Spring Break

I don't want to complain, but I'm very much done with the snow.  I think it's beautiful and fun to play in, but miserable for Spring Break!  We were so excited to do things this week that we weren't able to do due to know and cold that wasn't supposed to be.  We're looking forward to warmer days when we can go to the Zoo and the Temple!  We were going to go to St. Louis, but the snow made the roads slick enough that there were accidents and traffic and then I had an oil light keep blinking at me, so we gave up and came home.  BUT, we were able to go to Science City and the Planetarium with friends!  That was lots of fun!  Our kids get along very well!

 I need one of these at my house, so they can power our house!  You want to watch tv, run in the wheel for thirty minutes!

 The little bit of snow that kept us from going.

 When we thought we were going to St Louis.

 I wanted to compare Josh to the fish.  That's a huge fish!

 I LOVE this baby!  He is so incredibly adorable (which I say about all of my kids)!  He wanted me to pick him up soooo bad!

 I even had some random guy tell me that we have some great-looking kids today.  I agree!  We have a beautiful family!  I love each of my kid's individual personalities and how they work together in order to read Fablehaven together every night.  They can move mountains together!

Poor Ben is so used to me taking pictures, even if we can't see.  

Today was a super fun (and mostly free day).  We got to do fun stuff at a Green environmental thing, then ate at Fritz's (courtesy of my poor sick Mom), and then Bass Pro Shop which had a big event with lots of kids' activities, plus the Easter Bunny.  We got to see a lot of old friends:  Johnsons, Carmin's family (I don't even know if I spelled that right) and the Hursts!  We had a ton of stuff when we left and didn't have to buy anything!  When I get the Easter bunny picture scanned in, I'll add it.  I was worried the kids would be scared (like Santa).  Nope.  Cecilia even waved and said:  "Bye Easter Bunny!" over and over.  The Easter Bunny gave out smarties!  It was snowing pretty hard at this point, so we couldn't see well walking out to the vans.  I swapped vans with Scott and took Ben with me to Hy-Vee.  Poor Ben was thinking about his Animorphs book and was freaking out.  I would say his Autism shot up to a 15 (on a scale of 10). Poor kiddo!  We shopped as fast as possible and got out of there.  Ben started talking to Scott and was crying.  Ben crying breaks my heart.  I just felt so bad for him.  He said humming his favorite song helped a little bit, but not much.  I can't imagine how difficult it would be to not be able to control my thoughts!  I know Scott deals with it regularly, so I knew he would be able to help Ben out some.  I asked for a Priesthood blessing for him (if you want to learn more, you can click on the link and search for Priesthood under Mormon messages) and Scott was able to give Ben a beautiful blessing.  Ben sobbed in the middle of it and afterwards told Scott that he had seen a dark hand and how it was trying to hurt him.  Scary stuff!  He started feeling a little better at that point and was excited to think that he would be able to serve a mission (because it said he would serve in the Lord's Army).  At least three times (if not four) he was told that his Heavenly Father and Elder Brother Jesus loved him and cared for him.  They do.  They love and care for all of us!  I'm so glad to know that!  I am incredibly glad to have a husband that can give my children blessings!  We were able to watch some animated Mr Bean episodes and that cheered him up.  There's nothing I love to hear more than my children laughing.  It doesn't matter how sad or overwhelmed I feel, seeing my kiddos and hearing them laugh immediately cheers up my day!  I LOVE my kids!