Spring Dance Recital

 May 8th was dance recital night!  I might have been a tinge more excited than the girls since I got to be in attendance this time!  Watching through the miracle of smart phones from the hospital last time wasn't my favorite!  And Lydia couldn't get enough...she was mesmerized!  

 Ready to dance!

 Waiting with their class.

 They did a ballet dance to Let it Go and a jazz dance to Hawaiian Roller Coaster.

 Poor Talia's shoe came off but she didn't skip a beat!

 We love our little dancers!

They both did great!  They LOVE to dance!

Weekend and birthday fun...

We went to Cocolalla over the weekend to get a head start on our Spring cleaning.  The rain gave us a little bit of a challenge but it's always nice to be up there regardless.  Sunday was Grandpa's birthday!  We got Krispy Kremes on the way up there Friday night and surprised Grandpa with them Sunday morning.  It's hard to keep yummy doughnuts hidden for two days!

 It hailed on both days but on Sunday it was a lot!  Talia and Eliza wanted to check it out...

The highlight of the weekend for me was I saw my mission president...Elder Bowen!  Oh so long ago it seems I was in the mission field...

Presidente and Hermana Bowen with me upon my arrival in Barcelona October 30, 2001

When we drove to the building where we usually attend church when we're at Cocolalla there wasn't a single car in the parking lot.  We figured they were having stake conference so we made our way in the pouring rain into Sandpoint.  We were a little late and sat on the very last row but when they said they're visiting authority Elder Bowen would speak later I couldn't believe it!  When stake conference was over we made our way up to the front of the chapel to say hi.  What a joy for me to introduce Darran and the girls to my mission president.  It was sweet of Elder Bowen to tell Darran how lucky he was to have married me.  I was surprised by the overwhelming love and respect I felt for Elder Bowen the minute I saw him.  Since Sunday lots of mission memories have been filling my mind.  He and Hermana Bowen are an amazing couple.  I'm so glad we just happened to be in the right place at the right time!  

 Monday night we had dinner and cake at Grandpa and Grandma's...in honor of Grandpa and Aunt Julie's birthdays.

 Talia came up with the idea to give Grandpa his favorite cereal...so he could have some at Cocolalla and at home!

Happy Birthday Grandpa and Julie!

Easter Weekend!

Our Easter weekend started Friday night...we decorated Easter Eggs!

 Then Saturday we went to an Easter Egg hunt with friends at the park!

 Brayden, Talia, and Eliza with the eggs they found!

Then we went over to Grandpa and Grandma's for dinner and another egg hunt that night.  Grandpa and Grandma Great joined us and so did Audrey and Jon!

Later when we got home we put out our baskets for the Easter bunny to fill.  Eliza had been counting down the days until Easter weekend!

 Eggs all ready to be hidden!

Then morning finally arrived!  Eliza had a doubly special day...the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy came on the same night!  She lost her second tooth on Friday and saved it to put under her pillow on Saturday night.  The girls found the eggs and baskets and then couldn't wait any longer to put on their Easter dresses!

 Our family on Easter Sunday!  Lydia even came to Sacrament meeting with us!

Easter dinner!

What a beautiful day!  We love the Easter season...the changes that come in the Spring...and especially for our Savior Jesus Christ!

Happy Easter!

4 months old...

Lydia turned 4 months old on April 19th!

She weighs 12 pounds 11 ounces, LOVES to eat (she's been our best nurser and bottle taker), smiles A LOT, loves to coo at us, can't get enough of watching her sisters dance around the family room...

 ...is an excellent sleeper...as in sleeps through the night most nights now! (I had to take this picture...she looks too much like a Hague with her mouth wide open!)

 ...and she thinks it's fun to suck her thumb...though we're trying hard to break that habit before it sticks!  But the best part about being 4 months old...RSV season is starting to be behind us!  Which means we'll get to leave the house more often!  Keeping her home has been the best thing for her...she's been super healthy ever since she left the hospital.  Now she's ready for some adventure!

BYU baseball...

BYU baseball came to town to play WSU baseball at the Dust Devils stadium in Pasco.  Thanks to Aunt Julie we got tickets and headed over to support them!  It was the warmest day in the month of April so we were excited to be outside...especially with Lydia!  And yes...that would be Uncle Andy (creepily) photo bombing our picture.  Go BYU!

Our girls...

These 3 girls of ours keep us hopping...and sometimes we actually remember to capture some sweet moments!

 Talia adores Lydia...over Spring Break Eliza and I went shopping so Talia helped Daddy watch Lydia.  She was sure to read her books before heading off to bed!

 

 One Sunday I took a picture of Talia to text to Aunt Elayna to show her that she was so excited to fit into Eliza's dress she had wore to her wedding.  It then turned into this...

Talia is usually very good about taking naps.  Sometimes she just wants to play in her room instead but it's really hard to give up that nap!  That's why sometimes it just happens...even when you're dressed like a princess and trying hard to play!

Or if that nap doesn't happen then it might come while we're sitting on the couch talking, waiting for Eliza to get off the bus.

 Sleepy girls...

Sunrise

Darran watched this beautiful sunrise in our backyard as he ate breakfast one morning!