the big day

we had a lot to do to prepare for kalei's big day! thankfully, wil & tauna (james' folks) came in early and wil entertained the kids while tauna & i made cookies..... lots and lots of cookies. (by the way, the time to start weight watchers is NOT the week before you make dozens of scrumptious cookies - just to let you know.) anyhoo, here's tauna with the lemon cookies (they tasted like lemon meringue pie in a cookie - awesome.) we also made chocolate chip (the gold standard) and whoopie pies - yum!

kalei was so excited for her baptism! she & i were able to scoot up to indianapolis for spencer's baptism the day before, and that only heightened her excitement. here are kalei & james before the baptism started (sure, she looks calm, but inside she's super excited, trust me).

and here she is right after her baptism - lovely! i asked her how she felt and she said, "great!" there was such a sweet feeling to the baptism, and i know that heavenly father is so pleased with her decision. (fyi - i was able to keep it together and just had some tearing up, no actual crying - woohoo!)

afterwards, we had a cookie reception (the kids were loving having cookies before dinner):

we are so thankful for all our friends and family that came to support kalei in this great event! (especially considering the tornado warnings and storms blowing through at the time!) all the kids had a wonderful time with their grandparents and we are so appreciative that they took time out to be here - thanks for making kalei's big day extra special - we love you!

she's 8!

this is the outfit kalei chose to wear to school for her 8th birthday. is anyone else as shocked as i was? a dress!!! (with shorts underneath, of course.) a dress!!! woohoo!!! who knows, maybe next she'll want to layer or wear tights - keeping my fingers crossed! anyhoo, she had a lovely day with a few fabulous (chosen by her) presents. my favorite quote of the day happened at sam's club when she was pointing out something else she wouldn't mind for her birthday:

mama: you've already gotten some fabulous presents today.
kalei: there's something else i would like for my birthday.
mama: what's that?
kalei: to go to the bathroom.
mama: we can do that.

yes! an easy wish granted - i love it!

for those of you who may not know, 8 is a special age in our faith. when kids turn 8, they know right from wrong, and can be baptized into full membership of our church (and therefore accountable for their choices - we, as her parents, are accountable for teaching her how to build her faith in Jesus Christ and how to make good choices and how to repent of the not-s0-good ones). kalei had her interview with our bishop on sunday, and he found her worthy to be baptized. so, if you're going to be in the area - you're invited!

and there will be cookies! double bonus!! hope to see you there!

p.s. special thanks to malia for designing this spectacular baptism announcement - we bow to your superior design skillz!

p.p.s. another special thanks to bethany & crew for hosting us in italy where the announcement photo was taken - it was an unforgettable trip - we're so glad to have you back!

sunday sweets

we've been trying to save our desserts for just sundays - to cut down on our sugar intake and to make sundays anticipated even that much more around here. this was our dessert yesterday and they are so yummy!!! they are rich (be warned) and super easy to make and perfect for anyone who loves the peanut butter/chocolate combination. you can find the recipe here.

mythical mathematician

the kids had a lot of fun with the easter bunny side of the holiday this year. the older two left notes for the easter bunny asking for chocolate bunnies and a chance to hide some eggs. so, being the totally considerate bunny he is, the easter bunny granted both requests. he hid the chocolate bunnies, along with a few other things, but left each child 15 eggs in their buckets to hide for the family. the eggs matched their buckets, so in the end, they each got 5 eggs of each color. and, to top it all off, they got to eat their chocolate bunnies for breakfast. there was a time in my life when i probably would've said no to that request - i must be getting soft in my old age. we also read my childhood (and falling apart) copy of the country bunny and the little gold shoes. it is such a fabulous book about how motherhood can help us be kind and wise and swift - we highly recommend it! overall, this easter was much more meaningful than in years past. this is a new tradition i'm happy to keep going.

easter advent ingredients

12 plastic eggs - numbered 1-12
easter grass - we used paper - less static
egg carton - ours was spray-painted purple (fun!)
a note, saying: "This Easter advent is to remind us of the sacrifice God made of his only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Open one egg a day, eleven days prior to Easter, opening the last one Easter morning."
fun ribbon to secure the note to the egg carton

egg #1:
object = sacrament cup, or you could use a thimble
scripture = Matthew 26:39 - And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

egg #2:
object = 3 dimes
scripture = Matthew 26:14-15 - Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

egg #3:
object = a length (~3 inches) of rope/cording with knots at both ends
scripture = Matthew 27:1-2 - When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: and when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

egg #4:
object = a small piece of sponge and a small piece of soap
scripture = Matthew 27:24-26 - When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

egg #5:
object = a small square of red cloth
scripture = Matthew 27:28-30 - And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

egg #6:
object = toothpick pieces glued into the shape of a cross and a small nail
scripture = Matthew 27:31 - And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

egg #7:
object = one die
scripture = Matthew 27:35 - And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

egg #8:
object = a small bag of dirt tied at the top (you can cut the corner from a ziploc)
scripture = Matthew 27:50, 51, 54 - Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent... Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

egg #9:
object = small square of white cloth
scripture = Matthew 27:57-60 - When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock...

egg #10:
object = small rock
scripture = Matthew 27: 60, 65, 66 - ...and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

egg #11:
object = a bay leaf and a few whole cloves
scripture = Mark 16:1, Matthew 28:2 - And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

egg #12 (to be opened on easter morning):
object = nothing
scripture = Matthew 28:5, 6 - And the angel answered and said unto the women, fear not ye: for i know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. HE IS NOT HERE: FOR HE IS RISEN, AS HE SAID...

a Christ-centered easter

this year, we're trying to be better at teaching why we celebrate easter. so, i was especially glad to remember this advent calendar that i received last year at a church activity:

each egg contains a scripture and an object to represent that part of the story (i.e., 3 dimes for the 30 pieces of silver, a rock for the stone that sealed the tomb, etc.). the older kids have gotten into it - they're always excited to see what the next egg holds. i'm excited that (hopefully) the kids have more of an understanding of the Atonement and Christ's resurrection. i still have no idea how to explain the easter bunny's presence in the celebration, but i'm sure james (with all of his years of schooling) will come up with something for that. happy easter, everyone!

she matches!

now her belt matches her hair and eyes - a definite fashion plus. i don't think you can see it well in this photo, but our girl just moved up to the rank of brown belt. she's quite proud of her "dark belt." in fact, she loves that "it's so dark, it's almost black!" that's right, sweetpea, keep your eyes on the prize. now she'll be in a new class and will be required to break boards in addition to the regular testing components. congratulations, honey girl - we're so proud of you!!