Easter

 This year for Easter my dad was in town.  He had gotten tickets to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform the Messiah on the Friday before Easter.  I was planning on going with him, but unfortunately his plane got delayed and then delayed some more and he ended up not getting here in time for the show.  It was quite sad.  But I found a friend to go with me...we didn't want to waste the tickets!  I'm so glad that I went.  It was amazing. 

 The temple is always beautiful.  The spring flowers are coming up.  I love this time of year!

 My friend Robyn and I taking an awkward selfie while waiting in line to get in.  

We sat in the upper seats and had a perfect view of Rob's aunt Bonita the entire show.  It was so good.  I love it!

Anyway, my dad got into town and stayed with his parents the first night and then came to our place for the next two nights.  So on Easter morning the kids had an egg hunt in the backyard and then we got ready for church.  I thought we could get a picture really quick before church...my family did not agree:

Ha ha.  That is the best we got.  Oh well.  My hair was still wet anyway.  Maybe next year!

Here are the kids all ready to find Easter eggs!

And they're off!

It's always fun watching the youngest figure things out.  

Emery was quick...and Sadie and Zac were even quicker.  I didn't get any pictures of them!

So cute!

So I made the girls new skirts.  I want one for me now!

And I made Riley this dress.  I bought Zac a new church outfit from Costco.  They were all looking pretty sharp.  

I'm so grateful for the opportunity we have to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior.  I love this video that the church made.

 https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-00-1420-because-of-him?lang=eng

Because of Him, we can all be forgiven for our sins and live with our families forever.  

Warm weather

 We had some warmer weather in Utah for a couple weeks (as i'm typing this though, it is snowing outside!) so the kids and I took advantage of it and played outside a lot and went to a couple parks.  It was fun.

 Sadie loves helping Riley, she doesn't always like the help, but today she did. 

 The kids always love rolling down the hill.  It's a very small hill.  ha ha.

 Cute Riley will swing all day if I let her.  

 Sadie got a kite at school (she won a mystery prize in her class and this is what she chose) so we took it out to the park that day because there was a nice breeze.  She did great!  She kept that kite in the air for a long time!

 I had to go help Riley who had wandered off onto the playground but every time I looked over at Sadie I was so proud of her.  She seemed so grown up flying that kite all by herself!

 Of course we had to spend time on the swings.  Emery had been sick so her picture is mid-cough.

 These two are good friends.

They spent the whole time playing together.  I love it!

Sweden and an egg bash

 One day I was looking through a cookbook by Ree Drummond, and I came across a recipe for Swedish meatballs.  For some reason they looked really yummy to me and I knew that my parents were coming over in a couple weeks.  My dad served his mission in Sweden so I decided to make them while they were here.  I also asked my dad to bring some stuff that he got from Sweden while he was on his mission and share an experience from his mission with us.  It turned out to be a fun evening.  And I really enjoyed the Swedish meatball too!

 My dad brought some hard bread with him,which I grew up with, but he showed us how they eat it in Sweden.  It was really yummy.

 Say "Swedish meatballs!"  My dad actually said he had never had meatballs prepared that way in Sweden.  Ha ha.  Oh well.

 The kids with grandpa wearing his warm hat.

After the mission presentation, we had our Egg Bash.  It was close enough to Easter that we thought it would be ok to do it a few weeks early.  Here are the kids with their eggs:

 Riley even got in on the action.  It was fun.  Zac won the kids division.  Emery was pretty sad about that.  She wants her own "egg trophy".  And we don't have a picture of it, but I won the adult bracket.  Woot woot!  I used my angry bird egg and it proved to be a good choice. 

This video makes me laugh...Sadie's dramatic fall to the ground near the end and Riley dancing around.  Fun memories!

Grandma and Grandpa came!

 My mom and dad came to visit from Arizona to see Sadie get baptized.  It's always a great sight to see their red truck coming down the street:

 Yay!  They are finally here!

 The kids are always very "helpful" unloading their truck.  :)

 Grandpa put this on Riley and she just stood there for a while wondering what was on her neck.  She didn't move.  It was funny. Must be comfortable. 

 Riley took about 2 seconds to warm up to my mom.  Then she was by her side the entire week.  She was really glued to her.  Every time she ran downstairs Riley was sure to follow.  It was pretty cute.

 On Wednesday morning I let the kids stay home from school so we could walk through the Provo temple before it is dedicated.  It was beautiful and I think the kids really enjoyed it.  I know I did and I think my mom did too.  My mom took a picture of me with the kids in front of the temple.  I'll have to post it after she sends it to me.

 It was such a good morning.  And we got there before it was too crowded.  I have heard that the lines gets really long toward the afternoon. We timed it perfectly.

 After the temple, we went to the Bean Museum.  Of course, it was only about 9:30 and it opened at 10, so I took the older kids on a walk to explore where I used to spend a ton of time at BYU.  

 We walked down by the bell tower and found some duckies. 

 Then the museum opened so we explored for a little while.  It has changed a ton since the last time I went there.  The beetles display and the butterfly display were pretty cool.

 Then we rode the elevator to the second floor.  This is how the kids ride in elevators. Silly kids.

 Then we went to the Creamery over by where DT towers used to be.  We ate our picnic lunch and then grandma treated us to ice cream.  Thanks!  IT was delicious.

 Then we got home and took some time to relax.  Of course Riley fell asleep on the way home and then didn't want to nap.  

Like I said, Riley was glued to my mom the entire week!  ha ha

Sadie's Baptism

 Sweet Sadie was baptized yesterday.  We were fortunate enough to have friends and family who love her there to see her get baptized and we missed everyone who couldn't come!  She has been so excited and nervous for this day.  She kept asking Rob to practice with her so she didn't get scared.  On the day before her baptism we went to the Oquirrh Mountain temple to take some pictures of her in her white dress.  I love how the pictures turned out.  She is so beautiful inside and out and we are so proud of her decision to be baptized. 

 Just a family shot before we headed out to the baptism.

 This is us practicing for when we go to Disneyland.  Arms up!!

 Grandma and grandpa with the kids.

 All of us at the church.  

 I think they were pretty done taking pictures at this point...but I forced them to take these.  :)  I love these two!

Thank you to everyone who supported Sadie on her special day whether it be in person or in thought.