Easter and Spring Break

Easter this year we spent at my Mom and Dads' house. We had a great time even though it was rather cold. We went down Friday night and colored eggs. The kids had a ball and got really creative in their designs. It was a really quiet Easter. All these years we thought it was the kids who were so noisy when we were together but when Kristie, Camille and Debbie and Mark weren't there we were amazed at how quiet it was. Uh, I wonder what that means? HeHe. Really I am sure that it is just MORE people that make all the noise. So the Easter Bunny came Saturday morning and left all the kids too much candy. It was fun. They were very excited about it all and finding all the eggs he hid. Then we had a yummy breakfast, because of course my kids can't go to Grandma's and not have her Sourdough pancakes and berry syrup. Too tasty!! We also had little nests of hashbrowns and scrambled eggs. Then Grandma had put together an Easter egg hunt with TONS of eggs with all sorts of little surprises in them. And the Sun even blessed us by coming out the whole time we were in the backyard playing. It was a small miracle that we gladly accepted. The kids played Easter Tag and soccer and of course a "Squirt" fight. Grandma loves these cute little squirts and had given all the kids one and let them squirt each other, though Uncle Grin may have gotten the wettest. After all he is the funnest one to get. We enjoyed our traditional Feast of ham, smoked turkey, jello eggs, potato salad, fruit and veggies, and chow mein marshmallow nests for dessert. We enjoyed watching conference through all of this as well. Then much to our dismay the Pearce kids had to go home. Bob and Dad went to the Priesthood session while Mom and I took the kids to "Jump it Up" where they jumped on a whole roomful of trampolines. They thought it was great and we had ice cream when we got home. Sunday was VERY quiet with just us and Grandpa and Grandma but we really enjoyed watching conference and the kids even watched quite well thanks to the conference Bingo game they got in Primary.
Monday we woke up not feeling well. Dallin and I that is. He threw up a bunch of times and we both slept most of the day. The other kids thought it was great since it was Spring Break and no-one cared what they did. I checked the Wii at the end of the day and the total hours played was over 7. Now you may think that is a bad Mom moment but I thought it was great. I got to sleep off the "sickies" and they had a really great day. Tuesday morning we woke up to 12 inches of Snow!! What??? It was a freezing day to pack the trailer for our trip to St. George and we had to actually dig the trailer out to go camping. So strange. Then Wednesday we headed down to St. George, all very excited to use the trailer for the first time. We got there very late but had no trouble setting the trailer up. Unfortunately being first time users we didn't think to turn the heater on and all of us about froze to death. Needless to say the next morning and both nights we warmed the trailer up. It was so fun to have a place for everything and there was practically nothing in the van. Usually when we go camping we have to load the kids and then pack around them. Truly you couldn't even find them until we unpacked. Not this time and it was awesome! Surprisingly the trailer also holds SO much stuff. It was great to have hot water too to wash my face at night. Though I didn't sleep too well on the bed. Possibly due to pregnancy but we may have to make some adjustments before our Oregon trip. I thought I was being the best "Sharon" Mom the next morning when we were all freezing and made hot chocolate. Yuck! Never make hot chocolate out of Nestle cocoa mix especially with water, it was sick. So I will have to continue to strive to be as good a camper as my mom.
After the first night it did warm up though, and we completely enjoyed (ok mostly me) the heat and the sunburns (forgot sunscreen, give me a break it was snowing at home :). We hiked up the cindercone trail to the top of and inside of a volcano. All the "big" kids went on the three ponds trail through the sand (Ali didn't even complain), while Edyn and I played and sunned ourselves in the sand dunes. We went with the ranger on the Johnson Canyon hike. It was beautiful like a little oasis in the middle of the dessert. We saw rabbits, the kids got lizards and made caves for them, road bikes and scooters, and enjoyed being with each other and our friends the Morris' and Reads'. We also went into town to get ice (the fridge didn't work something we have to fix before the next time) and let the kids play in the town square water features. It was fun to feel like it was summer time. They got soaked and layed on the warm concrete to dry off. We dutch ovened Lasagna that tasted great but Edyn, Ali and Dallin had Ramen. I know weird kids. How do you get your kids to eat anyway? I don't know. Before we left for home on Saturday we went on a walk through the park with an Author of the book, "A Walk through the Park" a book about Snow Canyon. We even got a free signed copy. We talked about all the things we saw on the way and even saw a desert tortoise that a gal from the wild life refuge brought for the kids to see. It was great, and then time to head home. We had a great Spring Break and are now back into the everyday life.

