McKenna's Blessing Day

McKenna was blessed by her daddy. I was told that she looked at him like this during the entire blessing. So sweet.

Here are all the men that participated. Thank you!
A mommy-daughter shot. I am so blessed to have her!!! I just can't get over it.
Derek asked us last night "what does it mean to be sealed". We explained that because Mommy and Daddy were married in the temple we are sealed or "stuck together forever". I am so thankful that we are an eternal family.

Blessing Dresses

McKenna was blessed on Saturday following my nephew's (Jayden) baptism. The hours before her blessing I put her in the dress that I was blessed in. Here is a picture of McKenna on the morning of her blessing. And here is the picture of me taken on my blessing day in the same dress.

I LOVED shopping for McKenna's dress. My sister, Laurel, described it as "shopping for a prom dress". I think it was better since she wasn't able to voice her opinion and I didn't have to worry about modesty issues. :) There were so many dresses to chose from, but I fell in love with this one.
She looked beautiful! Dave and I couldn't stop saying how adorable she was.

Easter Sunday

I love Easter! I love the Spring weather, I love coloring the eggs, I love egg hunts, I love the candy, and I love the reminder to stop and think of Christ's resurrection. Here are a few pictures of our Easter this year.

The boys woke up and found their hidden baskets. Derek was a little sneak and found his before we were ready, so I had to rehide it.
I love looking at all the little girls in their Easter dresses at church and this year I had one!
Later, we went to my parents' house, ate dinner and my mom made an egg hunt for the kids.
Each child is assigned a color of egg to find. It makes it a little more organized and even. It's very nice.
Holy smokes! I have three kids!!!
We hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Easter Sunday!

Egg Wars!

Egg wars have been a part of my Easter traditions since I can remember. After coloring eggs two people smack the same side of their eggs together. Whoever cracks the other person's egg wins. It simple, but man it's fun...even for me still today. And what child doesn't love a parent that gives them an egg and says "here, break it". Derek and Taylor had wars last year and remembered what it was about. So they were pretty excited to do it again this year. Derek was ready to go as soon as his eggs dried.
Taylor lost that battle.


Taylor's egg was the ultimate winner. It was indestructible. Dave figures that it's due to the multiple layers of egg dye on it. Way to go Taylor!

I think Taylor was champion due to the fact that he got two hits in for every one of Derek's. But I'm sure we could both be right. :)

Happy Easter Eve!

Derek, Taylor, and I colored eggs tonight. (Dave won't go near them. It completely grosses him out.) We actually had a lot of fun and the boys couldn't get enough of it. I still love coloring eggs myself and it brings back so many memories from my childhood.

Derek is holding up his favorite egg. Hmm...surprise, surprise...it's blue. He's LOVES the color blue.

Taylor really got into it...literally. :) He colored each of his six eggs but wanted to color more. So he took those colored eggs and dipped them several more times in several different colors. He created some interesting colors.And here are his "incredible hulk hands" to show for it. He was upset when I washed most of the green off.

Neighborhood Egg Hunt

Our apartment complex held an Easter egg hunt on Friday night. The grass was covered in eggs! Derek was a little disappointed that they weren't really hidden well.
It was amazing to me that kids really do now how to pick things up fast. When we ask them to pick up their messy room they whine and complain that they "can't do it", but somehow when we ask them to pick up candy they make quick work of it. Hmm...


Here's a shot of some of their neighborhood friends.

McKenna obviously was not a part of the egg hunt, but I just had to add a picture of her cute smile anyway. This picture was taken that same day.

Happy 1st Day of Spring!!!

I am LOVING our Spring weather! I think going through a cold winter makes me appreciate these first days of warmth even more. I've already had 3 sunburns this month. The boys and I have spent too many hours playing outside. Well, they play with their friends and I chat with mine. :) Dave and I are in charge of the gardening around our apartment complex. I have never planted bulbs in my life, but the manager asked me to take on the project last Fall. I have been so nervous that my bulbs would fail and everyone would see my failure. So I was so excited to see the first of the bulbs to bloom! It's almost like they are my little babies.
Look how many more are coming up!
May this flower rest in peace.

Hours after taking this picture, it was pulverized by some little kid...petals strewn everywhere! Sniff, sniff. I've yet to find out which one did it, but that's how it goes living in an apartment. I have to release my attachment to these little flowers. I can't wait to see the tulips I planted! I will definitely plant bulbs again when I have a house of my own!