easter best

i like to get my girls new dresses for easter, and this year was no different, although easter this year happens to land on the same weekend as general conference... (our church holds two semi-annual meetings which are broadcast worldwide and features talks from the many different leaders of our church, including our prophet.) ...which meant that the girls would sport their newest dresses this past sunday instead. and conveniently, i already had a bright (a little too bright) skirt that matched their dresses and the season perfectly. so with bryce's smashingly bright tie, and my overly festive skirt we pulled off a pretty decent easter family pic.

bounce

at our house, washing the sheets means free reign on mommy and daddy's bed.

who am i kidding? even when the bed is made they jump on it.

we need a trampoline.

ava, this is snow.

bryce was off for a whole week. and we just soaked in all the time we had together.

it was so nice and passed way too quickly, as do all good things.

we headed up to the snow the first part of the week. we've been wanting to go, especially after watching ava try to make a snow angel in the sand at the park a few weeks earlier... it kinda reminded me of when she thought the canal was the beach. a trip to the snow was in order, as well as one to the beach but that's not for a few more months.

we stayed with my aunt up in flagstaff. we always enjoy going there, she is so good with our kids, and they in turn just love her. on our drive up, ava began listing all the things she wanted to do in the snow... make a snowman, have a snowball fight, and make a snow angel. she couldn't wait to run out into the snow and start getting busy. she absolutely loved it.

emaline, however, did not.

the best part of the trip was the snowball fight we had. and to add to the fun, it even began to snow lightly on us.

bryce, myself and ava had a blast, throwing clumps of snow at each other, while emaline watched from the warm indoors.

she eventually made it outside, and for the first time the entire trip, she actually kinda enjoyed the snow. (meaning she didn't scream and cry when she looked at it.)

ava and i loved ganging up on bryce, until i accidentally threw one and hit her directly on the cheek. i felt so bad, but the girl was determined to get me back and joined forces with her daddy to attack me.

we were sad when we had to leave, but we were glad we had a chance to go play in the snow before it melted all away.

thanks, auntie nena, for letting us come, stay and play!

thomas the "train" engine

one of bryce's customers that he delivers to was getting rid of one of those pop-up play tents. it was clean and in perfect condition. "i'll take it." bryce told them, and tossed it into his truck.

after dinner, he took it out and surprised the girls with it. they loved it and immediately started playing house in it. when it was time for bed, ava told us to close our eyes while she "did something". when we opened our eyes she had dragged the train from the living room into her room, and with a "ta-da!" informed us of her grand plan to sleep under it for the night.

sure, why not?

we hoped that it might be incentive for her to stay in her bed the entire night through, but at 2 (or was it 3) in the morning we heard her feet run across the tile floor and into our room.

oh well.

'tis eventide

if i had to name a hymn that has played an integral part in my life, it would be this one. it is very interesting how many times this song has come to my mind or filled my ears at such important moments in my life. it was no different today, as i drove home from my dear, dear friend's home this afternoon, it entered my mind after the conversation we shared. it was beyond fitting for the days, but especially those quiet nights that are facing them as they deal with a dear loss in their hearts. i hope these words will bring them peace, even if but a little, as it has done for me in my life.

abide with me; ’tis eventide.

the day is past and gone;

the shadows of the evening fall;

the night is coming on.

within my heart a welcome guest,

within my home abide.

o savior, stay this night with me;

behold, ’tis eventide.

o savior, stay this night with me;

behold, ’tis eventide.

abide with me; ’tis eventide.

thy walk today with me

has made my heart within me burn,

as i communed with thee.

thy earnest words have filled my soul

and kept me near thy side.

o savior, stay this night with me;

behold, ’tis eventide.

o savior, stay this night with me;

behold, ’tis eventide.

abide with me; ’tis eventide,

and lone will be the night

if i cannot commune with thee

nor find in thee my light.

the darkness of the world, i fear,

would in my home abide.

o savior, stay this night with me;

behold, ’tis eventide.

o savior, stay this night with me;

behold, ’tis eventide.

we all fall down

{my pocket full of posies}

it's that rushed and antsy 5 o'clock hour. we're anticipating the soon arrival of bryce, maybe he has a treat for the girls, or a special surprise. i'm in the kitchen scrambling to figure out what to make for dinner, and regretting my lack of planning ahead. the girls have met their quota in watching movies or tv for the day, and are exceptionally energetic and wild. i usually try to shoo them outside, but within minutes time, emaline is crying because of some unseen mishap caused by some unknown reason. my patience is thin. i want dinner on the table before six, but this witching hour is holding me back. the sun begins to set, and is finally behind the roofs behind our home. the sun has faded enough to cool off the room and the lighting is perfect once again, for me to pull back the curtains. the girls lose themselves running in circles. i grab my camera to freeze that moment in time.

dinner can wait.