Easter Celebrations!

Easter is such a special time it is like a renewal of life. We see new plants come up and want to start new on different things in our life. This year included all the traditional activities like coloring Easter Eggs, Easter Egg Hunt and of course the Traditional New Easter Dress. One defining moment that our family had this year was learning that the Easter Bunny is not real. We have been saving money for a Spring Break trip to LA to a visit to the American Girl Store and a day at Disneyland. The girls have been involved in the budgeting and have earned money for the trip. In the budget I had only $10 for their Easter basket - a little different than years past when there was no budget. Well on Easter morning the girls were disappointed in what the got in their baskets. (spoiled little brats - mostly my fault, I had given them too much in the past) Emily went to her room and shut the door - later she slipped a note under the door saying "I'm not coming out of my room for the rest of my life.... P.S. I might have liked these gifts when I was 5 years old but not when I'm 8." At that point Sean felt it important to share the little secret. He explained that it was Mommy that filled the baskets and only had a certain amount of money. The girls felt very sad and apologized for acting so ungrateful. The lesson I learned was not to give your kids to much to soon. Wow quite a day! But it was good for our family to learn this lesson. It also gave us another opportunity to focus on the real meaning of Easter. The day ended by the girls TOTALLY looking forward to next Easter. Now that they are in on the secret, they can't wait to play Easter Bunny themselves!

The Leprechaun Trap!

This year the girls homework assignment for about 2 weeks was to create a Leprechaun Trap. They love to cut, paste, tape, color, paint and make a mess. In the end both Megan and Emily ended up with great traps that they did all on their own. They said that this was one of their favorite holidays. Kind of FUN!!

A Little Time Away from Home....

The Children's Club Show at the Javits Center in New York

I think that it has been about 6 years that Mom and I started going to New York. Our first trip was the October after the September 11 Events. It is always fun to get away and experience the City. Of course there is work involved - we help mom haul all the suitcases down to the Javits about 1 1/2 miles from our hotel. We used to walk and drag the suit cases and any other miscellaneous racks, photos, bags we needed for the booth because we did not want to spent the money on a cab. Now we have it down to a science - take a cab and go early to set up - the booth is set up within 2 hours. Unlike our usual 4-6 hours of setting up. Oh the things we do - it's all about learning to simplifying. It is fun to work with Mom - she is a definite business women. Also this is the Trade Show that I get myself into too much trouble - ordering dresses for the girls at the beautiful dress companies for wholesale. I figure they are only little girls once!
After we set up there is always time to head down to China Town - one of my favorites. There are certain vendors we go to every time - each serving a purpose, sunglasses, purses, jewelery. This is a picture of our purse Lady - Mimi, she is the only one that we will buy purses from. She has the best ones at the greatest prices. It is so funny because I will call her when we get down there and she says meet me at the corner of Broadway and Canal. She gives my mom a hug each time and just says How are you? about 5-6 times. It is a long walk up the stairs and a definite experience. It is so much fun because Katie has joined us on a consistent basis and she just loves to shop. We are always looking for the closest ATM. After each day we pull out our days purchases and have a little fashion show. Too much fun!!!

Special Times

The girls and I made a quick trip up to Canada this weekend. It was a long 13 hour drive but totally worth the trip and so fun to be on the farm and play with cousins even if it was for 1 day. The girls did get to play in the Haystacks - it was a little to cold to catch any frogs though. Actually we there all day Saturday and Sunday. My Nephew Walker was baptised and Sterling was ordained a Decon. It was a pretty special weekend for these boys and I was very grateful to share it with them.

It is hard to believe my brother Derrek has 5 kids. Sean & I got married the same year Derrek and Debbie did - Sterling was a definate honeymoon baby. And he is the cutest kid ever - actually he is getting quite grown up. They live on the farm in the same house that I grew up in. Secretly I'm a little jealous because these kids are experiencing the same wonderful childhood I had. They are involved in all the same things we did as children in the school and community. Very fun to see and hear about. The girls had a sleepover with Ashlynne at Grandma's 2 of the 3 nights. Ashlynne loves it when there is a little more GIRL POWER - since she has 4 other brothers.

Walker is just 2 months younger than the girls so they will be best of friends when they get older. He is just the cutest little boy - he sang a solo for his baptism and it was just perfect. I do feel a little sorry because all the cousins his age are girls. Kristine found this fur Jacket in Auntie Tania's closet and thought it was the coolest. She wanted to bring it home but of course we said you better ask Tania. We had a wonderful trip with great food - you just can't go wrong with my Mom's Sunday Dinner - Roast Beef. It was fun just hanging out on the farm with my family and not having any worries or anywhere to go.

State Hockey Championship Game

We had such a fun night attending Dallin & Jared's High School hockey game. Although they did not win, they played a great game. Next year they will be playing with the exact same team - they only lose one senior. Dallin is in 10th grade and plays defense - he does a great job and plays with finese and confidence. Jared is in 9th grade and plays on the Varsity team. He is a forward and each time he hits the ice, he is very aggresive. In fact he had several good hits last night. Actually both Dallin and Jared were born in Canada - so they were born to play hockey. The boys had their little fan club of girls that came up to Salt Lake to watch. It is so fun to see these cute boys grow up - I love them to pieces.

Happy Birthday Sean!!

Interesting Facts about Sean

Was born in the Year of the Rat
Born a poor black child
Valedictorian of High School graduating class
Spirit boy for High School football team
Favorite sport is Baseball
Favorite sports teams are SF Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Phoenix Suns and of course the Cougars
Loves his little girls
Between Sean and his wife they have 91 first cousins - none of them are his
California boy!
Married a Canuck!
Graduated from BYU with a Masters in Accounting
Loves running - only spring & summer - not so much in the winter that is when he says he is "cross training" (sleeping)

Never left the state of California until age 17
Eats more ice cream per year than the country of Japan consumes in 1 decade
Grew up in town where American Graffiti, Cujo, Howard the Duck, Peggy Sue Got Married, Flubber, Pleasantville and Basic Instinct were filmed. Also where Winona “sticky fingers” Ryder grew up.
Ultra organized as a child - balanced his mom's checkbook, cleaned out closets, sock drawer always orderly - still organized but has a little more to worry about than sock drawers

Still disappointed to have missed out on the mullet thing

Has had an epidural - wife has not

Perfect husband - always striving to balance work, church and family

Always wants all the food he would ever want in the house at all times - ya right
Loves the gospel - TPLOC

Favorite ice cream is Haagen-Dazs - Cookie Dough which he eats a pint a week if not more
Favorite restaurants are Happy Sumo & Market Street Grill

Doesn't like cake for Birthdays - only pies ( I made him a fresh Strawberry Pie this year)

Sense of humor and is actually quite a joker when with his girls!

Loves life and is just fun to be married to. He brings me the most happiness that a girl could ever imagine. Thanks Sean, We love you too much

More Winter Fun!!

Friday was the perfect ski day at Snowbird, I think it got close to 50 degrees. We put the girls in all day ski school and took off with our friends the Mangrums' and Pierces' for a great day!! It was perfect snow, weather and company!!

About 1/2 way through the day we ran into the girls on some of the bigger lifts. We were so excited to see them and of course I needed to get a picture!!

After skiing we went for a swim, visited and the girls played guitar hero for their first time. They had a great time!!