Preparing for Easter

Does anyone else feel as if it is too early to be celebrating Easter? Didn't we all just have our corned beef and cabbage (or green eggs and ham) and all things green? We won't even have a full weekend in between St. Patty's and Easter. On the other hand, we aren't Irish and don't really celebrate St. Patricks. I don't even think I dressed myself or my girls in green this year. I remember in elementary school trying to wear as little green as possible, just so I could pinch the first person who tried to pinch me. I always wondered if there were universal rules when it came to the pinching that goes on that day. Those were the days, right? I am actually looking forward to it. Yes, I'm glad to be "reflecting" on the reason to be celebrating. But I have to say, that this is the best candy of the year. They only sell it once a year, and I always feel that I have to stock up. This year, I think I am trying to cut back. I'm trying to tell myself that we don't need any more cadbury eggs or chocolate marshmallows. The sad part is that I'm only saying this now, knowing that I am going to get the clearance cadbury eggs and such the day after Easter. Such is my will power.

Lost in L.A. (only most of the time)

I've been looking forward to adding this post. Neil planned a really nice anniversary getaway for us to Los Angeles, and we had a great time. I wish I had counted all the times we had to back track, because I'm sure some of you would find that humorous. I had to ask permission to post our "best" back track, it was classic. So Saturday, we had a busy day planned; so we were on a tight schedule. Neil had previously printed out all of our maps and directions to places we were going. That morning we were headed to Six Flags Magic Mountain. I've been there once before, about ten years prior, and I thought it was right off the highway. Anyway, we get off on our exit, as printed in the directions, and it seems to be taking us a little off course. We continue going where we are told heading up a winding road. And when I say "up", we keep going up a very steep drive. Being a good navigator, I just point out that this looks odd, as if we are in the wrong spot. When I finally looked at where our actual stopping point was, it says Magic Mountain. I had to ask Neil if he did put in Six Flags, or just Magic Mountain. Well, since we were headed so high up, I think we were going up a mountain called Magic Mountain. So from there we were able to call family members to get the correct directions to the theme park.

Now to the best part of the trip. Neil bought me tickets to go watch Wicked. He was being an excellent husband, because I have been telling him for a couple years now that I have wanted to go watch it. He has been watching their tour dates to see when they would be coming in our area next (which wouldn't have been for another 3 years), so he splurged and got tickets to the one in L.A. Now I am just a simpleton who is more than happy to sit in the topmost row and squint to watch the program. I was pleasantly surprised when we continued heading to the front of the auditorium to watch it from the second row. Did you know the actors use actual facial expressions? It was amazing. Yes, I am one of those nerds that will get the cd and sing as loud as I can along to it. Just ask my younger sisters. They tell me now that I am out of the house, that they hated that. I also have to share about the Jewish couple sitting next to us. Isn't it funny that you can tell someone's religion just by having a simple conversation with them. They never had to tell us they were Jewish, but sometimes, stereotypes stick out. He was talking to me almost the entire time, not in a quiet voice either, and in every topic change, money was always brought in somehow. Let's just say, he didn't like the show, and I had to defend it. I believe that show was made for a younger generation. Well, I liked it. And mom, you and I can go when it tours in Salt Lake.

The Best Tea Party EVER

For Christmas this year, Abby got a My Little Pony tea party set. Ever since then, she has been asking to have friends over to have her own little party. And even though it has taken me this long, we finally did it. Here she is with her friends, Mckenna, Maggie, and Lydia. I thought I was so clever with all the ingredients. She had chocolate milk as the tea, plain milk (or white milk according to Abby) for the cream, and mini marshmallows for the sugar cubes. They all had a good time. I'm sure all their mothers were happy with me, because I filled them up with sugar. I set out crackers, cheese, and carrots; but they all wanted muddy buddies and marshmallows. Abby said "This is the best tea party I've ever had". I guess so, because previous tea parties involved Isabel and Elmo.

Boo-Boos and Encanto Park

Can you tell the weather is getting warmer outside? Abby unfortunately, has awful balance, and trips over everything. Isabel, on the other hand, can balance well enough, but wants attention that her hurt sister gets. If she sees Abby fall, she will go and duplicate the accident, just so she can get attention (fake cries and all). This picture is of Abby's fat lip. She was playing in her Grandma Sharp's landscape rocks and tripped and fell face first. I can't even tell you where her legs went. She also has bruises up and down her legs, and a big scrape on her elbow (All from different falls). I'm just waiting for CPS to come and arrest me.

We also have a picture from Encanto Park, where Neil's company had their family picnic. The place is a little ghetto, but it was free and the girls had a blast. All of their rides were built for children under 4 feet tall. Abby was in Heaven. They had a little dragon ride that had a couple dips, but only went around in a circle. Her face was precious; smiles all the way around. Isabel got sick when Daddy took she and Abby on a spinning ride, which was spinning way too fast. Poor Isabel was have a touch time hanging on to anything. Thanks a lot, Dad! Abby loved it, though.

Taking back what we said

Okay, I've been putting this off, mostly because I've been pretty bummed over it. In regards to our previous post: we are no longer moving to Salt Lake. The market is keeping us in our house for now. It is funny how much how house can appreciate and depreciate so quickly. Anyway, so we will be staying put for at least another year. In a way it was almost good to find out now, since the weather is so nice, but that also means that it is going to get hotter, quicker. Our house is pretty nice right now, though. We got it all ready to sell, and I kind of like it, but I still miss "home". That being said, I will definately need an Idaho vacation! This next weekend, Neil is taking me out for the weekend to L.A. to see Wicked, amond other things, for our anniversary. That should take my mind off things. Another plus to staying down here, it is a lot closer to Disneyland and the beach. (Yes, I am still a kid at heart, and I love to go to Disney, my kids are just an excuse)