Todd's Tatler

Before:

After:

5 minutes...

2:55 PM by Amanda

in the office, with dry erase markers. They even attacked poor Caleb.

A year ago, we decided that Easter should be more important. So just like last year, we ended each day this month with a scripture and a mini lesson about Jesus - either learning another name for Him or something about Him from The Living Christ. We also started our countdown 12 days ago. We learned about the last days of Christ's earthly life starting with instituting the sacrament and ending with His glorious resurrection. It has been wonderful learning together as a family about the reason we celebrate this sacred holiday, and why it is that we are blessed with the gift of being together forever.

We also did some other fun things...

The Easter bunny has agreed to visit our house on the day before

Easter so that we can focus on Jesus better on Sunday.

Did you know that with the magic of Easter, if you plant jelly beans....

and go away for a little while (over night is best...if you remember...)

...they grow into lollipops?!

And the fun wouldn't be complete with out the annual Easter egg roll! I was out right away. Madeline cracked soon after. It was down to Dad and Caleb....

And Caleb won for a third consecutive year!

We finished our night by watching some of the new bible videos while Dad was at a choir practice, and then another few scriptures. 10 more days of Jesus focused learning before we go back to the Book of Mormon!

Celebrating Caleb

5:42 PM by Amanda

How does one celebrate the 5 glorious and challenging years of your child?

Birthday donuts, helium balloons, going bowling and playing arcade games, opening presents....

(Our gifts to Caleb were mostly on the practical side - aka, not particularly photo worthy. We left the fun and frivolous to his fantastic grandparents!)

Then we ate out at...Subway (bet you didn't know that was his favorite restaurant!).

The next day was party day with friends!

Caleb asked for a

Rescue Bot!

themed birthday party.

We played "douse the house" with water shaped bean bags

and had a bucket brigade race for Heatwave, the fire truck.

Then keep the balloon up, duck duck goose, and "simon says."

After a lunch of pizza and opening presents,

there was cake and ice cream for everyone.
Victoria really approved of that cupcake!

Our big guy had a great day. Thanks for the love everyone!

Somehow, it's been 5 years already!

5:16 PM by Amanda

Newborn Caleb

1 year old Caleb

2 year old Caleb

3 year old Caleb

4 year old Caleb

Current Caleb!

St. Patrick's Day

10:35 PM by Amanda

Pancakes with green tinted cream cheese topping.

Caleb thoroughly enjoyed seeing so much of his favorite color!

Caleb did his Hulk impression

while the girls chatted and patiently waited to start the fun.

You see, the night before St. Patrick's Day, a little leprechaun came to visit our home....
Starting the scavenger hunt:

They figured out the party blowers pretty quickly!

Green blocks are fun!

Doing a jig of their own
(Maddie really enjoyed the music!)

Working some magic!

All the clues put together spelled "Happy St. Patrick's Day"
Caleb showed off by identifying each letter for the girls again.
Unfortunately, they weren't impressed.

The clues led to leprechaun portions of pistachio pudding.

Maddie and Victoria had their finger nails painted
silver with green sparkles...

...while Caleb colored a picture.

Then they all did some rainbow paintings!
(I think this was Victoria's favorite part.)

After Victoria went home, we had a lunch

of pureed spinach alfredo over leprechaun bow ties
while watching The Secret of Kells.

And for a touch of authenticity, we had fish and colcannon for dinner.

That...didn't go over as well with the kids.

Stay tuned for Caleb's birthday post!

Maddie is 2

9:45 PM by Amanda

Our little girl loves Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which translated into a caterpillar & butterfly filled day (with lots of tasty treats too).

Start the day with pink streamers on your bedroom door and a friend waiting at the end of the hall: check!