Our Easter

This Easter was a great day for us. For many reasons. Jason was home being a huge one. About three weeks ago Jason and I were asked to speak in church on Easter. Umm hello. I HATE speaking in church. I had no choice but to say yes. I know I know. I am big talk. I always say I will just say no and that I have no reservations in doing so. But I never do. I wish I had it in me. I am glad that it is over and I am also glad I had the opportunity to do it. It was a great experience for me to feel the Spirit more and study the scriptures as well. I try to express my feelings about the gospel to my kids a lot. But it has been a long time since I have been able to do it in church and it felt wonderful. Not to say that I will be volunteering any time soon to speak again, but I learned new things and felt the Spirit more than I do in a normal circumstance. I guess the blessings that we receive in speaking in church come after the talk is over, when you feel stronger, more peaceful, and happier. At least that is how it was for me. I remember as a missionary sharing my testimony DAILY and several times a day. Nothing could make me happier. Going to bed each night always felt so good because 1) I was EXHAUSTED and 2) I had shared my testimony. Unfortunately the opportunity doesn't come as often anymore. I miss those feelings. I miss that missionary life. But anyway. . .Easter. It was great. We got home from church and I ran inside to hide the baskets and eggs. I told the boys that I had to go inside and make sure the Easter Bunny wasn't there anymore because if he saw little kids, he would have to leave with all the stuff. So, a quick hide and the boys were dying to come inside. It was a lot of fun watching them get so excited. I love seeing little kids believe in magic. One day it will be over and I know that I will miss the innocence of small children.We had a scrumptious dinner at Brooke and Cody's home with some other friends and enjoyed our time there very much. After hanging out and getting fat, we called it a night.

The boys went through their baskets AGAIN for the hundredth time and then got ready for bed. I think next year we are going to start doing the Easter egg hunts and baskets on Saturday and leave Sunday for the "right" things.

Dating before 16?

How do I begin? I guess I will just get it out in the open. Jackson had his first date. No. I am kidding. But we did take Nora to the movies with us yesterday. And we had a great time. We went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. Very cute. The kids had a wonderful time and I did too. It is so fun taking my kids to do those kind of things. We left Ellie at home with her daddy so that we could actually watch the movie. I love how when your kids get a little older, you can do so much with them. Noah is still pretty little, but since he has his older brother doing things, he also thinks he needs to be involved. And for movies, you betcha! Thanks boys for letting me have so much fun with you.

(Nora invited Jackson to the movies for tonight. They went to see the new Dr. Suess movie. He was THRILLED to go with Nora and her family. This was my threat all day long. "You better do . . . or you can't go with Nora." Worked like a charm. :)).

I've got to have these!

So, I stole this from a link in my sister's blog. Thanks Jill. It's not her recipe, but I am going to give her the credit since she is the one with this fabulous link. I love this lady. The chef and my sister. :) Just to clarify.

MAKE THESE!!!

I hope you can all enjoy these as I plan to.

Too funny to forget

We all know my Jackson, a huge sweetheart. But when it comes to eating his fruits and veggies, he is a nightmare. As he gets older, he gets better. But still not "great." Jason and I have told him too many times to forget that if he doesn't eat his fruits and veggies than he isn't going to be able to grow big and strong. And he won't be able to run fast. Blah blah blah. So . . .

This afternoon we were all in the backyard playing. Jason was with Jackson and they were talking about running or something like that. Then Jackson said to Jason, "Noah runs faster than me." Jason said, "No he doesn't!" (Being a supportive daddy). Then Jackson says something that we have been laughing about so hard. Jackson said, "Well, he should since he eats so many better things for his body than I do. " He said it as a matter a fact. :) Touché!

When Jason told me, I couldn't stop laughing. Mr. Sweet and Mr. Smarty. Nothing gets by our Jackson.

This was a big night for Noah. He finally went potty on the toilet and I am so proud of him. He has been sitting on it for a couple of weeks now, but never actually going. And tonight was the night. I was bugged that he wanted to go and sit on the toilet because he was already in bed and so was Jackson, but I did it anyway because I knew that if I didn't, Noah would keep screaming to do it. You know my Noah. At first I put him on the toilet and left his diaper on. He insisted I take it off. I did so, but very begrudgingly. Then he tutted. Noah looked at me and said, "I want my new toy now." I told him, "Nice try." And then he told me, "I love to toot." It was time to get off the toilet at that point. (After he told me, "Daddy loves to toot too."). I chuckled a bit and then told him to get down. He then began to go potty. And I was gleaming!!!! Yea for Noah!! He was SO proud of himself. And off we went to get a new toy. I had a rubber snake that he won for this special occasion. And it is a hit. Jackson climbed down off the bunk bed, gave Noah a high five and had a few seconds with the snake. I am so excited, but I know better than to expect miracles. :)

Viewer Discretion advised

I know that this a sick and nasty. I know. But I do want to share with you what I have been doing lately. Jason just happened to be holding her this time. Hence he is smiling. But for me, after the first time I DID NOT smile. And if this is making you sick, don't click on the picture to make them bigger. The second one makes me want to barf. And it looks like breast fed baby poop, but she isn't. Ahhhh, this is too much!!!I just don't know what to do about this. I am seriously down to ONE onesie left. And I think I had around 15 to start with. Maybe not 15, but at least 10. Down to ONE? And soaked through to his under clothes? That is just nasty. I am glad Jason was holding her and not me. :) This is really what has happened to me (or her, depending on how you look at it), EVERY day for the last week and a half. And don't even bother telling me to buy bigger diapers. I already did. They aren't helping. Jason suggested getting some kind of rubber pants to put on under her clothes. Do they even make that sort of thing? Not like I am considering it. Rubber pants? Sweeeeaaaaty!!! Are there better diapers for girls that I don't know about? I am using huggies and/or Kirklands from Costco. Maybe I need to change altogether. I don't know how many more of her clothes I can spare.

A favorite of mine! The Drowsy Chaperon

Last Wednesday, a friend of mine (Brooke of course) and I went to see The Drowsy Chaperon and loved it. Every last second of it. Except when I thought I forgot to lock the car about 3/4 of the way through the show. I had a minor nervous breakdown. But Brooke stayed calmed and come to find out, it was locked all along. (Sorry I never told you Jason). :) Back to the show. It was hilarious. We laughed the whole way through it. From start to finish. If this show comes to your town, it is a MUST see.

I do have to give credit to my good friend Lisa for telling me about it. Lisa loves it and since we have similar tastes in humor (and most other things besides baby bows), I really wanted to see it. We tried to go when we were in New York last November, but the morning we went to get the tickets, STRIKE!!! Perfect timing. So, when I saw it was going to be in Pittsburgh, I had to jump on it. Brooke was the only taker of my friends that wanted to go see it and we had a fun time. We went to the Lion King about a month ago and this was so much better. Totally entertaining.

The guy in the picture with his arm up was the BEST. I'm talkin' on fire!! I actually wish he was a real person (his character that is) that I knew personally. I could have listened to him for hours. :)