Birthdays and Easter and Concerts, Oh My!

Yay Spring! Bring on the warmer weather and end-of-school-year events.

Easter being so early this year (March 31st!) threw me for a loop. Nevertheless, we had a great Easter egg hunt activity at the church. Dan was in charge of the egg hunt, and he went all out--hiding eggs in the hardest places, even on the ceiling of the gym. However, like all egg hunts, it was over in 4 seconds flat. I went to get my phone to take a pic of the hunters, but it was already over. Next year, we are going to make it an obstacle course so that the kids can work a bit harder.

First we had a lesson about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We also had an Easter hunt with our neighbors, and the kids made out like bandits. I think we had 7 kids hunting and over 200 eggs. I didn't feel one bit of guilt eating all of my favorite chocolates out of the kids' eggs from this hunt.

Easter Sunday:
 

And we had our last supper the night before.

That poor dog cannot get away from these kids. He wishes he were an only child.

Easter is the best holiday. I am so grateful for the Savior and that He suffered and died for us and then was resurrected the third day. Every year, this means more and more to me.

June turned 12 on March 26th, and it's just the most ridiculous thing. I mean, she's had teenager attitude since she was born, but it's crazy to think she's actually almost a teenager now.

Her birthday fell on the craziest Tuesday since Mardi Gras began. We drive to a co-op 45 minutes away every Tuesday. I came home from the gym, yelled at everyone to get up, and June wanted chocolate chip pancakes. It was her birthday, so I couldn't say no. This made me very late. Beck kept complaining of a hurting tum tum, and I kept ignoring him as I am wont to do with sick kids because I find sickness very inconvenient. 

I threw some chicken in the crockpot and plugged it in, and my crockpot made a loud popping sound and some fiery thing happened, and then I reached for the cord, and it was no longer attached to the crockpot. There went my dinner plans. 

I finally got everyone into the car, along with cupcakes for June's Creative Writing class, and we started the 45-minute drive. Then Beck started throwing up, and I pulled over and helped him puke on the side of the freeway. This happened several times on the way. I kept trying to turn around, and then June would bawl her eyes out about not being able to take her cupcakes to her Creative Writing class, so then I would keep driving to co-op with no plan on what I was going to do when I got there because I obviously couldn't have a puking child there with me the whole day.

We arrived at co-op, and a friend offered to bring my girls home. The boys and I drove back home and had a quiet day while the girls were able to attend their classes.

June was thrilled to receive the Notebook of Doom series from Grandma Sandy, and a couple more charms for her charm bracelet from Grandma Kristi.

She also wears a pearl necklace every day, including when she wears her favorite workout clothes.

The three older kids had their final choir concert for the school year.

The kids did an amazing job. There is nothing cuter than little Harris and his primary choir singing their guts out. The girls are in the junior choir (upper elementary), and the choir sings two different parts for all of the songs. So impressive. The middle school choir is quite good, and the high school choir is amazing. They sang John Rutter's Requiem, and it made me want to keep my kids in choir for years, even though the last week leading up to the concert is always biiiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy.

Harris did a great job for a long time, and then eventually made his way to where I was sitting as a parent monitor for the middle school choir and told me he was so tired. I found an empty pew and told him to go to sleep, and he actually did in about 30 seconds.

The next day was his birthday party, and we had about 40 people over. We had hot dogs, chips, cake and ice cream, and a pinata full of candy. The party was supposed to be at a park, specifically for the reason that my house was a mess. But of course we had fantastic weather all week, and then the day of the party was cold and windy, and we moved the party to our house. I was cleaning like a psycho banshee and was barely ready to go when the first people showed up. Alas, the party was still fun at our house, and Harris loved it.

He begged me for a watch that would be waterproof, and all he has done since receiving it is show it to everyone. He thinks it's pretty special, and I'm glad that a $16 watch from Amazon still does the trick for him.

Miscellany.

Gwen's bestie talked her into a return from her soccer retirement this season. She's enjoying it more than other seasons. This is Gwen's fourth season playing soccer, and she had never had ONE win EVER until last Saturday. They won, and I yelled more loudly than any parent should at a soccer game for 9-year-olds. But then they lost in a major way yesterday. But we will hold on to that one "W" forever.

My favorite yard with the purple phlox has been looking wonderful. I'm sure the people at this house think we are weird that we take this picture every year.

We went on the most amazing field trip of Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster. This year's show is "Daniel", and we were able to see the set, many of the props, and some of the animals in the huge show. 

Beck continues to get a hold of my phone and take zillions of pictures like this.

Gwen's violin studio played at a nursing home today. She is halfway through Suzuki Book 2!

Church today.

Best Quote of the Week. Gwen threw a 2-liter of root beer across the table at dinner today. I yelled at her to stop and asked her why the heck she would do such a thing. With serious eyes, she told me, "You never told me I shouldn't do that."

I must go now and type up a list of the zillions of things my kids should never do.

The End.