M: April Happenings, 2011

Man, April was a BUSY month. I'm learning that life is just so dang busy, no matter what month it is. I have been working hard to try and slow life down and I am failing. Here's a few highlights from my favorite parts of April. I cut a lot out, but it's still pretty long. Sorry!

Before I had kiddos I was pretty crafty. I loved making things and scrap booking. Well, now life is a heck of a lot busier and I don't have the time for things I did before and I miss that craftiness about me. I made a New Years goal to try and get back to it. April hit and I realized I hadn't kept that goal and I recommitted. I have made quite a few things since then, including this wreath made out of Peeps. :)

It felt good to do something again! (even if the only time I could find time was at midnight)

I love my calling being an Activity Days leader! I made cake pops for the girls.

And veggies and dip.

I made these cute Resurrection cups with the girls. I wish I'd taken a picture of the whole craft. It was cute!

Kaleigh did a Science Project for school and it turned out really good. I'm always so impressed with how artistic she is.

Nana hadn't been to the dentist in about 15 years, so I made sure to change that! ;) It was cute to see how nervous she was.

April is the month for Parent Observation at dance. I loved being able to stay and see the girls' progress. Here's pretty Kaleigh...

And pretty Shay...

My camera died as soon as I got to Peyton's class, of coarse, so I was only able to get this shot of pretty Peyton warming up. Bummer!

Suzie completed her 2nd marathon and I was able to go and support her and cheer her on. I was lucky enough to run the last 3 miles with her too! Here's those of us who ran the end with her.

The weather was perfect that day. I was so proud of Suz!

Great job, Suzie Q!!!!

The next day we had a Park City trip planned. It was SO much fun! We took the girls on the Alpine Slide and they loved every second of it. Even Peyton! Here's Peyton and I getting ready to board. I even talked the guys into letting Peyton and I on for free! (A $30 value) Sweet!

Scott and the girls made a stop for caramel apples. Yummy!

Do you ever have one of those days where you look at everything and everyone around you and think, "My life is perfect."? This was one of those days, for sure!

Park City is one of my most favorite places to go. It's so breathtaking and we always have SUCH a blast! It was an amazing day.

Here's Kaleigh and I getting ready to take off on the Alpine Slide.

And here's Scott and Shayla. SO fun!!!

We ♥ you Park City!

I was able to be by Dad's side for his Stem Cell Transplant on April 9th. The whole experience was so amazing. My Dad is seriously the toughest guy on the planet! I love him to death and am so impressed and inspired by his strength and faith.

I was in awe the whole time watching the transplant. It was so educational and COOL! I was very glad I took the time to be there. Here's one of the doctors thawing out the frozen cells of Dad's.

And here's one of the many bags of my Dad's stem cells! Crazy stuff.

Here's Dad's cheering squad throughout the transplant. ♥

Shayla had to create an "unusual pet" for a Kindergarten project. The directions specifically said the let the student do it with as little help as possible. I was so proud of Shay that she did every single bit herself. She made a cute little mouse out of a balloon. Completely HER idea. It was so annoying to see how many parents did the animal themselves. Shayla's teacher and I had a real good laugh!

Shayla did great and showed no fear presenting to all the students and parents. Rock on Shay!

My sister, Lisa, and her fam came to visit for a few days. It was so fun! I watched my nieces as much as possible so Lisa and Rob could spend as much time as they could with Dad and Mom. I adore Maddie and Ava and LOVED every single minute! The girls were in HEAVEN having their cousins here. They are all waaaay too cute! (apparently Peyton didn't get the "let's do kissy-faces" memo! LOL)

Here's Nana with all her great-granddaughters. LOVE!

Lisa's 33rd birthday was while she was here. She told us not to celebrate it. Um...yah right! I got her this deelish chocolate mousse cake that was heavenly. We had Cafe Rio for dinner and she, Rob, Scott and I got massages. More than anything though....we laughed our butts off the whole night and had a great time!

Aunt Lisa and the girls ♥

Maddie, Ava and I ♥

It's little things like this that make it so easy to love Scott! I came home from work one day to find Scott had stopped home on his lunch break and wrote this on the window for me. He's the best!

The girls and I decided to take Maddie and Ava swimming one day. It was a little nerve racking trying to keep my eyes on 5 little girls at a public swimming pool, but we had such a blast!

THIS is what life's all about! I'd give anything to have my sister and brother in law and nieces here permanently!

I LOVE these little girlies!!!

Fun, fun, fun!

On the 23rd we went to Herriman's Easter Egg Hunt and had a blast. When we got home the girls robed up in my aprons and we got ready to do some work!

Painting Easter eggs, that is!

We got pretty messy doing so, too!

After we were done with that I headed out to go climbing with Suzie at Momentum.

It was SO much fun!!!

The monkey in me found it to be pretty natural and easy. It's such a fun workout.

Go Suz!!!

And away she goes...

She made it! :)

The next day was Easter and the girls woke up to find a note and map from the easter bunny. The began their search for their baskets and found lots of good stuff along the way.

Kaleigh's basket...

Shayla's basket...

And Peyton's basket.

Then it was time to get pretty and go to church.

I love my beautiful family!!!

After church we watched a movie about the Atonement and then got ready for family to come over for dinner. We had white chocolate dipped strawberries,

ducky rolls, ham, turkey, cheese potatoes, creamed corn and green beans. Yummy!

The girls loved getting more Easter presents for Grandma and Grandpa Griffin.

Game time!

We love Sarah and Kyle and were glad they could be here!

Although it felt incomplete without Dad, we were also happy to have Mom and Nana here as well. We love them!

We had a fun pizza and dessert party with friends one night. I'm so lucky to live around, and be friends with, such amazing women who inspire me to be better!

The kids all loved running wild with eachother.

April was Kaleigh's turn for a daughter date!

She wanted swedish meatballs and macaroni from Ikea for dinner.

Then we headed to the Classic Fun Center for some skating. They told us if she were a first timer this gadget would help her learn better. Well, they were wrong. It just made her look silly and wasted money. We gave it right back!

She did much better with the help of good old Dad! ♥

I love my baby!

After skating we decided to enter the blast zone. It was SO fun being on a team with just Scott and Kaleigh and battling/ shooting at another team. We laughed our butts off! She's such a great girl.