"Temple Favorites"

By Emma

Mom took me and Thane to the Tulip Festival last week.

These are my favorite ones. They are SO big!

I read the word temple on the sign by myself!

These are my friends Madeline, Issac, William, and Nathaniel. They came with us with their mom's.




Mom took a lot of pictures of us.

TD loved the John Deere tractor. He would not let go.

I loved playing at the festival. I loved that the sun came out.
I love the long rows, the mud puddles and the kids playground area with the super fast slide. Thane zoomed right off the end of the slide! I didn't want to leave. It was SO FUN!

TenDer mercy

Last we took Thane to get his hearing checked because of our pediatrician's recommendation. He has had ear infections ALL winter long and we were concerned that their might be some hearing loss as a result.
Since that day last week when we found out that his hearing seems to be just fine, he has started trying a lot more often to talk to us. All of the sudden he has exploded into trying names, and words that he hasn't before. I love this age!
Here is a little clip from yesterday.

A bucket of fun

We had a sunny day and Daddy came home much earlier than usual from work/school. We all got to hit some balls and enjoy the sunshine together.

Out of the mouth of babes

For general conference this last weekend we built a "tent" to be like King Benjamin's people. Emma loved building a tent to watch conference and listen to the words of the prophets.



(She loved it all except for the times when her brother was tearing the tent down. Yes, Thane smiles as he does it too.)


Thane even tried to listen and write something down for a few minutes at a time.

We LOVED conference. It made my day that Emma asked when conference would come again. She really liked camping out in the front room and sitting down together to listen.
When we did family night the next night we talked about what we learned and how the people of Bountiful felt when the Savior told them to return to their homes and ponder on the things that they had seen and heard. We made a picnic and talked about what we could do to better listen to the words of the Savior and how doing so would bring us greater joy.
Emma got out her own "notes" and said, "We should listen to each other more."
Profound from our talkative 4 year-old. We are trying as a family to listen more and to speak in softer tones while we pray for help to be a little better and a little more patient.

Easter Hosanna

Palm Sunday-The triumphal Entry
Emma and Thane loved acting out the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
Dad and Emma made our palms.


The people of Jerusalem clamoring for a spot to see...aka TD attacking Emma and pulling off her costume towels and tie.

laying down their clothes and palms for the Savior.



our lesson wall for the daily devotionals

Dressing up for our Passover feast.

Daddy teaching


Emma's edible tomb. She told Daddy about it the minute he
came home from football so she could eat the candy.

Resurrection rolls on Sunday morning.

We had a great week of celebration as we prepared for Easter and for General Conference. We are so thankful for Our Savior and his Atonement for us. We love Him and love feeling the spirit of God in our home and in our lives. We are still working on trying to be like Him--we have a LONG way to go. We are grateful for repentance and His grace that save us from our sins and bring us peace and so much hope!

A day that you pray for...

We drove out to Cannon Beach a few weeks ago for a Saturday trip. The Dance family showed us their favorite spots to play and we had gorgeous weather. Sunny, no wind, and no rain. Really. No rain and no wind! On the Oregon Coast, that is miraculous.
We climbed up hills, over rocks and through caves.
We skipped rocks, collected shells, and of course took a lot of pictures.
We had a picnic and were mesmerized by the ocean views.
We all got into the water and dared the tide to chase us out.
We all had to change clothes and empty out the sand when we were through but even that part was fun.
We played and laughed so hard then slept so well when we got home.












We couldn't have paid for more fun.
It only cost a half a tank of gas and 3 ice cream cones, a whole lot more than we bargained for. We were blessed with a perfect day.

Notice his grip.

TD made his parents pretty happy without even knowing it.
Thane was calling out for the football.
He didn't choose to use his sister's pink snuggly blanket nearby to sleep with, just the football. Too funny. So Thane.

Up in the Air

During Spencer's one day off for Spring Break we went to the Air & Space Museum out in McMinnville.
The kids drove fighter planes...







Joined Lewis & Clark on their 1805 expedition...

Went inside the enormous Spruce Goose aka Blue Spruce by Nana...



Flew in helicopters...

More fighter jets...

and got to do it all with cousins, aunts, uncles, Nana & Papa.

We had a great time & enjoyed every minute together.