Crap!

Sorry girls! I cut off half the picture of our group and I can't figure out how to fix it! ARGHHHH!

FANTASTIC Girls Night Out!

Last week some friends in the ward got together for a girls night out! After being home all day talking to tiny people, it's so nice to get out and have some big girl talk! These are the best group of women! We always have so much fun when we get together, which thank goodness is pretty often! Thanks ladies for being such great friends! And I think we'd get better service at that place if we brought our cute hubbies...if ya know what I mean! ;)

Easter Part II

The Easter holiday for us was really the whole week-end! Saturday morning we attended the ward's Easter brunch where we got to see some friends and do a little chatting. That afternoon we left for Dave's family's home in Kent. On Easter we went to church, came home for our own little Easter basket hide and seek and then off to my mom and dad's. That's where our family picture was taken - they have the most beautiful house! For dinner we went to my Grandma's home where we got to see family and just relax and hang out! It is so wonderful to have both sets of family living so close to us! We're definitely blessed.
We had family home evening last Monday about Easter (yes, a day late - that's me!) When I started on the Easter story, Emma piped in and told the entire thing! I was really impressed that she knew the story! I knew Claire was paying attention, because last night at bedtime she told a story about some bunnies that were unfortunate enough to be eaten by a fox. "But don't worry, mom. Jesus came down and they were alive again." It was so darling!

Wow! The family Easter picture with everyone looking a little whipped! This was taken AFTER church, AFTER baskets, and AFTER lunch! Yikes!

Easter, Part I!

Saturday we spent the evening with Dave's family. The girls got an Easter egg hunt and a yummy lamb dinner. (The lamb actually wasn't that bad!) I don't write enough about that side of the family and I really need to! I adore Dave's parents. They are such good grandparents to our girls and have such a sweet spirit about them. Dave's father I especially feel close to. We share a love of good old mysteries, ya know like Charade and Arsenic and Old Lace. They have done so much for us! Too many things to write!

Emma with Grandpa Coleman showing off her basket of goodies!

Emma and Claire with their Aunt Amy, Will's wife!

Miss Crystal's last day

So I've posted about how much Emma loves ballet. She started 2 1/2 years ago with a wonderful teacher named Miss Crystal. Emma can be a bit shy, so it's been nice having this teacher that has taught her for so long and really understood Emma. Last month was Miss Crystal's last teaching day. I must admit I got a little teary saying goodbye to her! Her husband is coming home from Iraq this month and then they are getting transfered somewhere else. I've been preparing Emma for a new teacher for class this Saturday. So far it's a no go. "But I LOVE Miss Crystal! I don't want a new teacher that doesn't know ballet!" Apparently Miss Crystal is the only teacher of ballet in the world...I'm sure once she gets there she'll get used to things and love it again!

Some randomness...

I absolutely love the little words my kids mess up on. I thought I'd jot some down before I forgot them!

Last night my sister Jamie taught Emma how to waltz. When asking if my other sister, Laura wanted to dance with her she said, "Hey Laura, want to dance the walnut with me?"

We went to our neighbor's the other night and they had a bonfire with other neighborhood families. My neighbor Manny asked us if anyone wanted a s'more. Claire answered, "I just want a smarshmallow please."

Emma asked my dad if he had any Pirate Bum. "Hey Carrie, what does Emma mean by Pirate Bum". After pondering on that for awhile I said, "Oh, she wants Pirate Booty - that cheesy puff snack."

Those were just a few things I thought were funny anyways. Ohh yeah and I got my passport a couple days ago!!! Now to get my Visa!

Hallie's Spiderman Birthday!

Hallie with my beautiful sister Laura.

