Happiness Is...

Playing Candy Land in the middle of the day with my little girls, and knowing that I will never regret taking the time to do things with my children.

Having Bruce run back to me from the car two times before he leaves for soccer practice, because he wants to give me kisses and hugs.

Silent moments.

Singing songs at Family Home Evening.

Summer!

Evenings with nothing scheduled.

Claire's knock knock jokes.

Jane saying, "Mom, you're my favorite person...because Sue-Sue lives in the desert."  :)

Linda singing Mamma Mia songs throughout the day.

Laughing with Robert.

School Pictures - Spring 2011

1st Grade

2nd Grade

A few Easter pictures

The Easter Bunny left the kids some yummy treats.

Ready for Easter morning church.

 I looked at Linda this morning and couldn't believe how grown up she is now. She is a great girl.

Easter egg hunt in the backyard, after church.

We had a lovely Easter day as a family. It was a nice day at church to reflect on the life, crucifixion, and resurrection of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. I know that He lives and I love Him.

Prepping For Easter

We had a fun day today getting ready for Easter. We went to an Easter egg hunt today at a local park. It's the first time that we've done one. It was pretty crowded but was a fun time.

Here they are, waiting for hunt to begin...Claire was at the toddler hunt somewhere else in the park.

After the hunt...

We also colored Easter eggs out in the backyard. They turned out really cute.

The kids are excited to find their Easter baskets in the morning!

RACING CLUB SOUVENIR!!

When I was on my mission, in 1996, I was in the city of Catamarca, a small town in the North west of Argentina. My companion and I stopped at a Garage and spoke with a mechanic. The mechanic had sporting decorations for a soccer team from Buenos Aires by the name of Racing Club. (Racing Club is one of the big 5 soccer teams in Argentina.) While speaking to him, I felt his passion and love for the team. He pointed to the team picture on the wall and talked about the goalkeeper, Nacho Gonzalez. I instantly felt a connection with the team. I felt like a TRUE fan.

Not many days after this, I left Argentina to return back to the United States to finish my studies at BYU. I learned more about Racing Club from the internet while at BYU. In 2002 KaDee bought me a world soccer book that had several pictures of Racing’s recent championship the year previously. After KaDee and I were married, I found ways to watch Racing on TV, and later by internet as well. It’s not easy to follow a soccer team from Buenos Aires while living in the United States! But now have a couple channels where Racing could appear for any given game.

I’ve never had anything ‘Racing’. None of the soccer stores carry their jersey (I‘ve asked everywhere). My dream one day is to return to Argentina and Buenos Aires and sit in the Cilandro (stadium where Racing plays) with the Guardia Imperial (Racing fans), cheering and singing for the team I love.

A couple weeks ago I found out that an affiliation of Racing had been created in California. I contacted the President of the affiliation and he was very welcoming. He was impressed with my history of becoming a fan and following the team, that he saw it fit that I should be given a team jersey with the signatures of the players. I WAS BLOWN AWAY! It’s really incredible for me to have this memento. KaDee helped me put it in a Jersey Display Case and it hangs proudly in our home.

Milestone for Linda

Linda's bottom two teeth have been loose for a long time, long enough for her two adult teeth to grown in right behind them...exactly like Bruce's did. Tonight while I was flossing her tooth I gave it a little tug and one of them came out. Her reaction was not what I was expecting.
She had a total meltdown and cried her eyes out...especially when she saw the blood...but mostly because it just panicked her that her tooth had come out. She calmed down and managed to be happy about it later. But, she vowed that the Tooth Fairy would never get it.
Here she is before bedtime with her tooth in a baggie and her note to the Tooth Fairy.

The front of the note reads,

"Can you give me money or a toy if I even keep my tooth. Love, Linda"

Here's the 2nd page to that note.

"I wonte(won't) give you my tooth."

She went to bed with the note under her pillow and her tooth hidden in her dresser drawer.

She's not taking any chances. :)