Movie Help

I came across a great resource that I wanted to share with you! So often lately, my children want to see a movie and I try to research it to find just limited information on it or ask friends who I find often have different movie standards than me. I've been so frustrated with it. After Christmas our family went to see a movie that was PG that I was worried about but so many of our friends with young children raved about and I was so disappointed and wouldn't have gone had I known. So anyway, I came across this web page that reviews movies in detail with children in mind. It's http://www.kids-in-mind.com/. So before you take your family to the next movie, you can check it out thoroughly first and avoid any uncomfortable surprises! Hope it helps you too!

Preterm Labor ... anyone??

So, yesterday my stomach was cramping all day. Of course I didn't have time to stop and try to lie down or time it or even wonder too long what it was. It continued to get worse towards evening and after a stressful bout with kids in the late afternoon. I finally called the nurse and then the doctor and had to go to the hospital. It turns out I was having regular contractions two minutes apart and dialated to a 2. So the nurse gave me two shots and a pill to relax my uterus and slow down the contractions. She said in another week or two they would have let it take its course but it's still a little early. I'll be 35 weeks on Thursday. So that worked and I came home and now I'm supposed to be lying down as much as possible. How that is even remotely possible with three kids is totally beyond me! I will try. At least it's only for a couple of weeks. So, I was wondering... do any of you have stories of preterm labor? And how did it work out for you? When did you go into labor and actually deliver your baby? Please tell me.

Baby Shower!!

Here's me enjoying this great plate of food. Thanks everyone who contributed!

Nancy, Brenna, Emily, Sarah and Andi (who is due only 2 days after me!)

Laurel and Cheryl

Jamie, her cute baby Jamie, Star and Mary Jane

Me, Danna and her daughter Felicity, Jennifer and my Mom.

Sarah was such an amazing hostess! Thank you! I just sat and enjoyed great friends and great food. It was so nice! Sarah sat me down and made my plate of food and took pictures. She even carried all the gifts out to the car for me! What a day of pampering!

Isn't this a cute idea? The presents displayed in a crib? And I love the polka-dots hanging from the ceiling!

Cute polka-dot decorations!

My friend, Laurel, made these delicious cupcakes. Isn't the stand cute and

the cutest polka-dot ribbon?

So much delicious food!

The Fresno Zoo

Spring Break Part 3

The last day of our spring break we made a trip to Fresno. Dad was so good to watch the children while Albert and I went to the Fresno Temple and then we took a picnic and went to the zoo afterward. Morgan went with us and we also met Steve and his fiance and two of his little girls, McKenna and Emilee. My children have been begging me to go to the zoo there for at least a year but it seems like when we have our breaks, it's just too hot to go over there. It was a warm day even for spring but we had a great time.

Gavin said his favorite animals were the rattlesnake and king snake, the giraffe and he loved the petting zoo.

Ice Cream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream...

Gavin

Jace

Grama and Grampa

Morgan

This is our spring break part II.

When we were visiting Grampa and Grama, we decided to drive about an hour away to this cute, old-fashioned ice cream parlor that I used to visit on occasion growing up. We were remembering when Great-Grama, not too long before she passed away, had the spur of the moment idea to drive over for ice cream (2 hours round trip). Of course she ordered her favorite banana split. We'll always remember that and this little excursion was in honor of her. We had a lot of fun as the faces exhibit! The ice cream is delicious there! I wish we had a good ice cream parlor like that closer by our house, but on the other hand...maybe it's better we don't!

Spring Break Part I

For spring break we went to visit Grama and Grampa. Morgan, Chris' little girl went with us as well. One of the activities we did with them was to go race car driving! They had fun and I enjoyed watching them. We've got some little speed demons (and some big ones too!).

Gavin and Albert
Linnea and Grama

Jacen--won't let me take a picture. (:

Morgan and Grampa

Easter Sunday

All dressed up for Easter Sunday! Aren't they cute?!

Easter Sunday after church. (Gavin is very excited about the Star Wars action figures the Easter Bunny brought!)

The kids looking at their Easter goods Sunday after church.

Easter Fun in Carmel Valley

Linnea with the Easter Bunny.

We had an enjoyable day with friends out in Carmel Valley at our friends, The Heywoods, ranch enjoying the sunshine and good food and Easter fun. The kids loved the egg hunt, tree swings, horses and friends.

A mom from our ward was there with her snazzy easter bunny costume. The kids loved it!

Gavin and his friend Cal.

Albert with Gavin and his buddies, Lily and Cal.

Gavin hunting for eggs.

