High Lights?

Grace tried to take some pictures to show Annie my new highlights. I haven't colored my hair since high school so I was a little nervous.

I guess since we couldn't seem to get them to show in the pictures, I shouldn't be worried that they are too dramatic eh?

Budding Basketball Player?

Grace surprised us the other day.

She's usually a little sensitive, not especially into rough things... but she enjoyed putting on a show for us. She set up the audience.
And Emma was a sweet, cooperating, admirer.

Dad's Right Hand Girl

Six

Grace turned six in January. She's been such a mature girl all her long life though. Grandma Roonie said she was born acting mature. I think she has always had some extra maturity and has always helped me out a lot with everything. It was so fun to have her come along after figuring I wouldn't. I remember thinking about how you don't have to be alone when you have a baby. It's been nice to have Grace's companionship these last six years.

Grace was looking forward to being six although I begged her to stay 4, then 5 at the very most. "I'm trying" she'd say when I would tell her very seriously to stop getting older. At Christmas she was decorating the tree and said, "I feel six ALready!" with a surprised tone of voice

We had a family birthday party for Grace this year and a friends play date after school one day, just for fun. We also had fun opening packages from Annie's family and Aunt Sandy!

I thought the picture of Grace at the sink showed out tall she is. Suddenly, she can reach the water! The one of her with all the things on her bed is her display of the all the Hello Kitty surprises Lydia gave her. She went to bed and laid them all out. The one in the bottom left is her opening her package from Aunt Sandy. She enjoyed her package from Grandma Roonie too, a cute jacket and some money which she is saving in her little bank to go see Kelli! Thanks to Grandma Carter and Tim and Cindy's family for coming, treating Grace and making the party so fun too!

Tractor Fun!

Not a bad toy all, a tractor!

Easter Bunny?

WE TRIED to act out the customary Easter traditions this year!


We DYED the Easter eggs, talking about the symbolism of new life.

Performed the customary egg hunts in the yard. (Grace hid AND found the eggs this year so she fared very well.)

Enjoyed Easter Sunday church.

Grace appreciated the Easter flowers. ("look this tulUP is as big as my face").

How much longer do you think the Easter Bunny will get away with using left-over candy canes in Easter baskets? The Easter Bunny had to hop around finding many interesting items around the house because she was too tired to face Walmart at 11p.m.... Fine Easter baskets were produced, however lacking in chocolate bunnies and candy easter eggs.

Monday the actual Easter Bunny came.

She was wearing a Brittani costume.

She came bearing authentic chocolate Easter Bunnies!

and a strange, defiant-looking, Easter chicken -which squawked when squeezed.

I loved this artwork by Grace. She's been drawing pictures of flowers and girls and cutesy things all year for her little friends at school who are girls. This one was for a boy so I guess she needed to draw something a little more gender appropriate.

Concrete Removal Moments

We had to remove two concrete pads from under the old shed. This was great because it gave John the excuse to use his big fun toys!


John was trying to push this slab of concrete into the trailer. It was amusing to watch him pushing the slab, which pushed the trailer, which pushed the truck down the road a little bit each time... Kind of reminds me of playing the sand box with the same toys on a much smaller scale.

Clara helped out by taking John's tape measure out to him. She loves to take things to people right now. It makes her feel big.

Pretty good fun, for a man, I think!

Neat Easter Message!

Here's a link to a neat Easter Message! I really enjoyed it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpFhS0dAduc

General Conference Project!

Often, it seems, something around General Conference time,

INSPIRES

John to undertake some wild home improvement project.

Perhapes it's the spring weather, or maybe the spirit felt during general conference.

But, whatever it is,

I like it.