Wow, what a month!

We have had so much fun with our family recently. Our first trip during spring break was to visit my sister and brother and their families in Arizona. We had a wonderful trip, staying at Elice's home where each of the kids had a cousin to hang out with. Elice, Chris, Ken and I spent many a late night talking and even enjoyed a trip to Sedona despite the stomach virus we brought with us. Rob and Angie were so accommodating and kept joining our adventure whenever they could, even having our crew over to their home for dinner and lunch. We played cards, enjoyed the 20th birthday CD Rob gave Ken, all songs from '92 haha, and a delicious chocolate cake Angie made. Alex loved visiting with Brayden as they walked the neighbors dog, Trevor and Jared discovered the outdoors together building a damn/walkway across the stream, and Camille and Grace loved playing puppy and doing girlie things. The kids all enjoyed the bunnies and fun with the rest of their cousins, Colden, Dylan, Jackson and Evelynn. They got to go to a 'farm' while we were in Sedona and did 'nothing' except ride horses, fed the animals and collect eggs.

Ken and I enjoyed an amazing adventure, loving the clean fresh air, the beautiful scenery, strengthening family friendships, long conversations, card and game playing, hiking, seeing Rob's new Ortho office, and loving all of our nieces and nephews. What a sweet gift this trip was to our family.

Then on to Camping!

Just a week and a half later we went on a two night camping trip with our dear friends the Hales. What a blast we had. Delicious dutch oven cooking (thanks Howard), fishing with mud and black eyes, long family hikes, muddy stinky dogs, card playing, visiting around the campfire, and raccoons creeping up on us. What a wonderful time we had. I loved watching the kids bonding, running around together, playing catch with the football and picking onions. I found Trevor and Nataniel telling scary stories in the dark and cutting onions to bug Joshua with. Oh how fun to be outside!

EASTER!

Just a day after we got back it was Easter. The children enjoyed simple baskets filled mostly with reminders of Christ. The few things they received were all around a picture frame with Christ in the center. I loved Grace's comment that she forgot about Jesus even though it was Easter until she saw her basket and there was the most beautiful picture of Jesus looking at the children. Oh what sweetness! Alex went shopping with me to purchase something for her siblings baskets with her own money, which brought her even more joy that morning.

After watching conference and being spiritually uplifted we went to Aunt Beverly's to enjoy a wonderful meal, games, an egg hunt, and to celebrate Aunt Christy's birthday which happened to coincide with Easter this year. What a fun time to visit with family.

I think we are all ready to put our feet up and count our many blessings. Or just count our blessings and work on our education and Girls Camp, whichever comes first! :)