Easter Sunday

Easter was:

Goodies in baskets

Egg hunts at home and Grandma's

Uncle Ryan and Troy

Endless playing and lots of laughing

Yummy dinner

Family

Making Rice Krispy Easter bunnies with Grandma

Home, kids snuggled in bed, movie night.

Hope your Easter was overflowing with goodness.

Egg Hunt!

Took the kids to the church Easter Egg Hunt this morning. We hung around with friends, had pancakes, then the hunt was on. Kids came back with a bunch, shared a few with Cole since he was pretty clueless (although adorable) about the whole thing.

Cutie-pies.

I had a thought this morning that this time last year Cole couldn't even sit up yet. He was so itty. Today he was my big boy waddling around with an Easter basket. How time flies!

Easter's On Its Way

Easter parties at school today. Eggs dyed at home. Egg hunt tomorrow. We are ready for the bunny.

Lovely Day

Happiest baby on the block. Nothing made this kid happier today than getting soaked in the water table.

I love this post by Brooke about our ward's roadshow. It's what I wish I'd written if this past weekend hadn't been overrun by sickness. Great photos, too. We are so lucky to be part of this church. Amazing friends already, and we've barely lived here a year. (Even more pics on Tina's blog - can you tell how awesome the comradery was in this production?!)

Now that the roadshow is over, it's almost Easter! Gotta get on that. What are you putting in your kids baskets?

I won a giveaway on Adriana's blog! Products, too, which I desperately need. She's doing a giveaway a month, so start following her. Not to mention her blog is great - recipes, photography, makeup and skincare. Plus she's really funny and charming, and I love her. Sold yet?

Tyler's almost 100%. Went to karate last night, then Souplantation to start fattening him up. Back at school today. He came home exhausted, so kids are watching Hop. He requested fish for dinner.

I'm on a three week break from Ladybug. Spring break for the kiddos is next week. What to do (besides hair cuts and dentist appointments)? I have free passes to the zoo, aquarium, Wildlife Learning Center, and Huntington Gardens, so we'll choose from one or two of those outings. Then play, relax, go to the park, ride bikes, library trip, bake cookies, play with friends, whatever we feel like, and most importantly - whatever is easy. Looking forward to it.

More Kid Stuff

Legos are to Tyler, as stuffed animals are to Audrey. They're everywhere, she always wants more, to fall asleep they must all be in her bed, and they make her oh so happy.

PS - Tyler is feeling much better today, thank goodness. Back to school tomorrow.

Sick Little Guy

Poor Tyler has been so sick. I don't think any of my kids have ever been this sick. It's consumed our days and nights since Thursday. Cole and Adam caught a bit of it, but not as bad as Tyler. Such a trooper I bundled him up and took him to the roadshow (which went great, by the way) - stuck him in the corner of our green room with blankets and Scooby Doo episodes while Audrey and I did our stagehand work, then brought him home. Adam and Jason gave him a blessing. Tyler woke up this morning asking for pancakes, so that's a good sign. Poor guy is skin and bones - need to fatten him back up once this is over. So say a little prayer for Tyler, we'd appreciate it. For now he's cuddled on the couch with The Hobbit. Needless to say we've been watching a lot of movies over here, and doing tons of laundry, and lysoling.

Party!

If you want a bunch of people to show up for an impromptu birthday "party", just write and direct the ward roadshow that goes up your birthday weekend. Instant surprise party! No major planning necessary.

Thanks to Brooke for making these awesome hats for everybody! With Lindsey and Mindy (forgive my weirdo face):

Uncle Mikey stayed with sick Tyler at home (we left Cole with him, too). Audrey came with us - kids are stage hands with me during the show. She loves the big girls in our ward. Here with Morgan:

All the roadshow peeps!

PS - My mind is blown with our awesome ward, and how many people have helped with this roadshow. Come and see us - performance tonight!

BIG 4-0!!!

I had this plan to do a photo shoot with Adam and the kids yesterday to post on his birthday. Instead we spent the day taking care of (and cleaning up after) a sick kid. Tyler threw up in the valet line at school, poor thing. I thought maybe it was exhaustion after Disneyland, but he was sick all afternoon and night. Adam hasn't felt well himself, despite that he's working on taxes and a writing project. We're doing last minute fixes and phone calls for the roadshow (dress rehearsal tonight!), all a bit sleep-deprived. I felt bummed to not have a fancy 40 post, but then again the past 24 hours are pretty indicative of what 40 looks like over here. Loving, tender, dependable, kind, ambitious, thoughtful, talented, best dad, always willing to serve, gives of himself, up for any adventure, takes time to tell me I'm beautiful (even in sweats), no one I'd rather clean up barf with. Hope I serve him as well as he serves the four of us. So here's the photo you get, but it's one of my favorites of 2013, so far: 

 

Happy 40 Adam! Thanks for turning 40 first. I wish you at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, breakfast in bed, and that you don't get sick on your birthday. Good thing your brothers are coming next week for a little belated celebrating so we can make up for today (not that you're complaining one bit). Every year, every day with you, a gift.

Disney Day

We hadn't planned on doing Disney as part of Adam's birthday week (because Emily told me you gotta celebrate 40 for at least a week), but a friend of his gifted him three tickets! We bought a child's ticket, and voila - Disneyland! Since we had gone recently, we were laid back about the day and did a lot stuff we hadn't done before: Tom Sawyer's Island (kids loooved it), rode the pirate ship, Haunted Mansion finally (Audrey said, "I never want to ride that one again"), Jungle Cruise, Tarzan's Treehouse (kids favorite), Winnie the Pooh, saw the Aladdin show in California Adventure, and a few Bug's Life rides, caught the parade, spotted Princesses Aurora and Tiana, and more. Got Adam a birthday button, and celebrated him all day.

