Easter Weekend!

With Mac's trusty map he drew, we made it safely to Ithaca, New York to visit my brother Ryan and his family. The boys were amazing during the drive, little Gray had a couple of fits but who wouldn't on a 10 hour drive. On the way we stopped a couple of times to shop and ended up staying the night in Cleveland with Drew's cousin. Thank you Chris and Katie, it's always good to see you!
Friday we made it to Ithaca around lunch time. Since our trip was so short we left immediately to see some of the sites and let me tell you, it's a beautiful place.

We went on a hike to one of Ithaca' s many water falls.

Mac showing us how tall the waterfall was.

Saturday we played at the park and hit the farmers market where we tasted amazing food and saw some of the Ithaca's finest.


Sunday morning Ry and I hid the Easter eggs in the woods behind their house.

G's favorite... egg gumballs!

Mac's favorite...gummy bunnies.

After we went on a a nice long walk. We asked Mac what he saw on the walk and he said, "ducks, deer, squirels, snakes and woodpecker noises."

Thank you Ry and Roo! We had a fabulous weekend! It was just what we needed and definitely worth the drive. We love you guys!!!

After the morning session of conference we hit the road. We made it all the way to Kirtland, Ohio before we stopped (half way mark). We let the boys run around the sites. Kirtland is my favorite church site, so many amazing things happened there. When we showed Mac, Joseph Smith's house he said,"No Joseph lives over there in the woods." Mac loves the picture of the first vision and I guess he thought Joseph not only prayed in the woods but lived there too:)

click here to watch Joseph Smith's first vision movie

Wasn't conference great? I missed going to church and seeing all the kids dressed up in their cute new Easter dresses, but I loved listening to conference! Since we missed the Sunday afternoon session, I watched it on our DVR yesterday. What a blessing technology is! I sat and cried during President Monson's talk on eternal families and felt an overwhelming love from my Heavenly Father for the knowledge that families are forever! The rest of the talks were fabulous as well. I thought it was interesting that so many were about parents and teaching our kids correct principles. After watching conference I felt inspired to be a better mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, and member of the church. It was just what I needed.

Happenings

It's been a long day and it's only 4:00 pm. This morning we woke up early, Nancy came and got the kids. Drew and I headed off to his office to do a little decorating and then I went to Jury duty orientation. Yes, I have been selected to do Jury duty. The judge was kind enough to only make me do 4 days which I got to pick. I guess she pitied my children and my friends that would be taking them. I left the court feeling lucky and just plain happy that I was guaranteed only 4 days away from my boys. Pray that the cases that are going April 12-15 get settled or dismissed:).


Moving on to Gray...
This kid is pretty cute and pretty dang clumsy. He trips over everything. His walking skills are similar to a 12 month old but has the confidence of a 4 year old. The last week or so he's added some major scars to his face. The first, I'm warning you this picture is pretty gross but as you can see he's healed nicely.

This is what happens when you rock a kitchen table chair back and forth and fall forward with it.
Instead of putting his hands out to catch himself, he just smacked his face on the floor. There was blood everywhere and I thought he had broken his nose. But after a nice ER visit we found out he did not and only had a deep gash under his nose. It's amazing what you can find by just cleaning off the blood:) They derma glued it shut and he's left with only a little scar.
The bruise above his eye is from tripping and going head first into the coffee table. This is an example of many bruises on his face.
And most recently this beauty! We were outside doing yard work and he tripped and landed on a rock! Seconds after falling he was up and running around, happy as can be. I've said this before but we are lucky Gray is such an easy going, happy, tough kid.

I asked Mac to go check on G and this is what I found...

They thought they were pretty funny!

Here's some pictures from a birthday party we went to for one of Mac's friends. They loved it.

St. Patrick's Day!!

Growing up, every year on St. Patrick's Day my mom would wake up before us and place a trail of little Leprechaun feet all over the house that led to the "Pot of Gold." It was usually filled with our favorite candies or green and gold treats. Later on, my Dad took over and it became a scavenger hunt with quite difficult poems that led us to the loot. In fact as of last year my parents were still doing this for my younger brothers that were in high school and college. I'm pretty sure my Dad enjoys this more than the little boys (yes I will forever call my younger brothers the little boys even though they are almost 18 and 20):)

I love traditions, so I was excited that Mac was old enough to enjoy this one. Gray had no idea what was happening, he just followed Mac around the house and loved what was at the end of the foot prints.

Mac had to touch every foot print

They got gold fish, candy, chalk, shovels and little dump trucks to play outside with!

Today is Grandma Rita's Birthday!

Drew couldn't ask for a better mom. I couldn't ask for a more patient mother in law. Mac and Gray couldn't ask for a more loving grandma! We love you and wish we were there to celebrate your big day!!!

It's the best time of the year

Top 5 reasons we love 50-60 degree Spring weather...

#5. Feeding/chasing Ducks




# 4. Long Park days with dad and the rest of Lexington:)
#3. Hours of playing in the dirt..

#2 Shoes and pants are optional...

1# Great Naps! After being outside everyday since Friday, the boys have never slept better.


No bugs, tulips, green grass, the smell of rain, warmer and longer days are just a few more reasons to love Spring! It's truly the best time of the year!