Easter Egg Hunts Galore

We got to be a part of 4 different egg hunts this year.  First, Caleb and Blake got to participate in a special needs hunt.  Each kid got to find  18 eggs.  If they didn't like the candy or were allergic, they could trade it in for little prizes. 

Orem Police Department put on a hunt for children with autism.  They had two sections.  One for low functioning and the other for high functioning.  It was fun for me to take Caleb, alone, to this one.  I was able to focus on him and give him all my attention.  When you get Caleb alone, he never stops asking questions.  He got to talk to the policemen and firefighters and get some stickers.  I love that they took the time to talk to the kids.  They started a program a few years ago that trains officers how to respond to someone with autism.  A lot of the symptoms can appear like someone is high on drugs, or their avoidance looks like they are hiding something.

Katie got to attend a hunt at a neighbor's house and we did one at our house on Easter.  I didn't get any pictures of those.

Every year, I carry on a tradition started by my father.  After the Easter Bunny fills the baskets, I hide them and give the children clues, puzzles, or riddles to find them.  This year I did riddles.  

Blake's (no picture)
 "You peel off my skin and I won't cry, but you might."  

~Onion~

(It was a hard riddle so the older kids could help)

Caleb's 

"I have bark but I don't bite"

~Tree~

Katie's

"Some take me in the morning.  Some take me in the evening.  When I am "taken", I don't actually go anywhere."

~Shower~

Kyle's

"I start with an "e" and end with an "e".  I can contain one letter."

~Envelope~

Josh's

"I can go up and down.  I don't move"

~Stairs~

Josh has been too cool to dye eggs, for a few years.  I was surprised when Kyle bowed out this year.  He's my holiday cheermeister.

April Fools'

We had a great April Fools' day.  I only got pictures of Katie's two pranks.  Kyle dyed the milk green.  Caleb was the only one who would drink it.  Even Josh avoided the milk.  Kyle poked holes in water bottles with the lid still on.  This created a vacuum so the water didn't leak until someone unscrewed the lid.  Caleb put tape across the doorways of Katie's and Josh's rooms so they ran into it when they woke up. 

These googly eyes still make me laugh.

She printed this picture to put in every toilet to scare her brothers.  She, originally, taped the picture to the underside of the seat but I moved it to the underside of the lid.  Cleaning up urine from the floor and walls isn't my idea of fun.

We have a tradition for General Conference.  Everyone gets to pick one snack or treat and we get to feast while we listen to Sunday's morning session.  I made these Rice Krispie Treats with a Mickey Mouse mold I got for my birthday a year ago.

Having a daughter is becoming more fun with every passing year.  I get to pamper her with nail polish, hair dos, and yesterday she spent the $58 she saved, buying shirts from Ross.  She got 5 adorable tops and we had a blast in the dressing room.  Here's a picture of me practicing a 4 strand braid.

 Most moms have admitted that it can be hard to take time to play with your kids.  I confess to this, as well.  Why is it so hard when it ends up being the best memories?  Jeff snuck this picture of me playing "The sword game", as Blake calls it.  It's some weird Zelda archery and sword game on the WiiU.  I usually end up playing it with him once a day when the kids are in school.  I get confused by a lot of the games because I'm too old.  However, I do enjoy a few of them.  It reminds me of conquering Lego Star Wars with Josh and Kyle years ago.  We would research on the internet how to get past the hard and secret parts until we collected every stud and character.  We also had a handheld Spongebob game I'd play with the kids.

These next 3 pictures require some background info.  Josh and I have always had a fun relationship of teasing each other.  We are both stubborn and like to push the other.  The first (blurry!) picture is sneak image I took after we had a 30 minute argument over homework.  He handed me a small slip of paper to sign.  I started signing it and realized it went to something else he was hiding from me.  (This has happened once before.)  It was for a Health survey he needed to ask me.  The questions were lame and embarrassing but he learned that Mom won't sign her name under false pretenses.  He struggled through the questions about my opinions on dating and then got my signature.  There was lots of laughing, on my part, and annoyed sighs, on his part.  