Best family shot we could get.

We met Tigger.

And Pooh!

Cole exploring Tom's Sawyer's Island. 16 months is a tough age for a theme park. Little man wanted to run and run, and was not a fan of how many times he had to get back in the stroller

Hurrah! Cole slept while big kids and dad rode the pirate ship.

While baby slept I strolled Main Street and found the perfect birthday card for Adam at this Houdini shop. Remember Adam was Houdini when we first met.

Love these four. Grumpy little Cole.

Birthday cupcake from Jolly Holiday Bakery! Can you see the flecks of gold all around? It was the most beautiful cupcake.

I actually gasped when I cut into it. So yummy! We split it four ways, and sang Happy Birthday.

Birthday boy.

Aladdin show! This was Adam's number one request - he really wanted to see it. I wasn't sure how Cole would fare, but all three kids loved it.

We stayed later than we ever have - got a late snack, and watched the fireworks.

Kids were beat, and we all crashed when we got home. Grateful for this lovely day.

Countdown to 40

Spent the day at Disneyland celebrating Adam's last two days in his 30s. Such a nice day to be there - a day off just the five of us. Great weather, short lines. Photos to come.

What I Live With

You know how there are things around your house that are less-than-ideal but you just get used to them being there and eventually they become part of how you live? Like piles of junk, an unpacked box (might be one in my bedroom from our move last summer), or the elliptical in my living room that I don't even see anymore? Well this display is on our kitchen bar and has been since probably Christmastime. Legos!!

Something must be done! There are even more legos in Tyler's bedroom (which is where I'd like them because I could use some more counter space!) At least he plays with them daily - they are his heart.

Sunday

Happy St. Patrick's Day. I didn't plan much. Kids got Lucky Charms cereal this week (since we used some to make Tyler's Leprechaun trap for a school project), and I found green jello in the pantry - so there you have it. I did get this idea to turn the toilet water green this morning, and the kids went nuts looking for more leprechaun clues - determined he was in our house. Pretty funny.

Tyler and Audrey watching a movie this morning. Waiting to go to church.

I am staying home from church with this little guy. He had a fever yesterday. In better spirits today, but keeping him home because we have a big week ahead. Ward roadshow, and most importantly Adam's 40th birthday. Some good surprises ahead, so let's stay healthy all around!

Cole with his two favorite blankies.

Quesadillas and crock pot refried beans for dinner. Happy Sunday.

Pancakes!

Today's one of those days I understand how mothers burn tons of calories going about their regular duties. So much done already, and it's just noon! Got all three kids up early for Tyler's pancake breakfast. School does the breakfast for kids who reach their semester reading goal. Tyler surpassed his - our super reader!

Rapunzel came along. I took Audrey for a donut afterward because who wants to get up early for a pancake breakfast and not be able to eat pancakes? Had to be some incentive.

Little man still in pjs with blankie - watching all the big kids.

Tyler and his buddy Colin enjoying St. Patrick's Day-themed breakfast. Audrey sneaking a pancake.

After breakfast the kids played on campus. Such a pretty view. Audrey was in heaven playing with all the big kids. We register her for Kindergarten next week!

Caught up on groceries, laundry, dishes, bed making, keeping Audrey entertained, bathing children, Cole finally down for nap, Audrey fed, dinner in crock pot. Taking a moment before I fit in some exercise. Busy but good day - beautiful weather again!

Outside

Yep - it was this gorgeous in LA today.

Cleaning off yard toys.

Audrey's train - she's reading in the front, and all her stuffed animals on board also have books. Kept her busy for a while.

Sweetest boy

Favorite trio

Award!

Tyler got the principal's award at school today. Different students are picked each week from the whole student body. It's a pretty big deal, and we're very proud over here. Kids are chosen based on "winning attitude, integrity, shows respect and responsibility, encourages others." Yep - sounds like Tyler.

California Kids

Impromptu beach day with cousins that came to town. Saturday in Santa Monica.

Ellen

Ellen, then Cheesecake Factory! Many thanks to Tina and Amber for organizing a fantastic girls day. So fun spending a day with these gorgeous girls. We all deserved a much needed mommy-break, figured out there are 29 kids between the eight of us!

Lisa, Tina, Mindee, me, Amber, Brittany, Brooke, Becky. Such fun girls - so grateful to have met them all this year!

 Front row seats thanks to Tina and Becky who were chosen for a game. Sadly, Ellen didn't end up with time to do the game - Dang!

Going on Ellen, I wanted a giveaway so bad. She gave everyone in the audience an air purifer. Kinda random, but hey - it's a nice one (with a $799 price tag). All eight of us drove in one car, so needless to say it was a tight fit on the way home with eight big boxes in the car. This was my view from the middle. We squeezed 'em all in - so funny.

I don't watch Ellen a ton, but it was so fun to dance and scream and just get into it with these awesome girls. Guest was Howie Mandel, and we got a pretty cool rock concert from Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) and Rick Springfield. Jesse's Girl!

 Even sang Happy Birthday to Brooke at The Cheesecake Factory. Great day.

Watch!

We're on today's Ellen episode with Tina, Becky, Lisa, Brittany, Mindee, and Brooke. It was so much fun! Tune in to see if we get any screen time. Front row, baby!

Lazy Sunday Mornings

Just like when they were little. Audrey even has her hand in her mouth, how funny.

So far we are really enjoying afternoon church. We have busy Saturdays and a baby who still takes two naps, so I think that's why it works for us. Slow Sunday mornings are welcomed.