Easter with the Moores

We decided to go to California for Easter since Ellie had spring break and Steve needed to install a home theater system for his brother.  The girls had a ball playing with cousins and being spoiled by Grandpa and Grandma and we enjoyed visiting as adults and playing games.  :)

Lila and Zoe ready to pick Ellie up from preschool and head out.  Lila loves Zoe and was so excited that she was coming with us.  They shared her seat for quite a while.

Ellie said our family prayer before leaving and she prayed that "we would not slip off the road again" like at Christmas.  She then asked if it snowed where we were going and I said no.  So sweet and I think it did protect us during our travels.

So I didn't document much of the beginning of the week.  We had a game night with all of the adults including Steve's parents, Russ & Carole.  We went to see the elephant seals and the wind was blowing so hard we decided to abandon the beach idea and went to this great park for a picnic lunch where the kids played for hours.

Saturday was the Easter party and so finally some pictures.

Carole makes these Easter chocolates with fudge and peanut butter in the middle.  I hear about them every year from Steve and finally got to try them--DELICIOUS. 

The girls got to enjoy a chocolate frog from Grandma before seeing what the Easter bunny brought them.

Ellie has been wanting swim goggles since last season.  I found these cute Speedo goggles while shopping with Joddy and could not resist.  They each got a pair and the shapes can be traded.  (I have a better picture, but I found the face in this one humorous and had to post it.)

Lila's petshop cart and flower swim goggles.

We asked Ellie what she thought that basket belonged to.  She didn't know so we told her to look out the window where there was a bike setup and waiting for her.

Look at that face.  She rode the bike all day.  I could not even get her to change out of her pajamas.

Lila had to try the bike out too since technically there was two bikes, but only one was delivered to California.  A bigger bike is here waiting for Ellie when she is ready which may be soon at the rate of her practicing.  :)

Lila enjoyed wearing the bike helmet most of the day which leads to a funny story.  Her and Eli were quite the duo--their chatter at the breakfast/dinner table was quite humorous.  We did find Eli punching Lila a couple of times the first day or so.  Eli has older brothers who like to rough house and since Lila has no brothers she was just shocked and upset.  The day she wore the helmet we looked outside to find the two of them throwing punches at each other--self defense?

On the hunt for eggs.

Ellie just found one.

Some of the grandkids with Grandpa

This is the best picture I got of their Easter dresses and yo-yos.

We went to Grandpa and Grandma's for Sunday dinner where we all made personal pizzas--always so fun and delicious.  Ellie spent the night there and so did Sydney with Katie and Lexie and they had a Girls' Night Out.  When we showed up Monday morning, because we were going to spend all day with Russ & Carole, Ellie just looked at us and said or growled, "uh uh."  She was not ready to see us.  We hung out a played games that day.

Grandma took the girls swimming in the hot tub and they had a blast.

We decided to take the drive home a little easier and stopped at the Santa Barbara zoo (since we get in free with our membership to the Tucson zoo).  The girls had a ball and Steve and I also enjoyed the break from the van.

Looking at a large python snake with Daddy.

Love that face.

The zoo had this great hill you could slide down.  You could tell the people who frequent the zoo because they would bring cardboard to slide down on--we found some brown packing paper near the area and the girls went up and down the hill for 20 minutes or so.

Holding hands on our way out of the zoo.  So sweet!

We have always wanted to stop at these produce stands on the 126 and pick-up some produce so we did.  We got strawberries, oranges, avocados, and mangoes.  All so delicious!

We were talking about how focused we get on getting from point A to point B that sometimes we don't enjoy the ride and we were really enjoying the trip this time.  Steve and I were planning on stopping near his sister Jessica's house in Redland since we knew the area--we could pick-up Cafe Rio and take the girls to a park to play while we ate.  And then we had an unexpected break in our trip:

A flat tire.

My man was awesome.  We had just missed an exit when we noticed the problem and Steve got us off to the side of the freeway got out the jack and spare tire and was done putting the spare on in 15 minutes.  We looked up some tire stores and headed that direction.  We were hoping to get the tire fixed but it was unrepairable and the first shop didn't have any tires to fit the van so we called around to a couple of other places dropped the wheel off to get the new tire and then went to get dinner and found a park where we let the girls play while Steve went back to get the wheel and new tire put on.  The store was busy so Steve ended up putting the wheel back on himself to save us some time--no more stops for the rest of the trip (except gas and potty one more time).

I am so grateful for the fun time we had visiting family and for our safe return home.  I am especially grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and the opportunity that we have to celebrate the fact that He LIVES!

And it has begun . . .

Mrs. Malia told me today while I was picking up Ellie that Tyler decided he wants to marry Ellie.  When we got home I asked Ellie if Tyler wanted to marry her she got all shy and smiley and said, "Yes."  I asked her what she said and she shook her head.  I said why don't you want to tell me, "Because I don't want you to laugh."  I promised not to laugh and she said, "Yeah Tyler said he wanted to marry me.  I told him that I like Cody too and didn't know who to marry.  We decided that Tyler would draw me a picture of Cody so I wouldn't forget him."  Ok--I giggled and then she got after me for laughing.  I tickled her and said that she couldn't marry anyone for 20 years and so next time somebody asks her she should say, "Ask me in 20 years."  I don't think she liked that answer--I need to find a fun way for her to turn down boys already. . .

