Easter Sunday

I love holidays.  I love the specialness of the day.  This one was extra special because not only was it Easter but it was Alexia's 10th birthday as well.  We started out with baskets for the kids and Grandma Stewart found matching outfits for the boys this year.  Seriously still cute even though they are boys.  It took me a while to pick up Alexia an Easter dress this year.  She's way too tall for the really pretty ones in the stores even though all of the girls her age can wear them.  I'd kind of decided to not even worry about it but in the end, she's my only girl and she should get an Easter dress, right?  I thought so.  :)

Apparently the candy was yummy....

I splurged and did Jelly Belly's this year, so even Darren thought the candy was yum!

We dyed some eggs.  This is one of my favorite things to do holiday wise and I almost forgot all about it this year.  I was in the midst of a photography rush (16 appts in April!) and so the eggs didn't get done until Easter day itself but they were colorful and delish in potato salad later that day.

Very tricky to get four of them smiling and looking in the same direction, but at least they're all in there.

Once Spencer found an egg with candy in it his hunt was over.  He found a comfy spot, plopped down, and proceeded to eat some jelly beans.

Not these three though.  They were on the hunt for the Golden Egg with $5 in it.  I remember my dad hiding one of these once.

And she found it!  The egg was actually a tiny green one and was hidden in the middle of the rose bushes.  They all were so excited about it!  We'll have to have a repeat next year. 

Hope it was a happy day for you all too! 

In the Meantime

I have lots to post from Easter weekend, but don't have the time right now.  I'm supposed to be in the shower getting ready for church.  But I do have a minute and wanted to post these.  I took Parker and his friend Carter out to do pictures for their upcoming baptisms.  These boys were so funny and silly and wanted me to stop taking their pictures already!  I have quite a few to wade through, but thought I'd post a couple. 

Double Digits

Alexia had a birthday today.  She turned the big One OH!  I can't believe it was ten years ago that she made me a mother.  Looking at this picture gets me all teary eyed.  Where did the time go?  She has become the most beautiful girl, inside and out.  We're so proud of her.

Because her birthday was also Easter this year we wanted to give her a day to celebrate all on her own.  I arranged with a friend to keep the boys while Darren and I took Lexi out to dinner on Saturday night.  We headed to Chilies and the three of us had a great time together.  I told the server that we were celebrating her birthday and after dinner out came a bunch of people ready to sing to her.  Alexia was terrified!  She's so much like her daddy that way.  Enjoy the video.  From the look on her face you would have thought they were giving her poo on a plate instead of a big brownie sundae! :)

 

Flashback

Since I'm on a roll with uploading video I thought I'd take you back to April two years ago.  Lijah was three and he really liked a song.   This is how she sang it.

This is how Elijah sang it.

Conference Report

I love conference weekend.  It's just so fabulous not having to go to church and being able to be spiritually fed anyway.  This year Darren and I took a very laid back approach to conference.  I didn't print off any pictures of prophets and attach to candy.  I didn't set up a tent.  I didn't print conference packets for the kids.  We just turned it on.  I put the baby down for a nap and then Darren and I sat down to watch.  The kids were amazing!  There were no whispers, no fights, they just sat and listened.  Parker took notes through the entire thing.  Lexi saw him and decided maybe she should too.  It was great.  

 At one point I had the loveseat all to my self.  Pretty soon Parker came over.  Next was Lijah.  Lexi soon looked up and realized there was just enough room for her to squeeze in.  So, with a full size couch and a lazy boy recliner and a room with pillows and plenty of floor space...this is how we watched conference:

Parker told me that he loved when the ladies speak because they talk to the kids.  Saturday we were able to watch without any problems.  Our internet connection went in and out on Sunday and we finally called my parents, asked them to put their phone on speaker right next to the tv and then put ours on speaker so we could listen.  Maybe next year we do the free month trial of cable. :)  I wanted a record of Parker's notes.  This boy amazes me with his capacity to understand spiritual matters.  He reads from the Bible and BOM every night.  He remembers his prayers.  He wants answers to some very seriously thought out questions.  He wants to wear a suit to church so that he looks like a missionary.  He can't wait to serve his mission.  He is a believer.

Confrence Talks By: Parker

Eleder Ucdorfif anountsments

tomas S. Monsen: Gathering together and anouns temples

L. tom Perry: The sacrifice and sakrment

jean A Stevens: espanpls from children

Walter F. Gonzalez: obedience gives blessings, go to temple

kent F. Richards: fiskel and spiritle pain, heald by power of god

Quentin l. cook: faith of women

Henry B. Eying: serveing othurs

Eleder Ucdorfif: sestaings

Robert W. Cantwell: telling what you want to know

Brook P. Hales: telling what you want to know

Boyd K. Paker: evryone shud hear the words of the scripers, call ourselfs lds not mormen

Elder elson: Keep caments

Richard J. Muynes: familes are importent, and we can be happy, you can learn at home, you can help our famile be strong

Cecil O Sanuelsunson: give your tesmony, say your prers, read skripshers, go to meadens

Dallin H. Oaks: desiers, haveing good piorides

M. Russll Ballard: The commandment, love, serving

Alexia's Piano Recital

Thank goodness for good friends who bring their camera and take pictures of your kids for you without being asked.  :)  Alexia was incredibly nervous for this recital, but she was great.  We're so proud of her accomplishments.  In that first picture up there...who said my 9 year old ought to look 15?  I hate that she is growing so fast.  I just want to keep her all to my self forever.

