Dance and Tumbling practice

Easter Egg Hunt

The girls had a blast hunting for east eggs with their cousins again this year.  They all sat at the beginning and listened to a story about what Easter is really about: our Savior's Resurrection! Brad and I had the opportunity to talk this Sunday about the Savior and I was so grateful for the chance to study more about His Crucifixion and Resurrection and to reflect more on Him this week.  Callie also didn't know she was going to be asked to bare her testimony and she got up and just told the whole story and included Mary Magdeline and the apostles and the last supper and everything.  I was so proud of her.

Easter Pics

We got the chance to take our Easter pics this year with real live bunnies!  When we were driving over there I told Kayla, I bet it's going to be hard to keep the bunnies still.  Kayla said "What? Bunnies are calm!"  I laughed and told her I didn't know what bunnies she had been holding but the ones I had held always tried to get away.  And sure enough these ones did, but the girls learned that if they put their hands over the eyes just so then the bunnies would be calm.  So if you see the hands over their eyes that is why :)

Memphis Zoo

Misti and I had been wanting to go to the Memphis zoo, the girls hadn't been since they were babies, so we decided to load them up on spring break and make the trip over there.  We had so much fun, it ended up being a perfect day for it and the zoo was so nice!

Rubbing Bhuda for good luck.

We even got to see a baby giraffe that was just 18 days old! So cute.

The girls loved the Teton lodge, reminded them of Montana and Yellowstone.

They loved this bubble that felt like they were in the ocean.

Our little ground hogs.

Hailey loved seeing the horses!

Random pictures from France

There have been a few times in my life when I have felt really free and alive. Each of those times has been when I've been afraid to do something and then I've gone ahead and taken that leap of faith and done it anyway. On one of the days, I was a little afraid to spend my first day myself in France. I could have just hung out at the hotel and played it safe. But I finally talked myself into walking the streets around noon. I had an awesome day, and really it was even more freeing to just be doing it alone. No one to use as a crutch, no one to order for me or ask directions, no one to protect me if I met harms way. I had a fantastic day. I might be weird but sometimes I love spending time alone just to do my own thing and think my own thoughts and have no one else's schedule to live by. I sat on the huge steps of an old theater and watched hundreds of people go by, observing the culture and appreciating the differences between theirs and ours. How they all spend so much more time talking and conversing with friends and family and so much less time on their phones. How they all are so fit and healthy because of all the walking they do and let's be honest probably because of their lack of ice cream. Anyway I just wanted to post this mostly as a reflection but also as a memory of my day. This was a picture I took for my sister when I was hiding around the corner from a French man that was trying to get to close for my comfort... Ha ha anyway just a fun memory.

This was a really good sandwich that Brad ordered.  All of their bread is really really tough baguettes.  And you have to work to eat your meal, my jaw was literally sore at the end of the week!

 This was some fish that Brad ordered.

This was a beautiful church that Brad stumbled upon in Bordeaux.  He even was able to take time to say a prayer.  How peaceful!

 This was a pass through that we went through on our way to our dinner cruise.

 This is a picture from the beach.

 The grocery stores, were so healthy and so fresh!  So many pickled items, nuts and fresh fruits and veggies!

 Brad LOVED their meat department.

 This club sandwich was awesome.  I've never had an egg on my club before, but our french friends said that is how they all are made there.  And it was really good, I think I will eat my clubs this way from now on!

 This was a toy store, I loved all the bright colors and unpack-aged items!

So one night we had the opportunity to go on a French cuisine and wine tasting cruise.  Knowing that I don't like seafood and we don't drink alcohol, we knew we wouldn't be able to participate in a lot, but still wanted to go to see a beautiful tour of the city.  Unfortunately, I hadn't anticipated that our french friends would try to feed me, and that I wouldn't want to offend them.  So I ended up eating some things I never would, like blood sausage, raw duck and and avacado pudding with raw fish! Ha ha ... we had a good laugh of it anyway.  I can't say a few items didn't slip into the ocean, when heads were turned.  LOL!

 And lucky us, we found a west coast burger joint that was open at 11 oclock at night on our walk home!  We loved us some American food that night!