Oriental Rug in the Kitchen?

 We've been wanting to put a rug in the kitchen ever since we put the wood floors in.  Note:  wood floors in a kitchen with lots of kids is not a good idea.  We knew a rug would get trashed in the kitchen, so I found an old, used one on ebay.  Now I won't feel bad if I have to replace it in a few years.  [Piper is the rug model.]

This kitchen [below] has been floating around on design blogs for a few years.  I LOVE it and was trying to copy the look of the rug.  Ebay is a gamble, but this time I got lucky!  I'm crazy about the colors and am hoping they will hide a multitude of spills.

Nine Years

Our Sicily turned nine last week.  She also got glasses. 

 She had a craft party.  Messy but fun. 

[Brynlee, McCall, Hayley, Alivia, Sicily, Emma, Nicole] 

Sicily is so much fun.  She is a great big sister for Piper.  She loves to do crafts, ride her bike, irish dance, read, and play with friends.  Right now she is reading Heidi, Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3, and Island of the Blue Dolphins.

Abie Day

Today was Abie Day. Every Thursday is Abie Day. That's how we get Piper to bed on time on Wednesday night. I say, "Let's hurry to bed . . . because what is tomorrow?" and Piper cheers, "Abie Day!"

I think these pictures are self-explanatory as to what goes on when Abe comes over.

That's right. Abe gets to do what Piper wants.

I get no complaints from Abe, however.

Oh, except that one time when I heard muffled cries from downstairs and found Piper riding Abe like a pony while Abe lay flat on his stomach crying. Sometimes love hurts.

Didn't I just post dance pictures of Bronwen? These dances are really close together. This is Jr. Prom.

Is she beautiful, or what? I'm glad she wants to look and be virtuous. Her dates always seem to be good kids too.

Very blurry pictures. I'm not sure why.

Disneyland!

On Valentine's Day, my parents came over and gave us a Valentine's gift: a trip to Disneyland for all (including my others sisters and their families). What a gift!
Sicily with cousins Willa and Sosie during the drive.

Standing in line to enter Disneyland.

The teacups were Piper's favorite ride.

The only pictures with Ethan I ended up with are these two pictures of pictures on Tower of Terror (or "Tower of Tara" according to Piper). That is one great ride!

Jason and Piper waiting for the parade.

Piper asleep on the ride home with her Cinderella doll.

The best picture of the trip.

Dalton the Deacon

This handsome devil is now twelve years old and has received the priesthood. Here he is about to go to church to pass the sacrament for the first time.

After sacrament meeting, we got many, many comments about how fun it was to see Dalton grinning so big while passing the sacrament. Laurie Burns, the bishop's wife, even sent him a note and said his big smile reminded her that taking the sacrament should be a joy.

That's Dalton for you. He can bring joy into any situation (the key word here being "can") with his infectious enthusiasm!

The Slipper and the Rose

Ethan is in The Slipper and the Rose at the Ellen Eccles Theater this weekend. It is a musical version of Cinderella. The highlight for him is dancing in the ball scenes and getting to lift his partner!

We made him a candy bar card for good luck. He likes candy better than flowers.

Ethan with Josh, Christine, and Jared Higham.

And speaking of Cinderella, here's Bronwen on her way to Sweetheart's Dance (with Kyle Skabelund). It's a girls' choice, so Piper filled in for the date pictures.