Monday, April 15, 2013

Spring has Sprung







Happy Easter Ryan!!!

 
Thank you to all those who remembered us on Easter.  I admit I hadn't even thought of Easter as being a possible hard day and therefore it wasn't.  I guess it's because I know that because of Easter and the resurrection I will be able to see my Ryan again some day.  That makes me so happy and I long for that day.
 
Ethan feeding Harry and Lloyd.  The names still make me smile and I am glad Ryan was the one who came up with the awesome names for our goats.
 
 
Jaime about 3yrs. old
 
I couldn't resist.  I came across this a few days ago looking at pictures.  I have decided it is time to go through the thousands of pictures I have in boxes and saved on my computer and put them in photo albums so we can look at them.  It will be a great way to remember all the fun times we have shared as a family over the years.
 

Way to go Mike!!!  And yes his shoulder wasn't happy afterwards.  A few weeks ago we took the kids to Get Aire for family home evening.  This is the first time that Mike and I have jumped with them.  It was actually a lot of fun.  I was even brave and did a flip into the foam pit.  It had been probably 20 years since I had done one so I was very proud of myself for conquering my fear.   We will definitely go again.
 
Eleven Months (Ethan had an ear infection)
 
It's crazy that the year mark is sneaking up on us.  I am not looking forward to the next month.  What's the hardest is knowing that it's just going to continue to get longer and longer that we have been apart.  I just keep trying to remind myself that the more time that passes actually brings us closer to when we will be together again. I will try and focus on that.  I am thankful my family will be with us on Mother's Day next month to help us through such a hard day.


 
 
We went and stayed in a hotel in Layton to celebrate Adam's 7th birthday.  We also went to Chuck E Cheese.  The kids had a blast playing games and winning tickets.  Last year Ryan had been there with us.  It wasn't the same without him.  It did make me smile remembering he was acting like a teenager last year when we went.  He wanted to hang out at a friends and was mad we made him come.  I have a picture we took from last year and he doesn't look very happy.  Now I treasure this memory.  I am sure he was looking in on us this year with his big happy grin though.
 
April 13, 2013  Swimming at the hotel-  our two little fish
 
 
 
 
 
Alex continues to grow- about time!  He is now just over 5'9  Wow!!  He has grown about 1 1/2 inches in the last month.  (I am 5'6.  I think Alex's hair is sticking up a little.)



Alex covered in cotton candy.   3-28-13
 
 Alex, with some help, made about 1,000 bags of cotton candy for the Hooper City Easter egg hunt.  The Easter egg hunt was a success.  We were told it had the best turn out yet.  I figure there were over a thousand kids there.  It was held on March 30th at the Hooper Park.  It started at 9am and was over in about 5 minutes.  We calculated the hours spent preparing to be about 150.  That included filling 10,000 eggs, bagging 1,000 cookies, making 100 toy baskets, shopping for candy, doing cotton candy, and placing all the candy and toys all over the park.  We are so thankful for all the scouts and friends and family who helped make this possible.  March was a busy month but was worth it.  Now he just needs to submit the paperwork and he will be driving in no time.
 
The Lott family-  Guess who the Easter Bunny was???  
 
  It was funny when little kids would say they wanted to see the Easter Bunny.  If Ethan would hear this he would say, "That's not the Easter Bunny.  That's Alex."
 
Our cute little Longhorns.  They won't take these off.  I don't let them sleep in the helmets though.  Adam chose the number 14 to go on the back of his jersey because Ryan was 14.  Ethan chose the number 4 because he is 4.  (Alex wants me to get him one.  He did try on the helmet and barely got his big head in it.)

It is great to have nice weather finally.  I am enjoying seeing my flowers and trees again.  Our grass in the back yard survived the winter.  Yeah!!  The kids love to play soccer on it.  And it only takes me about 1 1/2 hours to mow it!!!  Well worth it though.