Good things about Utah

So we headed to church early today because I heard through the grapevine that 3 babies were getting blessed and people in Utah usually have a ton a family in the area so there is always a huge circle and no seats. So we get there early (like 20 minutes) and the kids are behaving pretty well and about 10 minutes into waiting, Randy taps me and motions to the front of the church by the pulpit where the bishopric sits and says look. So I glanced up there and I see a familiar face, but not a face I've ever seen anywhere else but on TV 2 times a year. It was Elder L. Tom Perry (for you non-LDSers out there it is one of our apostles, just under the Prophet of our church). It took me a sec just cuz I've never really seen him out of my little box that sits in my living room. It was the coolest feeling in the world though. Apparently one of the babies that was getting blessed was some sort of relation to him and so he stood in on the blessing as well as the other babies that were blessed today. Could you imagine giving a baby blessing and having an apostle putting his hand on your shoulder, wow, it made me wish that Malia was a little younger, hee hee, just kidding. The spirit was really strong even though we ran out of sacrament water and it took twice as long as usual because of all the people who came. It was just awesome. Afterward Randy took the kids to primary while I cleaned up our coloring and toys mess. I saw Randy walking back in and Elder Perry was walking out and Randy was able to shake his hand. Oh and I don't know if you had heard how tall this man is, let me tell ya he is huge, but proportionately big. Probably 6'3-4" and just. . . BIG, he towered over everyone. He's a beautiful man and just had a glow about him.

I love 4-H!

The schools the girls go to offers after school 4-H programs where they have groups like science and math groups to sports and dance groups. Well I talked McKenzie into taking the tap class last session, a). because I wanted to have her take some kinda dance class to see if it's something she would want to pursue and b). cuz these groups are only $5 a class. (the shoes cost more than the group) So she took it in the fall and liked it but didn't really want to do it again and I told her she had to do one more session of it because I bought the $20 shoes and wanted her to use them at least once more before she grew out of them. So reluctantly she did, and I think she is doing great. This video is of this session's dance she learned, we need a better digital recorder but you'll get the idea. If you could see her face better you would be able to see her mouthing "1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8. It was cute, she 4th from the left.

McKeznie's short Tap Recital (she's 4th from the left)

The following videos

So I posted a couple of video clips and wanted to preface them before you watched them. So the first as you can see, Malia decided to start crawling Easter Sunday. She has been rocking on her knees and then propelling herself forward, we call her inchworm. But on Sunday she figured out how to lift her arm and actually move, pretty amazing I know. You'll have to excuse my yelling at Morgan at the beginning of the clip, I do not know how to edit yet and Morgan had been pushing many buttons before I had yelled out the infamous first and middle name.

The second is Micah on Monday at dinner, he decided instead of taking a nap he would sneak into his closet and get every single puzzle out and play with them on his bed. After the alleged nap we played at the park until dinner and the rest is history. Randy noticed it first and quietly informed me of the sleeper and I quickly grabbed the camera and started filming. I was hoping for a nodder but the nose picking was just as good. The camera shaking is me laughing, sorry I couldn't help it.

Anyway, hope you get a little laugh out of it.

Malia started crawling on Easter

This is what happens when Micah plays with his toys instead of taking a nap.

Easter

Here is our Easter festivities and such. Usually Easter sneaks up on me every year, and by the time I realize what's going on, we've done absolutely nothing. This year I tried really hard to do some fun things with the kids, we'll see if I do it again next year. We started off by waking Randy up really earl (for him) on Saturday morning and went to UVSC's annual Easter Egg hunt. We were thinking of going to the Orem one but we thought it was going to be just too nuts for us. (not that UVSC's was any better, just on a smaller scale). They split up the kids into two different age groups and then just let them run wild. McKenzie and Morgan were in the same group and Micah was the other one. Oh yeah and it was cold so the kids whined pretty much the whole time, which was fun for all of us.

We then got home and dyed, painted and tattooed some eggs. The kids had a lot of fun making a mess. It took Micah a little bit to want to actually get in there and get dirty. Once he realize how much fun it was to paint he decided it was OK to make a mess.Sunday morning the kids woke to their Easter baskets filled with gifts from the Easter Bunny, I think McKenzie is starting to catch on, so sad that she is growing up soon she'll figure it all out and the magic will be gone.

Then we got ready for church which was our Stake Conference. This was great cuz then we got to go to church earlier and for a shorter amount of time, no complaints here, except Malia wasn't very cooperative during the meeting. We got home and took some pics in their Easter outfits. That was a chore in itself, Micah did not want to have anything to do with it, the pic at the top is the only one I got of him not scowling at me. Then went to the backyard to hunt for the eggs they decorated that the "Easter Bunny" hid for them. It was fun especially since I actually remembered earlier this year and had time to plan for it better. The only thing I didn't get done was the sugar cookies, which we finished yesterday. I had made the dough on Friday so we could do them on Saturday but there just wasn't enough hours in the day on Sat. or Sun. to get them done. But all in all it was a good weekend and the kids seemed to enjoy themselves.

Don't hurt the Leprechaun

You know how I just took that personality quiz and it said at the bottom what I would be good at, one being a writer (something like that). Well maybe not me but how about my 1st grader. McKenzie got home from school today and gave me her usual pile of papers that she brings home daily. At the bottom of the pile was a book she made in class called "My Leprechaun book." In it were things like a picture she drew of what she thought a leprechaun looks like, what her three wishes she would ask for (fyi all three were a different animal) and how she would catch a leprechaun. This is what she wrote (keeping in mind she is in first grade so there of course will be typos)

I would put a vase and put candy and golde and then He would fall into the vase and bracke his Leg and I would help him and he would give me his gold

She should be the next Stephen King or something. My morbid little daughter, wanting to hurt something to get their gold, she is so not the violent one in the family, that would be Micah. Apparently she has some hidden aggression she needs to relieve. I had a good laugh and thought that you may to.

