Melt Down

After 29 hours in the car this is the only melt down we had as we were pulling into the driveway.

Surprise!!!

Well I've been MIA for the last few weeks. Jake and my dad came to visit and it was so great. We had a blast! I got the great idea to sneak the kids and I home in my dads car, well he knew we were coming but no one else did. Here are the surprise videos we shot
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Daniel was so excited to surprise everyone. Thanks and if we missed you this last time we'll be back for 3 weeks June 20-July 11.

What Grandpa had to put up with...

when he came to visit,



But he got this willing helper in return,
Daniel happily stuck all the stickers on the trial size bottles of hand cleaner. When Grandpa was done Daniel found more in a box and "made" him finish. He was such a good little helper. I think it was worth it right?

Her first Ponytail

The Beach

This was Maggie's first trip to the beach. She wasn't so sure of the sand
Daniel was digging before I had his sunscreen on

Maggie loved the water

Daniel and Maggie were both the same age when they took their first beach trip. Maggie has more hair but I think Daniel is chubbier

Girls.
(Notice my hot hiding husband in this picture?)
A beach tradition is to make a sand turtle.
We buried the boys

Grandpa hid under the shade so this is the only picture I have of him

I love this man

Our week with Jake (and Grandpa)

Jake came to play for spring break
Daniel played a lot of games on his ipod


We took a trip to the zoo even though we didn't see any cool animals it was PERFECT weather
We also went to the aquarium (we have a pass to both so we take everyone)
Grandpa treated us at Chuckie Cheese "where a kid can be a kid" according to Daniel

Jake got a little relax time but not without a babyWe played at the beach

Daniel "buried" JakeThey shared a towel
and then we said goodbye. It was really hard to see him go. We really miss him. Jake is an exception when it comes to teenage boys. He always has been. What 15 year old would choose to drive for 2 days straight just to spend his spring break week with his nephew and niece? When Daniel was born he would walk to my house after school. He would come in and just hold Daniel while I frantically got ready for the day or did laundry or cleaned up. Their bond started early. I don't know anyone like him. He is Daniel's best friend. Daniel loves him and really looks up to him and I couldn't hope for a better friend. As Daniel put it "I want you to stay forever and ever." We love him our house feels a little empty tonight.

reunited

weekly round up

So we had a crazy last 3 weeks!

BYU made it to the Sweet 16 bringing more visitors from "home"!!! (Thanks Jackson)
We were able to go to the game for free, which was crazy exciting!(again thanks Jackson)

Maggie did great at the babysitters (thanks Loader girls)which means I got a much needed break from my sweet little angel.The Emery family stayed with us. Which meant 24/4 entertainment for Daniel. He was SO excited when they got here and loved playing with them especially old maid and teaching them not to use bad words.
More family came for the game, my grandma, and half of the Jensen family.
We hit up the French Quarter for shopping and good food

We all ate alligator

While on the river walk Daniel sang the ABC's with this 87 year old man it was so cool. I didn't get the video out fast enough.Everyone went home which left me really homesick

Patti kept her promise to Daniel and is sending Jake back. (Daniel said she could only go home if she sent Jake back to him. He and my dad should be here by Sunday!!!)

We enjoyed conference weekend with our NOLA family having yummy dinners (grilled burgers and homemade Cafe Rio) and yummy breakfast, cinnamon rolls, peaches and cream French toast and pancakes.

Maggie now pulls herself up to the standing position in her crib, the high chair and any other object regardless if it's sturdy or not.

Daniel decided to try out polygamy He was playing house with two girls and they were both his wives he called them saying "come on sweeties." No worries David set him straight.

Click the link below you won't regret it.
Las Morning

Feeling sick,

homesick that is. I think this is the first time since we moved that I really have felt homesick. Why all of a sudden is it hitting me? This week we were so blessed to have more family come into town. My cousin plays for BYU and they just "happened" to play down here, weeks after we moved, bringing more visitors. The difference is these visitors are from "home" they are a taste of what it was like when we weren't so far away. It's been so much fun having them stay at our house and interact with our kids, watch them play, hug and kiss them and of course spoil them. They have to go home in the morning and the thought just makes me cry. I've told David I love living here and I do, I just feel like a part of us is missing and the past two weekends it was filled. Thank you for coming to visit us. Heavenly Father really is aware of my needs. He knows that I need my family to come and visit, and so he sent them down here for spring break and the sweet 16, now I know that's not the only reason that BYU came down, but I feel like its a gift for me from my father in Heaven. Its going to be rough going back to reality after they leave. Daniel told them that they could only go home if they bring Jake back to him. I'm holding them to that promise and hoping they will go the extra mile and send a few more people our way. Families are so wonderful and I'm so lucky that I have a great one. Miss you all!!! and of course WE LOVE YOU!!!

Last week at a glance

Had our first visitors
Some welcome
One Not!!!
Spent a HOT day at the zooAnother at the Aquarium and Jackson Square(no pics of Jackson Square)Ate
Beignets Craw-fish
(or bugs according to Danielle & Daniel)Gumbo, Jambalya, Craw-fish Etuoffee and Red Beans and Rice (really so good)Planted a garden
Played Pirates
and in the dirt

We had so much fun with the Childress family. Thank you for spending your spring break with us and showing us around our new hometown. We can't wait to make the trip up to see you. Love Y'all!!

Service

Yesterday our Relief Society lesson was on Service. Whenever I think of this topic I think of my mom. She is an amazing example to me of serving other people without expecting anything back. She told me once that when you are asked to do something you just do it, even if you don't think you can or have the time to, you do it. I thank her for her great example and hope that I can be half as good as she is. Miss you mom and of course I love you!