easter outfits

It's a BOY

We had our "Big" ultrasound on Friday, and even though I have for years being saying that we had another little boy up in heaven who was waiting to join our family, I have to admit I was a little surprised. Last month, when we couldn't really see anything in the ultrasound, I have been convincing myself that it may be a girl. So we started to get used to the idea and even had a couple of names picked out,and a couple of dreams that it was a girl. So, when we saw the little bump between the legs I was a little surprised. Bob was elated!! Actually we are all very excited about it. Well, except maybe Ali who needs a bit to warm up to the idea. The kids were SO excited to find out. They actually got home from school before we got home from the Dr. The Dr. was behind so we went to the ultrasound first and then back to the Dr. office so the trip took a little longer than expected. Ali called several times to find out what it was, but we wouldn't tell her. We bought some Cookies and Cream Kisses that are wrapped beautifully in blue, and showed the kids the DVD from the ultrasound. They were watching and we said, "there you go" and Zach said, "It's a boy!" Ali teared up and tried to act like it would be ok. Dallin was jumping for joy and several times later that day said how excited he was, Edyn kept talking about her baby brother. It is all so very fun! It was great to see a healthy baby inside, and really I could sit there and watch him on the screen moving around all day. It really shouldn't be a surprise either since in the beginning I was craving Meat, yes me craving lots of meat. Weird I know. I also craved black licorice and potatoes, just like with Zach so I guess it was after all Always meant to be a boy. Watch out Debbie cause here comes all my baby girl clothes, so excited not to store them anymore. It is also telling that since January, 5 girls have been born in our ward, and of course we will have the Boy. That's ok though we will take him. We are thinking that we will name him Max. Amazing both Bob and I really like it, and you know how I am with names when they just "stick".

Last Friday I went to lunch with some lady's from our "old" ward. Lesa Pace was in town so we wanted to see her and had brunch at Granny Annie's. It was fun with Kelly Welker, Lynette Welker, Diane Christensen, Rena Bucad, and Becky Anderson. I had a great time talking with them all and miss the more regular relationship that being in the same ward affords.

Yesterday my nephew Mar'cus was baptized. It was really special. They got to do their "own thing" something our stake will not allow. So, my Dad gave the Baptism talk. I am so amazed by him. It was awesome and I wish we could have video taped it. I feel so VERY blessed to have the parents that I do who are truly AMAZING. My dad is such a spiritual Giant! Then my brother Brett gave a wonderful very sweet, heart felt talk on the Holy Ghost. My how lucky we are to be a family. I have great parents and great siblings and I am so thankful for them all. It was especially sweet as my brother-in-law Damian performed the Baptism, who he only a few months ago was baptized himself. Such a neat spirit, and so neat to watch the transformation of my sister who is, after a long time of being away from the church, trying to make things right and come back. It made me appreciate more the love that our Heavenly Father has for each of us, and especially those who have strayed and come back to the fold. Like my Dad said, It is so important for us all to take care of one another and help each other to always feel close to the Gospel and especially our Savior, for in him is our greatest joy and salvation!

