He Lives!

I KNOW that my Redeemer lives

What COMFORT this sweet sentence gives

HE LIVES, He lives, who once was dead...

This is why we celebrate EASTER.

Our Savior died and lives again because of power and grace of the Resurrection.

Resurrection is a gift from GOD to all men.

When Mike and I first started having kids, he didn't want to do the Easter Bunny thing,

but I convinced him the kids shouldn't miss out on the fun that can bring.

(As long as we don't let it get out of control).

A few years ago I thought maybe we could ask "The Bunny" to visit us on a different day rather than Sunday. So he does. That way we can keep our focus on the Savior during Sunday.

Here's our Easter Celebration:

The Easter Baskets:

Mo got a little piano, and the cutest tu-tu bathing suit.

Bekah got Where The Red Fern Grows and a Veggie Tales movie.

Aaron got Toy Story/Hot Wheel cars (what else?) and books about bugs.

Emma got a Justin Bieber CD and a mood ring.

And of course there was enough candy and Easter grass to go around.

Truly one of the most colorful Holidays around!

Dying Eggs.

(Mike got this idea from a friend in our ward.)

Did you know if you plant a jelly bean during Easter,

it will grow into a sucker by the next morning?

Try it next year.

28 Again!

Every time the kids have a birthday they tell me it was the Best Birthday Ever!

(Until it's over then suddenly we're back to complaining and asking,

"How many more days until my next birthday?")

I recently celebrated a birthday and it really was the BEST Birthday EVER!

My Hubby took the day off work so he could watch the kids. He made plans for me and my mom to go to lunch together. Then he let me decide h0w to fill up the rest of the afternoon. I'm sure he was not to surprised when he learned we went shopping. I found several cute additions to my wardrobe and two new pairs of shoes, (exactly what I was looking for by the way).

After our shopping excursion he made dinner.

My mom stayed to watch the kids while we went on a date...Soul Surfer.

(Which is a very good movie, I highly recommend it.)

After dinner I blew out my candles and opened my present. It was exactly what I had been hinting for, the Lego "YO" Truck from the Pixar movies. Ever since I helped Aaron put together R.C. from Toy Story I've been hooked on Legos. They are definitely my new favorite toy. I was supposed to put my Lego set together, but Aaron couldn't contain his excitement either, so instead I settled for watching my husband and son put it together.

It was a very nice birthday, but I must admit one of my very favorite presents came from a total stranger. While out to lunch with my Mom, I decided to ask the waiter about my age, here's how it went down:

Me: Can I ask you a question?

Waiter: Yes.

Me: Will you tell me the truth if I promise I won't be offended

and it won't effect your tip?

Waiter: (A bit more intrigued now) Okay.

(He already knew we were there celebrating my birthday) Me: How old do you think I am?

Waiter: (Hand goes up to chin - he ponders for a minute): You won't be offended?

Me: No. Not at all. I just want the truth.

Waiter: 28

Me: (Hand slapping the table in utter shock) Wow! You just made my day! I'm 34 today.

And after I told him he didn't seem to believe me. I'm going to keep telling myself he was the most honest waiter in the world and he didn't say that to get a bigger tip.

Now if people would just keep believing I'm 28, for oh, let's say the next 10 years...oh who am I kidding?

At least the next 5 years...that would be great!

And truly the best present ever is feeling young no matter what

wrinkles or grey hairs come my way.

April Fool's Has Gone To The Dogs

April Fool's Day is a glorious excuse to play really good practical jokes on my family and friends. Usually, I don't bother trying to "get" Mike because he knows me so well. So I had pretty much assumed that pulling the wool over my hubby's eyes was impossible. But not this year. Oh I got him so good!!! Read on if you appreciate a good practical joke, are a fan of April Fool's Day or just want to hear about Mike gettin' tricked!

April Fool's Day was on a Friday this year. So, on Thursday I started talking about this dog I "found"on KSL.com. It was a little Pomeranian, so cute, it had all of it's shots and I really, really wanted to go pick it up...plus it was free to a loving home. Mike of course says, "No." Meanwhile I keep talking it up like it was a good idea and I made sure to leave the conversation open, hoping he understands just how much I want this dog.

The day before I had talked to our neighbor down the street, who happens to own a cute, little Pomeranian. I asked her if we could "borrow" her dog around 5pm on Friday for a twenty minutes or so, just long enouch to convince Mike I had got a dog. She said I could and agreed it was a pretty good trick.

