Easter Sunday

My dad asked if I was going to post pictures of the kids in their Easter clothes for him to see. Are you kidding? I live for excuses to dress my kids up and Easter is just about the best reason there is to pull out the finery.

{the best we could do for a family portrait}

Darin was a good sport, he wore the yellow and blue tie that coordinated with my navy skirt and yellow sweater which matched perfectly with Bub's nautical outfit and tied in with Miriam's yellow dress (am I hearing gagging sounds coming from anyone?). Well, I owned and loved the Sweetheart Family Barbie Dolls when I was little {brunette Barbie, Ken, little blond haired doll, and a baby boy....all in matching clothes all the time}. I need to thank Darin for making my 6 year old dreams come to life....he EVEN let Miriam wear the silly Easter Bonnet even though he thought it was ridiculous.

Handsome guy, with a bit of a bad attitude today.

Except when we went for a walk to the duck pond, he was happy as a clam the entire time. We all were, except for when Miriam lost a Jibitz (which I later found) and then when she fell off a rock. That girl is a total over-reactor, you should hear her scream!

Our church service was wonderful. I am so grateful for those who prepared lessons, music and talks for the rest of us to enjoy.

Darin Bub and I took looooong naps {Miriam listened to her new Scripture Scouts adventure and colored}.
I tried to have a dinner that resembled what Jesus would have eaten. We had fish, unleavened bread, olives, and feta cheese. It wasn't truly authentic since the fish was mahi-mahi, and we had strawberry shortcake for dessert, but it was fun.

Tonight as we talked about the true meaning of Easter Miriam asked "what is the true meaning of Halloween?" and just as Darin was about to explain she said "Oh! I know, it's the celebration of the Holy Ghost!" and then proceeded to make scary ghost sounds. Oh how I love that screaming, over-reacting, constantly talking, imaginative little girl and her non-verbal, teasing, silly walking, sly, bad attitude little brother....and they are ours for eternity.

Bunny Day

I tried to make a clear distinction between Easter {tomorrow} and "Bunny Day" {today}.
Today we celebrate Spring, and this year that included:

Hidden baskets filled with bubbles, a small trinket, and new swimming suits
Found the hidden boiled eggs so we could have our BHB {big hearty breakfast}
New Spring outfits
{purchased last summer on clearance...I get such satisfaction from doing that! I have to document it here because Darin just doesn't get excited enough by my bargain hunting}

Neighborhood egg hunt.

Everytime I volunteer to organize something I stress for no reason. This worked out so well, was so easy, and was great fun for kids and adults! It would have been fun to have a brunch along with the hunt but I was afraid of getting rained out by the forecast. It did begin to rain just as Darin went out to hide the eggs, but it was warm and overcast for the entire afternoon.

We hunted eggs, blew bubbles, played with plastic frogs, and friends for the rest of the afternoon.

Happy Hoppy Bunny Day!

Good Friday

Such a happy photo.
I love dying eggs...and eating them with green pink blue or yellow stains from the shell.

{we used those foamy stickers to make pictures on these eggs and when we pulled them off they left some stickiness behind. It would be perfect to add a little glitter, I wish we would have had some.}

We met Alicia for shopping and lunch.

So fun to see her and, so glad we had a good excuse to go to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

After lunch, Bub and I took a nap that was interrupted by a phone call reminding me that we were asked to clean the church this week. I don't like to admit this but, I groaned as I hung up the phone. There are a zillion good reasons to be willing to serve with gratitude, but I just wasn't in a good place at that moment. Luckily, Darin was nothing but positive about it, and then Miriam was ecstatic about it! So, we snarfed a quick dinner and ran off to the church ready to clean. As I was washing the windows, I remembered again that it was Good Friday. All week long I had been trying to focus on the real meaning of Easter and this opportunity to serve was just handed to us! We got to clean the church on Good Friday to have it spic and span for Easter Sunday. All the sudden I felt so grateful for any little offering we could give.

...and for all you ward members that read my blog, be assured that every single door handle on the top floor left side was completely drenched with cleaner and wiped clean by Miriam. They have never been so germ free.

The last sunny day

It's raining..... it's pouring....again. We had a few days of glorious sunshine when the kids played outside for hours and hours but we are back to rain throughout the weekend. I don't mind the rain, in general, I just prefer to kick the kids outside. I am also planning a neighborhood egg hunt, which I am realizing will be in the rain. Rain or shine the egg hunt will go on!

anyway... while it was sunshiny we had to go back to the Gateway to exchange a sweater.


