Easter Day

Our Easter morning started out with bright blue skies and sun!

The kids reluctantly posed for this picture (this was post church and everyone was wrinkly, tired and hungry)--not to mention that it was freezing today and windy! (the sun was deceiving.)

Late this afternoon, Brian hid 75 eggs in the yard for the kids to find...I just took a few random "action" shots of them on their hunt...

(where was this weather YESTERDAY??!)

This was the only picture I managed to get of Jake in action..?!--If you want to call this an "action" shot! Holy laziness! This is an egg hunt for pete's sake, not a lounge!

Reilly's got the hang of things!


Fun was had by all!

I've been thinking about all the sweet memories I have of Easters' past...

It' really is true that when you become a mother, you realize just how much your own mother has done for you--

My mom has always made my Easters memorable...

My first Easter basket--1972--Arlington, Tx.

Showing my easter basket to my dad...(1973)

A neighborhood spring celebration picnic...

My mom and I Easter morning--1978



One of our Easter egg hunts in Bryan, Tx.--(1980)




In addition to the special Easter baskets, egg hunts, and lunches that she always coordinated, she always had a flower arrangement on the table with a picture of Christ on Easter morning...



I appreciate her example of keeping this special holiday festive and fun and yet still centered on the Savior...which has left a lasting impression on me...



I'm so grateful for this time of year when we honor Jesus Christ and the sacrifice that he made for us all...It is through Him that we will be able to overcome physical death, and enjoy eternal life...What a wonderful blessing that is!

There is a wonderful video circulating around on several people's blogs that I so wanted to post on mine but am having technical difficulties...

It is entitled, "None Were With Him" by Jeffery Holland...
It was taken from a talk given by him in the recent General Conference...(it was one of the few talks I was able to really hear due to kid chaos!)--but it was one of the best I've ever heard!
If you haven't seen it already, click Here

It is very powerful!

Have a wonderful Easter!

Spring Luncheon/Egg Hunt Recap

What do you suppose it means when you have ...

silverware in a container, and paper products for 50...

table centerpieces (courtesy of Martha Stewart printable templates) pre-made with daffodils...

take home party favors...

chilled Italian soda...(as well as lime-aid)




mini cupcakes with handmade bunny picks...




an egg tree table display...






cheese sandwiches in the shape of chicks and bunnys (check out that white bread!)
(in addition to pb&j)

a double batch of thai chicken pasta salad...

(as well as food assignments given to neighbors)

100 eggs stuffed and ready for hiding....


Five 8 foot long tables as well as 45 chairs from the church...

And then THIS happens!!!???...

Earlier on in the week, when I hadn't been feeling good, the thought of a rained out neighborhood Easter egg hunt/spring luncheon actually sounded somewhat appealing...

I had pretty much decided at that point that things would be cancelled, but as the weekend drew nearer, the forecast started looking more promising and on Friday, I decided to make a go of it...

After obsessing (who me?!) over the hour by hour weather forecast Friday evening and Saturday morning, and postponing the even until 2pm, it became clear to me that the storm was not blowing over as quickly as they had anticipated--

I had to cancel the whole thing at 1pm as the rain was still coming down in buckets at that point-

Brian and Jake took all the tables and chairs back to the church while I stayed home and dyed eggs with the girls--I guess to look on the bright side of things, had we gone ahead with the luncheon, we wouldn't have had time for decorating eggs...

What is it that they always say about the best layed plans??? ARRrrrrrrrrrr

**Has anything like this ever happened to you?

**Would you have risked it like I did?

I've got a new man in my life...

In the spring, I take a lover...

It's only a seasonal thing, of course, but I so look forward to our time together...

It's usually sunny when we meet and it's only for about 2 hours...

He's one of these guys that's all grumble but doesn't really have much to say...but that's alright because we don't need words to communicate...

His name is John...

And he is such a "deere"!

I got my first mow in 2 days ago to celebrate the fact that my antibiotic has finally kicked in and that I'm feeling grrrreat!

I've always loved mowing the lawn...it's something that the kids can't mess up...and

it's the ultimate form of instant gratification! (not to mention, Brian approves of the relationship!)

While I was making out with John, Brian was toiling away in the vegetable garden...overturning the soil and preparing to plant some of the cooler weather veggies...

Ahhh...earthworms...A gardeners eye candy-- sign of good, rich soil...

In addition to onion sets, the girls helped Brian plant mesculin mix lettuce, swiss chard and peas...

We're also trying to grow broccoli this year...(this is something that we've never had much success with--but we're giving it another shot....

We won't plant the rest of the garden until May, but it still felt good to get a few things in the ground--

**Are you starting a garden this year?

It's time for my company to leave!

I've been dealing with some unwanted guests lately...

which would explain for my lack of posts and comments to others...

(I'm giving it another day for the antibiotics to kick in and put an end to my crushing headache and neverending cough--so bear with me)

This final sickness episode must mean that spring has officially arrived!

P.S.--It's probably a good thing at this point that there is rain in the forecast for Saturday and the neighborhood egghunt/spring luncheon that I had planned will have to be cancelled...

"In preparation for landing..."

I'm coming off of General Conference weekend with a frustrated and discouraged attitude...

I thought I had everything prepared to make it a successful experience...(treat bags, reverence tent, cozy pillows to lounge on, comfy clothes, etc.)



The best way I can describe how I feel right now is this....


(picture sitting in a middle row--on a full flight--with 3 kids climbing over you and pestering each other--interrupting---crying--spilling things--etc.)

You know that feeling of being on a long flight that has been delayed and everyone is punchy and crabby and "over it" already?!--That would be my weekend!

