Disneyland

Right after school got out, we took our kids to Disneyland. It was their first time, and our first trip there since right after we were married. We had such a great time! It was a 14 hour drive, plus stops. Dan's mom met us there. Emma loved meeting the characters, especially the Princesses. Suzy loved the scary rides - her favorite was California Screamer (at California Adventure). Kim hated the scary rides. Her favorite ride was Dumbo was Autotopia. There is an Aladdin show that was amazing. The 3d shows are really fun, too. We bought a 3 day park hopper, so that we could do as much as possible.

The first night we went to a Princess dinner. It was at Ariel's Grotto. You meet her as you walk in, and pose for pictures. Then, as you're eating, one at a time four different princesses arrive and come around to each table to meet you. They served a yummy 3 course dinner. If you have any princesses in your group, I would highly recommend this.

Dance Show Scrapbook

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! It's so fun to get new Easter dresses!! Grandma Karen sent these cute dresses to my girl's. I got a new dress, too! After our Temple Trip in Lubbock yesterday, a few of the Young Women helped me. It was like having my own very cool stylists! And, it's great to be in a real mall. You guys can be my personal shoppers anytime!

Easter Story Cookies

We make these cookies every year. It has become a fun family tradition. I hope you enjoy! Happpy Easter!


Easter Story Cookies

Make these the night before Easter.

1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon or a wooden meat hammer
duct tape or packing tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300*F. (Do this right when you start)
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon or hammer to break them into small pieces.
Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave his life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste. Then put your pinch of salt in the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus's followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing!

Add 1 cup sugar to the bowl.

Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us. He wants us to know and belong to him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 10 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks form.

Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheets.

Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus's body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape to seal the oven door.

Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

Leave the kitchen. If you've been making these cookies just before bedtime, GO TO BED!

Acknowledge that the kids are probably sad that they've worked hard to make these cookies, and now have to leave them in the oven overnight. Explain that Jesus' followers were in sad when Jesus died and the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Ask the kids to notice the cracked surface. Have them bite into the cookies. The cookies are hollow!

Explain that on the first Easter morning, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

HE HAS RISEN!

Conference and Candy

I found a great idea in The Ensign that we tried and loved - so I thought I'd share it with you. (It's never too early to prepare for conference, right!) My children (and, let's be honest here, myself) have a hard time reverently listening to conference. Dan often falls asleep - or is deeply pondering the words... We usually get a General Conference packet of fun activities, which they enjoy. We also built a "Reverence Tent" with the opening facing the TV. (Just like listening to King Benjamin!) We used these methods for the Sunday morning session with some success.

Here's where the Ensign-inspired idea comes in: For the Sunday afternoon session, we had four bowls, each with a different candy inside. Dan and I picked 4 different words and labeled each bowl. We picked topics we needed extra help on, or were working on as a family. Then, when that word was said, you got one candy from the specific bowl. (The girl's unsuccesfully tried to get our words to be "a, the, and, and Amen.) It was so amazing! We were all actively listening and engaged in the talks. We had it on DVR, and the kids asked questions during the talks so we were able to pause and talk about it. Not only were they listening for "our words" they even noticed other topics that were frequently mentioned. They all wished we had picked the word "temple" -that was talked about a lot! One of our words was "missionary" so we had plently of candy to enjoy.

Even though they were listening to get candy, they were doing a wonderful job listening! I think I would still just do this for one session, to keep it exciting. And, hopefully, before long, the reward of listening to conference will have nothing to do with candy!

What helps your family enjoy and learn from conference? Any awesome traditions or ideas that I can steal?

Here's a great blog to enjoy!

I found this funny blog that I thought you might enjoy. Here's what KSL news said about it:

"A Utah woman who satirizes the Mormon mom blogging community has amassed quite a following, including moms who blog and a lot of people who cringe at the sight of them.
The blog "Seriously, So Blessed!" describes the super sweet adventures of newlywed TAMN (an acronym for Tiffany/Amber/Megan/Nicole.) She's living the dream in Utah with the perfect husband. She loves pedicures, scrapbooking and is a Bunco fanatic. TAMN's also preggers, as in pregnant, and is completely made up. "

The author first wrote it as a joke and forwarded it to a few friends.

Do you recognize anyone you know (or maybe even YOU?)
http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com/

Happy April Fool's Day!

We're big fan's of April Fool's Day, probably because my dad loved to trick us. Actually, he tricked us all year round, not just on April 1st. When I was five, I woke up on April 1st to discover that my mom was nowhere to be found. When I asked my dad where she was, he told me she was at the hospital. She worked at the hospital, so that answer wasn't too unexpected. But, when I said, "Oh, she's at work," he said, "No, she's had a baby." Knowing that every April 1st he attempted to trick us, Raymon, Michelle, and I did not belive him. He kept telling us that she really just had a baby, but we weren't going to fall for it. We finally called Aunt Kathy, and she confirmed that we had a new baby brother. Happy Birthday Mike!

Every April Fool's Day I make something fun for dinner. It's usually a main course that looks like a dessert, or a dessert that looks like a main course. Family Fun magazines always has great ideas. This year I made "sushi" for dessert. I had the Beehives over tonight for Young Women's and taught them how to make it. We also made "fake spills."

Here's how to make "Mock Sushi" from Family Fun:

CRAFT MATERIALS:
1/4 cup butter
4 cups mini marshmallows
6 cups crisped rice cereal
20 to 25 gummy worms
1 to 2 boxes of fruit leather
12- by 17-inch baking sheet
2-quart saucepan
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Grease a 12- by 17-inch baking pan.

2. Melt butter in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat.

3. Add the marshmallows and stir until smooth.

4. Remove mixture from heat and stir in the rice cereal until it's evenly coated.

5. Turn the baking sheet so that the shorter ends are at the top and bottom. Then press the marshmallow mixture on the sheet, distributing it evenly.

6. Starting at one side and 1 inch up from the lower edge, place gummy worms atop the mixture end to end in a horizontal line.

7. Gently roll the lower edge of the marshmallow mixture over the gummy worms.

8. Then stop and cut the log away from the rest of the mixture. Use the same method for 4 more logs.

9. Slice each log in 1-inch-thick "sushi" rolls and wrap them individually with a strip of fruit leather.

What's your most memorable April Fool's Trick?