Cousins & Fun

Our week has been full! A few things we did this week: babysat Austin, played with the neighborhood kids, worked, ran errands, went to the gym, worked on our personal goals, visited a friend who just had surgery, and had a few appointments.

On Saturday Hayden, Cheryl and Shantae with her kids stopped by to visit us. We love it when they come because we're not able to make it up to their place as often as we'd like. They were in town for Spring Break and Easter activities with extended family. Kenadi and Tyce enjoyed getting to play together and you wouldn't be able to tell by size but Kenadi is older by 3 months! She was crawling all around Tyce.

I can tell he's been eager to get moving. He gets on his arms and knees and I can see his little shoulders flexing and rolling. He's ready and willing, now he's just working on making that body do what the mind wants.

On Saturday night I had another Girls Night Out with my friends. We laughed, visited, played games, and laughed some more. Tarl has been working on some things for the group so he was good enough to come with me and show everyone his work. We dropped the kids off at my parents house for my dad to watch (my mom is playing out East with my sister) since I figured we'd be out too late for a babysitter. Good thing too because by the time we left, got the kids and got home it was past 2am! These get togethers are good medicine for all of us! We have some fun things planned for the rest of the year and I'm so excited to be able to do some fun projects with these fantastic friends.

It Begins...

We enjoyed another day out in the sunshine and pleasant breezes today. A few Christmas' ago we got scooters for the family so today we decided to go ride them around together. We each took turns choosing our paths and followed each other around the neighborhood. Makayla mostly rode with Tarl which was good because I was wearing heals and it was hard to balance with those on. Haha. After our scooters we drew pictures on the driveway and played with the neighbors. Kalyana is so much my daughter. She generally plays better with the boys than the girls. (She does have several girl friends but when she plays with the boys there hasn't been any crying, hurt feelings or drama.) Today she gathered a bunch of the boys to teach school and then had a few rounds of kissing tag (without actual kissing-so I guess kissing chase) and 'who I love'. I was a pretty big flirt so in honesty I expected as much from my own daughters but I suppose I figured I had a few more months or something. It begins...

Also Tyce is getting to be quite the squirmer. Without fail where ever I lay him down he won't be in the same place when I look back. I wanted to get him up off the floor because we were about to go so I stuck him in his carseat to call his sisters inside. Yikes. I really need to get in the mindset that this boy is a mover.

If you know me well, you know I love my birthday. My mom won't be in town on my birthday so my family took me out to dinner tonight to celebrate my birthday that's really in about a week. I chose someplace Mexican and afterwards we came back to my place for ice cream (and my personal choice) sherbet and of course the birthday song. I got a new memory card for my camera (I have a 2GB right now and I've actually run out of room a few times. Already this month I've taken about 700 pictures--and several videos which is the real eater of my memory), nice goggles (for my swimming rotation at the gym), a duffel bag, and money for movies! This evening out will probably consist of the opening ceremonies for my birthday this year! It begins...

An Early Easter Sunday

Easter at our house! Since we have 9am church we decided to ask the Easter Bunny to come after church. The girls got to wear their dresses that Kalyana helped me pick out a few weeks ago. We asked Kalyana if she knew why Easter was important and we told her about the death and resurrection of the Jesus Christ. She said, "So Christmas is for when he was born and Easter is when he was resurrected!" I love that she is making connections and remember things and learning about the gospel. At church she leaned over to me and asks "Is the Easter bunny in Merica yet?" (we tracked Santa Clause across the world so I'm assuming that is what she meant--although since she knows our city and state we're still trying to get her to learn our country).

I've been doing pretty good at the gym and trying really hard to eat healthy so I decided not to have more candy for Easter (kinda). The only treat the girls got was Cheetos (which they were delighted about). They also got their own umbrellas, hats, sunglasses, coloring books, paint, crayons, and shirts. Tyce got books and a toy.

