EASTER SUNDAY

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday with our Family. After Church we headed down to Irvine and met at Ryan and Nic’s church (it was raining so we had to move it from the Park to the Church) for a family dinner with all of us plus the Adam’s cousins the Sherwoods. The kids had a huge Easter Egg Hunt in one of the large classrooms and we were able to sit, visit and catch up with all the cousins!

I had gone to church early to practice with the Choir and so the usual taking of a million pictures to get the right one didn’t happen. This is as good as Adam and the kids had patience for.

I LOVE this dress! I had seen it at Target a few weeks before Easter but it was only in the big girl sizes. Saturday before Easter I was at a different Target and there it was! I was ecstatic cause I knew it would be adorable on my baby girl! I may be bias but I think I was 100% right!

It didn’t take long for all the little kids to catch on to the concept of the “Easter Egg Hunt”

Logan and G had fun searching for eggs. And “no comment” on Garett’s attempt to slick his hair back like Pat Rielly/Draco Malfoy!

CRAZY Cousins!!!!

Spencer and Annie are the most AMAZING big brother and big sister! I LOVE watching them with Avery! They are so helpful and so kind, patient and loving with her! She is one lucky little girl to have such a good big bro and sis!

APRIL 2011

SPRING BREAK IN UTAH

We had such a great time in Utah. We spent the first weekend in Downtown Salt Lake with the “C” side of the Family. Everyone stayed in a hotel and enjoyed visiting with one another, catching up, swimming with the kids and going to Conference. Adam and I were able to attend the Saturday Morning Session in the Conference Center and took Spencer, Annie and Garett. It was G’s first time in the Conference Center and his first time ever seeing the Prophet in real life. I felt so blessed to be there with him and grateful that I was able to watch it all from his perspective. Garett LOVED being there and told me he didn’t want to leave because he felt so warm and calm. The rest hymn was “ I know That My Redeemer Lives” and as we all sang together I felt a beautiful and overwhelming feeling of love, peace and gratitude for the blessing of the Gospel in my life and for the knowledge I have that My Redeemer does live! It was a very special and memorable weekend!

Early Monday morning Adam had to fly home to get back to work so the kids and I stayed with the Brinks! As always we had a blast just hanging out, going to lunch, letting the kids play and staying up late laughing and watching TV! We also got to spend some time with the Armstrongs which of course the kids LOVE to do!

One afternoon we met up with Mindy and the boys and went to this fun indoor trampoline place. The kids LOVEd jumping all over the place and landing in these huge foam pits. Backflips became the order of the day and the older three practiced with all their might to backflip into the pit!

Even Avery got in on the fun, although she didn’t ever master the back flip she loved jumping into the pit!

BYU ART MUSEUM- On Thursday we were able to go to the special Art Exhibit at the BYU Art Museum which was displaying Original Paintings of Carl Bloch. It was a remarkable experience to go into the exhibit early in the morning, with just our small group (Julie, Mindy, Spencer, Annie, Garett, Logan, Jackson, Natalie, Brady, McRae and Ty) and wonder through looking at the Majestic paintings of the Savior and his life. Again I was struck with a feeling of love, peace and gratitude for the blessings I have in my life! As beautiful as the paintings were, the looks on my childrens faces as they gazed at the paintings are images that will stay with me forever.

I could have stayed there all day just looking at this painting! In reading the description of the painting it explained that the Scripture Carl Bloch based this painting off of is Luke 22:41-43 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me, nevertheless not my will, but thing, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. I had never before comprehended what it meant when it said an angel appeared to the Savior to strengthen him and even now, words can’t express the feelings I have as I look at and think about all the Savior went through in Gethsamene, such that an Angel was sent to strengthen him.

Another Beautiful Painting

A few of the more recognizable and popular paintings of Carl Bloch

In talking with Uncle Todd before going to see the paintings I learned that many of them were owned by churches in Europe and the church leaders worked effortlessly, for years, to convince the owners of the paintings to let the church borrow them all at the same time so they could display them together. Once they had consent of the majority the church flew the paintings to the US on a private plane and had to crate them and ship them upright. Once here the church took great care to clean and care for the paintings. When they are returned to the churches they belong to, the paintings will be in far better condition than they were when they left. A precious gift of gratitude for loaning them in my opinion.

I think the paintings will only be at BYU through the end of May. Since it is almost the end of May now it may be difficult to get tickets but if you can I would HIGHLY recommend it! It is an experience you don’t want to miss out on. Its free and well worth the time!

