Easter Weekend

On Saturday afternoon I got a great idea from my brothers friend, Rich, to do a midnight Easter Egg Hunt. I love the idea and went home to prepare :)

I took pictures of all of my hiding spots....
.while it was still light.

Then made my clues....

Later that evening we colored Easter Eggs with the kids. This was the first year that both of my kids decided that they were too old for the city Easter Egg Hunt :( I'm glad that they still enjoy coloring eggs....them growing up is the pits! It totally kills all of my fun ;)

Then....after they went to bed, around 10pm, I went out into the neighborhood to set up my midnight Easter Egg Hunt. At a little after midnight Joel and I went into their dark rooms and woke them up with flashlights shining in their faces....it was hilarious! WAKE UP, IT'S EASTER MORNING!

They didn't think it was as funny, it took them both a minute to really figure out what was going on. I told them it was payback for the 3am Christmas mornings they like to pull on us ;)

The pictures aren't great, it's really hard to get good pictures when it's so dark. Joel and I just set on the porch and laughed, it was fun and totally worth all of the work I put into it. I had them running from one of the neighborhood to other...back and forth, back and forth.

At the end they were thrilled with what they got for Easter and their still talking about Mom's crazy Easter Egg Hunt. Joel and I were thrilled it was out of the way and got to sleep in until it was time to get up and get ready for church :)

Later that morning both of my kids surprised me with little written notes about what Easter really is all about, not candy, bunnies, and eggs, but about how the Saviors died on the cross to atone for our sins and, because he died, we shall all live again.

It was an amazing surprise and they both did an amazing job!
Their notes made my heart smile and brought tears to my eyes :)

After church we drove to Bountiful for an Easter/Birthday Party at my Mom's house.

This year my Mom's birthday fell right on Easter day. Earlier that week Christi and I took my Mom out and spoiled her for her birthday. We started the day with a hair cut and color, then lunch at Cafe Rio, and then clothes shopping. Other than the fact that Susie wasn't able to be us, the day was perfect. We missed Susie, but understood that she didn't want bring both kids to a salon and shopping.

The kids enjoyed the annual Easter Egg Hunt at my Mom's and were spoiled with lots and candy, toys, and an iTunes gift card.

Happy Birthday CrAzY Grandma, LOVE YA!

I am thankful for....

MY SUPER-D-DUPER WONDERFUL HUSBAND, JOEL!

Last night was one of "those" nights at our house. Around 12:30 Ky came into our room and woke us up - Mommy......Daddy......I've got an upset tummy :( Joel immediately got up, gave her something to help settle her stomach, and went to lay by her before coming back to bed. It wasn't 30 minutes before she only made into the hallway throwing up....YUCK! Her dad was right by her side in seconds and totally took over before my panic could even begin to set in. I'm not sure what I would do without him being able to step right up and help the kids when they are sick.

Not once, in the 17 years I have known him, has he gotten upset or frustrated that I CAN NOT deal with throwing up - at least to my face, he must hide it well ;) He has always been willing to do anything possible to make sure both the kids and I are okay. Joel ended up spending the rest of the night in her room by her side, she was SO sick. Without me even asking him, he came and into our room around 4am, and told me he would take the day off and stay home with her. It was a HUGE relieve for me. Not only would've I have had to call either my Mom or my Mother-in-Law to come over to stay with us, but I also would've had to find a sub, on very short notice, for my FAME classes that I teach at the school on Wednesdays.

Phobia's are a strange thing. A phobia (meaning "fear" or "morbid fear") is defined as a persistent fear of an object or situation in which the sufferer commits to great lengths in avoiding despite the fear, typically disproportional to the actual danger posed, often being recognized as irrational. In the event the phobia cannot be avoided entirely, the sufferer will endure the situation or object with marked distress and significant interference in social or occupational activities.

That pretty much sums up how I feel about people throwing up....having the fear sucks, I hate it, it's awful! I get that it is totally irrational, but at the same time I can't do anything about it. I'm not sure how, when, or why it started, I know I was very young because I can't remember a time in my life that I didn't have the fear. I guess it is what it is, and I'm very thankful to have such a support husband.

Thank you Joel! I love you SO much and appreciate you more than I can ever put into words!

Friday Confessional. . . .

