April Blossoms and Blizzards

Carly: Are those blossoms blowing around or is it snowing?

I'm so glad we took this picture when we did. Soon after, the snow came (again). I love Robyn's pure joy in this picture. I love my girls. They make me think. They make me grateful. They teach me things I didn't know I needed to learn. They remind me to laugh and enjoy life.

Macy: Last night, I dreamed about strawberries and chocolate milk. They were both really cheap on sale, so you buyed them.

Macy: When I'M the mom, I'm gonna let MY kids do whatever they want!

Carly (to Macy): You be the girl Indian. The girl Indians stay home and cook and clean the boys' clothes. I get to go out and go hunting.

The girls were waving little American flags out the car windows on the way home from Robyn's soccer game. Carly: I wish if we could be in a parade...because we have an old-fashioned car.

Carly: My back is wrenched and raw.

Macy (as she's eating fruit salad as part of our Easter dinner): I like this better than my grandson!

Macy: Every day, I wish a wish, but it never comes to me.
Me: Really? What do you wish for?
Macy: A doggie or a cat, but they never come to myself. Or, grapes because I don't have any grapes right now. Or, to be in Enoch's family because then I wouldn't have to die to be die and I could go up and live with Jesus!

Macy: I wish we had machines to do things so we could do other things.
Me: Machines to do what?
Macy: Like a clothes machine to clothes us so we could get ready faster. You know, put sunglasses on us, so we could be a movie star...yeah, that's what I might get for Christmas next year.

Macy: Mom, I'll do whatever chores you want so you can lay down, take a rest, read your scriptures, whatever. I don't care. Don't worry. I'll do whatever.

Macy: Mom, I think I love you more than my (new) swimming suit.

Macy: After I find my husband, I want my baby to come into my tummy really soon.

Carly was more excited about the boxes her shoes came in than her new shoes. She played with them for days.

Macy: I think for Dad's Birthday, he should stay home so I can come to the store and buy him a present.
Me: Oh, really? What do you think he would like?
Macy: A hula hoop.

Macy: Mom, you need to put milk on our list. We're almost all drunk!

It was so cute to see how excited Robyn was to see me and Macy at her school at recess after we dropped Carly off at kindergarten. She ran to Macy, screaming her name, lifted her up, and asked her if she wanted to play tag with her and her friends. She also ran up to me and gave me a big hug.

Macy: Oh, my gosh! My family's posh!

Macy: Mom, I saw a a bee and it was blossoming the tree!

Robyn (skipping home from Activity Days, a bimonthly church activity for girls 8-11): I'm lighter than a feather because I'm so happy!

Macy: What happens when an egg says bad words?
Me: I don't know.
Macy: He gets a spanking. What does an egg get when he says, 'raisin'? A silly spankin'!

Robyn: I want the vulture to be our new school mascot.
Me: Really? Vultures eat dead animals.
Robyn: Yeah, but you could say we devour learning...and vultures recycle, anyway.

Macy: Can I play a game on the computer?
Me: I don't know because last time there was fighting.
Macy: We won't fight. Pinky Promise!

Macy: That's a good advertisement.

Macy: Look, he's using crotches! (crutches)

Macy: After we die and we're resurrected, we'll have perfect bodies. Like Mo (my cousin who got hit by a semi) who has to have his leg cut off won't have to have his leg cut off anymore. Nobody will have canes or crunches (crutches) anymore.

Carly: I wish if my dream came true.
Me: Oh, really. What was it?
Carly: That Mrs. Ahlman came back.

Carly: What if someone was allergic to girls? Then, they'd have to go to an all-boys school. But nobody could be allergic to boys because then you'd be allergic to your dad.

Macy's question of the month: How many minutes AND seconds 'til __________?

