Author: Emily

We spent the morning at the Anasazi Heritage Center: (the big boys received some booklets when we got there, and they worked SO hard on them-so they could earn a badge, and JoAnna was the Master little Kid Wrangler while I was helping the big boys answer their MANY questions in their booklets! Thanks again Jo!)
Don’t be fooled by this cute pic, those little girls were snuggled for just a moment, and then Lorelei was all over the place!

Love these pic of the boys with Cora Jo:

Grinding Corn:

There were some beautiful exhibits, and lots of it was hands on:

Tucker with his big booklet:

Truman with the microscope:

Cute Cousins

Do you think they could fit in? 🙂

I loved seeing these artifacts:

Look at how adorable Lucy is! This picture makes me want to squeeze her!

I’m not sure what these cute girls are up to here, but they are cute!

The awarding of their pins was serious business, and taken very seriously (they even had to take an oath 🙂 to be respectful of the dunes)

Here they are with their pins: (Never mind the drama about who should have received which pins, JoAnna graciously shared her pin!)

And then to the picnic area for some yummy lunch!

Hiking to the anasazi home (I can’t remember what it was called…this is why I should type post sooner than a month! 🙂 ) It was fun to have just spent the morning learning about them, and then doing the little hike. It was a perfect length for the littles.

Lorelei was tired after the hike, and while she slept, Jo graciously watched her and Elliot, while Tucker and Truman and I went swimming again!

After napping and swimming we made a quick stop for TUCKER: 🙂

And then to another park:

Truman was missing Toph this day, and I thought he was just being silly, because we forgot the soccer ball…It was pretty cute to see Tuck go out there and try to cheer him up. He was happy to know the next day we would see our dad!

That night after everything was packed, I went into my room to move Elliot off my bed, when I saw this:

Elliot had twisted himself up in the blankets and rolled off the bed, without waking up…:)

Thank you again Chad and Jo for hosting my crazy self and kiddos, and being so gracious, kind and patient with us! We had a BLAST! Can’t wait to come see you again, this time with Toph! 🙂

The day started off with a trip to Dolores, and the Library…
They had a beautiful, beautiful Geranium that was as big as Truman. I could scarcely believe it’s size.

My kids were thrilled and excited that they even served goldfish at story time!

Cute, Cute Girls enjoying the fish together! 🙂

Then to a fun Dolores Park, where we played and played and played! Including a great game of hide and seek.

Lorelei saying hello to her dad who she was missing sorely:

Then to the Whistle Stop Restaurant (I think that’s the name?) where they had some DELICIOUS sweet potatoes fries!

And quiet time, (and electronic time 🙂 )

Afterwords we got some good kite flying in the Bischoffs backyard

Afterwords we headed to the park to play! (they have so many parks so close by)
(I love this picture of all of us packed in the car)

Having fun at the park:

And while we were finishing preparing dinner there was some silly dancing going on with things on heads 🙂

Can you tell we love our cousins?

After driving all morning, we were excited to finally be in Colorado!

We had some yummy lunch, and let the littles have a quiet time,

Lorelei fell asleep sitting up 🙂

and all the big kids got to play Truman’s new toy, a Ninendo DS:

Afterwords we went swimming at their awesome pool:

Lorelei cried when it was time to take off her new swimsuit (thanks Aunt Cat!)

The boys LOVED staying with Aunt Jo and Uncle Chad, especially because of their yummy evening treats 🙂

And I loved seeing those cuties snuggling together 🙂

A wonderful first day of vacation!

Driving

We got an early start, (I find it’s easier to get started while the kiddos are sleeping, thankfully our kids can be transported easily) nothing like a beautiful sunrise to keep you going!

The kids were so excited to go to McDonalds for Breakfast (in Moab), and be able to go into a restaurant with their Jammies on:)

Everyone is at an age, that makes traveling so much easier, especially with Technology!

And Driving is so much more enjoyable when you get to drive thru beautiful places, here is a random shot by Tuck:

And another by Tuck, thru the dirty window, of this beautiful arch:

And I was worried about this sassy girl, but she traveled like a champ!!