Miriam was sure to bring her money this time to pick up something she saw at the Planetarium on our last visit. She bought a mood ring. I have to admit, it's pretty cool. She is constantly evaluating her mood depending on the color of her new treasure "wow, I must be relaxed....see how green it is??"
The ring also caused me some mothering refection. Miriam picked up a dolphin ring at first, I showed Miriam the flower rings, which had much bigger mood stones for the same price and said she should get one of those instead. She deliberated for a long long time and finally decided on the flower. Then at home we had two or three discussions about how she wished she would have gotten the dolphin one. I told her she had 2 choices: 1. get over it 2. earn $2.00 and I would take her to go buy the dolphin. She said she didn't want to spend more money on ANOTHER ring that did the same thing. "Why did you get the flower?" I asked. "Because I wanted to make you happy" she answered. This was a small thing but it made me think...

My reflection: I want to be happy about the decisions Miriam makes, but I don't want the responsibility of her unhappiness if she doesn't like the outcome of my decisions for her (or her PERCEIVED pressure from me). I have learned one thing completely in my 32 years of life and it is this: I can't MAKE anyone else happy and no one else can MAKE me happy. I have tried to take over others happiness many times, and have been disappointed and hurt every time. I do think it's my responsibility as a parent to give advice, or say what I would do in their situation but I need to be able to fully accept it when my kids choose differently. Also, I think there will be times when I need to NOT give my opinion or advice simply because my kids will purposely choose the other way.
What I need to work on: expression opinions without emotion, being clear when giving advice/opinions that they have to live with the decision so ultimately it's up to them, knowing when to keep my opinions to myself, disconnecting my happiness/self esteem from my kids choices.

On to some 'livin green' stuff. The planetarium had this display where you turned a crank to power a 25 watt incandescent light, a florescent light bulb and a light emitting diode (whatever that is). It took A LOT of hard cranking to power the incandescent. The light emitting diode shown the brightest with the least amount of work. It made me want to be more diligent about turing out the lights.

Off to clean the house!

Conference Survial

I love that General Conference and Palm Sunday coincided this year. It makes the beginning of our Easter celebration week seem even more special, especially after listening to Elder Holland's talk on the last week of Christ's life. Perfect beginning.

My plan of attack for conference this time around was to do crafts with the kids during the morning sessions while listening to the radio...really loudly. Bub goes down for a nap just in time for the afternoon session, so we had Miriam do her conference packet then. I would say it was a success, although the minute I stop doing something with my hands I am lulled into a peaceful conference slumber. Thank heavens for the Ensign.

Ta-Da! (messy but cute-thanks Family Fun magazine)

Growing up, my family had two conference traditions: big breakfast Sunday morning (check) and doing something active as a family between sessions (my favorite was flying kites). On Sunday we took a family walk to the church well (for my chlorine free water) and collected nature items to remind us of Christ's Atonement. The Gospel Art kit pictures are up, and the goal is to talk about Christ's last week everyday this week...nothing fancy, just a song or a story. If I try to get too elaborate I tend to disappoint myself and lose the spirit of the celebration.

Before Miriam took the picture below she said:
"I am going to take my self portrait...please don't delete it and put it on your blog tonight. I will check for it tomorrow"
So this is for Miriam...the self portrait artist.

Happy Easter!

It's Raining

We haven't been able to go outside to play for a long long time. When we woke up to more rain this morning Miriam reminded me of the promise to take her to the planetarium on "some rainy day". So today became "some rainy day".

Bub's ultra short hair is due to my second attempt at cosmetology. My friend Tashina evened things out for me but we had to go super short. It's a good thing he is so darn cute with my cutting skills.

Tom Foolery

The old starburst corn trick (mixed in REAL corn ha ha).

Then the classic juice/jello.
I left Miriam in charge of carrying out our April Fools jokes since I had Young Women's tonight. She said it went well, Darin didn't say much but he is a good sport about these things. Bub ate the corn like it was business as usual.

I made sure the Young Women remembered what day it was by putting an olive in their cupcakes. Miriam and I took some extras over to some friends...I hope they are still our friends.

In other news: we rented Sky High from the library and I was reminded of how much I adore that movie. Seriously, it's not moving, or life changing but I could watch it over and over and over again. It's such a great movie for families. I need to remember to pick it up for our personal library.

