UGA Spring Game

We FINALLY made it to Stanford Stadium! This stadium is HUGE, holding 93,000 people. We've never been to a football game - mainly because Shawn doesn't seem to have much interest. I would love to go, but he's the one that can get tickets. We were able to make it to the spring game where they play each other.  It was good enough for us!

As you can tell - we're not in the the game as everyone else that lives here....we didn't even put red on.  But hey - pink is a shade of red, right?

Andie and Ali with the field in the back.

Family Picture

This is our friend Dallin.  Adalyn and Anders took a liking to him and sat on his lap/played with him a lot of the time.  Sorry Anders - I guess you weren't ready for the picture!

Walking back to the car. 

This is where we usually found Ali - picking the leaves. 

We had a good time and I'm glad to say I've finally been inside the stadium!  :)

Empty Nested

Do you remember this picture from April 7th?  Ali's Birthday.  That was the day that we first saw our bird's nest, with 5 cute little eggs.  Here is their story.

A friend was over the following Tuesday, April 10th.  I was telling her how cool it was that we had 5 little eggs.  She peeked in and said, "Um....their little birds now!"  WHAT?  That was quick.  Meet our 5 little birds.  I know, it's kind of hard to see - but it's amazing how fast they grow up!

Here is 2 Days later, April 12....they're starting to look a little more furry.

This is 4 days later, April 16th.  We lost 2 today.  I think because every time we opened the door, the mom would have to fly away and I think her little feet snagged two of  them by accident.  We found one in between the wreath and the door and the other one, I could tell was dead in the nest - but the birds disposed of him.

This is the same day.  It's kind of a gross picture - but these parents were so dedicated.  The dad would always fly around "watching for predators" (aka The Broderick Family.) and the mom would swoop back into the nest as soon as it was clear.  Although the picture doesn't show the "cuteness" it was fun to watch the little birds poke their heads up looking for food and then slowly lowering them down as we opened the door.

2 days later, April 18th!!!  Look at how CUTE they are.  I couldn't believe how many more feathers they got in just 2 days!  "They sure do grow up quick" applies not only to human babies, but baby birds as well!  Also - there is a significant amount of poop gathering around our door - looks gross, but oh well.

April 20th, they are still getting bigger and changing.  I haven't seen the mom come around and often and I was beginning to wonder if they were abandoned.  Poor little birdies. 

April 22nd....Again - Just 2 days and look at the difference?  Their feathers are almost all in - well, it seems to me.  Crazy!

April 24 - cute little guys...starting to be a little more observant.  It looks like a tight fit with just the 3 birds - could you imagine if all 5 had survived?

April 25th.  It was fun to watch them yesterday.  They were definitely more perched and dad was back giving them flying lessons!  The girls and I were out playing and the dad and mom bird would come to the nest and then fly the same path over and over making the same rhythmic song as they would fly up to the lamp post.  I was just imagining them saying, "Just keep flapping, just keep flapping."

This is still the same day.  This little dude was ready to fly and we just kept waiting!  I was so worried we were going to miss it!

Oh - two of them are getting ready to go.  You can do it little birds - you can do it!  Well, shortly after this, I left to take the van and drop it off for Shawn at campus.  He has been in Philadelphia for the last two days at a conference and was getting in around mid-night.  So, thanks to our great neighbors, one came to watch the girls, while the other followed me to give me a ride home.  Guess what happened!

At 11:30 that night - when I decided to go to bed, I was surprised to find this little guy in my closet!  AHH!!  He took flight alright - right into the house.  He must have come in sometime when I was gone.  At least I knew he could fly.  Shawn wasn't home yet and didn't answer his phone, so I didn't know how close he was - so naturally I called my sister for reinforcements.  She's in St. George, you know 36 hours away, but provided emotional support.  haha - She just laughed at me and said, "Good Luck!  He'll probably poop on your hand when you try to catch him."  I called Shawn and he was just getting to campus - so another 15 minutes to wait it out. 

Shawn to the rescue.  Good thing he's tall.  It was definitely to our advantage the little bird was just learning how to fly!  Poor little guy - he was so scared.  And, like Jill said, he pooped everywhere he landed, out of fear.  That was fun going back through the closet to check on everything.

This morning - April 26th, our little birds had all flown the coop!  They were gone - probably from the traumatic experience of their brother being lost for a few hours inside, but at least they survived while in our care!  It was so fun to watch them grown - but man, I need some tips.  20 days to grow up and leave the nest?  It takes humans 20 years.....or longer!

That is the story of our birds....thanks for reading along!

Happy Easter

We had back-to-back celebrations with Ali's Birthday and Easter. It was fun! Here the girls are, with their "baskets." I loved it, Andie was the first one down and said, "MOM! The Easter Bunny came.....oh, and thanks for the new church shirt!"

