Happy Easter

"Easter is the celebration of the free gift of immortality given to all men, restoring life and healing all wounds. Though all will die as part of the eternal plan of growth and development, nevertheless we can all find comfort in the Psalmist’s statement, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Ps. 30:5.)."

--Howard W. Hunter, "An Apostle’s Witness of the Resurrection", Ensign, May 1986, 15

Easter Egg hunt

When the oldest boys were little we always attended a community Easter Egg hunt. Those things are fierce and I decided a long time ago that I would never go back! Since it is the only Easter Bunny-ish thing we do for Easter, the last few years I've held my own. Last year was really low key with just one of my friends but this year I invited over 50 people! We ended up with about 30 kids and and about 15 adults. My camera came up missing that mornigng, (later found in the washing machine, UGH!) I had to use a disposible and the pictures aren't very good. Making bunny ears before the hunt

Coloring pictures while the eggs are hidden

Gettting ready to go

We had a ton of eggs

And lots of yummy treats!
Thanks to everyone for their help! I think everyone had fun and I plan on doing it again next year.

Picky Eaters

Every family has them right? Those kids who will only eat certain foods and would rather die than eat others. I have two. Well, three if you count me. Maybe that is why I'm so sympathetic to my picky eaters; because I am one myself. Today I get a call from a sobbing Emilia. There is not one thing she'll eat for lunch at she needs me to bring her a lunch. What time is lunch? I ask. RIGHT NOW! Well, that's not gonna work for me so I try to explain why I can't bring her a lunch right now and she cries even harder and louder. So I cave in. I pack a lunch and make arrangements to bring it too her. I found her in the lunch room with a whole pack of lunch ladies around her trying to find something for her to eat. She's sobbing and I'm trying my hard to put on my "I really am a good mom" face and trying not to laugh about the fact that she caused such a stir. Poor girl! Next time she'll be better about checking the lunch menu for sure!

Choosing Happiness

I have to admit I've been feeling a little "under the weather" lately. I've been choosing for the most part to wallow in self-pity and grief. It hit me today that in fact the reason I have been feeling so lousy is that I have been CHOOSING to feel lousy. Why?!?! Life is good!!! I really am leading the life I've always dreamed of. No, it's not perfect but it's not so un-perfect either. I really do have it all. So why is it so hard to just be happy? For one thing, you can't just decided to be happy and fulfilled and then live happily ever after. Happiness doesn't work that way...it's something that needs to be recaptured everyday. And it's completely up to me...no one else can make me happy! As President Harold B. Lee once said: “Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you but on what happens inside of you. It is measured by the spirit with which you meet the problems of life.”

So today I am deciding to be happy, with what I am and what I have and yes, even with what is yet to come.

Mc Donald's has the best bathrooms

I don't think any of my kids have had me wrapped around their little finger as much as Owen. Ok, maybe they all did but there is just something about my baby that makes my heart melt.

Today as I was leaving the store he loudly exclaimed he needed to potty. I didn't want to drive back so I asked if he could wait and we'd go to grandpa's store to potty. He looked at me very seriously and said, "no, I can only go peepee at McDonalds". And of course, we had to have lunch while we were there! I can't say no to that kid!

Happy Autism Awareness Day

I couldn't have recieved this at a more perfect time

Every week I get a LDS nugget. It's a little thought or quote from one of the general authorities. This one came today and is very poingnant in my life right now.

"While most of our suffering is self- inflicted, some is caused by or permitted by God. This sobering reality calls for deep submissiveness, especially when God does not remove the cup from us. In such circumstances, when reminded about the premortal shouting for joy as this life's plan was unfolded (Job 38:7), we can perhaps be pardoned if, in some moments, we wonder what all the shouting was about."

--Neal A. Maxwell, "Willing to Submit", Ensign, May 1985