Easter in Eastern Oregon

We were able to drive to Oregon to be with Jon's parents for Easter and we had a great time. We hadn't been there for Easter for about 8 years. Jon's sister Sarah and her family were there and Jon's brother Tom, also drove up. We left on Thursday morning and then came home on Monday morning.

Unfortunately, the weather was windy, cold & snowy (when we left), but we still had a fun time doing indoor things. We brought our Wii, so that entertained the kids for hours and hours. We played "Ticket to Ride" (our favorite!), I brought my mom's sewing machine (mine was in the shop being fixed - so I did a little sewing), watched movies and just enjoyed being together.

On Friday morning, the ward had a Primary activity, so we went to that and it was great. The Primary Presidency did a great job with games for the younger & older kids, letting them have an Easter egg hunt, explaining why we celebrate Easter and feeding them hollow rolls and cheese puffs - in the shape of a carrot.

Hannah getting ready to color

Lindsey and an easter egg roll

Grandma and Hannah

Kate coloring an easter basket to collect eggs in

All the listening to egg hunt instructions

I apologize for this picture, but I had to put it in. This poor girl can never ever keep her pants up!

This is Bridget - she married Jon's cousin and she's just the cutest mom! She was explaining to the kids about the meaning of Easter.

Snacks

On Saturday, we let the kids dye eggs. They all loved it! Gracie (Sarah's daughter loved cracking them and eating them more than coloring them.) The kids then did their own hunt in the backyard.

Emily & Kate

Gracie

Danny (Sarah's little boy) & Jack

Grandma & Hannah (Can you tell that Hannah just loves her so much?)

Lindsey

Kate

Danny

On Easter morning, the kids were excited to find their baskets. When the Easter Bunny goes to Oregon, he hids the baskets well. The older the child, the harder it is to find. Jack's was hidden in the oven, Lindsey's was in the coat closet underneath and jacket and Emily's was in the piano!

Hannah knew right what to do with the candy

All the kids waiting to search

Gracie

Kate

Jack

Emily finding her basket

After the first session of General Conference, we went over to Jon's aunt and uncles (Don & Joyce's) for lunch and another easter basket hunt. We had yummy chili and homemade bread and enjoyed time with Jon's extended family. Then, the dad's hide all the baskets - again, the older you are the harder it is to find. The dad's always go way out - they have literally been known to put them high in trees, underneath bridges and one year they even buried one!

Hannah finding an egg

Emily's basket was attached to the branch, over the creek

Kate's basket

Jack's basket

And poor Lindsey - her basket is on top of the flag pole.

Jon making her think she has to climb the pole.

The best basket was for Jon's cousin, Kara. Her loving brothers hid it underneath this bridge and Kara had to go in the water to get it. The wind was blowing so hard that day and it was freezing! She was a really good sport!

We hope you all had a great Easter too!

Spring Volleyball

We LOVE sports at our house! (This week alone with will have 3 soccer practices, 3 outdoor soccer games, 2 indoor soccer games, 3 volleyball games and 2 dance classes!) I just love seeing the kids try new things and I'm so grateful that our city offers such a variety of things to do. The kids bring flyers home from school and we definitely sign up for a majority of them.

When the girl's brought home a flyer about volleyball and expressed interest, I thought it was great! They are both on the same team and we just love it. They go one night a week and have 1/2 hour practice and then 3 games in a row. It's really low-key and no pressure and both Emily and Lindsey have really enjoyed it. Our coach, Leslie Stauffer, is a friend from our neighborhood and she's so cute with the girls.

Great job girls!

I love that Emily stops and smiles whenever she sees the camera!

Emily serving




Lindsey getting ready for the ball

Lindsey serving (they let the girl's serve from the front line)

Indoor Soccer

Kate & Jack are finishing up a great season of indoor soccer! My sister Becky told us about the rec center that she worked for doing indoor soccer, so we thought we'd give it a try. Jack saw the flyer and immediately asked if he could play. Kate is too young to play soccer through the Murray Rec Center, so I talked her into trying it out as well.

Kate is such a hoot to watch. She is usually pretty willing to run around, but she definitely stays on the "outskirts" of the pack. If Tinkerbell could play soccer, that would be Kate. We have loved watching her try and smile each time she runs down the floor.

Kate warming up

Pre-game goalie warmup

This picture says it all - she's the little blonde at the very back.

And the true motivator for playing indoor soccer: THE TREAT!!!

Happy to be looking at Princess things on the side-line

Now, Jack....he is completely opposite! Jack lives for sports. He wants to play all of them, he wants to practice all of them and he talks about all of them. He's had a great time playing indoor soccer (but is excited to be starting outdoor soccer soon!). He is so intense and just runs with all his might to kick the ball. He's scored several goals and just lives for Saturday mornings.

Pre-game smiles

I love his form

Way to go, Jack!

Kate's dance class

I have posted pictures before of Lindsey & Emily's dance class, so I figured I better post them about Kate's dance class too. Kate took a dance class last year in Columbus and she LOVED it. My fingers were crossed that we'd be able to find something in Utah that we loved just as much, and we definitely have!

The three girls take dance from Murray Community Dance and it's fabulous!!! They each take a class one day a week, it's so, so, so affordable and Emily & Lindsey do 2 shows a year (the spring one is coming up!). Kate's class is 45 minutes once a week and it's definitely a highlight of the week for her. A couple of times a semester, the parents are allowed to come in and watch, so these pictures are taken from observation week.

Miss Danielle (who come to find out, Jon taught when he was a math teacher at Murray High School) calling roll.

This is Kate and Ava (Ava is Kate's friend and is in her preschool as well). They are holding their thumbs up and wiggling their bums - cutest thing ever!

At the bar (they start with tap and then 1/2 way through, change to ballet).

Her little class

Ava & Kate

Learning how to skip

Great work Kate!!