Spring Break

We have traveled the last three years for spring break but it just wasn't in the budget this year. Plus now that Curtis is playing  a high school sport, he really didn't want to miss practice or games. I tried really hard to make a short weekend trip work but even that didn't pan out. Now I'm glad since it allowed us to buy the car but I was worried this week would be disappointing to the kids after the fun adventures we've had the last couple of years. 

I am happy to report that my kids were perfectly happy with our week. We did a cleaning project every day and so I feel like we worked well together and accomplished a lot, including cleaning out the garage, doing yard work, cleaning rooms and bathrooms and floors. But we loved sleeping in and having a fun breakfast and then getting our work done and then playing. Lily worked a lot on her presentation and paper for AP Research and she told me she was happy we stayed home so she could get it all done. They practiced the piano every day and watched TV and rode their bikes and read a lot of books. It was good, relaxing yet productive time. It made me appreciate the small moments and just regular life kind of days that aren't filled with school and driving around and I'm so grateful for my kids. We had a good week together and I enjoyed being with them. 

Curtis had a baseball game Wednesday that was a  bit tough; his team is not very good and the games often end early because of the mercy rule. It is tough to watch but at least Curtis does well most games, though Wednesday was an exception. He can usually handle losing pretty well but he didn't field well and had a ground out and a pop fly so not great hitting either and he was super frustrated with himself, especially because the varsity coach was watching and he really wants to move up next year. I was so proud of him though because I could tell he was frustrated because I know him but not because he let it show on the field. I dropped him off at youth activities afterwards and he came home in a pretty good mood so that was nice. Thursday Brandon had a baseball game and we all went since the girls were off from dance. Josh got pizza and we had a picnic while watching his game and it was quite lovely. I am often at his games alone so it was fun to have everyone there and it was a wonderful evening cheering on the Yard Goats and our favorite catcher.

 

Friday was our fun day.  Lily and Curtis couldn't attend the last ward youth temple trip so I planned for us to go as a family. We ended up taking Vera with us and leaving Brandon with the Wiests and we got there just before 12pm but it was rather crowded. It was wonderful to be in the temple but we did have another appointment so I was trying not to stress that it was taking forever and just enjoy the moment, which I think I was pretty successful doing. I got to be a witness and Josh baptized the four kids and it was beautiful and peaceful and made me happy. 

 

Then we high tailed it out of there to get to Go Ape for our ropes course adventure! I wanted to do something fun and different over spring break and Emma thought a ropes course sounded like a fun way to also celebrate her birthday so we invited the Wiests to join us and kind of made it Emma's birthday party. We got there late because of traffic and getting out of the temple late but it worked out; they were running late too so my prayers were answered that everything would work out and we had a great time. I don't love heights but I did okay most of the time. A few of the crossings were a bit rough and once when the tree was swaying I did freak out a bit but overall I enjoyed doing something new and different and I especially loved the zip lines. The kids all loved it and even though Petra was nervous and slow, we were all so proud of her for doing it. I was kind of done by the last one so I didn't do it and Brandon chose not to either but then regretted that choice, which I felt badly about but for the most part, it was just a beautiful and fun afternoon. We had perfect weather and it wasn't too crowded and everyone was brave. We spent over three hours there so we got our money's worth too. 

 

 

 

We went to have dinner close by at this restaurant Lily had found called Best Buns and it was delicious! We were all a bit dirty from landing in mulch after the zip lines and the Wiests were going camping afterwards so we wanted to keep it fun but simple and this place was perfect. I had the most amazing hamburger and others loved their burgers too and egg sandwiches and Brandon and Vera got caprese sandwiches they really liked. It was expensive but delicious and fun. After the Wiests left for their camp site we got cinnamon rolls and sticky buns and they were so tasty; we will definitely go back sometime. We got home 12 hours after we had left and we were pretty tired but it was a wonderful day. 

Saturday was our 22nd anniversary. Josh spent the morning replacing our garbage disposal and the kids and I did a bunch of yard work, then we spent the afternoon dying Easter eggs and doing an egg hunt.  Then Josh brought me beautiful flowers and we went out for a lovely dinner at the Front Porch. We talked about all of our alone trips and where we want to go next and what we think 22-year-old Josh and Alecia would be surprised to find out about 45-year old Josh and Alecia. It was a nice evening and we came home and had dessert with the kids. 

 

Sunday was a  beautiful Easter! We got up and went to church and it was so nice actually driving to church together; that never happens! We stayed after to help out with a baptism and since there were issues filling the font it took forever but we finally made it home and then it was go time. I had invited a bunch of people over for dinner so Lily made two desserts, I made one and then I made the rolls and then potatoes and then chicken cordon Bleu (since my family doesn't love ham) and it was busy but everyone helped and it all came together very nicely. I've never hosted a big dinner on Easter but I reached out to people I thought might be lonely otherwise and it all turned out very well. We had a great time with everyone. I'm so grateful for Jesus Christ and love him so much. We had a good scripture study all week focusing on Holy Week and His love for us and how we can share it with others. I feel great joy in knowing we will all be resurrected and that because of His Atonement I can repent and hopefully stand clean before God one day. He is Risen and I am so grateful. 

Today we walked down to the school and played basketball and rode bikes and Curtis had another game and I taught piano and did laundry and we had leftovers and family night and tried not to be sad that our break is over.