Easter

You couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to celebrate Easter, or a more beautiful yard to celebrate it in. Mom and Dad had us down for festivities. A lovely meal was enjoyed, and of course, an Easter egg hunt.

This was not your typical, fast-paced, over-in-two-seconds egg hunt though. This one had style and strategy. Each egg was labeled with a letter to indicate what might be hiding within. Each grandchild got a little checklist and a pencil to carry around with them. After they found all the eggs with the letters from their checklist, their egg hunt was complete. If they found an egg with a letter they already checked off, then they left that one hiding for someone else to find. These kids really had to hunt!

They had a blast.

Before beginning, the kids were teamed up…

Team A: Paul and Jeffrey
Team B: Emily and Jonathan

The big girls were teamed up with the littlest.

Team C: Jenny and Catie
Team D: MK and Sam

 

Team E: Lydia.

She needed no help. She had this thing in the bag (or bucket, as you might say).

Team F: Winnie and Tulo.

Yes, even the dogs got some eggs. Theirs were labeled “D” for “Dog Treats.” They could certainly smell which ones were theirs….

The kid’s eggs were filled with all sorts of things…bubbles, candy, coins, dollar bills, and even slips of paper that revealed the best surprises of all…

Jonathan and Jeffrey got a coupons for movie and popcorn. MK, a trip to Charming Charlie’s with Grandma. I wanted Paul’s coupon. He gets to go to Nielson’s and get a frozen custard with Grandma and Grandpa. Score, Paul!

It was a fabulous event. Grandpa and Grandma sure know how to plan an egg hunt for 9 happy children. I love that the Resurrection of the Savior is celebrated with such beautiful, and pleasant activities out in the spring sunshine.

Thanks Mom and Dad!

And of course, the deepest gratitude to Jesus Christ. Because of Him…

The Wisdom of a Decade

My boys have been on the planet for a decade…A DECADE!

Yesterday they were just a few pounds each and could hardly open their eyes. Now they wear glasses and braces, play the piano, build elaborate castles on Mine Craft, zip around on scooters, constantly beg for snack food, dive off the high dive, execute round house kicks in karate uniforms, make Rainbow Loom bracelets by the pound, pester the dog and the sister, ski down mountainsides, kick my trash at UNO, do back flips on the trampoline, earn badges in Cub Scouts, and even do a little Yoga.

They grew up while my back was turned. This fact sets me to panicking a little and I find myself hanging on with all my might, but they just keep growing! Fortunately they haven’t become too cool and grown up to hug and kiss their momma. I lecture them weekly that they can never become too cool for that. They promise me that they will comply with my demands, but I’m not counting on it.

A few snippets of life at the age of 10…

 
Bear badges earned and on to Weblos.

Jonathan still wants to be a Veterinarian when he grows up.

 
Both the boys are just darling with little children…always have been.

Good thing Uncle Brad is patient…Jeffrey could ride this tandem with him all day!

Glasses and braces.

We threw a impromptu birthday party (I’m not into planning these days) to celebrate 10 years. Luckily it was spring break for our neighborhood and there were plenty of kids hanging around our house with nothing else to do…

 

It was total mayhem at the public pool (due to the previously mentioned spring break) and we did frozen yogurt instead of the traditional cake, but the boys were completely satisfied with the day. 10 year olds are still so easy to please.

The boys and I are reading a great book series together. In the stories, the main character, Molly Moon, has the superhuman ability to freeze time. I wish I had her powers. It is seriously breaking my heart that my boys are getting older. I’m loving this age and I don’t want it to end. Even though there is an occasional meltdown and sometimes punches are thrown in each other’s general direction (the latest fight was over which one of them was actually the youngest and therefore got to go first in the game they got for their birthday), they are truly best friends and so fun to be around. I love their excitement for life, their curiosity, and affectionate natures.

I love my two ten year olds!