April Celebrations

To break up April a little bit I thought I would do all of the fun celebrations in this post and the random April stuff in another!

To start off the month Taylor turned 11 on the 4th.  She had a few friends (and sisters too) over to hang out and we were also able to visit with a few cousins.  It's always fun to celebrate a birthday!!  :)

On April 17th Taylor was involved in what is called the "Hope of America"!  Talk about a celebration!  This is the 2nd one of these that we have been to and it is really pretty amazing!  All of the 5th graders in the school district getting together to celebrate our country and our freedom!  Our school got to be part of the star part of the flag this year.  Click to see Last year where Kaylee was the outer yellow edge.  Taylor had a great time and it turned into a great date night for Matt and I!  :) 

The 21st of April was our 14th anniversary.  It's a busy time of year and tough to ditch kids and get away.  I remember this particular day was just busy and I was afraid the kids were gonna be upset if we left them for the evening.  I was also trying to really be good about eating and exercising (it goes in spurts) so I didn't want to eat out...or go to a movie...and be tempted by the popcorn and soda.  I was being difficult...why in the world has he stuck with me for 14 years?  Anyway...Matt is amazing!  He totally got the kids on bored for a surprise for me.  They cleaned up and got their dinner ready, so that Matt could take me on a quick hike up to the "G" in Pleasant Grove.  While at the "G" he pulled out Subway and some drinks and it was the perfect little anniversary getaway!  It was just simple, but also just what I needed during such a crazy time of year!  I am so thankful when he (and the kids) can totally sense my stress and know how to just get things done so I don't have to worry and fret!

And the final celebration was Easter!  We did all of the normal traditions.  Egg dying, a picture in the hall first thing Easter morning before a little Easter egg hunt!  And then a Sunday picture right after church before kids ran off to change clothes!

 

 

I love these pictures, first with just the girls and then all of them in their Sunday Easter best!  We don't often do the new outfit thing for Easter, but the girls have been needing new stuff for a while so we thought this would be perfect!  I sure love this family and walking to 9am church and then having the rest of the day together!  I love the simple celebration that Easter is!  I love to be able to really think about our Savior and His atonement and what it means to me as a mother and a wife and a person.  I'm thankful for these little celebrations that make us all happy and smile and remind us that yes, we are getting older, but that life is fun and good and hmmm...even full of laughter!  (Matt must've been up to something behind me while I was taking the picture!)  :)