Easter 2014

What a fun Easter we had today!  The kids woke up to their baskets filled with treats and goodies.  We never have to worry about having time for this before church because we get up so early.  So it's nice that we have time to just enjoy the moment. 

 Sam was dying for a science kit of experiments.  All week he was asking me if I thought the Easter Bunny would be strong enough to carry one if he was able to find one small enough.  Well, it looks like he found just the right one.  Sam was so excited and have to do an experiment right away.

 James was hoping the Easter Bunny would bring him Galaxy Squad Legos because I told him I wouldn't buy them for him.  The Tooth Fairy and the Leprechauns had come through so far, so he couldn't wait to see if the Easter Bunny was just as reliable.  To say he was ecstatic about it would be an understatement.  You would have thought he had just won the lottery for a million dollars!

 Chloe got a Frozen play set.  She was so cute when she noticed it.  Just big eyes, jaw dropped, and complete silence as she admired it with awe.  After her wonder and amazement for the castle wore off she was able to dig through her basket and see all the girly things she loves stuffed in there.

 Chloe wanted a picture with Bostyn after church since they were wearing their pretty Easter dresses.

 Later in the day we headed down to my sister Joy's house for dinner and a family egg hunt.  Seth and the boys had fun finish stuffing the over 300 eggs we had.  They kept having competitions to see who could stuff the most marshmallow peeps into one egg.  I think Mitch won with 5, but only because he rubber banded it closed.  I felt sorry for who every found that one!

 We had a yummy dinner and a fun egg hunt.  While all the adults were hiding the eggs I pulled out my balloons and made some fun things for all the kids.  I was a little nervous, hoping I could really do it and remember all I had learned.  I was pleasantly surprised with how well I did.  I got a request for turtle, which I hadn't learned yet.  I guess I have some homework to do! :)

Karen's New Talent

This weekend I decided I wanted to pursue a new talent; that of balloon animal making.  For some reason Chloe has been wanting a balloon animal.  She must have seen one on a show or something.  So I called up my friend's husband, Jamon, who I know knows how to twist balloons.  He let me come over last night and learn a few animals and things and the different twists and ties there are.

So today I had fun on YouTube learning how to do all sorts of fun animals and things.  The kids (and I) were loving it.   

There were a lot of pops and unidentifiable creations, but I am getting the hang of it.  Pretty soon there were dozens of balloon animals all over the house.  Who knew balloon tying could be so therapeutic?! :)

I just may have to take balloons to our family Easter get together tomorrow!

Dying Eggs

I don't know why things I love, like dying Easter Eggs and Carving Pumpkins, are so hard to get done sometimes.  So when we woke up this morning we got right to it before the day could get away from us.  I wasn't going to miss letting the kids dye and decorate their eggs. 

One of my favorite things about activities like these is to watch and listen to my kids.  I love their reactions to different things like the splash the eggs make when they are dropped in the colors, the magic crayon that you can't see until you've dyed an egg....  I love little minds making little discoveries.

I also love their conversations.  It's very educational to sit back and see what they find to be important and funny.  I love soaking up their lives during times like this so that I make sure as their mom that I know what they like and think about so that I can talk to them about it.  After all, if they know I am into their interests and know what's going on in their lives now, that will still be the case when they are older.

I'll Take my Breakfast Outside Today, Thank You Very Much

 

I guess the morning was just too beautiful to leave because after I had watered the garden and went in to make breakfast Chloe still had not come in.  When it was time to eat she informed me that I could bring her breakfast out to her today. :)

Our New Favorite Park

We have a new park in our community that is just amazing.  It has rock hills, a stream, tunnels, slides, swings, zip lines....  It's pretty awesome.  We had fun going there on a picnic with some friends today. 

 James and Fynn and best buddies.  They would walk up and down the stream just talking and playing together.  James almost had a melt down when he slipped and got his bottom wet, until he saw that Fynn did it too.  Then suddenly (thankfully) it was funny.

 Bostyn is Chloe's "adopted" big sister.  She is so good to Chloe and they have a blast together.  And best of all, I didn't have to spend the whole time pushing Chloe on the swings!  Thank you Bostyn! :)

 

 

Silly Walk

 

Every morning before Seth leaves for work Chloe has to do the "silly walk" with him.  She hops on his feet, hooks her fingers through his belt loops and hangs on as he walks her to the garage door where she then stands and shouts parting words to her dad until he is out of sight.  It is one of the things I love about my mornings.  There is a special bond between a little girl and her Dad and I am glad that Chloe and Seth have it!

