~Yard Work~

What a really great Saturday.

It was a really cool morning but perfect for working in the yard. We all headed out for a day of working together. We cleaned out the garden from last year and the back corner where we had thought many times about putting the garden. We took down the old red fence, cleaned out all the weeds, raked, and got the ground ready for planting. We expanded the back garden and are thinking about making the old garden a flower garden. We had so much fun working together, laughing, teasing, and being together. We also took down the old swing set. As we took it down I remembered the summer when my dad and Ward set it up for the girls. Both of the girls were so excited trying to "help." Jolene was toddling around the yard with a knit hat on she had received in the mail from Great Grandma Larsen. Once it was up they played on it the rest of the day. As nice as the yard looks without the old swing set it is hard to believe the girls are to big for it. They have grown up, whether I am ready or not, they have grown up. Before we started the front yard Ward and Raychel went to the dump while Jolene and I went to the store so we could have a nice BBQ to end our day with. While dinner was cooking we cleaned out the front flower bed and mowing the lawn. It looks great. We are ready for Spring. When we finished Jolene asked if we could go by some flowers now? I had to laugh, it is still too cold to plant but like I told her soon enough we can dig in the dirt and plant flowers and our garden. I think the best part of the day was hearing Jolene say many times she was having so much fun!

Drake was to hyper to be out the whole time. So he would sit

by the gate and watch until he could come out and play.

~Sunday Photo~

Spring in Colorado means snow. It was only a light dusting but the air was very cold. It's crazy how one day the weather is warm and sunny and the next day is cold and snowy. I don't think I will ever get use to Spring time in Colorado. When others around the country are talking about planting flowers, wearing flip flops, shorts and being outside we are still in sweaters, pants and close toed shoes. One day soon this will end and we will be enjoying the outside like everyone else.

~3D Project~

For and end of the year project the 2nd graders had to do a research project on an animal and then do a 3D project of it. Jolene chose to do her research on a Squirrel Monkey. They did all the research and rough drafts at school, then they got to type their report on the laptops in class. The 3D project was to be done at home for literacy night when the parents got to come to school and see what the kids have been doing this quarter. Sundays after church the girls love to do crafts so we found instructions http://www.craftbits.com/project/sock-monkey on how to do a sock monkey and got busy. Jolene had to do all the work herself since it was a class project. Both of the the girls did a really good job. We kind of messed up on the arms, they turned out to be little nubs, but still cute. They both were so proud when they finished and realized what they could do by hand sewing. Jolene was pretty excited to take her monkey to school and show all of her friends what she had done.

~Honor Roll~

Another quarter is over! One more to go!

Raychel worked hard again and her grades show it. She was a little disappointed to learn she was 1 point away from getting all A's. We are very proud of her and her desire to work hard, study hard and earn her grades.

~Journaling~

Both of the girls love to journal. They love a new journal, a new pen and a quiet place to write down their secret private thoughts and ideas. I love to see them writing, I love to see them thinking about what to write and how to express themselves. Jolene took her journal outside after school since the weather was nice and started writing. When she finally came in not only did she say she had written about her day but she "wrote a song." I love her desire to journal. It is a wonderful habit to start. She has started several journals, there is one she told me I could read and one she asked me not to read. I can't help not thinking about the council we received from Spencer W. Kimball, "Those who keep a personal journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily life." http://www.ldsjournal.com/Why How could I not what that for my daughters, to keep the Lord in their life? They are a great reminder why I journal, for them. So when the day comes and they are reading my journals they will know I love them, I was proud of them, and I am so grateful for the trust the Lord as given me to be their mother.

~General Conference~

I really enjoy conference!

Who doesn't like watching church on your own TV, wearing what you want, and snacking through the whole thin? I enjoy taking my own notes on each one of the talks, each speaker speaking to me! Each speaker following the Spirit as to what we as members of the Church need to hear. There are so many great little web sites to copy packets to help the kids pay attention and learn as well. The girls were asking a couple of weeks before hand to make sure I didn't forget! After the first session we started to serve up lunch/snack to watch the great movies the channel shows, when I brought over Jolene's plate she had fallen asleep. She napped through the break and was wide awake for the last session. This year it was nice to sit inside all warm and cozy listening to the Prophet and watching the snow fall outside!

"None of us can conceive the full import of what Christ did

for us in Gethsemane, but I am so grateful everyday of my

life for His atoning sacrifice."

Thomas S. Monson

President of the Church

" May your efforts to develop Christlike attributes

be successful so that His image may be engraved

in your countenance and His attributes manifest

in your behavior"

Lynn G. Robbins

Member of the Seventy

One of my mission presidents

~Spring Break and Friends~

Spring Break is quickly coming to an end. The girls had a few friends over, enjoying the pleasant weather that finally arrived! They took full advantage of being able to get outside run around, play on the trampoline and head to the park. They had a mud cake bake off in the backyard, ate pizza, drank pop, enjoyed sweets and ended the night with a movie! I think I am as disappointed as the girls are that Spring break has come to an end.

~Crafts~

Today is not only April Fools Day, but it is also the last Friday of Spring Break. We have had so much fun this week. We have done crafts, sewed, baked, cooked, played games, went to the library, watched movies and had friends over and went to friends. I have loved every day with our girls. I love hearing their stories, having them retell me what they are reading, seeing how creative they are and hearing their laughter. Having them home for the week makes us all excited for Summer vacation. So much to do! We made lots of really cute hair clips and even clips for their clothes, bags or jackets. The are called yo-yos. They were so easy! The girls had so much fun picking out the materials they wanted and then hand sewing them. They got to be pretty quick and were making them while we watched movies. Another great Spring Break!

~Crafts and Sunshine~

With Spring in Colorado any weather is possible and with Spring Break the end of March it can be pretty crazy weather wise. This morning the weather was pretty cool so the girls worked on many different crafts. We painted, watched movies, went to the library and played games. It is fun doing different crafts and seeing how creative the girls can be. I really enjoy this time with them. The are so much fun to be with.

~Spring Bunny~

Spring Break is always pretty cold and sometimes even snowy! So being such a nice cool day we took Thumper outside to get some fresh air. Jolene let him go in the middle of the yard but he quickly found his way under the boat. It took the girls about 15 minutes before they came and asked for help in catching the bunny. He loved his freedom. We ended up taking Drakes old dog run out to the yard for Thumper to have more room, but boundaries! Jolene loves Thumper and likes to carry him around like a baby. He is a good bunny and seems to enjoy his new temporary home.

~A New Skill~

Now that Jolene is 8 she is working on her Duty to God, lds.org, One of the goals she has chosen was to plan and make a a dinner. She chose to make a calzone with a fruit salad and then mud cups for dessert. She was so excited. We went shopping together and she picked out what she wanted in the calzones, and the fruit for the salad. Then we came home and got busy making dinner. she was able to cut the olives and the fruit for the salad and for some crazy reason she loves to grate the cheese. She did a great job, we had a lot of fun working in the kitchen together. Both of the girls love to be in the kitchen cooking and baking. Her dinner was wonderful! She was pretty excited there would be leftovers for her lunch tomorrow! I am told the dessert was good also!