Overcoming my Fear!

We had a fun ward activity at Coons Bluff yesterday. Clint loves repelling and has been excited about this since he heard about it. Me, on the other hand, never really thought too much about it until the night before when Lexi asked me, "Mom, are you going to repel tomorrow?"

(Me) "I'm not sure I'm kind of scared."

(Lexi): "Mom you shouldn't not try something just because you're scared."

(Me) sigh...thinking to myself how smart and right she is (thanks to Clint for teaching her that), "you're right."

So with that thought in the back of my mind I thought I might take a chance and try it out. That was until we got there and I saw how tall the cliff was we were repelling off of (gasp)! My friend Tori and I looked at each other and she goes on to say that she'll do it if I do. Then along comes my fearless friend Michelle, who knows I'm competitive and like a challenge, and says that I have to go try it. So up the mountain I went. Oh yeah, and it is so much more scary from the top! Not good. As soon as Tori started getting her harness on I knew that there was no backing out now. If she was going through with it, so was I. I suited up, took direction, and with so much fear in my eyes went for it!

I have to say it was fun. Not enough fun for me to run up the cliff and go right again (probably because I made myself sick with fear), but fun enough that I'll do it again sometime.

Go Tori!

Me coming down!

I'm Still Alive!

Clint thinking he's a pro!

They had gold panning for the kids. Lexi thought that was pretty cool.

Who Knew???

(Disclaimer: I am NOT pregnant!)

While both my children are taking a nap this afternoon (Woohoo!) I decide to get a few things done I have put off. My single stroller that matches my infant carrier (it came as a travel system), has a rear wheel that fell off and will not go back on. At first the thought came into my mind, "sweet! Now when I have another baby I'll need a new single stroller. This works out perfect because there is no way Clint will let me buy ANOTHER stroller (I already have 4, but they all have different uses) and now if it's broken then oh well!" I decided that this train of thought is not the best and I've been told to "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!"

I decided I would take this sound advice and make it do.

After scrummaging through all my owner's manuals, (note to self: need to organize those) I found my infant carrier and stroller one. Now here's the skinny: Infant Carriers Expire! Who knew??? I sure didn't. I couldn't believe this. Apparently the plastic the carrier is made of will break down and may not be visible. There have been crash tests done with expired car seats and the harness breaks through the shell of the seat upon impact. I looked on the bottom of my seat and sure enough: 6 years from the manufacturing date mine expires.

I guess I can still make do with my stroller, but as far as the carrier goes: better safe than sorry!

It's begun...

Here's to 90+ more days of 100 degree weather!

more egg hunts...

This easter the kids were lucky enough to have 4 different Easter egg hunts to go to. The first hunt was with the Albright's. Then on sat. morning we had the ward egg hunt and breakfast. Even in the rain, we had a great time! Later that afternoon, my friend Becca's little boy Lucas turned 2 and they had a fun party along with a hunt (which I forgot to take my camera to). Lastly, the Easter Bunny still decided to come to our house on Sunday after all of that! They loved every one and never were burned out.

We also took the opportunity to go to the Easter Pageant on Friday night and talk about the reason we celebrate Easter with the kids. They both enjoyed the pageant, especially Lexi who watched very intently and was very interested in what was happening. Also on Easter I was lucky enough to speak in my ward and sing with the ward choir. After church we had dinner with my family and spent time doing some Easter activities and then played some games. What a fun and busy weekend we had!

There were so many "extra" eggs because fewer people showed up than anticipated. Caden not understanding how many 12 is kept on finding eggs until I finally told him he had plenty!

Lexi was so cold. A little rain never stopped her though.

So excited that the Easter Bunny came (crazy hair and all!)

Easter Sunday

Happy Easter!

Love,

Lexi & Caden

Let the hunt begin...

Today was the beginning of our many Easter festivities we have going on this weekend. With today being Good Friday, my mother in law had the day off from teaching and wanted to have an Easter egg hunt for the grandkids. We went to Clint's grandma and grandpa standage's house where they have a huge back yard. Chris (my father-in-law) had a great time hiding the eggs and goody bags. In fact I think he hid some a little "too good" because he spent 5 minutes looking with Gracie to try and find (or remember) where he had hidden her bag! The kids loved it! They are so lucky to have such wonderful grandparents! We are blessed to live so close to family and have so many good times with cousins.

presley, lexi & sophie

Caden was so excited to find his goody bag

Chris loves to give "pep talks" (or so I'll call it) before just about anything. He let the older kids know that they needed to find the "harder to find eggs" and leave the easy ones for the boys (who are all the youngest). Here is Caden finding his 1st egg.

still searching...

The kids checking out all their new treasures.

Caden & Jacks are only six weeks apart. They are little buddies!

The grandkids (minus Champ; who was running late and Chandler, Annali, & Corban; our dear cousins in Mississippi!)

G & G Albright! We sure love you! Thanks a bunch!

I'm going to...

Disneyland!!! We had such a fun family vacation last week. It was Lexi and Caden's first time at Disneyland. We spent three days going to Disneyland and California Adventure. The kids loved every minute of it. By the end of each day Caden was so exhausted he'd fall asleep in Dad's arms (which he Never does, so he must have been pretty wiped out.) Lexi shocked both Clint and I. She went on every ride she could, including matterhorn, space mountain, big thunder mountain railroad, and splash mountain. I took her on space mountain and the picture that they take of you explained it all. I had my eyes closed and Lexi's were wide open with a big smile on her face! Caden also rode on all the rides that he could given his height (which was pretty much everything, but 3 rides). He also went on the matterhorn and says he liked it, "but the monster was scary." Another one of Lexi's favorites was getting to meet Cinderella, snow White, and Aurora. This was the longest line ( 1hr. and 20 min.) but well worth the wait. It's fun to see how their eyes light up when they get to meet the princesses in real life. We had a wonderful time and can't wait to do it again!

Ever since we were first married, we've talked about going to see Jay Leno. Since he's retiring this year, we figured we'd better do it. Clint had never been to a show taping before and it's been a long time for me. We had a lot of fun seeing how it was all done. Thanks to my Aunt Robin for watching the kids.