Easter

We invited Sara and her children over to dye eggs and have a Egg Hunt. The sister missionaries helped us out with the eggs.  

 

 

 

 

 

 We have an amazing family in our ward (church congregation) who lets have an Easter Egg Hunt. We were grateful the rain stopped while the egg hunting commenced. The girls had a fun time searching for the eggs. The trampoline was a huge hit as well.

 

Cutie Pie loved hunting for the eggs. For several days after, we'd hide eggs for her to search.

Easter Goodies

More Easter Goodies

Happy Fourth of July!!

This morning Ms A enjoyed her first parade as a spectator. Our neighbor invited us to join her and her family to watch the parade. We cheered and clapped for the military and the marching bands. We has a wonderful time. Thank you Amy for the invite and enjoyable morning.

Later some other friends invited us over for a delicious barbeque and fireworks. We had a wonderful time chatting with friends, eating the amazing food and watching fireworks. Ms A had a little mishap with a sparkler, but after some love from mom and burn medicine from Rebecca, THANK YOU, she was back in the game having fun!

Playing with a sparkler.
Ms A has declared that the Fourth of July is her favorite holiday, along with Easter. She was grinning and cheering most of the evening.

Blanket Buddies.
Ms A and Mr L got a little chilly as the evening progressed, I grabbed a blanket and they snuggled in for the FABULOUS firework show!!

Dessert...I ***LOVE*** my trifle dish and the Triple Berry Trifle (layers of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries with angel food cake, cheesecake pudding and grated white chocolate) was a perfect addition to my dish.


Thank you Rebecca and Paul for the wonderful evening!!

Happy Easter

Reed's work gave out tickets to see Disney Nature's film African Cats. We had a wonderful time checking out ways to recycle, reduce and reuse along with face painting, "How far can you jump compared to a lion?" (Ms A 3 ft, Lion 20 ft), dancing with Radio Disney and picture taking.

Ms A chose her favorite animal - the GIRAFFE to have on her face.

Afterwards we rushed over to our Stake Center for a delicious lunch (Thank you Primary leaders) and the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Ms A turned six a couple of weeks ago, so she was able to join the older kids in their hunt.

Getting ready and being CUTE!

Found one!

The next day we dyed and decorated our eggs while we waited for Ms E and Mr P to come over for another Easter Egg Hunt. It was a wonderful weekend.

Her multi-colored egg
No dying of the eggs would be complete without messy hands

The final product.

Under the pillow is a perfect place to find an egg.(That bunny is so good.)

Happy Easter!

Utah Here We Come

Since we were a short three hours away, Ms A, my mom and I went to Utah to visit family and friends.
It was perfect timing for us to meet Reed's newest niece, Ms B. We were so excited to meet and hold Laura and Russ's newest little one. CONGRATS Laura, Russ and family!

We had a great time staying with Stephanie, Reed's oldest sister. Ms A loved playing with her cousins. They introduced us to their library and amazing Rec Center. {next time we'll have to aim for the summer time and bring our swimsuits to play in their pool.}

I was also able to have dinner with three of my childhood friends, Shanna, Janae and Tonya. We met sweet Mr X who is almost three months old. Ms A loved rocking him in his carrier. She was so attentive and caring. Thank you ladies for the wonderful evening! It was fabulous catching up!!

We visited the Salt Lake Temple grounds. Ms A was excited when the sister missionaries turned on the English version of the narrative of Jesus Christ.

April 2011
Always a water girl, Ms A had to dip her hand into the various water features around the temple just like she did when she was 16 months old.
August 2006

The HIGHLIGHT of our trip was being able to visit with my dear, sweet friend, Caitriona, and her husband, Tim. I met Caitriona fifteen years ago when she came to New Hampshire on work visa from Ireland. She saw a commercial for The Book Of Mormon and wanted to learn more about Jesus Christ. Over the next several weeks my missionary companion and I taught her Christ's gospel, her heart was touched and she decided to be baptized. The next day she flew back to Ireland and we have not seen each other since {we've kept in touch via letters, email, Skype and now Facebook. (I love technology!)}

Caitriona is an amazing person who I have been so blessed to be a part of her life. I love hearing how she find answers to problems through reading the scriptures, attending the temple or receiving a Priesthood blessing. She reminds me every time we talk of the joy found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Tim, Caitriona, Ms A, Grandma Valerie and Heather

It was wonderful to walk around the temple grounds and pick up **right** where we left off 15 years ago. My heart smiled as she caught me up with the things she's been doing, her testimony and about her dear husband, Tim {so happy she found such a kind gentleman to be sealed to in the temple.} Love you Caitriona! I am so happy we were able to get together!!! I can't wait to see you and Tim again and meet your little one!

To Grandma Valerie House We Go!

Sara and her children invited Ms A and I to join them during Spring Break and a trip to Idaho. We had a wonderful time with her, her children and my mom. We stopped off in La Grande to stay with Sara's friends, the Huntsmans. {Thank you for the hospitality and warm beds Huntsman family!} We also stopped off and visited my dad and each of my mom's siblings.
Here's a view of our drive. Sara and I enjoyed the beautiful clouds with the snow.

Grandma Valerie had an "Un-Birthday" Party ready for us when we arrived. The children were thrilled to see the balloons, presents and decorations.

Sara and I wanted to introduced our children to a restaurant our grandparents took us to for dollar pancakes and a wonderful variety of syrups, Smitty's. Ms A was excited to try out **EACH** flavor of syrup on her dollar pancake's. :) It was fun to relive those memories and share them with a new group of grandchildren.

The night before Sara and her children left, we had a short Easter Egg Hunt.

Ms A mentioned to her grandma that she wants to go to Hawaii, a bit later grandma gave her a hula skirt, lei and lei bracelets. She was so pleased, she gave an instant hula dance.

Sara and her children left on Saturday, but Ms A and I stayed for another week. On Tuesday, we woke up to two inches of wet, compact-able snow. Ms A was ecstatic to build a snow girl and get buried in the snow.