It was so fun when we finally arrived and got to see the smiley faces of the family we love!!!

Hurray, after baptism/Easter it was SPRING BREAK!!! And we were excited to go visit JoAnna and Chad in Colorado, but had to do a little prep before we went. And honestly, I am always surprised at how much work it is to get ready to go on VACATION!
Here we are getting our oil changed, I love going places with my four kiddos:

Here is most of our stuff, packed and ready to be loaded in the car:

And I usually always get the house really cleaned before I go, (Because honestly, its so much easier when you come home from a Vacation, to come home when you have clean sheets waiting for you!) and this trip, we tidy-ed, but didn’t deep clean! And we were ready, the next morning at 5 AM, me and the kiddos were on the road, Colorado here we come!

We had such a busy week preparing for Truman’s baptism, we didn’t have time to dye eggs, so Easter Afternoon we took the time to do it!
Dying Eggs:
Each kid got a dozen:

Every Year, I get to make this egg! Love you hubba!

And the finished product:
Elliot’s Eggs are awesome, look at the perfect pattern:

Lorelei was quite thrilled about their being PINK dye, and would just leave her eggs in their, making them red. 🙂

Tucker had some awesome multicolored eggs!

And Truman’s looked like Dinosaur eggs:

So awesome to see their creativity shining through.

While doing eggs, Elliot realized something important:

After Eggs, we got to use the bubbles they got in their baskets, out we went:

And then Chalk Wars:

Throwing Lorelei in the air:

And some cuddling:

A beautiful Easter Day.

We returned home after the Greene Easter, and we were lucky enough to have Grandma and Grandpa Phillips, Cathrine, Patrick and Dallin Paul, stay over…
Grandma read them books, and off to bed they went.

The next morning was Easter, we got ready for church, and then had a few minutes to check out our Easter basket.

Lorelei loves having another girl around:

Then after church, they had more time to really explore the baskets!

And of course hang out with their awesome aunt Cat (Pics stolen from her FB page)

Patrick got a new robe:

And these three girls are the cutest ever!

The boys hanging out in the front room:

Lorelei with her candy teeth:

Truman got a new fishing pole for his birthday:

And double kisses.

So fun to spend Easter Day with the Phillips.

Saturday Evening we went to the Maughan’s and had an Easter Hunt and Dinner! It was a fun night, albeit a little windy, but what’s not to love about an Easter Egg Hunt!

Because it was so windy, Amy couldn’t put the centerpieces out, but I can’t help but love tulips! So pretty, and so Eastery and Springy!

Whenever these boys are together, lately, they all play MINECRAFT. These kiddos love it!

After our Yummy Dinner (Easter Ham and cheesey potatoes, and yummy salad!) we were ready for the egg hunt…

Let the hunt begin. Grams had a checklist of all the items to find, so there was an added challenge:

We came in, and opened the loot:

Then started a Easter Sticker Craft:

Love this Holiday and family!

Since Truman’s Baptism occurred on EAster Saturday, everyone was at our house- so instead of the Phillips tradition of the river, we did it in our backyard! (As always, It was so fun to see all the eggs that were hidden!)

To the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!!!!

So proud of our Truman, and his choice to be Baptized into the church!

The big day finally came, and at the Stake Center, there was a sign with Truman’s name on it! Telling our friends were to go….

Handsome Truman and Handsome Dad:

The boys:

Such a picture worthy event! 🙂

Here is a picture of his program, where Truman was able to choose out the ENTIRE thing.

A good friend, took notes from Truman’s Confirmation:

It was such a beautiful, blessing, and a beautiful morning. It is amazing as a parent, to participate in the baptism of a child. It is like you get to feel the pure love of our savior for our child, on that special day. I want to say it was magical, but I don’t think that’s the right word. It’s such a beautiful, peaceful, perfect day. I was so grateful to be able to have that moment. To feel that peace and joy. And mostly to be reminded of the gratitude I have of being a parent of my Truman, and his desire to do what he feels is right.

Following the baptism, we went to church, for a little Luncheon:

It was a beautiful day, and the most beautiful part about it was seeing Truman so happy, and feeling the love of the Savior that day.