Hopp'n down the bunny trail

Easter bunny visited our house on Saturday and then we went to Joy's parent's house on Sunday where he struck again. Lucky boys. Off to save the candy!

New inspiration to eat well and exercise more

Bathing suit shopping.

 Don't get me wrong, I feel good in my clothes, but its a whole other ball park when you can see E-V-E-R-Y little imperfection. In the end I settled for the least bad option, the suit that flatters me the most. Another reason I should be glad for just a few more weeks of cool weather. On the upside I did get two cute tops.

(I am NOT fishing for compliments, just thought I'd share.)

I's for fun

Because who else do I have to share my pictures with? 

Random guy. Don't know him, didn't ask to take his picture, we just crossed paths and he said cheese. 

Can you see the love birds in my photo? There were at least 10 other couples there that night just like them.

Wishing Star

(You may have to squint to see the star in this picture but thats not the point of the post)

I wish I may I wish I Might on the first star I see tonight...

I have a wonderful husband. Many of you may already be acquainted with this fact but I thought I'd share another reason why I made a good choice seven years ago to marry him. My birthday is coming up in a few weeks and Zach decided to grant me wishes-28 to be exact. One for every year. He said I could use 4 a day for 7 days. A week of wonderful. Funny thing is, since he already makes all my wishes come true, it was hard to come up with a list without feeling too greedy. Nothing too expensive on the list- like, say, a new house. The highlights of my un-creativity include a birthday shopping trip and going out to eat. I know, you'd think I could do a little better when someone offered to make all my wishes come true. I did use my super powers for good though, and wished his office clean. He reports to me that its ship shape now, or at least markedly improved. Thanks Zach, I-LOVE-YOU! And happy (early) birthday to me :o)

Stream and Trail

Racing our own ducks down the stream

(Can you read the sign? Lipstick ornamental strawberry. Funny name for a plant)

BYU recently opened a new stream and trail on the South side of campus. Its quite lovely. We took a family trip there this past Saturday- saw the stream, walked on the trail- check, check.

Just happy being with 'dada'

Great idea you had dad

Struggling

"Struggling" (with an 'oo' in the middle) That's what we say when David is having a hard time finishing his meal by himself. Lately he has been struggling. He tripped over a crack in the cement and his whole lip opened up and started bleeding. He recovered in a few minutes with some TLC but there are still drops of blood on the sidewalk to remind us of the unhappy event.

We have also done away with nap. He doesn't like them and if it is too long he can't go to sleep at night. Many times its difficult for David to stay awake past dinner though. He's hit is head a number of times on the table or the back of his chair as he has dozed off- 'THUNK'. Not unlike when he was 1 and we transitioned from two naps to one nap. He could barely make it past lunch. Picture the classic face in the mashed potatoes bit.

David and I continue to have a battle of wills on a regular basis since he always wants what is NOT offered to him and he seems to enjoy the word "no" quite a bit. Oh sweet David, we'll make it. On the upside, he is learning to color in the lines, write some of his letters and is usually good to his brothers. Perhaps we would get along better if you went back to taking a nap....

Gabe the babe

(Yes his little bum is so skinny it fits in a toy truck)

Gabe loves primary. He loves his teachers, he loves to listen to stories, and he loves to sit next to his best friend Mason. They save each other seats I'm told. His teacher is my Visiting Teacher and she has related some funny things about Gabe so I thought I'd share:

A few weeks ago he was in singing time and wasn't chosen AGAIN. Instead of feeling discouraged he went right up to the chorister with big puppy dog eyes and said, " I NEVER get picked, can you please pick me next time?" This plea despite the completely fair system of pulling children's name out of a Popsicle stick jar. How could she resist, Gabe got to go the next time. He is a first child and accordingly has a very strong since of justice.

Another week he was swinging his legs and kicking the chair in front of him. The poor little blond in front of him looked distressed so Gabe's teacher asked him if he would please stop. Gabe stood right up in his chair and plopped back down so that his knees were now next to his chest. His teacher explained that she meant to sit on his pockets, not his feet. Gabe's response was, "The way I see it is if I'm sitting on my feet then they can't kick the chair in front of me. " His teacher had to admit, he had a point. Gabe got to sit like that for the rest of sharing time.

The last primary incident that was related to me happened in the class room when the teacher was giving the lesson to a class of 8 or so 4 -5 year olds. Gabe gets up unsolicited and informs the class he has something "very important to share. You should all go home and tell this to your mommies and daddies." Gabe proceeded to sing a fairly monotone song about the Holy Ghost that none of the kids knew, including the two adult teachers. At the conclusion Gabe reminded the class about its importance and how they should go home and share it. He said "Thank you," and sat down. I'm not sure any of them actually even understood it, let alone could repeat it to a family member. I asked him about it later on and he couldn't do for me.

Thats my Gabe. He's a funny little bug but we love him. Wouldn't trade him for anything.

Charity

"Empathy is feeling your pain in my heart"

I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare... If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us,... they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditures excludes them."

C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity

"We become more substantive as we serve others-indeed, it is easier to 'find'ourselves because there is so much more of us to find! "

President Spencer W. Kimball

Let us ask ourselves the questions: 'Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need?' What a formula for happiness! What a prescription for contentment, for inner peace- to have inspired gratitude in another human being.

Our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable. There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved.

Pres. Thomas S. Monson as quoted in Gospel Principles p 176

Yesterday I had the pleasure of teaching a 30 minute lesson on the subject of charity. It was a joy to study about this principle. I won't rehearse my lesson here but it was a great experience to study about what charity is and is not. For a great discussion about the parable of the Good Samaritan read John Welsh's February 2007 Ensign article The Good Samaritan: Forgotten Symbols.

Going on a Bird Hunt

These photographs were taken starting in our yard and drifting around our neighbor's yard as my two little hunters followed some elusive robins. Mac is at the stage where birds are very exciting.

Peek-a-boo

(Pointing upward) "Mom look, its a bird!"

"Maybe if I'm real quite"

"Come on Gabey, lets go get'em"

"I know I saw that bird around here somewhere"

True stripling warriors in rain boots and pajamas. If you look hard you can see the bird flying away just above the ground.

(All comments added by me, my 17 month old doesn't actually speak in full sentences yet)

Yesterday and Today

Today

Yesterday

Utah weather can be funny sometimes. For about three days we had 70 degree weather and then boom, six inches of snow last night. Poor little weeds, I had to dig the flowers out to take their picture this morning.