Easter Weekend

The weekend events...there were many

This picture is for my parents. Zenock and Ammon's chocolate milk mustaches. Dad, as you can see they do drink from the bottom of the cup.
We went boating on Lake Mead with Ronny, Cicely, and their families on Saturday. This is a picture of the lake side of Hoover Dam.

Brady is on the tube. In the boat are Maddie, Christa, and Cicely.

More of Brady. He was the first to get in the cold water, and try as he might, Ronny couldn't dump him off the tube.

We were in the bow of the boat.

Dying eggs after lunch on Sunday.

Sunday afternoon/evening we had a family party. Debbie and Roger made a wonderful Easter meal and then the kids got to wack a pinata. There was one for the boys and one for the girls so that each kid got one of everything. Instead of normal pinata candy there were fruit rollups, pez, laffy taffy, a monster truck toy, a foamy/spongy expandable in water race car, and some other fun treats. That's my idea of a pinata. Much better than loading the kids up on just candy.

Ammon giving a few good wacks.

Dividing the loot.

And who knew the evening would end in a pool party? It started with Sage and Max getting thrown in the pool with their clothes on, and then my kids were begging to go swimming. So we let them go in their underwear while I went home for suits and towels. They thought it was the best thing ever. And I loved that the heater was turned on in the pool. Thank you Debbie!!

Artwork

Zenock decided our wall wasn't exciting enough. So two weeks ago he did this with one crayon in about 5 minutes. This is what happens if I decide to use the bathroom, or brush my teeth, or blow-dry my hair, or anyting else that means the kids aren't supervised at all times.
Lovely, don't you think? How much would this go for on ebay? Should I post the starting bid at $100,000? The description would say something like: wall of art, created by three-year-old crayon prodigy. Once in a lifetime opportunity for personal, professional artwork done right in your own home. But don't tell the landlord, he/she might get mad...oh brother!!
I tried my sister's idea to use WD40 to take it off, but it doesn't work so well on crappy flat paint. So this week I am trying the magic eraser. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll ask the manager for some paint and fix it myself so we don't have to pay a fee. Kids are the best, aren't they? Most of the time?

Warning

Breakfast

This morning Ammon asked me: "If I eat an English muffin will it make me speak better? What language do we speak?" I said English, then Ammon: "So eating muffins makes me speak English better. Yeah, I want an English muffin for breakfast." I tried so hard not to laugh. And he says the cutest prayers too. Last night the missionaries were over for dinner, and it was Ammons turn to say prayer. I couldn't get through it without giggling. Oh man, the missionaries must have thought we were so disrespectful, but really we just have a lot of fun...right?

Graduation

Saturday we got up at 5am to drive to Phoenix for my graduation from Capella University. We got there just in time for check-in and rehearsal because we hit major road construction and had to detour around an accident on the freeway. While I was getting lined up the boys ate a quick lunch and graduation started at 2pm. It was over by 3:30, and we were on our way to an early dinner at 4. Brady took me to The Old Spaghetti Factory. It was wonderful food, and nice to eat somewhere new and different that we all liked. They had a trolley with dining tables inside in the middle of the restaraunt, and we were seated right in front of it. The boys thought it was pretty cool that there was a train inside the building. We got back on the road shortly after 5, and we were home by 10:30 and asleep before 11. It was a very long day, and we were all exhausted, but it was really fun, and I am glad we went. The ceremony was way informal compared to BYU-Idaho graduation, and I think that made it more fun for everyone. There were people shouting and jumping while walking accross the stage. It was fun to watch! Phoenix is a lot closer than Minneapolis for graduation, so we were able to just do a day trip. I finally feel recooperated this morning.
This is a goofy picture because I was waving at the boys.

Stiches

Last Sunday night we all went to have dessert at Brady's mom's house. Right before we were going to leave Ammon was running and hit his head really hard on the corner of an end table in the hall. We was screaming and when Brady went to see what happened there was blood all over Ammon's hands. Brady looked at it, and sure enough, he needed stiches because it was laying open and wouldn't stop bleeding...as all head wounds bleed like crazy. It was 8pm, and we couldn't find an urgent care place still open, so I got in the back with Ammon and Brady was on the way to the ER. We really didn't want to be at the hospital all night, nor pay the insane bill. And then Brady's mom called to tell us to take him to someone in her ward who could stitch him up. So we were able to get him all fixed up in less than an hour, and he is doing so well. He never had a headache or effects from a concussion that night or the next day. I am so grateful there are wonderful people who are willing to help others in a time of need. That experience has made Brady wonder if he shoud change his major and try for Physician Assistant school, or something else in the medical field, so we'll see what comes of that. Ammon got his stitches out on Friday, and he is healing well.

