THE EASTER SUNDAY

We enjoyed a wonderful Easter Cantata, He Is Jesus Christ, performed by the Pasadena, Arcadia and LA Stakes. When the orchestra and choir started their first number, you could feel the spirit so strong that tears came to many eyes. On Sunday we enjoyed attending our Sacrament Meeting in our home ward while Angie attended with John's family in their ward. It was fun to later listen to what the children learned about the life, crucifixion, resurrection, and atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. And of course, we can't forget the picture taking after church in our new Easter clothes.

After church we had our annual family Easter Egg HUNT. Angie came early to help us hide the eggs and then the children were assigned colors....and the hunt was on.

Christian, Mel, Ashlyn, Brooke, Madison, Chelsea, and Spencer

They looked HIGH ....

And LOW to find their color of the day.

All anyone could get were mostly their backs for pictures.

And then counting....1, 2, 14, 16.....

We then enjoyed a delicious dinner with the family...including Angie and Marrianne's parents. Hmmmm, Ham, green salad, fruit salad, Easter bread, green beans, olives, pickles, and sweet potatoes [thanks Matt's Heather for the delicious sweet potatoe receipe...it is one of our family's favorites].

Remember the carrots Sally use to make out of jelly beans? Her daughter, Sandy, made them this year for the grandkids.

And Marrianne made this adorable bunny carrot cake to celebrate Easter and also my Birthday. [Ya, I'm now an official medicare-AARP card carrying holder]

And a BIG THANK YOU to Angie and Marrianne, our clean up crew, for doing a great job!

The evening ended with "let's restle Uncle John" activity.

Ashlyn was not sure about all these little guys beating up her daddy

We also heard from the other children and grandchildren scattered all over the USA...plus had "Happy Birthday" sung to me MANY times throughout the day. Thanks family for a fun birthday!

Marylyn's family had enjoyed a fun time in Texas, but had a hard time getting back home, finally getting a plane to OR Monday and driving several hours home.

Joe had been on a business trip and thought he would miss Easter with his family, but his boss advised him to head home on Saturday.

Colorado gang invited the Harrell's over to celebrate Easter with the family.

This was Ruth's family's first holiday in Holland and enjoyed a nice dinner with some new friends from their branch.

VERY FUN DAY with Ilene, Duane and Angie

Angie met us at our apt and we headed for the Hyatt to pick up Ilene and Duane.
Ilene had a few free hours so we decided to introduce her and Angie to "Olveria Street" and enjoyed a delicious lunch. Also saw the oldest home in Los Angeles, built in 1818. Angie was excited to end her trip with a snow cone.

Angie introduced her new friend to her dad.....

We then took a ride by the Mormon Battalion Monument which is located just across the street from Olvera Street.

It was time to drop Ilene back to the hotel for her conference and the rest of us headed for the Santa Monica Pier and beach. It was a beautiful day! After walking along the pier we walked down '3rd Street Promenade'

Uncle Duane, Aunt Ilene & Angie visit family General Conference Weekend

Marv and I enjoyed General Conference on the BYU station at our temple apartment on Saturday, then after the second session we drove to NP so the 'guys' could attend priesthood session together. Ilene and I walked John's children to the Park where we met Lisa and her children. Just to sit back and relax watching the children enjoy playing in the sand, swing, slide, monkey bars, etc. We walked back to the house while the children hurried to get their baths/showers in time for pizza and rootbeer floats.

Sunday we enjoyed a delicious breakfast with Lisa and Dan...his famous egg omlets...hmmmmmm so good! John's house enjoyed pancakes. After the first session we went on over to John's, enjoying sitting and visiting on their lovely patio. Marrianne and Madison spent the weekend in Sacramento for a school field trip.

Here's a picture of Brooke, Angie, Christian, and Ashlyn having a picnic lunch as they watched 4th session of General Conference.

John did a great job playing host, displaying food very nicely, and especially playing Mr. Mom for the weekend.
Ashlyn loves to dance!

General Conference was great:

You will never be lost when you see the temple.