This picture makes me grin.  7:30 is the time the kids need to turn in their phones.  Josh pushes the boundary EVERY single night.  He could argue Prince Charles out of the throne.  Last week, he ran upstairs and locked himself in my bathroom.  I sat by the door and annoyed him.  I sent him annoying selfies of me every few seconds.

  Here, I snuck my phone under the door and took a picture. 

This is a picture through the space under the door.  He's lying on the floor waiting for me to stick my phone under the door to take another picture.  He'd try to grab my phone. 

After about 15 minutes, I was done playing and had to threaten him with losing his car keys the next  day.  As usual, that worked.

Caleb's Birthday Party

Our kids get "Friend" birthday parties when they turn 6, 8, 12, and 16.  I had a stroke of genius and paid Kyle to plan and execute the party.  Katherine earned a little by helping, as well.  Caleb picked a fish pinata so Kyle went nuts with an ocean theme.  Here they are playing "Pin the Fish on the Reef".  You won if you didn't place your fish in the mouth of a shark on the poster.

They set up a "Spear Fishing" spot.  The kids tried to shoot hanging ocean animals with Nerf guns.

They set up a good old fashioned "Fishing Game".  That is always a popular one.

Next was a "Scavenger Hunt".  The kids had a paper with items they needed to collect from around the yard.  

The grand finale.  The Pinata!  

A few weeks ago Caleb was assigned a talk in Sharing Time.  Katherine was a great help.

They day before Caleb's birthday, I kept catching Blake holding and looking at Caleb's presents.  I snuck this picture and when he noticed me, he said, "I was just looking at them."  He was pretty good about not being jealous this time.  It's hard being a 3 year old and watching your siblings get presents

March Shenanigans

 Grandpa Carlson came for a week long visit for Caleb's baptism.  Here he is teaching a new generation of Carlsons how to make delicious whipped cream.  

We went to a dollar movie, ate Wendy's, Jeff and he went to Logan for a day, and we went bowling.  

Katherine turned 11 on the 13th.  I can't seem to find the pictures from her presents.  She got a bike, some pens, an alarm clock, a bison picture for her room, and other presents I can't remember.  Here she is blowing out the candles on her favorite cake.  

Here is Kyle running in his first track meet.  Jeff and I don't understand why anyone would run for sport.  We are so proud of them.  

We played badminton for family home evening.  Blake and Caleb are surprisingly good at serving.  I know many adults who can't hit the birdie with the racket.  Jeff was helping hold up the net because it was quite windy.

Caleb's Baptism

Caleb was baptized on March 4th, 2017.  We prepared for a few weeks to make sure the process was comfortable for him.  We made the program very short so he wouldn't be overwhelmed.  When it was time to head to the font, he jumped and exclaimed, "It's time to get baptized."  Our program was so short that we had to wait in the hall for another child to finish in the font.  

Caleb was fine entering the water.  When he got in, he excitedly said, "Look, I can see my feet."  He spent a few moment looking at his feet through the water.  He was immersed completely the first try and we headed back in the room to wait for Dad and Caleb to get dressed.  When they finished, Caleb ran towards me and said, "I did it.  I got baptized."  

It was a tender experience for all who attended.

Here are some pictures from the luncheon after the ordinance. 

Our love for this child is endless.  

Sweet Caleb!

Blake's Favorite Song

Here is Blake lip syncing to the song "Ride" by Twenty One Pilots.  It used to be his favorite song.  It has now been replaced by "The Imperial March".  (Darth Vader's them song from Star Wars.)  He used to sing the lyrics until I started laughing at his facial expressions.  He then just went to mouthing the words.  Sorry for the gum in his mouth. 

Caleb's 8th Birthday

 Caleb turned 8 on the 20th.  We opened presents in the morning and here are the big boys helping the little boys open and assemble the toys.  

We went to Payson to have cake and ice cream.  Caleb and Blake loved playing with his new light sabers.

In the background you can see Kyle pontificating with his Grandpa Clark.  My ears are still tired.

Before we went to Payson, we watched the Lego Batman movie.  There was no school that day so we got to enjoy him all day. 

We enjoyed goofing of with this display after the movie.

 Those are some terrifying Joker faces!