Egg-cellant!

I have to say that dying Easter Eggs is one of my fondest memories as a child. I looked forward to it almost as much as I did Christmas. I always made sure that that was one part of Easter that never got forgotten. NO matter how old I got, we still dyed Easter Eggs when I was living at home. I don't know if I loved it so much because it was symbolic of Spring arriving or if it was because it was a "crafty"thing to do, and I loved to "create" and make things. Needless to say, when I started having my own children, they started dying eggs at a very young age. NOW that I have just 3 children left at home and they are all teenagers.....we still dye eggs! AND we all love it! I think that when all of my children are gone and no longer enjoy my little Easter traditions, I will dye eggs all by myself....and you better believe that I will love every minute of it.

Last year we tried the "Paas Foil Egg Kit" (if any of you follow my blog, you will remember pictures from when we did that). I loved how the eggs turned out last year. They were fun and different from what we had ever done before. This year we used the "Foil kit" again, but they made it a little different and not as fun and cool....I wasn't as impressed with this kit. BUT it didn't matter- the kids had fun coloring the eggs and making cool designs on them anyway. Its fun to see all the bright colored eggs and the fun things that the kids come up with. It's also that "little reminder" that spring is HERE!...and it makes me smile. After we are done, we fill up the egg cartons with our yummy colored eggs and wait for Easter to arrive so that we can make deviled eggs for Easter dinner. We usually color a lot of eggs because we know they won't go to waste around here....everyone loves homemade deviled eggs.

We had a great time together decorating and coloring our eggs. I don't care how old my kids are, we all still enjoy doing crazy things together that bring back those childhood memories from long ago.  Someday I am going to make dozens of eggs, dye them and then find a really cool hill and roll the eggs down it with my grandchildren....I love the idea of seeing my grandkids smile and get excited as they watch the bright colored eggs tumble to the bottom of the hillside.

And here are the results or our Easter Egg dying day.......

.....Bright Colors make me happy!

Treat for ME~

I bought myself a little bit of sunshine today...An Easter Lily!

Everyone deserves flowers at Easter don't they, even if they buy them for themselves right?!

No matter how my day is going, or how it looks outside, I can't help but smile 

a little when I see an Easter Lily!

Happy Easter!

Change...what do you think~

After searching for months for the perfect fabric for a new tablecloth (which I didn't find) and trying to make a few "updated" changes to my dining/kitchen area, this is what I ended up with. I made this new tablecloth and runner for my table. I like the way it turned out and I am hoping to get some new curtains that will brightening up the area that we spend the most time in....the dining area. I also want to paint the red chest in the corner.  I am thinking a green (close to the same shade as the runner) with black dry brushing over the top of the green....What DO YOU think???? Yes or No???.............am I crazy????

Vegas Baby......

After a long winter of snow and cold weather, I have been anxious to get out and feel some "real warmth" and see the "real sun" for awhile. The opportunity arose when my sweet dad called me up one day and asked if I wanted to ride down to visit my Aunt in Las Vegas with he and my step mom, Kathy. I was thrilled. I had gone down with my dad three years ago and we had such a wonderful time. We use to go down to Las Vegas as a family when I was little, for Thanksgiving or just for a visit, but as an adult...I haven't been able to go down to visit much. I love spending time with my aunts, my dad and my stepmom. They are so much fun and have so much wisdom and zest for life. 

So this past Thursday we took off for sunnier days and warmer air. We took the scenic route down and got to see things and places that I don't see very often. We drove for hours, laughing, talking and having a fantastic time. After our long scenic route, we dropped down into Hurricane UT and I thought that I had just landed in heaven. Coming from brown dirt, snowy patches, dried weeds and dead grass (back home)....to this lush land of green grass (even been mowed), green weeds (yes, right now they looked pretty good too), blossoms, flowers, the scent of fresh spring air....and people WITHOUT coats...(you get the picture)...It was AWESOME! It just made me happy all over. 

                            

The farther south we went, the warmer it got. I actually took my jacket off and felt a bead of sweat run off of my forehead...it was great!

We spent our time in Vegas hanging out and just visiting, cooking, reading and visiting some more. We sat out in the sunshine and warmth (even though it was breezy and I still needed a jacket, it was warmer than here at home) for a little bit one afternoon and soaked in the sun. NO we didn't get to come back with a tan line, but it was beautiful none-the-less. We took an afternoon and watched the airplanes take off at the airport and then took in a movie, we even did a little shopping. 

We didn't do anything elaborate or mind boggling...but it was a nice, relaxing week...a nice break from the routine of my normal busy day.  I am so glad that I got to go and see my Aunt and spend some time with her. It was fun to visit her, she is alot of fun to be with and I had a wonderful time "tripping" with my parents....Thanks for the great week everyone! 

SuRprise....is ON US!

