Easter Festivities

It's been such a wonderful weekend! We had nothing going on this weekend except an Easter celebration, and General Conference. It was really nice to enjoy some unstructured time together without any major plans. I'm pretty exhausted right now (as usual these days), so I won't write much, but I'll let the pictures do the talking. Here's what we've been up to over the last few days...

Hope you had a wonderful Easter too!!

Bucks Game

Last night, we had the missionaries from our church over for dinner and family home evening. Then we took them out for a special event... the Bucks game! Their mission president has been encouraging them to go to events like this to get out in the community, so we were happy to have them join us!

The missionaries really got into the game...

And they weren't the only ones! Haha!!!

This was the first major sporting event we have gone to with all the kids, so it was really exciting for them. And it was an AMAZING game... super intense! We were losing throughout the game, once down by 12 points, and then we came back to win. So fun!

If the Bucks score 100 points in a game, every person in the stadium wins something free from McDonalds. So we were just a couple points shy of each winning a free mocha frappe (of all things, haha!)

Final Score: 98-95 baby!

Woohoo!! GO BUCKS!!!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

We had a fun little St. Patrick's day party tonight, and I took a few pictures to capture our green dinner tradition. My parents sent some cute costumes and stuff in the March box (have I mentioned how amazingly thoughtful they are?!), so thanks to them, we really had a blast together tonight...

Here's the green dinner... (that mystery scary-looking goo is dyed applesauce with green sprinkles)

The kids loved it.

One of my pretty little Leprechauns!

This kid is SUCH a ham! Just like his Daddy!

Whenever I whip out the camera, he immediately makes a funny face. Haha!

The kids took a plate of cookies over to the neighbors... a really sweet older couple. We really love this neighborhood.

"Wait for me, guys!"

Yay! Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!

Ok... UPDATE: So I just wrote this post about an hour ago... and my how ironic life can be. We had this wonderful evening together, and then when I finally thought the kids were asleep and the day was done, I hear Jakey crying. So I went to help him, and picked him up, and he just threw up ALL over me. Ugh. Poor little guy. It looks like it's going to be a long night!! Isn't that just the way life goes sometimes?! Just when everything seems so great... life gets interesting. Well, I hope you have a more restful St. Patty's Night than us!

Princess Charity

Charity went to her very first friend birthday party today! She had been looking forward to this day for weeks. Her friend Brooke turned 4, and they put on the cutest birthday party. All the girls dressed up as princesses, they got to wear glitter in their hair, and make-up, and Prince Charming even showed up! (Brooke's dad was dressed up as a prince, and he tried the glass slipper on each girl.) It was so cute!

Our pretty pretty princess!!

What a fun party!! On the way home, we talked about how she really is a princess. She seemed surprised, but I explained that she's a true princess because she's a daughter of a King. We also talked about how pretty dresses, makeup and shoes are fun, but the most important attribute a princess can acquire is charity. It was really nice to spend some one-on-one time with my sweet little princess today.

Ohio!!

I had the opportunity to go to Ohio last weekend to visit my mom. She was rehearsing for a concert, so we got to stay in a hotel with her, and enjoy some time together. It was so wonderful to be with her. But I've decided I'm officially insane. I drove the all the kids to Ohio and back by my pregnant self... that's 16 HOURS people. It was pretty crazy... but sooo worth it. I just love my mom so much. The kids were a little out of their element, and they didn't do very well on the trip, but we got through it.

I also had the opportunity to check on our house that still hasn't sold after 9 months. Ugh. Paying 2 house payments, and 2 utility bills for that long is pretty stressful. It has been a great test of patience for us. But there might be some exciting news... I'll post more about that later. But while I was there, we just HAD to squeeze in a trip to the CAKERY!!! And the Goodwill Outlet!!! My two favorite stores in Ohio. But the best was when we went to our old ward in Ohio on Sunday!!! And it was so wonderful to see all my friends there, and all the young women I love so much. I'm just so grateful I had the chance to reconnect with everyone. There's such an amazing love in that ward. I miss them all so much.

Here are a few pictures of our adventures in Ohio:

So this looks like Charity and a new little friend, right? But... no, it's not. It's Charity and my son Jacob.
Benny was surprised to see his baby brother in a swimming suit! haha!

Yes, there he is. Now before you judge my judgement... hear me out... I forgot to pack his swimming trunks, but I had an extra swimsuit for Charity.. And I certainly wasn't about to pack up all the kids again after 8 hours of driving, and go buy a new one for him. Maybe if it were my first or second kid, I would have hesitated... but I'm learning you just gotta do what you gotta do sometimes!

