April

Our very big girl gets home early everyday and Ryan loves napping by her -- I get jealous that she's taken my place.   

 He looks five.

 Nick earned second place at school for his science fair project.

 The kids play tennis in the driveway, and Eddie made a chart to keep score.  Good job, LOVE.

 I convinced Austin to try acroyoga.  Good times.

 I knitted these baby booties for Elsie.

 Impromptu dance party with on Maddie's balance beam.

 MUHS track meet.  Andy was a stud.

 Meg beat her closest competitor by 100 yards.  It was senior night, as there we are on the field.

 Here we are waiting in the freakishly cold rainy chilly weather. Molly moaned, "I want to go home!!!!"  I'm here to prove that we made it.

 Austin and I ran a 10k untrained.  I came in 2nd and Austin in 4th.  We ran those 6 miles in 47 minutes.  We did fine.

 The girls at the office ran the 5k.  It was delightful to race simultaneously.

 Our ward party came next with an Easter egg hunt.

 They found a million eggs.

 Off to Nick's game where we sat in the perfect weather (where was it yesterday when we were outside for six hours?).

 Look at this Easter creche!  Easter Sunday is the single most important day of the year -- "Death hath no sting, and the grave hath no victory!" -- for all mankind.  That little creche is resin and totally child proof.  Each member of my family has walked to the table and rolled the stone away.  He is hope!

 This is Austin teaching our primary class.  I sneakily snapped this picture while he was teaching about priesthood keys.  He is a fun teacher. The kids love him.

Each day this week we will commemorate the events of the last week of Jesus's life.  I hope our testimonies will grow; it takes patience and faith, wish us luck.

A Bunch of April Fools

Lots of spring fun going on around here.

Nick received all A's and was rewarded with doughnuts.  He's a very good boy.

 Ryan and I jump on the tramp everyday.

 What?  Eddie broke his arm!  He actually broke in six weeks ago, but he didn't complain. He barely bumped it into the wall and fell apart, so I took him for a cast.  Austin took his x-rays at with the cone beam, and Dr. Welly set it.

 Poor little poopsie.  Eddie was very brave.

 I have owned this sugar mold for 11 years, but I have never found cups to fit inside the molds.  I was smart and finally found them on amazon (I have no idea what took me so long to search the obvious source), but they were expensive.  So I did the second most obvious search on Pinterest.  I saw the holes filled with tiny terra cotta pots (I found them 3/$1 at Dollar Tree) and then the moss and eggs.  CUTE!  You don't even have to tell me.

 I am the first person to understand that Easter is not about bunnies, but about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Still, I saw bunny ears used this way on Pinterest, and I thought the effect was charming.

 Saturday Meg ran in a premier race and ran another PR.  She was disappointed that she came in fourth and did not receive a medal or a backpack.  But, she ran so fast.  I am really proud of her.

 It just takes guts to get out on that line every week and kill it.  She was the only white-short girl.

 General Conference weekend was magical.  Lots of notes and snacks and family worship.

 Eddie had the best seat in the house.

Our best comment was between Meg and Maisie.  Meg declared while watching the BYU choir, "Next year I'm going to school with those boys."  Maisie followed up, "That's lucky. (sigh)"

At the conclusion of the meetings, we discussed the messages that pricked our hearts.  I compiled a list of 16 items for me to implement personally and as a family collectively.  I love worshiping together.

RYAN #5

Ryan is 5!  He's is the ultimate hugger and lover.  I lean in to kiss him and night and he reaches his strong arm up around my neck and pulls me to his face as tightly as he can.  He's leaving me for kindergarten in the fall, and I'm heartbroken about it. We are on lesson 89/100 in his reading book, and he knows how to write his name with a capital R and lower case y-a-n.

This morning began so slowly that I regretted his present choice.  He was really uninterested, and he just dropped his loot to the floor.  #momfail

 But, Maisie recognized the issue and began her excited shouts as he opened more presents.  Meg joined in the escaped and rescued both Ryan and myself.

 Breakfast was a rush for the rest of the family, but once they left we sat together.  He wanted to jump on the tramp, so we ran out there and jumped for a really long time.  I played every game he wanted and that truly was his best present.

 We headed to the park mid-morning.  He pumps those legs and swings high into the air.

 Once Molly was asleep, I sat beside him as he assembled Legos.

 All afternoon the kids ran in and out.  No place on earth beats our spring weather.  I made him tomato soup with grilled cheese (recipes at melskitchencafe.com) and panzanella salad.

 No one eats cake here, so we make a giant cookie and I let him decorate it.

 Ryan was thrilled to be sung to.  His sweet nature and even temper make him an easy pleaser.

I hope he kisses me forever.  He's the best. (Andy was at a track meet all day.  He came home and watched all the movies and asked how it all went. heart)

#March Ends

Meg practices her graduation walk on Sunday nights.  It's funny.  Andy helps.

 FHE was dyeing Easter eggs.  Maisie decided it was our best year, yet.  I decided that we mostly have big kids, so it was our best year.

 Austin and Molly were the best team.

 Maddie.

 Maisie and Ryan duo.

 Triplets.

 Baby Gambino app has proven quite the laughter.

 These athletes iced their legs.

 I had this watercolor painted for Christmas.  Austin and Nick made the frame and hung it.  I love it.

 My sweet peas are growing.  Heart.  Heart.  Heart.

 Andy raced well this week.

 Meg raced well.  She is now ranked first in Division 3 in five events: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 4x400m relay.

 Maisie was really playing this game.

 Meg went to prom in Flagstaff with Chaz.

 They are darling.

 The five other boys met up with blind dates.  This girl and these six boys traveled up their together.

 We ordered a size 12 dress and I tailored it to fit her size 0 frame.  (Did I already post this?)

 This afternoon I took these next four pictures within 30 seconds of each other.  We had peaceful music playing, and everybody had a friend.  I love this family of mine.

 (I actually tried to lighten his face.  I thought I did.)

 These two napped for two hours.  Jealous.

 This is Eddie's new toy.  Everyone loves building.