Spring Break

Remember Jeremy's "Guy of the District" award? Well, this past week we put it to good use at DISNEYLAND!! We felt soooo blessed to be able to do this-- it's something that obviously costs a LOT when you have eight kids, and his award was able to cover all of our expenses. (: We brought most of our food in (PB & J, etc.) but we were even able to buy some fun food in the park. It was such a treat to experience the magic of Disney with all of our kids. It was even worth the hours and hours and hours spent driving with our big clan! (Driving is hard enough with most kids, but it's especially hard when you can't see. No looking out the windows, watching movies, reading books, etc. Way to go, Lexi and Elli, for hanging in there!)

We were able to spend four whole days at the park. It was perfect. Luckily for us, Disney is very good to children with special needs. We were able to get a special assistance card that let us use our strollers as wheelchairs (meaning we could bring them in line with us) and let us use the fast pass lane for all of the rides. This was a HUGE blessing. We would never have braved Disneyland if we didn't know we would get this help, because there is just no way we could have managed otherwise. It was so great, because even though we had to take things slow, and took about 100 trips to the restrooms each day, we were able to go on lots and lots and lots of rides!

The park was especially busy because of Spring Break. Even still, we managed not to lose any of our kids. I call that a successful trip, don't you? (:

A bit about each of the kids at Disney:

Graci: Loved the princesses the most! Wore her Minnie ears every day. Devoured turkey legs. Was brave enough to go on any ride. Such a good helper with the littles. Had surprising stamina for all that walking.

Taylor: Loved the rollercoasters and Tower of Terror. Disappointed Splash Mountain was closed. Devoured soft pretzels. Loved to sit with Lexi on the rides because she would laugh so hard. Admitted on the last day that he was totally and utterly exhausted!

Parker: Also loved the big rides. Got a kick out of "Turtle Talk with Crush." Always looking out for his little sisters. Was coerced into volunteering to help "The Incredibles" show. Devoured churros. Was convinced we HAD to spend 17 hours in the park on our last day (7 am to midnight) and was only slightly disappointed when we dropped dead 20 minutes short of his goal.

Jesi: Loved the characters. Told us she would wait in line any amount of time to see Rapunzel. Surprised us by going on EVERY SINGLE RIDE and asking to repeat the scary ones. Devoured mangoes. Liked to use the restroom every hour or so. Never got ornery with lack of sleep.

Elli: Hated it. Basically shut down the entire time we were at Disney. Spoke maybe 10 words the entire four days. Developed a vocal tic. Did seem to get some enjoyment out of Tower of Terror on the last day, and was therefore taken on it three times. Devoured anything sweet.

Lexi: Loved EVERYTHING about Disney. Now includes "Thank you for Disneyland" in every prayer. Ended every ride by saying, "More, more!" Was happy as a lark the entire trip. Was everyone's best friend as she allowed the kids to go in the fast pass lane on all the rides Elli and Sophi couldn't or wouldn't go on. Devoured ice cream.

Xander: Was so fun to be with as it was also his first time at Disney. Asked about 20 thousand times for a lollipop before we finally caved. Didn't care for the scary rides, but did try them all. Loved the merry-go-round, Dumbo, etc. Was such a trooper walking so long with his leg conditions. Devoured anything and everything, meaning he asked to eat as often as Jesi asked for a restroom. Claimed, "This is the best day of my whole life!" after his first day at Disney. Announced, "Now all my dreams have finally come true," when he was allowed to buy a pirate sword on the last night.

Sophi: Developed a love/hate relationship with Disney. Was terrified of the characters, including Minnie Mouse, yet begged and begged (in her own way) to buy a little stuffed Minnie on the last day. Liked the very mild rides. Kept saying, "All done, all done!" in the most frantic little voice on anything remotely fast or scary. Devoured frozen lemonade. Had everyone enamoured with her.

Jeremy: (Yes, I'm including him in my kids, because he becomes one at Disneyland.) Loved everything about Disney. Paid a ridiculous amount of money to take his girls to breakfast with the princesses. Was the master planner. Never became Grumpy Mister. Devoured turkey legs-- his favorite food ever. Could barely get out of bed the day we had to check out.

