Busy weekend!

This weekend was a little funny and really busy. We hit the whole life cycle in a couple days. A funeral, wedding, baby blessing, and a baptism. It was really an interesting experience having these all together.


A few weeks ago, Rick lost a friend and mentor, Dave Davidson. He introduced Rick to Murray's Rotary Club. Their aim is service (and fun!) Which is perfect for Rick. Even though they are much older, except a couple of members, he has enjoyed working with and socializing with them. Back to the point though, Dave's funeral was Saturday at 11. I decided not to go and stayed to play with the kids on our new swing set.


My friend, Marilee, from high school was having her reception in Utah County so we drove down. It was so fun for me because I hadn't seen some people there since high school too many years ago. Also, I have know her and her family since I was 5. They are just the greatest family and I have so much respect for all of them. It was fun to see Marilee's brothers and sisters and their kids. I was so happy for her to get married, because she's just so happy.


After that we played games at Joel & Jess's, which meant we got home way too late. We have 11:00 church, but had to be to the blessing at 9 after a 20 minute drive. Not enough sleep for any of us that night. We had a great time at Shane & Denise's baby's blessing. His name is Adam and he's just adorable. Shane is Rick's best friend and their family is Rick's 2nd family (or 3rd I guess, if you count mine). Unfortunately I had to rush to teach my class (actually Annie and Darren were done and needed long naps.) I barely made it there in time to teach, but it was a fun lesson on being a missionary no matter how old we are. I felt a bit like a hypocrite teaching them because I'm so afraid to say anything, but actually the point was that we should be good friends and examples to others, so maybe I'm ok in that area.


Not long after we headed to a baptism of a family friend, Delenn. It was fun to be there with Rick's family and have the kids playing with everyone. Besides Delenn, they were the only kids and they got all the attention from Grandma Linda and the aunties. Annie & Carlyn got the camera and were taking all kinds of pictures. Carlyn only took a couple funny ones and Annie took one or two good ones. She would hold the camera funny, like pointed at your legs or up your nose and take the pictures! She say "Say teese" and then turn the camera to show you the picture she took. Carlyn would hold it upside down when she showed you and it was funny. We had a fun time.

I love the ordinances of the gospel and how simple they really are! I love to see the baby surrounded by priesthood holders and family members who love him/her! I love to see the glow of the newly baptised person and see how happy they are to make that decision! I love to see a new couple just starting together and wonder what's in store for them. I love to know that while funerals are sad, that person will be resurrected and will live again and its not all over for them.

I love Easter!

Our family, Easter 2008

Ok, its taken me awhile to get this post up, but that's because I have so much I want to say and so many pictures. I'm trying my best to pick and choose. I'll put some pictures in, but others are in the slideshow. First of all, our Easter started with cookie making. We used my Grandma Hilton's sugar cookie recipe and they were delicious. That was Thursday. The girls are great helpers and loved making cookies. They loved eating them too.

Their favorite cookie cutters

On Friday we colored eggs. The girls wanted to elaborately color them before they dyed them. The problem was that they kept dropping them in the process. We ended up with a handful of cracked eggs. Oh well, we just ate them anyway. They also had fun putting stickers on them. This picture was at the very end and Carlyn was bored waiting for Anneliese.

Coloring eggs

Saturday was our Easter Fun Day and was it packed with fun!!! First we had our Easter baskets. We just had them on the couch and didn't say they were from the Easter Bunny. I don't really care about keeping up that illusion. Later when people asked them what he brought them my kids were a little confused. Oh well, we'll talk about it better next year. Anyway, I got them some things like a bucket & shovels, and gardening gloves, and sidewalk chalk-the stuff that helps pass the day away from the tv when its warm enough. Oh, don't forget Enchanted! We love the show and have seen in tons since Saturday morning. The new Easter clothes were thanks to Grandma Hilton.

