Today is my brother Tyler's 21st birthday. On my 21st Birthday I was kissing Jeremy in front of a whole bunch of people to become Utah State's newest true aggie. But Tyler, No. He's keeping it real in Monterry Mexico. Preaching the gospel and baptizing people and helping them find happiness. I miss him tons but I'm so glad that I get to miss him. He's an awesome little Big brother and I can't wait for him to come home. Happy birthday Tyler! Keep tearing it up!
We had a great Easter Weekend and were so grateful for the reason to celebrate. So please make sure you're nice and comfortable I've just added over 20 pictures to take you on our Easter EGG-STAVAGANZA! (corny?? yes but extremely appropriate)
Saturday we were able to get together with one of our Uncles and some of our favorite cousins.
We had an Easter Egg hunt close to Michael's house and oh boy were the kids excited!! Are you kidding me people leaving candy around for kids to find. Ya Will was a little overwhelmed by it all. Right after finding his little baggie of candy he came over and started jabbering to me all about it then he noticed the kids were still gathering candies and he took off for more.
Color camouflage eggs. Really it's the only way to go.
Some of the kids posing on the bench. Seriously someday we'll get a picture with everyone smiling nicely.
He's so handsome and oh so dashing in his cute little leather bomber jacket.
Ok eating SAND not so dashing or handsome but cute and a valuable lesson learned.
I love this pic of Leah she is such a camera bug. Seriously I have tons of great pictures of her chubby cheeks and sparkly eyes.
Ethan is for sure a ham and growing up so fast! I can't believe he'll be 8 before the end of the year.
Once again an attempt ot have 5 kids under the age of 7 to smile at the camera at the same time. Positive point they all stayed seated in the same place for 15 seconds.
I loved that Leah and Abby were playing more and more a mere 7 months seperate them and they followed each other around the entire time at the park. We told them to hug for the camera and they both chose to hug themselves first.
But they finally got it and Abby showed Leah how we hug it out at our house.
And a little more of this...
and some of this....(seriously isn't Abby so adorable)
Some more..(yes there are tons of these shots)
Yes Joy and Hoppyiness abounded in our home
We zipped off to church. I didn't get a pic of the kids in their adorableness but trust me they were on the adorable side of cute, well until church started and then all cuteness disappeared and insanity ensued. But somehow we let them survive to come home and do some of this.
My family always found Easter Eggs Sunday after church so we could make deviled eggs to go with our Sunday meal. And thus the tradtion continues.
The girls helped each other out finding eggs and were so cute in their matchy overalls that I did not dress them in.
More tramp stuff. I have a feeling I'm going to love this thing!
I'm pretty sure she is in total love with this thing. The kids slept so well that night and we were so thankful the next day was sunny so they could play on it again. Nastily enough it's supposed to be stormy the rest of the week so we are missing sunshine and bounciness deeply. But we'll be out there the second the sun shows it's beautiful rays.
Conference Sunday we were able to meet together with some of the Rawlings family and have a little dinner and see Grandma and Grandpa Rawlings who have recently moved to Colorado. It was so good to see them and be able to bask in the after spirit glow of conference.
Jeremy was able to snag this adorable picture of Abby. Doesn't she look so grown-up. I can't believe she turns three in May.
Lizzie was so good to talk with Great Grandpa Rawlings. She remembers so much about him she was able to keep a good conversation with him for quite awhile.
This is really why Lizzie loves family events. She loves loves loves her cousin Savanah and these two really know how to have fun in the most meschivious ways.
Great Grandma and Grandpa telling everyone about their new home in Colorado.
My favorite picture of the night. Will and his Grandpa Rawlings who shares Will's middle name. Truly there is no greater JOY than that found inside of family.
There are two more posts after this one please read on and leave comments. I'll try to be better of updating my blog I'm afraid weekly is a little too long for all our many adventures.
The day started out as any other day. Another bowl of Cheerios when Lizzie noticed something in the box of Cheerios. She opened up the little envelope and inside was this 5 dollar cash card. Lizzie was so excited and to be honest I was thrilled. I told Lizzie she could have it and could pick anything out in the store with her very own money. All day long she contemplated what she should buy. What wonderful toy would 5 dollars bring her. When we finally got to the store we went up and down every isle until Lizzie settled on a new math book with erasable pages and a new set of washable markers. I was slightly shocked but when we got home and Lizzie devoured her new math book from cover to cover all I could think was she really is her father's daughter.
A couple of days later Lizzie's preschool had an Easter egg hunt in a blinding blizzard (ok so it wasn't that bad but to be honest I'm sick of pulling the winter coats out and would love to pull the flip flops out instead). We all went to the park and watched as the madness ensued.
I have to warn you. Me, my camera and Lizzie were all in love. I couldn't help but take tons of pix of Lizzie. There was something about the way her eyes were sparkling that day that made me just want to take tons of pictures of her.
We threw in a few eggs for Will and Abby to find. Will wasn't quite sure what to do with the egg but had a fun time shaking it.
There I can't bear to post any more pictures of her. I'm afraid your eyes may suffer from over exposure to major cuteness. (I talked to my optometrist it's a real thing ;) )
A couple weeks ago Lizzie's Preschool had a field trip to the discovery museum. We were super stoked especially where as Adults got in free and kids were like 3 bucks! So we called a few of our friends to enjoy the time with us and watched as the Kids DISCOVERED so much about the things around them.
This is Ms. Tara, Lizzie's preschool teacher. We love her dearly and she's been so good to Lizzie and has helped her progress so far in her education. She's pretty much AWESOME!
Lizzie was super excited that her friend Hannah was able to make the trip down from Logan to hang out with us. Lizzie and Hannah have been friends since before Lizzie turned TWO and even though we left Logan nearly three years ago whenever they get together you would think they had never spent any time apart. It also works out super well so that I can hang out with Hannah's mom, Brooke, who has been just one of those amazing spirits that you feel so blessed to have in your life. Love you guys!
Will has been to the Discovery Museum before but I think this is his first trip as a functioning toddler. He was enthralled with the helicopter but as soon as he got inside he decided some things are better observed from a distance.
Abby hated the helicopter last year and I thought that this year was different. She went on the helicopter just fine but when I went to take her picture in it I couldn't find her anywhere. I began to frantically search the surrounding area when I saw this picture. It was so sad yet so precious.
I walked over to her and asked her if she was OK. She said she was fine.
I reminded her that there was more inside and she seemed to perk up a little bit more.
She found her friend the horse and had a great time feeding him delicious carrots.
This tall guy here was so awesome. He was our "tour guide" (although how can you tour 50 plus kids running around in a toyland.) But he was awesome playing with the kids and teaching them things. This was my favorite he helped them make a skyscraper only to have the sponge blocks fall down on them. He did it like three times in a row and the kids squealed with delight each time it happened.
Luckily Lizzie was wearing her hard hat. She had so much fun. Her little mind is like a giant sponge she remembers everything.
Abby was perfectly content to play in the little people house and even found another small dollhouse and was completely entertained the entire time.
After being traumatized by the helicopter Will discovered the water area. He was in heaven. There he was standing at a flowing water pool splashing to his hearts greatest content. Pulling him away was probably THE most painful moment in his life.