1. I confess that my husband has an addiction. I have mine...my Kindle, and he has his...the XBOX.


The Australian comedy group, Tripod, has made a song that's all about my Friday nights :) It's very funny, and, sadly, very true! It's good to know that there are others ladies out there that live in my world :)

Joel, a.k.a. Coda Zoda, and a few of his friends...FirstBlood, The Don Mega, Mattazor, The Jackson, and Money Maker (their names in the land of Modern Warfare 2), meet online to every Friday night, at approx. 10:30, to play Modern Warfare 2 on the XBOX....I'm not sure when they stop playing, I've never been able to stay awake until Joel comes to bed --- I'm upstairs...reading a book...and fall asleep, lol.

I like to tease him about it, but it's really not that bad. He has his XBOX nights and I have my GNO's, although now that I think about it, it's not once a week.......Hmm, I might need to work on that ;)

I'm in love with Kin.....a.k.a. My Kindle!

I've waved the white flag....surrendered....and I have officially joined the club: Welcome to Kindle addicts - not Kindlers anonymous because none of us actually want to be cured!

I came across this article today that pretty much sums up how I feel about my kindle.

Dear Awesome Kindle,

I don’t want to embarrass you, but you spoil me. Every morning, there you are, waiting patiently on my side table with the latest edition of the New York Times. When I hear about a new book on Twitter - BAM – you deliver within minutes. And if my son forgets his book at school? No problem, you say, I have a copy for you.

Admittedly, my wallet hates you. Really, really hates you. Since you came into my life a year ago, my book purchases have skyrocketed. In the two years prior to you, I estimate my total personal book purchases to be around fifteen. However, in the past year I’ve purchased – gulp – eighty-five books. Ummm, yeah. Looks like you’re now competing with iTunes as my biggest money-spending enabler. Thanks.

You make traveling more enjoyable. I can slip hundreds of books in my handbag and not have to worry about how to make all of them fit. This is important since Bug and I like to travel with carry-ons only as much as possible. Oh, and thank you for letting me download books without leaving the beach or woods or where ever I am.

But the best thing? My reluctant reader boys love you too. They spend more time reading with you than with a paper book. Even better, because you sync to my iPhone, I can get them to read in random places – like in line at the grocery store or huddled under an umbrella at their sibling’s lacrosse game. They never have an excuse to not have a book with them!

Still, people tell me you’re bad. That you’re going to ruin publishing. That paper books will cease to exist all because you’re so damn threatening.

Maybe they’re afraid because you’re like a drug pusher – always there with the newest, latest book tempting me to try it. Just try. Here, have a little sample. Oh….you like that, don’t you. I know you do. Click the button. It’s only $10.99. C’mon, what’s one little click between friends?

Yeah, sometimes I wish I could forget about you and go back to lugging huge tomes around. I wish my boys still turned up their noses at books. But mostly, I wish I didn’t buy so many books, because clearly, that is the demise of publishing.

Sincerely,

Dawn

I love that if I finish a book at 11pm, I don't have to wait for Barnes & Noble to open in the morning.....nope, it's just one little click and moments later I'm back onto a new adventure! I just need to try to remember that all of those little clicks surely do add up fast! I got my Kindle in February and since then I have bought...and read...41 books. YIKES! Anyway, now I have wasted way to much time on this blog post and I'm starting to have kindle withdrawal already ;)

The Secret Garden

Yesterday, after lunch at Burger Bar --YUM, the four of us went to see Ry's friend, Emma, perform the lead in the ballet of "The Secret Garden". She did an amazing job! Emma is a very beautiful and talented dancer!

Afterward when she came out of her dressing room, Ry went leaping and bounding down the isle to see her...showing off his own ballet skills. She was tickled to see Ry and his family there and she thought Ry's show of his own ballet skills was hilarious :)

'Secret Garden' ballet blossoms at Egyptian Theater

OGDEN -- Sneak away to "The Secret Garden" with Mary Lennox and her friends in a ballet version of the classic tale. Imagine Ballet Theatre dances the story at 7:30 p.m. April 15, and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. April 16, at Peery's Egyptian Theater. Mary will be portrayed by three different dancers, beginning with Ashleigh R., 13, of Ogden, on April 15. Emma D., 12, of Roy, will perform at the matinee on April 16 and Catherine A., 12, of Ogden, dances in the April 16 evening show. Having young artists perform a classic children's story is compelling, said artistic director Raymond Van Mason, who choreographed "The Secret Garden" in 2005.

