Utah!

We made a quick trip to Utah to bring my mom home after she drove up with Merrie (Merrie is moving to Utah to work and go to school!)  I made the trip up on my own with both kids in tow...apparently I'm insane! The trip really wasn't too bad, aside from a million potty breaks!  The kids watched movies and slept most of the trip!  We stayed at my aunt's house while we were there, it was fun to see everyone!!

We got to do a lot of fun things while we were there!  We went to a really neat mall in Salt lake City!  There was a huge out door fountain and at different times during the day there were water shows set to music! 

The mall also had a Disney store!!!!  Matthew and Lilly had a blast in the playing with all the toys!!

There was also this really cute castle inside the store!!

 Matthew calls my cousin Sarah "his big Sarah" 

We got to visit a lot of family while we were there and the kids got to meet a lot of new cousins!!  They had so much fun!!

 Matthew and Lilly meeting there newest cousin Samuel!

We also go to go to Cabela's!!  Which is something I've wanted to do for awhile!!  Matthew loved the aquarium, and all the animals!! 

After Cabela's we headed over to Ikea, also a first for me!!  We had fun looking around at all the neat things they had at Ikea and even had dinner there!

 Lilly enjoying the ribs at Ikea!!

They have splash pads everywhere in Utah, which is something that Matthew loves!!  So on one of our last days there we went to an outdoor mall (Which had two separate splash pads!!) so the kids could have some fun in the water!!  We met some cousins there and the kids had a great time!!

Heading home was bitter sweet!  I was really ready to get home and see Rick, but sad to leave Merrie behind! 

We got home right before Matthew's actual birthday, We celebrated his real birthday at home with a small cake and Matthew's favorite food, spaghetti!  We also did some last minute shopping for Matthew's birthday party!

  

After being away for a week the kids had to get in some pool time!

Summer's on it's way!

May has pretty much been a blur of random moments!  The kids have started swimming!  It's still a bit too cold for me but we can't seem to keep them out of the water! Lilly is fast approaching the terrible twos and it shows!  She is a mess always throwing fits and tantrums!  

   

Matthew and Lilly love to go to the park downtown.  There's no sand, lots of fun toys, and ducks!  I like it cause it's nice and close to our house, and there is lots of shade!

  

When we can't make it Grandma and Grandpa's to swim the kids love to run through the sprinklers!!

Matthew and Lilly love to play with Grandpa!!  Matthew's favorite game these days is tag, and one of his favorite tag partners is Grandpa! 

We have taken Matthew to a few plays lately, and he does pretty well for a little boy his age!  It also gives us a chance to have alone time with him. (Lilly gets her alone time when Matthew goes to Grandma's to spend the night or do school type things.)    

Matthew and Rick are so much alike!! (It's kinda crazy!)

 Lilly is still very much a daddy's girl! This picture was taken one morning as Rick was leaving for work.  Most morning's this is what happens, she watches him leave from the window and stays in that exact position and cries for him to come back...it's not that she doesn't like me it's just that she really likes her daddy.
(Lilly waiting for daddy to come home)

 Another of Lilly's many tantrums! 

And last certainly not least, Merrie aka Auntie Momo graduated from high school!!  We are so proud of her!!  We all attended her graduation at the Fox Theater and the went for ice cream at Dewars after!!

Easter

Matthew and Lilly had a blast this Easter!!  I love that they are both at an age where they really enjoy holidays!  This year our mom and tots group from church had an Easter party a few days before the big day!

We had an Easter egg hunt, the kids played and made cute bunny ears!  Matthew willingly posed for a picture but I couldn't get Lilly to wear hers. (There was also face painting but neither of my kids wanted anything to do with that.)

After we came home from our party there was a package waiting for the kids from their Grandma Bev!  The package was full of Easter goodies!!  Matthew was so excited he loves to get mail!!!

The night before Easter Sunday we colored eggs!  We always do it in the yard so that the kids don't have to worry about making a big mess, and they can really enjoy the experience! 

One of the goodies out of Grandma's package was this cute little bag of Jelly beans, with instructions to bury the beans and something will grow over night!

  

Matthew was so excited to give the beans a try!  He buried the beans in a little planter and couldn't wait till the next morning!

The next morning the first thing out of Matthew's mouth was, "did something grow!"

After seeing what the Easter Bunny Brought and getting ready for church we checked the beans!  And Matthew was thrilled to see that two flower shaped lolly pops had grown where we had plated the beans!!

After church we went over to my parents for an Easter lunch and an egg hunt!

  

(Lilly with her chocolate bunny!!)

Auntie Momo helped Lilly find eggs!!

While Grandma helped Matthew find eggs!!

We had a very enjoyable Easter!!  Matthew has really started to understand the religious roots surrounding certain holidays!  We have a book for children that explains the true meaning behind Easter with quotes from the scriptures, Matthew loves for me to read it to him and then he tries to retell it to me!