* * LAST MINUTE * * * Easter Egg Hunt * *


We just went to an Easter Egg Hunt which was a very last minute thing!! I was updating my calendar for upcoming events and noticed the egg hunt I wanted to go to was going to happen not only on that day but in ten minutes!! We just finished eating a relaxing late breakfast now I'm running up the stairs to get Clayton, me, and Hayden all dressed and shoved in the car so they could have a fun time picking up eggs and candy that I'll probably have to pick up after them in our own house later. We arrived at 9:58 just in time for it all to start WHEW!!

Coloring Eggs!!!














Coloring Eggs is always so much fun!! We like to try new tricks with ours and put stickers and rubber bands on our eggs to take off and reveal all sorts of white lines or spots!! This year Clayton wanted to make faces for the eggs. They turned out pretty funny!!

DREAMS * DREAMS * DREAMS

Clayton usually has something either very silly or suprisingly profound to say throughout our days. When I hear "Mom, I had a dream last night", my first thought is " I wonder if it was Spiderman that he watched last night to give him nightmares or maybe that weird character on the animated series of Batman. . .hmmm" But this was not a nightmare of Clayton's it was one of his many magical dreams he seems to have. His dream according to Clayton:


"I was walking down a big road that was filled with fruit. I had to pick up the fruit so know one would slip or fall or anything. Then I saw Jesus and he had a huge bag! A really big one and he had tons of fruit in it and was sharing with everyone around him . . . and then I woke up."

What can I say his dreams are cool! When I asked Clayton about his dream again today he said "Jesus threw that dream away and said I could have a new one later."

There are a few tactics I use when Clayton does have a bad dream (which is not that often
-- even when I think he should because he saw some clip of something crazy while we channel surfed the TV) First, I tell him if he is having a hard time going to sleep then he should pray to Heavenly Father and ask him to help him be calm and have good dreams. It has to be something very disturbing to Clayton to have to do anything beyond that but then we bring out the "Dream your in CANDY LAND" bit where I tell Clayton he can eat anything he sees. His blanket becomes a huge marshmallow and his bed posts strawberry licorice. He loves talking about the Chocolate River that goes from his closet down the hall. He rides his horse Tutor to the Magic Rainbow where Jelly Belly candies fall from the sky!!

I love kids and their ability to soak everything up. The best part is when they really do get something important that you taught them and they are doing it all on their own ... like prayers.

Another dream of Clay's was when it was raining at night and Clayton said Jesus was outside his window watching over him just to make sure he didn't get wet.
It's good to know Clay thinks alot on Jesus and is trying to Choose The Right! AWESOME!!

"Cut not the wings of your dreams, for they are the heartbeat and the freedom of your soul."

Ahh Temples!!



My husband and I have recently attended the Chicago Temple for one of our ward temple days and everytime I do I am so grateful for Temples and their purposes. They are not only beautiful both on the outside and throughout the entire inside; but it is what they stand for and the feeling you get each and everytime you attend, so I guess that is why I say Ahhh Temples!!

They are best place to feel peace and comfort especially when things are crazy. Nathan and I were married in the Idaho Falls Temple, and Idaho is where I grew up so it will always have a special meaning to me! The Temple on the River.

Shedd Aquarium Fun!!


My kids love anything that has to do with animals!! Hayden was fascinated with the sea horses and turtles!! We went with our little cousins from Chicago and Clay really liked being the oldest one and showing the other kids what all the fish were about!! All the kids were smiling and clapping especially when the dolphins were jumping and showing off all their tricks!! Such a Blast!!

Clay such a chesser

Dolphin Show

the rock seating was a little tough on our back sides thou!!!!

Here is the crew Hayden . . . Clayton . . . Shayna . . . and . . . Jordan !! I love it when kids get together and just have so much fun!! After Hayden saw the FROGS he was jumping around and saying RIBBIT RIBBIT RIBBIT

Winter Winter Winter!!

It is definitely winter here in Chicago, on a day when it wasn't Bone Chillin Cold the boys played in the snow while I shoved the driveway. Making a snowmand is always a must with good wet snow!! We couldn't find any rocks to use for Frosty's eyes so I ran inside and grabbed some OREO COOKIES; but as you can tell from the pictures I didn't fool Hayden one bit . . . or should I say BITE!!