the whole time, wishing he was at home napping.
Kate's class took a field trip to a local nursery called Hansen Plants (or "Hants and Plants" as Kate pronounced it.) It's just down the street from the school, so they needed mommies to drive. Here's our backseat filled with little ALA kindergarteners: Kate, Sammie, and Erica.

The nursery workers took us around and showed how they plant each seed and grow them in these large flats until they get big enough for a large pot.

I love Kate's face in this photo-- apparently she's not too sure about what is being said.

At the end, everyone got to plant a little pumpkin seed.

 Even little Eve! The bummer news for us was that when we got home we left them on the counter and Daisy dragged them all over the family room. Not the best growing conditions for a pumpkin.

 Everyone's favorite part of the day was when they showed the class the turtle that lives at the nursery. Apparently he's a sensitive little guy and pees when he gets nervous. And you better believe he was nervous with 25 kindergarteners in his face. They all laughed like crazy when the turtle relieved himself all over this poor woman.

Easter 2012

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. I love the meaning behind it: our Savior's glorious Resurrection. I love reading in the New Testament the week before Easter and trying to imagine what it was like for Him. I love pondering the truth of the hymn "I Know That My Redeemer Lives." I love the hope I find in sunshine at spring, reminding me of rebirth and new life.

And, yeah, I love Peeps and dying eggs too.

This year was a little tricky because Travis was in the BAHAMAS during the week before Easter. (lucky!) The kids were so excited about dying eggs, but I made them wait till Saturday when he got home because Trav loves that tradition as much as they do.

After a little instruction from Dad, Eve was ready to try it on her own.

We taught Kate the trick of writing on the egg with white crayon before you dye it and watching your words appear. Here's her special egg that says "I Love You."

 It is so great to have Eve in our lives. The other night she got out of bed around 8:30 and said, "I need to ask you a question. When Jesus died, when did He come alive again?"
Wowed by her deep spiritual inquiry, I replied, "After Jesus was crucified, he came back to life three days later, on Easter Sunday."
"Did He turn into the Easter Bunny?"
Clearly we have missed out on some key doctrine here.

 Anna and I decided this egg is our very favorite color. Almost the same as her eyes!

 Even little Max got an egg. Not that it did him any good.

I am the worst at early morning photos. This year we did something fun by hiding the kids' Easter baskets and leaving a little clue for them. Kate found hers in the fridge with no problem, Eve's was hiding in the bathtub, and Anna had a tough time figuring out where someplace "warm and dry" was. She eventually got it, but was pretty stressed as she ran around looking for it. (the dryer)
Yes, I did make Easter skirts for my girls and an Easter onesie for Max. Yes, it took countless hours (the drama of the Easter skirts  made me wonder if I've lost my sewing ability). And, yes, I forgot to take pictures of them wearing said apparel. Even though Max only wore his for about 20 minutes before covering it with poop.
And, yes, both sets of grandparents had fun Easter egg hunts that the kids loved. Yes, I neglected to take pictures of that as well. Better luck next year!