Spring Break/ Conference Weekend

We had a wonderful spring break.  The kids played hard outside and had lots of friend time.  I was able to get a few things done on my todo list including my taxes, workshop layouts and I made 9 skirts. Jason worked a lot :(  He was able to take an afternoon off and going hiking with us. We almost made it to the wind caves and would have if we hadn't had an appointment to get back for.  We honestly didn't think Allie would make it as far as she did. That is what I get for underestimating her.  Allie was entertaining the whole time. Phrases we heard on the hike include: 

"Seriously! We have to climb that mountain?"

"Seriously! Another Rock!"

"I don't like hiking!"

"Seriously! More people!"

"I like that girl with the red hair. I would like her better if she had pink stripes."

"Seriously! You just saved my life!"

"I don't trust Mom."

"Seriously! I just save my life!"

We also had a fun conference weekend. Calvin, AnnMarie and William came to play for the weekend. (Calvin mainly picked on the kids like any good uncle should) The guys played computer games, the girls chatted, crafted and watched conference and I sewed skirts.

 Allie snitched candy.

Mikele and Allie in their Maxi skirts. (I made a maxi skirt for me out of the same material but my looks like this. I also made Kassie and I a Maxi skirt out of a pink and orange stripe. Links are to the skirt patterns.)

 Kassie in her circle skirt.

 Allie in her ruffle skirt.

Kassie in her ruffle skirt. (Mikele has one just like it)

 We ended the weekend with big homemade burgers, girls scout cookies and homemade ice cream. 

Easter

  Sunday evening I took the kids, all dressed up in their Easter clothes, for a photo session. They were great about cooperating and we were able to get the pictures taken in about 30 minutes. Brock is turning 12 in a few weeks and so it was time for him to get a suit. He looks so sharp. It is hard to believe he is getting so old!

I have to have at least one crazy face from Kassie. I find her crazy smile face hilarious.

 Ah there is my sweet girl. Each girl picked out their own dress and shoes this year. I found it interesting how  closely their dresses and shoes matched their energy types. 

 Oh this mischievous little devil. ;) She could not be any cuter if I do say so myself. Her dress and shoes were very bold just like she is.

This is my new favorite picture. I love everything about it!

 She picked out her shoes too! Any surprise she went with the dramatic rainbow shoes? 

 Last but not least, my butterfly! The girls all got haircuts on Saturday. I LOVED Mikele's new cut except for the fact that it made her look so much older. She is a rare beauty with such a fun free spirited personality  Her flowy sparkly dress matches her personality perfectly.

 Of course the outfit wouldn't have been complete without this sparkly fun shoes.

Bunny Day

 Decorating eggs.

 The kids and their Easter baskets. They each got a new pillow to put in the camping trailer. Kassie came in around 3 in the morning because she was concerned that the Easter bunny had forgot to come. Jason assured her that it was all taken care of.

 Allie was in candy heaven! Every time she found a plastic egg she would chant "candy, candy candy!" Funny story. She went on a egg hunt on Sunday in her Sunbeam class. The eggs had pieces of papers in them instead of candy. At dinner she was telling us about her class and was very distraught about the fact that the eggs DID NOT have candy in them. It was very disappointing.

 Hunting for eggs

 Brock needed a little boost to find his last plastic egg.

Kassie was the first to find all 15 of her plastic eggs outside. I think the special bunny hat helped.

Album Retreat

In March my amazing bff Cindy and I went to the CTMH album retreat. We had been looking forward to this event for over 9 months!!! We had the most fabulous time scrappin', chattin', and posing for goofy photos. I love going to these events that are packed with amazing people. I also love getting away, recharging the batteries and letting loose just a little. 

 Cindy, Sheena Searls and me. Sheena is the manager over consultant services at CTMH

 Me, Jill Broadbent and Cindy. Jill is the artistic genius that created a lot of the layouts we made at the retreat. 

Me and Amy Ulen. Amy and I LOVE Studio J. She is Studio J genius! 

 Carlie Roberston, Cindy and I. Carlie is the Creative Marketing director at CTMH. She is cute, fun and an artistic genius.

Me, Cindy and our Canadian friends that sat in front of us at the retreat. I always meet the most amazing people and ironically I always make friends with a few canadians at these events. 

52 Week Photo Projcet

  For the record I have not been neglecting my 52 week photo project. I just haven't been posting the pictures on both blogs. So if you are interested here are links to each week's posts:

Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13 (I still need to take a picture of one of my kids at their worst)
Week 14: Easter (picture shown)