We've decided to move our family website over to Blogger.  I'll keep this one up with our pictures and blogs for awhile, but from now on we hope you'll check us out at the following address:

 

 

Update your links if you want or you can just click through from here.

 

Thanks and see you over there.

We had a busy and fun Easter.  We started off with an easter egg hunt, and then the kids enjoyed the toy the Easter Bunny brought while gorging on jellybeans.  After that was breakfast, and then we got ready for church.  I was in charge of the ward choir's Easter program, so I was busy all morning.  It went really well- the choir sounded beautiful and I felt it really helped bring the Spirit into our meeting.

 

The kids were given by treats by everyone at church- the music leader, the primary presidency, and their teachers, so the day was pretty much one long sugar rush.  I made Easter dinner for our family and our friends the Castos, and then we decorated eggs together before bedtime.  We ended the day with a suprisingly peaceful game of Phase 10. 

 

In other news I was able to visit my rheumatologist (arthritis-doctor) on Friday for some much needed help controlling my arthritis pain.  I got a shot of Kenalog in my wrist joint, which hurts A LOT but makes my hands feel so much better.  Now I can do things like open a new milk jug, sign my name legibly, or pick up Kyle without contorting him oddly in my arms.  It's amazing how you learn to appreciate the little things.   Sometimes I get so frustrated when I can't do something simple- and Emma tries to comfort me.  She'll pat my back and say "Don't worry Mom- Daddy's stronger than you.  You can't do it but he can." 

 

Thanks sweetie.... I feel SO much better now.

 

  

 

Today we celebrated Emma's birthday.  It's really tomorrow, but since tomorrow is also Easter, and we have Easter traditions we like to do, we decided she is young enough to think her birthday is today.  Maybe it would've been better to have one long day of sugar and presents, but we thought we'd split it up.

 

Anyway, the morning began with the opening of presents and the eating of marshmallow cereal.  Emma's Princess Party (and Knights- as most of her friends are boys-) started at 11:00 and kept us all busy.  We had ten kids ages 3-4, and they all behaved excellently.  We decorated foam crowns and shields, played "Pin the Kiss on the Frog" and "Slay the Dragon", ate lunch, opened presents, and had cake and ice cream.  For some reason I decided to make my own cake, and worked hard to duplicate a picture I saw online of a castle cake.  If you don't look too close, it turned out pretty cute- though I certainly won't be in the cake decorating business anytime soon.  In case you're curious, I baked two cake mixes in two 9x13 pans with a loaf pan cut in half for the top section.  The castle "towers" were made with wafer cones dipped in white chocolate and sprinkles, and the tower tops are sugar cones rolled in butter and hot pink sprinkles.  I used buttercream icing for the entire cake.  It sure tasted good....

 

So, a good time was had by all.  We are all exhausted and Emma has had a blast playing with all her new toys.  Tomorrow I have a choir program to run and an Easter dinner to host- so this evening is my day of rest.  I hope you all have a wonderful Easter!

 

Well, our family already knows, but for friends I am formally announcing that baby #3 is on the way!  Our little peanut will join us in October, and we are really excited to add another little one to our little family.  I am almost 13 weeks (3 months for the week-impaired) and feeling pretty well.  I'm blessed not to have too many pregnancy "symptoms"- just a lot of pain to deal with thanks to my rheumatoid arthritis.  Usually pregnancy helps supress it around 18-20 weeks, so I'm praying that will hold true this time, and that I can make it until then.  I had my monthly checkup today, and I finally got to hear the heartbeat, though it took FOREVER.  Baby was "hiding", the tech said.  I also got lots of blood drawn (I get this done alot) and the phlebotomist put this amazingly sticky band-aid on my arm that I will not be able to get off without ripping skin and hair along with it.  Guess that one gets rubbed off in the shower.  Or maybe I'll just leave it on forever.  I'm tired of pain.