THE BRINKS

After our Spring Break we drove home and were excited to have the Brinks join us. Julie and the kids caravanned with us and then spent a week hanging out at our house! Although my kids were back in school we had fun hanging out, swimming and going to Magic Mountain (I pulled the kids out of school on that day). One day Julie and I got a babysitter and joined my friends Julie and Elisa for a fun shopping trip in Hollywood. As we walked out of the parking lot into the middle of the outdoor mall Julie (my sister) said she only had one objective for the day and that was to see a Celebrity. No sooner had she said that did we turn a corner and right in front of us was Mario Lopez and the crew for the show “Extra”. A crew member instantly approached us and asked if we watched “Dancing With the Stars” and if we would answer a few questions with Mario about it. OF COURSE WE WILL!!! So, we not only got to SEE a celebrity, we got to MEET one AND got to be on TV! Mario was super cool, very down to earth and fun! That shopping trip will be one that goes down in history as one of the most fun shopping experiences ever!

Elisa, Julie (my sis), Julie (AKA Frannie), Mario and Me

When the Brinks had to pack up and head to Orange County to see the Millers and then head for home we were sooooo sad! We’d been together for almost 2 full weeks and despite Julie constantly asking  us “are you ready for us to get out of your house?” we sooooo were not! I think if given the choice my kids would choose to actually LIVE with their cousins! I think however that Julie and I may actually get sick of eachother if that ever happened! Anyway, we MISS all of our cousins and wish we could all live closer! I guess it just makes the times we do get to be together that much better!

 

Julie’s kids Reece and Brady were quite concerned about staying with us because they get nervous around Lucy. I was so proud of both of them because after the first day or two they weren’t scared at all and even snuggled right up to her. Reecey LOVED Lucy the most!

21 MONTHS OLD

I had to throw these in because not only is Avery 21 months old, she is also wearing a Nightgown for the first time! She felt so pretty in it and kept saying “wiwwy” which is how she says “pretty”!

March 2011

AVERY

“Fifies” and “Barney”- This little baby is quickly growing from baby to toddler and I am having a hard time keeping up! She is soooo much fun and is always the “Belle of the Ball” around our house. Everyone adores her and just can’t get enough of her. The scary thing is that as she grows, she’s quickly catching on to the fact that she’s got each of us wrapped around one of those pudgy little fingers and the attitude is coming on strong. Still, we just laugh and think its cute. All I can say is that sooner or later we are ALL going to be in trouble with this one. She’s going to be ruling the roost in no time!

This little munchkin LOVES her chair, her sippy cup, watching Barney and eating “fifies”!

 

“Lullow”

Most days Avery is my little shadow but on this particular day I was working around the house and noticed Avery wasn’t beside me anymore. As I hunted around the house this was what I found. She was laying on the ground with a piece of paper, a sippy and crayons surrounding her. With a big cheesy grin she looked up at me and said “Lullow, Lullow” (Color, color). She was absolutely adorable!

Piggies- With thin, whispy blond hair I’ve never done anything to Avery’s hair. When she was little she would always pull out any headbands I’d try to put in so I gave up. I finally decided to try to to a little piggy tail on the top of her head and she LOVED it! Since then she almost ALWAYS has one or two piggies in with a bow for most of the day. Every once in a while she’ll reach up and pull out her bow. When I put it back in I say “Avery, are you supposed to pull out your bow” to which she replies “No, no, no!”. Too cute!

First Piggy Ever!

First Piggy with a Bow!

 

G’s SCHOOL MUSICAL

 

Garett was thrilled when he found out that he would have a small, but important, speaking part in the 3rd grade Musical. I can’t even remember who he was but he delivered his lines with great enthusiasm. This kid was born for the stage (according to him, at least).

 

SPRING BREAK Week

For some crazy reason the younger kids got 2 weeks off for Spring Break this year. It was actually nice to have a longer break in the spring and we enjoyed every minute. The first week we stayed home and filled our days with park days, going to movies, hiking and swimming while the second week we jumped in the car and headed to Utah for Conference and to visit my sister and her fam!

                                                    Spencer                              Annie and Avery who wouldn’t let go. She HATED the pool!

Logan and Garett

Avery and her BFF Brinley. They are only 1 week a part. Brinle’s mom and I laugh that these two better be good friends because at church they are all the other one’s got. There are no other girls their age in our ward. So far, the friendship has been a match made in heaven!