Nascar

Ammon and Brady got to go to the Nascar race at Las Vegas Speedway on February 27th with Ronny. These are the pictures Brady took.

One of the fighter jets that flew over the race to get it started

Brady says this is his dream car, well...at least the color. He says he wants a minivan that color.

Ammon wanted Brady to take a picture of this pink car to show me because pink is my favorite color.

The boys have a toy of this car, so Ammon thought it was cool to see the real one.

Pictures of the actual race. More racing.

Food and other fun stuff

So yesterday it actually snowed here. Not for very long, of course, but it was still snow. I just wanted to share that with everyone! And I heard someone saying that a few years ago there was only one day of rain the entire year, so this year we have totally beat that out of the water. I keep meaning to watch the news on the internet after a rainstorm so I know what the precip total is for the year, but I keep forgetting. Sometimes I wish we had cable!

Tonight we made fajitas for dinner. Brady pounded and rubbed the chicken with kickin' chicken seasoning and then grilled it. I sliced green, orange, and yellow peppers and sauteed them in dried minced onions, Mrs. Dash, and some nonstick spray. Man oh man, those were the best fajitas I have ever had, at least homemade! And it was so easy and fast to put together. The kids loved eating the peppers, and tonight Zenock actually finished before Ammon. I owe a huge thanks to our friends and old neighbors, the Rankins, for introducing us to this awesome seasoning. We use it all the time...especially since we have figured out how to grill chicken evenly and still keep the moisture in. I love grilling during the winter!!

We had a great day today, and tomorrow should be good too. Ammon is excited about preschool tomorrow because it is show-and-tell day. He is taking his material handler toy Santa brought him for Christmas this year. Brady asked him why he wants to take that toy and he said, "because I have been asking for a material handler for a year and I finally got one!" He's so funny! I hope it is warmer outside than today so we can do some more bikeriding or something. Sometimes I wish we lived in a regular house so we could ride around the block...maybe later this year, who knows?

Temple

We went to the temple this morning, and after Brady took me to lunch at In-n-Out. I overheard a grandmother and grandson talking next to me, and the little boy said, "so Grandma, what you're telling me is there is no such thing as fat people?" I tried so hard not to laugh. Kids are so dang cute, and sometimes what comes out of their mouths is so funny. I could just picture Ammon saying the same thing. We've had a great day!

By the way, I just wanted to say that living further south definitely has it's benefits. It is so nice outside today...we have the windows in the house open today, and I was actually sweating when riding with Brady on the motorcyle to lunch. Spring is here in Las Vegas! Maybe I shouldn't speak too soon though, it's supposed to rain later today.

Lions

A while ago we went to see the lion habitat at MGM. I finally figured out how to get pictures from my phone to the computer, so here are the fun pics. The first one is a glass enclosed tunnel people can walk under.

Fremont Street

A couple of weeks ago we went down to Fremont Street to see what the Fremont Street Experience is all about. Basically it's an outdoor mall with tourist trap shops and the world's largest TV screen on the ceiling. While we were walking around we got to see the TV in action. They did a spaceship/alien thing with fighter jets getting rid of the enemy ship. It was really cool.

In the last week or so...

We have been doing a lot of things here in the free category. This is Zenock and Ammon on the free tram from the Mirage to Treasure Island. We never actually got off the tram, just rode it back and forth a couple times. Kids loved it.

This is the free outdoor volcano at Mirage...before

After

Playing at McLoud Park

The kids favorite slide. This is Izabella and Gabriella, I babysit them during the week.

My family came to visit during president's day weekend. We took them to Hoover Dam...so fun! This is Kalina and Abby with Zz on the Arizona side

My dad and Zz in Arizona

And Arizona side of Hoover Dam

Ammon, my mom, Abby, and Kalina in the visitor's center
And one of my favorite Vegas attractions, the Belagio fountains. We saw those Sunday night...in fact 3 shows in a row. It was worth the wait. I love that there are free things like this to do here. For me it never gets old. I am so glad my parents and sisters could come see us. We had so much fun, and I can't wait until next time!!