Hooray for Easter

Annie's face in this picture is how excited I am for Easter this year!

I want to shout from the rooftops that I am going to get Easter right this year.

Earlier this week, A.J. asked me, "If we believe that Christ's atonement and resurrection were the most important events that have ever happened, why don't we talk about it more? Why don't we talk about every detail of His sacrifice for us?"

I immediately answered him that we don't focus on the details of his death, but rather focus on his life and how we can align our lives with his.

He was not satisfied with my answer. Not by a long shot.

So...that really got me thinking. And you know what? He is absolutely right!

I have a very strong testimony of what happened for each of us in that garden the day our Savior began his final journey.

Tears fill my eyes when I really think about his sacrifice for me. I think about the imperfections in my life, the real pain and sadness I have experienced, and the magnitude of multiplying that by every single one of us and it is inconceivable.

But do I share that on such a perfect day? Do I wake each Easter ready to embrace my gratitude for my Savior? Do I embrace every symbol of the season with a teaching moment?

Well this Easter, that will all change!

I have some new fun ideas to incorporate the fun Easter activities of the past. There will be egg dying, creative gifts in colorful baskets and maybe even a fun new maze!

But, it will also include Christ and how significant this day is for each of us!

I can't wait to share the details on Monday!

Have a wonderful Easter weekend full of memories, family and the remembering of our brother, Jesus Christ, who makes every day worth living!

~Laura

Ellie's Crazy Hair Day!

This is a quick picture of Ellie on her "Crazy Hair Day" this week!

I am pretty sure that we have documented this "do" before, because this is Ellie's "go-to" hairstyle for this fun event.

*Style note: This is very easy to do. She flips her hair down and we put everything up in a very high ponytail and then tuck a small plastic cup hidden away in the hair to create the "Cindy Lou Who" look!

I love that Ellie wants to celebrate spirit days by going all out. I don't know if I ever got into anything daring like her until maybe high school when being on Student Government required it.

She is so happy! I love her smile!

Happy Crazy Hair Day Ellie Jane!

Happy Birthday Nana Cecil

We love Nana Cecil!

She loves us too!

On Monday night, we celebrated her birthday, which is actually April 1st! (It fits her perfectly because she loves to pretend like she is always in training for the Olympic Figure Skating team!)

I thought I would mention a few things that we love about Nana in celebration of her special day.

*Nana always goes all out on our birthdays. If we are scheduled for dinner at her house, she makes it extra special. She cooks our favorite foods, even it is 100 degrees in her kitchen in July, the best food is just waiting for us to devour. She even sets the table with balloons overhead and has some sort of delicious dessert waiting in the wings for later.

*Nana always supports every single one of her grandchildren. Nana and Papa were blessed with two wonderful children. Leslie was the amazing and brilliant first-born, and John was the ever-challenging, but very talented second-born. I am certain that they never dreamt of having seven grandchildren from their restless boy, but alas they do, and they love every single one of them! They come to every game, play, recital, school performance and church happening they can. They drive all over the city supporting these great kids, and we love them for it!

*Nana loves her children. She supports John and Leslie in all of their accomplishments and trials. She remembers them in her prayers and worries about them when they travel. She wants the very best for them and they know it.

*Nana is a wonderful mother-in-law! I know that I have only had one, but I love her. She is always supportive and so loving toward me. She knows that I love her son and that he is number one in my life, and I know that makes her smile when she thinks about it.

*Nana is a creature of habit. She is very organized and always is able to accomplish anything that she puts on her daily to-do list. I love that about her! On days I keep up on my to-do list, I feel like we are "two peas in a pod."

Happy Birthday Nana Cecil!

We love you so much!

The cake is complete with Annie's hand landing right in the "r"!

Annie smiling, ever so slightly, with the festivities set up behind her!

A.J. and Annie hugging, "sooooo tight!"

Ellie, Annie and A.J. are all smiles for the camera. I love Annie's intensity!

Rapunzel, I mean Brooke and Annie, showing off the shoulder carry.

Ellie getting in on the action!

It was a perfect night! Easy food, yummy cake, and a National NCAA tournament playing in the background. (Unless Nana had the remote and was sneaking a peek at Dancing With the Stars!)

April Fools

Who would have known how much APRIL FOOLS fun you could have with a $5 basket of play food!!

Well, I certainly had fun today!

A couple of weeks ago my sister mentioned that she had been cleaning the playroom and come across the girls' play food and thought it would be so funny to add a piece to her kids' lunches.

As soon as she said it, I knew APRIL FOOLS DAY would be perfect!

I had so much fun coming up with very cheesy cards to go with each piece!

The best part were the texts, phone calls and smiles that entered my home later in the day!

I loved seeing all of them so happy and joining in the fun. (Although, I don't know if the teenagers were thrilled to share their family APRIL FOOLS with everyone at school!)

To me, I love these kids. I want them to remember that it isn't all about the hard stuff...school tests, varsity practices, times tables, and chores.

There truly is JOY IN THE JOURNEY!

With that being said, don't forget General Conference...possibly my favorite Saturdays and Sundays of the year!!

I didn't actually send one the one above, but I thought the message was funny and very true!

There was no trick played on Annie, SHE was the beneficiary of all the new toys, with a basket to boot!