Conference Weekend

 Conference weekend is always so uplifting, and this April's session was no exception.  We always tune in on the internet, and listen while snuggling as a family on our beg, during the morning sessions especially. It warmed my heart to look over on Sunday, and see Cal eating his breakfast while listening to Uchtdorf.

 I'm grateful that the talks are all made available in writing so soon.  As much as I love listening to my leaders' voices, it is reading the talks that helps me better internalize and remember their words.

After the Sunday afternoon session, we went up to Palo Alto to try out Cal's new kite. Heather took us on a little hike to the top of Kite Hill, and we were able to catch a breeze! (Side note: little did any of us know that Heather was suffering from a pulmonary embolism, and the hike nearly killed her, quite literally.)

What a lovely Spring day, and the perfect end to a wonderful conference weekend.

April Fools' Day Prank

When my sister first got her dog Ozzy, we puppysat him for a few days. The cute little creature wasn't house-trained, which made for some memorable moments. One morning, after the previous evening's scolding from Reed, we opened our bedroom door to find a good morning present from the pup.

Fast forward to April Fools' Day, 2013. When Reed opened the door to head to work, he found this waiting for him on the doorstep:

"Reed: Thinking of you, Love, Ozzy"

A couple of my friends had pulled off what I consider to be one of the best pranks of all time. I'll let you decide how Reed felt about it:

We love you, Ozzy! April Fools!

Easter 2013

We had a lovely and fun Easter season this year, filled with lots of activities and time with friends.  On Good Friday, the wonderful moms in our ward put together an Easter egg hunt in one of our neighborhood parks. Look at this turnout!

And here are all the kiddos running to find eggs:

For those that remember last year, Cal was still pretty concerned about what was (or wasn't) inside each egg he found -- our little sugarholic. We adults had instituted a one-candy-per-egg rule, however, so he was slightly foiled in his attempt to gorge himself on peeps and Cadbury eggs. It was a fun day filled with sunshine and friends. It's really starting to feel like Spring!

Our Easter week had begun with me deciding I wanted a yellow tablecloth to brighten up our black table, and I got it in my head that I could make my own. Cal and I went to the fabric store and purchased a few yards of fabric, and then all that was left was ironing, pinning and hemming.

See, Mom? All those sewing lessons weren't a complete waste of money! :)

 Heather came to dye eggs with us, which made for a very fun afternoon. Look who is raring to go!

 

I didn't think I needed to use a spoon or wire, and this is how my hands turned out. Kind of festive, right?

And here is Reed's "Arrested Development"-themed egg:

On Easter morning, here was the spread waiting for Cal:

I felt a little sacrilegious as I set up all the dinosaurs around Christ, but Cal loved it all! We read the Easter story to him that night. I wonder how much he understands. I hope I am properly teaching him that these things mean so much to me.

Quick visit from Mom and Mark

The first week of March, my sister Hannah came to San Francisco with her high school wind ensemble, and my mom and brother tagged along for the trip.  It was wonderful to see them, even if it was only for a day or so.  

While the band was on a sightseeing tour of the city, my mom took us to the California Academy of Sciences, which rocks.  Its crowning feature is a three-story rainforest simulation dome, filled with tons of creatures Cal had never seen before.  Here he is saying hello to a gecko:

 Afterward, we walked down to Pier 39 to shop and see the seals.  Cal loved watching the boats sail past Alcatraz.

And he didn't mind chomping on the churro that Grandma bought him, either:

Hannah's wind ensemble then performed on the pier. It was delightful to sit and listen, and clap and cheer with the tourists after each number. We were so glad it didn't rain on the kids!

Cal loves his grandma so much. My mom is such a wonderful, positive influence in all our lives.  I loved being able to see her!

Oh and P.S. - she and Mark got scared by the bush man. Awesome. :)

Helpful Boy

Cal is growing into such a little helper!  Each Tuesday, the kids I nanny have to do their chores. Cal always insists on helping with taking out the trash -- he gets offended if he's left out!

Here he is taking the garbage bin out to the curb:

 And don't forget the recycling!

He does a lot of other chores around our own house, too, such as putting away the silverware, taking his plate to the sink after meals, making his bed, putting his dirty clothes in the hamper, vacuuming with the dust buster, and even washing and loading dishes into the top rack of the dishwasher! Don't get me wrong, I sometimes hear, "Mommy, I too tired to do my job." But in general, I love that my little guy is such a helper!

Busy Builder Boy

Cal just keeps surprising me.  He's always been busy, but especially lately, I feel like I forget how fast his little brain is racing, and how much he needs me to stimulate his mind. Every time I turn around, he has built something like this:

...or this: 

...or this:

...or this!

Okay, he actually didn't stack the couch like that; we did. But he was the one who pulled his Ikea stool over, climbed inside, and declared that it was his "mousie fort". He filled the inside with pillows and stuffed animals, and decorated the top with the green blanket.

This next one made my jaw drop. I was in my room one morning, and Cal came and got me, pulling me by the hand into his room to show me what he'd built. At first I didn't get it, but then he started explaining each step to me, and I realized he'd made his own Rube Goldberg machine, which stretched all the way downstairs and ended with a grand finale of turning on the dust buster!

I was legitimately impressed, and I think he could tell; it made him very proud. I wish I could say that I take that much interest in everything he shows me. This is me vowing to be better, and to let myself be amazed by my little builder every day.

Growing Up Silly: March