Easter Part 1

I went sort of camera happy this Easter so I will break this into 2 posts.

Grandma Rasmussen's annual Easter egg hunt happened a week early this year. And it did not disappoint!

Reese for some reason was more into collecting rocks than eggs.

And way more interested in the swings.

Easter morn was great. The girls woke up at 5:30am. Awesome. So then I made them stay in bed for another hour. We didn't wait for Reese to go downstairs and look for the baskets! He slept until 7:30!

Eggs a la goldenrod! (with bacon!)

The prince finally made his appearance and was pretty thrilled to find lollipops and toys waiting for him!

Sea World

For my dad's birthday this year we decided to do a trip to Sea World! My kids had been DYING to go there and my dad looooves sea life so it was a perfect choice! We also celebrated Grant's birthday since it was the next day. Get ready for 26 pictures!

This baby was my favorite entertainment of the day! Such a sweet sweet happy boy!!

We were all snuggling him all day. So fun!

Reesers really loved this sea lion exhibit.

Jolie was hands down the most excited person of the day! "It was my dream to go to Sea World!"

These 2 handsome boys were joined at the hip! Literally.

The braid girls.

Aunt Camille was brave and sat in the splash zone with the girls for the dolphin show! Luckily they didn't get wet after all!

One of the big kid rides.

Na and Grandpa, there was a lot of shoulder sitting going on that day!

Silly daddy

The Sesame Street kids play area was by far the biggest hit of the day for the kiddos!

Reese loved getting hit down by these big punching bags.

The birthday boys!

"This is literally the best day of my life!"-Jolie, "Mine too!"-Grandpa

More shoulder sitting.

Eating at Dine with Shamu

Lovely Camille

Jolie and the whale

3 feet from us!

Reese was not impressed with the food or the entertainment, such a butthead.

These girls LOVED it though!

At the Shamu show!

I think Reese's favorite animal of the day. He couldn't stop staring at the bears. He was convinced this one was stuck on this rock.

The whole group except Grandpa.

Forcing the boy to climb up to the play place. Of course he loved it after I carried him up.

After Sea World we ended the day in Old Town San Diego at a Mexican restaurant where they had some face painting. This is the only shot I have, I was pictured out by that point!

This was such a special day. I'm pretty sure we won't beat this any time soon. Is there anything more fun that watching your kids have the time of their lives? No way! Thanks Mom and Dad! We love you!!!

First of Many

The first of the Easter egg hunts this year! Some fun girls in my ward put this together for the little ones who aren't in school. It was also the first time Reese knew what he was doing! He really had fun! Although he certainly doesn't care about what's inside those eggs. Luckily he has 2 sisters who will eat those treats for him! Love my boy!

Spring, Finally!!

So all you friends in the East or perhaps in Utah or Idaho may not appreciate my griping about winter but all's I have to say is boo hoo to you all in your lovely big gorgeous houses!

Truly I hate the winter months. (OK maybe the fall too!) It is just boring, gloomy, and all the same! I want freedom and warm sunny afternoons and cute kiddos running around in bathing suits all day! I am a summer girl through and through. So today I am rejoicing. It may not be summer but spring is next best and the few short weeks left until summer have boosted my spirits!

Hmmm, I wish I had some fun news to share. It seems every time I click on a blog someone is announcing a pregnancy or wedding or a big move to somewhere new and exciting! We are all pretty much the same around here. No pregnancy to announce... Ever... No wedding to announce... Yet... (You know who you are!) No big move or big life change.

Reese just marched in my room saying, "He wants to play the ipad!"Then he unplugged it, hopped up on the bed and snuggled up next to me. Yep, this spring is gonna be okay!

Valentine's Party for Lucy

Lucy has been working so so hard on her reading lately that we felt we had to celebrate! She wanted a party so I bucked up and planned a Valentine's party for her and her 4 favorite friends from school. 

There were decorations.

A craft.

Tons of treats.

Valentine's BINGO.

And lots of cute girls!

(Mckenna, Lucy, Lilah, Katie and Caitlin)

Lucy was happy.

Love

I'm in love with this man.

Hope you are in love this Valentine's Day. It is wonderful!

Jonah Day

{If you know what book/movie the title of this post is from, we are true "kindred spirits"}

I'm feeling down in the dumps this week. I'm not sure what it is. I suspect the fact that its February, my least favorite month, might have something to do with it. It might have something to do with the monotonous days this time of the year provides. I feel like all I want to do is eat and shop, and lets be honest, the result of either of those 2 activities is never very pretty. (Read: fatter and poorer)  The motivation I had a few years ago, to lose that little extra weight, is alluding me. I am trying so hard to find that place that got me going, but all I see is cheesecake and In-N-Out burgers and I cave.

Landon commented that I was grinding my teeth in my sleep last night. That usually happens when I am stressed. It got me thinking of why I might be stressed. And as usual it is probably due to my worrying over the children. Worrying and motherhood seem to go perfectly hand in hand.

Will Jolie always pick such a rag-tag group of friends? What sort of influence will these strange little souls have on her good nature and desire to be good and obey?

Will Lucy catch up to the other 1st graders with her reading? She is struggling so and I am desperate to not have her held back next year.

Will Reese ever fully talk? Should I get him help for it? How? Why won't he potty train? Or play with other little boys? Is he always going to be an introvert?

When they place that new baby in your arms you really never imagine the heart ache and worry that you are going to be experiencing. All you can picture is a beautiful, rosy life stretched out before your perfect little bundle. Oh and how you want to protect them from all of life's pains and disappointments! It takes all of my effort to not pack them up and move them to some secluded little haven in the middle of nowhere where they would be safe. (OK, that probably wouldn't work either!) I guess all I can do is love them, support them, and offer them a soft place to fall when they hurt. 

Now I am going to go work out, get some endorphins running through me and hope it lifts my spirits. What do you do when you have a Jonah day?

Chinese New Year

Jolie has the best teacher I have yet to meet. Her devotion, the way she is over-the-top enthusiastic about teaching is so inspiring! Everything she does goes above and beyond, and boy does she adore those kids! She is Chinese and has never done this before but this year she thought her class was so great that they should put on a little parade for the school for Chinese New Year. She and the kids designed this dragon and marched around the playground, banging drums and cymbals and gave speeches about the holiday. They also chanted, "Gung Hay Fat Choy, Eat more tofu eat more soy!" (She is a vegetarian!) She painted all of their faces and I brought in the spray hair dye and we did all the kids up. After they had a party and she even brought in cupcakes for the kids! Who does that? Their class was the envy of all of the school, especially the other 3rd graders. How lucky is Jolie?? I will be so sad when this year is over!

All Work and No Play

I'm not a fun mom. No, seriously I'm not. Not only do I hate all things messy/crafty, I also seem to be the taskmaster of the house. I often feel like all I do is say no, correct mistakes and force chores and homework. Dad is the fun one. He takes the kids on fun outings, gets down and dirty playing with them, and loves to help them develop their creative little minds.

The truth is I'm a good mom. I cook healthful meals every night, I teach, pray with, and love my children. I encourage outdoor play and help them develop their friendships. I try to teach them respect, manners, kindness and responsibility. I'm not perfect at these things but I am trying.

I love the balance that Landon and I have. Together we make a great parenting team I think. I am OK with being the less exciting parent. My children will hopefully remember how their mother spent time with them by teaching them and listening to them and just loving them with all my heart. If they never get to play with playdough, or only get to paint or craft only when it rains, I hope they know they were loved. And adored. By a happy if OCD mother.