Living outdoors

We didn't have any rain today so we spent much of today outside.  The kids rode their bikes while Mi Na napped. 

They played in our grassy, fenced-in yard for a couple of hours before dinner.  They were happy and played together with little conflict.

Mi Na enjoyed being outside too.  She's so big now.

I don't want the spring to end.  Life feels balanced and peaceful.  It's wonderful.

Sunday, you were lovely.

Dear Sunday,

Thank you for the 70-something weather. It was perfect for our Sunday walk.

Thank you for our picnic in the gazebo.

Thank you for giving my boys time to play ball together


and for putting a smile on Stephen's face.

Thank you for always being a day of rest, uncluttered by busyness or earthly cares.

Thank you for inspiring Mei with your plentiful pink blossoms.

Thank you for the love shared and time spent as a family. Sunday, you were lovely. You always are, even in winter. But I think you are loveliest dressed in pink.

"She watched the buds on the trees swell and the apple trees burst into blossom."

Monday was a perfect sort of day. It felt like January 2nd with all of its newness and striving. The Monday after General Conference usually feels that way.

I did my workout and showered before the kids got up. The kids came downstairs and said, "Mom, come quick! There's a surprise out of our window! Close your eyes. Okay, now open them!" Our tree outside the kids' bedroom windows had burst into blossom. Some green leaves beat the blossoms, but it was beautiful and it made us all very happy.

We went visiting teaching around 10. The kids played outside in the sunshine.

We came home for naps. Mei Li and I spent most of nap time outside in high-70-degree weather. Stephen joined us when he woke up. We played with toys.

Around 6PM, we went on a walk to the library. There was a warm heavenly breeze. Stephen and Mi Na sat in the stroller and Mei Li walked. Mei Li admired each blossoming tree and we each quoted springtime lines from The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. She picked me a bouquet of weeds.

On the way home, Stephen walked and Mei Li sat in the stroller. Stephen pretended to be a basketball player as he walked. It was on this walk that he picked me a flowering weed and said, "Mom, you're so pretty."

When we got home from our walk and Steve was waiting for us. I made Italian grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner and we had Family Home Evening and ice cream for a treat.

Steve and I put the kids to bed, cleaned up, and went to bed early. What a good day.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday was just as exhausting as Saturday, but was certainly fun-filled and joyful. I guess I'm nearing the third trimester because I find myself talking about how exhausted I am all the time.

We got up early Sunday morning to see the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin. We have gone every year we've live here except one (I was out of town), and each time I am amazed by their beauty.




We spent some time looking at the tulips as well. Mei Li took over the photography responsibilities there:





Stephen took this one:

Next, we found a grassy spot to set down our blanket and eat snacks. Our kids ran around and did their own things.


Steve and I watched them. We have really great kids. We love being together. Being together is our heaven.


We got home before the Sunday morning session. In that session, Elder Donald Hallstrom spoke. In it, he talked about how his grandparents just loved being together. Near their ninetieth birthdays, they passed away within hours of each other. That is my dream. I suppose it's a dream of all happily married couples. Maybe that's selfish or weak of me to hope that I don't have to spend life on earth without Steve, but that is how I feel.

In between sessions, Aunt Rachel came by to watch the kids hunt for eggs. I wish I had taken time to get a picture of her with the kids.


The last activity of the day was planting sunflowers and strawberries. When Steve was at the grocery store, he bought some planting kits without any direction from me.


We are going to start these plants indoors because we've discovered that squirrels ate our marigold seeds.

Steve is back to work now. Eight more days of tax season. Why does it still seem like it's forever away? In the mean time, I'm trying to just endure patiently and happily.

Saturday

We had a very busy Saturday. Steve didn't have to go to work that day, which was heavenly.

We started off going to Burke Lake Park for Teo's birthday party. We rode the train twice. Steve and the kids rode the carousel twice as well.



At home, the kids played on the deck, while Steve and I enjoyed General Conference. They didn't distract us once! (I'm kidding.)


After conference, we dyed Easter eggs outside and with protection.


Good times were had by all. Stephen is obsessed with hard-boiled eggs. He just likes to hold them and throw them around a little. Not surprisingly, all of the ones he handled cracked. He showed each newly cracked egg to Steve and me and said, "I think this one's a little bit crack-y."

While Steve was at the priesthood session of General Conference, the kids pretended to be "nissionaries."


Don't ask me what Thomas the train hats have to do with being missionaries. I have no idea where they got that one.

Another tiring but joyful day.

Friday

Friday was our ward's Easter egg hunt at the park. The kids had a great time playing with friends, playing in sand, and eating candy.

The weather was perfect. The kids got really dirty so I bathed them once we got home.

Steve came home late, but brought home some California rolls for us to enjoy. Steve is my favorite. Sushi is my favorite. I am excited to eat the raw stuff again one day. The day was tiring, but good.

This and that

Since next week is Easter and General Conference, we had our Easter program today. Steve told the Easter story from the scriptures while the kids FREAKED OUT that he wasn't sitting by them. That is, until an angel named Heidi came to sit by us with an empty spice jar and some straws for the kids to put through the holes.

She doesn't have any kids, but just keeps this homemade contraption in her purse to help entertain screaming children. It worked amazingly well, and I was able to listen to Steve, who helped me feel the spirit of Easter so well. Thank you, angel Heidi.

Mei Li is done with gymnastics and ballet. Stephen was very patient about doing nothing while Mei Li had the time of her life.

After each class, Mei Li and Stephen would yell each others names and then embrace. It always melted my heart.

Since it's tax season, Steve has been spending the mornings with us and getting home very late. Mei Li always wants him to play "hello animals." It's a game Mei Li made up where she is the talking sheep, Steve is the talking horse, and Stephen is the talking pig. I've witnessed Steve play this game for TWO HOURS on a Sunday afternoon.

I taught joy school last week. Stephen has become very difficult to have around during joy school. So as busy as Steve is, he took Stephen to his last art class on Tuesday, and brought home Chick-fil-a for lunch. Jenny, Stephen's new favorite friend, watched him on Thursday.

Two Sundays ago, Mei Li brought home some beans to plant from her Sunbeam class. They are sprouting beautifully. She has been obsessed with growing things since. Last week, I meant to put marigold seeds on the shopping list I gave to Steve, but forgot. I didn't even mention it to him, but miraculously, he brought home some marigold seeds with Mei Li in mind. They planted them the next day.


Sadly, a few days later, the gardeners came and messed with the dirt. We'll have to try again.

We are exhausted! April 15 seems like forever away, but when it comes we are going to PARTAY!

Chasing a butterfly.