Easter Egg Hunts

Before we left for California the kids were able to participate in a couple of Easter egg hunts. The first was with the Gray side of the family. The kids always love running around finding eggs with their cousins. Logan was so excited that he found the large jackpot egg. The second hunt was the city egg hunt (really a candy dash). Although it last less than 1 minute it is always one of their favorite activities. The rest of our Easter was spent in California. The kids received Easter bags full of toys and snacks and we were able to do a small egg hunt on the patio of the hotel. I don't think the kids really care what they find they just like the search.

Happy Birthday Princess!

How time flies. Ashlyn is 5 today. She has grown up so fast. She has been counting down to her birthday since Christmas. Occasionally I considered faking her birthday to end the misunderstandings when time is longer than she anticipated (ex: When I told her 2 weeks she thought it was 2 days). After all the waiting she woke up sick in the middle of the night. What a let down. Now I wish I had faked her birthday weeks ago. She tried to enjoy it. She had fun opening her presents and watching the Barbie movie that she was anxiously awaiting. However, she spent the majority of the day napping. Fortunately she woke up feeling quite a bit better. She was even able to eat her birthday cake. After all the sleeping it might be a long night but that's ok, it is her birthday. We love you sweet girl.

Happy Anniversary!

Chad and I have been married 12 years today. It has been 12 great years. At times easy to forget about our anniversary in celebrating Ashlyn's birthday. I feel so lucky to have such a great husband. I couldn't ask for better. I hope we will be able to celebrate many many more anniversaries. I love you!

Ashlyn's Birthday Party

Monday, Ashlyn had her friend party at Classic Fun Center. Although she really likes Classic the Karaoke room is what won her over. When she saw the party room with a stage and a microphone she knew this was the place she wanted her party. She spent most of the time performing for her friends or just performing alone. She is quite the superstar. It is a little frightening at times. She did occasionally leave the party room to play on the bouncers and play land. It was a fun afternoon.

Funny comment

Ashlyn came home from preschool the other day all excited about a dress she had seen. Her teachers high school aged daughter was showed them her dance dress. Ashlyn gave me a detailed description then said, "I was so pretty that it made my heart smile." I don't know where she get this stuff. She is always making funny comments. She is obsessed with pretty, fancy dresses so it wasn't shocking that she loved it. I just thought her comment was so funny.

What???

This week all of the kids had SEP (parent teacher) conferences. It is always fun to hear the nice things said about the kids. I walked away from the boys conferences thinking isn't nice to have good kids that do well in school. Then I started worrying about what we would hear when Ashlyn goes to elementary. Not that she isn't a good student and a sweet girl she is just so LOUD. So this is what I was thinking when I went into her preschool parent teacher yesterday. Her teacher told me how much she is going to miss Ashlyn and her group of friends next year. She said they are sweet and are befriending a little girl that is so much different than all of them. I felt proud but questioned that a little. I have seen her be mean when she doesn't want to include someone. Ashlyn can be a little bossy. I thought well maybe she is growing up a little and it made me feel better about her playground interactions next year. Moving on with the conference, she said she is doing well in school. Great! Then the shocker. She said "My only concern for Ashlyn is that she is so quiet that she might get ignored by her Kindergarten teacher. She needs a good teacher who will pay attention to her even though she always quietly obeys." WHAT???? I have never heard the word quiet used when describing Ashlyn. She sings all day long at the top of her lungs. She has loud conversations with her Barbies when she plays alone. She likes to run and scream with her friends. She is always loud. Not just chatty loud but actually hurt your ears loud. I have learned to tune her out most of the time but when other adults are around they always comment with a "wow". I would think that her teacher had the wrong girl but Miss Julie is in our ward and knows Ashlyn pretty well. I have always felt it was so strange how our kids behave so differently at school than at home. Connor is a chatterbox at home but very quiet in school. I can understand that because Connor doesn't like confrontation. He is well behaved because he doesn't want to get in trouble. Logan is more focused at school than at home. He really likes school and wants to do well so he keeps on task without becoming distracted. I never thought Ashlyn would be able to control her noise level. I thought she was missing that knob. I guess I can now look forward to Ashlyns future SEPs. I am so proud of all the kids. They are great students and great kids.

Is it time for Summer yet?

I am so tired of winter. We have had such a blah winter with little snow and a lot of haze. The kids are getting restless. Actually I am getting restless. I am so tired of sick kids. I don't think we have had a week without sickness since the middle of December. Poor Connor (our healthiest child) took the brunt of it with pneumonia and strep in the same week. He is finally starting to feel better after about 2 1/2 weeks. Unfortunately, he might be suffering from dramaqueenosis now. Just kidding we are just happy he is at least about 75% back to normal. He was able to play basketball on Monday and this time he didn't look like he was going to pass out. Logan and Ashlyn have also had strep and various other colds. I would think it was just our family having bad luck but last time I volunteered in their class rooms it was like a cesspool in the school. Maybe the inversion is making all the illness stick around. I am ready for nice weather and goober free noses. I guess until it warms up I will have to dream of our upcoming family trip to California and Chad and my trip to the Mediterranean.