April Fools

I am a true fool of April -- I keep adding more and more to my plate, even though my brain tells me I'm full.

Sunday sessions of general conference proved to be the exact invitation to celebrate Easter and the miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Notes.

Monday morning the children played "Escape."  I'm sure you know the game: tie up your sibling and then abandon them to see if they can get out.

While they did that, I did this -- I placed a new pull tab on my matress pad.  Sometimes I'm the cleverest.

We made ice cream using Eddie's new science book.  We rolled that sweet cream in those 10# cans and ate every last, cool, richy drop.  

Maddie and Nick had their first track meet.  Nick won the 800m, took second in the 1600m, and threw up instead of running 4x100m.  Maddie won the 100m, the 400m, and took second in the 200m.  They are runners!

I went to breakfast with friends -- that girl next to me is 6 feet tall.

We spent hours this week exploring electricity.  These boys love their snap circuits.  We need to get to the library and read all about it.

Molly -- our resident Easter bunny -- is still hopping around and passing out handmade cards.

Reading with Ryan is never a chore.

Saturday mroning we painted the entire pool deck.  All the children helped and we finished in 2 hours.  How I love it when we work together and accomplish great things.  Andy does a full man's work; he and Austin sure work hard.

Maisie's track meet in Sedona ended with three races and three gold medals.  Here she is all alone in that final 100m.

Grandma and Grandpa come to all the meets -- they are so supportive.

She stopped to pick all the wild flowers.

Roasting spectators.

Only one medal is pictured here -- she'll be awarded her others this week.  She's something!

I was cleaning out my personal effects and Molly found baby Mary's box of casted hands and feet.  She asked me all about our baby sister that lives in heaven.  She then drew a picture of Mary whereupon we took turns cuddling, feeding and nurturing her.  Isn't it interesting that Molly feeels nurtured when I nurture her nurturing imaginary play.  

D&C sections 30-36 are about the mission calls of early saints.  These revelations apply to me -- not indetail of assignment -- but in connection with the Savior.  Just as He was with them, He is with me.

"I am with you" (D&C 31:13).

Ryan's #7

Ryan is 7!  6:15am Saturday morning he had to get up for wrestling.  

5+2=7

Molly made his several cards and gave him several kisses.

Sibbies.

His breakfast request was specific = crepes.

Every afternoon I drop Ryan and Eddie off at the gates of MUHS where Andy takes them to the wrestling room to learn.  Today was their first practice match.

No pictures of Ry?  Eddie is here pinning his guy.

We rushed home for the 191 Annual General Conference.  This cozy "little" guy made my legs fall asleep.

Between sessions Austin burned the yard waste.

Afternoon was more conference.  Then we spent the evening outside riding bikes.  Night came with chips for dinner and lovely cake -- that no one ate, as we had filled up on conference treats.

We love that Grandma and Grandpa B. came.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/s2bC6kcVgpmKkpuz6

There could not be a more gentle giant on this earth.  This Goliath weighs two more pounds than Eddie, and can crush my legs in a single sitting.  They flip a timer and wrestle go!  They take turns winning and losing, he's really good at cheap shots.  Ryan has completed 150 math lessons happily.  His journal entries have improved over this year.  He is fearless when biking and hiking, but he's the first to need love.  He hugs me for at least 15 seconds when I tuck him in at night, and I've learned to wait until he lets go instead of prying his fingers off me.  He loves to scream and yell in the shower and watch the bubbles rise higher and higher, "A Tsunami!" Ryan never hurts Molly, but cac bash Eddie.  He loves following Austin around and watching matching burn.  He's practically perfect in every way. 

Eddie's #9

Eddie is old -- very, very old.  He's 9 today!!  Here is the reverse order of his day.

Very last we crashed in front of the TV.

Eddie asked for an ice cream roll cake and hot fudge.  Complience.

The better smile has a blurry portrait, but his smile is too cute.

He shopped on Amazon and made a birthday list.

Ninja "sout". Check.

I made mozarella sticks for lunch, thank you Giada for the recipe.  They were delicious.  https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/mozzarella-sticks-recipe-1953577

We spent the morning playing "Pie in the Faces" game.

So good and so fun.

Breakfast came early.  Andy and Maisie left for school, but I managed to get them their chocolate chip pancakes.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rEJrp1F3acw41u4j7

He wanted to rip through his door, but the paper just pushed to the side.  Whoops.

Eddie is strategic.  He thinks of a solution like no other person in the Think Tank.  When he loses a game, he plays it completely differently the next time.  He runs fast and wrestles scrappy.  Eddie and Molly are dearest friends -- he reads to her 30 minutes everyday.  "Choose any book, and I'll read it to you."  Eddie has piano skillz that are progressing nicely.  He begs to read Potter and and longs for the treat during CFM.  He sneaks into my room in hopes that his ninja skills hide him -- often it works.  We love Eddie.