The novel was written by Frances Hodgson Burnett and first published in 1910. Over the years, the story has been retold in film and musical stage productions, but a dance version adds another dimension. "Sometimes dance allows us to communicate on a level that we can't communicate with words," said Van Mason, founder of the company for young artists and a former principal artist for Ballet West. The production follows the story of Mary, a spoiled child who loses her family in India after a cholera outbreak. She goes to live with her uncle and cousin in England, where she discovers a locked garden and forges new friendships. Utah composer Kurt Bestor wrote the musical score for the ballet and will conduct the live orchestra at the performances.

By: Standard-Examiner staff

Friday Confessional. . . .

1. I confess that I would probably get bored....or two busy....to continue doing Friday Confessionals every week. However, because I know that they bug my husband....I will continue with it faithfully ;) He said he likes when I blog about our life and what we do/did, but thinks that the "Sunday Sad Story" days are lame. If I had more time I could participate with Monday Memoirs, Tuesday Tattle Tale, Wednesday Wardrobes, Thursday Thinkers, Friday Confession, Saturday Surprises, and..."Sunday Sad Story", all of which I have seen done, well...except Sunday Sad Story, but I just don't have that much time to donate to my blog... However, I will ALWAYS make time in my busy schedule to bug my cute husband ;)

2. While on the subject of my cute husband, I confess that I am thrilled beyond means that he is a super fabulous computer programmer. He works as a back-end programmer for the classifieds on ksl.com and he loves it! His other passion, singing bright and early in the morning...which I have to say is just sick and wrong to wake up so stink'n happy every morning...would not allow me to live the life style I'm comfortable with. Even though I think he is VERY talented, he needs to stick with his day job lol :)

Ky told me that I needed to blog about her Dad's morning concerts - SO, there ya go Ky! If your Dad says anything....I'm sending him after you :P

3. I confess that earlier this week I went to see a Dermatologist and I think it's the beginning of a beautiful "relationship". I'll admit that I thought he was totally off his rocker when he told me that I needed to go two weeks without makeup....but I'm actually following his advice and using the stuff he gave me, I am tickled pink with the results! I guess he actually knows what he talking about....who would've thought -especially because he is SO young! After we finished talking about my not so fabulous skin, he asked Joel if they had met before because he looked very familiar. After asking the standard...where did you go to school...where do you work...he told us that he graduated from Northridge High School in 1996 - two years AFTER Joel and I graduated. It's awful getting old ;(

Monday Memoirs. . . .

MY TRIP TO ENGLAND!

During my senior year in High School I went with my FAVORITE cousin, Tami, and her son, Tori, to England for 9 days. Tami totally deserves the FAVORITE title - I'm sure it wasn't easy putting up with my sarcastic, know-it-all, 17 year old self!

The adventures I had on this trip are
memories that will last a lifetime!

However, because I went to England in 1993,
with a bunch of disposable camera's,
I have to scan all of my pictures in now....

I will finish this post tomorrow once my pictures are ready :)

It's 10:45pm and I hear my bed calling my name!

Update -- 12/12/2011 Yeah!! I finally got some pictures up!

Spring Pictures

Ry(12) is ready to be out of 6th grade and is excited for summer.
Ry is looking forward to going to Jr. High in the fall
Is Mom looking forward to it....no, not so much :(

Ky (10 in a month), is LOVING 4th grade and would stay in
Mrs. Smith class forever, if they'd let her.
Ky has really enjoyed being in her class this year :)

Friday Confessional. . . .

1. I confess that I am now a Pepsi drinker! I totally blame my brother, my in-laws, and the unreliable Coke machine at the school. However, I think I still crave the word Coke, totally weird, I know. I'll be at Maverick getting gas and think, "OH, I NEED A COKE!", but then after I get one....it doesn't taste right. Then when I ordered a Coke at Applebee's the other day, and the waitress said, "Is Pepsi okay?", I thought YES! It's preferred actually! So, I am a convert!

2. I confess that I'll cry if it snows one more time! I am so, so, so ready for it to be nice and warm, I'll even take HOT right now! I have big plans for warmer weather and I'm ready to get going on them. In the mean time, my warm weather "Honey Do List" is getting longer and longer - which I'm sure my cute hubby is just thrilled about ;)

3. I confess now that I don't have insomnia anymore I miss it! I used to get SO much more done around here. I wish I could go back to thriving on only 3 or 4 hours of sleep a day, but NO. These days, if I don't get at least 8 or 9 hours of sleep at night, I keep thinking..."is it nap time yet?" all day long.

Today's the day!