Easters

We had a really fun Easter weekend, which I didn't get hardly any pictures of. We had an Easter brunch at our church on Saturday. The kids got to do an Easter egg hunt and we got to listen to some inspirational music numbers. Sunday morning we had our usual Easter baskets and went to church. The kids got some new Easter outfits which I did get some pictures of. So, here are the Easter cuties!

Great to be 8!

Grace turned 8 two weeks ago. It is very surreal. I can't believe how fast the last 8 years have gone. I became a new person the day she was born, the person I was born to become. She started it all. I can't believe it was 8 years ago. Anyway, Grace was anxiously awaiting her 8th birthday. It is a big milestone. She will be baptized in less than a week, and she finally got her ears pierced!!! (she's been talking about this for months!). We took her to the mall on her birthday to have it done. Ray kept teasing her about how bad it hurts and that she was going to cry. But my girl is tough didn't shed a single tear.


Right before she got them pierced.

Right after the deed was done!

And of course we did some shopping at Claire's right after. Grace spent all her birthday money from grandma on some new earrings. Her friend Aria joined us. Grace announced on the way home that Claire's is her new favorite store :)

Then we came home and celebrated with some cake and ice cream.

We had a friend party this last weekend, pics to come!

Up next...

Spring Break!!

The kids and I drove down to Pocatello for spring break this year. This is kind of becoming our spring break tradition, we did it last year anyway, but this year my sister Dana was there with her new sweet baby Ila Jo. (named after yours truly!!) I really don't like making that drive by myself, but my friend suggested I get a book on tape to listen to during the drive. I took her advice and it helped SO much. The drive went fast and I wasn't slapping myself to stay awake. Anyway, I didn't take hardly any pictures and I'm kicking myself about it because it was the first time they had seen their cousins in almost a year. But we had a great time!!

I did take some pictures of the sidewalk chalk hopscotch session.

Unfortunately it took place before the other cousins got there...

I loved this brave little flower breaking through all the deadness around it. It gave me hope for spring. (because we froze our rear ends off the whole time we were there!)

The one and only picture I got of all the cousins together. I didn't even get any pictures of Ila. I'm lame. (love the shower cap mom!) But if you want to see Ila go here :)

4 Years Old

Boy Howdy am I behind on my blogging. April has been a completely insane month, and it isn't over yet. We started off the month with Maggie's birthday, then the kids and I drove to Pocatello for spring break for a week. Soccer started for Grace and Elliot. Then I had baby shower for my friend. Then we had Grace's 8th birthday. Then we had Easter weekend. And we are having a friend party for Grace's birthday on Friday night. Then the first weekend in May we will have Grace's baptism. I am going to attempt to document this all by blog over the next few weeks, but I can't make any promises on that time frame!

Anyway, the whole shebang started off with Maggie's birthday. She got to have her first friend party this year. (Have I mentioned that next year is our off year for friend parties? Did I mention that I'm very happy about that??) We invited all the girls from her primary class for a princess party. Everyone came in their favorite princess outfit and had a princessy time!

We played pin the flower on the lady bug...

decorated crowns...

cute Jovie :)

decorated cupcakes...

opened presents...

blew out candles...

and smiled like the princesses they are!! How cute is Maggie's tummy hanging out the bottom of her shirt? (we tried to talk Jovie in to getting in the picture, but she wasn't having it!)

Shameless Project Showoff

My friend Misty has taken our family pictures for the last 2 years. They are really good. Up until last weekend I didn't have a single one hanging up in my house. I've had this idea for a picture wall in my head for about a year. The only problem was that really long shelves are REALLY expensive, ala pottery barn. About 6 months ago I found this tutorial for picture ledges. Truly easy enough for even me to do, promise. It cost me a little more than $10 each because I used a bit nicer wood, but still, WAY cheaper than pottery barn! So Ray and I built them (well, mostly Ray, but I stained them all by myself ;). We started them about 2 months ago. They were built in about an hour, but it took me forever to get them stained. Last weekend I had a baby shower at my house and that gave me the motivation I needed to finally finish! It turned out better than I even imagined. I LOVE it!

The finished product. It's the first thing you see when you walk in the front door. I love it!