Easter Fun

We had a fun but busy week. In addition to the usual, we had Dan's cousin and his family over for dinner on Thursday night which was a lot of fun - and we even got to eat Easter cupcakes! :) Tuesday night was another Skate party for Eileen - I got to take her this time. I haven't been in a place with so many falling kids in a long time :P Eileen does really well for her age. I was more out of practice and more wobbly than I care to admit - but still we had fun and did remarkably little falling down. We had the daughter of Dan's cousin (who is close in age to Eileen) spend the night on Friday night. She stayed, played and had fun with us Friday night and Saturday morning. They made animal cookies together, watched movies and played with toys. The girls really had a great time together and were all begging their parents to let them do it again soon. Saturday Daddy came down with a cold :( - he's been trying to drown it in OJ - but what he really needs is sleep - hard to get with screaming kids jumping all over you.... despite this, he let the kids decorate Easter Eggs while mommy went to go sing in her Choir Concert.
I had concerts Saturday and Sunday - they went really well - And a sweet friend in our ward offered to watch the kids so Dan could come to the concert on Sunday.

Easter was pretty low key - between Church and my choir concert we went and had chips and guac and some dinner with Frank and Tina and Frankie - but nothing huge. Just really yummy food and good company. :) The ward choir sang in church today - with me directing - I am really enjoying this calling - the people who come and sing with me are amazing and we pulled off a beautiful Easter number thanks to the spirit and their hard work.

I finished the blanket for Baby Taz this week - but pics will have to wait - don't want to wreck the surprise for my sis! (not that she reads this much, but just in case....)

Fun and Games

This week has been eventful - even not counting all the stuff I posted previously. We had the normal stuff to keep us busy, Daddy coming home, choir concerts, friends and fun.

The kids went to stay the night with Uncle Frank and Aunt Tina so that Mommy and Daddy could have a night together. We went to the temple and then out for a bit of dessert. The kids love Frank and Tina and love sleeping over there. Mommy and Daddy love the break. :) We picked them up the next morning in time for some house cleaning and some play before I had to head off to my concert. The concert went well. The music is beautiful and I'm looking forward to the rest of the concerts this season. For more info - and to find out how to come see one - check out the site here.
Eileen has another tooth that is hanging by a thread and Dan keeps trying to convince her to let him pull it out. She won't consent to let him... I can't really blame her - but at the same time - I wish it were just out already!!!
As always - it's wonderful to have Dan back - he took Thursday and Friday off and spent them with us (and getting a couple things done...) :)

Babies!!

My kid sister (lol - well she's 28 so not really a kid - but you know.... :) and her husband welcomed a new baby boy (and their first child) into their family this morning!! I am so excited and when I get more info - I will add it here :)
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Baby Taz was born 7 lb, 2 oz. He has a colon issue that will require surgery tomorrow morning - Sandi is fine, but tired and understandably upset. Keep them in your prayers - I am.
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I was told that while trying to check the baby's temperature rectally - they were unable to do so - which first alerted them to the problem - They have decided now that since they are still unsure of what the problem is exactly, that they are not going to be doing the surgery tomorrow after all. He is in NICU and Sandi hasn't even gotten to hold him yet. :( My mom should get there either some time tonight or early tomorrow.
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Sandi is getting to hold him now! I'm told he has lots of reddish hair and I am pestering people for pictures!! You can see some pics HERE.
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Sandi is getting to spend more time with him now. My mom has arrived safely. The doctors won't know for sure what will need doing until the surgery tomorrow, but are optimistic about it being minimal.
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Baby Taz had surgery this morning - all went well - they put in a colostomy and will do the pull through when he gains some weight. Baby is doing well and parents are relieved. :)

Houses....

Any one know someone looking for a nice house in the DFW area in Texas - great schools - great house for a young family.... if so - point them our way... that's right - out house is back on the market...again.... sigh....

Bits of Life

Evelyn has a new favorite word. She likes to shout this word out - often very loudly - many times a day. Contrary to what you may be thinking, this word is not 'NO.' Evie's new favorite word is 'MINE!!!' And EVERYTHING is MINE!

Eileen is now down another tooth. Sigh... what happened to my little girl!! We were reading scriptures tonight and she held out her hand to me to show me a little white thing and a new gap in her mouth.

The kids gave me a scare yesterday. I had just laid Evie down for naps, the older kids had gone outside and I had sat down for lunch. I finished eating and went to check on them and couldn't find them. I called their names and looked around the back yard, then upset that they might have gone to the neighbor's yard with out telling me, I looked over the fence... still nothing. I was starting to get really nervous now. I called after them again and then decided to try knocking on the neighbors door. After 10 minutes of panic filled knocking (well it may have been less - but it felt like more...) the door was finally opened and my kids were found. I sent them home - quite upset with them. We went inside and had a long talk. I told them how worried I had been and how it was my job as their mommy to keep them safe and I couldn't do that if I didn't know where they were. I told Eileen that she was not old enough to go places with out telling me. She asked when she would be old enough. I told her 18.

On Thursday, I got a very exciting phone call. Dan called to tell me that one of my sister-in-laws was at Denver Airport with a 3 hour layover. I immediately hustled the kids into the car, called her and headed her way to pick her up for lunch. It was SOO good to see her again. She is an amazing person, and is one of many reasons why I have missed being able to see as much of Dan's family as we would like to. We had a wonderful lunch together and then I dropped her back at the airport. She will have another long layover on her way back home, and I am already looking forward to the chance of seeing her again.

We got some long expected letters in the mail. We applied to have our kids go to a Gifted school in our area. We took them in for evaluations and have been waiting for months to find out if they got in. The number of applicants meant that the letters were longer in sending than they had anticipated. We finally found out that both girls had been accepted to the school for next school year. We are relieved and very excited for them both.

Crazy Conference

This has been a busy week!! It has been spring break for Eileen which meant the added craziness of one additional child around all week.

We had preschool this week on Monday and Thursday (Thursday was at our house) we had doctors appointments, piano lessons, visiting teaching, choir practice, friends coming over to play, and easter egg hunt, breakfast with some new friends in our ward, General Conference, and dinner at a friends house. Ok - I'm tired again just typing it all...

Eileen's friend Morgan came and spent the day with us on Thursday - she is a sweet little girl and the girls all got along well together and played well together all day.

Friday was an Easter egg hunt with a large group of kids. The kids had a blast they loved finding the eggs and even Evie got into it! Trying to keep them from eating all the candy all at once was much more difficult.

This weekend was General Conference weekend - a chance for those of us in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to listen to the words of the Prophet and Apostles. This happens twice a year and these weekends are always a source of comfort and peace and lead to a renewing determination to be a better wife and mother. After this last week, I really needed it.... It it so nice to be reminded of His love for me and His understanding with my weaknesses and His willingness to help me when I need it. It is nice to be reminded of what a wonderful man I married and how amazing my kids really are. It makes it much easier to keep myself from yelling at them when they get into things they know they shouldn't get into AGAIN!

Anna watching Conference on my computer. She especially loved to hear the choir sing. In addition, we were invited over to have breakfast with some friends. They have 6 kids and between our two families - it was about an hour of chaos! We also went over to another friends house for dinner after Conference on Sunday. She made Navajo Tacos - VERY yummy!! This is a yearly tradition that she does, and I was so excited to be part of it this year!

On top of all of this, we have had sick kids most of the week, Eileen and Anna have been complaining of their tummy's hurting and Anna has done some throwing up. I keep telling them that sweets and candy won't help - but it doesn't seem to stop them from sneaking candy anyway....