Easter 2010

This Easter, we kept things pretty low key at our place. Not in the sense that things weren't crazy and the kids weren't running around on a slight sugar and happy high, but we tried to stick to the basics. We all know that holidays are usually anything BUT relaxing - but we did try to keep it somewhat peaceful. Not only is it Easter Sunday, but it's also General Conference weekend and we were able to take in all of the wonderful messages that were shared with us and helped to, once again, recharge our spiritual batteries. We also read about the true meaning of Easter from Matthew 28 and watched this video.

For breakfast, we made cinnamon rolls, hashbrowns, scrambled eggs and orange juice. It was SO good. Then, the kids were surprised with their Easter baskets. We were going to hid them, but once again, we kept things to a minimal. To my disappointment though, we didn't dye eggs this year as planned so the amount of eggs they were to find were cut in half. But who says you can't dye and decorate eggs any other day of the year? :) I think we may just do that! Another disappointment was that I didn't do the usual Easter clothes for the kids. A lot of that reason was much of my time spent lately has been caring for and nurturing Andrew back to health from a double ear infection and a miserable cold. Most days, I barely got anything done other than holding a clingy baby. Not that I mind - it's just why I didn't get a lot done. Another reason to step back and remember our family word this year: Choose. I chose to leave some things out this year so I didn't get all frazzled and stressed. Much of the reason why we chose this specific word in the first place; so we could simplify our lives and get down to the basics. Looking back, I do wish I got them cute matching clothes for Easter but it's really not something I'm going to fret over. Next year, I hope to be able to make the girls their dresses - or at the very least, go shopping earlier, in case unfortunate events like sick children spring upon us!

The girls and I made and decorated sugar cookies and took plates over to some of our neighbors and friends. Aubrey and Jocelyn really liked doing this and felt so proud giving the cookies they made to people they love.

Once we returned home, it was starting to cool off outside - enough to watch them run themselves crazy searching for easter eggs in the backyard. The girls knew the drill but this was Andrew's first Easter egg hunt. John and I took turns helping him find some of the hidden eggs and his sisters were actually kind enough to leave some of the lower ones for Andrew to pick up and dump into his little green bucket. It really was a fun sight to see as they all ran to and fro searching for their "treasures."

For dinner, we had a Costco ham, scalloped potatoes, pineapple, olives, rolls and salad. A friend of ours wasn't feeling well and his family was out of town visiting extended family, so we took some dinner over to him. And the plan for dessert was to make lemon bars but with all of the yummy cookies we were praised with by friends all week, we cut it out of the menu.

Easter just happens to be one of my favorite holidays. Almost 31 years ago, on April 15th, I was born. It also happened to be Easter Sunday (and tax day!). There are rumors that I was almost named Bunny. And I'm so glad it was just that....Rumors!! :) I'm grateful to my parents that my name ended up being Leslie instead. I'm sure it spared me a lot of embarrassment.

Today ended up being a really great day spent with family and friends - and I'm very happy to know that my sweet kids understand that there is more to Easter than just the candy and baskets. That because Christ died for our sins and was resurrected, that we too can live again! I love knowing that if we just try to do our best and live our lives in such a way that the Savior would be pleased, that we can enjoy this promise. Happy Easter! :)

{Table set for Easter breakfast}

{These beautiful Lily's I picked up at Wegmans and they made the house smell so good!}

{Delicious cinnamon rolls}

{Andrew's Easter basket - I didn't realized I got him such a small basket. So things happily sat next to it.}

{Aubrey's Easter basket}

{Jocelyn's Easter basket}

{All three kids with their "I am a Child of God" frames}

{He LOVED his ball!}

{Dad & son relaxing}

{After getting sick on some medicine and having already gone through a few changes of clothes, he ended up walking around like this for a while! :)}

{Girls baking cookies for friends and neighbors}

{Easter Egg hunt in the backyard begins!}

{Andrew's first Easter Egg Hunt!}

{Found another!}

{He was very reluctant putting those eggs into the bucket. He would much rather hold them!}

