egg hunt

James had his very first Easter Egg hunt on Easter Sunday (yeah I know that was like a couple of weeks ago...) and oh man he loved it so much!! We followed him around carrying his basket while he found all the eggs which the Easter Bunny had hidden in oh so conspicuous places. We had to open every single egg when found, and James insisted on eating at least one candy (mostly m&m's) from each one. Talk about sugar for breakfast, eh? Only on a holiday, right? :)

showered with gifts

A couple of weeks ago we had a Glenn family bridal shower for my cute sister Abby. We had a wonderful time, and it was so fun to see all the Glenn girls! Also, James sure loves going to "girl parties" and being the only boy there!

Fortifying the Family

We're into forts lately at our house.

There's just something about a blanket fort that makes you feel so comfy and safe and protected. Especially when you're in there with your two favorite boys, having family home evening and reading some stories about Jesus, eating ice cream and watching a movie.

We hold in our arms the rising generation. They come to this earth with important responsibilities and great spiritual capacities. We cannot be casual in how we prepare them. Our challenge as parents and teachers is not to create a spiritual core in their souls but rather to fan the flame of their spiritual core already aglow with the fire of their premortal faith.

The stories of Jesus can be like a rushing wind across the embers of faith in the hearts of our children. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The stories of Jesus shared over and over bring faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strength to the foundation of testimony. Can you think of a more valuable gift for our children?

-Neil L. Andersen

James couldn't get enough of this fort, so we've built one almost every day since. I love the wonder in his little eyes when we put those blankets up over the furniture and climb right in.

I think that every home should be as comfy and happy and safe as this blanket fort. For isn't that just what our children need and deserve? We need to fortify our little families against the storms that will come. Spending time with our children, being there, showing them that they are the most important thing to us, holding family prayer, loving each other, making fun memories, teaching our children the gospel.

There has never been a greater need for increased faith and personal righteousness. There has never been a greater need for strong families and homes.

-Julie B. Beck

Can you believe how many talks there were in General Conference that were all about families and parenting, about teaching our children and about the importance of motherhood? I think the Lord must be trying to tell us something ;)

Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity, and their peace all find common roots in the teaching of children in the home.

-L. Tom Perry

Those bright, shining eyes on the face of my two-year-old remind me every day that we need to keep our family strong. I guess we'll keep on building those forts.

family traditions

I just love my family.

I love that we are easily entertained. And sometimes nerdy. And have random family traditions. For example: making life-size board games with my siblings on General Conference weekend while my parents are at a party with my Dad's siblings.

Strange, I know, but we have so much fun! (Here are some other ones we've made: here and here.) And it is something we always look forward to, and get excited for. And it is so random and funny that it is totally memorable and it brings us together. Isn't that the great thing about family traditions?

Well this year we decided to make a giant Ticket to Ride: Utah game. It was pretty much awesome. And we even played it. We had sweet destinations like Panguitch to Tooele. We used plastic cups of different colors for the trains, and masking tape and construction paper for the board. Good times.

yoga

This weekend we had a houseful of family visiting from out of state...aww I love family! We were downstairs playing the Wii when I realized James had been upstairs by himself for awhile. I went upstairs to check on him and here is what I found:

my yoga mat spread out across the air mattress in our room, and
my little buddy in a cute little "tree" pose

"I do wigga, Mommy!"

What a cute kid. He is my favorite.

And he sure loved having lots of aunts and uncles around!

Mommy, I write mine name!!

Is it just me, or did my child draw a whole bunch of "J's"??

Hair

Today I decided to cut James' hair before his bath. He was seriously beginning to look like a wild child.

Mistake attempting a haircut without Daddy's help? Oh yes. He was not a happy child. But once you run those clippers through the very middle of a kid's head of crazy hair, there is no stopping. I ended up cutting his hair sitting on the floor; I had a sad, sobbing boy laying his head in my lap, tears streaming down his snot- and hair-covered face, screaming:
  
"Put it back, Mommy! Put it back!!"

We quickly finished the job, he looked in the mirror and was rather pleased with his handsome haircut. And I think he has forgiven me.

Home.

Last weekend we had a short but wonderful trip home to visit Jonathan's family up in Oregon. We simply had to, we missed them so much! I can't help but brag that I am a lucky girl to have such wonderful in-laws. They are amazing people and I am so blessed to be a part of their family. I am so glad that James has two wonderful sets of grandparents that he loves SO much. He could not WAIT to get to Nana's house. As we drove he kept on saying, "Go a Nana's house! Go a Nana's house!" Well we finally got there and had a wonderful time.

We met their "new" puppy Max. James was interested in the doggie but a bit scared of him. Too bad, because he is pretty cute!

We played outside!

James got to go for a ride in a pick-up with Grandy. I think this picture is so dear, especially when comparing it to the NEXT picture, which is of Jonathan and his Dad in a pick-up truck when HE was about James' age! I love it. It is so sweet it almost makes me tear up.

We helped plant the garden! Can I just say - I love the country! I want a garden like this. Maybe I'd better learn to garden first, though.....

I LOVE this picture. Makes me want an old pick-up.

James played with his Jeaney. They are great buddies.

Jonathan in the garden.

Me and my best friend. And our little buddy. After church. I loved these yellow leaves. Or are they blossoms? Shows how much I know. Anyway, they were pretty. :)

I think that Boster boys are the best kind of boys.

And Anna is awesome. She is the cutest and makes the awesomest faces.

 James had the most fun playing with Grandy. He kept saying, "Grandy, play with me!" How can you resist that?

Nana was there too, I must not have taken any pictures of her! Sad. Well we love Nana and Grandy and can't wait to see them again soon. Isn't family the best?

counting

We just got our Easter baskets and plastic eggs out of storage. James was so excited he was jumping up and down. He proceeded to dump out all the eggs, and put them one by one in a basket and count them:

three
four
five
six
seven
eight
nine
ten
eleven
twelve
thirteen
sixteen
seventeen
eighteen
nineteen

.......pause.......

twenty-teen

scared

James is scared of a few things lately - well mostly birds and bugs. But only birds when they fly in our house. I can't say that I blame him.

We heard a bird on our chimney the other day. Recent events have made us a bit wary of those birds. James says:

"I sared!!" (which is his adorable way of saying "scared")

"Are you scared of the bird?"

"Just a litter." (aka "little" - this has got to be one of my favorite words he says, it is so cute it melts my heart)

I go into James' room after his "nap" and he is standing by the door, frantic.

"Mommy, Mommy, a BUG!!"

"Did it scare you?"

"No, it talk a me."

"What did it say?"

"Hi!!"

And I found these pictures from the other day. Had to put 'em up.