Easter

For Easter this year, I didn't have time to make Katelyn a new dress. So I just went and bought one (I know, I know I feel quite guilty about it). But I did make the boys all matching ties to coordinate with her. Jared being the AWESOME hubby that he is even surprised me and threw his on at the last minute (he'd been saying that I could make it but he wasn't really sure if he'd wear it- some childhood trauma about homemade clothing or something). They turned out cute! Yay!
Here's the tie tutorial I used. It was way super easy. And way cheaper than buying 4 new ties.

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B6VnCRBafdcPZTNjNDAyY2ItMzIyOC00YmJmLTg2MjMtNzg2YmE0ZGFhZmQ2&hl=en&authkey=COCrmeAI&pli=1



Oh and I made Katie's hair bow too. Coleson was stricken with much attitude that morning and was not excited about pictures. Poor Ethan woke up with a cold that morning, but had to go to church anyway because I needed Jared for our primary lesson- which also turned out really cute. (I think all the primary children must have had their Easter candy before church, because they were crazy.)

I have a dream....

Did you know that the you can serve a humanitarian aid mission for the church???? I didn't. Jared and I have always wanted to serve a mission when our children are grown. Tonight I was reading an article on lds.org about service by Jeffrey R. Holland. He was speaking about the blessing that the church welfare had been able to provide for the people of South Africa in their neonatal resuscitation training. Then he mentioned that there are humanitarian service missions all around the world doing a huge variety of services for the needy. Why didn't I know this?? Right there I have the PERFECT combination. You see I have always wanted to submerse myself in service. I always tell myself that I am serving the Lord when I follow promptings when they come to do what I can for others, and that I, of course, serve my family every day. But I just really want to be up to my elbows in someone else's needs and, at the same time, to help them feel the love of our Heavenly Father through my work. I guess I always thought you just need to be in the right place at the right time (or the wrong time, depending on the disaster). But when disaster strikes and others are fleeing, I have a STRONG desire to go help. So I told Jared to just plan on it, we'll be applying for a service mission. Good thing he agreed. I am SO excited!!!! I just didn't know you could apply specifically to go do this. It will be a fulfillment of a dream...

Ode to Hunter

Dear Teacher,
Please find attached to this note one six year old boy, much cleaner and quieter than usual and with a new hair cut and dungarees. With him go the prayers of his mother and father.
He's good at creating airplanes and chaos, very adept at tying knots and flashing melt-your-heart smiles. He especially likes mud, messes, playing the heroic knight, sticks made into swords, and his sweatshirt stuffed into his pants. He dresses to his own fashion sense.
He is allergic to staying clean, bedtime, taking out trash and coming the first time he's called.
He needs to be taught, loved, and reminded to blow his nose and think before he acts.
When you think you've just used your last straw of patience, he'll require more.
After having him in your class and on your nerves, you may not be the same, but I believe you'll be glad to know him because, while he strews books, toys and clothes, he has a special way of scattering happiness!
Written, I'm afraid, with much prejudice,
His Mother



Hunter started school again today. He is in a half-day class with the most wonderful kindergarten teacher ever- Mrs. Ayala. Coleson had her for kindergarten too. She is one of those amazing people that found her true calling in life. She is amazing. I am so thankful Hunter is able to be in her class at this time. I haven't decided if I will home school him again in the fall or not, but I don't want him to miss this opportunity to enjoy kindergarten. We are praying it goes well for him.

Spring Break- Day 6

Today was General Conference. I love conference. We have been looking forward to it and talking about it for weeks. I asked the kids what they were most excited about and they said "FOOD!" It's true, I do tend to go a bit overboard on conference weekend. But if it makes it all the more fun, then why not, right? To us it's a comfy hanging around the house, good food, good friends, GREAT message weekend. We are truly so blessed to be able to hear the words of our prophet two times a year. Conference weekend is such a boost. I love it!
I made Cinnamon Bun popcorn, which everyone loved. Ethan was the first to get a taste. I had pulled it out of the oven, then gone to get dressed. He must have spied me take it out, because I few minutes later, Jared came in the kitchen to find this! He had pulled out the bottom drawer, climbed inside to give himself a boost up, and was shoving handfuls of popcorn in his mouth! (This is beginning to become a habit :)




Oh and I snapped a few pictures of the spice tower the kids had a great time making that morning while I cooked. They were so excited when they got it to be as tall as Hunter before knocking it over to squeals of laughter. Ethan was laughing so hard.



