Happy Easter 2014

I feel like I am in a bit of a fog lately.  I don't know if it's the house or if I can use the excuse that I am still adjusting, but everything seems to creep up on me.  I felt like I started thinking about Easter pretty early, but then all of the sudden it was here and I was sort of scrambling to get it together.  We are really trying to scale back with holidays and simplify a bit.  We would like to focus on the real meaning and have a few traditions that we stick to without making it too much of a production.....but it sure is hard to find that balance sometimes. Of course you must color eggs....right? 

 Just getting started....

 The finished products ( - a few that had already been "deviled")

 The Easter bunny made it to our house....

and the hunt was on.....

 That crazy bunny hid some out of reach that required a little help from a friend....and more than one attempt:)

 Looking high....

 and low.....

 It was such a gorgeous morning (nicest one we remember having in a long time), our little friend even came by to say Happy Easter

 Then it was off to church...but not before a few tastes from the baskets.  Our lone little Peep lover was thrilled to get her Peep Pop:)

 The weather was so beautiful we had to work in a quick stop at the Botanical Garden for a picture on the way to church (although no flowers quite yet)

 The girls were patient for long enough.....

We did a little something extra and had a Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt at night.  It was so fun in just our small little house....it would be a blast in a big space/yard with lots of people (cousins??) 

I am so glad we get to do all these fun traditions for Easter, but even more glad for the opportunity we have to reflect on the life of our Savior.  Bailee had been sharing some sweet videos with us during the week.  I particularly loved this one....and loved being able to recognize all that is good in my life is "Because of Him"

HaPpY eAsTeR!!

Devastation

Yesterday was a day that Emmrey had been looking forward to for a long time.  The 1st graders were going on a  field trip to Fort Collins to visit the Landfill and Children's Museum....and I was all set to chaperone.  Emm had been talking about it for weeks and counting down.  The night before her excitement was mounting as she laid out her bright green Deming Miller school shirt.  She assisted in making a lunch for both her and I with enthusiasm and was waiting in bed for "tuck in" at record speed.  So when I awoke early in the morning to Bailee in a panic that "Mom...Emmrey is throwing up"... my heart sank.  Poor little girl just kept crying, "but I have my field trip today" in between heaves.  So instead of checking out the landfill and exploring the museum she pretty much spent the day in bed, sleeping, listening to mom read books or watching movies...with our trusty "puke bowl" close by:( 

 

 When I got out my lunch to eat by myself (since she couldn't keep anything down)...I found the sweetest little note she had put in my bag the night before.  Broke my heart<3

She was so DEVASTATED that we missed the field trip.  We did get to spend the day together, but not in the fashion we had planned. Makes me sad just thinking about it.  Hopefully we'll be on board for the next one that comes around:)

Mazatlan

Spring Break ended and we all headed back to our routine.....except Mark....he headed off to Mazatlan for a Fisheries Conference.  To say I was disappointed that I wasn't able to tag along on this one would be an understatement....the timing just wasn't right:(  So while he got to spend a week soaking up the sun in beautiful Mexico, the girls and I got to have some quality mother/daughter time:)

The lack of communication due to lack of cell/internet service got on my nerves.  With the house getting down to the last month, there were several decisions and little hiccups that needed attention.  I can be pretty indecisive and when it comes to decisions on the house, I really like to have time to pour over everything for a while.  When your building a house you don't have that luxury=serious STRESS for me!!  Needless to say, I was very happy to have him back.  The girls missed him terribly too.  They made him this fancy little sign to welcome him home (at 2 in the morning).

Once he finally woke up the following morning (afternoon) he quickly dug through his bag for the gifts he brought the girls. The enjoyed some unique treats from Mexico as well as a beautiful piece of silver jewelry for each of them (B-earrings K- ring E-necklace).  He also brought me a gorgeous little Mexican Nativity....I love it:)  The gifts were great...but it was really just nice to have him back !!

Aquarium

As the end of our Spring break approached, we felt we needed one final hoorah before heading back to school/work.  We decided to surprise the girls with a trip to the Denver Aquarium.  

