Easter

We had a very fun Easter this year. We decorated eggs, went to the city Easter egg hunt, had Easter at our house and had our own Easter egg hunt in the backyard for the kids.

It was so nice to do the fun things and be together as a family, but it was also such a special time to remember our Savior, Jesus Christ, and all that He has done for us. To me, the very best thing about Easter is to not remember that Christ died on the cross for us, but that He LIVES. As we all can someday because of Him and His sacrifice for us.

There was a lot of playing with a little bit of egg hunting.

I can't even remember why Aidan was crying, but isn't it pretty?

Family Visit

Right before we left on the vacation, Spencer's brother Jeff's family came into town. Janell and her kids needed to get away and we were very happy to see them. We were only able to visit for a little while, but Carrie was able to come down and we went out to Bajio to eat. The cousins loved playing together.

Aidan and Ethan

Hayley and Janell (with her fabulous new color)The Gregersons

Vacation part II

Expedition Everest mountain

Waiting (something we are not used to in parks)
Jurassic Park (Aidan's favorite ride)
Dr. Seuss Land
Last formal Night

Stylin' baby

The kids loved the beaches more than anything

We went to the beach in Grand Cayman. The water was beautiful. We also went to the beach in a tiny island in the Dominican Republic. I think it was one of our favorite places. We got right off the cruise ship and drove up to Orlando, where we went to Universal Studios.

Aidan loved the Jurassic Park ride. It was very warm and we were very tired, so we ended up not staying to hear Kelly Clarkson. There were too many people and there was no way that the kids would have handled waiting 2 hours standing up before she even started. The next day we went to Universal Studios, Island of Adventure. It was pouring rain, but we knew it would thin the crowds so we got ponchos and it ended up pretty fun. The Hulk roller coaster was amazing!!!

The next day we went to Animal Kingdom at Disney World. We are not used to waiting forever in lines, since we always go in off-season, but besides that it was very fun. Expedition Everest was the coolest ride. It goes up, the track ends, and you finish the ride going down backwards.

Then we flew home. Madelyn was an angel on the flights home, but Aidan was a little naughty. It was a fun trip, but we were very happy to be home.

Vacation part I

I am sad that we forgot to take many pictures those first few days. Here are some of the best.

The plane rides to Florida were very rough. Madelyn was very unhappy and Benadryl was a waste. I was getting a cold and did not feel well. That 1st day in Florida it was raining and we were cooped up with some wild children (who I am completely in love with and there is nothing I cherish more in this world.). The weather cleared a little so we went to the beach where Aidan ran his entire self into the ocean and was a stinky, sandy mess and I had no washer and dryer. (This type of stuff is what stresses me out.)

The ship was beautiful, the shows were amazing, the food was yummy. We went the cheap route and crammed ourselves into a tiny room where Sienna and Aidan had bunks that folded down from the walls over our bed and Baby slept with us. She kicks and climbs and rolls, so we didn't sleep well. It's our fault because we set ourselves up for a stressful situation. You live and you learn, right?

We visited Key West and saw an aquarium where we touched a nurse shark, watched turtles and all kinds of fish and crabs. In Cozumel we went to the beach, where we met a really nice couple who were Russian, but lived in Canada. I wish I could have remembered some of the Russian words my brother taught me besides swear words.

Formal night I

Playing in the sand in Cozumel

what better way to spend time than this?

Mad's favorite play place; the bunks beds with dangerous ladders

Random Pictures

I haven't posted pictures of the kids for a little while, and I have a ton of random ones, so I am just putting them all on here. I will get around to the vacation, and just post on one area at a time, but I needed to get these out first.

She has been falling asleep all over the house

Touched

We went to Albertsons for a doughnut raid with the kids after dinner. They were being TERRIBLE (it has been this way a lot since we left for the cruise, which is why I was so upset when I posted about the vacation.) so I told Sienna and Aidan that they could not have their doughnuts. They then freaked out more, mostly Sienna, but Aidan copies her. I took them out and left Spencer to buy the stuff and she is getting meaner and meaner, telling me she hates me, she doesn't like me, she would rather have anyone else be her mother, she wishes she only lived with Spencer, on and on and on. (It really makes me feel great and like a fabulous mother with this kind of behavior. I try so hard to teach them but it just gets worse and worse.) After a couple of minutes she then starts bawling hysterically telling me she is sorry and that she didn't mean it and Aidan says,

"Sienna, you know the Spirit touched you."

Oh my gosh! What an amazing little man! He is so receptive. I just was so impressed that I had to share this. It makes me feel a little better about me as a mom that even with all their fits, at least something good is getting through.

News

April Fool's

Heaven....or HELL!?!?!?!

The trip....well I will just tell you I don't know what we were thinking. Honestly. Were we high on crack we didn't know we had taken when we planned this?

I am glad that I am optimistic and hopeful and think of all of the positive attributes of my children while planning a vacation, (instead of all the missed naps, temper tantrums, random crying, sauciness, frustration, me getting angry about all the insanity and then feeling like a bad mother for yelling at her children during all of the ensuing madness). But...it would be helpful to remember some of them. I tend to have rose colored glasses when planning trips and I just think how many wonderful, fun, memory-making times we will have together. The reality is very different. I need to remember the WORK involved in a trip.

I'm not saying that I have not had fun. I have. We have had some very great times and I really appreciate them. I am grateful how after some time, most bad memories fade a little and good memories grow a little. Maybe in 6 months I will be telling everyone what a great trip this was. We'll see. I miss everyone. I miss my house and my washer and dryer, my family and friends, my daily life grind that I so desperately wanted and needed to get away from. I am ready to be home right now.

5

We decided to do a cousin-only birthday party for Aidan, since it gets too crazy with a million friends. I found a great coupon for Chuck E Cheese's so we just took a cake he asked me to make,(white with chocolate-sour cream frosting)and had the kids eat pizza and play. I think Aidan had a really great day. He was celebrated in pre-school, we took him to his choice of lunch, (Red Robin) and then took him to Build-a-Bear Workshop to pick out an animal. He named it Kaden, which he says is his favorite name and he is going to name his little boy that when he grows up. It's hilarious. After that he got to go to Chuck-E-Cheese's. What a fun day! I am so grateful for this sweet, loving, amazing little boy and for the joy he brings into our lives.

The gang

best buds Aidan and Tyson Sienna, Kaitlyn, and Savanna

Kaitlyn, Ty, and Aidan

grownups get to have fun too!

29

This is forever late, but my 29th birthday was on February 19th. For some crazy reason, I kept thinking that I was turning 30. It would drive Spence crazy whenever I would say that, but I finally got it into my brain. Spencer had to work, but my sweet little brother Paul decided that I had to have a birthday party. I originally thought just he and Kelsey were going to come over, but he invited my brother, Robert and his wife, Michelle, my parents, and even Shannon, Tyson, and Savanna were able to come. It was so fun. He brought hats and a cake and just his fun self. It was a great day.

The kids in full party gear

Shan, me and Kelsey