Easter 2012

Next up, Easter.  We had a great Easter.  I love this time of year.  We get to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Spring has sprung, and I love the decorations, baskets and coloring eggs. 

We tie dyed our eggs this year.  It was fun to see how they turned out each time.  We also used this metallic gel dye in a plastic bag.  It looked awesome but the gel never really dried.  Whatever though, the kids didn't care they just wanted to keep coloring egg after egg after egg. 

Katie and I made sugar cookies and a lamb cake also.  She is my little helper in the kitchen for sure.

Saturday night I put the kids to bed and was getting out a few things to "help" the Easter bunny.  Katie wandered out of her room to find me with various Easter paraphernalia scattered around.  "Mom, what are you doing with our Easter baskets?"  she asked.  I scrambled for an answer and sent her back to bed.  The next morning she announced to the others that it wasn't the Easter bunny who left the baskets, it was mom. 

The kids loved their baskets regardless of who left them.  I made a set of resurrection eggs.  Each egg had a scripture and an item that told the story of Jesus and his crucifixion and resurrection. It's a fun way to tell the story.  We got all dressed up in our new Easter duds and went off to church.  After church we had an egg hunt and nice lunch. 

Long time, no see...

I have not blogged in such a long time.  I got so far behind that every time I even thought about catching up I became too overwhelmed with the task at hand.  It has been so long that Blogger has changed entirely and I had no idea.  I couldn't even figure out how to write a new post.  I had to turn to my friend Google to figure the darn thing out. 

So here it goes,  I have to think back to January.  January 29th to be exact.  The day our cute little Charles turned 8!!  What a milestone birthday.  Charles is a Bronco fan and with Tim Tebow and all of his fame of course he wanted that to be the theme of his big day.  He wanted a cake that looked like a Tebow jersey.  Too bas Tebow isn't a Bronco any longer.  Any way, Charles loved his cake.

We celebrated his birthday a few days after the fact to incorporate his baptism.  I can't even remember the exact date (I think it was February 5th or whatever the first Saturday of the month was).  We had his party and then that evening Charles was baptized by his daddy and confirmed by my dad.  It was a special day.

Christmas 2011

Here are some pictures of Christmas 2011. I didn't get them posted at Christmas but I think it's better late than never.

Dean and I started Weight Watchers the beginning of February.  It was time (past time).  I have never been the skinny girl but never too far from a healthy weight (in my mind).  Even after pregnancy I didn't have a lot of weight to loose and the weight I did need to drop came off easily thanks to nursing.  After Katie and Andrew it came off and then crept back on.  The last five or six months I really noticed the weight in my stomach and legs. 
The dieting hasn't been too bad.  I'm glad to know how unhealthy I was eating before going on WW. We were at Red Lobster a few weekends ago and I was trying to find the most satisfying thing to eat with the least amount of points.  We overheard another table order mozzarella sticks, fish and chips and something else fried.  I leaned over to Dean commented on how many points that would be. 

We're learning to eat more fruits and veggies, smaller portions and cutting out sugary foods and drinks.  I think I am down six pounds so far.  It doesn't sound like much but I can so tell in the way my jeans and shirts are fitting.  I've had to tighten my belt a notch too.  I've got another 25-30 to go.  Wish me luck.

Weekend Update (ok more like months long update)

I can't even remember the last post that I made on my blog.  My intention for my blog was first, to be like a journal for me and my family and second, a "here's what's happening in our life" for my parents and siblings since we are the only ones who live away from the SLV. 

I haven't been to successful lately.  We moved the first week in January which didn't help.  Moving has a way of throwing me off for a very long time. 

Charles turned eight on January 29th.  He was so excited to turn the big 8 for many reasons.  1. to be baptized  2. to be in cub scouts and 3. because who doesn't love presents, cake and ice cream.  He was still riding high on the Tebow mania and wanted a Tebow jersey cake.  Not my finest looking cake but by far the best tasting.  Dean took a bite and couldn't believe that I made it.  It really did taste like a bakery cake.  I used a mix but made my own frosting (I've learned that you have to make your own frosting for it to taste really good).   This cake mix however was by far the best EVER!

The stake holds a stake baptism so we were with a whole bunch of people.  It was really nice though.  They had the opening with the standard songs, prayer and talks about baptism and the holy ghost. Then,  they called each child and their family and friends into the font area one at a time for the baptism.  While the others waited they played a montage of conference talks, stories from LDS people and music. 

I was so proud of Charles for wanting to be baptized.  Dean baptized him and my dad confirmed him.  We held a party for him before the baptism.

Pictures to come.  I can't find the cord to my camera. : (

I just realized that I haven't posted anything from Christmas either, so that will come when I can get pictures off my camera.

Joseph Smith and the first television

Our family recently ordered the Living Scriptures DVDs  and as part of the package we received dramatized Family Hour Stories on CD.  Katie loves to listen to these stories at bedtime and she actually learns a lot from them.  She usually gets out of bed a time or two to tell us something she likes from the stories.  The other night she was listening to the CD about Joseph Smith and the First Vision.  The next day she was eating a snack and she told me, "If you can't eat like gentlemen, eat in the barn".  I asked her where she learned that saying and she proudly replied, "from the story of Joseph Smith and the first television".   Cracked Me Up!!!

Here's another funny Katie story.  We were eating dinner and the conversation turned to Santa and his naughty and nice list.  We asked Katie if she was on his nice list.  She quickly nodded her head yes.  Dean gave her a "are you sure?" look.  Her expression saddened and she said, "I am on the naughty list".  I asked her if she had been a good girl.  She answered, "not that much".  She was very concerned whether she could get back on the nice list or not.  Her big question was if she started being nicer would Santa  "erase her name and write it on the nice list".  Gotta love this time of year and good ol' St. Nick, his list and his elves.

Halloween 2011

Our Halloween wasn't so happy this year.  Everyone in our family was sick at one time or another the week before Halloween and the days following.  Andrew stayed home from daycare for two days, Katie missed one day and the boys missed two days of school. 

Trunk or Treat was on Saturday night and Katie, Eric and I were all sick.  We've never missed a Trunk or Treat.  I might have been more bummed than the kids.  I thought for sure everyone would be better by Halloween.  Charles and Eric were both sick Monday and stayed home from school.  We still had pumpkins to carve so well or not we did it.  Katie had fun and Charles meds kicked in so he enjoyed it too.  Eric, not so much. 

Dean and I debated whether or not to let the kids trick or treat around the neighborhood.  Both boys still had fevers so we did what any good parents would do, loaded them up on meds, dressed them up and out we went.  I bought costumes and made costumes and by damn they were going to get used.   Katie led the way and rang every doorbell and talked to everyone she came in contact with Charles stayed with Eric.  He didn't feel good so he lagged behind a little. 

 Andrew the Lobster

 Charles as Indiana Jones

 Eric a Snow Wolf Ninja

 Katie as Snow White

Even mom dressed up this year!!