Carly's Story

I mentioned to Carly that I got an e-mail about PBS Kids sponsoring a kids' writing contest. While I was in the shower, she came up with her illustrations. Here's her story:

The Giraffe That Escaped from the Zoo

by Carly

There once was a zookeeper and he was feeding the seal when the giraffe took his key.

It was a hot hot day. He hid it under his barrel of food.

He was feeding the elephant and the elephant blew some hay in his face!

A girl named Lynzee came to see the zoo.

She said, “Look, Mommy! There is a giraffe, my favorite animal.”

And the giraffe said, “Look!” and he pointed to the key with his leg.

Lynzee was talking to her friends in her fort about it.

They thought it was so cool that the giraffe could talk.

It was Lynzee’s birthday party. She was playing outside with her friends.

They went back inside and they drank hot chocolate and she blew out the candles.

She made a wish that she could take the giraffe home from the zoo.

She went back to the zoo, and she saw the giraffe.

She knelt down and she picked up the key.

And then she stood up.

She let the giraffe out of her cage and let it out of the zoo.

She went home, climbed up a ladder and put his birthday hat on.

The giraffe said, “Happy Birthday!”

Macy's Story

After Carly wrote her story, Macy decided she needed to write one, too.

Big Fat Man

This is a big fat man with a big brush and two butterflies.

This is me and my cousin, Ethan. We are holding hands and walking on a trip. I have a pink dot.

Have you heard of Groupon?

It's pretty cool. It's an online group coupon you can sign up for in your area. If you sign up, they'll send you one great deal each day. If the minimum people required buy the groupon on any given day, you get that great deal. If not, nothing happens. We bought tickets for a local mini golf place for half price and just scored 8th row symphony tickets for $10 that usually cost $60.

If you're interested, visit:

http://www.groupon.com/r/uu1358966

My Little Journalist

I often find Robyn on the couch in the morning reading a book or writing in her journal.

She listened to General Conference, a time when our prophet and other Church leaders speak, pen in hand. Here's what she heard:

Pres. Monson: Thanks for your faith. May the Lord bless you. We express our love. We will continue to build temples. I hope you'll enjoy it.

Boyd K. Packer: Joseph Smith got to see many visions. He had access to everything. We know what we know and we are what we are. It might seem hopeless, but we can win the battle against Satan. Joseph Smith said, "The dad holds the Priesthood of a righteous family." People are armed with righteousness. We can be like them. "I the Lord am bound if you do what I say. If yea don't, no blessings will come. This is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

Sister Beck: Be strong and immovable. Life is not calm. Millions of good things can not be done in one day. Study scriptures. Noisy children around you. (It was true at the time). Charity is good. We know we are successful when we feel the Spirit in us. In the last days, the Lord will pour out his blessings to his servants.

Keith B. McMullin: The heavens and earth shall shake, but the Lord will not let us get hurt. Cory's sister (from The Hiding Place) died, but she met a former guard and he lifted out his hand for a couple seconds, but if felt like hours. Finally, I said I forgive you. Seek, ye shall find, knock and it will be opened unto you.

Wilford Anderson: Ye shall have hope. If man has faith, he has hope. If man has no hope, he has no faith. We begin to grow in confidence. All is well

M. Russell Ballard: 1. Women are silly when they want to become popular. 2. Your mom is your greatest source of wisdom. 3. Mothers have always been teachers of mortal value. 4. When you speak so loud, I cannot hear you. 5. Hold your tongues when you have something bad to say. 6. Be strong and of good courage for the Lord is with you. 7. We form relationships to each other.

Henry B. Eyring: Be on the strait and narrow way. Get them back on the path quickly if they go away. Be on the path when you are young. Narrow is the way of life. He sent Jesus Christ. If the children are taught, they will not likely go astray when they are teens. Learn what we should learn and do what you should do.

L. Tom Perry: I was taught by my mother. This helped me.

Elder Aogi: Follow the prophet.

Bruce Carlson: The Book of Mormon is true. The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. You should have a personal testimony. Be fishers of men. Go fishing often.