For the past month, we (our family, as well as Dana's family) have all been planning on attending a big "Surprise Birthday Party" for my sweet daughter-in-law, Dana, planned by her hubby (our son, Todd). It was all set for Saturday, March 20th at 5:30. Todd was going to make a nice dinner (orange chicken, rice and Jello) and cake and ice cream....hide everyone so they could yell "surprise"...the whole shebang. We were very excited.  On Friday I was talking to Todd about how he was going to get Dana out of the house so that he could do the cooking without her suspecting anything. He told me about several different possibilities of things that he might do, then just sort of left it at that....in other words, he hadn't really decided HOW hew as going to get her to leave. Saturday morning rolled around, Dayna (Jack and Dayna came out for the big surprise too) and Kim and I were all talking and thought maybe we could get Dana to come to Vernal with us. Kim needed to go and look for some shoes and we could kidnap Dana and "she would never suspect a thing"...hmmmm....we thought it was a splendid plan...well thought out and it sounded like it would be perfect. I called Dana, invited her to go. She sounded excited and I told her we would be there in an hour to pick her up. I also said that we had to be back by 5:30 (that was the time the party started) because Dayna and Jack needed to head back home. OH it was Perfect!....what a plan!!!! We picked up Dana and all had a great visit during our long drive. We stopped at one of my favorite little clothing stores in our small little area, so that Dana could pick out a new outfit with some money that she got for her birthday. Then we made a "quick stop" at Walmart to pick up a few things. Kim looked for the shoes that she needed (...and didn't find any)...Dayna found a few cute outfits for less than you can purchase a spool of thread (not even joking!!!...A seriously awesome sale!!!!) and then we were off...a 1/2 hour late...but on our way home nonetheless. We pulled up to Dana's house and went inside with her while Dayna "picked up a Game" (all part of the secret surprise). Dana didn't expect a thing (...yep, we were sure of it)...we went downstairs where everyone was hiding, and waited for Dana to come down....after a few minutes she calls for Todd to come upstairs. He jumps up and runs up to see what she needed. He is gone for a few minutes, then casually brings her down and we all YELL "SurPrIsE"!!...Yah!!! We surprised her and I was so happy. Its always fun when you can completly surprise someone like that, mainly because it doesn't happen very often, at least to me. ...BUT THEN...she sits down on Todd's lap....and that is when we got the tables turned on us!...they unzipped Dana's Jacket that she was wearing...and upon the belly of her black shirt is a big red bow. I thought maybe she rubbed up against something and didn't realize the bow was there. Then Todd says.. "Surprise...We're going to have a baby". At first I didn't believe him, because he is always teasing us that they are expecting....BUT then I asked Dana if he was serious and she smiled and said, "Yes!"...Woo hoo!!!! I am going to be a grandma. I am so excited! They both seem so happy and elated that they have a sweet baby on the way...and I couldn't be happier!...They proceed to reveal that the entire "Surprise party" was always a plan to get us all there and to announce their big news....GUESS the Surprise WAS on US!!!!....Dana helped plan the entire "party" and knew what we were up to the whole time...because the party really wasn't for her....Yep, we were SURPRISED!!!! BUT we had a great time with Dana anyway, regardless of the reason that we kidnapped her, it was fun to go and spend a little bit of time hanging out together.

Congratulations Todd and Dana!!!!!!

We are all stoked about this new little one coming our way.

(PS...I'm guessing its going to be a girl~)

 But no matter what we get, grandson or granddaughter...

...we are excited about it.

One SmArT Cookie!!!

This year, Kim was asked to be on the Academic Decathlon (AD) Team that our high school has. She was a little nervous at first, but quickly decided that it would be a "fun" thing to do and joined the team. She spent MANY, MANY long hours studying, reading and attending study sessions and practices. In the end...it all payed off! The team went to St. George last week for a 3 day State Competition. Our little school took 2nd in the STATE...which is amazing. Kimber came home with 6 (yes, six) medals! We couldn't be prouder of her!!!! She got 3 bronze medals-1 for Super Quiz, 1 for French Economics, 1 for Essay...2 Silver medals-1 for Art, 1 for French Revolutions (2nd team overall)...1 Gold-for Speech. She was thrilled and excited to have done so well!

Way to go KiM!!!

Woo Hoo!!!

Winter ReMNaNts...

The snow has thawed (for the most part) and has left proof of "winter visitors" who have wandered around our yard. It's funny how we never cross paths, never see them here...but they always leave us a "little gift" so that we recognize their presence in our yard...("thanks for the house warming gift, Bambi. Sorry that we missed you! I hope that you found much to eat, but left my trees alone".) 

Among the "droppings" I uncovered many treasures leftover from autumn. I found rotten squash-(yes, I forgot to put in the trash)...but after the snow came and buried it...

it was out of sight, therefore out of mind. 

...the leaves that blew off of the tree's and piled up after the weather was TOO cold for me to rake,

 are still there WAITING FOR ME to...

 "pick up right where I left off." 

....and the remnants of leftover snow...(yes, that would be WATER) will have to be dumped

 from my wheel barrel, preparing it for its many hours of hard labor

....and then there are more leaves....and more work....

BUT....I will have to say~ that right now, it sounds like a nice 

change from housework. I am sure that the "newness" will wear off quickly and I will soon be

complaining (because thats how "we humans" are) because I am tired of it as well..but for now

a nice sunny, warm day filled with raking leaves, dumping trash and making my yard a pretty place

sounds like a good day! 

Good bye Snow (for today at least)....

and Welcome Back brown grass and moldy leaves....

its good to see you again!