videos

You have to go to the blog to see the actual videos or to the youtube links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8qdjMKWS74&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBe41dOVDeI

Sage's Dance Recital

Sage had her dance recital last night. She has gotten so much better this last year. She is definitely the smallest in her class but she does great! She is taking ballet, jazz, and tap but she had performances in ballet and jazz. Here she is in her ballet costume. The number was called "Fireflies". Here is her dance. This is from dress rehearsal. She actually did a lot better at the recital but recording was not allowed so we'll have to wait for the video we bought. Her second number was jazz and was entitled, "She's Got Me Dancin' ".

if the videos don't work or are too slow, you can see them on youtube here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8qdjMKWS74&feature=plcp
and here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBe41dOVDeI

Easter 2012

Easter 2012! We started with our traditional easter egg hunt. Kelton got a little headstart. He woke up at 5:30 and I told him to go back to bed. Instead he headed downstairs to watch Mickey Mouse and I heard him start yelling, "There eggs EVERYWHERE! There's TREASURE!" I grabbed him before he started gathering eggs and put him back into bed for a little while anyway.

I painted Sage's fingernails and toenails to look like chicks. It was really easy with fine-tip sharpies. Next I want to try bunnies. Do they make a white sharpie?

Rulon and I
It is so hard to get a picture with all 3 kids standing normally and smiling. How about one at a time?


A little better, I guess?!? : )

Phone Pictures

I don't download the pictures from my phone very often, so when I do, I am always surprised at what's on there. Here's what I found...Three cute kids at the Rodeo.
Asher and Sage "ringing the bell" for passing their level at swimming.

Asher and all of the participants at the Cub Scout Space Derby.
A visit with the Easter Bunny.
My group of kids at the G/T field trip. They are studying change in the 20th century this year so we went to Lackland AFB to learn about airplanes.
Sage getting on a plane on the G/T field trip.
Asher exiting the plane.
Kelton at his preschool easter egg hunt.
Sage and I went to see Disney Princesses on Ice. We had great seats and it was really fun to watch. I've always wanted to see one of the "On Ice" shows so I think I was excited as Sage to see it!

We went to an Easter Egg Hunt at the YMCA where they had a helicopter come and drop the eggs on the field and then the typical egg hunt commenced. There were a ton of people there but each kid managed to find some eggs and there were no tears. I left Asher to fend for himself in the 6-8 year old division and went with Sage and Kelton to the 3-5 year old field. I tried to help Kelton but he thought I was holding him back and he kept yelling, "Let me Go!, Let me Go!" the whole time. Next time he is on his own! : )
The helicopter dropping eggs.
Kelton in action

Spring Break 2012-Big Bend National Park

This year for Spring Break we went to Big Bend National Park which is right along the Rio Grande River in South Texas. It was very pretty and we saw lots of cactus, deer, rabbits, javelinas, turtles, roadrunners and luckily no mountain lions. We went hiking, did a half-day river trip, hiked some more, drove around a lot, hiked to a canyon with a river and sand dune you could slide down, went to a hot springs, and hiked some more. The kids were not that excited about all the hiking but they survived. : ) We had planned to rent a RV but ended up staying in a hotel since Rulon got a new car a few weeks ago. The hotel was right next to an intersection of train tracks and apparently it's the law that the train has to blow its whistle multiple times at every intersection. I counted seven trains the first night and soon discovered the benefit of the ear plugs the hotel "thoughtfully" provided. : ) All in all, it was a fun time and we're glad we got to see Big Bend before we leave Texas.
Sage (aka Miss Tacky Tourist) all decked out and ready for the river trip.
On the river
family pic on one of our hikes
Exhausted after a hike
Playing in the Rio Grande. Across the river is Mexico.
Asher playing on the sand dune
Rulon and Sage climbed to the top of the sand dune and slid down.
Sliding down.
Along the trail, there would be piles of trinkets and walking sticks and a Mexican National across the river trying to sell you stuff. You were supposed to bargain with the guy across the river, put your money in a little can and then take your item. Hmmm...I wonder how he gets his money? : )

The guy across the river trying to sell stuff. The park service had signs posted everywhere explaining that buying things from Mexican Nationals is prohibited but it didn't seem to make much of a difference.

Diaper Musings

Before Asher was born and while we were in medical school in New Hampshire, Rulon and I drove with friends to Montreal and visited IKEA while there. We came home with a crib, toy box, and changing table for our baby who we were expecting in a few months. Rulon assembled all of the furniture that night when we got home and I remember him showing me how the changing table folded back up to form another shelf when we were done needing to change diapers, as if that would be in the near future.

When Asher arrived and we brought him home from the hospital, I was actually really excited to change my first diaper. Between Rulon (who was on winter break from school) and visiting Grandmothers, I actually never changed a diaper until he was two weeks old.

Fast forward 8.25 years. Tens of thousands diapers later with various brands, sizes, designs, pull-ups, pull-ons, night-time diapers, swim diapers, blow-outs, leaks out the side, explosions out the top, various incidences of "what is that?!?",babies taking off their diapers and playing with the contents, and at times buying a generic brand not because it was cheaper but just to change up the "scenery" a bit, I am finally done. And Rulon finally got to fold up the changing table and it's finally functioning as a book shelf. Whew!

Asher's Baptism

Asher was baptized on January 14, 2012. We are so proud of him and his decision. Shari and Grandma Hardman gave great talks and it was a lovely time. Here are some pics!