Florida

The kids and I came to Florida to visit family on Tuesday. We live about as far away from them as possible in the U.S. so we had to take three flights to get here, making our travel day over 15 hours. I know our trip to China next month will make this one look like a breeze, but traveling with two little ones on your own is never easy. I do have to say that the kids were amazing. Ethan was a huge helper and people kept commenting on what a great big brother he is. He would let Ella lay on his lap and he'd tickle her back. It was so sweet. They thought they were so big when they got to sit in there very own row. Ethan would read the flight information pamphlet (or atleast read the pictures) and then tell Ella about the rules as she dipped her airplane cookie in her water. It was adorable. We left home at 9:30 in the morning and climbed into bed in Jacksonville around 3:15 AM the next day (including the three hours time difference). I was thankful that we were blessed with safety and that the kids were so patient. We have been in Florida for about a day and half and we are loving it. We got to meet Amy's baby, Lola, for the first time. She is the sweetest thing ever. If I had babies that good, I'd be having a zillion. Ella was sad last night when it was time to go to bed. She kept saying she wanted to ride a fast bike to go find her house so she could see her daddy. We are planning on going to the zoo and the gator farm so Ella will love it. I'll post all pictures when I get home to my new computer.

Spring Tea Party

There's really no better way to celebrate the first day of spring than with a tea party. Renae, Marinn's mom, has a friend visiting from Spokane so they invited us over to meet her and her darling children with a little tea party! Ethan had the day off school so he was forced to come along. I had a pink shirt and tie picked out for him- but he REFUSED!!! Oh well. Renae had little treat boxes for the guests and darling crowns for them to wear. It was really fun to meet Renae's friend, Holly- I've heard so many great things about her. Thank you for a wonderful spring luncheon. You gotta love this picture- three out of the four kids aren't looking at the camera. Cheers!

St. Patrick's Day

On the morning of St. Patrick's Day, Ethan woke up and looked out the window- looking for leprechauns. He said if you catch a leprechaun then you get to keep his gold. It was cute to see Ethan keep checking the window as he got ready for school. After school I asked if he had found one yet... nope. While he was at school I went and bought a leprechaun hat. I tried to find some gold chocolate coins, with no luck, so I settled for Lucky Charms. I put the hat on the fence. Later that night I told Ethan that I saw a leprechaun hop over the fence, I told him to check the backyard for tracks. Ethan saw the hat on the fence. Then he said, "I'm a little bit scared of leprechauns." I had tucked one of my gold belts behind the couch and I said, "Ethan, he left his belt here too!" Ethan wouldn't get off the couch to get it, he was too nervous. I was so worried that I was going to give this kid nightmares about some crazy leprechaun jumping in his window at night that I told him I was teasing him. I gave him the lucky charms and he was over it. So funny. Oh well- Happy St. Patty's Day.

Happy Birthday Kent

Kent turned 30 this year! Let me take a minute to put some words down about how important Kent's life is to me. He has been taught the correct principles and values and let those lead him throughout his life. I am thankful to have a husband like him. Of course, there are things that drive me crazy but I wouldn't trade him for anyone else. He is so good to me and good for me. He is an example to me of patience and goodness. He has taught me so many things in the years that I have known him. I have a lot of respect for Kent. He makes me want to be a better person. He is is major part of my happiness. I am glad that he is in my life and that he is the father of my children. I am grateful to know that I am sealed to him forever and that we will never have to be apart. Marriage has been harder than either of us ever thought it would be, but he is worth it to me. I love him so much and I am honored to be his wife. Happy Birthday Kent. I love you!
I love this picture- Kent is no longer interested in blowing out the candles, Ella is mad that she can't reach the candles and Jory is finishing off the candles! Awesome.

Going out in Style

We are home from our weekend in Vegas. We had such a great time full of fun activities. We were sad not to be able to meet up with our friends that live in Vegas, but we were on the go the entire time. Although our cougars didn't win the game we saw, it was fun to be there and cheer them on. As we all know, Vegas is famous for the buffets. We took advantage of that, and ate more than I ever thought possible. We hit the breakfast buffet- twice- and a Brazillian buffet that had NEVER ENDING meat supply. It was divine.
We went on a couple thrill rides including the Big Shot on top to the Stratosphere. The roller coaster at the New York New York hotel about killed us all. Kent said, "I can't believe I spent that much money to pay for the worst head ache of my life." It was a lot of fun and the coaster camera caught a picture of Brent and Erin.

