Easter 2013

We have had a lovely day today with family!

We always do our "Easter Bunny" stuff on Saturday so last night

we opened our Easter baskets and did a new version or an egg hunt

 My parents used to do this type of egg hunt with us as we became older

or first married.  We loved it because we would walk away with some extra money :)

We just put the eggs in the center of the room.  If you touch it, you pick it.

Everyone got to open 8 eggs filled with money, ranging from $1 to $5

 Everyone seemed to do pretty well :)

 Easter pictures taken after church...

 Maddie and Brayden

We had dinner with my parents and Cody's family this afternoon and then

we all met up at my parents for their egg hunt.

 My mom felt bad because some kids got more money then others

so she gave everyone an extra $20!

 The Grandma and Grandpa with their grandkids (minus 4 that are in Texas)

Happy Birthday to Me!

Last Sunday was my birthday and Dave and I had fun celebrating!

Dave spoiled me by buying me a Blendtec!  We have been making smoothies like crazy!

Then we headed to Salt Lake and stayed at the Grand America Hotel! 

It was so beautiful and such a fun hotel!

 

A Trax station was right out front of the hotel.  We rode it for the first time.

We were able to ride it 5 blocks to temple square and tour all around.

Here's Dave at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

 Us in the lobby...

 Sunday morning we got up early and went to the live taping of

Music and the Spoken Word.   I love the old tabernacle.

 

When we got home, the kids surprised me with fun gifts!

Talbie gave me the Les Miserables DVD and Emmie made this cute card.

Congratulations Talbie!

For the past 3 years Talbie has attended the Teen Author Boot Camp

that UVU sponsors.  This is a great event where they have many of the top authors for teens

come and they speak to the kids and have contests.  This year some of the featured authors were

Shanon Hale and Aprilynne Pike.

They have a contest every year where kids can submit a first chapter of a future

book.  Talbie has entered all 3 years and does a little better each year.

She has become such a terrific writer and has such an imagination.  She also has a great love for the

Civil War and that was the theme of her chapter this year.

She had Dave read it and I helped her edit it.  We were so excited when we picked her up at

the end of the day and she had won 3rd place!  So great!!

This is a picture right after she told us the great news!  She won some candy

and free books :)  So very proud!!

Emmie's Recent Trip to the Hospital

Sweet Emmie gets sick so easily.  She spends the majority

of her life stuffy and congested.  She's been this way since she was born because of

her IGA Immune Deficiency.  This causes her immune system to be a little

sluggish.  She's a real trooper though and doesn't let it get her down.

On Thursday night we had to make a trip to the ER because she was having a hard time breathing.

She didn't have croup or a bad cough that usually accompanies a tight chest.  I was afraid she

was getting pneumonia so we wanted to get a chest Xray.

After a couple of hours and a couple of trips to the bathroom to throw up -

we finally arrived back home around 4:30 am.

They couldn't confirm it was pneumonia so she didn't get on an antibiotic, which is probably

good since she is on them so often.

She has felt pretty good during the day but for the past 3 nights, we have been up

for 2-3 hours with coughing fits that have been difficult to stop.  Last night was her best

night in many so I'm hoping tonight she will get a good night's rest (and me too ;)

Court of Honor - Life Award

A couple of weeks ago we had a court of honor and Bronson

received 2 merit badge awards and his Life.

We are on our way!  2 more merit badges and then an Eagle project!

We can do it!!

Times like this I'm glad I only have 1 boy :)

 Bronson, Logan, and Brock (I hate blurry iphone photos!)

Happy "Heart" Day and Emmie's 11th Bday

Our sweet Emmaline is 11 years old today!

We love her so much!  She is growing into a beautiful young woman!!

Even though she's 11, she's not too old for birthday streamers

on her door ;)

 For Valentine's Day I made heart shaped pancakes for breakfast

and gave everyone a little Valentine.

 Emmie's Activity Day leaders made her this darling pillow.

Thanks Sister Vance and Sister Kunz!

 2 days ago, I helped her celebrate her birthday with grandma and grandpa Christensen

by going to The Pizza Factory - her favorite restaurant.

 Last night for dinner, we had heart shaped pizzas!

 Emmie and her Valentine box from today.

Our biggest celebration was hearing that Lindsey Bingham was getting her new heart today!  The Bingham's are a family from Baker, Oregon.  Dave has known Jason (the dad), since he was a kid.

The Bingham's have 5 children, who all share the same genetic heart defect.  6 years ago

their oldest daughter, Sierra, had a heart transplant and has been doing pretty well ever since.

Lindsey, the 3rd in the family, has been in the hospital in California since July, waiting for her day to come, when a heart would be a perfect match for her.  

That day was today!  I have been an emotional wreck all day - crying or on the verge of tears.  

We have been praying and fasting for their family for a long time. Emmie has been very concerned over Lindsey - probably because they are close to the same age and Emmie knows what it's like to be in the hospital.  Emmie couldn't have asked for a better birthday present today!

If you want to follow the Bingham family - you can read their blog.   The link is at the side of my blog - with all of the other blogs I follow.

Pray for them!!

 

Dave gave me these 2 beautiful rings for Valentine's Day ;)

I never wear my real wedding ring because I'm always afraid something will happen to it.  I only wear it for special occasions.  I like to have a variety of other rings I can wear on my ring finger.  These are now 2 of my favorites!!

 

Maddie's AVEDA Graduation Announcement

Maddie is officially graduated and working in her first salon!

I'm so proud of all her hard work!

Preference 2013

On January 26, 2013 0 Talbie and a group of friends went to the 

Preference dance at OHS.  They had a lot of fun!

For the day date, they went to Classic Skating and roller skated

and play at their new fun center.

That night, they went to La Jolla Groves for dinner, to the dance,

and then back to our house for ice cream sundaes!

I was nominated to be their group's photographer.

I have a nice camera, but that doesn't mean that I know how to use it!

The other dilemma was that we didn't know where to go for pictures.

Talbie decided that we should go to my office because it has a nice lobby.

I think it worked out great!

Here is Talbie and Preston

 The guys...

 The girls...

 The whole group.

 When Preston answered Talbie, he came to school with a big

bouquet of yellow daisies and gave them to her.  It was so pretty!

 

 This is how Talbie asked Preston.  They have a sign language class together.

Talbie wore one of Maddie's dresses to Preference

CLICK HERE to see Maddie wear it originally :)