After church and our baskets we went up to my parents to celebrate their 34 wedding anniversary (on March 21st) and Easter obviously. We had their traditional anniversary dinner: peppered steak (one of my favorites!). Since there are no kids at my parents house anymore my dad said that the Easter bunny was busy visiting the other houses so he got to hide the candy and eggs. He always does a good job so even us adults got to find several high and obscure. Austin really enjoyed his candy. After the hunt the kids got to open their mound of gifts from grandma. She loves to shop and find fun toys for everyone. I even got another shot glass to add to my collection from Disneyland. The kids got some cute clothes from my moms recent visit to San Diego. It was a very fun, tiring, too much sugar kinda day!

Easter Birthdays & Facts

I learned recently that Easter is always celebrated on the Sunday immediately following the 'Paschal Full Moon' (not just the vernal equinox) which is always the first Ecclesiastical Full Moon date after March 20.

The PFM can vary as much as two days from the date of the actual full moon, with dates ranging from March 21 to April 18. Making Easter landing anywhere from March 22 through April 25 in Western Christianity. Is it throwing you off a little that Easter felt so early this year?

Did you know that 5 years ago Kalyana was born on Easter (April 20th) and Easter has landed on my birthday three times (in '83, '88, '94)?! Pretty incredible when you consider that the holiday only occurs on April 3rd seven times during the years of 1875-2124 (those years being 1904, 1983, 1988, 1994, 2067, 2078, 2089). Kalyana's birthday is on Easter in these years: 1919 1924 1930 2003 2014 2025 2087 2098 .

If you have a birthday that falls between the Easter cut off you can check out the years it has or will land on your birthday here.

Girls Easter Egg Hunt

Today was our first egg hunt of the Easter season. I waited until this morning to tell the girls and they could hardly contain their excitement. Everything was ready in the backyard and Tarl told Kaly not to go to the back door until it was time to start. She was very careful not to go close to the door or let her sister either for that matter. Although when I came downstairs to put her shoes on she told me she knew were a few eggs were. Too cute!

The neighbors met us outside and we told the girls to start looking. It's funny because all of our girls are pretty shy so they happen to get along together great! They all grabbed on to our hands and walked slowly but anxiously towards the hunt. Once they saw the backyard they started taking off and kindly picking up one from each place without even being old to(even though there were several hidden in small groups). Kaly's shyness comes and goes (in extremes sometimes) and even though we were in our own backyard she wouldn't go anywhere without me so I ended up not watching but participating. I actually would have thought these baskets to have been opposite but Makayla's basket is the fuller white one. It was a fun morning. The girls have been opening their eggs (and dropping the contents all over the floor) and eating candy for the last few hours. I hope they eat dinner tonight.

Shoes & Sunshine

This is what I encounter every afternoon. Kalyana runs outside to play and Makayla is left scrambling to find shoes. She often gives it several good attempts on her own (that independent streak and all) and each time asks me, "Mom, now?". For some reason she always chooses from Kaly's shoes and always gets two separate ones. The funny thing is when we are getting ready to go to the gym in the morning she is able to find both her tennis shoes on the first try. This girl cracks me up! One of my favorite things about this picture is how Kaly's boot goes clear up to Makayla's knee.

The day warmed up nicely and we all got to go outside and play. The girls enjoyed the swing set at the neighbors and Makayla enjoyed getting to go higher than normal since she was strapped in. Our neighbor asked Tarl for some help on getting some props ready for a skit she was preparing for a party. Not too shabby eh? I pulled out the picnic blanket and Tyce and I spent a few hours outside too. I just finished book 39 of my '50 books in 52 weeks' and it's only week 21!

Spring Sensations

Yesterday Spring arrived. I can already feel it in the air. I awoke this morning to birds singing, the sun shining and the cool breeze drifting in through the open window. It was wonderfully pleasant. The spring sensations are everywhere. The bitter cold has blown away and the warm winds are dancing around. The dampness hangs in the air from the moisture in the ground and clouds. The rain teases us with its arrival and I wait with anticipation for the joy I feel when it falls. Welcome Spring.