We did some shopping and saw the sights of Vegas. We went to see the show "O" and it was incredible. Our friends were very thoughtful about making the weekend all about Kent's birthday. Thank you for helping me celebrate Kent. He had a weekend that was perfect for him to celebrate that last few days of his 20's! Tomorrow is his birthday and there is no way anything I do will be as great as this weekend was.

Viva Las Vegas

We are dropping the kids at Reagran's and heading to catch a flight to Vegas with some of our friends. We are celebrating Kent's upcoming 30th birthday with a weekend get-away to watch BYU play in the March Madness tournament, see a show, stop by an all-you-can-eat buffet and maybe a dip in the pool. Have a great weekend!

Ethan's fun weekend

Last weekend Ethan had his friend, Benjamin (Kathy and Jory's son) sleep over. They have had a sleep over once before and had the best time. There are no little boys in our nieghborhood so are glad that Benjamin will come play with us! They made themselves a nice bed in front of the TV and we bought a new movie for them to watch.
The next morning, Kent and I had to run errands so we called Annie and her friends over to babysit. One of the girls is on the competition stacking team. The kids loved watching them stack these cups.

Giving Up Chocolate

My friend sent this joke to me in an email. This one is for Kent. Love you!

I was walking down the street when I was accosted by a particularly dirty and
shabby-looking homeless woman who asked me for a couple of dollars for dinner.

I took out my wallet, got out ten dollars and asked, 'If I give you this
money, will you buy chocolate with it instead of dinner?'

'No, I had to stop eating chocolate years ago', the homeless woman told
me.

'Will you use it to go shopping instead of buying food?' I asked.

'No, I don't waste time shopping,' the homeless woman said. 'I
need to spend all my time trying to stay alive.'

'Will you spend this on a beauty salon instead of food?' I asked.

'Are you NUTS!' replied the homeless woman. I haven't had my hair
done in 20 years!'

'Well, I said, 'I'm not going to give you the money. Instead,
I'm going to take you out for dinner with my husband and me tonight.'

The homeless Woman was shocked. 'Won't your husband be furious with you
for doing that? I know I'm dirty, and I probably smell pretty disgusting.'

I said, 'That's okay. It's important for him to see what a woman
looks like after she has given up shopping, hair appointments, and
chocolate.'

Engaged in the World

Elder Robert S. Wood of the Seventy said: “For too many, responsibility seems to end with hand-wringing and exclamations of dismay. Yet talk without action accomplishes little. We need to be vigorously engaged in the world. If our schools are inadequate or destructive of moral values, we must work with fellow members of the community to bring about change. If our neighborhoods are unsafe or unhealthy, we must join with the civic-minded to devise solutions. If our cities and towns are polluted, not only with noxious gases but soul-destroying addictions and smut, we must labor to find legitimate ways to eliminate such filth. … We have the responsibility to be a blessing to others, to our nation, to the world” (“On the Responsible Self,” Ensign, Mar. 2002, 30–31).

As I was preparing my visiting teaching lesson, this paragraph jumped out at me and stuck. It hits home at this point in my life more than ever. As we are in a town that has low test scores in the schools and high gang violence, we talk about the things that we wish were different here. This paragraph tells me what to do about it. "Do" being the operative word. I hope to reflect on this advice often as we decide where to raise our children on a permanent level. I am thankful for words of the prophets and apostles that give us modern day revelation that will give us peace in our lives. Questions can be answered if we follow the teachings of Christ. I am thankful for this message at this time in my life.

My sister-in-law, Kim, came back to have the rest of her dental work done. I am sad that she won't be coming back soon because I have such a good time with her. She is so easy going and fun. We stayed up until 3:30 in the morning just talking and talking. Although her trip was less than 24 hours, I am glad that I had some quality time (even it it is in the wee hours of the night) connecting and learning more about each other. Thanks, Kim, for listening. I am glad we are a part of each others lives.