Last week

My lovely sisters Sarah and Emily

My big brother Adam sharing memories about Mark

Jackson and Charlotte making a totem pole behind the head table

My parents

My gorgeous little sister Karen with my niece Elora

We enjoyed the company of my sister Emily and her family staying with us for Mark's (my younger brother) wedding. Thursday morning the kids swam with Brandon for a bit. That night was the dinner for Mark and Amber with both of their families. The food was tasty and the stories were so fun. Seeing them so happy and cute together was so sweet.

Falling behind

I never said what a wonderful Mother's day my sweet husband and kids gave me. Trent got me yellow roses Friday afternoon before he left for his camp out with the scouts. Mother's day morning my kids presented me with various handmade gifts they had made in school. Tucker's card was all in cursive and I loved his sweet handwriting and laminated place mat. Charlotte had made a coupon book. Henry was feeling very bad without a gift, so he quickly scribbled me a "picture" in the kitchen and told Daddy he needed to put something in it. They came up with a sucker, which he reclaimed later that day. Trent also got me a gift card to go get a massage, that I can't wait to use. Trent's mom joined us for the first hour of church where I directed a small musical number with 8 kids involved including Tucker and then one where all the primary children sang to their mothers. The children did great and I was so pleased!
I was also able to visit my mother and we all enjoyed dinner with Trent's family that evening. It was a wonderful Mother's Day, that was only tainted by my anger and grief towards the cancer that my big sister Sarah is fighting.

Teaser

 We've had tons of fun with Emily (my sister and her family), Brandon, Jonah, and Elora staying with us since Wednesday night from Utah. The kids love having cousins here to play with and we got to go to Mark's (my little brother) "rehearsal" dinner last night, plus the wedding and reception today. I'm too tired to do a whole post, but here are a couple pics.

 Elora

 Perfection.

 My parents

 Luke telling a funny story about Mark.

My boys and me.

It begins

Just get used to the swimming pictures, because for the next 5 months that is pretty much what we'll be doing every day.

 This day it was followed by a towel fight on the trampoline and warming up on the grass.

my kids are best friends and I love it

Last Friday after our regular babysitter was unavailable I didn't feel like hunting down someone else. Trent was working hard at putting a gate into our wall anyway. We had Ashlyn and Weston over to hang out. We had a pizza picnic in the front yard while we watched Daddy work. After the cousins went home and it was time for bed we set up a two man tent in our extra room and put the 3 big kids in it (Paisley was asleep at this point). It was pretty much adorable.

 This morning I told the kids to go enjoy the trampoline before it got too hot outside. Charlotte came in to tell me that they had set up some chairs and were taking turns doing tricks on the trampoline for a "concert". My kids are awesome. What would I do if I had to entertain them myself all day?

P.S. Tucker's Spring Sing was on Monday. It's always so cute to see him on stage. I couldn't get any decent pictures because of the lighting and also the little girl in front of him blocked most of his face. But here is one of him walking off stage. I can't believe how handsome and grown up he is looking these days!

Stage left.

Easter 2011 (and one hundred billion pictures)

The Saturday morning before Easter Trent was still on a campout, but our ward had a breakfast and egg hunt at the park. My brother Adam and his kids joined us and it was tons of fun. They spent most of the day with us too and the kids enjoyed playing with their cousins. Easter morning was gorgeous and we enjoyed church. I have to say that I think Easter is the most wonderful celebration. Jesus Christ lives! What could be more glorious? My kids are hard to capture all being cute at once, but I did try.

We had Easter dinner and more egg hunting with Trent' s family in the evening. It was a wonderful to spend the special day with loved ones.

 Trent- after finding the coveted "Golden Egg".

 Trent counting out his winnings. Trent's parent like to entice the adults to get involved.