Easter Eve

The Saturday before Easter we spent the afternoon together and then did the yearly tradition of dyeing eggs.

The crew is hard at work.

Beautiful!

I've never been able to figure out how to get the kids to finish the Egg Dyeing Process without stained hands. At first I try to get them to use the little wire thing that the kit comes with, but at some point they give up on trying to use it. I can't say that I blame them. Pink hands that last a couple of days can't be that bad, right? Especially when it is only once a year. I say, "Dip right in my friends, the colored vinegar water is fine!"

After the eggs were complete and the Easter Baskets were all set, Mike and I had to run off to the Adult Session of our Stake Conference. Nathan has become a great babysitter. After Conference Mike and I enjoyed a candlelight dinner at an Italian Restaurant right here in Eagle. We love Davinci's. When we came home we sent Nathan up to bed. We later went to check on all of the kids before we went to bed and didn't expect to see them camped out like this. They all wanted to sleep together in the Media Room to celebrate Easter Eve.

Forever Friends

Ryan and our family had two very important people enter our lives 9 months ago. These are Ryan's IBI Therapists. They have helped Ryan and our family in so many ways. I figure that Ryan and I logged over 500 hours of therapy with these two. One of them would show up every morning, 5 days a week. They would teach, talk to, and encourage all of us.

No question that when you spend that much time with someone you become Forever Friends... especially when they have done so much for you. Ryan had his last day of IBI Therapy on April 20th. He has come such a long way. These two women truly made an impact, did something that really mattered and have been a blessing in each of our lives. Thank You!

My Birthday and Lanie

We got to celebrate my 35th birthday in Utah with my sister's family. Angie and I got facials and pedicures and spent some time shopping.

Mike ordered this Nothing Bundt Cake, which was really darling and yummy, too.

We loved spending part of our Spring Break with the Wards and getting to know our new niece/cousin, Lanie. Our whole family was completely enamored with her. She is such a little doll, with a perfect temperament. I couldn't get enough of holding her and neither could Mike or the kids.

One funny thing about Lydia and Lanie: We started to affectionately call Lydia the "Baby Stalker." She could not get enough of seeing and holding her--to an extreme level. Where the other kids would pay Lanie a bit of attention and then be on their way, Lydia had a one track mind the entire time we were there. We would often find Lydia trying to sneak into where Lanie was sleeping, just to get a glimpse of her. One time Angie had fallen asleep feeding Lanie in her room. She awoke to Lydia only inches from her face, "Where is Lanie? I need to see Lanie." There is no question that Lydia has those Mothering Instincts...and doesn't she looked just delighted in this picture?

Thanksgiving Point

We have visited Utah for many years and have never been to see the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. We went to visit my sister and her family for a few of the days over Spring Break and decided to make this one of our outings.

We had a quick morning snack at the snack bar before heading into the museum.

One of the favorites of the kids was this area where they could move sand around in the water, causing it to run in different paths.

Nathan and Danny created a flash flood that washed away all of the trees and dinosaurs downstream.

Another favorite was the Archeology Dig. The kids enjoyed using brushes to uncover dinosaur remains.

We were sad that Madison was at school and had to miss out! From now on when we visit Utah, this should be something we do often!