The Sounds of Spring

We had a great Easter this year! First of all, it was spring break the week prior and General Conference that same weekend! I loved it! I wish it could be that way every year!! Anyway, we managed to get a few pictures of the family as well.


Alex was having a lot of fun with posing but, the little girls were ready to be done. She recently bought a T-shirt that says, "I'm the crazy friend." Troy and I couldn't agree more, ha ha.

During "Spring Break" we didn't go anywhere so we tried to make the best of it at home. We decided to give each of our kids one day to choose what we would do as a family and we had a great week! Here are some of the sounds we heard:

1. A very big, "YAY, YEAH and WOOHOO" for no chores the first day! Everyone needs a pajama day every once in awhile.

2. The "pitter patter" of little feet running around the living room, kitchen and entryway, which makes a complete circle. It was kind of cold outside. At first, you think that they will get tired and stop but, little kids NEVER tire. It was only when Alex and I joined in that they decided to stop and watch us pant and try to catch our breath.

3. "Honk, Honk," went the car's horn as Austin drove into the garage with his permit.

4. The "sweet and soft voice" of our youngest, Ellie, singing her own, original melodies. Sometimes, it was just humming and other times it was words mixed with humming. It was as if she was in a fairytale land collecting berries, with all the forest creatures gathered around her. If you didn't stop and tune in, you'd miss it completely.

5. We also did some popcorn munching, candy crunching, and egg cracking to last us for awhile!



Troy even got a couple days off to spend with us! Yay! (Don't we look tired?)

"AKA"

Here is Luke's first Breakdance performance from Saturday night. He started taking "Hip Hop' at the gym that I work at about two months ago and he really enjoys it. Since he has only performed with a group before, he was a little reserved. I whispered to Troy as he went out to dance that we forgot to "Bribe" him. Anyway, the whole night was full of several ages and both genders competing against each other. In fact, one time, Luke danced against his cousin, Corbett. The adults that danced were even given "AKA" names so we decided to do the same with Luke, AKA "Breaka Breaka" because he loves to breakdance and Corbett, AKA "The Cowboy" because he always wears his Wranglers to practice and has always got his boots on. Thanks Luke and Corbett!!! Here's to more "breaking it down in the hood!"

Valentine's Past and Present

Friday morning I woke up with a little bit of nausea and no voice, well, a deep gruff, smoker's voice. So, I have spent the weekend in my sweats, napping, resting and sleeping. It has been so nice to get caught up on rest and to relax. My husband and children have cleaned, and taken care of me so wonderfully. I couldn't think of a better Valentine's gift than that. However, when I woke up this morning, I was greeted with breakfast in bed, flowers and a card from my hubby. He is so AWESOME! However, I am feeling a wee bit guilty for not even getting a card. I'll have to make something memorable before they get home.

Some of my most memorable Valentine Day's:

*Grade School - getting a flower from my father (Troy does the same thing with our girls)

* Junior High - getting flowers at my house from a "secret admirer" (in later years, I figured out it was my older sister that wanted to surprise me).

*High School - Getting flowers from a boy that I had a crush on but couldn't muster up enough guts to thank him in person so I sent him a Thank You card. (Who knows, maybe that was from my sister too, ha ha).

*College - Getting a "Highly" anticipated letter from Troy.

*These days - Having the kids help me stuff Troy's car with balloons, a poem and puzzle that he had to figure out to get to his valentine.
(the kids got the biggest kick out of this)

Happy Valentine's Day! What are some of your most memorable?

"Tootin My Horn"

I don't toot my horn very often. There are so many things that I need to work on but every once in awhile I have a little moment that makes me feel like I can conquer the world, well, maybe just the day!

After school, Luke, Austin and Troy went on a winter camp-out and since Austin has a paper route, there was a little debate over how it was going to get done. This was due partially to only being a one car family right now. However, I said that I would do it on Austin's bike if he would just pack them all up in the sack. Then, after much deliberation, I thought, "Who am I kidding?" If I get on that bike with 50 pounds of weight on me I will surely be falling all over. I could just see the papers flying. So, I resorted to the stroller, something that can tote, is on wheels and is much more familiar to me.

I must admit that at first I was not thrilled about it, one paper, two papers, etc., etc., but, once I put my ipod on and got my pace going it wasn't bad. In fact, once Pat Benetar came on with "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," I was running, pushing my stroller, throwing three pointers, thinking about Rocky Balboa training for the big fight. I think I may have even thrown a few punches, ha ha, no, just kidding but, I thought about it. I also started thinking about how I never would have done this as a kid. Okay, maybe on a bike, but not on foot or with a STROLLER.

As I came down the home stretch, empty bag and empty stroller, it felt good to round the corner and cross the imaginary finish line! Woot! Woot!

I know this is pretty trivial for some women out there and to you I say, "Tally Ho and Hang Tough" and for those of you who are like me and consider this a Wonder Woman moment, I say, "We are Women, Hear Us Roar!"

Now for the Christmas lights...

More Music...

Here are a couple of beautiful sisters singing, "Si Volvieras a mi." I always get chills when I hear them sing. They are also our nieces. I just love them. I also love music. It can be so powerful.

Performing 101

Here's a cover of Jason Mraz's, "I'm Yours."

Belated Boo's

This is a little late but I wanted to get to it at some point. Every October we make a Scarecrow. This is a tradition I started, thinking that the kids would really enjoy. Well, the younger ones do but, the older ones think of it as more of a chore. However, they humor me anyway and end up helping out. I always tell them that even the "crazy" or "boring" traditions I come up with will be a memory for them that they will laugh about later. It will go under "remember when mom made us do this...."


It was headless at first, as well as gloveless and bootless but we took pictures anyway. Don't our "pumpkins" look great?