Friday comes and at 12:30pm I call Mike. This is how it played out:

Me: "Hi Honey, call me before you leave work today because we have a surprise for you."

Mike: "Oh. Okay then this is me calling you because I'm leaving early today."

Me (to myself): "Oh crap - I hope the dog's available."
Me (to Mike): "Okay see you soon."

I run down to see if I can get the dog earlier than expected now. Thankfully he was available but only for the next few minutes because the owner was leaving soon. We just barely made it!

Mike pulled up and I pretty much dragged him to the backyard to witness the surprise. While he was on his way home the kids and I had enough time to work up a little story: "This was our new dog, it's a girl and we named her Peaches. We picked her up this morning while he was at work and she was free." The kids did a great job of playing along.

Mike was beside himself! This is how the rest of the joke played out:

Mike sees the dog: "What is that?!"

Me and the kids: "It's our new dog, Peaches."

Mike: "No. No. It has to go back! You did this with the cat Gail!"

Me: "Mike it will be fine. It's a little dog, which means little poops. The kids and I will take care of her."

Mike: "No. No. NO! I don't want a dog! Ya, little poops which means you don't see it until...oops too late, you've stepped in it. NO. NO. NO."

Me: "Kids, what were we supposed to tell Daddy if he got mad."

Mike (finger pointed at me and in a hushed tone): "Don't suck them into this..."

Me and Kids: "April Fool's! That's not Peaches it the neighbor's dog, Pippin!"

Mike (red face now erased, vein in forehead back to normal size and not pulsing anymore): Oh, that's Pippin. Come here Pippin! Good dog."

We're still talking about it! It was a pretty good trick. In fact Mike saw our neighbors walking Pippin the other day and he shouted out his window:

"Hey that's my dog!"

What's Wrong With This Picture?!

Moriah! You've already had a bath!

Doesn't the expression on her face speak volumes?

This didn't happen on April Fool's Day

BUT it really should have...it really should have!

All the kids have done this very same thing at one point or another in their

babyhood/toddler years. And though I'm tired of messes like these, I still have to run for the camera because I know I'd regret not capturing this moment in time.

Besides, how would they ever believe me when I tell them what

little stinkers they were if I don't have photographic evidence?

Birthday Bowling

Her face says it all...Yes, we had a great time. Happy Birthday Wes!

This is my "little" brother Wes, I use the word "little" sarcastically because this boy towers over me like a skyscraper. He recently turned 32 and my sister organized a little birthday bowling outing.

Thanks Co!

Here are the highlights:

Another Strike!What a cute smile! "It's not too heavy..."

Ramps! Highly Recommended, even for some of us "grown ups"

Death To The Bunny

That dreaded day finally arrived...

A couple of weeks ago Emma came upstairs and announced she needed to speak with me in private. I calmly agreed we could talk right after I got the other kids their breakfast, but inside I was freaking out a little, "What's going on now!? Why does she want to talk in private?! Will I know what to say?!" We sat down on my bed and she sheepishly began, "Mom, is the Easter Bunny real?"

INSTANT sigh of relief on my part. I mean I thought she was going to tell me that her little boyfriend kissed her or she found a strange lump on her body or she snuck out of the house the other day. Whew! I can handle a little Easter Bunny confessional, namely because I know him very well...(hee, hee).

So I said, "What do you think Honey? Do you think he is real?" Emma - "Well, I want to believe he's real, but I was in your room the other day, (snooping) and I found this stuff with Easter stuff inside, (yes, the box in my closet that I didn't hide very well - in truth it was an open box in my closet, on the floor, with a blanket thrown over the top of it - nice going Mom)...

Emma continues - "I wasn't trying to find Easter stuff, but I did and now I'm wondering if you and Dad are the ones who..." She trails off but looks up at me with a curious wonder.

Mom - "Mike you'd better come in here!" At this point in the story Mike is just as curious and panicked as I was but he's been outside wondering just what in the world Emma has on her mind. He was probably pacing too.

We all sat down and had a very logical discussion about bunnies who leave eggs, fairies who collect teeth, and yes, even the beloved Santa Claus. She took it well, very well in fact. Especially when we announced that now she could be the Easter Bunny's helper.

At one point in the conversation she boldly stated she wanted to give us each $20 for all the fun things we've given her in the past while working under the false identities of E.B., Tooth Fairy and Santa.

Mom - "Oh no honey, you don't pay us for those gifts, it's just something parents like to do for their children and when you're a mommy you'll do it for your kids."

Dad - "But IF we were settling any "debts", it was a lot more than forty bucks!"