5FF-Vol 13 "Easter Re-vamp"

So this year, I decided that I was really tired of the focus of Easter being on the commercial.  Everything is about the candy and the stuff and the bunny.  Which is great!  It's fun!  It's tradition.  But I decided that I really wanted to put that stuff in the back seat of the celebration and bring the true focus to the forefront.  Here are a few things that we did to re-vamp our Easter celebration.

1.  Every night we have focused on a different part of Savior's life.  We started with the "Triumphal Entry" and will end with "The Ascension".  In between we have learned about the Last Supper and Washing of the Apostles Feet, The Garden of Gethsemane, The Betrayal of Jesus, and Crucifixion and the crowning event, the Resurrection.  We have a picture and scriptural account to go with each story and it has been so great each night to review what we've learned on previous nights and to then learn something new-or review things we knew but may have forgotten.

2.  We asked the Easter Bunny to come on Friday night instead of Saturday night.  We will save our Sabbath for the focus and celebration of the resurrection.
3.  We have a special gift for each child from us that will be revealed on Easter morning. (Pictures to come)
We hope that by doing this, our kids will remember that Easter is for more than just the candy and eggs.
In unrelated news:
 4.  I got to go on a hot date with Scottie tonight.  We went to the Outback, to a wedding reception and a shopping excursion.  I love being one on one.  It reminds me of when we were footloose (also known as kid-less) and fancy free.  Don't get me wrong-I also love my kids-but there's nothing quite like date night!!  A shout out to the fabulous Schofields.  Dinner was great, conversation even better and that diet coke and wedge salad!  So yummy. (Sara-I'm glad our husband's blind date went well.  I see a second date in the future.  We'll call you....)

5.  Tomorrow, bright and early,our girls have a dance competition in Pocatello!  I am so excited to see them dance.  And almost as excited to dress Piper in her new IDS gear.  Can't wait to post a picture, because it's pretty much to die for!  Here's a (sideways) sneak peek.....

Happy Easter weekend!  I hope it is a wonderful time with those that you love.  I, for one, am so grateful for my Savior and for his ultimate sacrifice for each one of us.

5FF-Vol 12 "The Little Things"

Today I have been thinking about some of the little things in life that bring me joy.  Here are a few on my list today.
1.  Scott watching the kids (plus my friend's) so we could go to the gym at 8 instead of at 5.  I truly enjoyed my extra 2 hours of sleep!!  It was good to see the gym in the light of day too.  Usually it's dark when I get there and when I leave...
2. Watching these videos.  Oh my-I have been watching these since last night over and over again.  Episodes 1 and 4 are my favorites.  I don't know why I think they are so funny-but I do.  Please tell me you think they are funny too-and I'm not just really tired....
3. Landon has really taken off in his drawing and writing and coloring.  Here is an example.  We made cars in preschool and they got to decorate their own license plate.  Here is his-he wrote the "falls", and the drawings...the green is hard to see.  But it is him and me.

4. Piper's hair finally fits into a teeny tiny pony tail.  I love it.

5.  My kids.  They really are the little things that bring me daily joy.  The things they say-the things they do-for example-the peace signs in the pics below-what?  And Parker's face...again...what?  These were taken during spring break at the movie.

Finally-even though it's my 6th fact....my friend took Landon and Presley for the afternoon.  I better take advantage and get some things done around here while it's so eerily quiet....

5FF-Vol 11-Lucky me.

I missed my 5 Facts Friday last week.  It was spring break and we were busy doing nothing.  We stayed home and tried to do a few fun things around Idaho Falls.  The weather was dismal-but we managed to go to a movie, (Yogi Bear-er-don'twasteyourtime...), lots of Wii time, a trip to the public library, one picnic, 8 hours of General conference, and Reed's dairy Ice cream.
I've been thinking a lot about how lucky I am.  Here are a few reasons why:
1. I have this kid.  He is such a joy. He is so smart and funny.  He is sweet and loving.  He can read like a champ, sing like an angel, and break dance like nobody's business.  I am lucky to be his mom.

2.  I have this kid.  She is my "Parenting 505".  She came to me from heaven with her bags packed full of strong willed determination.  She challenges me to be a better parent on a daily basis and teaches me how to be patient and how to endure to the end.  She teaches me to choose my battles because in the long run-how I want her hair isn't more important than how she wants her hair.  She is feisty and funny.  She has the cutest voice/accent of any child I know.  She is quick to love and laugh.  She makes thee best facial expressions as she talks.  And she refers to herself as "the field mouse."  I am lucky to be her mom.

