Bits + Pieces : Spring Break

Spring Break was a success! I tried finding fun, inexpensive things for us to do, & other than the aquarium, we did pretty well. We played in our backyard, went to the bean museum, had a picnic, went to farm country, & the living planet aquarium. We had originally planned on visiting Yellowstone during SB & had even bought our lodging, but 2 days after we made our cabin reservations my sister called us with exciting news & plans...so we cancelled our WY trip & are going somewhere WAY BETTER at the beginning of June. The best part? ALL of my family will be joining in. 20+ of us, including a nephew I haven't even met. Those details are a bit of a secret, the boys are gonna find out on our way there. =) Nothing better than making memories.

Thanksgiving Point pony rides. 

Kiddos @ Thanksgiving Point

Picnic by Presley. 

Living Planet Aquarium. 

@ the Bean Museum. 

Aquarium!

Mason's first time on a pony. You can't really tell, but he actually loved it. 

Bits + Pieces : Easter

I really shouldn't enjoy Easter (or Christmas) as much as I do. But I celebrate Santa & the Easter Bunny, so there!

I made a few thrifty decorations, made up mostly of plastic eggs I had saved from last year. They were simple & pretty darn cute. On Easter Eve the kiddos & I were up bright & early so we could beat the lines @ the downtown egg hunt in Provo. It was my first time taking them & we all had a so much fun! The kiddos had their faces painted, we pet sweet little farm animals, made a few crafts, picked up some balloons, & of course participated in their HUGE egg hunt. Later that afternoon I made some Easter Bunny masks, we painted eggs, & had lots of copycat queso for dinner. 

Easter morning was pretty traditional. My mom-in-law came over for our egg hunt. & I spent the rest of the day in the kitchen. =) Worth it. Our Easter Dinner turned out very well (& I kinda love Tyson buttering me up with compliments over everything I made). We watched Hop & then headed off to bed. Such a great day.

Pretty deviled-eggs.

I love being the Easter Bunny. =)

Coloring our eggs. 

@ the Provo City Easter egg hunt. 

Bunny masks I made for the kiddos. 

Homemade "chili's" queso. 

Read Much?

When we moved to Provo, one of the first things we did as a family was get library cards. Best decision ever. I try to go once a week. Tyson & I usually have a book to read & I love picking out & borrowing at least a dozen books for the boys & I. We've also checked out movies, participated in kids craft night, bought books from their sale, & we tried taking mason to toddler time, but he was NOT amused. No silliness for that kid.

I need to keep better track of the books I've read in the past 12 months. I tried using goodreads, but it wasn't that great. Anyway, here's my reading list for the past year.

How to Be an American Housewife
The Help
Vampire Kisses series (feel free to judge)
Shiver (I also tried reading the sequel, not so great)
Harry Potter series (I read a book a week during the summer)
Clockwork Angel
City of Bones
Witch of Blackbird Pond
Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay
Matched
Anna Dressed in Blood
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (haven't finished)
Gunslinger (haven't finished)
The Night Circus (just starting)

Plus, dozens, maybe hundreds, of picture books the kiddos & I read together!

I have several books on hold at the library & I know I'm forgetting to list a few!