Video from April's Fun Things We've Been Doing

Elijah is trying to master the bike.  We tried teaching him earlier, but it totally  had to be his idea.  Out of the blue one day he asked if he could ride his two wheeler and he's just so close.

It has warmed into the 90's a few days this month.  I busted out the small swimming pool much to my childrens' delight.

Trek 2011

Darren and I got to go on the Trek this year.  It was in the middle of spring break this year Our kids caught wind of the possibility and asked Grandma if she would come babysit while we were away.  She and Grandpa were game.  They put their spoiling caps on and drove to our house to be here early Wednesday morning.  Darren and I knew the kids were in good hands and it let us really enjoy our time away.  While we were gone Grandma and Grandpa partied the kids hard.  They told us they don't get to do that very often so they were taking advantage of it while they could.

 

They went bowling one day, the zoo another day, and then on Saturday hit up the Railway Museum.  Elijah couldn't wait to tell me all about National Train Day coming up on May 7th.  It's on my calendar and we are headed back to see what it's all about.

 

Now for what Darren and I did for three days...we walked... a lot!  Fourteen miles the first day and 11 the next.  Whew we were tired.  So were the kids.  I was worried that we would be up all night with kids being crazy but as soon as their heads hit the pillows everyone was out!  The last night we didn't even bother putting up the massive tent.  Everyone just slept out under the stars.  We ate real food, no pioneer fare for this trek.  We had wonderful firesides and musical numbers the entire time.  The kids never complained at all.  Because I was without my own kids Darren and I had a lot of time to be together - you know, all that walking.  It was a great time to reconnect and talk.  I saw a lot of his muscles in action those few days.  It put things into a pleasant Me Tarzan, You Jane perspective with me in a dress all day for three days.  We just took care of each other in different ways then we normally do.  It was eye opening and sweet and I loved it.  A big thanks to Darren's parents for coming to be with the kids so Darren and I could share this experience together!

Elijah's Studio Pics

He was a whole lot more willing to have me take his picture this time around.  Dang he's cute!

Elijah is Five Years Old!

My handsome by turned 5 today.  He asked me for a shovel cake with gummy worms.  

He had four little buddies over for a birthday party today.

 Of course we had to take a silly picture.

It looks like I forgot to tell Elijah that you don't sing Happy Birthday to yourself.

Sing it baby!  Oh my I love this little guy.  He played all day with the train set grandma sent.  He fought his little brother over it all day too. :)

I'll be taking some pictures of him soon and I'll dig up some oldies but goodies of him to post later.  Happy Birthday Lijah!

18 months old

On Monday Spencer hit his 18 month milestone.  Can it be possible that he is already that big?

Looks like he's having car trouble.

I took him to the doctor on Monday for his checkup.  He is 35 inches long (98th percentile) and 26 pounds (54th percentile).  I couldn't find Alexia's stats to compare, but Parker hit 26 pounds at 14 months, Elijah at 2 years.  

He has two blankies that he loves.  They are both two that I had made for Parker when he was born, so they are pretty worn out.  He's gotten pretty possessive of his pacifier lately.  He likes to be in bed by 7pm and wakes up at 6:30 in the morning.  He's down to one long nap in the afternoon.  Every morning when he crawls up on our bed he wants to sing Itsy Bitsy Spider, Popcorn Popping, and Two Little Blackbirds.  He likes his toddler music class that he does with me.  He climbs on EVERYTHING!!  His hair is forever too long.  It grows so fast!  He needs a haircut (see second picture above) but I'm out of suckers.  He makes killer sound effects for motorcycles and cars.  He loves to bark back at the neighborhood dogs. He wants to be outside with the big kids.  He goes up and down ladders like a pro.  I don't have to go into Parker's room and get him off the top bunk anymore.  He can just get himself down.  He's got 12 teeth and eats like a champ...two packages of oatmeal every morning after his bottle.  I set out a little apple for Elijah a few days ago.  Spencer saw it, claimed it, and ate the whole thing himself.  I'm kinda wondering what happened to the stem.

We taught him "more" and "drink" in sign language and he says a few words/phrases.  

ah dun (all done)

uh oh

uh nahno (a no no)

wuzat (what's that)

ago (let's go)

momma

dada

whoa

karka (Parker)

yiyuh (Lijah)

wheredago (where did it go) 

This one is my favorite.  He's been saying it for a long time now.  He'd just walk around the house saying it.  I finally got it on camera.

Weekend in the Snow

For February's long weekend our family was invited to a cabin by some friends.  We knew it was going to snow while we were there and the kids and I were totally looking forward to it.  We borrowed snow gear and dug out the snow tube I had bought in Utah five years ago.  Darren took off work so that he could be gone the entire weekend.  Only one problem, Parker came home from school the day before we were supposed to leave with a fever.  I told my friend and she said there was no way we could cancel so off we went.  We kept him on Tylenol the entire time and we all made it through without getting sick until the next week.  Then both families came down with it big time. 

