Monday, April 9, 2012

Easter Morn


Happy Easter!


Things kicked off a bit sluggishly...

can you blame the Easter Bunny for being tired?


But it's always worth it!

Love those early morning smiles!


After a wonderful Sacrament Meeting,
we met up with my family for Easter Brunch,
and later we met up with Samuel's family for Easter Supper!

Talk about a feast!


And last but not least,
a good ol' fashioned egg hunt!

...

Easter, for us,
is a celebration of our Savior, Jesus Christ,
of family,
and of love!

We hope you had a wondeful day too!



Saturday, April 7, 2012

Lazy Park Days







Love, love, love
lazy days!

And the piece de resistance?

Playing to the very last coin...

and winning!

Go, mom!

{Sorry, Bella!}


Friday, April 6, 2012

The Classic Easter Egg Hunt

We love visiting the Wyllie Home
for their annual Easter Egg Hunt!

The wide open spaces,
the green grass...
it beckons:

"Hide your eggs here!"

And hide them we do!

The kids go nuts,
the adults relax,
we all puzzle over that last
missing egg...

It's wonderful!

HAPPY EASTER!




It's nearly time...


Anxiously waiting...


And their off!


My beautiful girls!


Owen


Gabriel


Strategizing...


Sometimes things don't go your way...


But we ended on smiles.

Thanks, Dad!

...

And thanks to the Wyllie Family!



A replay of the action...


Thursday, April 5, 2012

83 years!

Happy 83rd Birthday, Grandma Lopez!

We loved celebrating with you!









Beautiful!


I couldn't NOT include my monster shot.

This was in frustration to the seemingly
endless amount of photos we had to take in which
everyone was still or almost smiling!

Love this crazy bunch!


Wednesday, April 4, 2012



Oh, the trials of youth!

To not be able to climb all the way up to the top bunk-
let alone climb down...

Of course this was a temporary setback,
like most challenges are,
and days later,
guess who was triumphantly shouting from the top bunk
and taking swings at the ceiling fan?

Oy!

Saturday, March 31, 2012

General Conference Weekend



Conference was amazing,
and as usual,
we were all looking forward to it!

Big family breakfasts...
pj's all the live long day...
snugging on the couch...

But most importantly,
listening to living prophets and apostles!

It's a miracle,
and I'm blessed to share this with my family.

Check out the highlights here!

You won't regret it!


Thursday, March 29, 2012

Happy Birthday, Samuel!



The big 3 - 3 finally came for Samuel and
all I can say is,

"Good grief!  Thank goodness it's here!"

As much as I love celebrating how many wonderful
years he has graced this earth...
every...single...year
(because I'm older by two weeks),
he gloats about how he's a whole year younger than me!

Do your math, buddy!

Even if I have to say I'm 33
and you get to say your 32
-I'm still only two weeks older!

Anyway...
his birthday wouldn't be the same without this
annual back and forth,
and truly,

"Happy Birthday, Samuel!"

I love you, hon!

This year was a bit unconventional for us
in that I was away for the big day in Bakersfield, California.

My grandma's nephew passed away and
I drove her and my little sister down for the funeral.
It was a wonderful opporunity to visit
family that I haven't seen since I was a little girl,
and to be able to spend time with my grandma and sister
was priceless!

What to do about the homefront though?

Well the day before I left,
I baked my buns off and 
gave the girls the secret mission of carrying
on the festivities without momma!

I am so proud of those girls!

They put the finishing touches on a 
hearty lasagna dinner,
wrapped dad's gifts,
AND
served Samuel's favorite chocolate cake for dessert! 

They are wondeful little momma's!

And the boys,
they played their part well too!
Keeping daddy busy with their escapades so
the girls could finish up!
...

When I got home the next day,
there was nothing but hugs and kisses
from all but one...
Gabriel!

He refused to look at me,
or let me hold him!

He was so, so upset with me for leaving!

I apologized and
told him I was home now,
and only then did he crawl into my arms!

What a sweetie! 

I love my brood!


Saturday, March 17, 2012

Graceful Ballerinas?


My sister, Julia,
is in an advanced ballet class
and recently learned how to
be lifted gracefully as part of her routine.

The kiddos, of course,
went crazy trying to do the same thing,
and Samuel,
the unfortunate counterpart,
nearly keeled over after hefting them
time and time again.

The worst, by far,
was Isabella!

Who crumpled the moment he
touched her waist!

The best?

Gabriel!
He was a natural!

All my money is on that guy!
Maybe we'll see him in Swan Lake someday...
Though that would be a bit awkward since
he'd be the one being lifted...

Anyway,
great fun!

Tons of good pictures and
many, many laughs!


Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

I know how to catch leprachauns...


Let's just say it involves...


Sugar!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Rain



Love this girl!