If You're Happy and You Know It...

Play with your food!

Carly's good about always finding the fun, simple things in life.

Sunshine from Grandma and a Visit from Blythe

Grandma, who always has the most AMAZING garden, year round, sent us home with this beautiful bouquet of daffodils. We're also enjoying our time with Blythe while she's in between apartments.

Macy: "Faith is like a little seed...

...if planted, it will grow!!"

A Girl's Best Friend

Many a morning, Robyn wakes up bright n early, writes in her journal and gets out her latest chapter book. Macy took this one.

What are your favorite chapter books? We're looking for some fun new recommendations.

It's a Bird, It's a Plane...

It's a Sphinx Moth!

While trying to garden today (before it started snowing), the girls found a moth the size of a small hummingbird. It had come out of its cocoon so recently that it was still drying its wings and couldn't fly yet.

Dorie Days

Miss Dorie is one of our favorite people! (According to Carly, she is the nicest person...even nicer than Spider Man!) We were blessed to have her for Robyn and Carly's preschool teacher. She's loved us as if we were part of her family. Her preschool is so much fun that many days, I wish I could stay and play! That's all Carly thought she did there was "play, play, play!" Little did she know that she was learning every minute. We'll miss you, Miss Dorie!

Spring into Spring!

Man, I Love this Man!

Happy Birthday to a man who...

works hard
comes home whistling
forgives easily
keeps promises
loves people
has a solution for just about anything
loves to try new things
never complains
never gives up
is helpful
is happy
is the love of my life
and my best friend

The True Meaning of Easter by Carly

Carly: I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior...We believe that through the Atonement of Christ all menkind (mankind) may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel first faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, second repentance, third baptism by immersion, and fourth laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Me: How do you know that Jesus is your Savior?

Carly: Because he died for me.

The Butcher, The Baker...

The Birthday Card Maker!

Speaking of butchers, Myles said he saw some "Ah-mazing" ones this morning when he volunteered at a meat-packing plant owned by our church that helps people in need. He said the butchers wore chains for belts "maybe because they're easier to clean" where they hang a knife block and other tools. "They sharpen their knives about every two seconds." He said it was pretty weird and graphic to see an entire cow hanging there and then see its hide get ripped off in an instant. He thought the rest of the process was pretty cool, but "maybe not a place I'd take you or the kids."

We're supposed to pick my mom up from the airport tonight and then go to McDonalds, the kids' fav. treat when she comes. Maybe I'll skip the Big Mac and order a salad!!

Balloon Animals

These were a big hit with the kids...and even Grandma! Dylan did tell Myles that a clown could do it better than him, though :)

The Family Hunt

Since it was cold and rainy, we hid all 163 eggs inside, in the toy room. Robyn was proud to come up with her stash before some of the kids had even made it down! We were grateful to have all 13 cousins healthy on the same day to celebrate all our April B-days. It truly was a miracle, and lots of fun! Macy enjoyed sharing her chocolate with Grandma.

Hoppy Easter!

We sure got plenty o' candy this year!

We're A Yogi Family!

My cousin got us these Yoga Pretzel cards 2 Christmas' ago, and we still love doing them all the time. Even Macy can look at the pictures and tell us what to do, step by step.

One of Macy's favs. is Lizard on a Rock

Back in the day, I took gymnastics and could do very flexible things. Not so true anymore. Myles could never do the reach sit in PE because he physically can't sit up straight against a wall with his feet straight out in front of him.

So, this is our way to have fun as a fam. and try to get in shape! Myles' goal is to do a bridge and get ready to do belt flips with me, as seen on U-Tube. I'm not so sure about that.

I would like to become stronger, more flexible, and feel better.

Robyn is growing so fast that the strengthening and coordination seems like a good idea.

Mother Earth's Routine

For some reason, this year I've had a harder time with the weather teasing us. One day, it's sunny park weather. The next day, we've got to get out our boots again. Myles is surprised that I'm surprised. "This is Utah. This happens every year," he reminds me.

I wish it could just stay spring for awhile because once it's hot, it's hot!

This all reminds me of one of my favorite children's songs.
Here are a few parts from Mother Earth's Routine by John Forster and Tom Chapin:


Mother Earth's about to change her gown.
She loves to change her seasons.
It's Mother Earth's routine.
Green to brown, brown to white,
White back into green.
She changes seasons and puts on something clean...

You have to change to grow.
You have to change to grow...


It is fun to have different seasons. Carly was super excited to notice that the "popcorn" on our plum tree had popped!

Girl With the Pearl Earring

OK, so it's really Girl With the Sticky Tack Earring, but this closeup of Carly with the blue headband and pearl-like earring sure reminded me of that.

Conference Report by Robyn

Every 6 months, we get to listen to General Conference, a time when our prophet, Apostles, and other leaders speak. They lead us, guide us, and testify of our Savior. They give us counsel and hope. They help us grow closer to Christ and to our families.