3.  I have this angel.  She is 100% JOY.  She laughs and smiles and screams with glee.  She rubs my shoulder when I hold her and she loves to touch her head to mine.  She waves "bye-bye" with an upturned palm while bouncing with excitement.  She is crawling everywhere and loves to get into things.  She loves to rearrange the magnet ABC's on the fridge and is often found hanging onto my leg when I'm washing the dishes.  She is best friends with each of her siblings.  She has a pure spirit which shines through her eyes. She is my sweet baby girl.  I am lucky to be her mom.

4. My children genuinely love each other.  LOVE. They love to be together.  They rarely even ask to have friends over because they just always play with each other.  (I am really bad at play dates too...) I love that they have cultivated this relationship with each other and hope that it continues to grow.  I value the relationships with my siblings (and their spouses) as my greatest friends as well.  I am lucky to have five amazing beautiful kids who love to be friends with each other.
**I feel that I need to add...I adore my Parker and my Pacie too!  Just because they weren't singled out in this post...they are two of my genuine treasures as well.  My big helpers-life savers...etc etc etc.....***

5.  I was sealed to this man......

 In this place.....

and I was able to listen to this over the weekend.
This talk by Elder Richard G. Scott truly touched me more than I can express.

I know that I am lucky. I count my lucky stars every day for these blessings.  And then I give thanks where thanks is due.  On my knees.....with a humble heart...and peace in my spirit.

A whispered conversation.

Tonight Landon and I were laying on the couch reading a book together.  He leaned over and gave me a smooch on the cheek.  I told him, "Rachel said you are going to be a really good husband."
Landon: "I wonder who I am going to marry?"
Me: (With a shrug of my shoulders) "I don't know."
Landon:  "Maybe it's a girl that I haven't even met yet.".
Me: "Yes, maybe.  She better be nice."
Landon:  "Well, if she's naughty...then I just won't marry her."

Oh my boy.  Please remember this when it is time for you to choose your wife.  I will do my best to remind you.  My sweet little son.  I love you to pieces.

Dance pics 2011

Each year the girls get their pictures taken for dance.  I always get them a collage that has each of their costumes.  It's become really fun to see how much they change from year to year.  I try to get one of them together as well, especially now that they are both competing.  Here they are for this year.

The collages I get them are long-so I had to break them into sections.  Here is Pacie's first half.  She is doing a 50's dance "At the Hop" and her Hip Hop is called "Work it Girl".  It was even choreographed by Ashley!!  It's so fun that she gets to work with the girls.

The second half of Pacie's has another of her 50's outfit-because I think it is so cute!!  And her ballet costume as well as the same work it girl picture.  It's too cute not to have on there twice...

Parker's first half has her Lyrical/Jazz "Don't Stop Believing" Her Hip Hop called "Lollipop" and her 70's theme called "Dancing Queen".  Look at that high kick!  Crazy high!!

Second half has her ballet costume as well as her in her warm-ups.  Oh, and the crazy kick again, because I like it.  :)

My girls LOVE to dance.  They are both having such a fun year.  You can see that the motto of our studio is "Forever Strong".  The inspiration was taken from the movie with the same name, and the studio owner, (One of my best friends) has the girls sign a contract that they will abide by certain rules-keeping themselves clean and not doing anything that would harm themselves, their families or each other.  I love that they have a moral code to abide by!!  Keep dancin' girls!!  We love you. 

5FF-Vol 10

Whew-it's a late one!

LOOKING FORWARD TO:

1-- SPRING BREAK!!!  One full week with no school, dance, preschool or piano!  

2-- Having my kids home with me.  We are going to do one job and one fun thing per day. Each kid gets to make a list of a few things they really really really want to do.  We'll do a spring cleaning job and then pick a fun thing. Since we're not going anywhere...we need to do something out of the ordinary!

3--Seeing our grass come in!  Now that the snow is finally melting away, our dirt has a tinge of green where we planted in October.  Can't wait to see it all fill in and be able to plant the rest.

4-- Reading!  Just started another new book.  Can't put it down.

5-- Not setting my alarm.....maybe my favorite thing on the list.  

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

*new, exciting picture posts will be coming this week.  I know you invisible readers can hardly wait! 

Fall to Spring Pictures

 Every year our kids' school does two sets of photos.  One in the fall and one in the "spring".  (Technically-the second set doesn't qualify as spring pics because they were taken in February.) However, I love them-and the cute models that are in them.  It makes me sad to see how much they grow up...even in 6 month's time.                    
                                                                  Parker, 3rd Grade

Pacie, 2nd Grade