Time For A Little Big City

We couldn't resist heading into Chicago for a couple of days. We started out with a birthday dinner for Allison and then got a birthday treat at the Ghiradeli Store...scrumptious ice cream. We also spent time at Navy Pier, the Childrens Museum, the bean statue, the American Girl doll Store, and of course a little shopping.

Yeah Visitors!

We got a special treat and got to have an early spring break and visit with my sisters and their kids, and my mom. Since Haylie just got home from her mission, we all wanted to spend time with her, so we decided to meet here in "the middle." Mostly we just hung out and chatted and the kiddos played and played and played. I am sure the neighbors thought we were crazy because even though it was spring, we were having a little cold spell and it was pretty cold, but the kids loved playing outside. We also got to have FHE together, we did a little bowling, a little mini golfing and a couple of rides on the go karts. It was so fun to visit and catch up and hear about Haylie's mission experiences.

This is one of my favorites! What good friends! (most of the time) :)

Crazy

Parker's hair does some pretty crazy things when he is out jumpin on the tramp.

Observation Day

At the girls' dance studio they don't have "recitals," so at the end of the year the parents get to go into their class for an observation day. It is fun to get to see them so up close and see how much they have learned in such a short amount of time.

Yeah, the boys weren't too thrilled about observation day.

Gotta Get Away

During Matt's 1 week spring break, I got to take a little break of my own. I spent a couple of days in this quaint little Amish town that is pretty close by. And I know that some of you might be asking what in the world did I do by myself for two days in a very small town? The beauty of it is that I didn't HAVE to do anything, but I got to do a lot of uninterrupted blogging, window shopping, lesson planning and reflecting. I don't know, maybe I should feel guilty for needing a little time away and maybe only mom's will understand; but it was a refreshing reprieve from the mundane daily tasks that we mom's are faced with and the never ending needs of our sweet little ones. In all honesty I think I came back a better mom...a little more patient, a little more grateful. So maybe in the end I shouldn't feel guilty for needing a littler recharge--a chance to fill my bucket, every once in a while. In the end I think it truly makes giving (what mom's do best) easier and helps keep life in perspective.

Parking for the Amish.

These buggy's were everywhere and shared the road with all the cars. Some even were decked out with headlights.

This was my "motel." Yes, you should be scared. :)

Welcome Home, Haylie!

It is amazing how fast 18 months go by. It is already time for my sister Haylie to come home from serving in the New York, Rochester mission. My parents went to pick her up and spend some time in the area and getting to meet some of the people she served, and lucky for us, my dad was able to book a flight back home that had a 6 hour lay-over in Chicago. So we drove up to the airport and were able to get to spend a little time with her before she headed back to Utah. It was so neat to be able to see her and how much she has grown. We are so glad you served well and made it home safe and sound. We Love You Hay!

They came down a completely different escalator, so they saw us before we saw them.

Parker was just a baby when Haylie left, so a couple of weeks before she came home I put her picture up on the kitchen cupboard so he would know who she was and wouldn't be shy around her. I was so happy it worked, this was so sweet.

The kids were so proud of their sign, they all helped make it, even Parker added his artistic touch/scribbles.