A visit from the Easter Bunny on Easter Eve!

Friday night, the kids put out a friendly looking chick, a few carrots and lettuce to welcome the Easter Bunny to our home.  The next morning, we had a fun visit from the Easter Bunny!   

General Conference Weekend

When I first told the kid this was General Conference weekend, I got lot's of moans and groans--having to sit through 2 days of a total of 8 hours of listening to church speakers!  I didn't like how the kids felt towards General Conference.  This should be something they look forward to.  I understand they are just kids and listening to each speaker can be overwhelming.  Let's face it, the kids have a hard time sitting through sacrament meeting.  I just didn't like hearing they didn't "like" General Conference.  So I decided to create some fun traditions that would help them have some good feelings and memories about General Conference weekend.....

First, I brought out the kid tents and told the kids that every General Conference weekend they could sleep out in their tents--a big sleepover!  We set up the tents the night before and then I read Mosiah 2:1-10, where King Benjamin is going to address his people and all the families come and pitch their tents around the temple to hear him.  We talked about how excited the families must of felt to be able to listen to their leader and a prophet of God.  Then we talked about how we get to listen to our prophet and apostles today during this General Conference weekend.  We even set up our tents so the doors faced the t.v.  "having his tent with the door there-of towards" (our television where we would watch Conference), "that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words..."  

They were finally starting to be excited about Conference....

The next morning, I made German apple pancakes.  I've heard of families making something special only on General Conference weekend so I told the kids we will have this be our special breakfast tradition!

Right before Conference began I handed out some "Conference packets" with coloring pages, crosswords, puzzles, etc. they could work on during conference.  The kids got in their tents and starting working away.  At times they would pop their heads out and listen but overall is nice and quiet so Jesse and I could sit back and listen.  I know there will be time when they get a bit older when they will be able to take in more.  I just wanted to create an atmosphere where the spirit would dwell, which wasn't the case when I felt like I was having to pull teeth just to get them to come into the room.

By the last session, the puzzles and coloring pages had lost their thrill.  So I popped some popcorn and we played "Conference Bingo."  Every time someone got a bingo they could choose a treat--starburst or hershey kiss, etc.  Wow, did they really get into this!  Everyone was listening intently and afterwards they knew what the theme of the talk was...."Mom, he talked a lot about missionaries!"

Here are some more pictures from the day!

When conference was over, the kids were actually disappointed....they wanted more!  I told them we could do this all again in 6 months--to which I got lot's of cheering!  Overall, General Conference weekend was a success....yay!

April Fools!!!

The Tricker becomes the Trickee......

Last night, I saw Savannah putting away two cereal boxes.  Then when she came around the corner she had a huge grin on her face and let out a few giggles.  Something was up!

After everyone went to bed, I thought it might be a fun April Fools joke to pull out the cereal bags out of the boxes.  And that is when I discovered what Savannah had been up to.... she had switched the cereal bags from two boxes.  What a clever girl!  So I decided to finish the job.....

The next morning, April Fools day, Savannah and Hunter sat down for breakfast.  Savannah reached for the Cookie Crisp box and said, "Here Hunter, I know how much you love Cookie Crisp."  But Hunter simply replied, "No thanks."  Savannah continued for the next few minutes to convince Hunter that Cookie Crisp was what he wanted.  Hunter stayed true and told her he didn't really feel like having it this morning and why was she wanting him to have it so bad!  It was really sweet, at one point Savannah told Hunter that there wasn't a lot left so he better finish it off, but Hunter told her "That's okay, if you really want it you can have it."  At this point I started to feel bad for Savannah.  So I sat down with my bowl and told her to pass the Muesli box (which contained Cookie Crisp).  Everyone made their choice and began to pour....

My favorite moments....

*Seeing Savannah's face when she discovered she also had been tricked

*Having Hunter stop pouring the cereal and take a second look at the box he had chosen

*Hearing Jesse comment on how shocked he was that his cereal was almost gone when he had just opened the box yesterday--when it was actually the Kix cereal that was almost gone and not the Oh's cereal :)  Then having him pour the cereal and hearing him say, "What?!? Errrr... Brenna!!!!"  Then he started laughing.  (Gotcha... hee hee hee!)

I did try to trick Madison, but I think she didn't appreciate it as much as the older kids.  As soon as I poured the cereal she looked at me and said, "Mom, that's not what I want!"  Like it was me who was suppose to get her the right cereal; the box was irrelevant.  I tried to explain it was a trick and she ignored me and kept asking for the right cereal.  Oh well!

"Cupcakes" for Dinner!!!

I called everyone for dinner and placed a plate of "cupcakes" in the center of the table.  Savannah instantly knew what was going on and smiled at me.  Hunter was like "Cool we get to have cupcakes for dinner!"  Madison instantly called for a pink one then I saw her sneak a taste of the "frosting."  She scrunched up her face but took another lick.  Then she leaned in closer and smell it and said, "They don't smell like cupcakes."  Everyone grabbed a cupcake and started digging in ....

I couldn't believe how much they really did look like cupcakes--actually chicken pot pie with colored mashed potatoes on top.  It was a fun dinner!

"Hamburgers" for dessert!!!

For dessert I pulled out the mini "hamburgers" and told everyone we were having hamburgers for dessert!  We all had a great time making our own "hamburgers"--all with ketchup (red colored icing), mustard (yellow colored icing), lettuce (green colored coconut), hamburger (mint cookie), and buns (vanilla wafers with sesame seeds on top).  They turned out pretty cute... and were really yummy too!

Hunter is 7 years old!

Hunter also wanted a Hogwarts Birthday party (thank goodness!).  The only change to the party was "Dementor Tag."  I learned about 1 minute into the party that there is a big difference between 9 year old girls and 7 year old boys!  I had to come up with something quick for these very active boys.  Our Dementor was perfect (thanks sweetie :)!  Here are some of my favorite pictures from the night.....

Then on Hunter's actual birthday, he chose to go to "Crepes de Paris" for dinner--yummy!

Afterwards, he opened presents....

Then he requested that we all play a game of "Ticket to Ride!"

What a fun night!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

When Hunter and Savannah woke up this morning they realized they had forgotten to make and set out a trap to catch a leprechaun the night before.  They both asked if Madison and I could create one during the day.  This is what we came up....

We created the "Lucky Charms Roller Rink."  

Then we took the "Roller Rink" out to the backyard.....

We put gold coins around the "roller rink" in hopes that it would attract some leprechauns--you know how much they love to collect gold!

When the kids came home from school....

The Leprechaun ended up taking all the gold and left a note inside the "Roller Rink."  

"Hee, hee, hee!  

You can't catch me!

  You tried to trick me with the gold, so I have tricked you back....

I've hidden your gold around the yard.  

Each of you have to find 10 gold coins hidden around your yard. 

 Better luck catching me next year!"

A little more madness in March.....

Tonight was my first game for the 3 v 3 Women's Basketball League.....I'm tired.  I can't believe I am playing again.  I guess the madness in March is catching on!!!

March Madness!!!

Tonight we filled out our NCAA brackets.  Every March, each member of the family fills out a bracket.  The winner gets to choose where we go out to dinner.  I'll let you know how it all goes!

 (For Eliza, we had her roll a die)