The last time we had been there was while we were in graduate school in Laramie and our family looked like this:

Boy ...things have changed a bit;)

We thought we were safe since Colorado's break was a different week than ours.....man were we wrong!!  It was so crowded and it made it hard to even move around.  We managed to maneuver through all the people and see everything.....and there is quite a bit to see.

 

 

  

There is one exhibit that has glass all along the wall and over the top of you.  We were in awe just watching all the different fish and turtles......

...and sharks swimming right over the top of you

We found a prime little perch by the glass.  I think we could have just sat there all day ....it was so calming [well except for the 1,000's of other bodies]

We got to watch divers feed the fish

and witnessed a totally "cheesy" mermaid show;)

 

The highlight for Emm was the stingray pond.  She wanted to go back several times.  She absolutely LOVED petting those things.

It made for a fun day together.  Had it been a little warmer outside we may have opted for the Denver Zoo, but the Downtown Aquarium was worth seeing again.....almost 12 years later:)

Spring Break at a glance

We pretty much hung out at home the rest of our Spring Break.  Here's a glance at some of the happenings....

A walk to the Library, where we got caught in a strange rain/hail storm.  Kars was trying to catch them ;)

Afternoon matinee at the Lincoln [bargain movie] to watch Frozen...again.  Loved it ....again.

LEGO building seems to be especially popular on breaks [Bay was building too, but groaned when I came in for a photo]

Kars got the "baking bug" and made us some yummy brownies

Watched the Women's Conference with my girls since we missed it on the weekend

Finally broke out the sewing machine that my mom gave me.  Have not sewed since Junior High...it was the blind leading the blind but we managed a very simple project.

Someone managed to get this royal treatment {treat bribery was most definitely involved}

We also surprised the girls one morning with a trip to the Downtown Aquarium in Denver

Spring Break Kickoff

We have recently come off of a week long break. Our Spring Break started out in 2 different locations. Mark had been wanting to go back "home" to Cody for some fishing and  Bailee and Karsyn have anxiously been waiting for an opportunity to go visit their friends.  So....we figured this would be a perfect opportunity for both.  While I too would LOVE any excuse to return to Cody, I also knew that the girls would be staying with friends and Mark was hoping to pretty much fish from sun up to sun down.  I decided that this would be the right time for me to dig into the mess of boxes that we "were not going to open because we were only going to be renting this house for a few months"...HA:)  Since another move is quickly approaching, I want to feel a little more organized.  I had my little sidekick stay with me and let me tell you, she was over the moon about having our own little weekend together.  She didn't even mind that it would be "work", she was giddy with excitement to have the rest of the clan leave. 

So Mark, Bailee and Karsyn's weekend looked like this......time with friends, road trip movies, camping out, hot springs in Thermop, G&F trailer, and LOTS of fishing:) Oh...and some quality time in "Paris".

Emmrey and I had a weekend that looked a little more like this...... lots of coloring by candlelight, discovering toys that had been forgotten about, falling in love all over again with hooded towels we came across, lunch date at Wendy's [Emm's choice;], Pizza and The Middle, labeling, and lots and lots of boxing.  We threw in some Mini Eggs for good measure!!

We all had a good time on our separate weekend excursions, but I think we were all happy to be back together again:)

Honor Roll

Karsyn has been on the Honor Roll every quarter this year.  Last week Miller Elementary held a little ceremony to recognize all the students who made Honor Roll.  They also gave awards for Accelerated Math and Reading.  Lu doesn't really enjoy being the center of attention [unless it's on her terms], so these types of things can be a bit uncomfortable for her:)

 We are so proud of how well Kars has done in school.  She is a very bright girl with a very interesting little mind that is curious about so many things. She amazes us everyday!!  And apparently she is more adept at knowing where to look on a camera phone than her mother;)

sisters

There is nothing that makes my heart happier than seeing my girlies be genuinely good to each other.  The other morning I came into the living room to find this scene......priceless!!  Emm was reading a book for school and Kars had settled right in next to her in the chair. 

I couldn't help but notice the little plaque in the background that my own sister Leslie gave me. 

I always tell them that their sisters should be their best friends.  I don't know that they always feel that way, but I sure hope they understand how special sisters are....I know I would be lost without mine:)