Easter

Some how I managed to get thru all the Easter festivities with only two pictures. Trust me though, we had a wonderful Easter. We had an Easter egg hunt at the Wick's, which turned out to be very profitable for the kids. Aunt Chris goes all out! We had a relaxing Easter morning and since Mark didn't have meetings, we got to be together all day. Such a treat!
David enjoying his Easter basket...(where have all the peeps gone?)

 

Abby got all dressed up for Easter church. She choose all her own accessories. She is such a girl! She did later tell me that gloves are cute, but definitely too hot to wear all day. Seriously, I love that girl!!

 

We had dinner at the Bybee's house. It was a great ending to our Easter weekend.

Oceanside

We took a day trip out to Oceanside on Easter weekend. It was so nice to vacation in our own San Diego town! The kids loved playing at Oceanside pier and walking around talking about Dad's old school days.

 

 

 

We even visited the Subway that Mark worked at in high school. The boys thought it was AWESOME!

 

We were able to visit with Mark's mission president, President and Sister Heslington, and their family. We have kept in touch with them over the years and it was great to see them again. They are great people and treat us like we are family!

 

Mark was the Assistant to the President when their family entered the mission so he got to show them all around. They love him! And, the feeling is mutual! Lots of reminiscing and good memories...

 

It's So Funny I'm Crying

I like to think that I have a pretty good sense of humor. Not that I can come up with lots of funny things to say, but that I find the humor in many things and I laugh fairly easily. But, it's not often that I find something so funny that I laugh myself to tears. Come to think of it, it's not too often that I shed tears. I'm not sure why it is that the tears can pour out of my eyes when I'm cracking up, but when it would be really nice to mist up and cry pretty at an appropriately tender moment, I totally dry up. (I digress.) Anyways, there is something that is so cathartic about a good laugh and cry. And I guess that's just the way I get it out!
Something that has had me laughing to tears lately is this show...
Tell me, have you seen it? Do the Dunphys remind you of some family you know?? Yeah, well they do me. At first I just thought Mark was Phil, now I have accepted that I am Claire. Or Claire is me? Either way, it is pretty much dead on. It's pretty cool to have a TV twin. And one for your husband too. It gives us a unique opportunity to see "ourselves" from a different angle. Sort of like an out of body experience. And you know what, when you are taking your life way too seriously, it's pretty stinking funny to see it spun that way. It gives me hope that if nothing else, our personal neuroses can provide comedic entertainment for the masses. So, in the end, I guess we too are pretty lovable, good hearted people. People who most certainly can laugh at ourselves...

Blog Play

So, I'm toying with the idea of blogging again. It's a habit I just sort of fell out of. I'm playing with the background a bit and I have some work left to do. Changing the picture made me feel kindof good. Maybe the bug to blog will bite me again.

On the Bright Side

Is it only appropriate to blog when all's well in life? That's been my dilemma for the last little while. Part of me felt no need to burden others with the difficulties of life, until today when it was off-handily mentioned by one sister that blogging is part of our family's history. How can I leave out important events in our lives just because they might not be the happiest parts? That being said, our family has been overwhelmed by sadness since Thanksgiving due to news about Mark's Mom, our dear Nana, and her cancer diagnosis. It's amazing how quickly life and perspectives can change. We all know our time here on earth is limited, but when that time frame is narrowed and made specific, it brings the reality to center stage. We feel blessed to have this time to spend with Nana, knowing that we need to appreciate each moment we share together. We have lots of happy memories with Nana and I feel so blessed to be a part of her family. Over Christmas we will have time to spend with her before she starts treatment.I feel honored that I can be there when she begins radiation. For as many years as I've been a radiation therapist, I've never had a close family member receive treatment. Now that the time has come, I am so comforted to know that I can be involved(in a very limited way) and that she is being treated where I was trained and by one of my mentors. She will receive the best care and that is comforting. Our prayers are for a peaceful journey ahead for Nana!
Nana loves music. Whenever she is here and I am trying to put the kids to bed, which can be a chore, she will always sit down at the piano and play peaceful music. It is the best way she could help. It doesn't usually affect the children's behavior, they are so stubborn, but it calms me. And for that I am grateful! Nana always loves to hear the boys play piano. Here they are performing at their piano recital this month. They did great!