And clearly, he didn't seem to care much. :) I called him Jakelyn. People in the pool made a few comments about what a pretty girl he was, until we finally disclosed that he was actually a boy. They thought it was hilarious.

Then we went to the COSI museum in Columbus on Saturday. It was such an amazing place. It's voted the #1 science museum in the country by Parents magazine, and it didn't disappoint. However, what WAS disappointing was the line to get in!! We waited for about an hour just to buy our tickets. But we just made the best of it. My mom is my best friend (other than my hubby), so there is no one else I would rather burn an hour with.

The kids had a blast!

Nana and Jakey

This is kind of an interesting picture. This exhibit featured real fetuses at different stages of development. I think the kids got a better understanding of what has been happening inside of my belly. Luckily, they thought it was amazing, and they weren't grossed out by it one bit.

My mother is the most loving, forgiving, and kind-hearted person. I'm so grateful my kids get to have her in their lives, and that we got to spend some time with her.

Our ride home involved a lot of praying. First of all, I don't know why, but leaving my mom this time was particularly hard. I couldn't stop crying for over an hour. I think it just hit me that it will be a while before we get to be together again, and I really miss her so much when we're apart. So the kids started praying for me in the back seats... I think they were concerned that I had completely lost my mind.

Then when we got just outside of Chicago, we started fishtailing on the freeway, so I quickly took the next exit and pulled over. Unfortunately, I pulled over at the WORST possible area according to a few people who stopped and tried to help. They all said it was very dangerous, and suggested that we get out of there as quickly as possible. So we locked the doors, and prayed some more. Then I called Mr. Wonderful and he helped me arrange for a repair service through our insurance. But while we waited for the repairman to come, 3 of the 4 kids needed to go potty of course. But I didn't feel right about getting out of the car, so I distributed a few of Charity's pull-up diapers. (Like I said, you just gotta do what you gotta do sometimes! haha!) Anyway, after about an hour, the repairman finally came and took care of the tire. So lastly came a prayer of gratitude for cell phones, a good hubby who takes care of his family, and this wonderful experience in Ohio.

Home

Last weekend I went to Seattle for the memorial service for my beautiful Great Aunt Lenora. It was so wonderful to see all my extended family, and (as much as I love my kids) enjoy some time alone. I seriously didn't know what to do with myself on that airplane! No diapers, or pacifiers, or toys or anything. It was pretty weird actually. There was a mother with two young kids on the flight... and her baby had a really horrible time, he just screamed for most of it. How I felt for that mother!! I have a compassion now for mothers that I don't think I used to have. Not that I was judgemental before... I just didn't understand the way I do now. But I have to say, I was pretty glad it wasn't my kid this time. ;)

The service was held at this Methodist church where my great-grandfather was once a preacher, so it was special to have the service held at a location that was so significant to my family. And it was such a beautiful service. There were some wonderful tributes, my mom sang, "The Lord's Prayer", my brothers sang a duet, and my mom and I also sang a duet. I felt so honored to contribute to such a sweet service in celebration of such a lovely and faithful woman.

One of the greatest highlights of my trip was that I met my beautiful neice for the first time!!! She's only a few months old, and I was so thrilled to meet her!!

So here she is... my neice Belldandy:

Haha!! ;) My older brother Joey has wanted a pet pig for as long as I can remember, so this Christmas, his girlfriend Tessa got one for him. She is the CUTEST, but she's probably as high maintenance as a newborn... or maybe a toddler, since she throws tantrums when she doesn't get her way. She's constantly making noises, she eats everything (including Ben's homework once), and she is SO smart! They've taught her all sorts of hilarious tricks. And I think from the messes, to the potty-training, and the talking back, they're getting a glimpse of what life will be like as a parent! Here a few more pictures of sweet Belldandy...

Isn't she adorable??!! Ahhh!! I just love her!!!

My little brother Ben, and I. Ben makes me laugh like no other... except my hubby.

Some of my family at at Chinooks in Seattle before the service.

From the left: My big brother Joey, his girlfriend Tessa, me, Dad, Boppa, Mom, Uncle Jay, Aunt Emily, Uncle Chris, Virginia, Ed, Megan, Peter, and Gabriel. And I love every one of them!!

So the first day of my trip, I felt so free, and thrilled to finally get a break. But by the second day, I really started missing my hubby and kids, and couldn't wait to get back home. So when I walked in the door, I got tackled my my sweeties, and then Celeste gave me this note. I am one lucky mommy.