Easter

On Easter Sunday, the girls and I made  Resurrection Rolls to remind us of why we celebrate Easter.  Some turned out great...and really looked like an empty tomb...but this time some of the marshmellows seemed to just melt all over the pan and make a yummy, gooey mess.  Not a perfect symbol of Christ's resurrection...but perhaps a good symbol of how our lives sometimes go.... In fact, this quote by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland  in Sunday's session of General Conference especially touched me:

So today we celebrate the gift of victory over every fall we have ever experienced, every sorrow we have ever known, every discouragement we have ever had, every fear we have ever faced—to say nothing of our resurrection from death and forgiveness for our sins. That victory is available to us because of events that transpired on a weekend precisely like this nearly two millennia ago in Jerusalem.

Because of His empty tomb and the events leading up to it, the sticky mess I sometimes make of my life can be made right again.  Because He suffered and walked that lonely road alone, I will never be alone.  Because of His Atonement, my life has meaning and purpose and direction.  How thankful I am for Him!

The girls got Easter baskets from the Easter bunny.

My brother in law, Nathan, and nephew, Evan, came into town for conference.  They came with Nathan's brother in law and nephew, Alan and Pierce.  Michelle was able to go to the Sunday afternoon session of conference with them.  She was really happy about that. She told me that after conference a man sitting near her said she had inspired him to take notes.  He hadn't been, but he saw her taking notes in her journal and asked his wife for paper so he could take notes.  She is a pretty good note taker.  And she loves conference!  She has been able to go to the Conference Center for conference at least 4 times now.  

That evening, my aunt Elaine, my grandpa, my sister Suzy, Nathan, Evan, Alan and Pierce all came to our house for dinner.  I enjoyed visiting with everyone...but totally didn't take any photos.  :(  Unfortunately, they could only stay for about an hour and half because they were headed back to Canada early the next morning.  

What a wonderful way to spend Conference Weekend...spending time with family, remembering our Savior, Jesus Christ.  What a blessing it is to know that Jesus Christ lives again.   Elder Holland expresses it more eloquently than I can, so I will close with His words.

That first Easter sequence of Atonement and Resurrection constitutes the most consequential moment, the most generous gift, the most excruciating pain, and the most majestic manifestation of pure love ever to be demonstrated in the history of this world. Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, suffered, died, and rose from death in order that He could, like lightning in a summer storm, grasp us as we fall, hold us with His might, and through our obedience to His commandments, lift us to eternal life.

This Easter I thank Him and the Father, who gave Him to us, that Jesus still stands triumphant over death, although He stands on wounded feet. This Easter I thank Him and the Father, who gave Him to us, that He still extends unending grace, although He extends it with pierced palms and scarred wrists. This Easter I thank Him and the Father, who gave Him to us, that we can sing before a sweat-stained garden, a nail-driven cross, and a gloriously empty tomb:

How great, how glorious, how complete

Redemption’s grand design,

Where justice, love, and mercy meet

In harmony divine!¹¹

**I testify that I also know He lives, and I am so thankful for Him!!  What a blessing it is to remember Him and to have His help each day.

Spring Break--Part 2

On Friday, we went to the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.  It was our first time since it moved into the new building.  It's much bigger/nicer now.  I was able to get two free tickets since they did a presentation for our second grade classes, and I filled out an evaluation.  So I only had to pay for two of us.  It was a fun way to spend the day!

I love sea turtles.  I am not sure what it is about them, exactly, but I really love watching them swim and  I just think they are magnificent creatures.  Definitely in my top 10 favorite animals. 

I loved the South American room.  Toucans, macaws, poison dart frogs, and 3 gorgeous girls!

My girls were all very excited to see the penguins.  

The sharks were another highlight.

How did I get so lucky to be their mom?

Did I mention how much I love sea turtles?

This guy just kept swimming right around us.  Look at him, looking at us!

Don't eat us!

The otter brothers were all curled up, taking a nap.  That's often how I find my two younger girls...sleeping together, curled up in one bed.  Occasionally even Michelle is with them.

On Friday night, Alfredo and I went to dinner with our good friends, Jeremy and Stacie.  Then we all (kids included) watched Into the Woods at Stacie and Jeremy's house.

On Saturday, our cute neighbors joined us for conference.  Conference was just wonderful...and my kids are getting quite good at listening and mostly being reverent.  I bought them brand new journals to take notes in, they had packets from Primary, and we still did bowls of snacks that they could eat when they heard certain key words.

In between conference sessions, we all died eggs.

Then Saturday afternoon, we enjoyed the second session of conference.  Our spring break was nearing an end!  :(  But what a wonderful week it was!

Spring Break --Part 1

Spring break was amazing!   So needed.  March was a rough month for me for many reasons.  Really January through March have been kind of emotional and challenging.  So I was very ready for spring break.  More than ever before.  We had a great time.  Unfortunately, Michelle's spring break was different than ours.  We had a whole week off...she had the Thursday and Friday off with us and then had Monday and Tuesday of the following week off (she goes back tomorrow.)  Here's a run down of what we did:

Monday:  Went to my school for much of the day.  Then that evening we went APA to see one of my young women who was starring as Mrs. Potts in the school's production of Beauty and the Beast.  It was wonderful!

Tuesday:  We bought Waffluv and took it to Hunter Elementary to eat lunch with Michelle.  (Sorry about the poor quality of photos.)  Michelle was thrilled...and she generously let many of her friends try a bite of her waffle.  Yum!  Then Ella, Gabby and I went to the library.  After Michelle finished school, the girls and I and Gabby's friend, Sofie, went to see Cinderella.   It was wonderful!!

 On Wednesday, the girls played with friends.  I got things done around the house, rested, read, etc.  That evening, I was able to go out to dinner with my former Relief Society Presidency:  Susan, Jami and Heidi.  We had dinner at Olive Garden and enjoyed talking and visiting for about 3 hours.  It was wonderful!  I love those three ladies SOO very much!

On Thursday, we headed to Thanksgiving Point with the Wibergs and Denisons.  We went to the Museum of Curiosity.  The girls had a great time.  Michelle was especially happy to get to do the Ropes Course.  Sometimes I can't believe what beautiful, funny girls I have.

 Ella and Gabby really, really love to hang like a sloth.  One of their favorite things to do at the Curiosity Museum.

That evening, there was a Relief Society Game Night.  It was fun to get to visit with and play games with the women of the ward.  I am so blessed to be surrounded by so many amazing women!