After that we went to our neighborhood egg hunt/breakfast. The girls were excited, but I thought they'd be more so. They didn't go crazy over the eggs and Annie even climbed in the stroller and announced she was done. They did get up extra early that morning, but maybe its because it was so cold! Last year we didn't even need jackets but this year we wore coats and there was frost on the eggs. They make sure that each kid gets at least 12 eggs and we ended up with about 30. It was really fun, but I forgot to take any pictures of them with their loot. I let them choose their favorite candy and we kept the rest for a cousins hunt later that day. We really enjoyed socializing at the breakfast.

Rick went to work for awhile and had a BBQ for his employees while we went through the eggs and got them ready for the cousins hunt. Can you believe I had enough candy and eggs for over 50 eggs? There were 8 kids (not including Darren) and they each got plenty. The cool thing was that my kids didn't even care about giving the candy away. They only ask for it if they see it and while Annie had quite a bit, Carlyn hardly had any. We met at a park in Provo (Katie-the one by your old house) and had a picnic lunch. It was pretty cold when the wind blew, but we all seemed to enjoy being outside anyway. Then we decorated my sugar cookies for dessert and the kids played on the playground. It was fun but Darren wouldn't fall asleep and just screamed for about a half an hour. So it was time to leave.

Rick bought 2 new board games called Spy Alley & Thurn & Taxis and wanted to try them out. We went to our friends, Joel & Jessica's house and played games, including Spy Alley. (As a side note, we love to play games and would love to have anyone over to play. Sometimes we play with Mathew & Lindsay but mostly Joel & Jessica.) They have 2 girls and are expecting a boy. The oldest is 2 weeks older than Carlyn and the youngest is about 9 months younger than Annie so its fun to let the kids play while we play. Then we put them to bed there and play until we're tired. Our kids have always known going to each others houses and go to sleep pretty well there. We had fun and played until about midnight.

Sunday morning we woke up a little later than intended, but had time for a nice breakfast of golden rod eggs. If you have never had it, then you need to! Yum. You cut up the hard boiled eggs and put them in a white sauce and serve over toast. So delicious. Church was great and I have to say it was so nice not having my kids on a sugar rush. Annie had eaten so much candy on Saturday I thought she's be sick, but she's a trooper. :) I loved teaching my primary class that day. I have a team teacher and we switch off, but I got to teach about the resurrection of the Savior and the meaning of Easter. It was fun, but some of the kids obviously had eaten too much candy and keeping focus was hard at times. They are 4-5 though, so that's normal anyway.

Its the only picture I got in his church clothes,

because he had a messy diaper that went up the back

After church we came home and cleaned my messy house and got ready for company. We had Rick's Grandma, Mom, her friend Maureen & her daughter Delenn over for dinner. We had ham, homemade mashed potatoes, green beans, salad & rolls. It was good and we had fun visiting. Rick's sister Belinda came over with her boyfriend Josh and they played with the kids. They love to rile them up right at bed time. Darren fell asleep in Belinda's arms-it was so cute! They stayed and helped us try out one of the new games. It was fun.

Rick and the kids with his Mom (Grandma Linda) and his Grandma White (our best babysitter!)

All in all we had a really great Easter. I really liked having the fun separated from the spiritual. It sure made a difference to me personally, even if it didn't to the kids. I love the symbol of the egg-that the empty shell represents the empty tomb. I loved thinking about the Savior and the incomprehensible sacrifice that he made for all of us. I don't know what I'd do without that knowledge. I am so thankful that we can be forgiven, that we will live again, and that we can be a family forever! I'm so happy to teach that to my children and my Primary class. Rick spoke in Sacrament meeting the week before and gave a good talk on The Last Supper and Gethsemane. It was fun talking about it all week and really understanding what happened leading up to his death and then on Sunday talking about the Resurrection and knowing that only through him was this possible. I am so amazed by the love that our Savior and Heavenly Father have for all of us, even the ones who resist him. That Jesus would die and live again so that we can too! I LOVE EASTER! The cooking making, egg coloring, & egg hunts are fun, but I know what's really important.

All about Bonny

Tag - I'm it!