{"Isn't that what they're for, Mom??"}

{Aubrey searching for more eggs}

{Jocelyn found some too!}

{Basically having no clue as to what was going on, he just wondered around...}

{"Oohhh! What's THAT?"}

{Smile! "Hey Andrew...look over here!}

{"No...look over here! At Mama!" Oh well. He's still cute looking in his bucket. Guess I'll take what I can get! :)}

{Cracking open their easter eggs to find their hidden surprises}

{Easter dinner}

30 Day Guarantee

She DID it! Jocelyn went a whole 30 days in a row without having one single potty training accident during the day. (We're not quite there for night time yet!) And as we promised if this did occur, she would get the pink vtech laptop computer she's been eyeing for quite some time! Boy is she HAPPY! :) (In case you couldn't tell!)

Good job Jocelyn! xoxo

Projects & 1st BBQ Of The Year!

To enjoy the warmer weather and celebrate SPRING, we fired up the grill and had ourselves a little family bbq in the backyard. Spring also helps us get out of hibernation and get rolling on more home projects - which John has been doing these past few weeks (while I have no small task of entertaining and caring for our 3 busy kids). These projects include: finishing the baseboards and painting coat #1 of probably 3 on our front door. Here are some photos of his work before we move on to the bbq pictures:

Unfortunately, we have to keep our color scheme as is according to our HOA rules and regulations. The door should be a bit darker though after two more coats of paint. More projects in the coming weeks include: obviously more painting, putting up a backyard and neighboring fence, tackling weeds, redoing the back patio (from torn and broken concrete to nice pavers) and grouting and sealing the back splash in the kitchen.

Now onto the fun part - our evening outdoors! :)

{The grill master!}

{Andrew's been finding his nose quite fun to stick his finger into lately (as we learn other parts of our body: eyes, mouth, ears, etc). We try to ignore it but sometimes...}

{...he makes us laugh when we tell him to stop and that it's gross!!!}

{Some flowers Jocelyn picked for me}

{The dad with the kiddos}

{I love this one with all three of them}

{The mom with the kiddos}

{Burger time!}

{Potato wedges!}

{Us!}

{Sunset after the kids played at the playground}

Two Teeth Missing

Tooth No. ONE:

Tooth No. TWO:

In the midst of Aubrey accomplishing and losing her two bottom canine teeth, she has lost belief in the tooth fairy. Apparently during the late night of exchanging tooth no. ONE with money, she awake without our knowledge and confessed her realization a few days later when tooth no. TWO broke lose. Such a stinker! She's growing up WAY too fast! But no worries - she's vowed to not blow cover for her brother and sister! :) And by the looks of her picture without these two teeth she lost all on her own, I'd say she's pretty darn happy that the dentist won't have to pull them out for her this time!

15 Month Well Baby - Update

{just returned home from the doctor's office}

Day 8 & 9 of the 10 day antibiotic for Andrew's double ear infection, he became clingy and cranky along with running a fever and much whining and crying so I got him an appointment to see the doctor - and found out that his medication wasn't clearing up his right ear at all. He also has developed some pain and soreness where his Dtap shot was given. And more teeth are working their way in. Poor little guy! I too would be clingy and cranky and crying! So....another round of a different antibiotic and motrin for the teeth and leg pain was in order.

As well as some fun at the playground! :)

Despite him feeling sick and being quite grumpy...i still managed to get a few smiles out of him!

{going down the slide}

Blue Hat, Green Hat

Like most days, I spend some time reading to the kids. This time though, Andrew started cracking up while I read him "Blue Hat, Green Hat" by Sandra Boynton and I thought I'd share it with you:

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Buds To Bloom

This year, I thought it would be fun to document, with photos, the changes in our front tree - as the buds appeared all the way to a full bloomed flower. It has also helped me get to know the macro setting on my camera a little better and it turned out being fun taking daily shots; I personally liked the when the flowers blossomed! Have fun scrolling through my collection. :)

DAY ONE:

DAY TWO:

DAY THREE:

DAY FOUR:

DAY FIVE:

DAY SIX:

DAY SEVEN:

DAY EIGHT:

DAY NINE:

DAY TEN:

DAY ELEVEN: