{Rachel's Spring Break}

My sister came to stay with us for spring break! It was awesome

We ate delicious food

 Rachel learned how to drive stick! She did pretty great! She has a while to go before I'd let her on the roads, but give her a little time and she'll be great.

And of course - Pride and Prejudice!!! My mom started this back at home many years ago where we would watch 1 VHS of the 6 tape series each day of spring break. It was awesome! I missed this when I went off to college and this was the first year I'd done it since leaving home - I loved watching all of my favorite characters. Also, I'm still in love with Mr. Darcy.

Braiding hair...

This picture doesn't have anything to do with Rachel being here, but it's hilarious :)

We had a lovely afternoon at the park

Stickers....

Went to the arboretum

Did a little garage sale-ing

Rachel's first ride on a metro/train/DART

we went to the Dallas Art Museum - it was lovely!

It was a great trip! I'm so glad that she was able to come! We didn't do anything super special - just regular day life, but it was fun to have her here and to share it with her!

{Friday Five}

1. Watching my little girl play dress up

2. Rachel came to spend her spring break with us!

 3. Watching the great Pride and Prejudice with Rachel and quoting all of the great lines

 4. Beautiful park day

  5. Soaking in the goodness of the arboretum 

{I thought we were past that}

A couple days ago I looked over to see Evette chewing on a crayon. Really? I thought we were past that.
Doesn't she remember that I take her crayons away when she does that? That she gets into trouble?

That same day I saw her pulling on my house plants. Really? I thought we were past that.
Doesn't she remember that she's going to get scolded? That she'll be sent to her crib?

That same day we were working in the garden and I look over to see her shoveling dirt into her mouth with my spade. Really? I thought we were past that.
Doesn't she remember all that times we've said, "Don't eat dirt!" "Stop eating dirt!" "Dirt is not food!" "That's so yucky!"? That we'll make her spit it out and wash out her mouth?



That same week I stayed up too late and woke up with a headache the next day. Really? I thought I was past that.
Don't I remember the bajillions of times that that has happened before? That I need x hrs of sleep a night?

That same week I didn't eat lunch but instead had cookies. Really? I thought I was past that.
Don't I remember that that will give me a stomach ache? That I'll be filled with guilt all afternoon?

That same week I didn't study my scriptures as I should. Really? I thought I was past that.
Don't I remember the blessings that come from it? That my day will be so much better if I do?



And so every day we continue to learn and make mistakes and try to remember what we've been taught.

{Friday Five}

1. Working in my flower beds and new veggie garden :)

 2. Easter package from the Madre

 3. A thoughtful act of a kind friend

 

 4. Our mailman is back! Our mailman is the sweetest older man who Evette and I always have chats with when we play outside and he stops by. He is so kind. He's been gone for the last couple weeks and I thought he had left or got a new route or something, but turns out he just had knee surgery and is now back! I'm thrilled that he is back!

5. Watching Evette love our new fish, Bubba. She always asks about him by opening and closing her mouth, like fish do, and pointing to the kitchen where he lives. When I respond with, "Do you want to go check on Bubba, the fish?" she starts laughing and clapping with excitement and runs to go find him. She wants to make sure that he always has enough to eat and she waves goodbye and goodnight to him. She loves Bubba.

{Bowling, now and then}

We went on a bowling date this last weekend and Evette was totally into it! She loved it so much.

She did pretty great!

Also, look at how cute these 2 are eating their junk food!

Just as a flashback - this is us on our last family bowling date back in January 2012 - may how times have changed in just a short year!

{Early Spring Arboretum}

{Sister McQuay}

I'm so proud of Caitlan for choosing and having the courage and strength to go on a mission! The people of Colorado Springs, Colorado will be so blessed to have her there!

Caitlan's farewell talk was one of the best sacrament meeting talks I have ever heard. It was funny and personable and at the same time very spiritual. One minute everyone in the audience was laughing and the next they were all tearing up. She is such a spiritual giant.

Sean took these pictures of Caitlan when she visited us in Dallas

 

She'll be such a great missionary! I love her!