AUNTIE CARRIE'S WEDDING SHOWER

Today Mom and I drove to Carrie's house for lunch and for her wedding shower. We had salads and eclairs. She is just the cutest girl. I'm so excited that Russ is marrying her. Mom, Gretchen and Marta shopped for some gifts together. She was given a boa, a crown, and a scepter to wear. She wasn't the only one who wore them either.

The long standing joke in our family is the "Ugly Bowl". A long time ago my mom gave Nanna, her mother-in-law, a bowl which is brown and blue. After Nanna died mom acquired it again. All of us kids thought it was the ugliest thing we have ever seen. So, when I got married it was given to me. When Marta got married, I gave it to her. Then, when she left this house and we moved back in she left the bowl as a sneaky welcome gift. Today, Carrie got the bowl. Now she gets to hold on to it until either Gretchen or Alex get married. That could be for a long time.

I LOVE PRESENTS!!!

Once Danny found out that he could open up presents he couldn't wait and found Grandma's suitcase where they were stored. Luckily they all made it through the flight.

Grandma got him some puzzles, clothes, and musical instruments. There was a drum/tambourine, kazoo, moroccos, harmonica, and a wood fish. He loved the harmonica and the drums the best. Plus, he received an eclectic guitar from Auntie Carrie for Christmas. Lucky for me I don't have the babysitting co-op here again because his band would drive me to a padded cell.

Birthday with Grandma Rydin

I'm actually out of order here. Mom came on Thursday and Thursday night Danny opened his and Justin's birthday presents. Justin's birthday isn't for a little bit but she got him some clothes and figured he could use them now.

Danny loved wearing Daddy's new shirt.

Aquarium and Children's Museum

This week we had so much fun with my mom here. On Friday we went to the Aquarium with Russ, my mom, me and Danny. I touched a sting ray which was pretty cool. It actually felt a little bit slimy, like a mushroom under water.

On Saturday Russ, Carrie, Danny, Justin, my Mom and met for lunch and then Justin my mom and I took Danny to the Children's museum. We had a lot of fun. Because last summer I bought a membership to the planetarium in FL we got in for free. Danny had a ball, literally. When you walk in there was a huge contraption that did different things with balls. You'd have to be there to explain it. There were lots of little places for little kids to play in. Danny loved the mailbox on the house and the area for the 3 and under played. In the kid area there were little chairs that reminded me of Mork from Ork. At first he wouldn't try to go in it but then once he lifted up the flap on one of them and saw a little girl sitting in one he thought it would be a great idea and lots of fun. On the roof there was a life size helicopter that the kids could climb around in. It made noise and kids were running in and out of it and at first it scared him. Finally, after Grandma got in with him he liked it and even sat in the pilot's chair.

F.H.E. At the Dyre House

On Monday night one of Justin's professors, Prof. Dyre invited us to his home for F.H.E. and to give us some insight and advice now that we are graduating. We had a lovely time. The kids played in the basement and the adults got to talk together. Prof. Dyre's daughters play the harp and Danny found it facinating and loved playing with it.

We feel so blessed to be going to BYU. We will miss it so much, especially our family and friends.

HAPPY EASTER!

Yesterday we dyed Easter eggs and Danny thought that was a lot of fun. Today is Easter and it was an interesting day. We woke up late (7:15) and Danny and I got up and went into the family room. Last night I had hidden a few eggs in very visible places and the Easter Bunny came and brought him a basket with a chocolate bunny, chocolate eggs, 1 box of Peeps, a kite, a few educational cd's with BINGO cards to match and a Mickey Mouse figure.

In each hidden egg was 1 Jelly Bean (He wouldn't know the difference) He found a couple of the eggs and ate the candy but didn't really want to find the other ones. Unfortunately I had to leave early for church because I was singing in the choir and had to be there at 8:15 so Justin spent time doing the Easter thing and I left. My voice has gotten so low that now I am singing Tennor.

Danny and Justin are sick so they didn't go to church. Danny has a barking cough which sounds terrible and Justin just has a cold so he stayed home with him.

I started to get ready to make Cheesy Potatoes and Yams for dinner at Amy's house. The potatoes were cooked and I took a nap in the chair. I woke up at 4:00 and realized that Danny had fallen asleep on top of me. I quickly got up and went to work on the yummy food.

Dinner was wonderful. We had ham and rolls and taters and yams and cherry dump cake for desert. It was a lot of fun to be with Amy, Jeff, and the kids. The 3 of us played a game called something like "A Ticket to Ride" It was a lot of fun. I definitely recommend it. Unfortunately, Justin and Danny stayed home and ate PBJ sandwiches and Captain Crunch.

Tonght I had the babysitting co-op here. The kids emptied the toy box and had fun climbing in it. Danny was the ring leader and thought it was so funny to squish his nose up against the plastic. He has such a great sense of humor.