As I'm sure you can tell, we had a great time. I'm pretty sure I was the bravest I've ever been to even attempt this trip, and it all worked out. (:

On Friday, it took us forever to get packed up and out the door. Then we spent 7 hours driving to St. George to stay at my sister's house. We got up early the next morning, exhausted, and drove out to our Easter reunion. We were only able to spend a few hours there, but I was so glad we went. Maybe next year we'll actually dare to camp, but it seemed way too overwhelming this year, especially with the new ones. Lexi managed to get about 20 slivers in her hand from a piece of wood (poor girl) but was very much cheered up by riding around camp with Uncle Matthew on the four wheeler. (I must point out that he was going very slow and just in little circles-- hence no helmet.) Elli began to become herself again, thanks to lots of Easter candy and Grandpa to hold her. Soph was content just to hang out. And the rest of the kids had a ball climbing rocks and ziplining. A perfect afternoon.

Sunday was spent at Grandma's. Anyone else impressed that we actually got to church that day? I am! Even if we were 15 minutes late. That afternoon was spent loving on grandparents and Uncle Ted and Aunt Debbi, eating, and driving the long road home. The kids did great on the long drives overall (probably 30 hours-ish for the week) but I think we were all ecstatic to climb out of the van Sunday night when we finally arrived home!!

Believe it or not, suitcases are already unpacked, though I don't see how I will ever catch up on laundry. We're settled back in to baseball games and homework projects and therapy and doctor appointments and everything else our crazy life affords us. Maybe I actually am ready to get back in that van!

Christianne

PS. Mom, you can click on "view all images" to see the pictures bigger. (:

Easter

I know it's a bit early, but today I have Easter on my mind! I have it on my mind because I have Jacob and Emily on my mind, and I'm sure you can figure out why that leads me to thoughts of Easter. (:

When asked my favorite holiday, I've always gone back and forth between Easter and Christmas, usually with Easter prevailing. (: There are many reasons that I adore Easter. I love to color eggs. I love the happy, optimistic feeling that comes with Spring. I love the Easter bunny and the fun little gifts he leaves me! I love love love our annual tradition of going "Eastering." For those of you not blessed enough to know what Eastering is, let me fill you in! Eastering denotes: camping in the beautiful Utah desert with your entire extended (think about 200) family, going rapelling and four-wheeling, singing around campfires, hunting for Easter eggs and arrowheads, games with all of your cousins, exploring, rolling eggs down the hills (signifying the stone being rolled from the sepluchre), stories and testimonies, catching up with beloved family, braving the wind, and getting very, very dirty. Food must include: scotcheroos, dutch oven chicken, sticky rice with mango, Diane's cheesecake, toasted English muffins with eggs and bacon, hoagies, puffed wheat balls, and handfuls from Grandma's bowl of Easter candy-- but also may, of course, include various other delicious dishes. The campfire isn't complete without "Here Comes Elmer," "Where Have all the Flowers Gone?," "I Am a Child of God," "Peter Cottontail," and "The Other Day I Met a Bear." Ah.... Good times, good times.

But I love Easter the most because of what it represents.

An empty tomb.

A risen Lord.

I was so blessed to have the opportunity to spend a semester studying abroad in the Holy Land. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I was able to walk the shores of Galilee, sing Christmas songs on the hills overlooking Bethlehem, climb Mount Sinai to watch the sunrise, kneel in the Garden of Gethsemane, sing hymns in an "upper room" dating to the time of Christ, wade in the waters of Jordan, walk the road to Jericho, and much, much more. All of those places were sacred, yes. But my most favorite place to visit, and I went there often, was the Garden Tomb. In fact, many Sabbath mornings you could find me there, with my roommates or friends, studying our scriptures and basking in the Spirit that was there. I think the thing that I loved about it the most, was the peaceful JOY that was found within its walls. There was so much JOY there!! (: (: (:

I remember well the first time that I went to the Garden Tomb. We were laughing and chatting, my friends and I, as we walked along the streets to the entrance. But the second we stepped inside the garden walls, we were immediately subdued. The sacredness inside was felt by all. It was such a stark contrast to what was felt just outside its walls. I walked inside the tomb itself with these friends. We stood there for a minute in silence, until one of the guys started singing, "I Know that My Redeemer Lives." We all joined in, tears pouring down our cheeks, and the Spirit that permeated that tomb was tangible beyond words. It was one of the most reverent, sacred moments of my life.

I know He lives.

And because He lives, Jacob and Emily live.

And Elli and Lexi will see. And Sophi will put her arms around me. And Graci and Xander will run with ease. And all of my children will be eternally gathered in my arms.

And that is why I love Easter.



(If you double click, you can get the full picture)