Jacen trying to avoid a picture.

Good Ol' Days Parade and Festival

Our cute little small coastal town has a old fashioned festival and parade every year. The kids always look forward to it. I do too but not the $5 rides, $4 lemonades and $5 corn dogs. Oh well...

Gavin sliding down the bounce house slide.

A twirly, whirly ride. I told the kids about when Chris and I went on twirly tea pots at Disneyland when we were little and Chris twirled it so hard that I couldn't even hold up my head!

One of the rides they went on. The city blocks off main street to make room for the rides and booths. Otherwise, if you're familiar with the peninsula, you'd wonder where on earth this stuff would fit.

Gavin with his goods!

Horses! American Flag! We love America! Wish Mom were in it with her Arabian.

Here's one for Dad. There were a LOT of cars in the parade! When we moved to Monterey from Fresno 9 years ago we were amazed at the difference in parades. SO many horses in Clovis, SO many cars on the peninsula. Very cool.

I thought this was a clever one. She is modeling all the plastic bags the average person uses in a year. I forgot how many exactly. Use your canvas shopping bags!!!! Reduce your carbon footprint!

Balloon Platoon in the Parade--I told Albert that that's going to be him in a few years! (:

Easter Idea

Our Relief Society President passed out this Easter Idea that I thought I'd share with you. We also did it for our Relief Society Board Meeting and it was really nice. I then prepared it to share with my family so as to have a fun and nice spiritual message to share with them about the true meaning of Easter. It's easy and fast and you probably have everything you need at your house already.

You need 12 plastic eggs, labeled with a black marker 1 to 12. In each egg you will put a small object and a strip of paper labeled with a scripture to look up and another comment to read.

1. sacrament cup: Matt 26:39-44

Jesus went to Gethsemane to pray. He asked Heavenly Father to bless Him. He did not want to suffer. He said to Heavenly Father, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt." Jesus wanted to obey Heavenly Father, so Jesus suffered for every person who repents of their sins. This is called the Atonement. We remember this each time we take the sacrament.

2. Three dimes (pieces of silver): Matt 26:14-16

One of Jesus' apostles, Judas Iscariot, made a deal with some wicket men. He would show them where Jesus was in exchange for 30 pieces of silver.

3. knotted twine: Matt 27:1-2

When morning came, the chief priests and elders of the people decided to put Jesus to death. They bound Him, led Him away, and delivered Him to the governor, Pontius Pilate.

4. piece of soap: Matt 27: 22-24

Pilate asked Jesus many questions and then told the chief priests and Sadducees that Jesus had done nothing wrong. Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but the Sadducees wanted to crucify Him. Pilate washed his hands n front of all the people, saying, "I am innocent to the blood of this just person, see ye to it." Then he let them crucify Jesus.

5. Piece of red cloth: Matt 27:28-30

The soldiers stripped Jesus, put a scarlet red robe, and a crown of thorns on Him. They mocked Him saying "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spit on Him and whipped Him with a reed.

6. nails: Luke 23:33 (D&C 6:37)

After they mocked Jesus and took the robes off Him, they led Him to be crucified. The soldiers nailed Him to a cross by driving nails through His feet, His hands, and His wrists. (Gently press the nail to your hand to see how it might have felt.)

7. Dice: Matt 23:34, John 19:23-24

When Jesus was on the cross, He asked Heavenly Father to forgive the people who crucified Him because they didn't know that He was the Savior of the World. The soldiers took Jesus' clothes and cast lots for them.

8. Small bag of rocks or earth: Matt 27:51-52, Luke 23:45-46

When Jesus finally died, His spirit left His body and the sky darkened. There was a big earthquake. The ground and the rocks broke into pieces.

9. Strip of white cloth: Matt 27:57-59

One of Jesus' disciples, Joseph of Arimathea, took Jesus' body, wrapped it in clean linen cloth, and laid Jesus in his own new tomb.

10. Large stone: Matt 27:60, 65-66

After Joseph of Arimathea had laid Jesus' body in the tomb, he had a big stone rolled in front of the tomb so that Jesus' body would be safe.

11. Spices (whole cloves): Mark 16:1-2

Jesus' body was in the tomb of parts of 3 days. Very early in the morning of the first day of the week Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought sweet spices to anoint Jesus' body.

12. Empty: Matt 28:5-6

When the women got to the tomb, the big stone was rolled away and Jesus was not in the tomb. Instead, the angel of the Lord was there and said, "Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here, for He is risen!"

Each family member can choose a couple of eggs to open at the appropriate time and read and show the object.

Happy Easter!!