Spring Break

The night before everything goes back to normal from spring break and I'm thinking it feels more like we have been out for a few months.  We crammed the week with all sorts of fun and thankfully the weather was beautiful and provided us lots more opportunities to be outside and have more energy.

Our house is a mess and the kids are sleepy and it feels successful.  Aside from the cabin and spending 6 hours at the park this week and having a cousin sleepover for 2 nights, we had a bridal shower and Easter celebrations.

Friday night we had Hansens over to our house for dinner and coloring Easter eggs.  Farrah brought 5 dozen eggs!!  The kids had a good time and didn't ask for more for the first time. :)

 

 

Kaiden actually looks a little bored. :) 

 

Sage got a little crazy with the dye and colored her fingers green.  We tried soaking them in vinegar and hand sanitizer but nothing worked so we painted her nails a different color to make her feel better.

 

So when we got the fingernail polish out, everybody else needed their fingers painted.  Kaiden kindly volunteered to paint a few of our toenails (as long as he didn't have to touch them).  I heard him giggling as he painted Alissa's and soon found out why...

 

 

We like to celebrate the bunny part of Easter on Saturday so Friday night the Easter bunny came and left lots of eggs all over the house and a basket for each kid with a few fun things.  They were so excited because they didn't even anticipate the Easter bunny this year.

 

We met my family for lunch and went to a park for a few minutes to wait for everybody to be ready for the big hunt at grandma and grandpas house. 

 

Mom handing out the baskets to all the kids with a jacket in it. 

 

She had a little kid, bigger kid and adult hunt this year. 

 

Everybody had way too much fun and got spoiled again.  Such good grandparents!

 

 

Sunday has been a different Easter for us than normal.  We were a lot more emotional and grateful for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It's become much more personal.  So thankful for the opportunity to be reunited with spirit and body and be able to see our dad/grandpa David again.  We know we will and we strive to live righteously to be able to be a forever family.

 

I love my husband and am so grateful for the example he sets for our family of faith.  He is strong and he displays such acceptance of the Lord's will.  I am grateful for his testimony.

1st Park Day

I love the first park day in the Spring.  It's like reuniting with a really great friend.  I do truly love it that much!  I had to laugh as I watched Ella manuever up this in her high heels.  Aparently I haven't taught my daughter about what shoes we wear to what events - however high heels would not be included in any events for me.  Whatever makes you happy I guess.  She does well in them.

 

 

 

We were lucky enough to go with 10 cousins! 

Jacob, McKenzie, Jason, Christopher, Anita, Amy, Ian, Ella, Alissa & Molly.

Thankfully Dustin's sister Krista was there with me.

 

The kids spotted lots of leaves.  SO much fun!

 

So thankful for warmer weather and the way it changes our moods.  So thankful to be a stay at home mom and to have these 3 healthy happy kids.  I had another moment of thinking, "This is my dream!"  I am so thankful for the blessings I have been given by a loving Father in Heaven and a hard working husband.

Cabin with Wheelers 2013

I am just positive that my kids are going to cherish the memories we make being crazy and lazy in a cabin in Island Park each year.  My good parents buy a week rental to a cabin from the scout auction and then make it available for all of us to come stay. 

 

This year we left on Thursday night and got there the exact same time as Heidi and Kenny.  Just in time to eat moms hot dinner.   Our bedroom was pretty ideal, downstairs with a queen bed in the middle and 2 bunk beds on each side for all 3 of our kids to sleep in.  I love having my kids in the same room and not in the same bed.  :)

 

The kids soaking with grandpa in the morning.

 

Playing some Settlers. 

 

We spent HOURS doing a 1000 piece puzzle. 

 

Friday night my brothers and their families showed up.   

 

Even bigger hot tub party! 

 

Dad brought supplies to make marshmallow shooters.  Everybody had a good time with them, but most especially the big boys. 

 

The kids had fun painting them. 

 

 

Playing more games. 

 

Playing outside in the snow.   I pulled the little girls around for about half hour and dad came out and pulled them behind the car.  Much more pleasant for me. 

 

Meanwhile Dustin and Kenny dug from seperate sides and made a huge snow cave. 

 

That night we had a puzzle competition with 3 -500pc puzzles.  Mom, Heidi & Kenny kicked everybody's trash. 

 

 

The kids entertained themselves. 

 

Every family was in charge of different meals and we ate good!  Spicy chicken with rice, potato soup and bread bowls, meatball subs, chicken cordon bleu.. yum. 

 

Another night we played Fear Factor - easy style.   

You wouldn't know it was easy by the look on Heidi's face.

Or Lisa as she tried to swallow the mushroom.

or Jeremy's face

 

or Cody's face

or Kenny's face for that matter & that was only a lemon.

 

 

Spent more time playing in the snow the next day. 

And then finding a snow hill to sled down and dad brought 2 snow machines to pull each other on.  We had a great time! 

 

It was a beautiful day! 

 

What would a vacation like this be without a crazy face group shot?

 

Sure am thankful for these people (and Cody, Kylie and Lilly who had to leave early)!  We are so blessed to have good relationships with our family and the opportunity to be close and make memories like this!  Such a blast!