These kind of saturdays...

Today was one of those Saturdays, that started early with fun plans and never stopped. It's the kind of fun Saturdays I hope my kids will have fun memories of when they are older :) It definitely felt like summer today, but the kids have 2 more weeks of school!
The abbreviated version:
5k this morning for Alyssa and I!


Mayzie learned to ride her 2 wheeler!


Street art party




The long version, mostly for me to remember details later :)

Our Saturday :
*Lyssa and I reached our goal to do a 5k together this morning! She did so amazing 32.5 min, I was really proud of her! (I came in right behind her, 33 min)
*Then she had track practice, so she also did a 100 meter race, a 200 meter race and some relay races, and still had the energy to win most of them.
*We also hit a neighborhood yard sale and bake sale, then
*Dad set up the trampoline walls so they had fun with "swimming noodle wars" on the tramp.
*Then we all went to our neighborhood snow cone shack, my kids are in love with this place. We all try eachother's, I think Alyssa and Bethany's flavors won today, BlueRaspberry cheesecake, and TigersbloodCoconut :)
*Next on the agenda: Mayzie learned to ride a 2 wheeler this afternoon! I had been practicing with her for a couple days, but Dave helped her for a few minutes today and really got her going, and now she's already a pro. Using her brakes and turning corners and everything! So adorable! And still 4 (barely.)She was really proud of herself!
*Homemade soup and Lion House Rolls (thanks to Anna's blackbook recipe)
*Homemade rootbeer from our backyard neighbors (We like to share treats over the fence)
*Dave went with the Priests to the Salt Lake football game
*Lyssa got to babysit her cute little buddy (2 yr old boy "L")
*Impromptu chalk art street party in our circle
*Movie night with the girls
Now, I'm exhausted. I've been running on 2 hrs sleep all day. But it was still a fun day :)

Speaking of school ending:
My kids always cry on the last day of school as it hits them that they will not be seeing their teacher and friends for a while, or never in some cases. I remember just holding 5 yr old Aubrie in my lap and letting her cry the day she came home from her last day of kindergarten. She had really loved Mrs. Wessell.
We'll see how they do this year, but I would put money on Bethany bawling this year. She has a very special 2nd grade teacher, and last week we gave teacher gifts for "teacher week" and Bethy wrote a personal note for "Mrs. M." I read it and started to cry, then took a picture so we wouldn't forget it. Bethy came home from school and said, teacher really liked my note, I saw her start to cry and she asked me for a hug, and then another one afterschool too. I have been so grateful for the awesome teachers my kids have had over the years, that helped my daughters succeed and feel special and loved.
The end

Funnest Place on Earth ;)

Warning: a boatload of pictures in this post
Yes, our family snuck off to California, and yes we had a great time. So much fun that the kids absolutely did not want the trip to end; even our dear old dad said he liked it so much we might head back again fairly soon. We had planned to go in May, but decided we had too much going on then, so we finally decided to go Monday Apr 9th, bought tickets and packed all day Tuesday (and did our taxes), and Wednesday morning we were off! Kind of crazy and spontaneous, but it worked and I actually packed really well, right down to the minnie mouse and disney princess pajamas. The kids endured the traveling really well, so I was grateful.

Up early and ready to head out!

We spent the first few days visiting Sea World, Universal Studios, the beach, and Calif. Adventure, so we saved Disneyland for our last days, which worked out great as all the spring break crowds were gone that way, plus 70-80 degrees days. Perfect.

Planning out their day :)

My kids are troopers! We'd ride in on the morning shuttle and stay till closing. Mayzie used her stroller to nap in as needed, and we hit about 25 rides a day; in fact I think we hit nearly every ride in the park. The kids were feeling adventurous, so we could all go on most the rides together.
Dave's Fave: Tower of Terror
Aubrie's, mom's and Bethany's faves: California Screamin' and Space Mountain
Alyssa's faves: Soarin' over California and Star Tours
Mayzie's faves: Splash Mountain and Ariel's Underwater Adventure
They all liked the night shows and the parade and the ice cream shop.

All tuckered out!

I think we took a bazillion pictures and they got to meet lots of new friends. Mayzie was especially spoiled as she got to meet Ariel and Flynn Rider while wearing her new Rapunzel dress. A 4 yr old's dream come true! :)

We really loved our hotel. It had a nice pool area, right outside our front room door. The kids loved the swimming time we could sneak in! The hotel fed us well each morning, which Dave especially appreciated. And the staff was nice and accommodating. We even found a church really close by, which we were grateful for.

Outside our room.

It turned out to be a really fun trip; too bad they end so fast. But now we have summer to look forward to.
Day 1 Calif Adventure


Day 2 Universal Studios


Day 3 Sea World, San Diego


Day 4 Malibu beach

Day 5 Disneyland

Day6 Disneyland

Day 7 Swimming

-The End

Easter Fun

The girls had lots of fun at the egg hunts this year. First on Saturday morning we went to our city egg hunt, with a bunch of other kids, and my kids actually got lots of eggs. I was proud of them for sharing when some of their friends showed up a minute too late :) (The eggs are typically all collected in about 60 seconds; so if you're late, you don't have a chance.)

Then they had lots of fun at the generous annual egg hunts of their Grandma J. and Grandma B.


I have some more cute pic's from the Saturday egg hunt, but I can't get to them yet. Maybe I can add them in later.

The little ones had fun with their new tradition of "jumping off Grandma's couch."


Easter morning, sugar fix.


All ready for church in their Easter dresses.

It was a good weekend :) I am grateful we can
go to church and celebrate our Savior's gift of
eternal life.