Jello Hazards

My kids think jello and Sunday go together like cookies and milk. This Sunday, I had tripled the batch and was being oh-so-careful as I placed it in the fridge, seeing as how it was almost to the top of the dish. Then, at the last second, my foot slipped a bit and this happened:


What do you do?

Well, the camera was right there, so I took a picture (somehow taking pictures of messes alleviates much of the pain) and then my mom and I cleaned it up together. It took a good deal of time getting the jello out of all the nooks and crannies of the fridge. When we finally finished, our hands were stained a beautiful red, but I was glad that at least there still seemed to be enough jello for dinner. As I carefully put it back, we realized that jello had likely seeped under the fridge. I asked Jeremy to come and move the fridge so we could clean underneath. The fridge doesn't move easily, so you have to use a back and forth motion. (I'm sure that you're smarter than I and can see where this is going.) We actually didn't find much jello underneath, but there was a plethora of other junk/crumbs/nastiness. Lucky for me, I was in the middle of making rolls so my mom took on the fun task of cleaning.

As Mom is cleaning, Jeremy happens to open the fridge. Come to find, as the fridge was being moved, the jello had again sloshed around-- creating the exact same mess we had just cleaned up. Except this time, it was a bit more set--making it even harder to clean.

I love when I'm smart like that.

Christianne

Blessing Day

Today was a special day for our family! In our church, there is a special ordinance where children receive a name and a blessing. Usually children are infants when they receive this, but Lexi and Sophi were exceptions, of course. (:

It's always a feat to get eight children ready for 9:00 church, and today was no exception, but we actually managed to show up early for once! Maybe that had to do with the fact that my parents are here and so there was lots of extra help. Taylor was so cute, asking if he could get Sophi dressed and ready-- those two have a special relationship. (: The girls looked beautiful in their white dresses. Sophi wore the same dress that Elli was blessed in four years ago, with the sleeves tucked in, of course. Lexi sat so still during the blessing, with her little hands folded in her lap, seeming to know full well the importance of what was happening. Afterward, Jeremy lifted her up for the congregation to see and she had a huge smile on her face. Sophi was also very good-- I had wondered if she would start screaming as hands were laid on her head, but she was very content. Such special, beautiful girls and such a wonderful blessing from their Father in Heaven and their father on earth. (:

I feel overwhelmed with gratitude for our Heavenly Father's plan for our family. I would never had thought that I would have this family He has blessed us with. EIGHT beautiful, cherished spirits in our home, and two waiting up above. I cannot express how much I love being their mother, and what joy each one brings to me. Lexi and Sophi are so perfect for our family, and I don't know what we ever did without them!

So grateful for such a wonderful Sabbath day!

Love you, Lexi Li! Love you, Sophi Bre!

Spring

To be, or not to be. That is the question.

Ice cream cones

I love experiencing "firsts" with my kids. Last night, it was ice cream cones. Sophi was brilliant with her feet, as you can see. And Lexi (who, incidentally, I didn't take pictures of soon enough) was so cute. She sucked every bit of ice cream out of her cone-- even tearing it apart to get each drop. Then she called out, "Mommy, I done!" and handed it to me. When I taught her that she could actually eat the cone, her eyebrows raised and a huge grin spread across her face. She giggled after each bite. I LOVE these girls!








And since I didn't get a picture of Lexi with her cone, here are a few enjoying her first fudgesicle-- she thought that was pretty cool too! (:

Easter

I know it's a bit early, but today I have Easter on my mind! I have it on my mind because I have Jacob and Emily on my mind, and I'm sure you can figure out why that leads me to thoughts of Easter. (:

When asked my favorite holiday, I've always gone back and forth between Easter and Christmas, usually with Easter prevailing. (: There are many reasons that I adore Easter. I love to color eggs. I love the happy, optimistic feeling that comes with Spring. I love the Easter bunny and the fun little gifts he leaves me! I love love love our annual tradition of going "Eastering." For those of you not blessed enough to know what Eastering is, let me fill you in! Eastering denotes: camping in the beautiful Utah desert with your entire extended (think about 200) family, going rapelling and four-wheeling, singing around campfires, hunting for Easter eggs and arrowheads, games with all of your cousins, exploring, rolling eggs down the hills (signifying the stone being rolled from the sepluchre), stories and testimonies, catching up with beloved family, braving the wind, and getting very, very dirty. Food must include: scotcheroos, dutch oven chicken, sticky rice with mango, Diane's cheesecake, toasted English muffins with eggs and bacon, hoagies, puffed wheat balls, and handfuls from Grandma's bowl of Easter candy-- but also may, of course, include various other delicious dishes. The campfire isn't complete without "Here Comes Elmer," "Where Have all the Flowers Gone?," "I Am a Child of God," "Peter Cottontail," and "The Other Day I Met a Bear." Ah.... Good times, good times.

But I love Easter the most because of what it represents.

An empty tomb.

A risen Lord.

I was so blessed to have the opportunity to spend a semester studying abroad in the Holy Land. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I was able to walk the shores of Galilee, sing Christmas songs on the hills overlooking Bethlehem, climb Mount Sinai to watch the sunrise, kneel in the Garden of Gethsemane, sing hymns in an "upper room" dating to the time of Christ, wade in the waters of Jordan, walk the road to Jericho, and much, much more. All of those places were sacred, yes. But my most favorite place to visit, and I went there often, was the Garden Tomb. In fact, many Sabbath mornings you could find me there, with my roommates or friends, studying our scriptures and basking in the Spirit that was there. I think the thing that I loved about it the most, was the peaceful JOY that was found within its walls. There was so much JOY there!! (: (: (:

I remember well the first time that I went to the Garden Tomb. We were laughing and chatting, my friends and I, as we walked along the streets to the entrance. But the second we stepped inside the garden walls, we were immediately subdued. The sacredness inside was felt by all. It was such a stark contrast to what was felt just outside its walls. I walked inside the tomb itself with these friends. We stood there for a minute in silence, until one of the guys started singing, "I Know that My Redeemer Lives." We all joined in, tears pouring down our cheeks, and the Spirit that permeated that tomb was tangible beyond words. It was one of the most reverent, sacred moments of my life.

I know He lives.

And because He lives, Jacob and Emily live.

And Elli and Lexi will see. And Sophi will put her arms around me. And Graci and Xander will run with ease. And all of my children will be eternally gathered in my arms.

And that is why I love Easter.



(If you double click, you can get the full picture)

He's moved on to pancakes...

Yes, these were from two SEPARATE occasions.