Reverence invites revelation.

Make and Keep covenants will help us through our trials.

Divine covenants make strong Christians.

Spiritual darkness comes from bad choices.

Gain & strength testimony through desire, study, prayers, obedience & service.

Personal righteousness is a Choice

Doubt, discouragement, distrations, lack of dilegence, disappointment, disobedience disblief...destroys faith.

Living the gospel will not keep adversity from us...must endure.

Identify your ancestors, qualify them, then do the ordinances for them.

Adversary is using every means to take us down.

My favorite was Elder Holland on the atonement.

HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED CONFERENCE AS MUCH AS WE DID!

Happy Birthday Ashlyn

Ashlyn loves EVERYTHING Princess!

Cole, Madison's new dog and birthday gift, enjoys the party too.

Even Spencer welcomed Cole to the family.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE AND GRANDMA

What's happen-n? And you are who? Looks like he has a lot of questions????

Dave was born on Grandma's birthday and they enjoyed celebrating many birthday's together.

Aunt Dale came from Maryland to help care for Joe and Dave

These two little guys had so much fun together and always so happy

Dave loved his baths...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE....I remember so well the morning you FINALLY decided to make your appearance into this wonderful world. You have been a great son, super husband and loving father!

OH NO, RUTH!!!!

This is what we saw when we came home Sunday afternoon and wondered...DID BEN SEND YOUR POD TO THE WRONG ADDRESS???? Comments from dad: Did you want this forwarded to Holland? Chelsea loves the new toys. Did you want it to go by land....or by sea? signed Paul Revere. Dear Ruth, we received our bed. Too big to take it with us on the plane. [He was on a roll and having way too much fun]
HONESTLY....It belong to our neighbors whose daughter is moving out of state...put what a coincidence!

Madison Birthday and the Grandkids

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Madison

What a great ice cream cake!

Looks like Mel is afraid it will dump over

Chelsea and Ashlyn...they sure do love to dress up!

Cousins came to celebrate with Madison

Stacey's new little baby girl...Hanne

She has a beautiful smile and was trying to talk as I would tell her about her friend Kate

Sweet Chelsea...our little snow princess

RELAXING WEEKEND

Alyssa was just a little excited for her special day!

She had phoned her grandpa and said "she had been thinking and wanted her daddy to lay his hands on her head [gift of the Holy Ghost] and her grandpa baptize her. I just love this picture as she looks up at the both of them.
We were thrilled to be able to make the trip and had a wonderful weekend with the family!

Joe, Heather, Meg, Daniel, Sharon, Marv... Alyssa, Ben-jamin, Miranda

Heather's mother made Alyssa's pretty white dress for her baptism. What a talented Bubba!

This is another one of my favorite pictures, Alyssa with her GREAT Grandma.

This was the view outside their front window. We were freezing the first night, cold the second night and comfortable the third night. Guess you just have to get use to the temperature...brrrrrrr.

Saturday afternoon Megan drove us around for some errands. This is a picture of her grandpa teaching her how to measure and put air in her tires. By the 3rd tire, Meg was a pro!

Meg was the first off to school. Second came Daniel as he waits for his bus.

About an hour later Miranda and Alyssa catch their bus.

On the way to the airport for our flight back home, Heather and Ben=jamin took us to attend the new Draper Temple Open House. What a beautiful temple. There was a REVERENCE sign that was really neat, "If you need to communicate in the temple, please whisper".

We then drove by the second temple being constructed in Jordan. Ben was so excited that the Angel Moroni was already on the temple. Open house is sometime in June.

Sunny CA...This is a picture of one of our window flower trays and yes that is one of our regular birds that seems to enjoy sitting with our flowers. There are usually three, but when Marv moved close to take the picture, only one stayed.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL...

We celebrated Sunday with barbequed chicken, brownies, and gifts. Then on Monday Grandpa and Grandma took Mel out after school for an ice cream treat. Later that afternoon we had fun watching Mel, Spence, and Chelsea jump rope.