Easter

showing off her freshly painted pink nails

After our fun egg decorating/hunting morning, we headed to the park with Dyers, Bettilyons, Weeks, and the Westergards to play whiffle ball. It was such a beautiful day, I even got sunburned.

Sunday I taught the resurrection in sharing time and it was the first time that I felt the spirit really strong. I hate to admit that, but I'm usually too nervous and not calm enough to let it come. The kids were quiet! It was a neat experience teaching about Christ's last week on the earth.

After church we got ready for a big dinner. We had 12 adults and 16 kids come over! I was a little worried, especially when it started raining, but it turned out great. We had lots of food, especially dessert :-) All the kids ran around and played, but weren't loud -- a huge blessing! I was reminded of how much I love Scattergories. We could never agree on adjectives. Do they count or not?

Colorado

In January, Braydan applied for a job in Fort Collins, CO. He wasn't quite qualified for it, but he knew it was an awesome job--designing some of the largest mines and dams in the world. I cringed when he told me, but quickly forgot about it as time went by and we didn't hear anything. Then they emailed him in March and asked for a phone interview. Last week they flew him down for an interview and offered him the job, wanting him to start June 1st.

What to do, what to do!!??? We made pro/con lists. We did research: schools, crime, church, weather, commute, farm potential, distance to family, etc. It all added up to moving to Fort Collins. But still my heart was not in it. I love my home. I feel like I was finally getting it where I wanted! I was so excited for my garden and chickens. They are almost going to start laying eggs! I love my neighbors and friends. They are like family to me. I love our little ward!

Last night Braydan told me that we can't move if I'm going to be angry and bitter at him. He got an answer that it's the right thing, but told me (gently) that I need to get my own answer because he did not want to drag me there and have me be unhappy.

He fell asleep, but I prayed and stayed up late thinking. I got the same answer that I've been getting for weeks: to trust in God and trust in Braydan that everything will work out okay. I knew deep down that it was the right thing and once I told myself that we're moving, I felt like I could fall asleep! I've been sleeping horrible lately and now I know why.

Today I tried to look at the positive things more instead of what I'm leaving behind. We will be 7 hours from my family (instead of 14)! It's sunny almost every day of the year there. We are sick of Braydan's commute (an hour and a half every day) and found houses within a mile of his work. The houses are bigger for the money. And they are building a temple there! I couldn't believe it during conference when President Monson announced a temple there. 5 of the elementary schools scored 10's and others are at least 8 and 9.

So we have less than 6 weeks left. I thought by writing this down it would help it sink in, but I'm still not doing much to get ready. How can I get over this denial phase?

Where's the Badgers?

I don't know if it was the new car, the beautiful weather, or I really lost my mind, but Wednesday I told the kids, "let's forget everything and go to the zoo." They, not surprisingly, complied. I wasn't truly rebellious because preschool was canceled and my zumba class is at night, but still . . . it was bold for me. When I told Amber, she asked if I was feeling okay. LOL! It made me realize how scared I am of breaking routine and especially petrified of driving around Seattle. However, I did it! I had my GPS on and I made it in 35 minutes! I felt like I could conquer anything after that.

Eliza, in a dress of course. Silly girl.

Kaleb asked me the whole time if we could see a badger. I said sure, but when I finally looked at a map and realized there were no badgers, I decided the otters would be a good substitute to fool Kaleb. Then I couldn't find them, so I thought all the other animals would distract him, but no. He really wanted to see a badger. (Braydan just informed me that otters don't look anything like a badger. Maybe I need to go to the zoo more often)

Kaleb loved climbing through these tunnels like a meerkat :) It was so funny to watch him make friends with other little kids, like it's no big deal to play with complete strangers.

We had an okay time at the zoo. I got my workout pushing 2, 3olb. kids around. I didn't think the kids really liked it or thought much of it until a few days later they started telling Braydan animals they liked. Weird kids :)

It seemed they had more fun going to visit Carla. She's a nanny for 2 doctors in Seattle, so we got to hang out in this cool house with three levels overlooking the water with a boat dock at the bottom. I wish I would've brought my camera there :)

The Swagger Wagon Birthday

Last Saturday I turned 27. Braydan woke up at 5 because he was so excited. I thought this odd at the time, but now I know why (more on that later . . . ).

