Easter

This Easter I ditched the light, frilly pinks and pastels that represent Spring and Easter in all their glory and went for black.

Well, black with some bright Springy accents.

It was love at first sight with these dresses and, lucky for me, they were at Wal-mart (which means cheap).
So this is the only picture taken on Easter (and we're lucky we have this one). I took it after a long day at church and I never took another picture of the day. No Reagan's 1st Easter picture (and her outfit was super-cute), no egg hunt, no basket pictures, nada. Nada, nada, nada. Sorry. It just didn't happen. But our dinner was very tasty -- prepared by Nate and mom. It turned into a nice, tasty, quiet holiday -- perfect for reflecting on the true meaning of the day, my Savior and his sacrifice and resurrection for me (and you).

Track and Field Day

I totally forgot to post about helping our little kinders with track and field day, the last day before Spring Break . It was really fun to see my own child (and my nephew) in their little school world.

I loved it.

We started with the Parachute.

Savy wouldn't come stand by her mom, but Aidan quickly rearranged to be next to me. My Savs

Savannah and her cute little friend, Brooke. I love the way little girls always have to hold hands.

FrisbeeThe boys - - - classic!
(doesn't Aidan look so cool?)
Boys vs. GirlsTug-a-warboys vs. girls againThis was Aidan's all-time favorite event of the day. Go figure, he likes brute strength (and let me tell you the boy has plenty of it!)

down, but not beaten.

Freeze tag - this is where I learned Savannah's a wimp like her mother, staying on the outskirts of the game rather than venturing into the masses.

Snacks and a break on the playground where Savy caught up with her "boyfriend," Kyle. I hear a lot about this boy and just cracked up at their little conversation on the swings.

It was a fun day, but at the end of the whole thing, I couldn't help but wonder what happened to relay races, hurdles, long jump and the high jump. Isn't that track and field? Or are we really turning into a society of no competition and everyone's a winner so we can't do things like that? Just curious. Maybe for the older kids in the afternoon it was real track and field.

beautiful enough for a museum!

www.dumpr.net

Valentine's Day

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE England. I always have ever since I was a little girl. Maybe it stemmed from my mother's interest in the British monarchy and history or maybe it stemmed from me watching my sisters read Victoria Holt books which I automatically read as well once I hit about fifth grade (Victorian light romances - very clean). At BYU, I went to London for a semester (Fall '98) and fell in love all over again with England, only this time it was tangible and even better than I had imagined!

Here in Arizona, not much resembles England except on thing, albeit a bit trashy: the Renaissance Festival. Nate and I went when we were first married and then we went about two years ago with Amy and Jim. So this year for Valentine's Day, we packed up the kids, picked up Cyndee and headed out to the Renaissance Festival.
Savannah and London got so excited and remembered that you can dress up like princesses. They love it because everyone there addresses them as "princess." What girly wouldn't like that?

The day was fun, but we determined that we probably won't be heading back because it really is flat out trashy and our girls are getting old enough to notice immodesty and there's A LOT of cleavage there!

Here are a few of the little pictures I took:

Highlights of the day included:
1. turkey legs - my girls LOVE meat on a bone because they seem to think it funny and entertaining to eat like a "barbarian" - can you tell they're Nate's children?
2. the fire-jugglers
3. The dragon-slide wrapped around a turret - you climb up the tower and then slide down the slide which is the dragon's body.
4. the joust
5. the petting zoo
6. and finally, Savannah getting her hair done. Grandma Cyndee insisted and Savs was super-excited although you would never guess from her seriousness in the pictures. So cute.

We were all quite taken back when she chose green flowers.

The girls had a great day and that's all that matters, but we won't tell them that that was their last time going there. I just love going places as a family.

Noah T.

Usually when Tyler and Gina come for Christmas, they have a b-day party for Noah at Chuck-e-Cheese because it's easy with all the cousins (plus it's the one time a year we take our kids there so they love it). I just found these random pictures and thought I'd post them.

Tyler and Ryder

The girlies on tv

Regina and Reagan -- Gina actually held Reagan like this almost the whole time.

Then Reagan went to Uncle Jim -- I think he secretly likes her.

The cute birthday boy who is an exact replica of Tyler.

How to take a shower . . . and other things

When you have a baby who crawls and puts everything in her mouth and is super-curious about everything - it takes some creativity for a mom to get a shower in the morning.

This is my latest solution to the what-to-do-with-the-children-while-I-shower dilemma. London plays PBS kids while Reag watches with snacks, a sippy and her beloved binky. Needless to say, my showers are mighty quick.

This is Regan's Christmas present from G&G Jones. It's the only baby doll (and believe me, we have many in this household) that she will pick up, giggle at, chatter to, and then attack with "besitos." When I saw her giving it loves, I just had to document it so I ran to get the camera and when I returned, the love fest was not over as you can see.

Reagan's "besitos" (Spanish for kisses) are full on slobber fests that usually involve her grabbing your face and grunting or growling. I get them all the time and love it! Just a cute girly who is cutting her first -- yes first (at 10 months) tooth this week! And here is her high-chair the girls made for her in their room.
She'll sit in it and joyfully eat plastic food.

She definitely loves her older sisters and usually goes into fits of laughter just by looking at them or even walking into their room - it's like her own Reagan-Disneyland.

Cousins Pictures - catch-up

Cousins at the Park.
They're not the best pics, but it's the memories, right?

This was the last night before they left - snuggling on the couch, watching tv.

Before I forget. . .

I have a couple things I need to remember AND they're good for some laughs.

Savannah

...has a bad habit. Let me preface this story with the fact that Savy bites her fingernails and it drives me CRAZY (it's Megan all over again!) So the other day I was helping her with homework and she asks me (in all seriousness, mind you): "Can I bite your fingernails?"

Now, I understand that biting nails is a bad habit/obsession, but how much worse is it if you covet other people's nails because you've already bitten yours to the quick?????

London

...is still obsessed with cleanliness and washing of hands. You know how kids always have to inform you when they go to the bathroom? Well, the other day she tells me, "Mom, I'm going into the bathroom to pick my booger and then put it in a kleenex and then wash my hands." So precise and clean . . . and dare I say, too much information?


Also, the other day she asked me if she could have a Henry Kiss (Hershey). I love it when they mix up words - I think it's so cute.

Reagan

...is perfect. She's growing fast and I shocked myself into reality when I realized the other day that in 2 1/2 months, she will be one!!!! Hello! Where did that time go? She is the ever-curious crawler, getting into everything and pulling herself up to stand like a big girl. Although I must say I am shocked that she still has no teeth and I've been claiming teething since she was two months old! She freely hands out slobbery besitos (kisses) and giggles. What joy she brings into our family!