New Pizza Place?

This is a little conversation in the car the other day:

Hyrum: Where are we going to get pizza Mom?

Mom: Papa Murphy's.

Hyrum: I don't remember Papa Smurfies. Do I like Papa Smurfies?

(my sister and I trying not to crack up)

Mom: Yes Hyrum, you love Papa Smurfies.

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

I'm ready to rejoin the technological world again after turn off you t.v. week (which basically includes any kind of technology). It was actually really nice and I didn't really miss t.v since I'm not a big t.v person anyways, but I did miss reading everyone's blogs ect.

We've had a lot of time to spend together as a family since the week before that was Spring Break. We were able to go to the Dinosaur Museum, Jumpin' Jacks (totally crazy by the way), and play lots with friends. The weather was freezing so we had to get creative on inside activities.

Then my sister came at the beginning of t.v. turn off week, which was nice to have someone help entertain the kids so I could at least shower. We had so much fun together. We played cards, had tons of picnics, ate Macho Nachos at 3 in the morning, went to Farm Country, the park, and since the weather cooperated we were able to spend lots of time outside. We worked tons in our yard and with any luck it may actually look like a yard come summer.

Then the rain came and ruined our plans to attend the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point Gardens on Friday for our date. It all worked out though because Ben and I just went to Trafalga (which is way fun since they remodeled it) and then the weather cleared up and we were able to go to the Tulip Festival last night with our friends the DeVries (aka Bishop). It was so beautiful and just makes me wonder what the Garden of Eden must have looked like. I can't wait for that celestial garden; then I can just give up on mine :)

Ella's Favorite Holiday

We actually do all the Easter Bunny stuff on Saturday and then celebrate Easter "the resurrection" on Sunday. So, the kids were up nice and early around 7 in the morning on Saturday to see what the Easter Bunny brought them. Personally the whole concept of a giant bunny leaving candy eggs sounds a little bizarre to me, but the kids love it. They were especially excited to see the bite marks the Easter Bunny left in the carrots. P.S. Please disregard Hyrum's off the shoulder "Madonna" look with his jammies. That kids had stretched those things to peices.

Later that afternoon we had a ward party and decorated eggs and had relays (which I totally dominated in). We also had some sandwiches and a million desserts and the kids just had fun running around with the plastic spoons and eggs trying to repeat the relays.

That night Ruth, Ben's sister, babysat for us so we could go to the movies. We went and saw Paul Blart Mall Cop, which starred Kevin James and of course was hysterical. I wasn't sure in the beginning if I was going to like it, but I ended up really liking it. (I don't think there's a movie with Kevin James that I don't like, oh except for I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. DO NOT rent that one.) This movie was really clean, and playing at the dollar theater (always a bonus).

Sunday morning we actually got to enjoy having Ben home in the morning because the bishopric didn't have meetings. So, I was able to get ready on time and try curlers in Ella's hair. She sat to still the whole time and didn't even complain.

Here's the finished product. The adorable dress is courtesy of my extremely talented sister in law, Liz. She made matching dresses for all the girls in the family. I think they turned out so cute, and I'm so sad we couldn't be there for a group picture.

We also let her have a little eye shadow and some lip gloss.

I think it's safe to say that Ella's new favorite holiday is Easter. Not only did the Easter Bunny bring her a basket full and candy and presents, but she also got to prance around and be vain amidst the showers of non stop compliments of how adorable she was. (I've seriously created a monster. . . .)

After church, Ruth and Jeff were able to come over for dinner. We had turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, yams, fresh fruit, rolls, and salad. Then after the kids went to bed we were able to play some card games. It was a terrific Easter and we were so happy that we were able to share it with family.

Spirit Week

Hyrum celebrated spirit week at his school this week. I thought they really only did that kind of stuff in high school, but his school planned a whole week of fun and silly things. They had hat day, crazy sock day, crazy hair day, sport jersey day, and decades day. I wish I had taken pictures of every day, but the mornings are kind of a rush since school starts at 8:15 a.m. and I have to drive him clear to Springville. Not to mention if you get too many tardies you get kicked out (it's a charter school).

I did manage to get a picture of his decades day outfit. If you couldn't tell he's a greaser from the 50's. I had to convince him he was a motorcycle guy to get him to agree to wear it. This is him showing of his tough muscles. The other picture was a little blurry since his ride was already outside waiting, but you get the idea. Can you say "Fonzy"!

Logan-11 Months

Logan is rapidly looking more and more like a little boy and less like a baby (not to mention looking more and more like his brother!) It's hard to believe he'll be 1 in 3 weeks. Here's a few 11 month milestones:

*Eats more table food and is resisting baby food (except for those baby desserts, yum!)

*Standing for longer periods

*Took his first step

*Resists getting dressed or having his diaper changed

*Starting to play with the older kids

*Rolls a ball back and forth to people

*Only taking one nap

*Says "yeah" all the time (better than saying "no")

*Laughs when he finds something funny (usually at himself)

A Really Nice Conference

This year I was really looking forward to conference. I can't say I've always looked forward to conference. I've always watched it, but I haven't always enjoyed it. Most of the time it just felt long and I ended up battling with the urge to fall asleep (sleep usually won.) But this year I was really excited about conference and wanted my kids to be excited too.

Saturday morning I got up early and made bagels so that we could have breakfast while watching conference. Then Ben made cinnamon rolls Sunday morning. I think we are going to have to keep this tradition going.

I printed off a bunch of conference activities for the kids the night before. I tried this same tactic last year, but instead of giving them the whole book at once I spaced each page about 20 minutes apart so they wouldn't just scribble through the book in one talk. Then I just put the pages in a binder for each of them. We set up the kid table downstairs in front of the t.v. so the kids could work on their conference books and maybe give us a chance to actually listen to conference. Hyrum worked so hard on his book. He sat through both sessions on Saturday and the morning session on Sunday without hardly making a peep. Then, when the prophet spoke he just stopped what he was doing and looked up. I was so impressed, especially since I didn't prompt him to stop what he was doing and listen.

In the computer room we had a wooden bench full of snacks (we are talking bigger than the Super Bowl, which is kind of funny since we don't even watch the Super Bowl). So needless to say I'm sure I've gained several pounds.

On Sunday, Ben's sister Ruth and her husband Jeff came over to watch conference and we had fun playing games and pigging out together. We were able to spend the whole day with them and really had a fun time.

I felt so comforted after listening to all the many talks about being patient through afflictions and trials (it seemed like at least half were about this topic). I always feel like the talks were written just for me. Now I'm anxiously awaiting my conference addition of the Ensign so I can go back and read through their words.