Spring Break!

This year for Spring Break we decided to not spend much money (Sorry Disneyland) and go spend a couple days in Las Vegas. We own a timeshare in Vegas and booked a couple days there. They have a lazy river, a couple pools and other nice amenities that the girls love! The first night we were there we went over to the Circus Circus and let the girls play some games at the Midway. They had a blast and we were able to work it so we were the only ones playing at the game so we were guaranteed a prize. The girls loved it! We also saw some short circus shows too (trapeze, ribbon, etc).

Playing with their frogs while waiting for the acrobats

The girls wanted to sleep with their newly "won" stuffed animals

On Wednesday we went, of course, to the pool multiple times. The girls have turned into fish and always want to be swimming! We also went to the Ethel M's chocolate factory (definitely more cool at Christmas time with all the lights) and then went and celebrated with Kenny's family. His uncle turned 85 so we had a nice spaghetti dinner at their house. I neglected to take any pictures of this however.

On Thursday, my dad came up and got to spend a couple days with us. We first went swimming and Ashley had a blast with her grandpa. We then went miniature golfing with my niece. The girls LOVED it until about the 12th hole then they got hot (it felt wonderful to us though especially since it was snowing in Utah when we left) and didn't really have much energy after that. It was fun. After golfing, we stopped by a casino right by our condo that has this huge aquarium inside. It was really neat; the girls really enjoyed it.

Ashley showing her love for her Grandpa

Excited to be starting out

Putting it in the hole

Our fam in front of the aquarium; Ashley wouldn't look. She was too raptured by all the fish.

On our last day there we went to the Lion Habitat at MGM's and then to the M&M World (very disappointing; it's just a big store!) After that we went over to my dad's condo timeshare that has water slides in addition to their pools. Emily couldn't get enough and went over, and over, and over, and over again! But it was a lot of fun. We then went out to dinner and headed back to Utah. Overall it was a fun spring break. There were a few glitches in a few of the plans but we were still able to relax and the girls loved it so that's all that really matters.

Ash under one of the big mama lions

Posing by the cute cubs

The fam with the show dancer M&M

Em doing her cute pose

We even met Jack Sparrow as we were leaving

Emily couldn't wear her life jacket, so they had a catcher. She did this numerous times then asked if she could do it without the catcher. She's just a beginning swimmer, but she did great! Way to go Emily!

Easter Egg Hunt part 3

On Easter evening, we went over to Kenny's parents house for Easter dinner and they usually put on another fun Easter egg hunt. This one is usually the funnest because it's low key and the big kids let the little ones (my girls) get the eggs. Then we take everything inside and split it up equally. It was once again a fun hunt and now we have WAY TOO MUCH candy!!!

Ashley finding her eggs

Em finding eggs

All the little cousins at the end of the hunt

Emily lookin for her Easter eggs (with just a little help from her dad)

Easter Morning

The time finally came for the girls: Easter morning! They were excited to see what Mom and Dad and the Easter bunny had brought them. (Mom and Dad give them a couple presents--puzzles, coloring books, paint kit--and the Easter Bunny brings the candy) They were actually the most excited about their Easter dresses and wanted to try them on instantly even though it was General Conference Sunday and we weren't going to church. That's why their hair is not looking the cutest. (Which I'm sure you probably wouldn't have noticed. That's a mom for you ;)

Ashley's basket, dress and other loot

Emily's

Modeling their Easter dresses

Making use of one of Emily's Easter gifts

The finished products--can you guess which ones Emily did and which one Ashley did? :)

Easter Egg Hunt part 1 and 2

Saturday, April 3 was the day of Easter egg hunts. We first went to the Lindon hunt to try it out. It was alright, but there were a lot of people there and not many eggs. The girls had fun though. As Emily kept saying, "It's now how many you get, it's if you have fun!" Great attitude, Em! We then headed over to our normal one at Discovery Park and were way early so the girls played on the playset for a little bit. Then about 5 minutes til 10 we went to our places. I don't know if it was the overcast weather or because it was General conference Saturday or what, but it was SO unbusy. They have the Easter egg hunt for the little ones in the tennis courts. There was only ONE other person in the whole half court we were in, so when the horn sounded, Ashley cleaned up! Her basket was overflowing. She of course had a blast as did Emily who also got quite a bit too. It was a fun morning leading to a wonderful week of General Conference, Easter, and Spring Break.

Ashley waiting for the Lindon egg hunt. She is just too cute with her smile pose that I had to include this pic. Plus she was VERY excited about the pink egg right in front of her.

Em and Ash after the Lindon Egg Hunt

Emily's eggs and basket after the Discovery Park hunt

Ashley's basket. Notice how overflowing it is. She cleaned up and was very excited! We didn't however take her basket away on the ride home and she had already eaten the candy out of 8 eggs by the time we got home! Oops!

General Conference

I know it was a week ago but I thought I'd make a quick entry about General Conference last week. I didn't hear every talk, but the talks I listened to were amazing. I found myself crying a lot because they all seemed to be about things that I have been struggling with or needing answers to. One talk that particularly struck me was Elder Ballard's talk from the Saturday morning session. It was called Mothers and Daughters. It talked about the great relationship of mothers and daughters and all we can do to strengthen these relationships. I adore being a mother and am so grateful to be blessed with two beautiful daughters. I want so badly to have a great relationship with them for a lifetime and beyond and I hope that I'm laying the foundation for that now! I know that I could always do better but I'm trying hard. All the talks were great, but this one was my favorite. I'm so grateful to the Lord for blessing us with prophets and apostles today. I'm so grateful for our Savior for dying for us and then being resurrected so we too can be. It was a great two days of conference and Easter.

I have included a link to the talk in case it made you curious to read it again:

http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1207-6,00.html

Oh, how I love these girls!!!

Discovery Gateway

Every year my school has the Children's museum come and do a cool science thing with my students. As they leave, they hand out free passes to Discovery Gateway for the kids. This year they changed the passes to a family pass which was way awesome, so we took advantage of the free passes and again went up there. Emily and Ashley always love it and ask to go again and again. It's a great Saturday as a family!

As you walk in there's this great ball area that the girls love. I've never gotten a good picture of Ash there, but this time I did.

Emily being a great helper and gathering balls for her and Ashley

Ashley found this stuffed Bambi upstairs. She also happened to have her blankie there, so she thought it was great to snuggle up on the bottom bookshelf for a "nap"

Emily playing with the magnetic blocks

This is another favorite: Daddy makes a big tower and the girls knock it down

Crazy Hair Day

Today at my school was Crazy Hair Day. So, this morning I was doing my hair crazy for school. Then the funny part of the morning happened. Emily came walking in and saw the back of my hair and said, "Mom, your hair looks so pretty!" I thought, "Well, okay." Then I turned around to say thank you and her eyes got big for a second and then she says, "Mom, your hair looks weird!" I agree Emily, but today is one of those days that it's okay to look crazy and weird and it's highly encouraged! Gotta love Crazy Hair Day.

P.S. This picture didn't quite do the "bang"section of my hair enough justice. It looked awesomely scary!