I love Easter it is one of the big holidays for us and my family most of the family comes out and we have our annual egg hunt or should I say candy grab and we still have way too much candy. We have a turkey and all the fixing's and since no one else will do it I always make the Jello Eggs and it is always a hit for the kids. I also love having our yearly dinner and egg hunt with Jason's side of the family that is smaller, but very entertaining especially laughing as we watch Grandpa help hide eggs, we did it at our house inside because it was too cold, and we found an egg the next day even that was not found. The kids love that money in the eggs from Grandma and Grandpa. It is a lot of fun hangin' out with Jason's family and so much fun having his sister and her family now living closer to us. Tanner and Brylee are very different Tanner just dumped all his candy in the kitchen candy jar, but not my Brylee, she kept it in her basket and it is all hers. She is my little snacker that loves candy and treats.
Tanner got a suit this year and of course Brylee had a princess dress. I forgot in primary to do my Easter lesson the week before conference and I am so glad I did because I did it last Sunday and it was so refreshing to have the lesson after all the worldly Easter Celebration and to reflect and teach my 7-8 year olds about what we do really celebrate. It is amazing how smart they are and it is so fun to teach them each week. We chat before we start the lesson and it is fun to hear what exciting stuff they have to tell that has gone on for the week. Last week Carters dog got hit by a car, didn't get too badly hurt thank goodness, so that started them all telling about pets they have had that had died. Which then it fit right in to talk about the Savior dying for us and talking about how we celebrate his death, but more important we celebrate his life and Resurrection that he lives again and we will too live again. Wow I am so thankful for the Gospel! How sad is it for those who just think after we die their is nothing. I don't know how people do it that don't believe in something of a Greater Power. I couldn't get through life if I didn't know what I do know and believe. God does live, He is our Loving Heavenly Father and we have an older Brother Our Savior Jesus Christ who Our Heavenly Father sent down to die for us so we can live again someday. Life is not easy and we all have our lives and different things we are all going through and gosh when I think of what others go through I think how I will keep my trials as hard as I think they seem at times. I know that Our Savior suffered for us and he knows all the pains, sorrows, heartaches, and hurts we feel, so he is always there for us and will never leave us alone. Thanks Mom and Dad for raising me with the Gospel. I know I am far from perfect that is for sure, but I hope when it is my time to go that I will be ready and not afraid and can say I have done all I can, I have fought the fight, and done all I could to be the person my Heavenly Father wants me to be. That's my blabbin' preachin' for a bit!!
I love spring the planting and tulips and working in the yard. I have two new treasures too, thanks to Grandpa Ray. Ok they are treasures to me even if others think they are junk. My old rusted out Wagon, YUP I LOVE IT!! It is the wagon Jason had as a kid too, so makes it more exciting for me to show off in my yard. I also got an old starting to rust out tin that I buried part into the ground and when I plant I will have flowers coming out. Jason's Dad use it years ago to wash and clean the dogs when they were kids. And Tanner loves hearing all the stories about all the dogs that they had as a kids, so good memories with both of my treasures I get to have in my yard. Also last Summer I did get an old rusty wheel barrel, no sentimental value, but it is a fun treasure for my porch that will be full of flowers soon too. Another thing me and the kids like to do in the summer is when we go camping we collect rocks, I have an old dutch oven on Grandma Shurtleffs old bench on the porch that we put our small rocks in and a part in the garden area we put other ones we find. I had an idea and last year I found three rocks that I think looks like our last name. I have it on the wood ladder Alex made, Jason says I am strechin' it, but I thought I was pretty creative so what do you think? I will have to do an update when all my treasures are full of beautiful flowers. HAPPY SPRING, please stay, I am ready to be done with the bad weather!! 
