Easter

We were lucky enough to get to spend a week and a half in California with Matt's Mom, Dad, and brother Dan. We truly enjoyed every minute of the trip. The girls loved swimming in the beautiful warm pool, we did a little shopping, a lot of playing outside, went fishing, and flew remote control helicopters.

Matt's parents' were kind enough to watch the girls while Matt and I ventured on to Phoenix to find a place to live. The trip was a success and the girls loved their time with just Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Dan.

We came back from Phoenix and spent Easter Sunday going to church and having a great Easter egg hunt. The trip was so much fun, a special thanks to Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Dan for spoiling us and letting us play for the week.

Resurrection

We arrived home safe and sound last night to find that after 3 years of living in our home Kate's Beta fish had bit the dust. The fish had made it through every trip we've been on without being fed. This time the heat was shut off in our home and I think he froze to death. Kate was pretty upset about the whole ordeal last night. This morning she woke up happy ran into her room and said "Ah, the fish isn't resurrected yet!" She was certain he would be alive in the morning when she woke up.

Unsure

I've thought for the past few days that I'm pregnant. I took a pregnancy test this afternoon and it came up negative. I've been really stressed out about it, not because I don't want another baby but because the timing isn't exactly great. I'm probably not and just making up all my symptoms in my head.

In other news I found a replacement band for my wedding ring. My ring broke about 7 months ago and we've never gotten it fixed. I took it in to have it looked at and they didn't think they could fix it and keep the integrity of the prongs. So I've been looking here and there and finally found a beautiful setting I LOVE! It's a halo setting with pave diamonds up and down the sides. Simply stunning. I'm not sure we can swing it right now but we'll see.

I was a little "off" today. I was taking it out on everybody. Matt in all his kindness tried his best to make me happy. He watched the girls so I could sew, he took them out for dessert after dinner, and he came home with a huge chocolate cake for me. He did the dishes and cleaned up the house. I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful best friend to be nice even when I'm not, and to try to be the peacemaker of the home. I love him.

Funny Day

Had a couple of funny things happen today:

1. I took Kate shopping with me today, as we were leaving I said to Kate, "Say goodbye to the lady." The Lady waved and said goodbye to Kate, while Kate just stood there with her head down. As we were leaving I was trying to explain to Kate how it's not nice to ignore people when they talk to you. She thought for a minute then replied "But I'm just allergic to doing that." (referring to talking to the lady)

2. Matt went outside with the girls today to push them on the swings. Our backyard is flooded at the moment and as Matt was pushing Kate on the swing he pushed her body a little too hard and Plop! Off the swing she went flat into the water on her back. She came in screaming soaked from head to toe. As Matt relayed the story to me we both had to fight back the laughter at the image of him pushing her off the swing and into the water.

3. Gabriella said Snow White today or "Oh Whi." And this morning I said "That's Crazzzy!" In which Gabriella replied "Caaaazzzy!"

4. Lately when Kate doesn't want to do something like go to bed, she will say to us "I'm just not too sure about that." It's so funny and she says it often.

5. Gabriella yelled for Kate all day today. From the minute she woke up and sat in her chair she was yelling "Kayyyyyyyeeee!" "Kayyyyyyyeeee!" It's just too cute to hear her yell Kate's name, and even cutter to hear Kate respond "Yes Gabriella, I'm right here."

Update

The girls just keep getting older and cuter these days. Here's a quick update of what we've been up to. This past month we traveled to Phoenix for Dodger Spring Training and because Matt had a 2nd interview with Pet Smart. Matt's mom and dad and Dan met up with us. We had a great time playing and going to a Dodger game. After arriving home from that trip 4 days later we loaded up in the car and drove to Omaha for 3 weeks. It was such a fun time. Amer and John were there with their kids looking for houses so we were able help babysit and tag along for the excitement. Mom was teaching a class for Stake Women's Conference on Marriage. It was certainly a highlight of the trip for me. We were in a crazy hail storm that damaged all the cars. We went the zoo, Olivia's 4th Birthday Party, went swimming at the YMCA, Fished a lot, and went to a Barber shop Courtet concert with Mom and Dad. It was such a fun time. It was the first time in a long while that I've had a hard time leaving. I think the reality that all my family will be in Omaha beginning this summer except me was hard. But as always, things will all work out.

During our trip Matt received a call from Pet Smart saying he had been accepted for the summer internship. So we're headed to Phoenix in June with the possiblity of staying on while he finishes school. He'll be working with the director of the Pet Hotels. I really hope he likes it and more importantly they like him. We're just excited to finally be moving on and to have things working out.

Gabriella and Kate play much better together now. Some of their favorite things to do together are dance, run around being horses, watch Tangled, and another dangerous game where Gabriella holds onto the back of Kate's shirt while Kate runs fast. Usually that ends in Gabriella smacking into a wall or door frame. It's been so fun to watch them play and laugh together.

Gabriella's vocabulary has been exploding a lot lately. She says a ton of words;
Kate "Kayeee!" (Usually yelling)
No "NOOOO!" (Also yelling)
More "Mo"
Please "PEEEES"
Back "Ba"
Rapunzel "Rapa"
Pascal "Papal"
Go "gogo"

She still loves babies and having baths. She loves the movie Tangled and gets sooo excited every time we put it on. She starts to yell and run around screaming. She loves the dog and has been helping to mix Maya's food with her water. I took her to Nursery for the first time today. She made it a grand total of 10minutes before I could hear her screaming in the hallway. It's unfortunate because she was so excited at first to be there. Although she still can't say sentences and tell you the name of what she wants, she is very good at communicating what she wants. If you guess wrong she shakes her head no and just keeps pointing till you figure it out. And I'm always impressed by how much she understands. Nothing gets by this girl, she is aware and understands EVERYTHING!

Kate has really started to pretend lately. It's so fun to hear her dolls and animals talking. She loves all things horses and often is found playing with either her plastic or stuffed horses. She finds ribbon or belts to make bridals and saddles, then pretends to ride them all around the house. Today she made a little corral out of pillows and had her horse in there with her. She fed it, played with it, and made it toys while the horse was in the corral. She loves to ask questions and seems to understand so much more than I think she does. We started reading a kids Book of Mormon and she loves it. She knows who Lehi, Nephi, Laman, Lemuel, and Laban are. She can tell you all the stories we've learned about. It has surprised me how much she has enjoyed reading the stories.

She seems to be getting really sensitive to getting in trouble. She does not like it if you talk stern or "mean" to her and she hates being put on time out. She tries hard to do what's right, you can tell she is just such a good little girl. I'm always impressed with how well behaved she is when other adults are around. It's like she shines just to show them how cute and happy and obedient she is. I can't even count how many times I've had adults say to me, "Wow she is just a little angel, can I take her home with me?" She loves to talk and tell stories. Lately at night time she tells us a detailed story of the movie Tangled going through every character and all their lines. It takes FOREVER but it's so darn cute to see her do the facial actions to Pascal, and to hear her excitement whenever Maximus comes into the scene.

I love spending time with her. She is just such a good little girl and is trying so hard to do what's right.

I love my little family more than anything. I'm so excited for the adventure that awaits us in the next few months. We're headed next week to California and then on to Phoenix to find a house to live in.