Happy Easter

This picture is my absolute favorite.  After Christ was risen he visited the American Continent.  We celebrate that he still lives and that he loves us as Children of our Heavenly Father.  I'm thankful for his sacrifice for us and that because of his Resurrection we too will have the chance to be resurrected and live with our Father in Heaven.  This gospel of Jesus Christ is my core and will always be the center of my life.  I stand as a witness of Jesus Christ always and forever.

Although we don't do the whole "Easter Bunny" thing, we still do egg hunts and treats...  We drove up to my brother Jeff and his family's house in Centerville (north of SLC) and met up with my sister Tana and her family for a little Brunch and egg hunt.  It was good to get together and hang out.

Don't be alarmed for the "spirit" of this holiday...our kids love to dress up in their cousins dress up stuff.  Crazy, but I can tell they absolutely loved it.  This is before we let them loose to hunt the eggs. 

Tarin my cowgirl...

Bronson and Jack as duo Batman's

Raegan decided decided to be a pirate hippy, doing the sprinkler move...

And they are off...
Ammon is a wizard, I think... and Roxy is just so sweet.

Carter is just a glowing angel...he thought he found the golden egg, but sadly I had to tell him to keep looking.  This was his look before I told him...

Coleman, oh sweet Coleman...you are a darling.  So eager to master the joys of Easter candy.

Ammon and Tanner were also checking out their loot...

After all the damage was made, they decided to jump a few calories off...

Finally, Easter morning, most were dressed up.  Rian is out of town in Georgia for Spring Break, so we missed out on a little family photo shoot.  They are all growing up!

Journaling

Activity Days 

Journaling was the theme to our Learning to Live the Gospel. With General Conference, I also thought to add these tabs that I found on sugardoodle. Little did I know that this project would take a lot more time then I had planned for. But overall the girls had fun and were excited to decorate their composition notebooks with fun paper and embellishments.  I hope to find them using their conference tabs and take good notes.

Pary Time

Ammon had (I think) his first party ever.  I think I would remember if I had thrown one for him, but life is a blur right now.  He loved having friends over and making his cake.  I'm no cake maker, and this really didn't turn out as I planned, but he liked it and that is all that matters.

It snowed this morning, so I had to change a few plans with games. There were a few games but this one by far was memorable.  They had to race each other by dressing up from a pile of clothes, and with big gloves on, they had to throw an Easter egg through the hoop.  Such a cute bunch of kids.  Ammon was racing Celeste.  She was so funny because her big shorts kept falling down...

After games, they made their own pizzas...smashed dough, put sauce, cheese and pepperoni's on.  Here they are devouring them.  Some are not in this picture, but :  Issac on the left, then Jayce, Ammon, Titus, Celeste, Eli and Thomas ...Stratton and Preston aren't at the table.  Ammon loved being with his buddies.

Elementary School Play -- Wizard Of Oz

Tarin had the choice to do basketball season or be in the school play... Although she wanted to try basketball, she also wanted to try the play.  She became a MuNcHkiN...  She wasn't too much of a fan of dressing up and make up and crazy hair (weird I know, I'd love an excuse to be more crazy) but overall she has loved being apart of it.

The play went on for 4 evening (tonight being the last night) and one matinee performance for the school students.

The directors did a fabulous job with all 130 kids participating.  Tarin loved hanging out and playing her DS between her scenes.  The stage, sound, lighting...all of it was amazing.  It was exciting.

You can see the tired in her eyes...2 hour play every evening starts to wear on her.

The set was pretty cool!  She has told me she was really glad she did this play, because she's had a blast.

Big Boy 5

Our big boy, Ammon, is finally 5!  This kid has been counting down since last year!  But 2 months ago is when he got real intense.  To him 60+ days didn't cut it for logic, so I told him how many more Sundays...that was more feasible.  3 more Sundays...then 2...finally 1 more Sunday and he grew more and more excited!  He woke up to a giant ballon to start his day.

We made cupcakes for the family (party on Saturday), went to lunch and shopped for treats for his preschool class to share.

For dinner, he requested pizza.  As you can see on his face he was the luckiest kid alive!

After blowing out the candles, he couldn't wait to open his gift from the family.  We asked him random times what he wanted...rollerblades was the answer we always got.  So why not!  This kid is a machine and when he puts his mind to it...there is no stopping.

Oh the joy on this kids' face!  Such a fun guy!  Took a few spins around the neighborhood...still needs some practice, but I know he will get it soon enough.

Love you baby! Happy Big Birthday to you!

Track Season

Rian decided to try her hand in track.  She has the long legs and, in my opinion, is a great runner.  She was a little taken back by how much distance they run in practice, but I think she likes it.  Mostly I think she likes being part of a team and with her friends, but this will give her a chance to try new things.  Her first meet was today, against their rival school American Fork Jr. High.  I think it opened her eyes to the running competition and that it can be rough.  She participated in two events.  The 1600m (mile) and the 800m (1/2 mile).  I think she learned quickly about pacing or at least that she needs to figure it out, because she wore out quickly.  But this was a great way to learn.  Very proud of her for all of her effort.

Chore Chart

For many years I have wanted to do this. The kids are starting to age out of this concept, but it still works to keep the chores flowing and me remembering who has what. 

                                             Weekly Chores                                                          Saturday Chores 

Yes, I'm cheap, but they seem to respond to it.  5 cents extra if they make their beds.  Jarom has been my best one at this...Ammon follows because big brother does it.  Others are hit and miss.  25 cents if they pass off stuff like times tables or for Ammon his sight words...

A Good Seed?

"Ye Receive No Witness Until After The Trial Of Your Faith" 

-Ether 12:6

Activity Days was fun this week.  We are having an excellent turn out and having some good laughs. 

We talked about seeds and what they need to grow.  Showing a small carrot seed we had a conversation oh how something so small can become a large carrot (found a good sized one at the store).  We then talked about seeds of faith in Alma 32 and what was needed to nourish those seeds, if it were a good seed and what would happen if it were a bad seed. 

I made these little "bookmarks" for the girls to put into their scriptures with carrot seeds to remind them how faith can grow when nourished and when acted upon.

For the activity, I had found these awesome Sunflower Grow Kits at Walmart for 98 cents!  Kristin Hatch my co-partner had these girls getting dirty and preparing their seeds to grow. Good times.

Finally, we played a fun skittle game that had everyone rolling.  You had to place a skittle on your tongue and roll two dice.  If you rolled a one or a seven, you could eat it.  If not, you had to leave the skittle on your tongue until your next roll.  One girl had up to 6 skittles on her tongue before she finally rolled a one.  It was a lot of fun.