Easter and General Conference

Easter baskets were hidden all through the house.  The kids ran around trying to find them Sunday morning and one by one made their way to the family room.  Luke was first.

 

Luke and Matt were both thrilled to receive Star Wars stuff in their baskets.  They had seen me collecting Star Wars things for a School Fundraiser Silent Auction Basket – so they were pleasantly surprised to see duplicates in their baskets.  Matt’s pretty excited about his GOODNIGHT DARTH VADER book which is by the same author as one he picked out for his birthday last year.  Luke was the most excited about his Star Wars Thumb Print Art book and the Chewbacca Pez!

Ryan got the Hobbit 3 on iTunes.  What more could he want.  Strawberry milk powder, and his favorite German candies and he was a happy boy.

We love Haribo Peaches – we got them ALL the time in Germany.

Katie got socks and make up and things. 

The kids have never had Pop Rocks so that was kind of fun – definitely an experience.  Emily didn’t love them and Luke seriously had a heart attack and screamed that they hurt his mouth (he’s overboard dramatic) but everyone else thought they were kind of fun.  Later when one of the kids was talking about the Easter Bunny putting things they each liked in their baskets, Luke exclaimed that the Easter Bunny did NOT know what he liked because he put those Pop Rocks in his basket.  Take note, Bunny.

 

This is the kind of pose I get when I point my camera at these two.  Love these teens.

General Conference was fantastic, like always.  New notebooks and our favorite fancy German markers and we were ready to go. My girls are extensive note takers like me.   Luke and Matt worked on their packets when Megan urged them to.  No idea why Matt decided to watch Conference with his football helmet on.  Just because.   We enjoyed all the talks.  So many favorites…

We had a couple of great devotionals this week learning about the Savior’s last week.  Lds.org had a great Easter video and slideshow of picture with summaries of each of the last days.  Then I found these in the New Era and posted them on the wall to help us remember throughout the week.  I just love everything you can find on the church websites for teaching.   It was a great weekend. 

Megan’s 10th Birthday

To celebrate Megan’s 10th birthday we gave her a gift certificate to American Girl in Denver.  Emily and I accompanied her to the store and had so much fun wandering and wishing we could get everything! We love American Girl.  I think she had a great birthday.  She picked out a flute and music stand, a kitchen set and a new hairdo for her doll.  Emily brought her doll along for the ride and got her ears pierced.

We invited some of our favorite families over for a BBQ to celebrate Megan’s big day.  We love these people – The Egberts, Cooks, Russells, Jacksons, Hales, Campbells and Richins.

Megan shared her celebration with Lizzy Richins.  Double ‘Nothing Bundt Cakes’ for the birthday girls.

Journal Questions for Luke

I started a new responsibilities chart and finally included charts for those rascal boys of mine who get away with everything.  To get them excited I ‘re-used’ an old idea – Easter eggs filled with different treats or privileges that they get to pick from if they’ve done every responsibility on their chart that day.  The boys are THRILLED.  Luke pulled out ‘Journal Questions with Mom’.  I didn’t know how he would react to that, but when I explained that I would climb up and sit on his bed with him as he was going to sleep and ask him questions – just me and him – he was really excited.   He criticized my piece of paper as not being a real ‘journal’ but I assured him I’d transfer the info to my journal so we could remember it always.  Love this boys excitement.

1. What is your favorite food and drink: Brownies and Ice Cream – Chocolate Milk and Apple Juice

2. If you had enough money, what would you buy?  LOTS of Star Wars Stuff

3. If you could be awesome at anything, what would it be? Playing Video Games

4. When you are Ryan’s age, what will you love doing?  Playing soccer

5. What is the best part about being in our family?  Going on lots of trips.

6.  What is the worst part about being in our family?  We don’t have way more babies.  I wish we could have me as a baby again because I want to see myself because I was so cute.

7. What do you want to be when you grow up?  A Scientist, or a Doctor or a Fire fighter.

8. If you have a daughter, what will you name her?  Elizabeth.  If you have a son, what will you name him?  Luke Junior

9.  What fun thing will you do with your kids when you are a Dad?  I will jump on the trampoline with them and make big jumps for them.

10.  What will you do when your kids argue or make a bad choice?  I will separate them.  One will go on the Repentance Bench and then the other one will have a turn.  They will tell me they are sorry and tell each other they are sorry.

*** Something he was wishing for as he walked out the door to school this morning  – I wish that it would be Monday, then Saturday, then Tuesday, then Saturday, then Wednesday, then Saturday…