Mookster Chronicles...

Ah, the Mookster. She's such a fun girl to have around. She loves to be with friends and most of the time she is nice...

One of those 'nice' times.


She has always been a busy bee and I've tried to channel that energy. The most recent attraction for her is painting.

We've since moved on to water colors---much less messy.

Although, I've just learned I have to give into the mess!


I've realized if I don't channel that creative energy this little one is determined to find her own creative outlet, and she is persistent!

She has discovered makeup. She LOOOVES lipstick. If I forget to hide the lipstick or forget to lock the bathroom door I'm in trouble. I know she's up to no good when it gets very very quiet. Then I go hunting for her. She knows she's doing something wrong, so she hides. Sometimes she's under the bed, or in the closet, but lately it's been on the top of Dallin's bunk bed..



Ahh, so beautiful...


Yep, that is momma's lipstick...


Note the colorful painting on the headboard behind her...


It will be a miracle if this girl lives to be three.

We had a lot of fun dying Easter eggs with cousins. Dallin, Kaisa (friend), Reese, Brannen and Maura


The little ones really got into it

and the mess wasn't as big as I thought it would be.


Then we had to hide the eggs.


Love the bib Bran borrowed, he wouldn't take it off for the longest time!

For some reason I didn't take hardly any pictures the week my sister and her family were in town. It's very unlike me.

Luckily, Gina took a bunch and shared them with me!

For once, I'm in some of the pictures and is surprised my how much I look like my mom.


People say that to me all the time, but I never really could see it until these pics.

Guess that means I'm getting closer to her age...

Thanks, Gina for taking some great pics!

Mookie and Bran

Maura and Brannen got along so well this week! I was a little concerned as the Mookster can be kinda' rough, but Brannen held his own!


They really had a good time together at the zoo.

Showing off gum.



AWWWW, we'll keep this one for blackmail later.


Maura even let Bran borrow some dress-up clothes.


And her pink cowboy boots.

Feeding the ducks was a favorite. The weather was perfect and these two got so excited about chasing the birds.


Maura really loved having cousins here. She still asks "Where cousins, mom?".

A funny story about Maura and her new word "cousins". I was brushing her hair one morning and trying to distract her with the typical question; "Who slept in your hair?" (the usual response is kitties, or mousies, or doggies) "Cousins!" she replied.

Cousins

We had such a great time with family for a week.

Dallin especially loved having his cousins here.






It didn't matter what they were doing together, they had fun just being together.











We miss you already, cousins!

The zoo was one of my favorite things to do with my sister and her kids. Katie and Kevin came as well and took some good pics.

Maura got mauled by the goats and loved every minute of it. I finally had to drag her out of the petting area kicking and screaming.



Dallin was super good at feeding the lorrikeets. They really seemed to like him.


We all had a really great day together!

My sister and her family spent their spring break with us instead of weathering blizzards in Wyoming! It was a great time.

Gina and I planned and schemed and had so many fun things to do. I'm so glad they came!

On Friday Adam took the day off to hang out with us and we tried to brainstorm all the fun things we could do: Museums, hiking, park, etc... The boys vetoed everything we came up with. This is what they wanted to do on vacation...



Hours and hours of x-box.

Ahhh, love those vacations!

Dallin has a hard time playing with Maura. She's just so girly and so much younger than him it's difficult for him to figure out what to do with her.

When they do play well together I have to take a picture.



Dallin put his glasses on her and played on the slide with her for a really long time.

Dallin sure misses having his buddy Garrett around. I do too!

Celebrating Easter

I was a little confused about Easter this year. I just couldn't figure out which day it was on!

We had a lot of activities around Easter and it completely threw me off.

The last weekend in March we had our neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt and then our Easter program at church so naturally I assumed that weekend was Easter. NOT. The activities had been moved up because of General conference that was held on Easter Sunday. Totally messed me up.

We still had a terrific time!

The neighborhood Breakfast and Egg hunt was a blast (as always).

We are so lucky to have such wonderful big girls in our neighborhood that help with our kids.

All the little ones lined up and ready to go...

Dallin was off finding his own eggs and as I went to take a picture of him the battery in my camera died...bummer.

He did get a chance to hunt for eggs in our back yard after the Easter Bunny left some on Easter Sunday morning.

Maura was a typical two year old. Each time she would get an egg she would open it and eat the candy before looking for another.


Dallin was helpful in filling her basket.

They each got a basket full of prizes on Sunday morning.

We were also spoiled by Aunt Joy again! She sent us the cutest little decorated cookies for Dallin and Maura. Thanks Aunt Joy!

The best part about Easter Sunday was sitting with my family watching General Conference. We really had a good day together.

I've been AWOL....

For some reason I just can't get my act together long enough to do any blogging.

We've had so much fun lately. Spring break, then back to school, then visitors from Wyoming for a week so we feel like we had Spring break twice!

Sadly, I only got my camera out one time during the entire visit. How lame is that?? My loverly sister will send me pics, so I'll just do it later.


One thing I had to write before I forgot was Dallin's soccer practice yesterday. He joined AZSC this season and is really enjoying the practices.

Yesterday they got their uniforms and picked their numbers. The jerseys are BRIGHT green. The boys were trying to decide what to call themselves and the coach was holding back letting them choose.

The moms (of course) were offering suggestions; "Jolly Green Giants", "The Godzilla's", and "Green Lanterns" we said. The boys replied, "We're not four!!". So, we stopped offering suggestions and asked what they wanted to be called.

After some debate one boy said "I know, The Green Apples!" "YEAH" was the resounding chorus.

The coach stopped it right there and suggested we go home and think about it before practice tomorrow.

Dallin still thinks The Green Apples would be a great name. Frankly, I prefer The Granny Smiths.

Hee hee hee ha ha ha