On Sunday Hope, Ben and Emma were all baptized by my Dad. I remember being baptized by my Dad as a little girl and it was pretty cool for 2 of my kids to get to have that same experience. It was really amazing to get to see them baptized at the same time as their Aunt Hopi. I was really prepared for some crazy story to pass along to you, I mean really weren't you expecting a crazy story? Seriously think about it, Ben and Emma in a pool on a stage during church, something funny was bound to happen, but alas everything went according to plan and was ......perfect. It was special and spiritual:)

Ben practicing before the big event
Waiting patiently for their turn to come


It will be O.K , as long as I am with Grandpa seriously Grandpa, how long do I have to stay under for it to take?

The hopeful baptisees ( I am not sure that is a word:)

Easter was so much fun! After skidding into church 5 minutes late we headed back to our house for a fantastic Easter feast that we were privileged to share with some of our family. The bar-b-Que turned out great in the crock pot.... maybe next time I will try cooking it on a huge cookie sheet.

I did however almost completely ruin the magic of the Easter bunny for Emma. Emma and I were on a trip to Target when she started asking questions about Easter and the details on why we celebrate it. I seized the opportunity to explain because I did not want her going on Ben's explanation from 4 years ago( Ben thought that Easter was when the Easter Bunny died on the cross so all the children could have candy)As we near the end of our Spiritual discussion I am feeling very proud of myself for being able to adequately explain Easter to my 8 year old. She was asking questions and seemed to really understand the depth of the situation. I was caught up in the somberness of the moment when she hits me with this one " O.k Mom, what I don't understand then is where does the Easter Bunny fit into all of this" Being totally caught up in the spiritual moment I answered very honestly. " Well sweetie, the Easter Bunny is just something that someone made up just for fun" She looked at me in horror and said " What do you mean he is made up" For those of you who do not know how much Emma loves the Easter Bunny , let me explain. Emma could not sleep for a week before Easter. The thought of a magical bunny hopping into her room at night to deliver candy with no questions asked.... well there is nothing more Emma could ask for.After being up literally half of the night trying to act interested in what she could see in her basket in the dark and assuring her that I indeed do not want her to bring the flashlight and note that the Easter Bunny left for her in so I could see it... we finally made it to morning.

When I saw the horrified expression on her face I realized what I had said so I started talking really quickly. "Well actually the Easter Bunny made himself up along time ago because he wanted to bring the children candy........... she still looks confused....... because they were sad that Jesus died." Her face relaxed and she looked pleased and said" Wow the Easter Bunny is nice" Crisis averted....Why do I still not feel like I won that one?

They are supposed to look like little bunnies digging in the grass....... they were delicious

Our Easter cupcakes

Emma on Easter morning.....very much being a lady:)

Seriously.... he was two last week...what happened

Ben is trying so hard to smile

Jonnie and I

I told them they could do a crazy picture.... I think Jonnie is embarrassed

Emma and I

My Ben and I




Beautiful cousins

crazy girls

Daddy and I

Ben's apology

Ben has had a rough day today being respectful. There has been some whining,arguing and overall frustration. I finally had enough and banished the offender to his room. After spending some time thinking about his attitude, he emerged with a written apology writtn in poem form. I don't remember the last time a poem melted my heart like these two poems did.

I AM SORRY

I am sorry will you forgive me?

I am sorry skippidi do da dee

I am sorry ,I love you

I am sorry , you are not like poo

I LOVE YOU

I love you, you are the best

I love you ,I am sometimes a mess

I love you , you are awesome

I love you, you are nothing like a possum

Time For Easter Eggs!!!

Well, we spent the afternoon makeing the most beautiful Easter eggs that this house has ever seen. We gathered all the neccessary supplies, 5 colors of easter egg dye,glitter, glue, stickers, egg dippers,egg drying board,and 5 exctied artists. Hope joined us and we all created beautiful art on hard boiled eggs!

The artists at work

This egg was probably all of our favorite!