Lucky charms day

We had fun celebrating St. Patricks day at our house.  We had our traditional green jello and mint chocolate chip ice cream.  This year we added green grapes and salad.  It also helps that green is one of my favorite colors so we have green dishes too.

It was Mckenna's lucky day because her ripstick came in the mail.  She bought it with her own money.  She couldn't wait to get outside and try it out.

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Parker brought home this drawing from school.  He said it was voted the best leprechaun in the class.  I thought it was very creative!  I put it up in the place of honor on our fridge.

Hayden brought home this paper that said, "If I had gold I would go too... Disneyland."  I loved how he spelled Disneyland.

It was such a nice day that Halle and Addy sat on the deck and blew bubbles.

The kids digging to find their buried gold.

Our cute little Addy with her handful of gold.

Bluebird day

The kids had a Monday off of school this month.  Kev took the day off and we went skiing.  It was fun because Spence came with us too.

We went skiing at Snowbird with our free passes that we got from watching the Warren Miller ski film.  It was a great day for skiing since not many people were on the slopes.  It was the first time Halle and Parker didn't have lessons and just skied with us.  You can see Parker practicing his pizza wedge.

The highlight of that day was being towed through the mountain on the conveyor belt.

We took a group picture at the other side looking down into Mineral Basin.

Halle's baptism day!

Our sweet Halle Jane was baptized on Saturday March 7th.  It was a beautiful, warm, Spring day.  Halle looked beautiful and just radiated joy.  I am so glad that Kev was able to baptize and confirm her.

I was able to wait for Halle off to the side of the font.  It was nice being able to peacefully watch from the side.  I was waiting right there to wrap Halle in her towel with a big hug.  I am so happy for her and the good choices she is making.  Kev gave her a beautiful confirmation blessing.  The one thing that stood out to me was that she is a peacemaker  in our family.

We went back to our house for lunch and to celebrate.  I made Halle these cupcakes that said eight is great!

Halle was really excited to open her presents from everyone.  

Aunt Amy made this beautiful quilt for Halle.  It is in pinks and greens that match her room.  Halle looked so sweet all wrapped up it it.  It was such a thoughtful gift.  Her cousins also made her little notes and pictures

Halle with her friend Eva and second cousin Eliza.  Eliza is my cousin Jeff's daughter. They moved just around the corner about a year ago.  It is fun that Halle and Eliza are friends.

My beautiful friend Kathleen came too!  It is always great to see her and spend time with her family.

I made Halle an American girl photobook and gave it to her that morning.  It also had some of her baptism pictures in it.  I was so happy she loved it!  She was looking at it with her Great Aunt Helen.  It was a fun surprise to have my Aunty Helen show up at the baptism.  She was in town visiting.

It was special to have my Grandpa Rosen there at the baptism.  My Grandma was at the nursing home and not feeling up to it that day.  My Grandpa told me in an email what a wonderful day it was.  He said that Kevin gave her a beautiful blessing.  He said that he knew my Mom was there with us and smiling with approval. It meant so much for me to hear him say that.  I miss my Mom so much.  It is always hard on special days like this.  I know that she is still very much a part of my life even if I can't see her.  It brings me comfort to know she is watching over my children.

Uncle Spencer gave the talk on Baptism that day.  He did such a great job.  I knew that he would share his enthusiasm of the gospel with her.  Grandpa Ken also played a piano musical number for her.

I love this three generational picture of Grandma Grant, Halle, and Grandma Sue.  Great Grandma Grant spoke about the Holy Ghost at Halle's baptism.  She shared her testimony about listening to the spirit.  It was an honor to have her speak.

We took lots of family pictures for Halle to remember this special day.  We were so glad that my Dad was able to be there.  It was truly a blessing.  He had been at the hospital all week with a ruptured appendix and had only gone home the day before.

We tried to take a family picture.  This attempt makes me laugh.  Kev and I are both trying to get the kids to behave.

This was the best one we got.  I love my kids even if we can't get a good picture.

It was nice having our good friend Ed Hunt come as well.  He is always helping out and entertaining the kids.  

I took this picture of my beautiful girl on the Sunday after her baptism.  She was so happy because she got to sit with the bishopric up on the stand during the meeting.  We love our Halle and are so happy with the righteous choices she has made.

Great to be eight!

Halle turned eight years old on Monday March 2nd!  It was a cold, snowy day just like eight years earlier on the day she was born.  We went and got her birthday balloons after school.

I thought she looked so cute sitting there doing her homework.

We had a small party with just her Grandparents that evening.  She was excited to open her presents.

She received a lot of American girl doll gifts.  Her  big one was a paint horse for her doll Kit.  It is similar to our horse Duchess.  She  also was happy about her new scriptures and case.

She dressed up Kit in her new outfit and had her try out the horse.

I made Halle a big 8 cake this year.

The flowers were made out of cut marshmallows with sugar on the top.  Kev said they tasted just like peeps and I agreed.

Halle had fun playing with her new gifts the rest of the night.  She was really looking forward to her baptism in just a few days!  We love our Halle babes!

Powder!!

We went skiing on Saturday February 21st at Brighton.  It had snowed the night before and we were pleasantly surprised to see 8-10 inches of powder on the runs!  It was beautiful.  It was great to see snow again after not seeing any for weeks at home.

We dropped Parker and Halle off at ski school.  Parker was so excited for his second time skiing.  They were learning how to turn on greens.

Kev and I taking a selfie on our way up the ski lift.  

Mckenna spent the day skiing with us.  She is even starting to follow Kev off the trails and into the trees.

We saw Halle and her class as we were getting on the lift.  It made me smile to see her hugging the gate.

We also saw Parker getting off at Majestic with his class.

We took Mckenna up to the top of the mountain for the first time.  She did great for her first time on blues.

Our cousins Preston and Melissa met up with us after lunch.  It was fun skiing and hanging out with them.  At one point, Melissa and I were at the top of Snake creek just talking.  Then I hear someone shout, "Mom!"  It was Halle!  She just zipped right on by us.  

I was impressed to just see her fly down the mountain.  It was Halle's last time in the Little Rippers ski school. It only goes to age 8.  She was happy to earn all of her sticker's and graduate to the older kids class. It was a beautiful day and we loved being out on the slopes together!