Popcorn Popping

It's official. Spring is FINALLY here!

popcorn popping on our cherry tree

seedlings ready for the garden ... too bad our garden isn't ready for the seelings

The Hunt

Getting ready for our family Easter egg hunt. 

Before the hunt Sam snapped a few pictures of our handy work:

THE Golden Egg

The hunters with their loot.  I think Cohen's on about jelly bean #137.

jelly bean #892

Happy Easter!




Amen.

Perfect Answer

I can't even remember why, but for some reason tonight Sam was misusing the word cellulite, which resulted in the following conversation:

Me: "You don’t even know what cellulite is."

Sam:  "Yes I do.  It’s the stuff right here." (pointing to his belly)

Me: "No, it’s the stuff on my butt."

Sam: "No, that’s muscle." 

Just one more reason why I love the guy!

Pancakes & Conference

Last weekend we were the hosts of one of Megan's family's traditions: pancakes and conference.

Twice a year our church holds General Conference. The meetings are aired world-wide and we usually watch via television from home. 

For the Sunday morning session we always gather together to enjoy delicious whole wheat pancakes while we watch our prophet and other church leaders give instruction and share inspirational messages. 

THE pancakes--Yummy!

The kiddos (and Sam) playing conference bingo.

three cute kids--and yes, that's snow outside. 

It's always hard to choose, but one of my favorite talks was about the Atonement. I loved what he said about there being no pain or sorrow that can't be healed through Christ's Atonement. I have such a strong belief of this. I don't know how I could have accepted Katrina's gift, the opportunity she gave me to be Cohen's mom, had I not believed this. I'm so grateful I've been able to experience the healing power of the atonement in my own life, but it's even sweeter to see it at work in someone else's.

While I was snapping photos I took one of this lamp Sam made recently. His dad rescued a really old train light and he knew Sam could turn it into something useful. It turned out to be pretty darn cool, too.

Caught!

Today I caught Cohen doing something very grown up ...

I hope he doesn't mind if I still read to him now and then.

Another Reason Why Open Adoption Rocks!!

We have VERY exciting news! Katrina is going to serve a mission for our church!! This is something she's been wanting to do and working toward for a long time. We are so proud of how patient she was with the process and with the positive attitude she's had about everything. We are so excited for her, but what will we do without her for 18 months??! I'm sure we will survive, but she will be missed.

She just received her mission call a few days ago. She wanted to go through the temple ASAP, so yesterday was the big day. She invited us to be there with her--of course we went. We love her so much and are so grateful we could share this experience with her.

Outside the temple with Katrina--we sure do love her!!

Katrina really is an integral part of our family and we feel so blessed that we can be a part of her life. She doesn't leave for a few months, so we're going to spend as much time with her as we can until then. 

He's In!

Living where we do has been an eye-opener in regards to the process people must navigate in order to move to the U.S. (and even just visit sometimes) from other countries.  Our good friend Victor FINALLY officially became a U.S. citizen today!!!  It was a long road from Nigeria, about 20 years long to be exact.  We are so happy for him and hope his wife, who lives in Canada, can join him very, very soon.