San Diego Zoo

I am co-hosting an event with my best Beaut Amanda Ermanis next weekend (sorry to those of you who know not of the Beauts...but we're pretty famous amongst ourselves) and traveled to Encinitas so the two of us could review her amazingly creatively fabulous ideas and run errands in prep. Amanda has dubbed the event a "Baby Sprinkle" (I know! So. stinkin'. cute.) because it is a shower for the 2nd child of my other best Beaut Tracy Miller.

All of this is to say that the kids and I spent a couple of days down South and were treated by Papa and Mima to a day at the San Diego Zoo.
Me and my monkeys.
My mom had a hip replacement in April so the wheel chair was for her, but the kids and I managed to get pushed by Papa all day long. Aunt Kelly and baby Anna (soon to be a toddler) joined us there for lunch and a stroll through part of the park. Anna recently discovered her pointer finger and directed us through the park with a wave of her hand. At the Sea Lion show Aunt Kelly braved the splash zone with Jayden and Zach while the wimps hid in the shade in the nose bleed seats.First taste of cotton candy. Ollie was perplexed by the stickiness but kept reaching for more.

What a trooper.

We REJOICED! as a family.

The month of April is always jam-packed with family celebrations. Uncle Andrew's Birthday comes first, then Marty's, then Zach's, then Aunt Kelly's and finally my own. And right in the midst of all the cake and presents is Easter. This year we continued what has become a tradition over the last few years: a simple, but absolutely joyful celebration of our Savior's resurrection with my parents. (We hope next year our entire family could join us)

Jayden can nearly recite the Biblical account, from Jesus breaking bread with his disciples at the last supper through the miraculous empty tomb-- for which she exclaims "Jesus is alive!". Check out this really fun teaching tool called Resurrection Eggs http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=297220&event=ETS

Mima took on the challenge of baking Marty's birthday cake with the help of tiny hands.
Papa brought up Jayden's new favorite book about a little mouse named Marty.
Sunday morning we worshiped together with our awesome church, which meets at the Junior college just a mile from our house.
Mima brought up the egg-hunting supplies and the kids had a blast discovering them in the backyard and in their rooms.