Happy Easter!

I don't even remember what we have done for Easter since... ever.  So I decided I would document this one...  We had a fun, busy weekend.  Saturday morning was the ward Easter Egg Hunt and breakfast.  Sunday morning, Sara woke up to find her basket with a towel wrap, book on temples, color/sticker book for church, some lotion, fingernail polish and a few pieces of candy.  We always end up with SO much candy at Easter time, that part I do remember.  ;)  So we went super low key on candy from the Easter Bunny this year.  Sunday afternoon we went to have dinner with our friends, the Broadbents.  They were with us in Nebraska for law school and their youngest is just a few days older than Sara.  Plus, they are going to the same Montessori school this fall and I'm so excited! 

Here are a few pics we've taken over the last few days...

Cameron's parents sent Sara a little Easter package and she was so excited!!  Each holiday, my Mom sends a craft for Sara and I to do together.  This year was an Easter garland hanging on our front door.  Sara loves crafts and could do them all day/every day.  It's one of our favorite things to do together. 

This was Sara's loot after the ward Easter Egg Hunt.  She had a blast and it was a beautiful day.  Cameron was hiding some eggs in his shirt for himself... sneaky!

We took a picture after church to show Sara in her beautiful Easter dress that is her new favorite colors - dark pink and light purple.  She looked so pretty and grown up.  I can't believe she's 4 1/2.

We went with our friends, the Broadbents, to see some horses and donkeys in true Oklahoma fashion around the corner from where they live.  Sara was a little nervous at first, but you can see she got more comfortable.  They were beautiful horses!

 

We had a great Easter weekend and fun with good friends.  It's already getting really hot down here, so we are looking forward to getting away for a few little trips this summer.  Only a few more weeks of school and on to summer break!

Visitors in March

We've had a great March with lots of visitors!  First, my parents came and stayed for a few days and then some of our great friends, Chris and Leah Pobanz from Nebraska came and stayed for a week.  They brought their 2 daughters, Kate and Becca.  Sara loved having friends to play with every day.  The weather was so nice and warm we went to the pool a few times.  The water was freezing cold, but the girls didn't seem to mind.  Here are a few pictures from the last several weeks...

 Sara loves her Nana and Papa!

 My dad brought Sara this beautiful blue dress.  It was the perfect color for her. 

 And my mom found matching blue shoes.  She looks like a doll!

 Sara loves to play school and she was writing her alphabet.  My mom wanted to 

take a picture, but as you can see, she is clearly not impressed with her own skills.

 We had a great time walking around the temple grounds while my parents attending the sealing of one of their missionaries.  Sara loved talking with the sister missionaries and they gave her some pictures that she wanted to show you.

 Sara takes a ballet/tumbling class that she absolutely loves!  Nana got to watch her 

practice when she was visiting.  It was a fun treat for her to see this little dancer in action.

 Fun in the sun with our friends from Nebraska.  We had such a great time and can't wait for them to come again next year.  We spent 3 years in Lincoln, Nebraska and part of what made it so great were our friends.  We love the Pobanz's and all the other lifelong friends we made while we were there.  Anytime we get together, it's a good time... for sure!

New Year and Emmy's baptism

We decided after spending the holidays at home, we would venture up North to Utah for the New Year and to celebrate with Sara's oldest cousin, Emmy, as she decided to get baptized.  (more information)  We spent the first few days with Cameron's family playing in the snow and then headed up to Heber to spend a few days with my family.  It was bitter cold, but we had a blast.  It was especially sweet to be there to support Miss Emmy and fun to see everyone.  

 Sara absolutely LOVED playing in the snow.  She loved eating it, throwing it, stomping in it.  When I asked her if she'd rather live in some place warm like Arizona or cold like Utah she said, "by the beach".  So we're still a long ways off, but she is definitely my sunshine girl.

 We all went bowling because it was just so cold outside and we had fun.  Sara loves to bowl and even decided to bowl like a big girl this time without the ramp.  Luckily we didn't drop the ball on any toes!

 We love the Dairy Keen in Heber City, Utah.  It has a fun train table, legos, and delicious ice cream! It's always a stop on our to do list when we visit my parents.

 I went to a BYU basketball game with my Dad.  The Cougars won and it was fun to spend the evening with my Daddy-O.  I remember watching the BYU games at church when I was little because they had a huge satellite in back.  We got to the game extra early just to watch them warm up.  It was a great night and I'm glad I got to go.  Thanks for sharing your  ticket with me, Mom.

 Darin and her kids were there when we visited, so Sara and Carly were inseparable.  They played so well together and just love each other.  They're only 3 months apart and Sara's got about an inch on Carly in height, but Carly's feet are about 2 sizes bigger.  I'm excited to see these girls grow up together and stay the best of friends.

 We had a great family picture taken at Emmy's baptism. It was so nice to be there and my brother did a great job baptizing his little girl.  Emmy is the oldest grand child and first one to be baptized.  It was a really special day.  And Sara even said in the car on the way home after, "Wasn't that just the best day?  I'm glad I got to see Emmy be baptismed."

And here is our final family pictures taken outside (as you can tell, we're all freezing)!  After this, some of the kids, Aaron, and Nana ran out on to the lake.  It was frozen over and covered in snow.

Christmas 2012

We decided to stay in Arizona where it's nice and warm for Christmas this year.  We had a really great holiday!  I will say, it definitely felt like we were missing out a bit when I talked to my parents, brother and sister on Christmas.  But we had a great day.  We invited some friends over for dinner and Sara had a blast with all her new gifts.  Here are a few pictures we took of the day:

 My mom made Sara an amazing craft box full of different crafts and art projects.  This girl could cut, glue, glitter, and color all day.  This box is perfect!

 She loves her Cabbage Patch doll Ellie I found online from a local woman for only $15.  It was such a great deal on a 1996 Olympic Kid.  Sara loves her Ellie doll.

 She got a pink Razor scooter from Santa and has been cruising around almost every day.  One of the great things about living in AZ!

 Santa asked her Daddy to fix up the Jeep our neighbors gave us a couple years ago.  She is so excited to drive her and our neighbor friends around.

This is one of my favorite pictures EVER!  Sara and our cute neighbor girl, Halle, are the dearest of friends.  They love each other and it is so fun to watch them play and grow together. 

 This was the site before Sara saw it.  A dollhouse given to use by very generous friends (Thanks again!!) and I made Sara a ballet barre out of PVC pipe and spray painted it pink.  She is in love with it!  I had another friend make some vinyl letters that say "To Sara, Love Mom" on one bar and "Dance Your Feet Silly" on another bar.  It turned out great and was a fun project.

All in all we had a great Christmas and I was happy we got to spend the holiday together with the 3 of us.  We hope to continue some of the new traditions and old traditions of our families every year.