Spring Break? Spring BUSY

It wasn't much of a break, but it was a wonderful week. We tried to squeeze in a few non-wedding related activities so the kids wouldn't feel like they were ignored. 

Gram and Papa came by Sunday evening and brought some hand-me-downs. The twins loved these matching goose shirts. They have been living in Papa's pajama pants all week too.

I just wanted one picture of them in the shirts. They could not stay still. 

My cute Momma!

Laney was trying to play the love balloon like a musical instrument.

Tuesday, I took Sara, Andrew, Freddy and Daniel to Gilbert and Mesa to visit the temples and to do baptisms. We picked up their choir friend Josh Jensen and went to Mesa first. It was Daniel's first time inside the Mesa Temple. It's so beautiful!!!

The flowers were gorgeous!

The gardner was pruning and handed us these flowers. Everyone took turns posing with them.

We were planning to go in the Gilbert Temple too, but it was closed for the week for cleaning.

Josh invited us into his home for a few minutes and played some piano pieces for us. He is amazingly talented and such a sweet guy. Here is a video of one of the pieces. Andrew dropped a wooden toy in the middle of it and Freddy retrieved it. Goofy boys.

Here is the link: https://youtu.be/uitsy4ROGRU

While we were gone, the other kids spent the day with the Coby, Rett and Brock Larson and Averie Jordan. They had a great time playing games and running around at the park.

Thursday was the big prep day for the wedding and reception. We got up early and were down at the church around 7 am to set up for the reception. We ironed lots and lots of table cloths, strung lights, hung tulle, set up tables, assembled a dance floor and on and on. I left mid morning to cook for the family luncheon, which would be right after the wedding the following day. The boys stayed and helped more with the reception. Sara and Laney helped me make the soups and desserts. Susanna had fun with cousins, Tori, Gwen and Ella.

We stopped the preparations mid afternoon and headed out to Gilbert for  choir. Since it was Spring Break, Sara was able to go. She has been sad to miss choir this year because of the cosmetology schedule. She loved every second with her friends and was able to sneak in and sing with them for the whole rehearsal.

Sara and Madison

While we were at choir, Gram and Richard set the Cactus Lane church building up for the luncheon. The Buhanan's came and helped them. It looked so pretty!

We spent the rest of the night ironing clothes, rolling hair, painting nails and finishing the cooking and got to bed about 1:00 am.

Friday was the WEDDING!!! It was such a fabulous day it gets its own post. It would be too much to include it here.

Saturday, we were all exhausted. I walked into the girls room and saw this sleeping beauty about 9:30 am and quietly closed the door to let her finish sleeping. 

The twins slept the latest, about 11:00 am. Andrew woke up with this beautiful fro.

It wasn't much of a relaxing day. They girls were so excited for Sara to move into Sam, Josh and Tim's room, since they are all gone now. Everyone pitched in and help clean and dismantle the beds and move around the furniture. We will be painting the walls a new color this coming week. Laffy-Taffy Green is not her favorite wall color. It's going to be a light periwinkle blue.

The boys went through everything they own and did spring cleaning in their room as well as helping us with the heavy furniture.

I didn't get a before picture of the girls room, but here is the after. We took the bunk beds apart and moved out all of Sara's furniture and belongings. They are so happy to have more room.

 Sara was shocked at how much stuff she has. She had had half of the room for her stuff and the little girls shared the other half. When we moved it all into her new room she felt distraught about having so much so she went through it all and got rid of a lot of things.

We went to Goodwill, it was half off day, and found her a new bedspread, sheets, a decorative pillow and some picture frames. It was AWESOME! I will post the finished room after we paint and decorate.

Susanna got to go to the symphony with Jessi and her girls. She had a wonderful time and loved the music.

It was a great program. Lots of music she was familiar with from movies.

Mission Impossible, 007, Superman, Star Trek, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Phantom of the Opera and Pirates of the Caribbean

Today, Sunday, Daniel and I got to sing solo parts in the song the choir sang at church today. It was fun to sing with him. We are trying to relax and enjoy the rest of this beautiful Palm Sunday. The girls have been playing together and the boys are all sleeping or reading. Tomorrow it's back to school.