Two Future Moms

I think I have 2 future moms on my hands. It's amazing what they learn just from observing.

Halle also looks just like a little mom when she's feeding her babies a bottle or rocking and singing them to sleep. Too cute!

SAD FACES

I don't know...who has the better "sad" face?

Girl #1

Girl #2

Happy Easter 2009!

I just wanted to say Happy Easter to everyone. We woke up to beautiful Utah spring weather on this Easter morning...it was great! I got the girls all dressed up in their new Easter dresses...that I made, and they looked so darn cute! I felt very proud of myself. Clate wore his Easter sweater from last year. I guess that's what happens when you don't grow very fast, or if mom buys everything a size too big. Anyway, they all looked cute and we made it to church only a few minutes late.

Now that I'm in my 30s...I'm starting to understand what we are really celebrating on Easter. Not that I didn't "know" it before, but I'm understanding it more in my old age (finally). Anyway, I've felt very grateful lately for the plan of salvation, the atonement, and really every aspect of the gospel...and today, especially the resurrection of our Savior. I believe He lives, I really do. And because of that, we will live again after this life...and can live with our families if we so choose. Nothing in my life has brought me more joy than the joy I feel when I'm trying to follow Christ and His teachings and do the things that allow me to have the spirit with me. I read a quote a while back that I have made my personal mission statement. It says, "God's gift of joy is always worth the price."

Spring...are you back?

Oh, the signs of spring. When my kids start checking out the bugs on the sidewalks and digging for worms and seeing popcorn all over the trees, I know spring is on its way...and we all love it. It makes everyone happier, I think. Chloe is getting into the bugs now too.

Viva El Faro!!!

My General Conference weekend began on Friday morning with the beginning of our day-long mission reunion. Hna. Mask hosted a breakfast in the morning, an Hnas. luncheon in the afternoon, and then Pte. Mask gave a fireside that evening. I can't put into words how incredible it was to see all those missionaries again. We had been planning this reunion since last October conference and we had a really great turnout. I would have to say my favorite part was the hnas luncheon. There had to have been at least 25 or 30 of us there...and it was just wonderful to see so many of the greatest women I've ever met all in one room. Even my "mom" was there and I hadn't seen here since the first mission reunion after the Masks came home. Just thinking about it makes my heart beat faster! It was really great. I was so busy enjoying everyone, I didn't take time to take pics. I'll have to get some from Fissa and post some more! After every mission reunion, I feel so blessed to have served with the Masks in Barcelona. I learned so much from them. I feel like I'm on a mission high again...and I love it!!!

Return of Winter...

We had been enjoying weeks of Spring-like weather and were looking forward to Adam's week of vacation so we could spend some time outdoors with the kiddos. As the week approached, however, we realized it wasn't going to be so nice...and instead of Spring, a return of winter. Adam couldn't handle the idea of staying around the house during a week of vacation, so he decided to take the family south to St. George for some biking and hiking.

The first day we stayed around the hotel and took the kids swimming; the especially liked the hot tub. Day two: We were lucky enough to get temperatures in the 60s, but the wind was blowing like crazy! We decided to bike up Snow Canyon anyway; Adam pulls the girls in one trailer and I pull Clate in the other. After about 45 minutes of feeling like we had parachutes tied to our backs as we tried to ride up the canyon, we decided to call it good, bike back down to the car and do some hiking instead. As much as the kids enjoy going on bike rides, I think they were happy about hiking.

We went to the petrified dunes for our hikes. Clate and Halle both found the rocks most facsinating.

Adam wanted to take the kids to the top of the mountain, but Clate didn't want to go, so Adam took Halle and I stayed back with Clate and Chloe.

Then, when Clate saw Halle and dad at the top, he thought that was pretty cool, so he decided that he wanted to go too. Dad came down with Halle and was nice enough to hike back up with Clate.

Day three: The next day we decided to go to Zion's National Park before heading back home. Come to find out, we could have spent a week at Zion's...there is so much to do there and it is absolutely beautiful!!! We chose to hike up to Emerald Ponds...an easy hike the kids could handle. Halle insisted on hiking all by herself; she didn't want any help, even climbing up big rocks.

On the way back, Chloe was ready to walk by herself as well...but she wanted to walk with her hands in her pockets. Halle tried to hold her hand at one point and Chloe got very mad! She just wanted to walk by herself.

If only they were always so loving...