Easter!

We had a great easter with several different activites. We started out with an egg hunt with church on Saturday morning. Then Anna and I went with all the gals on my side to the BYU Ballroom dance show. Then we went to my parent's house to celebrate my Mom's Birthday. Sunday we focused on the real meaning of Easter. The kids were reminded of the resserection and the importance of it. It was cute to hear Anna telling Kate the story with paper dolls she was given in primary. She was telling about when Christ was in the tomb and then said "Kate look, he's gone, he is risen" Sunday after church we went over to Rand's family for dinner and another hunt. You can never have too much candy. Walmart had sold our of peeps so I was glad to get my fix over there. It was a busy weekend.Is Kater not cute kissing that bunny!
Sunday morning in Easter Best! They were pretty cute but didn't want to cooperate for the camera.



This is what Kate's hair looked like that morning. She looks so adult like with such big hair. she is too cute.
We colored eggs of course.
We came across the cutes bunny ever. We sure love her!

True wuv

What is true love to you? Tonight it comes in the form of "Mack's pillow soft snore proof, water proof ear plugs." Yes, ya heard right earplugs(get it? heard right? hehehe) Tonight we were down to about 3 drops of milk so Rand very kindly offered to go to the store to pick up a few things. The list contained some very important items in addition to the milk, like bread, light bologna, enchilada sauce... It was only when he walked in the door from his trip that I immediately shrieked "dang it!" to which he replied "what did I forget?" my reply? "Nothing." his reply? "what!?" it went on like this for awhile because Rand is one of those few great guys who I know without a doubt would turn right back around and go back to the store and get what I need. I told him I knew he would go and so that's why I wouldn't tell him because I didn't want him too. That's when he pulled out the trump card and said "but that's one way I can show you I love you." What's a girl to do. I need earplugs! You may be wondering why earplugs? Going swimming? No, as weird as it may seem I almost always sleep with earplugs, and no Randall does not snore. I have always been a very light sleeper, and now even worse with that lovely mother instinct that comes with the arrival of a child, It's like I can literally feel that my kids are going to wake up mere seconds before they actually do, and then I still hear them even with the promise of noise reduction up to 22 decibels. So, when last night I realized that Kate had attempted to eat my last pair and Rand offered to go to the store for me I said " No, it's all good, I'll be fine. I was wrong. I heard everything and awakened several times. One of those times was to little miss Kate who for whatever reason awakened in the middle of the night to kick her feet and "talk" for oh say an hour or so? I couldn't be mad, she was happy for Pete's sake but I couldn't go to sleep with her crib just one floor above me exactly over my head. Boy are those heat vents good at carrying her cute little voice and the kicking of her cute doggy slippered feet! Some women like flowers, some chocolate but tonight for me true love comes in the form of Mack's pillow soft earplugs!

You go boy!

The girls wanting in on the action
Part of the cheering section. Rand and his parents and ms. Kate of course
The proud boy

Last week Ethan brought home an invitation stating that he would be receiving an award at school and that we were invited to attend. I asked him what it was for and he said "I don't know." So we made a big deal out of it anyway. He received a great report from his teacher at parent conferences and was given the check of mastery on absolutely everything on his report card this time so we are really proud of him for working so hard in school. Sunday before he received the award we were visiting family and he said to his uncle "So... I'm getting an award at school...I'm pretty proud of myself". His uncle asked what it was for and he again replied "I don't know." He cracks us up. Well I think that we had the largest cheering section ever because in attendance was Randall and his parents, my parents, and me of course. Ethan prayed the night before that Rand would be able to get away from work to come see him receive the award. Well his prayers were answered. We were were really proud of him because he received the "Scholar of the Month" award for his whole class. It was given in front of the whole school in an assembly they do once a month. They also give a citizenship award but who cares about that? we are going for the big time here right? Just kidding. Good citizenship is also very important. Ethan was quite proud of himself. The funniest part was that my Dad saw that some other little boy was given some money for his award so my Dad quickly pulled out his wallet and gave Ethan a little cash. It cracked me up. Way to go Dad!

While I'm at it I might as well brag just a bit more about what a great boy Ethan is. He is very sweet and thoughtful. Last Sunday I sang in a group in church and when I returned to the bench he looked up at me and with all seriousness said "That was beautiful!" It was so sweet. About a month ago we were eating lunch and the garbage truck was outside getting the garbage of course and he said "Mom, I just said a prayer that the garbage man would be able to get all the garbage." He was very sad when Rand had to leave on his trip and cried and cried. When Rand had been gone for about 2 weeks I told Ethan I had talked to Dad on the phone and he said to tell him that he loved and missed him. I thought that would make Ethan happy but he burst into tears because he missed Rand so much. It broke my heart. At night I often tell him before closing his door that he is my favorite boy. I guess I hadn't said it for a little while because one night he asked "Mom, am I still your favorite boy?" I felt bad that he had missed me telling him and it showed me how important it is for me to express my love and admiration for him more often.

