Renaissance Festival

Awhile ago
our little family
had an obsession
with Merlin.
So going to the Renaissance Festival
was going to be awesome.

A jousting competition . . .

By a bridge . . .

 A slide after the maze . . .

A butterfly ride . . .
Do you think Macie liked it?

Mmmm . . .

A go at Jacob's Ladder . . .

So if we forget about

the lemonade shower-screaming-snot-soup incident,

it was an awesome day.

Easter Pageant

I grew up in a house

not too far

from the Mesa Arizona temple.

I always knew when

Easter was around the corner

because the Angels would start to sing me to sleep

each night.

If our house was quiet enough

we could hear the practices and performances

from the Easter Pageant.

Oh how I loved to hear that music

softly surrounding me.

I attended the Pageant 

at least once or twice

each year

while I was in Jr. High and High School.

I went with friends, family, or my church group.

In order to get a spot,

I always preferred throwing a blanket down in the grass,

you have to get there early.

And playing games, eating food, talking, 

and walking around the temple grounds

while you wait was half of the fun.

I was so thrilled 

when I realized we would be in AZ 

in time to catch the Easter Pageant.

Thrilled, I tell you.

While logistically things didn't go quite as planned,

we ended up leaving the littles with my mom

and arriving only a short time before the Pageant,

thank goodness for Natalie and Cheston 

who saved us an awesome spot

and

at least Kacin and I still got in a few games of Uno.

But I may be a little upset at that boy.

When asked who was the prettiest 

of the three sisters gathered here

(missed you Stef!)

He said Jacqui.

No hesitation.

Punk kid. 

:)

Can you be old and still be an angel dancer?

Because I've always, always wanted to be one,

and who knows when I'll ever have the chance--

it may not be until I'm an old retired snowbird.

Sigh.

It will be my life's biggest regret 

if I can not be an Easter Pageant angel dancer.

one day.

I think I would look good up there.

Well, I would until I trip and fall,

but a girl's gotta dream

and at least try.

Someday . . . 

Train Park

Fun at the park!

Now

look at all these red faces.

My kids

(and me!)

are not used to the heat.

It only took a few minutes

before they were wiped out.

Thank goodness for the indoor model trains
and the AC!

Despite the fact
that I look like I am strangling my kids in this picture,
it was a happy little train ride through the park.
Choo choo!

Arizona and Back

It was hard being in Arizona last week
because the whole time my heart ached to just stay,
to just buy a house and stay.
The family, food, open skies, outdoor pools,
and close proximity to any and all stores
I may ever wish to go into
were all calling to me.

I keep reminding myself
of all the bad things about Arizona--
like sweating buckets as you walk out to your car in July,
black bees,
burning yourself on the playground slides,
the lack of green trees and nice grass,
disgusting, dirty water out of the faucet.

Yet
Arizona will always be home.

But I happened to convince myself enough
and I did return back to Washington.
As soon as our plane landed,
I got all excited to see the green and the water
and to drive by downtown Seattle
and lay down in my own bed with my own pillow.
And I know this is home, too.

Two homes for me.

The Wedding of Q and U

I don't usually post any of my preschool happenings and activities, but I snapped these pictures on the wedding day of Q and U. I didn't take any pictures during the actual ceremony and reception because I was too busy officiating, passing out cupcakes, and dancing the Chicken Dance and the Cha Cha Slide. The kids, a few parents, and I had a great time at this wedding. Congratulations Q & U! May you have a wonderful life making many quaint and quirky words together!

Jelly Beans

When I walked down the Easter aisle at the grocery store
and saw all the different brands and flavors
of Jelly Beans,
I knew what had to be done.
Jelly Bean party!!
Whoot whoot!
So on a Monday night,
the Jelly Beans all came out
to be sampled, compared, and enjoyed.

We started with a mini-egg hunt.
The boys hid a few eggs around the living room
for everyone to find.
It was the jelly bean appetizer
before the feast,
each egg held just a few jelly beans.

After Kacin's family home evening lesson,
we gathered around eight different kinds of jelly beans
trying them all
and voting on our favorites.

The jelly bean bowls were numbered

so then we had to use this list 

to try and identify each type of jelly bean.

The kids also played quite a few rounds
of "Don't Eat the Bunny"
(don't eat Pete, Easter style)
with Jelly Beans.
It was also great to break out
the Jelly Bean machine
that Grandpa Neff made.
I love this thing.
One always sat on the table
at Grandma and Grandpa's house.
We put this fun little machine
to good use at our Jelly Bean party.

Our Jelly Bean tasting results you ask?

It was concluded,

by the three families gathered here,

that Sweetarts and Nerds are the best Jelly Beans out there.