Easter and other stuff

When you go over a month without posting on your blog, I guess you end up having to give the potpourri version of recent events.  I seem to be doing that a lot lately.  More than I'd like.  I need to work on that.  Later.

We'll start today and move backwards.  Easter.  We've enjoyed watching General Conference over the last couple of days (the word "enjoyed," in this case, means I yelled at the kids to be quiet so I could hear while they made as much gratuitous noise as they possibly could).   We did the big family thing on Saturday--eggs and all--then had a much quieter, more relaxing day today with just me and the kids.  Oh yeah, and it snowed like crazy all night.  So we woke up to a very white Easter this morning.

Here we have some very anxious kids lined up waiting to get out the door to chase eggs.  Uncle Jim is on door duty and not letting them out until the very last possible second.

I took the kids to a rock show.  No, not the fun kind...

THIS kind.  Actual rocks.  Oh well.  They liked it.

The first day of spring soccer.  50 mph winds and winter temps.  The kids were miserable.  Can't wait to play on a warm, sunny day!

Fighting to keep the blanket on their heads against the raging winds!

Ahhh.  Spring.  We got a tiny taste of it last weekend before Mother Nature went and got all schizo on us.

We played at the park and visited the temple grounds on this gorgeous day.  It's hard to tell in this pic, but the grounds happened to be overrun on that day by every missionary from the MTC.  It was a sea of dark suits.  We could barely move!  So many unavailable men in one place.  Depressing.

We had so much fun being outside and playing at the park.  Can't wait for this weather to come back!

Gentle Ben

Six years ago today, after many long hours of grueling labor (ok, not really, I had an epidural the entire time--piece o' cake), little Benjamin Walker Reynolds joined our family.  He had the biggest Precious Moments eyes and the longest eyelashes I think I've ever seen on a kid.  He's always had a smile that could melt the iciest of hearts.  His smile is really one of the things I love most about him.  Even when he's being a stinker and throwing a fit or screaming in agony because of some bodily harm that Olivia has just inflicted upon him, it takes very little to get him to crack a smile and giggle and forget his woes.

In honor of his special day, here are six reasons I love Ben.  Of course, there are more than six, but it's a tradition thing.

1.  The smile that lights up any room (I already said that, I know)
2.  His sweet, gentle, quiet nature.  Everyone who knows Ben knows him as the quiet one (that's starting to change a little, but mostly it's still true).
3.  Ben has a great sense of humor for a 6 year old.  He sees the humor in things where many kids his age might not.
4.  Ben is kind.  He's quick to share with his baby brother.  That's saying something, considering Lucas wouldn't share with Ben if his life depended on it.
5.  Ben is easy going.  The kid just goes with the flow.
6.  Ben is cute, cute, CUTE!  Those big blue eyes are just wicked handsome.

Love you, Ben!  I hope you're having a perfect day!

See what I mean about the eyes??

Ben's perpetual goose egg.  He's really lucky.  

Every time he's had an accident, his forehead has been there to break the fall.  Yes, the next three pics are all separate incidents.

We Heart Winter

Who'da thunk it?   Take a bunch of wimpy little desert rats and transplant them to an environment of changing autumn leaves, spring blossoms, and yes, winter snow and ice, and not only do they adapt, THEY LOVE IT!  We have truly grown to love winter here.  How can you not love waking up in the morning and looking out your front window to find giant snowflakes falling quietly to the ground?  And sledding!  I think sledding is about the best FREE family activity there ever was and ever will be.  I'm sure I'll get some comments from a few of you who disagree with my perspective on the cold weather, but I'm not ashamed to own it:  I LOVE WINTER IN UTAH!

So grown up (and beautiful).  I can't stand it.  Wasn't she just born the other day?

A rare moment:  Ben and Livvi touching each other without drawing blood.

Tiny Lucas.  Don't ya just wanna take a big bite out of him?

Look closely to the right of Livvi's head.

Gotta love the girl sprawled out flat on her back at the bottom of the hill

I just took this because I loved the view of the mountains and sky.

Did I mention that I really love winter here?

These are sort of random, but I took the kids out for pizza last weekend, and we went to this place that brings you these mahvelous bread sticks...well...on a stick!   They're sort of like bread stick skewers.  Much to my dismay, however, the kids like to play with the sticks (aka weapons) at the table for the remainder of the meal.  They're showing us some of their creative uses for breadstick sticks here:

I refer you to my earlier caption about Livvi, Ben, and drawing blood.

A Decade of Hallie

10 years ago, on January 5, 2000, I gave birth to a wirey, blonde-headed, bird-legged little angel.   She was my first daughter and my first born.  I can't believe she's hit the double digits now.  I can't believe it's been ten whole years since motherhood landed on me like a piano.

My little Hallie has been a beaming ray of sunshine since the day she was born.  In honor of her big one-O, I've put together my list of top ten reasons I love my Hallie Liz:

1.  She's my oldest.  I get to make all my mistakes on her.  And she still loves me.

2. She's the Energizer Bunny.  She keeps going...and going...and going...

3.  She's kind.  She cares about others' feelings and is always making sure everyone's happy...especially mommy.

4.  She's a wonderful big sister.  Her little brothers love her.  She's always good for a piggyback ride or dragging them around on one of their toy cars outside.

5.  Hallie is so helpful.  She loves to serve and always does so willingly, sometimes without being asked.

6.  She's tender-hearted.

7.  Hallie has the best sense of humor of any ten year old I know.  (translation:  she laughs at the same stuff as I do)

8.  The girl is smart.  She won her 3rd grade spelling bee last year.  She's an excellent student and her teachers always give her glowing reviews.

9. Hallie is fun.  She's not afraid to get up and dance or sing in front of a group.  She's got some pretty dang impressive moves, too.

10.  She's so thoughtful.  When I'm sad or angry or worn out, I can always count on Hallie to draw a happy little picture or a note and leave it lying around to surprise me.  Hallie is Giselle from Enchanted.  Never seen it?  You need to.

Happy birthday, my little chicken legs!  I love you!