Private

It's time. I'm going to make the blog private. I've been thinking I need to do this since the beginning of the year, but have not gotten around to doing it. It bugs Nate that just anyone can take a little peek into our personal lives. So, if you read the blog, please just send me an email and I will send you an invite in the next couple weeks. Don't be shy like I am about this...if you want to keep in the loop of our little family, I want you there, so send me an email or leave a comment with your email address, and we'll get you on the list. Thanks for understanding.
Kristie
lesterbunch@gmail.com

Easter Weekend

{Easter Weekend 2009}

We were all so happy to have Grandma & Grandpa Perkins here for the weekend. Having them fly here just for the weekend really shows all the kids how important baptism is. I'm so glad that they could be a part of it all.

The fun started Friday with all of Clay's birthday celebrations. Then, we were up bright and early to prepare for the after-the-baptism feast, which consisted of pretty much the same things we have every brunch before Easter. {ham, french toast casserole, egg casserole, muffins and croissants from Costco, and fruit salad} We were even ready to take pictures before we left. I'm still wondering what miracle of miracles happened for that to occur, but I'm grateful nonetheless.

Here they are all dressed in white.

Lexi, Clay, and Clay. A very happy lot, those three. It was an exciting day to share together.


I love tulips. Mine are just barely starting to bloom, but Costco pulled through for me so we could have a little touch of spring for our brunch.
The kids had a blast searching for Easter Eggs, and Emma just happened to find this really cool shirt in the wood pile. Yes, I know you've seen this before. Nate gathered all the kids to share what they found, and {of course} had Emma put her new tshirt on. There was quite a bit of excitement after that. Amelia was so thrilled she almost started to cry. It was pretty fun. It was also neat to see the kids sharing and trading candy, money, and toys. Of course, not everyone got the same things, and not everyone got an egg with money in it. Somehow, Uncle Ross very quickly became the man with the dollars for those who did not get one. Anyone who got an empty egg got a picture of the Savior. It was a good time.

The kids then just played with cousins all afternoon. It is one of their absolute favorite things to do. When the evening settled down, we got out the eggs and colored them pretty colors.

Sunday: Easter Sunday. One of my favorite days of the year. The kids enjoyed their simple Easter baskets, {church books, posters, and candy} and then we all got ready for church. We weren't so good at being ready this time, so the pictures had to wait until after church.

It's the candid shots that are often the most priceless. While Sam and Amelia were busy trying to get in the picture, Clay and Emma were sharing a rare peaceful moment together, hugging and loving.

The top picture reminded me of one I took in Cleveland about six years ago...can you believe it? Where has the time gone? The one below has long been one of my favorites.

Five

October 4th

Clay's Getting Baptized

He just told me yesterday, "I can't wait until Saturday."

Still Snowing

Friday morning we woke up to this lovely mess. Emma's first comment was "I'm going to make a snow angel." Forget breakfast {which she usually tries to do anyway}. She was suiting up for a jaunt in the snow. I asked Mia if she wanted to go out and play, and she did. They acted like they'd never seen snow before. They were out for quite awhile, making snow angels and just traipsing around in the snow. It was a good way to start the day! They made me smile.

It was sunny enough that the snow melted quite a bit Friday, but it was clear that the storm wasn't past. We woke up this morning to even more of the same. After conference was over, I kicked the kids out of the house to go play on the snow machine and get some fresh air. It became clear very fast that they needed something to do while they were waiting to take turns, so I got them stuck on the idea of making a snowman.

I went back inside to do some "spring cleaning" since it is spring after all. After a little while there was silence, and I hadn't seen the snow machine circle past the window recently. So, I went out to see them all playing in the snow, throwing snowballs and building a snowman. I took them the neccessary accessories for the snowman, took a couple pictures, and went back to purging my closet of all the clothes Nate and I haven't touched in a year. It wasn't long before I was beckoned to see the finished product. I dare you to look at this next picture and not smile. I actually got the giggles. Is it the dimples? The dopey hat? The cute miniature snowman? As I walked out the door I saw this. Sam can be such a kind and compassionate kid when he wants to be. He was patiently helping Emma put her mitten back on her hand. I like that.

And here it is. Our April Snowman.

Jackson

My kids have a new favorite person:

Jackson Edwin Perkins

We went to Provo Saturday so we could be there for his blessing Sunday morning. It was a bonus trip because we also got to see Grandpa Perkins who flew out for the occasion, and stay in a hotel with a swimming pool.{a definite must for any "sleepover"}

The kids mauled the baby, and fussed over him. We enjoyed being with family in Andrew and Vanessa's tiny, tiny apartment. I took these pictures from the other side of the room. {no telephoto lens here} Aren't they cute?

And of course Nate had to throw in his jab about all the picture taking when Jackson spit up promptly upon sitting down for the first picture, "He just did what we're all thinking we'd like to do." {of course referring to having to sit through a photo session} Thus, the cute picture below. Doesn't Jackson look like he's amused to the point of laughing almost? It was a great time! Good to see you Dad!!!

3 Generations of Perkins

P.S. Nate "taught" Andrew how to drive a stick shift in a 20 min crash course over the phone.

Spring Snow

We woke up Thursday to a "Winter" Wonderland. We had been dumped on, seriously. I'm really ready to be warm now. I'm a little tired of sweatshirts, piles of blankets, pellets for the stove, and baking dinners all afternoon, just to add a little more warm to the house. I'm ready for some serious, warm, enduring sunshine. To add to the snow, there was wicked blowing wind all day long. On Friday, the kids didn't have school due to Parent/Teacher Conferences. It was billed as a clean-up day. The boys were responsible for the entire garage, since they had neglected to clean up after we worked over some seriously cool pinewood derby cars. {another post} Well, to clean up the garage properly, they had to move their little snow machine, which had been parked there to free up some trailer space for moving Lindsey and company. This turned out to be quite the "job" for the boys. They took turns riding on the snow machine while the other "cleaned up." When Emma realized what was going on outside, she was dressed in a matter of seconds and out the door. She wanted to ride the machine. Maybe I should have cared a little more that they were not attending to their responsibility, but I honestly think that this is the first time this "season" that we have had enough snow in the yard to properly run the little snow machine...and they were having a good time...and they were outside...and they were taking turns...and the garage was eventually restored to a more reasonable state. So, the point behind this whole story is that Emma came in the house, after having been outside for a good amount of time, just distraught...MOM, you HAVE to come see this...MOM, our TULIPS! She was frantic. I couldn't get my coat and shoes {and grab the camera} fast enough to satisfy her. She led me outside...OVER HERE...THIS WAY...COME ON, MOM.

This is what she wanted to show me: Tulips, daffodils, crocuses, and hyacinths covered in snow. {I didn't tell her this, but they had been COMPLETELY burried the day before}

I reassured Emma that they would still be ok, and that the snow would melt {WILL IT?}. And that our little flowers would survive the cold. They are tough. Then I saw this crocus. It looked like a dark hole in the snow, so I brushed away a little fingerfull of snow and realized that it was a little purple flower.
Emma wanted to help. I thought her little mittened hand brushing away the snow from the little fragile flower {which was damaged a little more by the caring hand than the unforgiving weather} was just so sweet. It was a sweet gesture, and a clear indication of her nurturing personality.