Here is a picture of the whole conference group together. We always do conference with our amazing friends, the Haseks (which of course includes Andy, but minus Greg while he's on his mission).





And lastly, Coleson and I had our mommy/ son date tonight. We went roller-skating. I'm starting to think I was supposed to already have taken him skating before now. I mean I guess I went skating the first time when I was like 5. And we were avid roller skaters. Coleson doesn't really like not being able to do something well right away. So you can guess how this went. He was really REALLY excited to go. But when he got those skates on and got in the rink and realized it wasn't that easy, his excitement greatly diminished. I had to bribe him to keep skating. He kinda more "walked" around the rink. But I give him snaps for keeping at it. We'll have to go again soon. He did LOVE the laser tag that I kept hanging like a carrot in front of him. Too bad that is such a rip off. 3 minutes for $5/ per person. But it was FUN!! And he left very happy. And that's what counts. It was a nice date, just the 2 of us.


This is Coleson "thumbs up" like "I've totally got this, mom!"


This is him a little less sure after his first steps :) LOL!

Spring break- Day 5 & April Fools!

Since today was April 1st, I played a little April Fools joke on the kids. I called the kids to the table for lunch and said I'd made meatballs. But this was the actual plate. Although it did look like meatballs, they were fooled when I handed them each a cupcake with "spaghetti" curled icing and "meatballs" made out of chocolates rolled in strawberry jam. Were you fooled too?? They got a good laugh out of that. And since it was a fun thing, they got to eat their dessert first. (And I did then feed them an actual lunch after that :)






The entertainment for today was a break for me. Jared and I went on a date. Katelyn and Stephanie came over. They were the entertainment for today, can't you tell? :)

Spring Break- Day 4

To the circus we go!
A few weeks ago, Jared got free tickets to the circus that was in town for 1 day. Since the tickets were free, we figured we'd go. The kids were much more excited than we were. But there were a few really cool tricks. Have you ever seen the 3-motorcycles-in-a-ball stunt? CRAZY!! Hunter thought they were dumb for doing it, so hopefully I don't have to worry about him on motorcycles :) All Katelyn could talk about was the elephants. When were they coming out? Where were they?! Finally they came out and did some neat tricks. So everyone left satisfied- except Coleson. Him and I were under the impression that there would be elephant ears there (I swear I'd seen it on the flier). We were considerably bummed to find out there weren't. So Jared made some a few days later during conference. Unfortunately, they just weren't as good as the normal carnival fare, but nice effort babe!

Spring Break- Day 3

Several weeks ago, Charlotte and I started planning for doing the Children's Museum during the kids' spring break. It worked out that the guys could go too, so we had a really fun day. We waited until Sunday dinner to tell the kids the plans for the week (in case anything didn't pan out). And although they were super excited about all the plans, when we got to "going to the Children's Museum.....with Konrad & Elena" gasps of surprise and cheers of excitement erupted. As if we didn't know that that was going to be a hit! I was excited to see baby Vaughn. He's grown so much, what a cutie- and so calm! He's the perfect addition to their family.

We got to Kevin and Charlotte's about 10 am and had brunch at Bob Evan's, where the kids got to be at their own "big kid table" (they actually did shockingly well) before heading to the museum. It was busy there (thank goodness for our membership so we didn't have to stand in that LONG line). The kids had a great time. As usual, Coleson and Konrad were "buddies" (as in don't lose your buddy), but it's not like we have to ever make those two stay together- they won't separate! And Hunter and Elena (the 2 amigos) walked around holding hands (it melts my heart every time!). Hunter is soooo protective of Elena. The only source of debate was when the boys didn't want to go do the "girlie" things like Barbie and Dora. Coleson and Konrad warmed up to the Barbie exhibit after watching Katelyn and Elena walk the catwalk. We even caught them out there strutt'n their stuff. The picture is of them "doing the dinosaur"! Charlotte and I just about hit the floor laughing so hard! And Hunter grabbed a camera and snapped pictures of Elena modeling for him. So all in all another great day. We stayed at the museum until closing time and then climbed in the car to head back to Kevin and Charlotte's for pizza. The kids played for another couple hours and we left exhausted. It was a full and very fun day. Thanks Harrington's for another fabulous day!!