What a week!

It has been such a crazy fun week! My grandpa turned 80 and the whole family was in town to celebrate the event with a party for all his life long friends and family. It was so much fun. I love my Grandpa so much and am so excited that my kids have known him, he is such an easy going, wonderful guy. After the big bash I had an Easter party at my house with 30 people! Lots of fun...we had an Easter egg hunt and egg dying we laughed, reminisced of old times and made some great new memories.

I love my family and think I am so lucky to be really close to my cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents (so busy partying I forgot to take pics). The party continued the entire week with Easter dinner, visiting, card playing, lunch dates through the week, sleepover with Mack, a great chat with Casey, games nights, and I even snuck in a GNO with some of my favorite friends. It was just like an in town vacation. Loved it.

Here are my Easter cuties:



We also got a Wii over spring break. We have been having lots of fun, mixed with a bit of Wii-itis (all over soreness), and Wii-elbow (mainly from tennis). Sam loves making Mii's. I snapped this cute picture of Ian with Rissi tonight:


And Sam making one his million Mii's:


Love vacations, and visiting with family. Back to the daily grind tomorrow...but I think I'm ready! Thanks to all of you for making life so fun.

Smiles at our house!

As I said before, we love LPS at our house. Look what we found...the giraffe! And, we didn't even have to go to France to get it. Available at your local Toys R Us.
Smiles. =)

Help me out...

I love all of you out there in the blogging world, but...can someone please tell me what the point of the WORD VERIFICATION is on so many blogs! Wow, they make my life difficult. I can't read or something and fail them every time! I usually pass after about three or so attempts...so can someone tell my all the great qualities of the word verification so I won't die when I see another one of these:

Please type these letters:

llojosheohdj (Or something crazy like that)!

Love you all even though you keep me up all hours of the night!

Question...

How is it that Richard totally slept through Addy screaming at the top of her lungs for a half hour last night? Wow. And he was really asleep, I heard him snoring. How is it that Dad's can sleep through everything and Mom's wake up at the slightest little peep? I just don't get it!

Look what I got tonight...

No, not the baby, I've had her for six months now! Look at that darling paint can, made and decorated for me by the cute young women in my ward. I got released as YW secretary last Sunday. =( I thought the can was filled with some treats, but upon further investigation I found personal notes from the girls. It totally made my day and made me realize how much I love those girls! One of them said they liked me because I was so down to earth. Loved that coming from a fifteen year old! I hope my own children feel that way about me in a few years. Going to miss them all so much (not to mention those leaders too), but luckily they are in good hands. Thanks again girls and ditto to what you said Ericka ...it felt like I was only in for like a month! Geez.

Attitude of Gratitude

So, how do you teach a child gratitude? As I child I remember being so thankful for gifts, excited for trips to McDonald's, and generally grateful for all the random acts of kindness bestowed on me by my parents and extended family. Okay, maybe my memories are a little rose colored...but seriously I think my kids have a long way to go in the gratitude department.

Case in point. Kaela lost about her 12th tooth this past Sunday (so the tooth fairy is nothing new in her life). That afternoon she informed us that she wanted the tooth fairy to bring her a book instead of money (just like the her tooth fairy does at friend Lizzie's house). I told her that the tooth fairy wasn't Santa and Lizzie must have a different tooth fairy that comes to her house. Lots of sulking ensued, tears, pep talks and so on. Luckily Kaela is a pretty spiritual little girl and when my sister Ash told her the tooth fairy couldn't shop for books on Sunday, she swallowed her sadness and accepted the reality that there would be no book underneath her pillow that night. The tooth fairy brought her a dollar and a note telling her to buy her own book!

My sister Casey made me feel better about this whole gratitude thing by telling me after Kaela's outbreak that when her son was praised for putting a plate in the sink this week, he promptly asked for a DS game. Made me laugh and feel a little better about Sam asking for a Wii for Valentines Day (I keep telling myself he meant chocolate)!

Anyway, I can't help but feel that sometimes I have just given my kids too much. I think there is some merit in saying no, working for things you really want and appreciating them once they are yours. So, help me here...how do you teach your kids gratitude?