Watching Sky High reminded me that Stephanie Meyer (of Twilight fame) had thought of Danielle Panabaker (Layla) as a possibility for Bella. She would fit the Bella I had in mind...not the brooding emo Bella they choose.
Chillax, I still like the movie, I'm just sayin'.........

Stephanie was also considering Steven Strait (Warren Peace) as Jacob, which would have worked, but I like who they cast as well. From the beginning, I was always Team Jacob.

Why all the Twilight opinions now, after all is said and done? Well...Darin finally agreed to listen to the books if we could put them on our Ipods so he could listen while doing other things. He LIKES it, and I love reading it (listening) together. I like seeing his point of view, plus it's romantic, and romance anywhere you find it is a good thing.

I have said it before, and I will say it again....the book is not a literary work of art. It can be a tedious read at times, but the story line and the ideas are amazing.

Still proud to be a Twilight Fan.

Baby Hunger Pains

We went to hold new baby Wyler this weekend. He is so cute it gave me hunger pains. It doesn't help that Julia looks so pretty and serene rather than sleep deprived and chaotic. She makes it look easy, even with a broken ankle.

On the way down we stopped at Cabela's. I needed to pick up gift certificates so it made a fun halfway point for our trip.

We fed the fish, oohed and ahhed over the stuffed wildlife and then settled ourselves on a porch swing to eat some fudge.

One of our main objectives for the trip was to stock Julia's freezer with meals. Kelly, Sarah, and I spent Saturday morning making and bagging 12 meals plus 2 extra bags of spaghetti sauce. I think I only spent $80 for all the groceries plus meat for a BBQ that night. I need to get myself more orgainzed because this is totally the way to go, for sure I will do this next time I have a baby.

Erik and Kelly were great hosts. They even let us have a Twilight movie night even though Kelly would rather clean toilets than watch it. Miriam had tons of fun with her cousins, but I have never met kids who can dodge a camera better than Josh and Ali so there are no photos.

Heres one of Bub and the Tater-tot though,

and one of the cutest baby in the world yawning,

and a few more of "wylie coyote" (thats my nickname for him).

I don't feel baby hungry very often. In fact, I am more prone to baby aversion, but I couldn't get enough of this little guy.

Here they are Big T and little W, destine to be best friends and partners in crime.

I was so enamored with Wyler I hardly noticed the wind was howling, until we went to drive home and realized that snow tires and chains were required in the canyon. So we HAD to stay another day, hold Wyler some more, play with cousins, and put off all my chores at home for one more day.

The End.

Fish Lessons

After 4 sessions of community swimming lessons, Miriam can finally put her head under water without sucking it up her nose. THIS IS HUGE. Some say I should have thrown her in the water as a baby, some say I didn't take her swimming enough as an infant, some people say they were born afraid of water....whatever it was, and whether or not it is my fault I am very happy for Miriam.

So many of my childhood memories revolve around water I want my kids to have that same freedom, fun, and opportunity.

{Thank goodness the Easter Bunny usually brings a new swimming suit to put in Miriam's basket, she's lookin a little threadbare. }

Costco Discussions

Costco brings out the philosopher in Miriam. We have had more than one shockingly deep conversation while rolling through the isles looking for fresh samples.
For instance, this is what Miriam said a few weeks ago:
"Mom, sometimes I feel like I don't know who I am....like I am watching other people but I forget I am Miriam, and then I remember I am 5 year old Miriam and I have a little brother Bub and you are my mom and I have dad too."

I think I know what she is talking about. I have those moments when I am watching the world as a confused observer, and then I become startled by my own existence. Darin has experienced it as well so it's probably something very common, I just don't remember ever expressing it to anyone. All I could say to Miriam is that I thought I understood what she meant and agree it is a strange feeling.

WELCOME SPRING!

Oh yes, we did celebrated Springs arrival. I didn't make any plans to celebrate but the weather was so great turned out we didn't even NEED A PLAN.

We played outside with friends and neighbors for THREE HOURS.

Miriam had her "KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP"which left us both feeling confident about this transition to elementary school. So far I am starry-eyed about our quaint neighborhood school {no one is bused in....almost all the kids walk, and there are only 3 Kindergarten classes, it reminds me of my small hometown!}.

We got DOWN AND DIRTY in the backyard getting things ready for.....

our little GARDEN!

I was apprehensive about doing the garden thing. I LOVE gardens and fresh veggies and I am not afraid of the hard work {I am my mothers daughter after all} but, I want new flooring and am afraid this project with delay the other. However, Darin and Miriam are so enthusiastic about it I thought I might as well join the party.