 

Speaking of pain- Marcus bruised his sternum lifting his nephew over the wall in our backyard (not an exciting story-just fetching a lost ball).  After a week of me trying to convince him to go to the doctor, he finally went.  They gave him something for the pain, but that's about all you can do.  We sure make a fine pair.  We're a couple of cripples.  My hands hurt too much to lift things, and his chest hurts too much.  But the doctor said he should be good to go in 3-4 weeks.   

 

In other "news"- Kyle turned two and suddenly started talking.  He talks all day long and even though I can't understand half of what he says, I love hearing all these words pop out of his mouth.  I knew they were in there- he just didn't seem to care about talking that much.  But the neurons and synapses all fired at once or something- (like I know what I'm talking about)  And now- we have a talker!  

 

Kyle also suddenly learned how to throw temper tantrums.  I can't say, however, that I'm enjoying that new skill.

 

We are getting tile in our bathrooms.  Kind of a pain but it already looks SO MUCH BETTER than our old, yellowed linoleum. 

 

That's the news for now.  Have a wonderful weekend (I will really enjoy a Sunday off to watch church at home- won't you?)

 

Marcus' parents came to visit this week- Grandpa Steve and Grandma Lark.  They got in for dinner Monday night.  Just in time, Kyle learned how to say their names ("pop-pop" and "na-ma") and the kids had a wonderful time playing with them.  Kyle loved it so much that when Steve took a restroom break, Kyle broke down in tears, wailing "Pop-pop PAY!"  which in case you don't speak toddler, means "Grandpa play!" 

 

Tuesday began early.  Marcus had booked a tee time for him and Steve, and they were planning on leaving at 6:00.  It got postponed a little when Marcus took one step into the bathroom and said "Oh NO!"  (never a good sign).  Apparently the hose connecting our toilet to the wall had sprouted a leak and flooded the bathroom overnight.  We awoke to about an inch of water on the floor and into the carpet.  We got the water cleaned up as best we could, put a pan under the leak, and called a plumber.  After many phone calls back and forth (you're next on the list- he'll be there shortly- he's on his way) the plumber finally got there at 11:00.  He replaced the hose and valve, told me how to fix the carpet, and was gone.  So was our morning.  Oh well....  Steve and Lark met Marcus' brother Todd for lunch while my kids took a nap, and then we met them down at Todd and Amber's new house in Gilbert.  It is beautiful!  The gigantic backyard, the pantry, and her bathroom are to die for, and the decor- Amber's got a great eye for home decor.  We went to dinner at Amazin' Jake's- a pizza/pasta buffet with rides and games.  My kids had a blast and didn't want to leave, but it was 8:30 with a 45 min drive home.  Off we went.

 

Wednesday was busy- a trip to Walmart for the last minute preparations for Kyle's birthday "party", and then we went to the Dodgers-Brewers spring training game at Maryvale Baseball stadium.  It is one of the smaller facilities, and we got amazing seats for a great price- almost right behind home plate in the second row.  The kids had fun gorging themselves on treats.  After three hours, the game was only in the sixth inning, so we left.  We made preparations to celebrate Kyle's birthday- a BBQ with the grandparents and Todd and Amber's family.  We ate, the boys played Madden, Kyle opened his presents (with help from Emma and Ellie) and we had cake.  The younger kids ate all the frosting and none of the cake, and finally everyone was off for home and off to bed- quite late again.

 

Steve and Lark left early this morning.  We were glad to have them here!  Living far away means we don't get to see them often, so we appreciate them swinging by Phoenix on their Spring Break Southwest Tour.  I was hoping after two days of staying up late and missing naps that my kids would sleep in, but Emma woke up early and threw up all over the floor.  What a nice way to wake up- for her and for me.  She says she's sick but I suspect it's all the frosting and soda..... 

 

Now we are in recovery mode.  Crabby kids, new birthday toys to fight over- I mean share-, and oh yeah- ripped up carpeting to replace.....  I'm missing the fun we had already.