This girl rolled over today!

Camille rolled from her back onto her tummy today!  Wow, I didn't think she'd be doing that for a while.  Congrats little girl!

Easter Sunday

Ever since I was twenty years old, Easter has been my very favorite holiday.  Yes, even more loved than Christmas.  Because the Sunday before Easter that year, all of the Young Single Adult members of our church here in this area were invited to the Mesa Temple grounds for a special morning devotional on the grass in front of the visitor's center.  My friends and I loaded in a car together and we all arrived at the temple on that beautiful, peaceful morning.  I don't remember what was said at the devotional, but I do remember the feelings of that day and how I "got it" that year.  Easter is celebrating not only the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but the fact that he loves us so much and that is why he was willing to suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane and give his life for us on the cross.  And then he arose after three days.  And because of him we all will be resurrected some day too!  Isn't that great?

Now that I'm a mom, I try to help my kids love and appreciate the message of Easter also.  I think I've reviewed the whole reason for celebrating Easter with my boys at least 5 times in the past week, once in the parking lot at Costa Vida after they brought up the the topic.  I really want them to know that it's not about candy and treats.  I want them to have a reverence for the day just as I do.

I'll never forget this Easter when Grant was barely three years old and still didn't have much of a vocabulary.  This is what I wrote about it:

"The sweetest was when Grant came out of his nursery class with a little paper cut out of Jesus and a tomb.  We were walking down the hall to go get Keith and somewhere along the way Grant's little picture of Jesus fell and was lost.  He was devastated.  Luckily his teacher was still at the class room and she had extra.  So when we got home and I was getting things done, I noticed Grant sitting by his room with his little cut-outs from nursery and he was talking to himself.  So I sat down by him and he went on to tell me, in his little 3 year old way, all about how Jesus died and then was put behind a rock and then after 3 days he was all better.  It was such a sweet moment.  I was so proud of him."   

Of course this year when Grant was asked by someone what his favorite thing about Easter is he said, "The candy!"  He is five after all.  But we will keep teaching and giving our children opportunities to develop their testimonies as they grow up.  Usually we go to the Easter Pageant at the Mesa Temple, but this year Camille was still getting over being sick and it just didn't work out, but it is always a great event to go to and feel the Spirit teach you about the life and love of Christ.

Here's the boys this Easter morning getting ready to wind up their strings to find their Easter baskets.

The family after church:

I came across this beautiful free Easter print online.  It printed out really nice on card stock on my own printer.  I got a 2 pack of cheap frames at Michaels and placed the print inside.  Then I decided to use the extra frame to give one to my mom.  She loved it.  You can download yours here.  I know it's after Easter already, but maybe you can tuck it away for next year.  Or just have it out all of the time.  I also printed out this free Easter Banner, put it together, and hung it above our sliding glass door.

Going for a stroll

I kept Grant home from school for one more day so he can get over this cough of his.  So we went out for some fresh air this morning.  We went a good distance & it was warm enough out that I even broke a sweat.  I'm afraid that the warm weather is here to stay.

 We stopped at the rose garden for a quick peek at the beautiful blooms.

After we got home we had lunch and then we ALL took a nap (that never happens) and we slept until 4:00!!!

 And here's one of Camille just for fun.  Oh, that girl's smile lights up my days!

Great Grandpa's 90th

We had a 90th Birthday celebration dinner here at our house last night for Keith's grandpa.  It was a great party.  Poor Grant was sick and had to miss out on the fun.  Although he had to stay in his room, he was pretty excited about being able to watch movies on the i-Pad.  We pulled him out for a few pictures and then whisked him away to his room.  Here he is getting some fresh air outside earlier that day.

 The birthday boy arrived with his date and was promptly greeted with cute pictures from my sweet niece.  What a perfect welcome.

 Camille was all dressed up for the party, but decided to sleep through it all.

 We had big band music playing and a movie with pictures from Grandpa's life.  We all enjoyed watching it.

 Only a fraction of their great-grandchildren.

 Then he read a letter that he'd written recently to tell all of his posterity how much he loves them all, how proud he is of everyone and a few words of advice and wisdom.  It was very sweet.

 Dinner time.

 We played a special BINGO game with things that relate to Great Grandpa & Grandma on the board.

 We all had a great time playing outside. 

 We played until it got dark.  Then we had birthday cake.

90 years old is such an accomplishment, especially when you've lived a full and happy life.  So glad we could all celebrate together.

The weekend is here!

Keith took today off from work.  Oh, it's so nice when he can do that.  We'll be staying home and watching general conference this weekend.  We also have a birthday celebration here at our home on Sunday night.  Keith's grandpa is turning 90!  They had a big party for him up in Utah already, and now we're having a little party down here.

Ta-Da List

Photo by Grant.  I love this moment he captured with me and Camille.

I was reading on a blog about how at different seasons in life it's nice to have a "ta-da" list and I thought, "That is exactly what I need right now."  In this season on taking care of these little people of mine, most days are simple and I don't get a lot of extra stuff done.  Especially when having a newborn in the home.  And that's okay.  My goals for each day revolve around eating, sleeping, cleaning, and keeping everyone healthy and happy.  That's why the pile of burp cloths that I'm making for Camille are still stacked on the dining room table along with a couple other little sewing things that I need to do.  Little by little they are getting done and then I'll put away my sewing machine for another time.  So I've come to appreciate this ta-da list idea.  Instead of thinking about what I didn't get done by the end of they day, I fall into bed and think, "I got the laundry put away today...ta-da." Or "I made a healthy dinner the kids actually gobbled up...ta-da."  Today was a big ta-da day.  The kids were mostly content and everything ran smooth enough that I was able to exercise, get dressed, and make three pans of enchiladas and three bags of cilantro lime rice to put in the freezer for another days dinner.  Ta-da!  Now to get that laundry put away!  That will have to be on tomorrow's ta-da list.  :)

Late night

Keith and I were up late last night hanging these frames in Camille's room.  It took forever!  But we got it done.  We fell into bed only to be woken up by a sick Brett and then by a Grant who wet his PJ's and then by Camille who was ravenously hungry.  Oh, I knew we would regret staying up late.  But sometimes that's the only time to get things done.

Now to put things in those frames!