Easter

The older the kids get, the more fun the holidays are. I'm guessing once they get older that will end, but for now I love it. They loved the egg decorating this year. We did glitter eggs for Tawny and monster eggs for Brayden.

They had an Easter egg hunt at Grandma's the Monday before Easter since she was going to be gone Easter weekend.

Brayden had another Easter egg hunt at school (no pics since i wasn't there) and Tawny had another one over at Mande's house. She does a playdate once a week for the kids and thought it would be fun to have a little Easter party. She was right!

I love her hat

Ethan was a great cheerleader.

Greg didn't have ANY meeting before church (first time in a long time) so we were ready early enough to walk to church. That very rarely happens when it's just me getting every one ready.

Since we had already done the eggs/candy thing ahead of time, we chose to keep Easter Sunday purely about Christ and hie resurrection. I want my kids to have a clear understanding of why we celebrate Easter. I taught sharing time that week on the resurrection and was able to continue the discussion with Brayden and Tawny after we got home. I think they understood as much as a three and a five year old can.

I have a touching story to tell about Brayden. The Saturday before Easter we took the kids to the Mesa temple, which also has a visitors center. One of Brayden's favorite parts of the visitors center was the statue of Christ showing the marks in his hands and feet. On Sunday the primary president was conducting and asked the kids if they had done anything fun for Easter weekend. Kids immediately started shouting out all the fun things they had done (parties and candy and easter eggs, etc...) Brayden raised his hand and reverently said, "We went to the temple. I saw a big statue of Jesus and I touched the marks in his feet. When I touched it I felt the spirit. I know He loves me." Wow. It was so simple but such a strong pure testimony of the Savior. I am so thankful for my children and all they teach me on a daily basis.

Murder Mystery Dinner

We hosted a murder mystery dinner last night and it was so so so much fun! Every dressed in character, we ate great food and try to figure out who committed the crime. Thanks to everyone who came! I somehow forgot to get a pic of Greg and I. Greg was a janitor and I was a stablehand.

Cookie (a trucker) and Jessic (pie baking gossip)

Ruth (ex beauty queen) and Troy (town mayor) John (elvis impersonator) and Kim (gypsy)

Cade (rodeo rider) and Erica (4-H snob)

Budding Artist

Brayden has always loved art, but recently his drawings have really improved. I want to keep so many of his pictures but haven't figured out a good way to do it. So for now, I thought I'd scan them in. That was I'll have a copy of them in my blog book. Here are just a few of my favorites: Notice the gray then yellow guy being pushed off the plank and falling down down into the water? Also note the spelling of pirate on the big guy's shirt

When I asked Brayden why the tiger was bigger than the house and Tawny, Ethan and himself he said,"cause we have to be able to hide under him, and we couldn't hide under a regular tiger." He said this with patronizing patience, like I'm mentally slow and incapable of grasping such an obvious concept.

This isn't really art, but I thought it was pretty funny. He wrote the letters like they sound (except for t thru x). and yes, he does know the real alphabet.