Story Time

We are newly frequently attenders of our library's Story Time.  I don't know why we haven't gone before, but we have been loving it.  I usually just take James and Chloe while Sam is in school, but when he is off track he loves going too. 

They get to sing, move, read, play games, and at the end they always get a little coloring page and a science experiment.   And best of all they get to go search for books and check them out.  It has been really good for them (and me).  It has helped us get back into a better routine of reading daily.  Plus, I love free activities to look forward to.

Neighborhood Easter Party

Our neighborhood put on a fun Easter Egg Hunt for all the kids.  There was the hunt, face painting, and yummy hot dogs.  It was a last minute activity so there were a few little hiccups, like not having enough eggs, but we talked the kids through it and it was a learning experience for them. 

I love that our neighborhood is getting more involved and organizing fun things to get us all out and mingle.  It makes me want to be more involved so that these types of things continue and my kids have memories of their neighbors and friends who have become such a part of their lives.

Muppets

 

We had fun going with Natalie and Presley to see the new Muppets movie.  Chloe just loves Presley and anytime we can get them together makes me happy, so it was fun to go together and see them interact.
The funny thing about the movie was Sam's reaction.  In the movie there is an evil frog that looks like Kermit named, Constantine.  Sam was so scared of him.  It was hilarious.  This is the same little boy who went and saw the last Hobbit movie with his dad and didn't get scared once.  So crazy.  I felt bad, but we couldn't stop laughing at how much Sam hated that frog.  I guess you just never know...

Tressa's Night

Joy and I weren't able to go to Tressa's Wedding Shower so we all got together for a yummy dinner before her big day.  It was fun to go out as girls, and it was even more fun that I had a little girl to take with me.  This is one of the first times we've done something like this together.  Chloe loved every minute of it.  She is such a girly-girl and loves a good "party".  I love that she is always up for anything.  I had a little mental "flash forward" tonight of all the fun things we will get to do together and I got excited.  Love my little girl!

Inside Campout

The kids have been building forts lately.  And when I say forts, I don't mean just a little area they threw a blanket over, I mean really big, covers-my-whole-main-floor forts.  I remember building forts when I was a kid.  I loved making forts and I never understood why we couldn't just leave them up...until now.  My house is a mess! :)

Every chair, pillow, blanket and stuffed toy they can get their hands on ends up in their "base".  Now I'm the one telling them they have to clean it up.

After days and days of making them pick it up, I finally just gave in and let them keep them up for a while.  They were so excited and decided that they needed to sleep in their forts.  I didn't think they'd be able to get to sleep and I thought they might wake up and be scared, but they slept well and had a great night sleeping out inside! :) 

General Conference

This morning we got to take Regan and Lexi to General Conference.  It is their first one as new members and so we thought taking them to see it first hand would be fun and educational.  They had a great time and loved every minute of it and learned a lot.
Seth and I really enjoyed it too.  We haven't ever been to a session together before.  It's easy to forget how powerful it is to be in that huge conference hall and be touched by the amazing spirit that effortlessly fills such a large space. 

We enjoyed our walk to and from the session.  Toe to toe with people of our faith, surrounded by breath taking landscapes and buildings.  The trees were in bloom and you couldn't help think of the Primary Song, "My Heavenly Father Loves Me."

I can't wait until we can take our own children!

Kindergarten Orientation

 

James and I had a fun time going to the school together for Kindergarten Orientation.  He was a little nervous at first because he thought I was going to leave him, but once he realized we were in this together he got more excited. 

The first part was for the parents, but James waited patiently.  The second half was for him.  We got to go do crafts and activities.  He had a blast and was very proud of his work.  I can tell he is getting more excited and less nervous for the fast approaching school life.

We got there a little early so we decided to have some fun with the camera.  These types of shots are my favorite.  I love time with my kids!

The New Improved Aquarium

Our new Aquarium just opened and we are so excited about it.   It is so much bigger, nicer, and funner than the little one we had.  It's just it's first week open and we've already gone and few times with family and friends.

I love when my kids can explore and learn in a fun environment.  They loved the new rope bridge, otter exhibit, rain forest room, and the shark tunnel.  We sat for a long time just watching the fish and sharks and turtle swim by.  It really is breath taking.  We are glad we have passes so we can continue to come and discover new things as they keep adding to it.