Spring Break with Naunie!

We had a great time with my mom visiting us for Sophie's Spring break! Of course we didn't do ALL the things we talked about doing - the time goes by so quickly - but we did lots of fun things and she definitely spoiled us! Thanks SO much Naunie! We miss you already!
( The pictures are in opposite order but I didn't feel like changing them around!)

Taking Naunie to the bus stop that takes her to the airport....
Sophie was a pretty sad little girl and was sobbing in the car all the way back home...

Brian and Naunie.... he used Naunie's visit as an opportunity to get some extra school work in so we didn't see too much of him.

Just before going to the bus....
Me and my mama!

We went to Mcdonald's with the kids and they had a great time playing in the playland and bartering their toys with other kids for the ones they wanted..... (oh yes, by the way Miles now weighs 21 pounds and can turn around in his car seat! HOORAY!!)

Reading books...

Looking at the SNOW in our yard! We had snow the first 3 days of the visit! :(

Miles loves tools of any kind so he jumped at the opportunity to help Naunie fix our baby gate!

The girls made these "diorama's" with Naunie from our family fun magazine. But the word "diorama" made us all giggle and think of something else that sounds like "diar....." so we changed it to eggorama's! Naunie took the girls to the store and they got to pick out a little easter toy to put inside of it. (I know Nora's eyes are funky in this picture but I don't want to upload another and to be honest her eyes are often like this in pictures so I figured I'd leave it!)

Miles was a crazy boy during Naunie's visit - the crazed look on his face in this picture proves it. He was SO silly and SO funny he kept us all laughing!

Busted getting into mom's make-up!! Blackmail for when he's older.....

Working on the "eggorama's"

Both my girls are quite the snugglers - and Naunie didn't complain one bit! :)

Reading books - yes, I think Nora is picking her nose in this picture.... I just noticed.
She never does that. :)

Sophie drew Naunie a note with a sunflower on it - her favorite flower

This was on the way home from the airport when we picked her up! The girls were so excited!

Thanks again for everything Naunie! We love you and miss you already!

Happy Birthday Paul!

Today is my brother-in-law Paul's birthday. Even though we don't get to see him very often we think he's pretty funny, is a great story teller, and he sure comes in handy during tax season! :) We love you uncle Paul. Hope you have a great day!

Spring Break surprise & Comic Relief

This week is Sophie's Spring break. She was sad because she didn't think we were doing anything fun. But my mom surprised the girls and came out for a visit! It was hard keeping it a secret but necessary because if Nora is looking forward to something she can hardly stand it! She asks constantly, "Is it today?" or "How much longer until ____?" And she usually ends up crying and upset if the event isn't happening right then. I couldn't deal with it so we decided to surprise them. And they were so shocked they didn't know what to do! I took the girls to the airport to pick my mom up and all along they thought we were going out for ice cream. I pretended to be lost and parked at the airport and told them we would just go in and ask someone for directions. Sophie was all embarrassed about it, which was so funny. When they saw my mom they just stood there for a second like they didn't really believe it was her.
Here is a video of us in the airport just before we saw Naunie:

Miles has become quite the comic lately. He has learned to laugh when we all laugh and he's downright hilarious at times! I accidentally left our baby gate open today and he made it down both flights of stairs without falling - thankfully! He also pushes the kitchen chair over to the window and climbs up on it so he can look out the window. He is learning new ways to pester his sisters every day! A few days ago he was sitting by Nora and he reached over and yanked her hair. I pulled his hand away and firmly said "No pulling hair, Miles." So he hung his head, looked around mischeviously and then whacked her on the forehead with his sippy cup. I took the cup away and a bit more firmly said, "No hitting, Miles." With Nora bawling now he stared me down while his little hand creeped over to Nora's leg and gave her a good pinch on the thigh. Yep, the kid is barely one year old and he's already learned this! But mostly he is a sweetheart. A mischevious, pestering show off - but a sweetheart nevertheless. We sure love him. This video is of him at dinner tonight. I love it - and I love Sophie's laugh in the background!

Easter Activity

I've been looking for a fun/interactive/spiritual way to teach my kids about Easter. I feel like they really grasp that Christmas is all about His birth... but for some reason the true meaning of Easter isn't as easy. Maybe because Christmas celebration's start a few months before the actual day. Anyway - I decided our family would have a special Family Home Evening the Monday before Easter, and then have special lessons each night in place of our regular family scripture study where we focus on the last week of the Savior's life, ending with an extra special lesson about the resurrection and a nice dinner on Easter Sunday. I am really excited for it and I hope to make it a yearly tradition. In my search for a weekly lesson plan I found THIS and I am going to base our week on it, making some changes and adding a few things to keep the kids interested!
Anyway, I thought I'd share it!

Happy Birthday!

Today is my mother-in-law's birthday! She is amazing and wonderful. She is the kind of grandma that every kid should have; She laughs at their antics, celebrates their triumphs and makes every one of them feel important and special. We miss and love you grandma!
Have a Happy Birthday!!

Teaching Sophie ballet - (Feb. 2008)
Putting on a "recital" with the girls - (Feb. 2008)
Making stepping stones out at the river - (June 2008)
Taking the kids on an "animal safari" - (June 2008)


And just for fun:

Sweet little man

Just for fun.....




Isn't he sweet!??

Harmless trickery...

For some reason I love April Fool's Day. I suppose the reason is that it gives me an excuse to play tricks on people!! Last year I did THIS. This morning I did THIS. Tonight I am planning THIS, or maybe THIS. I learned it is better to make a dessert that looks like a meal, rather than a meal that looks like a dessert! And for Sophie's snacks at school I carefully opened her nutri-grain bar and granola bar packages, emptied them out, filled them with pretzels and crackers and closed them back up with double stick tape. I was laughing the whole time! Oh wait - I'm still laughing! Hee hee. I got Brian pretty good last year, but I haven't thought of anything great this year so playing tricks on the kids might have to suffice. I'm not planning anything too much for Nora. She is obsessed with quarters lately so I thought of gluing one to the ground outside but I think that would seriously put her over the edge.... And I only like the harmless tricks.
So.... what are you planning??