Elder Holland: Don't play things like video games and computer. Don't watch bad movies or other bad things.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf: After World War Two people joined the Church because the Church gave food and clothing. "Come unto me. Mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort." The one Jesus touches become clean. We are his hands. He has returned to the earth to give his church to us. Become his hands.

Richard G. Scott: I know He suffered for us. He loved us so much. He is our Redeemer. "My peace I give unto you," the Lord said. The Prophet Joseph Smith was a model. Clean water is what I want to swim in. Let us turn to the Lord, our Morning Star.

Cheryl Lant: Seek the face of the Savior always. You can only see the face of the Savior if you are righteous. 3 Ne 22:13. 1. love the Lord and my family. 2. Become worthy examples.
3. Bring children to the Savior. He blessed the Nephite children. We are the angels Heavenly Father has sent today. Through him, we can return.

Quentin L. Cook: I will speak about knowing the Savior. "If you have loved, ye are my disciples." He lives.

Pres. Monson: 1st word thank. 2nd word you.

Russell M. Nelson: Family history is very important. It is very good to do it.

Robert D. Hales: Being there means by them playing and doing other activities. One time, my grandson put his hands on my face and said, "Grandpa, are you in there?"

Bradley Foster: Always go back for our loved ones that may be lost.

James Martio: A boy wanted to play baseball like me. He through it up and swinged. It fell to the ground. It happened again 2 more times. Tears welled. "Hey, I'm a great pitcher!" (He striked himself out). 1. Seek to do the will of the Father, not yours. 2. Do not complain. 3. Seek greater help from God. 4. Learn to serve others, even in time of trials. 5. Forgive others. All things will work together.

Gregory Schwitzer: "I am the Light and the Life." Good judgment is good. 1. Have standards. 2. Listen to the Prophet. 3. Listen to the Holy Ghost. 4. Keep the commandments. If ye keep my commandments, ye will prosper in the land.

Francisco Vinas: Parents need to care for their children.

Neil L. Anderson: Be Not Afraid.

General Conference Rocks!!!!! :)

"The Box" @ redbox

You have 2 choices:

1. Don't rent it and forever be left wondering.

2. Rent it and then push the comments button.

You have 24 hrs.

Luckily, Spring Break Finally Sprang!

It did feel like spring break because we had no schedules and got to do lots of fun things, but when it started with wind, hail, snow, rain--you name it, we were a little disappointed. Luckily, things shaped up by the end of the week.

Thanks, Kam, for your Temple Square touring tips. There are lots of neat things to do and see for free, like observation decks on top floors.

It was neat to show the girls where our prophet and other Church leaders had spoken to us just the day before for General Conference. (We listened to them online).

We had a blast with Jan's Very Merry Un-Bday (to go along with our un-spring break theme, I guess).

Each girl got to choose a fun date to do with Gram.

I'm glad we were healthy the whole time! Knock on wood.

Bryce Canyon

This was an amazingly beautiful canyon with kid-friendly trails. We went on the "best 3 mile hike in the world."

We weren't prepared for the mud, but the girls were pretty good troopers.

Glad you could join us, Gram.

We thought it was pretty fun to stay @ Ruby's, especially since our friends just had a new baby they named Ruby.

If you haven't gotten the chance to go, I highly recommend it.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Myles helped me make this fun activity to go with one of our favorite books for Macy's preschool gang. In order to save time, he used his drill to make holes in all of the food items for our yarn caterpillar to eat through. The holes were rough, which gave them more of an authentic look. We decided the card stock could be kept in one piece and be used as a lacing card or cut up and strung into a necklace.

Easter Weekend

This is the first time I can remember hunting for eggs and then coming in for hot chocolate!

One of these weeks, we'll actually break out the sandals and Easter dresses.

Macy: Mom, the Easter Bunny Came...

on a sled!!

Happy Easter!

love, the Watsons