Way to go Ethan we are proud of you and all you do!

Australia /Asia in a nutshell

The hotel where he stayed in Singapore.
"The Browns"
Driving the sailboat, doesn't he look handsome? Do you see the opera house?

Rand has been home now for 10 days and we are so glad. He had such a busy trip and now has been crazy busy trying to get caught up with the work he couldn't do while he worked all day and all night while he was away. He loved Austrlia. The climate, the greenery, the people, the food-other than a bad rare cooked Kangaroo. He even got so see some of our greatest friends and fellow T-birds who now live in Melbourne Australia. He also got to do some sailing around the Sydney opera house. Wow! I would be jealous except I don't think I could handle a flight that long unless I were heavily sedated. He didn't however enjoy Singapore or China all that much because he somehow became violently ill and needless to say had to visit every bathroom that ever was. I said to him at least they weren't squatty potties, but I guess some of them were. Not fun. Being the animal enthusiast that he is though, he loved seeing exotic animals just out in the open just a few feet away from him. There was a park that he walked through in Sydney that had thousands of fruits bats up in the trees eating and the "droppings" from the fruit they ate would fall making it feel like it was sprinkling rain. He said the wing span on them was about 3 feet. Crazy. Apparently this is very normal. We hope he doesn't have to go back too soon, and for not as long next time.

spring hath not sprung

'You will see in the bottom picture a lovely scene of what my front door looked like a few weeks ago. As part of my spring cleaning I washed my door and made a tulip bouquet and was so excited to make a Spring statement. I think it stayed on the door for a day or two despite the crazy wind. I finally had to take it down and put it on my dining table because of the lovely weather we have recently been experiencing. I can't believe it is snowing!!! Randall is supposed to fly home to this tonight after experiencing Summer in Australia. That just may be a shock to the system.

I also had to post some pictures of my cute kids of course. The pictures loaded in a weird order but we'll just go with it. This was after church and I thought our little miss looked so cute with just her onsesie tights and and shoes. She was pretty darn cute for church if I do say so myself. I had them all wearing red for the week before Valentine's day so it's been awhile. She was going to try to help me clean. I have had to hide all the cleaning products recently because she is very into "helping" and she thinks that clorox wipes are baby wipes- not good.
Don't they look thrilled. I want to have the kids picture taken for Easter but I fear the worst since I think once you have 3 children it is nearly impossible to have them all looking at the camera at the same time, let alone smiling. We will see how brave I get.
I think this pose has becomes Kate's signature look. We don't ask her to do this she just seems to often do it. I think it's pretty cute though like she is deep in thought. Come on isn't she the cutest thing ever.
Here was my pretty Spring door. I guess it will just have to wait. :( Randall will be home in say 10 hours. I guess with the weather it would be safe to say his return will be like Christmas in March.

out of the loop

Rand has been gone 15 days and my computer has been dead! Needless to say I feel so out of the loop. I occasionally would check email at my parent's house but that's about it. We are so anxious for Rand to be home and sure hope that he won't be traveling again for awhile. We have done fine and the kids have done pretty well. I have certainly had my moments though where I had to breath deep to not lose my cool. I made a goal to not lose my temper and be patient with the kids and generally I have done well and am proud of myself. I certainly have more respect for wives whose husbands travel all the time or are gone for extended periods of time. I am proud of Rand for his hard work and proud of me for hangin' in there. 3 more days. We can do this!

Nursery a Go Go!

She went, she cried, she stayed, she has a new friend.

Today I was dreading the whole nursery scene. Rand took her and stayed a for a minute but she was crying before he could say "bye". I went in to see what was going on and just said she's just going to have to cry, I am sorry. Rand left and said she was hysterical. I was sure that she would be back in our arms in no time. We were very pleasantly surprised. When ten minutes had passed I went to check on her and she was just sitting in one of the male nursery workers lap completely content. I still wasn't sure that would be the end of it but by the time the last hour started she was still there and no crying!!

When I went to get her the workers said she was happy and had made a new friend. I guess as long as this brother was holding her she was perfectly happy. Hurray! I am so glad that it wasn't traumatic for her or the poor nursery workers. I am still worried that it's all a fluke and that next week will be a nightmare but wow am I so happy. When Rand saw us Kate gave him the biggest smile as if to say -I am so proud of me! Way to go Kate and hurray for nursery!