Teacher Thank You Gift

A couple weeks ago was teacher appreciation week, and a couple other moms and I decided to do something nice for Emma's teacher.  She has been so wonderful to the kids this year.  First we gave her a gift certificate to her favorite hair salon (we found out from her husband where she likes to go).  Then we also wanted to do something kind of fun.  We got all the supplies and I brought it home to put it together.  We made a "cake" for her out of pepsi (which is her favorite) and added some chocolates (because it's her second favorite thing, right behind pepsi!).  We didn't plan for it to look so patriotic, it just so happens that those were the colors.  Oh well.  I think it turned out really cute.  It was rather heavy, but when you take the tiers apart it's not too bad.  It's still in her classroom - she wants everyone to stop by and see it before she takes it home!  At least we know she likes it!   =)

Nathan's Visit

A couple weeks ago Eric's twin brother Nathan came for a visit.  He actually came on business, but he extended his stay through the weekend so he could come see us.  We were very excited!  And Emma has never been quite so hyper.  I'm sure Nathan thinks she's crazy - and not just the normal "crazy" that everyone thinks of us when they meet us.  This was beyond even that!  His last day here, just before he had to leave, Emma dressed up in her pirate costume from 3+ years ago (it still "sort of" fits), and then, while trying to disguise it at gentle and sweet hugs, she attempted to maul him!  Yup.  I'm so proud.  =)  Mere moments after he left Emma turned to me and said, "I already miss him so much!"  And she was sincere.  We love you Nathan and hope you can come (and want to come) visit us again soon!

Easter Cuteness

Easter was a great day.  The weather was beautiful!  We just happened to arrive at the Savior's resurrection in our scripture reading this week, so it's been fun all week long to talk with Emma about it and hear her show her understanding of why we really celebrate.  That said though, Emma was really excited to see her basket and everything that the Easter Bunny had brought in the morning.  She couldn't wait to get home from church to really dig into it.  She looked so cute.  She wanted her hair curly, and we just HAD to do her finger and toenails the night before.  After investigating her basket she hunted down a bunch of eggs we had hidden.  Some were very tricky, but she eventually found them all.  Since the weather was so nice she wanted to ride her bike.  She loves doing that.  I can't wait to go further with her this summer and do some exploring.  We had a lovely mini Thanksgiving style dinner late in the afternoon, and then spent the evening playing games and just enjoying one another's company, while of course stuffing ourselves with candy!  Emma is such a sweet girl, and I just love spending holidays with her.  She always makes them feel sunny and warm.

Fun Gift

If you know me or anyone in my family, then you know that we bleed red.  And by that I mean that we are U of U fans.  And that means that we are most definitely NOT BYU fans.  Nope.  I do not want BYU to win.  Not even when they play Notre Dame.  But I have always enjoyed a friendly rivalry with several people who are Y fans.  I don't like the mean, rude, and quite often unbelievably ignorant people from each school (and yes, there are these people at BOTH schools) who ruin the fun for the rest of us.  And in the spirit of this friendly rivalry I recently made a gift for my brother, sister-in-law, and their new baby Paul.  They have received the gift, so I can now share it on here.  I hope if you're a Y fan you have a sense of humor and can laugh about this.  If not, then too bad for you.  =)  I made a stencil and stenciled the back of some diapers for them.   Here is a picture of the card and the diapers I made and the poem I wrote inside the card.

Here is a gift

in honor of Paul.

We wish we were there

to see him so cute and small.

With three kids already

and now boy number two,

we figured you'd have

most things needed, old and new.

So we thought: something practical.

That's what we'd do,

but funny as well

for our gift to you.

And although they're not red,

but actually blue,

we thought they could hold

all of Paul's BYPooh.

We thought it'd be funny

(trying not to be crass)

for these logos to cover

Paul's cute tiny ... bum.

So pull one on out

and look at the back

then sit Paul on down

for a nice little chat.

When you look at this symbol

please do not fume.

We know you don't want it

in your new son's room.

Here it's hidden from view

in an appropriate place.

Hopefully the thought of it there

puts a smile on your face.

So congratulations again!

We wish you happiness and more

for your cute little family

with kids now numbered four.