Easter Weekend with Nana and Papa

Eric's parents were able to spend Easter Weekend with us and we had a lot of fun. Of course Eric's dad Royden can't come up without some kind of project to keep him busy. Boy I love when he comes. I picked them up at the airport and noon and by six I had a new table top and storage in my walk in closet. I wish I got the before and after pictures but I didn't do before shots. I guess you will all have to come over and take a look. All I can say is I have the best Father in Law in the world. He is always so sweet to help us with long awaited projects. Thanks so much Royden!!

Of course I didn't make them work the whole time they were here. We also decorated Easter Eggs, had an easter egg hunt, enjoyed our hot tub and just played alot.










Unfourtunatley Eric's parents had to leave Easter Morning. We had so much fun with them. Papa layed down with the boys each night and would tell them stories. He even brought both of them a book that was his when he was a little boy. Tommy has already read his. It is the first chapter book he has read cover to cover. The night before they had to leave I heard some sniffiling in the boys room, I went in to see what was the matter and Tommy was crying. He didn't want Papa to leave. Papa doesn't get to come down as much as Nana and it was a real treat for the boys to get to spend so much one on one time with him. I let Tommy crawl out of bed and go stay up really late with Papa. Then Tommy made us promise to wake him up early so he could go to the airport to say good bye to Nanna and Papa. I could see him gulping real hard so he wouldn't cry. It is so neat to see the bond they have developed.

Once they left we took some Easter pics with the boys in there Easter clothes. I got them on sale for only $2.99 a piece. Score!!!








With Eric's parents heading back to Utah and my parents in Pennsylvania that left us stranded on Easter. So we got together with some good friends the Stephensons and the Flamm's and had a delicious Easter dinner, decorated Easter cookies, and of course another hunt.






As we were leaving the get together with our friends there was the most beautiful sky, I had to take a pic.

A Sunny Spring Day!!

Last Monday was a beautiful day. The Sun was shinning and it was actually warm outside. Blake, Brody and I called up our good friends the Stephensons and invited them to lunch at a park. The boys loved every minute of it, from playing at the park, to going on a little nature hike. We had so much fun soaking in the sun and as much Vitamin D as we could before the rain came back. Anyone else so ready for Summer?




Sittin' Down with some good friends!!



Ryland having a "Man to Man" chat with Brody




An Awesome picture of Bridger. Look at his amazing Blue eyes. No editing needed!!!





Blake playing on the playground and getting caught by the camera.



Bridger and Ryland- What cute Kiddo's!! They were so great when I asked them to pose for pictures.



Ryland striking another pose!



Blake in a daze!!




Big Boy Brody!! Standing up!



The Three Musketeers: Ryland, Blake and Bridger

Playing with Photoshop....

So my sister Becca came over and gave me a few pointers on how to use Photoshop. I just bought the basic Photoshop Ellements because it was on sale at Costco. Now I am not overwhelmed with my new Camera but with Photoshop as well. I could really waste a lot of time on the computer. This is so fun!!! But there is so much to learn. Anyway I thought I would show you some of my edited pictures....














Here is a before and after photoshop photo:



Before Photoshop



After Photoshop

Our "Field Trip" to Portland, OR

This week was Tommy's Spring Break. IT was such a rainy week. By the end we were all climbing off the walls. Eric had Friday off. He came home from a meeting late Thursday night, and he could tell I was exhausted. We talked about the week and then decided to do something fun as a family. We got online, booked a priceline hotel in Portland OR. We were lucky, and got the Hilton in Lake Oswego, OR. (Right next to the LDS Portland Temple). We were also lucky that the hotel we got had a pool!!

I must say this was an awesome trip.Or as Blake kept calling it a "Field Trip" The kids were so excited just to stay in a hotel,go swimming and go to McDonald's! It really doesn't take much to please them. What I think they enjoyed the most though, was the getaway. Mom and Dad didn't have chores to do. The phone didn't keep ringing. We got to give our kids our full undivided attention. And I can tell they loved every minute of it. It just reminded me how fun my little kids are. How fast they are growing up. And how we need to take a moment and enjoy it! It was worth putting the laundry on hold.

Here are some pics. I am still playing with all the settings on my camera. I wouldn't say that I got a "perfect shot" this time. But I did capture some fun memories.




On The Road - Our Field Trip



Blake and Brody cuddling in the "Really big Hotel Bed"



Blake and Tommy playing in the Pool.



Tommy jumping over Eric in the pool. Blurry pic, but Tommy is quite proud of it.



Cute Pic of Blake



Tommy and Blake fighting all the bad guys on the Temple Grounds. (Believe it or not, they couldn't find a one.)



Brody and I looking at the Temple



The boys were sad that they couldn't go in the Temple. But I know they felt the spirit on the temple grounds.



Another cute pic. ( Are you getting bored yet??? Sorry there are so many pics. I always have a hard time choosing.)



Nice Pic of the Portland Temple and satue of Captain Moroni



Tommy looks mad, but it is actually his cool face.



By the Waterfall!!

The END!!

We had so much fun, Tommy asked if we can make this a tradition every Spring Break, and I think we just might!!