These masks came in a 3 pack for $1 and I had to get them....so funny!  Ali wore her's all day, except at church.  It was great!

Adalyn wasn't too sure of them.

Andie was so excited to find eggs.

I was skyping with my mom the Friday before Easter and she asked if the girls had new Easter dresses.  I said, "No."  Then I felt bad.  So I quickly came up with this idea.  The skirts are from their Christmas outfits and I had all the other material and iron on stuff.  Let's just say, I think I'll use Iron on for everything now!  It was SO simple and easy. 

The girls loved their shirts.  (Don't worry, they didn't wear the flip flops to church!)

Super Al!

This is such a cute picture.  We had our some friends over with the 4 elders in our ward for dinner.  Everything was so yummy.  My friend serves in Primary and told me how they were asking all the kids if the Easter Bunny came.  I guess Andie said, "Yes - he came and we got fun things in our basket.  My mom also makes us a new outfit for every holiday, this is my new shirt!"  Haha - now I guess it's going to be a tradition!

Little Adalyn did not want to take pictures - or look at the camera.

I love all the "takes!"

"Just give me some candy and put me to bed!!"

We had a great Easter.  I was very proud of my kids because although the Easter Bunny is fun, they would say things throughout the day of, "Mom, do you know why Easter is special?"  I would say, "Why?" and they would say, "Because of Jesus."  I loved it.  With church at 11:30, we had time to watch Finding Faith in Christ before church and then we watched The Testaments after church. 

I am so grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is such an example to me and I know is always there for me.  In Relief Society last week, we talked about eternity, and how it's not something that we will one day arrive at, but it's something that we are part of RIGHT NOW!  We are on that path.  As someone said, "Baptism was the gate and since baptism we've entered into our journey."  I grateful for my knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm grateful for the temple and the knowledge that families can be together forever.  I'm grateful to know that we will return to live with Heavenly Father again.  Again - meaning, we've already lived with Him before!  It's awesome to know my eternal goals, which is what leads and guides the way I live each and every day!  I love my family.  My little family unit, but my extended family as well!  They are each a strength to me and I'm grateful for the examples set before me!  I hope you all had a wonderful Easter Season!

Happy Birthday Ali!!

 Ali turned 4 on the 7th!  She was so happy that it was FINALLY her birthday! 

 Here she is with the sisters and all of her presents!!  Don't you love her new pose - shoulders up and arms crossed!

 She was SO excited for her new bike. (I was so glad).  We had tried to get her to ride Andie's bike and try it out for the longest time.  Every time she would say, "No, it is too scary!"  We had bought this bike the day after Thanksgiving and I kept telling Shawn, "I don't think she's going to like it!"  I am so glad I was wrong!  SHE LOVES IT! 

 We also had a ward Easter Egg Hunt on her birthday - which was a fun event.  Everyone sang Happy Birthday to her and she got all shy!  It was cute!

 Adalyn enjoying the egg hunt!

 She would crack each egg in her basket before finding another one.

 The last few days, I've always been startled by a bird when coming in the house.  As we pulled up from the Easter Egg Hunt, again I saw two birds flying away.  I tried to determine where they were building their nest.  Our front wreath is "twiggy" so it was hard to see.  But - I lifted the camera up to snap a picture and was SHOCKED a what we found!  5 little eggs.  We are so proud!  So - now we all try to be SUPER careful when we open and close the door.  I hope those little eggs make it!  It's awesome to think how this little birds made this perfect little home!

 On your mark.......get set......GO!!!!!!!

 "Uh Shawn, we need to adjust the handle bars and seat!"

 Dad went to work and adjusted Andie's too!  Thanks Dad!

 Ali was our GPS and did great!

 Occasionally a foot would slip and she doesn't understand the brake.  She would just coast until she stopped, often running into the sidewalk.  Shawn would say, "Ali, stop crashing into the sidewalk."  Ali would respond, "I like to!"

 Here was her PINK cake, with PINK frosting!  At one point she wanted a "marshmallow mateys" cake - so I decorated her name in marshmallows.  She thought it was awesome!

Happy Birthday Ali!!  We love you so much!  Ali is such a fun little girl.  She is a great big sister to Adalyn and usually will play pretty nice with her.  She also LOVES Andie and is so excited to play with her every day she gets home from school.  Ali easily gets frustrated and will storm out of the room because something is too hard or she doesn't get what she wants immediately.  However, is always great at coming back after she "cools off" and says sorry or tries to ask nicely for something. 

A few weeks ago, she was getting frustrated at something and adamantly informed us, "The only FUN things is to eat, watch movies and play pbskids.org"  Those are definitely her most favorite things to do!  I'm excited that the pool is open and she loves her new bike - hopefully we can get those into our regular daily routine of FUN!