As a little girl, I remember driving a long ways to watch Conference via satellite dish. Now, we can watch it at home on TV or the Internet.

The girls enjoyed listening to the talks and the music. I loved that Robyn loved taking notes, like me. I thought she summed things up pretty well...

President Monson: We will be taught and serve the Lord.

Robert D. Hales: Be kind to the widow. Serve others. Satan knows when, what, and how to tempt you. You are a child of God. Pray. The Savior loves you. Remember my words. He stands ready to help us. Each one.

Margaret S. Lifferth: Like Peter we love the Lord. We invite the Spirit to be with us. Respect everybody. You should teach your child about reverence.

Neiler: He is talking about being virtuous. Preisthood leaders must do their homework. He's talking about Elder's Quorums a lot.

Allan F. Packer: Across the world, families are kind of having hard times. But, it's still great to be alive. Listen to the Holy Ghost and its promptings. The Lord knows each of us. May we know the voice.

D. Todd Christofferson: We need Christians to help. Have charity. Be virtuous. Please God. Jesus suffered for us. Let your obedience be exact.

Henry B. Eyring: I pray my words will be helpful. Misfortunes arise. War and famine. Eternal life is a gift. To live forever is eternal life. Try to make right choices.

M. Russell Ballard: Look to your parents and others before you, they have been on the same path. God loves to bless his children. Nourish your testimony, watered with faith.

Quentin L. Cook: Jesus died for us so that we could live again. Happy day. All is well.

Kevin W. Pearson: Dought (doubt) is not a principle of the Gospel.

Rafael Pino: My peace I leave with you. The Lord we follow. Peace be unto thy soul. The wise man built his house upon a rock.

Richard G. Scott: Because I love you, I want to speak to you. Worship as a couple in the temple.

Russell M. Nelson: Hearken to the words of the Lord. Jesus taught us how to pray. Pray always to your Heavenly Father.

(We made earrings during Conference. When Hinckley was alive, he said, "One set of earrings.")

President Uchtdorf: The Gospel is is not a secret. Jesus is the Savior of the world.

Neil L Anderson: I love my family.

Steven Snow: "Grandma," says Michelle on her last morning with her before kindergarten, "It's time I go on with my life."

Barbara Thompson: Your path may be thorny. Serve the Lord and his children. Three year old Brooklyn said, "Please bless the Bishop. His eyes are broken."

President Thomas S. Monson: I express my love for you. "Adam fell that man might be and men are that they might have joy." Jesus is the center of our lives. He is the light of the world.

Dallin H. Oaks: Our faith comes from Jesus. Satan desires to sift us like wheat. Our Savior wants us to follow him.

David A. Bednar: Going to the temple gets you ready for differnt things.

Gary E. Stevenson: You are not lost when you can see the temple. As we touch the temple, the temple touches us.

Jose Teixeira: Our Heavenly Father has a beautiful plan for us. We are not alone.

F. Michael Watson: It was fun to have everybody be temple worthy.

L. Tom Perry: As members of the Church, sometimes we go astray like sheep.

President Monson: I express my thanks for those who watched Conference. May we remember what we heard. May we pray always. I pray for you. Pray for your children. Children, let your parents know you love them. There are pathways that can lead us to Heavenly Father.

You can visit:
General Conference
for the full talks and more info.

What A Cute Mom!

When you see how happy Emily is, it's no surprise Baby T's the same.

What a Cute Cuz!

We were so happy to have Tyler and Emily come visit us! I hadn't seen Tyler since he was 2 wks. old, and the rest of the fam. hadn't met him yet. It's so fun to have a new nephew and cousin! I can't believe how happy and cute he is. He was happy to have me hold him right away. Em thought maybe I reminded him of his dad, just a little bit. :)

Funny Bunnies!

While we've been home sick all week, the girls have gotten creative with what to do for fun. Getting out our bin of Easter stuff helped get their creative juices flowing. They LOVE hiding empty Easter eggs all over the house and taking turns finding them. Carly is using a pump to blow up an air mattress. They had fun with that ALL day. (We suspected it had several leaks, which they confirmed). And, Carly is having her flexible bunnies do Yoga poses, like Mountain and Tree.

Indian Mama

Since none of our girls have bangs, we always make them wear a head band when it's time to eat to prevent sticky hair. Myles thought it would be fun to try one out on me. As you can see, especially by Macy, we are sick and tired of being sick and tired (I think that may be a Bill Cosby quote) and hope this week is better.

The doc. showed me a way to check for dehydration that I'd never heard of before. He pushed down on one of Macy's fingernails with his finger tip and said if it took 3 seconds or more for it to return to its pink color, she was dehydrated. Luckily, she wasn't.

PS Aunt Rita, we are so grateful for the ear thermometer you gave us when Robyn was born! We have used it a lot this week!