April is always a fun month as we usually start having warmer weather and blossoms. This Easter Sunday was gorgeous and we had a really nice weekend. The Easter Bunny always visits our house a day early and then Sunday, my sister Melanie and her family came over and we had a nice relaxing afternoon. The cousins all had a great time playing dress-up and they couldn't get over how funny they looked!
This year Elliot's class assembly was a Medieval experience. Elliot was the guy who makes the galloping noise with coconut shells while following the knight on horseback. They had so much fun just getting ready for the assembly that I think they were sad when it was all over. We taped it so that everyone in our family could watch it and Elliot got a kick out of watching the whole thing since he spent a lot of the time behind props. Along with the assembly, every student had the assignment of making a castle at home and bringing it to school. Elliot made his out of Legos and it turned out great!
This year we celebrated Madeleine's 13th birthday two different times. We had to give her our gift before we left on our trip because it was a digital camera and we knew she would want to take it with her. Then we were actually driving home from California all day on her real birthday, so we celebrated after we got home. Why not stretch it out a bit, huh? She is now an official teenager and so we begin the year of four teenagers in the home!
Our Trip to California
Phillip and Loren wrapped up their Freshman year at BYU and moved home just as the other kids had a school break, making it possible for us to take a quick trip to sunny California. We spent two days driving back and forth and three days playing: one day at Legoland or California Adventure (depending on your age and interests,) a day at Disneyland and a day at Balboa Beach. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and we stayed at a really nice new Residence Inn. This was probably our last big trip in our big van that we call Hugo, and it was probably our best as far as the kid thing goes. There were no arguments and everyone was content to stay in their original places, simplifying all moving around that we have done in the past. I have loved all of our road trips in Hugo and will always have many wonderful memories of family vacations.
Tess decided she would let me have a go at coloring her hair. Oh my goodness, does she ever have a lot of hair! It was harder than I thought it would be and I can understand now why professionals charge extra for long hair. It turned out ok although I don't know how often I would be interested in doing it. Who knows? Maybe I'll get really good and then I can earn a little money on the side -- ha ha!
We finished out the month with Alan's birthday on the 30th. His parents had us over for dinner and his mom made him Halusky -- his all time bar none favorite dinner. She had also made him a mile high strawberry pie -- another childhood favorite. So, she scored big with him, I'll tell you. I told him I was giving him a new barbecue grill and then made him go shopping with me the next day for several hours until we found one. Although he hates shopping, I do think he is happy to have it. Our old one, I think, was pushing about 18-19 years old, so I do think we were due for a new one!