Spring Break in Arkansas

Abby and Lily spent their Spring Break in Arkansas with Nanna and Poppa. They had a week full of fun! Lots of trips to the small town grocery store (Thunderbirds) for treats with Poppa and lunch dates to Joe's Pizza with Nanna. The girls loved riding 4-wheelers around the farm and having big girl time to scrapbook and get pedicures.

They made a trip to Wye Mountain for the daffodil festival. Little cousin, Maya, shared the day and made all the pictures even cuter. They were able to bring home bulbs to plant here to remember the day.

Poppa got new German Shorthair puppies to train to hunt birds and the girls were thrilled to get to go with Poppa to pick up the puppies and spend the week welcoming them to their new home. Abby and Lily named the new arrivals, Dot and Spot. The puppies fell in love with the girls and the girls enjoyed spoiling them. I'm sure Dot and Spot won't get Poppa to run in circles in the field with them anytime soon.

Lily tried to give Dot and Spot instruction on how to point a bird, but it always ended in a wrestling match.

On Saturday it rained, so they loaded up and went to town to spend some time at the Bowling Alley. This was the first time the girls have been bowling since they have gotten big enough to carry their own balls, and Nanna said they did great! Lily thought the shoes were silly.

Definitely a Spring Break to remember! Thanks Nanna and Poppa.

Really??

I know! When Shaun and I were driving down to San Antonio last month we came up behind this car, and as we got closer I couldn't believe my eyes. The 4-wheeler was tied down to the top of the car! We discussed how the guy got the 4-wheeler up there (there was a spoiler on the trunk and the hood seemed to be in good condition) and the only conclusion we could come to is he either had a fork lift or he (with help) lifted it up there(he was a REALLY big guy). Any other ideas?? I'm glad we were able to snap a picture because it's hard to believe you could get a 4-wheeler on top of a car. Is that even legal?

Big Brother/Little Sister

Spencer and Sadie Jane are so cute together! Sadie Jane just adores her big brother and thinks he is the coolest. She is always game to go along with what ever wild idea Spencer has. Here are a few pictures of the two of them playing.

I heard whispering coming out of the TV cabinet and opened the door to these little grins. Spencer was reading Sadie the Book of Mormon, and she was just sitting there loving every second.

They spent an hour stacking and "crashing" pudding cups. You gotta love it when they have a playroom full of wonderful toys and they are playing with everyday stuff!

Because I have a Sister, I always have a Friend!!

So last week was my little sister Melissa's birthday. I wished so bad that I could take the day off and hop in the car and drive up to see her, sing her my very best Happy Birthday, and then take her to lunch. I was even more desperate when I found out Mom had a lunch date planned for Lis's birthday. I feel so close, yet so far away. Enough of my day dreaming of lazy days spent

hanging out with Lis (and all 5 of our kids, which wouldn't end up being a lazy day at all, but still lots of fun) and more about all the reasons I love having a great little sister.

Lis and I are as different as day and night. She is blond with blue eyes, I'm a brunette with brown eyes. She's an apple, I'm a pear. She has a laid back attitude, I need everything to be rigidly planned out. You would never know we were sisters if you saw us walking down the street, but she is one of my very best friends. She is a great listener and always on my side (I especially love that about her). I can always count on laughing when we're together. I love that we are now at a similar time in life and can talk about our days and laugh.

I moved to BYU when Lis was barely 14 and missed all of her teen years. I was thrilled when she made the decision to attend USU after high school and only be a few hours away. I LOVED the few occasions she needed a place to live between apartments or for the summer and I could talk her into staying with us. There were many times when I tried to reason with her on how much money she could save if she transferred to BYU and lived with us. Never talked her into moving in.

Lis has always been a wonderful Aunt to my kids. When she lived in Provo, after finishing school at USU, she would come over every week and give Shaun and I a chance to go on a date. When Aunt Lis came over it was the highlight of the week for our kids, and it was such a blessing to be able to get out of the house and know that our very young kids were happy and safe. Lis is now a wonderful mom to my darling niece, Maya. Maya, is a very lucky girl.

Lis, love you! Happy Birthday!

Aunt Lis and little Abby

Lis cuddling with Lily


Lis welcoming baby Spencer to the world

Abby visiting Lis at USU

Mr. Barrios and his soon to me Mrs.