This little guy is Brinley’s brother, Camden. He reminds me SOOOOO much of Spencer at the age! He LOVED playing with the big kids and jumping in the pool1

February 2011

Valentine’s Day Dinner

A few years ago Adam and I went to a Valentine’s Day Dinner Party at our friends home in Colorado. Each couple was asked to bring a movie clip of a favorite romantic movie. It was such a fun night and I decided then that someday I would hostess my own V-Day Dinner Party someday. Of course I didn’t want to steel the idea from her when we were still in CO but as soon as we moved, I made sure she knew I was going to go for it! This year was the year and we had a great time. Adam and I made and served a 5 course meal. It was delicious! After dinner we watched short clips of everyone’s favorite Romantic Movie. It was so funny to see what everyone chose. There was everything from “The Incredibles”, to “Jerry McGuire”, to “Napoleon Dynamite”. We have once again been blessed to have some amazing couple friends here in California. Everywhere we live we have made some wonderful friends and living here has been no different! We are so blessed!

The Table and Settings

The Kirbys                                                                   The Bartons

The Fransons                                                                       The Hasketts

The Browns                                                                      The Ostergards

VALENTINE’S Day

Each year I try to do something fun for my kids on Valentine’s Day. This year I wrote each of them a little love note and included a picture of me with them by ourselves. When I was making Spencer’s note I realized that I didn’t have ANY pictures of just Spencer and I for at least the past 5 years. I was so upset about it so the next morning, Valentine’s Morning, I got out my camera and had Annie take a few pictures of us! We were both radiant with our “sleepy faces” but I didn’t care. I just wanted a picture with me and my baby boy! We’ll be doing much better about our picture taking in the future!

My BEAUTIFUL Flowers from Adam

Nicole’s 40th Birthday

My Sister In Law turned 40 at the end of January and though it took some time, Laura, my mom and Nic’s friend Jen, my mom and Adam’s sister Laura were able to throw together a perfect celebration!

Beautiful Nicole

Oh we are so silly! Seriously thought we were being so funny with the “SWAP” picture!

The Original “C’s”

The Kids and Spouses

Laura, Jen and Mom threw a wonderful Party!

President’s Day in Irvine

We spent Presidents Day Weekend in Orange County. On Monday morning the Millers had everyone over for Papa’s famous french toast breakfast! It’s always sooooo good! The kids had fun goofing around with their cousins!

Pyramid                                        Collapsed Pyramid

Zoey was almost 23 Months Old here and I just LOVE these Pictures of her! She is such a fun, happy and busy little girl that to get her to stop for the Camera is near impossible. I just followed her around and snapped a picture any time she slowed down. I just LOVE her eyes and her fair skin in these pics! She is such an adorable little thing and has the BEST personality of any “almost” 2 year I know. (her mother may disagree since she gets to be the one to chase that personality all over the place)

Avery performing on the table!                          Gracie being her beautiful self!

I seriously cannot wait to watch these little munchkins grow up together! Gracie is 15 months older than Zoey and 18 months older than Avery and already the three LOVE eachother. In a few months we’ll throw little Raelynn(who is just 14 months younger than Avery) into the mix and we’ll have a group of four sassy little girls! Guaranteed good times to be had!

Dad’s Coyote Hunt

While we were all in Sunny Southern California, my dad was in –40 degree celcius weather in Northen Alberta with my Uncle hunting coyotes. There are so many of those things up there that the Ranchers are begging people to come and kill the pests. They kill all the livestock and wreak havoc everywhere. Some have even been seen killing and eating baby calves AS they are being born! How gross! Anyway, the office staff at Dad’s practice gave him and Uncle Ian a “hunting trip” for Christmas. From the pics you can see that it was successful. I asked what you dod with the rascals after you kill ‘em. Dad said nothing. The hunting expedition gets rid of them. I’m proud to say that dad shot four and killed three coyotes. Couldn’t find the 4th one. Ian got the other.

My Dad                                         Uncle Ian

Ward Party

We had a ward party with the theme “Back to the Future”. Everyone was supposed to dress up as something they were good at in high school. Of course a basketball player was the obvious choice for me. Annie’s team had just gotten brand new uniforms and they were HUGE so my friend Kristi and I were teammates. I wore Annie’s and Kristi wore Annie’s friend Julia’s. It was hilarious. It was so fun to see what everyone else dressed up as.

Me, Juliann (also a basketball player, however PREGNANT this time), Julie (homecoming Queen), and Kristi. Adam was a Volleyball player/beach bum!