So about a month ago I asked my youngest, Hallie, what kind of birthday party she wanted. Without hesitation my 2 year-old answers, "I want Spidaman berfday pawty". Excuse me, what? "Did you just say Spiderman birthday party?" I asked her. "Yep, I like him 'cause he's naughty!" Apparently this toddler doesn't really know what Spiderman is all about. I try to dissuade her. "Sure you don't want a tea party birthday or something fun like that?" "Nope, Spidaman." Dave was thrilled of course! With so much pink in the house he jumped at Spiderman. "Just give her what she wants!" he told me. So, sighing, my mom and I went to Party City where the store unfortunately didn't dissapoint in the Spiderman motif. We bought hanging Spidey's, Spiderman plates and napkins, table cloth. etc. When I got home and showed what I'd bought Hallie hugged me and yelled, "I yuv it I yuv it I YUV IT!!!" I couldn't have gotten a better response. The only girlie thing I added was pink frosting to the spider cupcakes - a friend suggested that! They actually turned out pretty cute! I used Crows black licorice gum drops for the body, twizzler string licorice for the legs and then used blue piping for the eyes. So here we were on March 12th having a Spiderman birthday party for a two-year old girl. She is somethin' else!

Being Positive!

I try my hardest to be positive. It doesn't always work. When I'm in line at the grocery store I always ask how the cashier's day was too, when I was one it was amazing how many people would just ignore you. I hated that! I try to smile all the time. I try to look for the best in people. That's definitely something that's taken me awhile to be able to do. I try to answer when asked how I'm doing, "Good!" even when I'm not feeling "good". I've found that if I fake it, I usually start feeling it.
I saw the perfect quote from Martha Washington in a fun decorating blog I like to peruse called the Vintage Rabbit. "I am determined to be Cheerful and Happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is not determined by our Circumstance but our Disposition." Isn't that a beautiful quote? Yesterday in Relief Society we had a lesson on looking at our situation and trials and finding something good and positive in it. I loved the lesson! If we remember that we are here on this earth to learn and grow and that we knew and rejoiced in coming down to this earth, I think we could be happier people. Just some random thoughts as I watch The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with my tinies! Have a happy day!

The world premiere of Twilight! (Well for me anyway!)

I'm so excited to see Twilight on Saturday! My mom's hosting a Twilight party with a bunch of friends from the ward. I have to admit it's taken me quite awhile to really get into the books. I read Twilight for the first time almost 2 years ago! I didn't see what the fuss was about then, but for Christmas I got the first and second book (SOOO much better than the first, don't you think?). So now I am finally a Twilight fan! Who wouldn't be with lines like: "If I could dream at all, it would be about you. And I'm not ashamed of it." Or, "Today is the first and last day of forever." Or my absolute favorite make you weak in the knees quote, "Before you, Bella, my life was like a moonless night. Very dark, but there were stars, points of light and reason. ….And then you shot across my sky like a meteor. Suddenly everything was on fire; there was brilliancy, there was beauty. When you were gone, when the meteor had fallen over the horizon, everything went black. Nothing had changed, but my eyes were blinded by the light. I couldn’t see the stars anymore. And there was no more reason for anything." Really? Why didn't I catch that quote the first time I read the book - good grief! So with jammies, some vampire teeth and some good friends, I'll be sitting as close to the t.v. Saturday night as I can. And Dave, bless his heart is watching the kids so I can drool over a blood sucking dead guy - and he hasn't even made fun of me yet! What a hubby!

My two Ballerinas

I know I haven't blogged yet about Chicago! I've been waiting for the pictures from my sister since I forgot my camera and haven't gotten them yet...but let's just say I had a fantastic time and I'm considering going on a no children vacation every year!

So here are my two little ballerinas. Emma has always showed a natural dance ability. I started her out in ballet 2 years ago and she's loved it every since. In fact she loves it so much she is VERY serious about it! Even at 3 she would have nothing to do with the silliness of the other often older, children. She's very graceful and looks quite elegant when she's in her class. Then there's my dear sweet darling Claire. Claire is such a wonderful loving little girl. Is she as graceful as Emma? Well....let's just say she tries her heart out. At first I was a little skeptical when she asked to take ballet lessons. She's much more of an athlete I thought due to her need to wrestle with her sisters every day. But after the first few dances, I'm suprised to say she's doing quite well! She adores Miss Crystal and is having a lot of fun!