The best part of our WELCOME SPRING celebration is that Julia and Jared had their baby today!! I can't wait to get my hands on little WYLER DEAN
Congratulations J&J and little T Marie.

Camera found !

I found my camera after it had been lost for a few days {whew}. Here are the events that were just waiting to be blogged about.

Draper Temple open house.
This was my second time through since I went with the Young Women a few weeks ago, but I was excited to bring the kids and meet up with Mirissa.

What Miriam liked best: The chandelier, the oxen, and the cookies. What Bub liked best: the bus ride, Jesus pictures, the cookies. I liked the brides dressing room.....makes me want to renew my vows. I also love that you can look out onto the Salt Lake Valley and see the Jordan River Temple in the distance. Oh and the cookies.

We had to kill some time before we picked up Darin from work so we went to the zoo dressed in our Sunday clothes. I pulled a wagon through the stinky animal houses dressed in pearls and high heeled boots. We received a few strange looks and a guy offered to pull my wagon up the big hill. I got that wagon pulled all by myself because I am of pioneer stock {and too shy to accept help from strangers}.

After picking up Darin we made it to Logan to see Danielle perform in a fabulous play. She did a great job and it was one of the most entertaining story lines I have seen for a youth play.

Way to go Dani we are proud of you!

K yak is coming along nicely.

Grandpa showed us how to make glass beads. It takes practice, but it is addicting.

I was so sad to discover I hadn't taken any pictures of Alicia's visit...but if she post some on her blog I will steal them off for mine. Alicia is sunshine and laughter. We were lucky we got to see her during her Spring Break.

Miriam took lots of pictures with my camera, which I deleted, except for this one. This one is a keeper for obvious reasons.

Fun with Leprechauns

The LEPRECHAUN that visited us last night was a RASCAL
{I didn't take pictures of the mess he made}

but kind and thoughtful as well.

Happy St.Patrick's Day!
it's so easy being green.

{I'm off to cook the corned beef, cabbage, and green mashed potatoes!}

It's been too long

I have checked my blog everyday hoping that somehow it would be magically updated.
I must be in a blog funk....I guess the wishy washy ways of March do that to me.

But life goes on around here whether I record it or not.

Bub is so terribly sick....look at those fevered cheeks, and look at him smiling through the pain. He was not smiling last night around 2:00 am, neither of us were. We have a Dr. appointment tomorrow morning.

I have learned to make some great artisan bread, and it is soooo easy!

Bub always makes me giggle. Lately I am giggling because he tries on any pair of shoes he can find, and then struts around the house in them. The other thing that tickles me is that he finds a special "toy of the day" which he will carry around all day long. As he toddles around from place to place he will put down and pick up this "toy of the day" always keeping track of it. Its usually a truck or ball, but right now....it's this mini stapler or a hole punch and we have to keep the tools out of his reach. So much like his daddy. Well not the shoe trying, strutting stuff, and Darin doesn't carry toys around....or staplers. Wow, I better clarify this, it's just that he enjoys gadgets and tools like his Daddy.

Golden Moment

Miriam has waited 2 long years for this moment.


Today, because I left my library card in the back pocket of the jeans and washed it, I needed to get myself a new card. "I am five now Mom, is five old enough?" she asked me. "We'll ask the librarian" I answered.

Five is old enough for a golden card, with limited access to just the childrens section which means I had to put Vintage Mickey Classics featuring Steamboat Willie on my card...because that is in the adult collection. I will also need to check out High School Musical 3.

If you have not experienced the thrill of pursuing the walls of books/movies/music at your fingertips for FREE, you should try it. It's like a treasure hunt every week.

Happy Square Root Day!

Today is Square Root Day! "a rare holiday that occurs when the day and the month are both the square root of the last two digits of the current year. Numerically, March 3, 2009, can be expressed as 3/3/09, or mathematically as √9 = 3, or 3² = 3 × 3 = 9." {as reported by Steven Musli from CNET}

Square root day only occurs 9 times in a century, the last one being 2/2/04......which happens to be MIRIAM's BIRTHDAY!? I knew 2 + 2 was 4 and that was a cool birthday but since I can't even remember how to do fractions, the whole square root thing never occurred to me! What fun!

"These days are like calendar comets, you wait and wait and wait for them, then they brighten up your day--and poof--they're gone," Ron Gordon {again,from Steve at CNET}