Aubrey blew me away this week when she announced that she was going to be in the talent show at school.
Mind you, this is the same girl that makes every effort to avoid being in the spotlight in any kind of way. When she first told me about the talent show a few weeks prior, I encouraged her to participate in it. I got that look of "Are you crazy?" so I dropped the issue and didn't think anymore of it.
Why the change of heart?
She informed me that she was joining a group of kids from her band class....I guess that would explain it, she's wasn't going solo. Rigdon and I decided that we'd go and watch her play.
Since Aubrey didn't want to be the only girl in the group, she recruited another girl to play with her.
The greatest man in history had no servants, yet they called him Master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicine, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet he conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.
Happy Easter everyone!
This year included all the typical Easter traditions that I'm sure many families out there celebrate. Coloring Easter eggs:
Easter Morning:
The kids raced out of their rooms this morning, looking for their baskets that the Easter Bunny had hidden.
Easter Bunny was pretty sneaky this year:
Aubrey's basket was in the oven:
Connor's was underneath the kitchen sink. Gotta love getting socks for Easter, right?
Rigdon's - Bunny tried to make it a little easier for him.
Ronin was the last one to find his:
(Um, don't mind the load of laundry that's been sitting in there for about two days now...I'll get to it, eventually.)
Later this morning, we went to our weekly Sunday church meetings. The 3 oldest kids all participated by singing in the Easter program for Sacrament Meeting.Behind all the "normal, well-behaved" pictures...
are the ones you have to get through first.
It all starts so innocently with a simple funny face. Then it's all down hill from there:
Then the silliness spreads like an infectious disease.
Showing off the new socks...the kids were actually pretty stoked about them. They desperately needed some new ones.
Rigdon with his Stripling Warrior action figure. He's watched enough Living Scriptures videos to know exactly who this guy is.
Easter Egg Hunt @ the Grandparent's House
After church, I took the kids and headed over to my parent's house. We ate dinner and then held the much anticipated Easter egg hunt.
My brother Cory and his family were there too, yay! Of course, that means extra competition for those hidden eggs. :) Just kidden, there were plenty to go around.
Rigdon and Brooklyn had their own special egg hunt. They scored well.
Gettin' a little extra sugar.
The older kids had their hunt out by the horse pasture - there were 53 eggs to find.
Just so happens my aunt, uncle, and cousin were out with the horses today.
My mom 'n nephew, Sterling.
With all these kids, it was quick work of finding all the eggs.
One of those rare occasions where there's actually a picture with me in it. :)
My Dad announcing a surprise bonus hunt - a single egg with $20 in it! I'm so in.
Connor outsmarted us all and found the egg first.
He was quite excited. He already knew what he wanted to buy with it...a video game.
Enjoying the spoils of the hunt.
The kids had a little bit of tramp time.
Just like last year, Easter happened to be one of those few occasions where Rigdon was struggling breathing. I stuck him on his nebulizer.
We had a beautiful, spiritual, fun-filled Easter.Hope you had a great one too!
PS: Rigdon threw up tonight AFTER I gave him a bath. I suspect it was from too much candy. :/ Gave him another bath. Ah, the joys of motherhood.
"Britney Spears is boosting morale in Afghanistan, based on this music video taped by Marines stationed there. "I am in LOVE with this," Spears tweeted in response to the "Hold It Against Me" production. "I always knew our soldiers were fierce! Thanks for everything you guys do." (Thanks for the heads up, Katie)
This has some amusing moments in it - go U.S. Marines!!!!!!!!!!!
I had to put this one in too from several months ago made by Army soldiers in Afghanistan:
I am always grateful for any occasion such as this to again be reminded what my brother and Savior did for me. Knowing that I am riddled with imperfection and weakness, my Savior stood up and did what I could not do for myself. What an incredible debt I owe to my Master, my Redeemer.
How does one fully appreciate and comprehend all that Christ went through for each and every one of us? I don't know that I will ever completely understand it, but I will always be grateful. He suffered for our sins and felt all our pain and sorrow. He was brutally crucified and then resurrected three days later. It is Jesus Christ alone that has provided us a way back to our Heavenly Father's presence - back home. Whether or not every human on this earth chooses to accept the atonement of Jesus Christ, it won't ever change the fact that he still did it anyway, for me, for you, for all mankind.
Alma 34:8-10:
...Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.
For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.
Last night we attended Ronin's 2nd Grade Music Concert.
My handsome little stud.
I love Ronin's rich, dark brown eyes. I think they are such a beautiful color.
Dropping him off to wait with his classmates. It was quite amusing to watch how the attention of the other kids went right to Ronin as soon as he showed up (he is the class clown, after all.)
Lots of energy in this room, or organized chaos, whichever you prefer.
It's time.
Music Concert Video. This one's for you, Jed:
I went to the concert not expecting to be stirred up with emotion, but it was surprisingly hard to fight back a few tears while listening to the children singing patriotic songs. It made me miss Jed. :( I can certainly see why Ronin would often say how sad it made him to practice those songs at school. They would always make him think of his dad.
Concert is over!
A few of Ronin's supporters.
We're always glad when Grandma and Grandpa can come too.
Apparently student body elections are going on right now at the high school (where the concert was held.) There were campaign posters all over the hallways. As we were walking out, I saw this one. Made me chuckle:
