Spring Break

This week brought Reagan and Cole's Spring Break.  Unfortunately, everyone else in the area had Spring Break last week, so, this week we still have dance class, karate, piano and our usual activities. We determined to do something fun every single day. We hit the movies, McDonalds, the aquarium, the Dinosaur Museum, and played with Grandpa. It went by way too fast, but we had a great time.
 

Happy Easter!!!

Yep - we've been excited about Easter for weeks! We've been counting down the days. Spring Break? Who cares - we want Easter! We decorated the house and pulled out every stuffed bunny we could find. Cole visited 2 different Easter Bunny Helpers at the malls. Reagan even prayed that "all the people on the planet would have a great Easter." Love it!

We had to spend the day before Easter coloring our eggs. Bright colors, stickers, the works! Grandma and Grandpa came to visit and brought Reagan and Cole each an Easter basket filled with candy, stickers, and fun.

Easter morning was great. Reagan and Cole (well trained I would say) came up the stairs and actually closed their eyes as they came into our room - I've told them that if they surprise Santa or the Easter Bunny, no treats or presents will be left. We turned on the lights, grabbed the camera and had at it.

Our baskets held clothes, candy, books, toys, more stuffed bunnies, color books, puzzles and a BYU football uniform for Cole (who knew the Easter Bunny was a Cougar fan?). Shannon came up to make breakfast for us so that we could play some more. Then, we got ready for church. After a bit of a meltdown, we were picture ready (sorry 'bout Reagan's red cheeks and eyes - some people just don't want their hair curled!). We had a great day at church and we were able to focus on the reason for the Easter holiday. After much talking and a family night about Easter, I'm hoping that the message got through loud and clear. Bunnies and candies are great, but they are nothing compared to what our Savior did for us - and continues to do for us. I'm told that Reagan and Cole answered all of the questions asked in Primary and that they really do "get it." Let's hope so 'cause this is way too important to miss :) Happy Easter everyone!

The Saga Continues ...

You'll remember our St. Patrick's Day post about our new pets. Well, I googled how to feed and care for goldfish, we diligently fed them every night, we changed the water every few days (only 1/2 of the water), etc. Cole didn't tire of his fish. He would "check" on it several times every day.

Well, one day when we went to feed them, they were floating. We assumed that meant they were taking a really long nap. Reagan and Cole fed them anyway :) The next day while Reagan and Cole were at school, I went to the store to get some .... stuff. After speaking extensively with the fish lady (I'm sure she was so sick of me), I left the store with 2 new tanks that have filters, more room and lights; seaweed type stuff (the lady asked "would you like to just be in an open room with people looking at you?" Ummmm.....); chemicals to prepare the water for the new fish, chemicals to treat the water each week and a half, aquarium salt, a net, and 4 fish (two looking EXACTLY like our original fish and two a bit different). We told the kids that Mom went to get their fish some friends. With Cole only being in school for a couple of hours, I was on a dead run to get to the store, get the new stuff, transfer and clean the stuff from the old tank, dispose of ... well, you know, and get all four fish into their new tanks. Whew!

So, I picked Cole up from school, brought him home and showed him the new tanks. He was SO happy. He pulled a chair over and sat right next to the fish for well over an hour. He folded his arms on the counter, put his chin on his arms and just sat and watched the fish with this big 'ol smile on his face.

I love that he loves them, but I'm bugged that even fish take such time and effort. Steve and I actually googled "low maintenance pets". Guess what the universal answer was ....... ball python. Apparently you only feed them once a month and they pretty much just kick it the rest of the time. Uh - yeah. Not going to happen!

Cole was so cute watching his fish that Steve and I even considered a puppy or kitten. But, the more and more we talked about it, we just couldn't pull the trigger and get one. I hate the thought of leaving it in a kennel all the time or putting it outside, but I dread the pet learning to house train, learning to eat, learning not to bite or rip up furniture, etc. Plus, what about when we leave town? We'd have to pay to board it or trust some neighborhood kid to come and feed, clean and walk the pet. I don't want to mistreat the pet, but I don't want to be 24-7 looking after it either. So, for now, we're a four pet family. Stay tuned, with each passing day, the number could decrease :)

YW Recognition

One of my YW is from Brazil. Rachel has been here, living with a family in our ward who sent two sons to Brazil and met Rachel's family. What a brave girl! At 16, I couldn't imagine leaving my family for a whole school year, moving to another country, trying to perfect another language and integrating into a high school that seems to be as big as a city. Adding to her impossibly long list of things to accomplish, she decided she would finalize and earn her Young Womanhood Recognition Award while here. Her family (most of them) were coming up from Brazil for Conference. We determined that she would be done by the time they arrived so that we could have our Recognition night while they were here. Those last few weeks were hard for Rachel, but she completed it.

When we were planning the Recognition night (only for Rachel as she is the only YW getting her award this year), we were thinking of themes, etc. and it turns out that her mother had planned to have a birthday party for her while they were here and the theme was going to be Brazil. So, we combined the two and her mother brought all sorts of decorations, food, and treats from Brazil and in the colors of Brazil's flag. I made invitations in the same colors and we had a great night. Because of Rachel's family's schedule, we actually had to hold Recognition night on the night of Sunday conference. It was weird being home all day, watching conference, and then have to go and set up in a dark and quiet church. Turns out it was a party. The Brazilian food was great, the decorations were so cute, and finally meeting Rachel's parents was wonderful. She was darling with them - she hadn't seen them in 8 months!

Reagan was sick this weekend, throwing up and having a fever, so, I decided to leave about an hour after the Recognition program was over. The host family and Rachel's family and friends were still going strong. I left them to lock up and headed home to put our Reagan to bed.

I am so proud of Rachel and the courage and determination that she has shown in accomplishing all that she set out to do for her award. How lucky am I to get to be her leader, even if it is for just a school year?

Jungle Party

Cole was invited to a Jungle Party this week. It was for a girl in his class. At first, I was pushing him to decline - its not like these guys have had play dates or that I hear about this girl constantly - but then I rethought it. I can't count the number of birthday parties, play dates, and activities that Cole has had to sit through and be the "Plus 1" for Reagan. Most of the time, he was able to participate in some way and usually had a great time, but with her at school and him wanting to go to the party, I figured "Let's go". I'm so glad I did - he had a great time!

They decorated headbands for animals that they wanted to be and had their faces painted to look like that animal. Cole was a leopard. They played Lion Lion Tiger (Duck Duck Goose) and went on a Bear Hunt. They played a charades game, acting out an animal and seeing if their friends could guess it and they hunted for Easter eggs. Of course there was lots of food and a cute snake cake!

Mari (the birthday girl) came running up when Cole arrived and almost knocked him over with her hug (maybe they are closer than I thought) and Cole was a perfectly well behaved guest. I was proud of him following directions, being patient until his turn and helping others to have fun.

Yep - this "Plus 1" has come into his own and I love it!