First day of preschool!!!

For whatever reason I am apparently having a hard time focusing my point and shoot camera lately--grrr.

Well this week, I started researching some preschools out here for Elina to go to in the fall. So I set up an appointment to meet with two of them, and the one lady said that Elina was really mature for her age and that she had a boy moving away so she had an opening if I was interested in Elli starting preschool already. I'm sure a lot of you might think I'm crazy, but I went along with it because I knew Elina would love it. So she gets two months of preschool before summer break. The teacher said that she did really really well. She listened and shared and did what was asked of her--now my question is, how do I get her to do those things at home? My only problem with this lady is that everytime I see her she's so pushy and tries to get me to enroll for the fall, so I actually think I've decided to go to the preschool that's walking distance from our home--that makes more sense to me right now. But regardless, it has all begun--my baby's growing up!!!

Fun times

Elina asks to ride her bike (the one she got for her birthday) every day--but she doesn't dare venture out of the garage. I don't know if I scared her before, our driveway has a slight slope--enough to get going out of control for the inexperienced rider, so she just stays put in the garage and rides around and around the car. Although she's already had some falls in taking the turns around the car too fast.
As you can see, Tyler's in flip-flops and we are ready for spring. Too bad mother nature's not agreeing with us though anymore. The good news: I'll actually have some fresh powder on my one ski day for the last 2 years this Thursday. After that--I'll be praying for the warmer weather!!!
The only game my kids want to play lately is hide and seek--and now Tyler's got to the point that he understands what he's supposed to do when we tell him to go hide. Their favorite spot to hide together is under Tyler's bed--it's actually quite adorable!!

My project

So here was my latest project: hooter hiders (although I didn't really feel like I could put the name in the actual title of this post). After being asked to hem the edges of a table cloth for YW, and having been recently refreshed on how to use my sewing machine that I've never touched, I ventured out on a little project. Ryan's sister Stephanie, who just had baby number two, mentioned that she didn't have one and so I found an easy pattern (or more like instructions) on how to make one and did it myself. I don't claim to have made a professional looking hooter hider by any means, but was proud of attempt, I guess you could say. And Elli couldn't pass up the chance at being my model!!! (even though she's out of focus)

Ode to Roger Federer!!!

Just click on the collage to see everything magnified. He truly is magnificent and the pictures don't even do him justice :)

Indian Wells!!!

What a fun vacation--and the best part: NO KIDS!!! A huge shoutout goes out to my friend Brenda for planning and inviting me to join her at the Indian Wells tennis tournament. For anyone who follows the ATP or WTA--this tournament is amazing. I felt like I was at a grand slam (even though I've never actually been to one to compare it to). We were able to see all the tennis pros, Federer and Nadal, in such an up close and personal setting, it was sooooo fun. I am coming to love this sport more and more and have a big desire to take it on as my second sport--but we'll see what kind of a learning curve I have with it. :)


We only had a couple chances to actually play, and even though I got schooled--it made me want to get even better!!
I honestly don't remember who played in this match, but I'm thinking it might have been Federer--who is Brenda's and my all time favorite tennis player. I actually didn't think he had a fan bigger than me, but Brenda proved me wrong!!!
We kept scoping out the practice courts to hopefully catch Roger Federer when he was practicing, and actually got to see him for every practice session--I even got his autograph 3 times (1 for me, and 2 signed on my two balls for my kids). He truly is amazing to watch, and completely inspiring--I would even say a genuine specimen of the game!!! I really can't think of too many other big celebrities I'd get star struck for, but he is definitely one of them!!! :)

Happy Birthday Baylee!!

Here is the 6 year old birthday girl herself--what a fun night at Chuck-E-Cheese!!!
I'm surprised Tyler actually got this close to Chuck-E (I feel like I'm spelling it all wrong) because you can see the actual death grip Tyler has on Ryan's finger while standing in front of this same Chuck-E.

Say Cheese!!

Happy Birthday Baylee--we love you so much and had so much fun celebrating with you. You are such a good example to your cousins and we simply love you for all that you are!!

Draper Temple

So for Elina's actual birthday--which was more than a month ago--we headed out to see the Draper temple for the open house. And it was beautiful!!! I had the privilege of seeing some of it earlier when I volunteered for a morning, but Elina was so excited to go to Jesus' house on her birthday :) This last week has been so neat--with the temple dedication and youth temple celebration fireside, I just feel so lucky to be here at this time to take part in all this. Come up to the mountain of the Lord was the theme introduced tonight for this celebration, and as they outlined the program consisting of 8000-10000 youth singing and dancing/performing for the prophet inside the conference center--I was overwhelmed with the spirit for this once in a lifetime opportunity. My thoughts have been drawn to the temple now for this last little while, and I feel blessed with the insight I've received. I truly am so grateful for the temple, and for my Savior, and for the gospel in my life--all of which give me a joy and a peace that is impossible to find anywhere else in this world.