Bike Fixers & Visitors

The sun made random appearances this week so we finally got to fixing Kalyana's bike. She has been a very happy girl getting to ride her bike and asks everyday if she can go out and play. I was actually amazed at how easily and quickly I was able to find the right size tire to fit her bike. Tarl and Kalyana did a good job of fixing it back up!

Kalyana has been talking about community helpers in school this week. I dont know what the cat hat was for but today they talked about police officers so they got to make their own badges. My mom was in town to watch Austin today so she was also able to stop by and play with us. She took all the kids (my older two and Austin) to the park (Wow! Go Grandma!) and to the duck pond. When they got back we invited her and Austin to stay for dinner and this is what Austin did with his food. I guess I must start anticipating this for my boy. My girls never did it...

Ham Tacos with Superheros

Makayla has found a new favorite food. I don't remember how it started but she likes me to roll up a piece of deli ham for 'ham tacos'. She loves to eat these as snacks and I love it because it gives her a good portion of her protein. Some of her other favorite foods are mandarin oranges, peanut butter, tortialla's, chocolate milk, apples, rice and beans.

A few weeks ago Tyce started rolling around like crazy. I can no longer put him on couches and beds. It's fun to watch him roll everywhere trying to reach a toy. The other day he fell asleep like this. Personally I think he's starting this whole superhero thing a tad early. Hehe.

Irish Tea Party for St. Patricks Day

Kalyana's friends Kate and Rachel threw an Irish Tea Party today. The kids had a fun time playing games and celebrating St. Patricks Day. Looks to me like no one need any pinching. (The sun was a bit bright hence the closed eyes.) Kalyana is on the top right on the left of the green hat.

Grandpa goes to school

Yesterday was the last installment of "Dads & Donuts" and my dad got to take Kalyana to school. He even brought down a book to give to her! Kalyana was out pretty late the night before (I think we got home around 10:30) so I was very happy that she made it through the school day. I was a little rushed that morning so I didn't get any pictures of Kaly and Grandpa. After school my dad came back over to play with Makayla and Tyce. We had a good time visiting and the kids always love to see grandpa!! Thanks dad!

Meyer's 'The Host 'Signing

I'm very excited I just had to quickly post. Stephenie Meyer is coming to town and I just got tickets to her book signing. I've never been to an author signing before but I've seen several of Stephenie's and it promises to be a good time.

Tickets for our area went on sale this morning and before the store even opened my friends and I were calling in. I called in 45 minutes before they opened and I was already about 150ish or so. Crazy! The fans around here love this lady.

Princess Wishes, What a Party!

Kalyana and I went to Princess Wishes, Disney on Ice tonight. It was SO much fun! (She's been asking me for a month almost if it was time to go.) We went with 5 of my friends and their daughters and the little girls all had a good time. They all dressed up and Kayla face painted all of them. Danylle brought a few of her daughters extra outfits to share with some of the girls. It was SO cute. It looked like they had their very own dressing room with costumes and makeup! Three security guards even stopped to admire all of our hullabaloo and talked to each of the girls!

I love getting to share these fun moments with Kaly! When the first princess came out it was Jasmin and Kalyana turned to me (I could tell the excitement was just building up!) and she says, "Mom, this is my favorite do you know why? Because my heart beats faster and I know that means I'm happy!"

An Afternoon at The Barn

For Makayla's birthday Heidi, Anthony and Austin gave her a pony ride. We went over to Thanksgiving Point to see a few animals. The girls loved being able to get close to the animals and even dared to pet a few. I was impressed with the animals. As soon as we'd walk up to the fence they'd come sauntering over (or in the goat's case, running full force) so we could say hi. We got there at a prime time because they even brought in a cow for people to milk and I got to give it a try (a first for me). At the end, all the kids got a few pony rides.