Saturday March 28
Sunday March 29
Only in Utah, right? Welcome back to winter!

Peter Pan

Evergreen is well known for their drama department. (Which is one of the reasons Jayden decided to go there.) Every spring they have an awesome production and this year was no exception! This year's production was Peter Pan complete with flying Peter, Wendy, Michael, and John. It was truly exciting even though my child wasn't on until the second act. Jayden was an indian dancer and had a great time. She made many new friends and loved every minute of being on stage. She loves to perform. I need to look into voice lessons for her again. She informed me this week that she was going to try out for America's Got Talent. We will see how that goes.
These are just a few pictures of her in her costume after her last performance.
This is what Jayden looked like at the end of a performance:
This is what Coleman looked like after a performance:
Apparently not his thing?

Don't ask me how this happened but my child will not let me put bows in her hair anymore! MY CHILD? This girl has had a bow or flower in her hair since the day she was born! I put one in...she takes it out. I put one in...she takes it out. This goes on for a few minutes until I finally give up! On the rare occasion that she allows me to put one in within an hour it is out. I thought it was a phase but its been several months! I don't know what to do with myself! After a few minutes of screaming she let me put this pony in. At least it looks like I tried!

Coleman St. Pattys

So Coleman wanted to wear head to toe green. . .apparently he was a little concerned that someone might miss the hat, the shirt, the shorts, the socks, or the shoes. If you put them all together there is no way that anyone will miss them, right? The little girls had matching green outfits but alas I did not get a picture of them. Jayden and I had a fun day shopping for a swimming suit for San Diego! Unfortunately our shopping for swim suits was not very successful (finding cute modest swimsuits is a full time job!) but she did find some other clothes. I am grateful that we had some "girl time".

Budding Photog

We have a budding photographer on our hands. Chloe is LOVING the camera. She used to love to be in front of the camera but as of late she now loves to be behind the camera. Sometimes we get pictures like this:

And sometimes we get pictures like this:

She thinks she has a future in photography......Awesome!

Draper Open House Catastrophe

Sorry....still no pictures. Trent "fixed" the computer (that wasn't broken...) and I am having difficulties uploading pictures. Saved for yet another post.
So we finally went to the Draper Temple open house on Friday. The kids were out of school so we figured it was the perfect day to go. We had known for a few months that we were going but last week Jayden got invited to a birthday party in Deer Valley so she wasn't going to be able to go. I was kinda bummed but I figured I would still take the other kids. So the night before Coleman was up half the night complaining that his stomach hurt. Coleman is the king of crying wolf. I never know when to believe him or not. For whatever reason my children have decided lately that our basement is a scary place to be by themselves. My children (although they each have their own bed) all sleep in Jayden's bed every night together. I figured Coleman was just being scared because Jayden wasn't downstairs with them. Well he woke up Friday morning saying his stomach still hurt. I asked him if he still wanted to go to the open house and he said he did. We got there and no sooner did we sit down for the movie at the wardhouse then he told me his stomach was hurting again. I knew it probably hurt a little but figured he would be okay. He was fine on the bus ride to the temple but started complaining again when we got to the baptismal font. I was thinking to myself, "I didn't drive all the way out here for nothing...we are going to see the temple gosh dang it!" We continued on with Coleman complaining and my consoling him telling him it wouldn't be much longer. We got to the ordinance rooms and I could tell he didn't feel good. I told him we would wait until we saw the next volunteer and then we would ask if there was another way out. Coleman's face was white as a ghost while I asked the nice woman for the fast track out. She informed me that if we made it past the turn there was an elevator that we could use to get down to the first floor again. We made it to the turn when Coleman couldn't hold it any more. Vomit came out of his mouth..he was trying so hard to keep it in. He started to throw up on the pamphlet and then it just couldn't hold it all. Fortunately we were on the plastic covering so it didn't stain anything. The nice volunteer went to go get something to clean him and the floor up while probably a hundred people walked by. One woman had the nerve to ask me to clean it up with Annabelle's blanket!!! I couldn't believe it! Seriously? Poor Coleman had tears rolling down his checks he was totally embarrased! (And so was I!) Lesson learned I guess...for both of us! Needless to say...we didn't get any pictures of us at the temple that day!

Wow today I have alot to be grateful for. (well everyday I do but today I am much more appreciative of what I have.)
First and formost I am so completely grateful for four healthy children. For anyone who has been following Gracie's blog knows that she was welcomed back into her Heavenly Father's arms yesterday. Although I have never met her or her family I have not been able to get them out of my mind. I think I originally found their story so endering because Annabelle and Gracie were so close in age and the youngest of four children. I can not stop thinking about what if that was my child. Could I be as brave in the face of adversity as this courageous family? I'd like to think so but I am pretty sure my answer is no. This mom is an amazing source of strength and faith. It is unbelievable to me how she survives! Here I am sitting on my pitty pot of Annabelle being sick...and this mom is dealing with the impending death of her almost one year old. I cannot even fathome her faith. But as I sit and ponder about this family, I have renewed gratitude for the plan of salvation. I am grateful that we can be together again after this life. I would be heartbroken if one of my children passed away in this life before me but I am grateful for the knowledge that I know I will see them again. How tragic it would be if I did not know these things. I keep thinking of when I was pregnant with Jayden my mom was teaching first grade. She had a girl in her class who had an anyerism (i know i spelled that wrong.) in her sleep and died. In Jewish custom they believe that the last mitzvah (kind thing) you can do for your loved ones is to bury them with your own hands. Instead of having the cemetery personnal move the dirt back on the coffin, each person at the funeral takes part in shoveling the dirt on their loved one. Also Jews do not believe in an after life. They believe that this life is all you get. I was at the funeral of this sweet innocent 6 year old. To hear the first shovel full of dirt drop on the coffin is still the most haunting hollow sound I have ever heard in my life. I can still 14 years later remember with sadness the heartwrenching sound. I hope I will never have to bury one of my children but I cannot imagine burying my child thinking I would never see them again. I am grateful for each day I have with my children. Because of Grace I will be a little more kind, a little more patient, give a few more hugs and a little less judgement. I have been reminded again how fragile life is. I am trying to live each day to the fullest.