I'm an ENFJ

So in my efforts to get out there and explore the world of blogging I have been using friends links to see what other people are doing out there. In doing this I have found a bunch of old friends' blogs from my growing up years and have been enjoying reading them and catching up on how they are doing. It's been pretty wild.

Anyways, while I was on one of them, this friend took a personality test and so did her hubby and thought, I should see what I am. I've taken this test before, back in college and couldn't remember the results, so now I will have them . . . . FOREVER (saying like the kid in the "Sandlot") Maybe I will get Randy to do it to and post it later. I already know he is the exact opposite of me. That's why we are so good together, we bring each other back to earth.

You Are An ENFJ

The Giver You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed. Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections. Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down. You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine. In love, you are very protective and supporting. However, you do need to "feel special" - and it's quite easy for you to get jealous. At work, you are a natural leader. You can help people discover their greatest potential. You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist. How you see yourself: Trusting, idealistic, and expressive When other people don't get you, they see you as: Bossy, inappropriate, and loud

What's Your Personality Type?

I'm not sure about being jealous, inappropriate and I don't feel I'm bossy except with my kids oh and Randy, I probably am hu? Take it and see what you are all about. If ya feel like posting it, I'd love to read it.

Busted!

You know you are in trouble when the executive secretary for your ward calls you up and says, Bishop would like to meet with you and your husband tomorrow morning before church. So all night I was speculating on what he could want with both of us, either a). He's calling us to something that he needs both of us for like activities committee or teaching or b). one of us is getting a big calling. I was hoping for a) but it was b). I was called, sustained and set apart as our ward's Relief Society 2nd counselor. Oh goody, so that means I'm in charge of Enrichment, I swear I just got done doing that. (In WA I was the enrichment leader). This ward is an interesting one due to the fact that we are on the border of Orem and Provo that has a lot of rentals which means that we have a lot of newleywed students in our ward and not a huge primary. There is a lot of turnover with people moving in and out so it's really hard to get to know anyone and all of the newleyweds are busy being newleyweds so there aren't a lot who show up to activities, so my main goal is to get more people to want to come to at least enrichment. I am so greatful that while I was in WA the 2nd counselor over me taught me so much and was the best woman ever to work with, I wish I was with her again, maybe I'll call her up and tell her to move down here. (good luck with that KT). Anyways, I feel very inadequate and hope that I don't totally screw up the Relief Society, wish me luck but please don't congradulate me cuz your turn is next, ha ha.

This is what happens when you add flavor to the mix.

I finally uploaded

The girls climbing on Shamu at the mall near my sister's
Malia's Christmas present, the flower in bigger than her face and at 1st had a hard time keeping it in.
Goofy face with Grandma
Our Snow pile at our place from the plows. This things was enormous as you can see. The kids sure had a fun time climbing up and sliding down.

So I finally uploaded some pics from my camera, yeah there were over 200 pics on one card (I get a little lazy) I know they are kinda random but I wanted to post a few few. The kids sure are growing fast, AHHHHHHH!

Why me?

This past week has been absolutely horrible. Randy came home last Wed. from work with a fever, chills and body aches, need I say more. Despite my germ-a-phobe efforts I got it Friday and the kids got it one-by-one throughout the weekend. It was awful. This flu knocks you on your back for at least 2 full days and then you are slowly making meaningful movements for another 3. Today (Wednesday) was the real first day that I put on more than PJ's (meaning sweatpants) and kinda did my hair and put eyeliner on. I even got outside and drove the car to the school and back. (that was a big accomplishment let me tell ya). Now I am stuck with a phlegmy cough that at times feels like my head may just pop off of my neck, but I am getting a great ab workout. My friends have been telling me that they have had this already and the cough lasts forever, whoo hoo. I am sooo grateful that we got our new couches the day before Randy came down with it, so that way we all could lay down somewhere while we watched endless movies. Granted I covered the couches with sheets and blankets as to not make them tainted from all of our germs. Oh and thanks to our wonderful neighbors who ordered us the shimmy and shake version of "Hairspray" (a gift for helping them when they were in a crunch) It came in the midst of all of this so it gave all of us something new to watch over and over again. I do have to say though that McKenzie was never more excited to go to school as she was this morning when I told her she was well enough to go back. Morgan cannot wait until tomorrow to go back, (me too). We just hope at least for the rest of this year that we have paid our flu dues and will be healthy for the remainder. (knock on wood)

New Favorite Game

So over Christmas break we went up to Washington to visit some of my family, yes all of my married siblings were able to come (there were 5 babies born this year it was great). Anyway, so my sis Lindsay was introduced to a new game, Ticket to Ride, and since we are a game loving family, she had to buy it so we could test it out and have a new game to play when we all get together, for a while it has been The Bean Game. We all loved it so much that we played it over and over throughout the night. This game is not cheap though (like $50) and Lindz told me she got it cheaper online so I thought I would give it a shot and shop around. I found it on a google search for $25 plus shipping, so of course we jumped on it. Since getting the game we have played it by ourselves, taught me brother and his fiance, and had our neighbors over tonight for an evening of steaks and Ticket to Ride. It was a lot of fun. So if you are shopping for a new game, I highly recommend this one. It is not a young family game, so don't get it if you are looking for something to play with your kids, but it is a ton of fun if you like to get friends or family together. McKenzie really wants to learn to play, she so badly wants to grow up which is sad for me because she is suppose to be my little girl, but it seems lately that that is not the case anymore. I guess they have to grow up someday. :(