Happy Easter Kids

to fake or not to fake...

Help...
So Flagstaff just got a Real Deals store... for those of you who haven't had the pleasure, it is an awesome home decor store. Great stuff and great prices.
I saw a floral arrangement they did and really liked it. I don't usually like fake flowers but this kind I liked.
Last night they had a "ladies night" and I went with a friend. I went with the intent of getting a floral arrangement for my living room. Apparently I didn't tell Beave my plan...
I found one I really liked and even though it was more expensive than I had planned on, I talked myself into it. Justified, justified... Beave only has himself to blame for that, after 7 years of spoiling me what do you expect?!
I got home with my purchase and had an unexpected reaction, BEAVE HATES FAKE FLOWERS!!!
What? Yeah I knew we weren't really fake flower people but he really really doesn't like them. So the "too much" I spent on something that he might like doubled because it is something he doesn't like...
Now I have to decide if I like them enough to keep them anyway.
So the help part is your opinion. I know everyone has their own taste but a second eye helps.
And by the way, you are only voting on the flowers, if you hate the rest of the room... keep it to yourself... ;)!!























Steve's preference for flowers and plants can be seen in the background, the plant in the corner and fresh flowers on the dining room table.

Easter Eggs

Easter egg coloring and a bunny cake. Fun filled family night!




"Rotten egg eye" Not sure why they were rotten...



Yeah for Easter and all the fun things of SPRING!!

Kyla's Easter Lesson

"This is Grandma Oliver with the white hair when I was watching her get blessed inside the thing she was getting carried in. And the car she rode in.
In primary we talked about the Grandmas we miss that are dead.
Their spirit is not in their body.
Grandma Oliver will rise from the dead."
-Kyla









I'm impressed by how well Kyla understands this part of the plan of salvation. I'm thankful for her great primary teacher. I am glad she knows that we can be happy for Grandma even though we miss her.

Real Super Hero

Kyla has been wearing a cape for the past three days because she is a super hero...
She said it was a secret and not to tell anyone but when the cashier at Target asked if she was a super hero Kyla couldn't resist telling her that she was. And not just any super hero, "a REAL SUPER HERO!"
Ky and Steve were discussing her super hero name and she said, "I'm still Kyla!" But her super hero name is Gooberella.
"But don't call me that during dinner..."
-Kyla

Bones

"Dad, what is the hard stuff in my skin?"
Bones.
"I ATE BONES?!"
-John

Spring Break Camping... Basement Style...

We didn't make it camping for spring break this year so we did the next best thing... camped in our basement. Some may argue that it is better than the real thing... maybe those who sneaked upstairs and slept in their nice comfy bed rather than on the air mattress in a sleeping bag... :)
We roasted hot dogs and samores on the fire, turned off all the lights and used flash lights and slept in sleeping bags. Good camp out!


Leo's first marshmallow. Um, I think he liked it...



The BEST samores ever! Carmel, chocolate, graham and perfectly toasted marshmallows. YUM!!

Lately Johnny has been pulling this face for pictures... "I be grumpy to the camera!"




More silliness...




And the silliest of all silliness!!

"As soon as we get that spaceship, we are going to go."
-Kyla

Leo Monkey

Leo was a monkey for Halloween but he couldn't sit up yet... so I made him put the costume on again 4 months later for a photo shoot...


We were at Lizzy's house and she even had a banana prop for us.








Beave thinks I don't put enough pics of me on here... there you go. ;)!!

fixed apples

"Mom can I have a fixed apple with a cord on it?"
-John
Translation: a whole apple with a stem. When I cut it into slices he asks me to fix it... put it back together, he wants it whole not cut up. When he eats them whole I tell him not to eat the core... his little mind figured that thing sticking out the top that looks like a cord must be what I was talking about.

Grandma Cooper

While we were in Utah we went to see Steve's Grandma Cooper. We always try to see our grandmas when we go to Utah, we love seeing them! Losing Grandma Oliver this year and Grandma Hansen last year makes us more determined to see Grandma Cooper and Grandma Grover whenever we can!! It is pretty cool that my kids are old enough to know and remember their great grandmas.


Leo giggling with Grandma!








A treat with Grandma, I love that my kids love fruit!








Ky and John thought Sassy was so much fun!

We are... FAMILY!!

We were in Utah last month for my grandma's funeral and my parents homecoming. All my siblings were there... seven of us!! It was great to be all together even though Jess and Keith couldn't bring their whole families...

The original 9...



My family, mom and dad, and Grandma Grover.




Leo and James eating their veggies... what good kids!! These boys are a month apart!




Three of the FIVE boys born this year. James, Spencer and Leo.

everater

"Dad, I'm going to be a everater when I grow up." Ky
"A what?" Dad
"A everater." Ky
"What is an everater?" Dad
"A person who wears so cool clothes." Ky

So now you know...

DISGUSTING!

John's new favorite word...

"That's disgusting in the whole world!!"

"These are disgusting I ever heard of!!"

He usually uses these phrases in reference to Leo's spit up or slobber, occasionally his own nose and lately the dog food. (we are dog sitting for a couple days... now I remember why we don't have one, I agree with Johnny, disgusting).

Welcome Home Elder and Sister Oliver

My mom and dad made it to our house (two weeks ago...)!! We had a great time with them, they showed us pictures and told us about their mission. They got to meet Leo, although my mom said she felt like she already knew him because of all the pictures and my dad says Leo and the 4 other boy cousins born this year were helping them on their mission before they were born, so it was more like a re-acquaintance...

Grandpa played trains...



Grandma made cookies...



We went to Sedona and went hiking. We had lots of fun!














It was great to have them here!!

Grandma

My sweet Grandma passed away last Tuesday, a week ago.
It is sad for me to let her go, but she is so much happier, it is hard not to be happy too.
She had a bone disease that made it hard to do the day to day things, like walk. I think of her now, running and walking without pain and most importantly dancing with her sweetheart, Sheldon, my Grandpa. He passed away in 2002. Thinking of that makes me happy.
We went to Utah for the funeral, it was good to see her again and say goodbye, even if it was just her body. Kyla asked so many questions about her and I had a hard time answering them until I finally just gave it to her straight, she seemed to understand it and was ok with it. She thinks it is great that Grandma is with Heavenly Father! I guess when you think of it like that, I think it is pretty great too.
I will miss Grandma but I know I will see her again, I'm so thankful for the plan of salvation!