March 15-28th Ali

Ali has been reading a TON lately and informed me this morning that she read 305 minutes yesterday. Not so sure about that, sometimes her sense of time is a little askew. Ali got a pair of shoes with "heels" for Easter and has had a lot of fun feeling and prancing around like a teenager. Ali and her friend Angela spend a lot of time together. They are VERY similar and people think they are twins so they have had fun dressing alike and doing their hair alike as well. She is such a good cleaner and the difference between her room and the boys room is astonishing. You have never seen such a straighter, neater bed for her, (or a sloppy, messy one for the boys for that matter). Thank heaven for little girls!! She already has her plan for what she is packing for St. George our Spring Break trip. She also informed me a while ago that she should always keep an extra change of clothes and Jammie's in the car "in case" she can go home with Millie or Grandma to spend the night. In addition to Dallin's "Save Energy" signs Ali has brightened our home with "Be Happy" signs. I really appreciate the constant reminder to Be Happy.

March 15-28th Dallin

Dallin has been working really hard lately to finish his reading charts so he can go to the party at the end of the year, and was very excited to get them all finished. Dallin's names for the Baby are Ferb, and Max. He may get his way with Max, as we all like it too. He has been playing outside as much as possible lately since the weather has been a little nicer. We have been doing warm fuzzy's this month in Primary as we talk about the Prophets, and he tries very hard everyday to do them. It is fun to hear what things he has done. Like holding the door open for a friend or playing a game he didn't want to because a friend wanted to. He was also such a trooper as we delivered flyers for the Anderson Fund Raiser we are helping with to all the ward members. He rode his bike the whole way and walked up to the houses to tape them to the doors. Of course he was rather slow but it was fun to watch him. Dallin has been insisting lately that he "dine" with his dad for breakfast and gets up at the crack, 6am so he can do it. Dallin also lost his two front teeth. His mom is sort of sad that she didn't get a picture of him with both of them gone, because the one fell out (finally) and with in two days it had grown back in, then he lost the other one and so has only ever been one tooth short. Dallin was gracious enough lately to help remind us save energy by making pictures of light bulbs and save energy to put above all the light switches.

March 15-28 Zach

Zach has grown up a lot lately, as has been manifested these last couple of weeks. He had a Spectrum reward party this last Friday, to which he had a wonderful time. It was a fifties theme. The kids all dressed up and they played old games. Here is the clincher though. Zach Karaoke'd, won the hoola hoop contest, and asked a girl (a friend from carpool) to swing dance being the first at the party to ask someone to dance. What? My Zach, the one who never wants to do anything that anyone might notice. I am so proud of him. Then he has also learned to play basketball. By this I mean no longer afraid to have everyone watching him. In the past he would get the ball and get rid of it as fast as he could. Now he plays so well and always tries to make a shot when given the chance. As growing up and "still sometimes struggling" with having any attention on me, I am so proud of him for coming out of his shell, so young. He is such an awesome boy and I am so glad that others will be able to see that as well. Here is a little insight as to what kind of a boy he is. His teacher at school during conferences has told us several times of different tasks she has given to Zach because she knows he will handle it well and be an inspiration to others in the way he does it. Such as assigning him a little GIRL as his first grade buddy, assigning him a special job of taking care of a friend in class who struggles with friends, and assigning him a first grade buddy who has special needs. He does a great job! Yesterday, Zach's Jr. Jazz basketball team won the 5th grade championship. They were first in their division and have been in the playoffs the last two weeks. Yesterday's game was probably the most exciting "kids" game I have ever seen. It was awesome. Our team came out and scored 3 points right away. Then the other team started scoring and held us at 10-3 for most of the game. In the second half we started to score a few more points but so did they. Then with only a few minutes left the tables began to turn. We were behind 3 points with about 20 seconds left to play when Braden, from our team, scored a 3 point shot. We were screaming and jumping up and down. Then with 3 seconds left the other coach called a time out which he did not have and therefore a technical was called. We put Braxton up to shoot and he made his first shot. We are now 20-19. We were so amped and screaming that they not let the other team get a shot or foul them in that last 3 seconds. They did it! They won. It was very fun to watch.