Hoppy Easter!

Our Easter celebrations were simple, but meaningful this year. We took the boys to the annual Saratoga Springs Easter Egg Hunt yesterday morning. Grandma and Grandpa J met up with us just before it started. 

(Liam enjoying the good life: A walk with Grandpa and candy.)

(I love this picture of Lori and Finn)

(We were THAT family and stood in line to see the Easter Bunny. My alternative motive was to see how my kids handled a giant costumed figure. Finn was amused and interested. Liam...not so much.)

All of this was fun, but let's get real. The best part was the park.

(Cue Liam and Finn's theme song "My buddy, my buddy...wherever I go, he goes!"

(Liam was super serious for a majority of the activity. He has such a studious little mind.)

(This picture cracks me up for so many reasons. What a cheese dog!)

*****

We got a babysitter for the evening and enjoyed some Kneader's dessert before heading to West Lake High School for the production of Lamb of God,
which Lori was part of. 

It was absolutely beautiful.

(Easter Morning)

I'm glad I had such a wonderfully spiritual experience last night, because today found me wanting. Over-stimulated kids, hyped up on Easter candy without naps led to most of Sacrament spent outside with Finn and a crazy nursery class for 2 hours! I left church feeling overwhelmed, completely spent, and frustrated. My attitude was lightened during Easter/Tay Birthday dinner with my family and a special little egg hunt for the boys that my mom put together (bummed I forgot my camera).

I am grateful for the celebration of Easter. 

I believe in Jesus Christ. 

He is my Savior, Redeemer, and Friend. 

I know He lives. 

Because of Him, I have peace. 

Because of Him, I have hope.

Please watch:

Overwhelmed and funky...

My name is Megan and I'm in a total MOM FUNK. I found this article today. 

Are you in a mom funk? Ever been in a mom funk? READ IT. 

I would add to her list: Go To The Temple.

Now I'm turning off the screen and heading outside to work on my garden.

Happy Weekend!

Inside Day.

Today it rained. And then it snowed.

It was cold today. And that usually means we stay inside.

What do you do on your inside day?

Ours is usually filled with toys, movies, books, songs, and snacks...

but mostly we just run around like crazy people.

B opened the blinds, so the boys could see 

the big snowflakes falling from the sky. 

They stared out the window in wonder and awe. 

Me? I just stared, hoping the sun will come out tomorrow.

Aaaaannnnd cue orphan Annie.

Where is that little red head when you need her?

DIY: Easter Basket Liners

Easter is coming up and I have been scanning for baskets, hoping to find something cute, vintage, and affordable. I found THESE lovelies at Pottery Barn Kids for a not-so-lovely price. So, I decided to make my own. Aww! Gasp!

It's true, I am no seamstress. But if I can pull it off- ANYONE can.

First stop was DI to find some baskets.

(Note: Moms, sisters, grandmothers, aunts are also great sources for baskets. You know someone has to have some lying around the basement. I wish I would have thought about this beforehand, but these baskets cost me $1.00 each. I think I can handle that. Also, I wanted to get baskets that were pretty similar in size/shape for the twins. I did wipe them down with a Clorox wipe and added some twine to one of the handles.)

For material, I looked at what I already had. My grandma had given me some light blue fabric a few months back that I thought of using, but then I came across this leftover curtain fabric from the boys' nursery. For the ties, my mom had some blue and brown polkadot fabric lying around. It is a little baby boyish, but I can always switch them out as the children get older.

I'm not going to go through the steps of sewing the liners. You can find a great tutorial HERE. This is the one I used and it's pretty simple...even for non-sewing peeps like myself. You can also google "DIY Easter basket liners" and get tons of info, videos, etc.

*The tutorial estimates about 1 hour for the whole project, 

but it took me more like 2 1/2 hours. ;)

A close family friend has an embroidery machine and I asked her to embroider the boys' names. You can ask around to see if anybody with an embroidery machine would be willing to help you out or check out your local sewing/fabric store and see what services they offer. Of course, you don't have to add names, 

but I think it adds major cuteness!

FINISHED PROJECT!

I think they turned out pretty good (Just don't look too close!).

It sure beats paying $40-$80.

Happy DIY-ing!

Baby Chicks

Yesterday, B's parents invited us to go with them 

to see the baby chicks at Cal Ranch. 

If I wanted backyard chickens before, it's a definite now. 

The boys really enjoyed seeing them as well.

Liam called them all "cucks" or ducks.

Finn got distracted when he saw the toy truck aisle.

The boys walked out with a ball and a car- the best of both worlds!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa J!

Hopefully we'll be back soon- with baby chicks in tow! (psst...Brandon.)

The Big Blue Ball Club...and the legend continues.

When I was about 10 or 11 years old, I received some money for my birthday and decided to spend it on a big, blue ball that I ordered from a kid's toy magazine. My mom told to me when it would arrive in the mail and I waited anxiously, even impatiently, especially when it didn't arrive the day she said it would.

When it finally came, I gathered all my little neighbor friends as my mom blew it up with my dad's air compressor in the garage. After it was completely inflated, we took turns bouncing and jumping on it. Pretty soon, we created The Big Blue Ball Club, of which I was the self-appointed president and others were nominated for VP, secretary, etc. We would have "meetings" on our back porch and discuss who and what times people could play on/with the ball. Eventually, the neighbor boys decided to join the club, but were "banned" from any further meetings because they only seemed to care when we brought out the treats -which were usually Snack chocolate pudding cups, tortilla chips, and/or Kool Aid.

*****

Last night, we brought home some free weights and a red exercise ball.

It was a big deal- especially to Liam.

As I watched this little boy intensely wait for B to blow it up and seriously light up when he could roll it around and bounce it and viciously protect the red ball from his brother, I wondered if the legend of my childhood club lives on? He threw a complete fit when he had to leave the ball to go to bed and when we gave him a bath this morning, we had to keep the ball just outside the bathroom door, so it was in his sight. He even kept worriedly pointing at it and looking at me so I could reassure him the ball wasn't going anywhere. 

Liam loves this ball. He loves it like I loved my big, blue ball.

And the legend continues...

Grammy Video: Afternoon in the Park

My mom watched the boys while we were in Moab.

Check out this darling video she made of their adventures:

Do you think these kids are loved or something?