He and the kids brought me strawberry crepes in bed,
but Kaleb insisted I come down and open all my cards before I ate. The kids were excited for me to open their present: a jumbo bag of whopper robin eggs - my fav this time of year. And Braydan got me a hands free thing for my phone since I guess I always talk with my neck kinked. They told me I had another present later, but had to wait.

Then I went to Zumba. I can't miss my favorite class on my birthday.

I took my sweet time getting showered and dressed when I got home, which happens . . . never. They picked up my favorite pizza for lunch and then I went shopping by myself. Braydan told me to be back by 5.

I got home and he whisked me to dinner at a fancy place in Bellevue. It was a little too fancy (sorry Braydan!). He ordered escargot for the appetizer and I almost puked watching him enjoy it.
I ordered salmon because it was the only food I recognized. And get this-- all my sides were pureed: my carrots, potatoes, asparagus, and cucumber thingy. What was even more disturbing than the escargot was that Braydan kept texting under the table during dinner. When I asked who the heck he was texting during my birthday dinner, he just smiled and told me not to worry about it.

After dinner, he asked if I was ready for the next surprise and asked if I would drive. I started to argue that I don't know where we're going when he handed me the keys. And they were not my keys. I froze. No way, I thought. No way, no way, no way. I looked around the parking lot and right in front of me is a brand new toyota sienna. I could not believe it!

I finally got in the car after getting over the shock and ooed and awed over all the cool gadgets. I think the car dealer guy was more excited than Braydan because he filled the van with balloons and flowers (he was the guy Braydan was texting). I don't know how Braydan kept it a secret! He bought it and kept it at the dealership for over a week. I never saw him looking online for cars. We never talked about it. Well, I guess we did talk about our trip to Montana this summer and how our buick is getting older, but that's it!

Anyway, my crazy day ended with some delicious pies with some friends.

What an awesome day! I get excited every time we have to go somewhere because we get to drive the new car. I love the new car smell! I've never had a new car smell. I love that I can open the doors with a remote when my arms are full of groceries and Eliza. I have a camera to watch so I don't run over any bikes or neighborhood kids. It tells me exactly how many miles I have left before I run out of gas--Braydan was quick to point out this feature to me for some reason. It has 12 cup holders! I don't know why I would need that many. I can talk on the phone with my steering wheel (haven't quite figured that one out, but still).

Sammy asked me, "so how is Braydan going to top this next year?"

I asked Braydan and he said, "this counts for the next 10 years."

I'm not worried though. He'll forget.

Goodbye trusty Buick! You've been so good to us! Thank you for never having a problem.

.

chickies

Spring Chicks

Before I debut the chicks, I have to write about my other little chica. Our day started out great--pancakes for breakfast, only a few fights with Kaleb, and I got a shower before 3pm - - but when I went to do a few errands, I locked the keys in the car. No big deal right? Kammy was so kind and picked us up, the kids didn't break too many things while we waited for her, BUT, Eliza's precious blanket was still locked in the car. I didn't realize this until nap time. "She'll be fine," I reasoned. "She has other blankets." Well, not so. Not like her special blanket. She went from thisto this. She cried and cried until I felt so bad that I took her to my room, and while I pretended to sleep, she finally dozed off. Sheesh!

When she woke up, she talked, asked, and cried about her blanket for 2 hours until Braydan got home and went to retrieve it. I've never seen her so sad. She's going to have that blanket until she's 20!

Last weekend we got 4 baby chicks to keep our turtle company. We can't decide what to name them yet. I'm leaning toward Greek goddess names, but not sure.

Don't worry, they were only in the kitchen for the first 30 minutes until Braydan got their light hooked up in the garage.

It's definitely spring at our house. Every unassuming window has been taken over by plants.

Happy Spring!

Praying for Sun

In the last week we've gone from sunny park days to snow.

Today we had to get out and enjoy it first thing before it melted.

I love how Eliza still has a skirt on.

Kaleb said some funny things I have to remember.

Today he broke my hanger and as I was telling him that's not nice to Mommy, he said, "But Heavenly Father created my body so I can break things!" His life motto.

Yesterday he was looking out the window at the windy snow/sleet and I was telling him about storms. Well, he folded his arms right there and said, "Heavenly Father, please help the rain to stop." Then he looked up at me kind of sheepish. I told him I was happy he prayed and that he can pray about anything and God will hear him, but shame on me because the whole time I was thinking, good luck with getting rain to stop here! But, I am not kidding, the next minute the rain stopped and it was sunny. Kaleb loved this so much that he kept praying for random things throughout the day. O ye of little faith, Jessica!