My sister-in-law Katie posted this on her blog and tagged me:

10 YEARS AGO: 1998? I lived in Centerville with my Grandma and Grandpa. I was a senior at Weber State University in Odgen, UT. I was majoring in Family Studies and also going through a divorce. I felt like the biggest failure because how could I help anyone if I couldn't even save my own marriage. Well, luckily I had great friends, professors, and a counselor who helped me see that we all have choices and we can't change what other people decide, that things happen to us that aren't our choice but we can choose how it will affect us, and that people change. Oh yeah, and that I should finish school. I did and my divorce was finalized on the day I graduated (June 11th)! A big day and a weird one too. It had been such a dragged out process that it was such a relief by that time and I finally told friends that I had avoided all year. In order to graduate I was told that I needed more language credits, so I signed up for an intense 2nd year Spanish course. I also worked on campus at the Honors Program office. I had fun dating and went to a lot of dances with 2 divorced friends and we called ourselves the ex-wives club. I moved to Salt Lake that fall and started looking for a job. After a couple temp jobs I found a great one at a company called BSD Medical. I loved the people there, and I really learned a lot working there.

5 THINGS ON MY TO DO LIST: 1. Get caught up on laundry-especially folding and putting it away 2. Wash the pans that I've been procrastinating for a couple days 3. Dig up the patch in front of the house and replant the iris 4. Plant a garden 5. Get all the stuff out of my bedroom that doesn't need to be there (6. let the kids paint today, instead of watching 1 more movie.)

3 BAD HABITS: 1. Yelling at my kids and husband (I know its not a good excuse, but I'm so sleep deprived all the time and so grumpy) 2. Being late 3. Not doing things right away, like the dishes or cleaning

5 PLACES I/WE HAVE LIVED:1. Carbondale, CO 2. Salina, UT 3. Moroni, UT 4. Kaysville, UT 5. Ogden, UT 6. Centerville, UT 7. Salt Lake City, UT (then South Jordan and Midvale, but both were very short, 1 or 2 months) 8. Murray, UT

5 JOBS I HAVE HAD: (Only 5?-I've had a lot more than that! I'll just choose the fun ones that I haven't already mentioned, in reverse order) 1. Paraeducator with the Adults with disabilities at the High School 2. Office assistant at Campus Recreation in college 3. Server at Country Kitchen 4. Checker at a grocery store 5. Telephone surveyor in high school-this was a horrible job, but we had a lot of fun doing it!

5 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ME: (you may have already learned something...) 1. I love the band U2. They are the best group ever! And I hate country music! 2. I love to bake as long as I'm not rushed. Cookies, cakes, bread (more banana than just plain bread), and anything like that. Same goes with cooking too, I guess, but nothing too fancy. 3. I love to sing and always have. My family has been singing together since I was little, and I remember singing solos and in groups at a young age. My mom had a children's singing group called the Rainbow Connection (you know, Kermit's song.) 4. I had trouble getting pregnant the first time and had to be on fertility drugs and everything. It was horrible and I wouldn't ever do it again but I'm thankful that it worked 5. I did way too much in High School. I was in band (I played the flute-this included pep band, marching band, and I was drum majorette one year too), choir, drill team for 1 1/2 years and chearleading for 1 year, in 5 musicals including playing Aldonza/Dulcinea in Man of La Mancha, track for 1 year, and sterling scholar in Music. Plus I took several concurrent enrollment college courses and took piano lessons too.

Yeah! I now tag Debbie, Monica (if you have time,) and anyone else who wants to!

In need of a swingset

Hey everyone, I just thought I'd put it out there that we are looking for a used swingset. I could pay a little, but maybe we could do some trade work with computers or babysitting or something! Let me know if you hear of a neighbor or family member who is getting rid of one. I would prefer one with a slide and a glider. Thanks!

St. Patrick's Day and more

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This year I decided to do something. Which is to say, more than my normal dressing with some green on and made a funny lunch for the kiddos. This is green applesauce, green parmesan pasta, and green banana smoothie. Despite its funny look it tasted great. Carlyn thought it was weird but Anneliese thought it was cool!