Caution: Creative Minds at Work

We have been eating exclusively at the bar for a few months now because my kitchen table looks like the above picture all the time.  The girls love to color, cut, glue, tape, and create and I got tired of picking up their creative works before every meal so I came up with a different strategy let them have the table and we will eat at the bar.  Now we organize it once or twice a week depending on how cluttered it gets and they enjoy it for hours a day.  I have to admit that I didn't even clean it off when my Mom and sister were in town--we crowded around the bar.  Even the night the missionaries came while they were here we decided to eat outside rather than disturb the creative clutter.  I know it seems a little extreme, but if they get to enjoy hours of exploring and creating and I don't have to worry about picking up after every experience--I say win-win.


Here is a picture of my latest cupcake creation for my Beehive class tomorrow:

Let's Follow the Evidence

Stool near counter where snack was left.

The snack (a package of Nutter Butter Bites) relocated to the girls' kitchen.

The girls enjoying another heaping bowl full of snacks

While working on the computer I saw Lila running around with both bowls and didn't think anything of it.  I went out to check on them just as Lila was handing Ellie another bowl full--Ellie was just as surprised as I was.  What can I say, at least Lila shared with her sister.  I thought about taking some back, but decided to let them enjoy it since Lila was 2lbs lighter today at her check-up than last time and peanut butter was a recommendation by the doctor for nutrition and a few extra calories.

2, Free, or 4

Is the answer you would get if you asked Lila how old she is now.  
Here is how we celebrated her 2nd birthday:

Enjoying the first present of the day from us.  I think big sister enjoyed the gifts as much as Lila.  She even helped her get out the next one and try it out.  :)

We went to the zoo and got there just in time to feed the giraffes.

Lila attempted and then changed her mind.

She thinks she is so big!

Looking at the lions with Daddy.

Decorating new PetShop toys after lunch.

Licking the beaters from her cake.

She got phone calls from Grandma & Grandpa Moore and Aunt Nessa.  Look at that face do you think she liked all the attention?

They watched Tangled for the first time since the theater.

She loved the balloons and has quite the poses.

Enjoying birthday cake.  They were lego blocks stacked on top of each other and I forgot to get a picture of it before we let them eat it--it is on video at least.  As we were setting up the video camera and stuff, Lila kept trying to reach the cake saying, "MINE!"  I put the candles on it and she started crying.  I lit them and there was a brief pause in the tears, but not enough to blow them out--she wanted them off of her cake so I blew them out and took them off.  As I was putting away the candles she pointed at them and blew--maybe next year.  We have to have our kids cry during the cake at least once in their life.  :)

She opened her package from Grandpa and Mimi while video chatting with them and she love the recorded message card with the song.  She played them over and over and over and every time she got that giddy look on her face.

We finished the evening by video chatting with Jakey and then taking baths to get all of the frosting off.

I am so grateful that Lila is a part of our lives.  She adds a little pizzaz and keeps us on our toes.  She is also gentle and sweet--loves to cuddle, pats your back for comfort, and can caress your face with her little hands in a way that will melt your heart.  It took us a little while to get her here and every day I thank my lucky stars to be her Mom!

Tricky Thursday, April Fool's Friday, Sleepy Saturday

What can I say--our weekend was full of fun and surprises. Like spontaneously taking the girls out for breakfast on Thursday.

Lila thoroughly enjoyed my double blueberry pancakes--she does like blueberries and pancakes so I should have known the mixture would be deadly.

The girls wanted to ride their bikes after our breakfast outing so I set up my craft table to work on a project in the driveway and they rode their bikes for three hours.  They were collecting special rocks while riding their bikes and Steve and I noticed yesterday that they very creatively decorated our front door mat with the rocks they collected (if you come to visit their rocks are still on display).  Towards the end I noticed a few weeds and told them I would give them a quarter if they picked them and they were so excited.

Here they are with their newly earned money which has already been spent on a new Hot Wheels car.

Ellie made the following April Fool's joke from Family Fun for her friends at school.

Grow wholesome, all-natural doughnuts in your own backyard!*

Plant by April 1**

Sow in a pile, in a deep bowl.

Cover with 1 to 2 inches of milk.

*Results not guaranteed.

**Really, really not guaranteed. In fact, we are certain that these seeds will not grow anything.

Ellie came home from school on Friday with two worms--they were learning the letter "W".  I was not going to touch them, but before I got everything unpacked from the car Ellie had the bag open out on the back patio and was trying to convince Lila to touch them.

Ellie was really gentle with the worms just moving them around or putting them on something to see if they would crawl around.  She showed Lila which part was the head and really encouraged Lila to play with it.  Once Lila got comfortable with the feel of the worm she stretched it, squished it, and eventually tore it in half--oops.

Here they are with the worms.  Notice Lila is stretching hers and Ellie is observing.

Lila 'chilaxing'.  She loves to suspend herself between the couch and ottoman.

Ellie fell asleep here during the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference.