Sunbeams!

I've figured it out! I'm addicted to those darling little sunbeams in Primary! I practically find myself rushing from sacrament meeting...be honest...who doesn't? After over an hour of sitting still?? Yes. I thought so. Anyway, I digress. I practically speed walk, (no running at church), to greet those darling seven little 3yr. old girls. Yup, we have all girls! They all march in with their frilly little dresses, and big smiles, and hoist themselves up on our "big" chairs (they like the big chairs..). Yesterday one of the little girls gave the opening prayer for her first time and one of her friends clapped for her when she was done. So cute! A couple weeks ago I was giving a lesson on the Atonement and as I described Jesus' death, a little 3yr. old cried out in a loud gasp..."Jesus died?" She then turned to her friend to make sure she heard it too..."did you hear that? Jesus died!" I quickly skipped to the resurrection, so she could feel some relief. When one of my counselors was doing a matching game, a little sunbeam was victorious in finding the match, and she quickly threw her fists in the air and gave her fellow classmates all a high 5!

Yup...TOTALLY addicted!

March Madness

Ridin' the scoot! Finally, after a long, cold winter!
Now that's a SMILE boys!

This is what happens when 5 kids go unsupervised for an hour in the basement! They basically got out a bunch of our Christmas decorations out from my nicely packed and labeled boxes...and created their own little "show" about waking up Christmas morning.

First baseball game of the season!

Playing "dead man". Josh is holding his own, good job!

Not all ski days are created equal...

Last Saturday we went skiing with my parents. As you can see with the above picture, it did not go well! We started out with Parker throwing up on the way up the canyon from car sickness (luckily he at least got his head out the window...) then it took forever to find a place to park. The Solitude guys told me to park on the street...* then we went down a couple runs, got separated from my dad, wondered what was taking him so long to get down the mountain, and found out he had crashed and hurt his leg. The ski patrol got him down the mountain and to the satellite hosp. on site, x-rayed the leg, and found he had a SEVERE tib/fib break! Long story short, no one in UT. County would touch the leg, and they sent us up to the U of U Trauma center for surgery. After a couple days in the hospital, he is now home and recovering.

*A side note: while my dad was being looked at, at the ski resort, I went back to my van to retrieve our lunches and saw a hwy. patrol vehicle giving tickets to everyone on the road. He hadn't gotten to my van, so I was able to re-park and save myself a ticket! Boy what a day!! Poooor Dad!! 10 wks on crutches ahead of him!

Sadness and the Savior

I relate to these parents. All they desire is for the

Savior to love and bless their children

and to make them whole. Just the essentials.

It's amazing how much life can change in an instant, how much can get packed into a couple of weeks, and how difficult, meaningless and hopeless it would all be without the gospel of Jesus Christ. Last week a friend of mine, a darling new mother, was in a terrible car accident. She is doing well, considering the head trauma she incurred, and is a miracle. My beautiful sister in law Stephanie lost her baby 1/2 way through her pregnancy, and she and Nate have had to mourn the loss of this little one, as we have mourned with her. We've just had a terrible earthquake in Chile, and wonder what the devastation will bring to that area of the world, mourning for those people as well. However through these tragedies, we have comfort available to us through the atonement. It was always a nice principle of the gospel growing up, but one I haven't really understood until I've gotten older, and experienced more of life. Now I cling to it with everything I've got. I guess all I can say is that I simply love the Savior and desperately need Him every day.

Family Home Evening with the cousins!

We had a family gathering at our home last night. It was in honor of my sister Allyson and Matt coming to visit from AZ and bringing their darling Emma! We had a yummy "create your own burrito" buffet, and a family home evening prepared by Nathan and Stephanie. The kids went on a search through my house for "clues" of Christ's ressurection. It was darling and the kids had a great time.

Nate lined up all the kids to hand out their clues.

Waiting for FHE to start

Family!

Ashlyn reading her clue with the help of Nathan and grandma.

Making a table hut with blankets. These messes are always worth it! I don't know how many times my brothers and I created huge huts in our basement growing up!!

Holding sweet Emma. Isn't Alyssa a natural??
Connor loves kids so much and couldn't wait to hold her!
Nate and Steph live in Ogden, so it's easier to put PJ's on the kids prior to leaving for home. Stephanie dressed her girls, and soon after, Ashlyn came running in..."mom, where is my Tiana night gown?? I REALLY need it!"

Imagine the girls' happiness to discover that they all had matching Princess Tiana night gowns!!