Weekend with Grandma and Grandpa!

On Monday night I got a phone call from Andrew's step dad asking if he and Becky could come to visit. Tuesday afternoon Ron and Becky showed up and spent the next three days with Andrew and I and our girls. We had lots of fun. We started by taking them to "the farm". Emma had lots of fun pulling Grandma from animal to animal. Krista just enjoyed being outside and Jessica just loves being with animals. The next day Andrew took them all over to Fantasy Canyon (I didn't go because I had a docters apointment). The girls had a great time and Ron and Becky enjoyed the interesting rock formations. We played games, ate great food, talk lots, stayed up late and most of all had a wonderful time. We are grateful that they were able to come spend time with us and we can't wait for the next grand adventure.

I loved this video. I hope all of you enjoy it, and laugh as much as I do.

Easter Weekend

We had a lovely Easter weekend, although it started off sad. Marci's Grandfather DeVon McKee passed away Sunday before General Conference. His funeral was Saturday. Saturday was cold and rainy. It was a good funeral, all of the family was there. He was 86. Afterwards, we went back to Marci's parents house and visited with a lot of family while our children colored Easter Eggs. Sunday we had a family dinner for Diana's Birthday (Marci's youngest sister). Sunday was such a beautiful day with warm weather and the sun shining. We decided to do our Easter Egg Hunt then. This was the first year that Krista really got excited about it. The girls were so cute running around looking about for eggs. Marci couldn't resist snapping these photos.

Monday we got together with Marci's family for our traditional Easter Picnic and went for a drive to the old farm where they used to grow alphalpha on approx. 3000 acres. It was a 30 year lease on Indian Land. They farmed that area until they their lease was over and couldn't be renewed. It was sad to see it has all gone back to looking like a desert, but it was fun to climb the hills that Marci climbed as a child. Krista loves being outside and couldn't get enough. Emma & Jessica were finding interesting rocks all over and wanted to take them all home. True to form, Krista started to copy her sisters and pick up little rocks and put them in her pocket.

Afterwards we drove out to Fantasy Canyon, where we had our picnic. It is a very interesting formation out in the middle of this desert (of course everything out here is desert). Although the canyon isn't very long or deep, I could spend a lot of time there. There is a trail with little markers pointing out different formations. I was proud that my wife, great with child, had kept up all day. Hiking up the hills, exploring the canyon, squeezing through the rocks, and smiling all the while. On the way home we stopped at a sanddune and played in the sand. Just in case we didn't get enough exercise with all the tromping around. We tried to build a sand castle, but didn't have much luck with the dry sand. In the end, we settled for digging a hole. What a fun day...Marci & I got sunburned.

Okay, for all those mom's out there, this is for you to smile at. Being great with child these day's I feel the need for quite time. Krista is great, because she still naps, but Emma and Jessica are not so understanding. Yesterday I put Krista down around 3:00 and put a movie on for the other two. I asked them very nicely to be quite so I could have a little nap. The first 30 times they came into my room I was understanding.

"Emma hit me"

"Jessica started it"

"Mom, look at my owie"

"Can I have a snack?"

"Emma hit me"

"Jessica started it"

"MOM!!!"

"Jessica smacked me"

.................and on and on it went!

By 4:30 I was starting to loose it (in a very calm voice)"The next person who comes into my room, will be very, very sorry!"

So at this point I thought I had won. It had been a good 30 min and I was not bothered. They were happy and laughing. Then the phone rang. It was Andrew telling me he would be home soon. Well so much for a nap. it was time to start dinner. I walked into the kitchen and saw why Emma and Jessica had been having so much fun and laughing together.

Picture this if you can. Each child had a hand towel, and three wash rags laid out and stacked on top of each other. On top of the pile of rags was a glass of milk. (okay so they were thirsty, right?) WRONG! They had gotten the chocolate milk mix out and a straw for each of them and were blowing mountains of chocolate bubbles. Now when I say mountains, I mean six inch cascading mountains of bubbles. They were so proud! Now if I were a good mom, and not 8 months pregnant, I would have grabbed my camera and had a great laugh with the two of them. Well as you can see, there is no picture. I was tired, and angry. They were good girls and helped me clean up the mess(and I didn't even have to yell). I was just walking to the sink to wring out the last of the rags, as Emma was going to put the chocolate milk mix away. Many of you know that Emma won't walk any place. She bounces. She did not have the lid on the mix very well, and before I knew it, my house was coated in a chocolate powder of dust.

Oh the joys of children. I love being a mom. It is the joy of my life. I don't love the messes that I am always cleaning, but I do love the joy that I see when I look at my girls. A few (many millions) of messes is nothing to pay for the gift the Lord has given me by letting me be a mother. Next time, I will remember to laugh (and take a picture) and not let motherhood overwhelm me.