Here is Carlyn in her green shirt. Annie wouldn't hold still long enough for a good picture and Darren was asleep.
This is a picture following a Daddy-daughter date last Tuesday night. It was the first night of Disney on Ice Princess Wishes, which means cheap tickets. They were too tired to express how much they loved it, but the next day they wouldn't stop talking about it. Annie loved Jasmine and Carlyn loved Belle, of course. Notice that they dressed up for the date, which was their idea.
This is my sweet Darren when he fell asleep on the floor. I was trying to get out the door and laid him down to get the girls coats on and he fell asleep. I hate waking kids up and only do it when necessary. He fell right asleep again in the car. Notice the pair of Annie's pjs that he grabbed and pulled it over his face. I moved them to take the picture. Don't notice the mess on the floor.Why would I take a picture of the phone, tv, laundry basket and a blurry picture? That was our future photographer at work. Carlyn apparently got the camera one day and took about 40 pictures. She did very well for a 4 year old. She took funny pictures, but my favorite is the picture of the inside of a can of cashews!!! What a hoot.

Tuesdays with Grandmas

Have you ever heard of the book Tuesdays with Morrie? Well, we have our own version called Tuesdays with Grandmas. Every Tuesday my sweet Mom drives about 2 1/2 hours each way to visit her mom and mother-in-law. Mom sometimes has other family members with her, but my children and I usually go with her.

My grandmas. The picture was from last summer, but I just love it.

Me, my kids, and Grandma Potter

Darren sitting really well. The first time he sat for a really long time.

First, we go to my grandma Potter's house and have lunch with her. She is mostly deaf and blind and needs a little more help nowadays. She's very tired and sometimes down, but she's always happy to see us. My kids love her and have always known going to her house.

Darren with Grandma, it was so cute, she leaned in to kiss him and he kissed her back.

My mom, grandma and kids.

Mama to Carlyn and Nama to Annie-No matter how you say it, they love Grandma!


Grandma Hilton and Mom

We stay a few hours and then go to my Dad's mom's house. Grandma Hilton gets around well still and, while she doesn't need the help as much, she needs the company as much. We often have dinner with her and always enjoy the visits at her house. Unfortunately by this time one or more of my children falls asleep in the car on the way to her house. While this is nice in some ways, they usually wake up grumpy and hungry. They love to see Grandma though and play with her fun toys and some of the toys I played with long ago.

Hilton cousins, recognize this?

We love our grandmas. We don't have many grandpas around and don't get to see my dad very often anyway. These visits make our Tuesdays great!

Snow???

Come on its lovely weather...
Earlier this week the weather was warming up, the snow had melted, it was nice! Carlyn said, "Where's my baby stroller?" I was about to say that I didn't want her to use it in the house when I realized happily that it was nice enough to go for a walk outside! I got their doll strollers (loaded with loveys) and Darren in his stroller and we walked around the block. Half way around Carlyn said, "Mom, I need to slow down. I'm tired." I was energized. It was so lovely. We got most of the way around and stopped to say hi to a neighbor working in her yard. We were shortly joined by another neighbor, then 2 more showed up and a couple dropped by quickly on their way home from picking up kids from school. The kids were all running around and moms were chatting. I loved it. It could be just warmer than that all year for me and I'd be perfect. Ah, almost spring. I didn't want to go back in.

A Gray Day
Today was a good day-my cousin got baptized and I enjoyed being with family, but outside was very gray. It was so windy and chilly until after lunch and then the rain started. A few hours later it was snow :( Yuck. I'm done with snow. I'm going to run away Texas or California with my sister or sister-in-law. Maybe I'll come back in the spring.

I AM BROWNIES

You Are a Brownie

Decadent and intense, you aren't for the weakhearted. Those who can deal with your strong flavor find out how sweet you really are.

What Dessert Are You Most Like?