I got very little out of the talks because I was so highly irritated with my kids!--I felt like I had zero control over their behavior--it was just like a total free for all!

I'm really feeling like a lousy parent right now because of how things went...

We discussed at dinner ways that we can pay attention more and be more reverent and we decided that there will be no more "nesting" materials, and everyone is going to be required to write at least one thought in a notebook about what the speaker talked about...(with the exception of Ellie--but maybe she can just draw a picture)

Another thought is that perhaps we will go to the church to listen to the Sunday morning session just to break it up a bit...

Everyone is pretty well mannered when we're at church, so maybe this will do the trick...

I did manage to hear bits and pieces of the talks that were given, but was unable to hear any of the talks in their entirety...I look forward to reading them next month when they come out in the Ensign...(One talk in particular that was powerful was the one given by Jeffery Holland...I've always loved him and I thought that this was outstanding)

This flight has officially landed! Bye Bye!

**Has this ever happened to you?

**Do you find that watching conference at home is more distracting?

**How often do you flip out?

Five for Friday--

1. Let me just start by saying that I could write a post on just these alone!! Good heavens these are magnificent! I think they're just seasonal--like the candy cane flavored ones at Christmas time--

They are so smooth and creamy and as near to perfection as anything! What was I thinking buying just one bag?! (P.S.--I originally bought them to stuff in the Easter eggs...yeah, right!)

2. Remember the Bananas Foster that I was so siked to try?--My friend, Suzanne, who was supposed to come to dinner the other night had to cancel because of sick kids, wasn't around to show me exactly how to make this. It seemed easy enough per her phone instructions...

Looks good--right? Nothing has ever deceived me more!--It tasted like mushy RUM for pete's sake...She forgot to mention that after heating the rum and setting it on fire, that I must continue cooking it for a while!--Holy drunken family! I swear I had a buzz! I will say one thing, though--I was more relaxed that night during the kids' bedtime routine!--tee hee

3. I really really really have a problem with elderly drivers!--I don't know how to get it through to them that there are people with a life that need to get to places...

I think, especially, because I've been extra stressed lately, it seems like they are all out to get me! I feel like this whole town has been plagued by white knuckled old people on the road to nowhere!

4. Ahhh--tis a pleasing sight!--A full snack pantry!--I don't know what my kids have been living on lately...I've been trying to cut back on buying individual sized bagged snacks. I'm trying to be a little more environmentally conscience and save money as well...

5. I got the kids' General Conference bags ready...

Things went pretty well for the last conference when I had treats and things made up for them--it made it more special...

I think we're going to give the "reverence tent" another go...It wasn't all it was cracked up to be last time...I think there were more tears shed than not...so we'll see how it goes this weekend...

I've got my stack of projects to do while listening...(if I don't have something to do with my hands, I will be out like a light within minutes...)

**Have you tried the orange creme Hershey kisses?

**Do you have "issues" with slow elderly drivers?

**Is your pantry stocked?

**Do you have any creative General Conference ideas for kids?

Better than icecream!

What is more exciting than the sounds of the icecream truck coming down the street????...

The noisy mulch truck from Victory Gardens of course!!

We ordered 10 yards and got 2 free--

I made the girls stand in front of it to get the full effect of just exactly how much mulch we've actually got here!

As if I wasn't experiencing enough of the "feel good" endorphins, I spotted this heavenly sight nestled in between spring flowers...this is my favorite cat, Charlie...(he's the one with 6 toes)



Imagine my luck when my neighbor, Jeannie, (vet friend) called and told me she was bringing flowers over that one of her clients had sent her...she said the smell was too potent and they were bothering her allergies...



These were absolutely exquisite!



I played a "pre-April fool's" joke on Brian...

When he came home, I thanked him for sending me the flowers and told him that the card was even more meaningful..."I can't stop thinking about you"--



He didn't even flinch! What the?!--he doesn't have a jealous bone in his body...or maybe it's that he knows I'm a lousy liar!





We're hosting a neighborhood egg hunt/ luncheon next Saturday (the day before Easter)--With the exception of last year, this will be our third year for doing this...



I made these invitations for the kids to take around to people in our neighborhood.

It was a great way to bring people together who've never met...

I was surprised a few years ago when people were just meeting for the first time after living practically next door for 17 years! How is this possible?!

This always seems funny to me to see the ducks walking around in the street like this-

When it rains, these guys are on a "worm mission" and the rain brings out earthworms in buckets practically!

They usually stay in our yard, but on days like today, there is much foraging to be had.

I've been rather overwhelmed this past week...I've got 3 parties (the upcoming Easter celebration at our house, a baby shower that I'm in charge the following Saturday, and then I've got the Enrichment dinner to do!)

It really bothers me that I'm not able to prioritize...

If it's on my list, then I don't seem to have any ability to see what could possibly be done later...it all takes priority...

I guess especially now with these events I'm planning, being a mom, spring gardening, taking care of the house, trying to be a good friend, blogging, church responsibilities, pets, appointments...I'm just feeling very stressed...

April is always a crucial gardening month for me...everything for the rest of the growing season depends on how much I'm able to accomplish during this month--(pruning, fertilizing, transplanting, etc.)

Adding these additional things to my plate is just sending me over the edge a little...

I had been taking an antidepressant for a few years (lexapro) and went off of it a couple of months ago...

I was having a conversation with my mom last night and she said that she's noticed a difference in me lately...so I decided to go back on it...we'll see in about a week or so if it's working....I'm hoping it takes away some of the anxiety that I've been feeling...