Spring Time

Mmm, I love Spring time -- when the sun comes out and revives everything it touches. It's the perfect time to celebrate Easter and remember Christ's Resurrection and our own opportunities for rebirth. It's just wonderful!
That said, let me tell you about our wonderful Easter weekend: Saturday morning the girls discovered gifts from a special visitor. Ivy got a baby swing and Millie got summer clothes - skirts mostly, as that's all she wears these days. Then at noon we went to Mark's grandma's house for lunch and an Easter egg hunt. Here's Millie (in one of her new skirts) impatiently waiting for the hunt to begin!
Millie also got an Easter dress Saturday morning and was excited to wear it to church on Sunday. So excited in fact, that she was wearing it when she came and woke me up at 6:45 the next morning. "I'm ready for church," she announced. Unfortunately church begins at 1 p.m. She was so distraught when I made her take it off to eat breakfast and take a bath! Poor girl. She did eventually get to wear it and here she is with Ivy who is wearing Millie's very first Easter dress. I hope she doesn't mind getting hand-me-downs, because I'm afraid that's just the life of daughter No. 2.
I wanted to get a family picture before church but we couldn't figure out how to set my camera to do a timed shot and then we ran out of time. So Mark took this one after church when the sun was bit too bright for pictures but perfect for spending time outside.
P.S. As you can see, my daffodils survived. Hooray!

Miss Manti

This weekend we listened to general conference in the car as we drove to Manti. My sister Ariel competed in the Miss Manti Scholarship Pageant Saturday night. Millie and I went while Mark stayed with Ivy (who was in bed for the night). I'm really glad we went because Ariel won!!!
The competition included interview, swimsuit, talent, and evening wear/modeling. The first two were done beforehand, then everyone comes for the final two. After Ariel's interview the woman who escorts the contestants in and out (and hears all the interviews) told Ariel that she was the "rock star of interview!" (She was number 8 of 10, so the woman had heard seven interviews before Ariel's.) And my mom said she looked awesome during the swimsuit competition. Millie and I made it for the talent and modeling. Ariel sang "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" (a jazzy 40's number) and her sultry voice stole the show!
Here's a picture of the newly-crowned queen in her evening gown. My Grandma Nora is always so proud of her granddaughters when they do well! Congratulations Ariel!

Extreme Makeover

One man, one week, one very big project!

This past week I put Mark to work building cabinets, bookcases and a new mantle for our fire place. He worked like a maniac! Pulling all-nighters and skipping meals to get it done. His boss (a.k.a. his dad) was out of town for the week so it was the perfect time to do it, and then I gave him a Friday-night deadline, because I was hosting a jewelry party. Luckily Mark works well under pressure, and it turned out beautifully!
Things did get pretty messy around here for a while, but it was so worth it! Now I just need to pick out knobs for the drawers and doors, and get busy filling them!
Thanks Mark, you're amazing!

Sunshine

I'm not even going to mention how bummed I am that it has been snowing all day. Instead I am going to tell about my wonderful sunny weekend!
Saturday morning Mark and I took the girls to breakfast at Crumb Brothers Bakery (291 S. 300 West in Logan). Mmm, the pastries there are superb! And I love the atmosphere--very European. Unfortunately credit and debit cards are not accepted there so make sure you bring cash or check or you'll be making an unexpected return trip home to get it (like Mark). I'll have to remember my camera next time we go; and we will definitely be going again!
Mark spent the rest of the day working on a little remodel project (that I should be posting about sometime next week) and the girls and I took a walk around town and then played in the backyard. I knew the snow was coming so I took a picture of my daffodils and tulips in case they never look like this again!

Now that's a wrap.

Ivy is following in the footsteps of her big sister . . . she loves dress ups! Each day she can be found with something new around her neck. Like this:
and this:
and this:

Millie Habla Español.

As some of you may remember, I studied Spanish in school and always really enjoyed it. So much so, that I am trying to teach it to Millie.
I got this great children's picture book, "First Hundred Words in Spanish" and corresponding DVD from Usborne Books last summer and have enjoyed teaching her the vocabulary.
At first she could only recognize the words. I would say them in Spanish and she would tell me the English translation. (And I thought that was pretty neat.) But this week she has started to recall! I say a word in English and she tells me what it is in Spanish! Words like airplane - avión, doll - muñeca, teddy bear - osito. I was jumping up and down clapping; I was so excited. I'd guess she can recall around a dozen words and recognize even more.
It's neat because it has come so easily. We don't read the book everyday or anything, just casually whenever she shows interest or when she asks to watch the DVD. I'm sure any 3 year old could do it, but I'm still a super proud mama.

Fabulous Five Fun

OK! So here's how this works...the first 5 people to respond to this post will receive something made by me. My choice. Made especially for her. Of course there are some restrictions and limitations:


1 I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!

2 What I create will be just for you.

3 It will be done sometime this year (hopefully sooner than later).

4 You have no clue what it will be. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may draw or paint something. I may bake something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure. ;-)

5 I reserve the right to do something extremely strange (but I'm not that creative).

The catch? The catch is that you must repost this on your own blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on their blog.The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did, will win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift from me!! Hurry fast, this is a limited time offer.

Oh! And be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!!