Elijah and his buddy Zach with their snowman in the background.

The backyard at the cabin was amazing!  Look at this tree house.  It has a zipline attached to it that the kids loved playing on.

And here's Spencer getting cozy with one of the bajillion teddy bears at the cabin.  He stayed inside where it was warm and dry the entire time.  

 

 

 

We did get out and took the kids sledding just as the big storm hit.  We found a nice hill where the trees kept most of the wind and snow away and spent about an hour out tubing.  Parker and Zach bonked heads pretty good on their second trip down the mountain resulting in a bloody nose for Parker.  He took himself to the sidelines for the rest of the time.  I could tell he didn't feel well again at that point.  My friend Chris kept the three littles in her car while we were on the mountain so Darren and I even got to take a few runs down the hill.  We ate good food, got to sneak out for dinner and a movie, played games and talked with friends all night.  The snow was awesome!  It was so great that we got to go!

Neighborhood Flag Football

Saturday marked the end of flag football for Parker.  This was his first time playing football and when I told him he was going to get to do it, he was so excited.  He came home from school that day and told me that he had checked out a book from the library on football so that he would know more about the rules and positions.  It was a fun season and very laid back.  It was just a neighborhood thing with some dad's volunteering to coach and they did a great job. (ps. I hate "participation" trophies.)

My boy takes his sports very seriously.  It's game on for him all the time.  Very much like his daddy that way.  He's also a little mouthy during the games.   A bit like his momma that way. 

 

This little guy liked playing football too.  What?  Did you think I could just not post that picture up there?  I mean, he's just so stinking cute...he must be shared!

He and Daddy are pretty good buds.  If Dad is around, I'm chopped liver.  That's okay.  I don't mind.

This girl

When/how did she get so big?  This girl is the love of my life.  She is who made me "momma."  She is the best thing that ever happened to me.  If you could look into my day and see how much she does to help me, you would know why I never want her to grow up.  Everyone needs an Alexia.  I'm so glad I got mine.  I never want her to leave me.  I know someday she's gonna do it, but could the days please slow down?  Look at her, wasn't it just a few months ago that she looked like this? I snapped this picture of her last night as she chatted with her Aunt Becca who lives in Mexico.  She's so grown up.  She turns 10 next month, but she has an old soul. We measured her the other day.  She's 5'1" and a little self conscious about it.  She grew 10 inches in the last two years.  I wish some of her friends would grow...soon.  She's worried that she will be taller than me.  She's worried about finding a husband who will be taller than her.  Such big worries for a little girl. 

I had another birthday

The annual "Me with the kids on my birthday" shot.  I'm so confused as to why we're not in the middle of this picture.  But at least there isn't any camera strap in the picture this year! :)

My birthday was on a Sunday this year.  Between Facebook ,church and my family on skype, I had well wishes all day long.  One sweet friend even stopped by with chocolate cake and candles.  Darren stayed away from any extra meetings, made me a yummy dinner and took a picture of me that I don't hate.  Yep, I had another birthday...and I'm fine with it.

Christmas Recap

Hey better late than never.  Christmas was so fun for me this year.  While I have never been busier, I managed to give myself a deadline for pictures, sorta stick to it, and really enjoy the week before and after Christmas.  We didn't do our big party this year...I was just too tired and the season already felt rushed and smooshed with a million things to get done.  We did host a dinner for the members of the bishopric and their wives and laughed our guts out the whole night - they all are so much fun!  I do have to say though, that I missed our holiday party and will have to bring it back next year. 

This is how most of December passed - with Spencer at the tree - pulling something... anything... EVERYTHING off of it!  It nearly drove me bonkers and I eventually gave up fixing the tree's decorations.

Christmas morning...how I love these few moments!  They might be my favorite part of the whole thing!  The kids are usually still asleep.  Darren and I have been debating for at least half an hour whether or not we should go wake them up and finally the excitement gets to be too much for me and I head across to the other side of the house and kiss sleepy little kids until they are awake enough to know what waking up means that day.  One quick picture and then into the living room we all go!

Everyone goes first to their Christmas boxes.  These are full of the stuff that most people put into stockings.  We don't do Santa - don't judge me.  Besides, these boxes hold way more than a sock.  My kids come out on top in the end. ;P

I could seriously eat this kid for breakfast!  He's so yummy to me!  Yes, I do realize he's sporting my mother's haircut.

Everytime we entered a store in December, Elijah started begging for the Hiro train.  I really thought this kid would be over his Thomas the Train fascination by now...not so.

This Christmas was one of the most fun I have ever had.  The budget was set, everything was paid for in cash, and I knew there were some seriously fun things under that Christmas tree.  Things that the kids were absolutely going to love. I'm not the mom who encourages a list of what the kids want for Christmas, but this year listened early and picked up things I knew they were going to go crazy over.  My one regret is not having the video camera running when the kids each opened the controllers for the Wii that Grandma bought.  It was pure pandemonium and so much fun!  Hope your Christmas was a happy one too.