Easter Sunday

I love Easter Sunday. I love getting new spring outfits knowing that warmer weather is around the corner. I love taking pictures outside in front of the house for the first time since the previous fall. I love eating my mother-in-law's funeral potatoes and making strawberry shortcake. I love hiding Easter baskets for my kids and I love sharing in their excitement trying to find them even more. It is such a fun day. Most importantly, however, I love celebrating our Savior's resurrection and knowing that because of this, my family can be together forever. Why wouldn't I want to be with them forever, just look how absolutely darling they are...

Roman, my little stud muffin!

London came over to take some pictures with us and I had to get one of her and Koko...

The sun was much too bright, but that didn't keep Capri from looking as cute as ever!

Me and my precious girls...

My favorite boys in pink...

It was especially nice to see how much my kids were able to understand the meaning behind Easter. They know that Jesus died on the cross, but then was risen after three days. He lived again. My parents taught their class that day and went through the story of Christ's resurrection letting them know that we too will be resurrected. Capri than said, "So Mommy's dog that died, Bouncy, will live again." That was so sweet I thought considering it had been forever since I had even mentioned our old dog. Capri was obviously excited to know that maybe one day she will actually have a dog to play with...she will simply have to wait til the Millenium!

St. George for General Conference...again.

We had such a great time watching conference together in St. George back in October, we thought we better do it again this April. So glad we did! We played like we always do-went swimming, played some tennis, shopped the outlets, and stuck to the tradition of making scones for conference. All in all, a very fun and delicious weekend! Cody and Tucker were going to be heading out of town so Cheri and I stayed a few extra days with my parents making it an extended vaca. So nice.
The pool was still freezing so we spent plenty of time in the hot tub. Still, Karoline felt the need to wear the flippers.

 Such fun cousins!

 Roman and Capri practicing their dives (which looks so dang cute, right?!):

 And in we go!

 We HAVE to eat at the Pizza Factory sometime during our visit to St. George. Those breadsticks are addicting!

 Karoline and London were being so cute one night and giving each other hugs. This isn't the norm, unfortunately, so we had to document the moment.

What a great looking bunch of cousins! 

 And thank you to Mom and Dad who bought this fabulous home away from home. We love it and can't wait to go back! :)

Dyeing Eggs

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt

I was thrilled to hear that a few gals in the ward were putting together an Easter Egg Hunt for anyone in the neighborhood who wanted to come. Everyone provided a dozen eggs for each child so there were plenty to find. I was nervous that Capri wouldn't enjoy the hunt with all of the other kids running around, but after just a second, she warmed right up to the idea and started collecting. Karoline made me laugh because she would skip over so many eggs. It was as if she wanted to find particular eggs and she was going to search them out! Roman got right into it, but would stop to talk to some of the other kids or to see what exactly was in these eggs. I love my kids and I love that they make events like this so much fun for me as a parent. 

It was held at the soccer park right down the street. So nice to have such great activities so close!

Karoline was pretty excited about the whole thing, can you tell?!

 I made them take one last picture before they got to eat an egg's worth of candy. They obliged.

 More Easter to come...

San Francisco

After going back and forth on whether or not we would be able to attend my niece's baptism, the stars seemed to align and everything worked out perfectly to allow us to make the trip. The kids couldn't wait to see their cousins, Ava, Lily, and Naomi, and Tucker and I were so excited to hang out with Tyler and Mindy. We don't get to see them too often and we hadn't been to their home in Palo Alto in quite a while so this was going to be extra fun. I seriously LOVE their neighborhood and everything about the surrounding area-it makes me happy just being there!

We made it there Thursday evening and headed to the Dutch Goose for dinner. To. Die. For. I have to eat there at least once while visiting. Once we got home the kids had made a new friend, Fernando. This dog was amazing in that it rarely yapped and he allowed my kids to "love" it. Since, all of our stuffed animal dogs have been named Fernando...

 While the older girls were at school, Mindy and Tyler offered to take us to Happy Hollow. This place is perfect for little ones and the kids had the best time. Actually, Tucker and I did as well. It was so fun to watch our kids with perma-smiles on all day, be in perfect weather conditions (is it never not perfect in the Bay Area?!), and just enjoy each other's and his family's company.
Here we are in the petting zoo, brushing the goats:

Capri was in heaven with the animals. I can't believe that hasn't changed since the time she was one!

Roman was showing off how strong he is by pumping water.

On one of the rides that the twins did all by themselves!

They rode this thing over and over and finally Daddy had to join in the fun!

And a ride for the little girls, Naomi and Karoline, aka Naynay and Koko.

These girls are only three months apart and are just darling little cousins!

They had a massive playground where the kids climbed, jumped, slid, crawled and swung. The twins were impossible to photograph they were so busy. Pretty entertaining if you ask me!

On one of the many statues out front. Roman and Karoline were pretty into it, Capri not so much. ;)

We also got to celebrate Ava's baptism at the Allred's (Mindy's parents) home. It is absolutely spectacular with an even more impressive backyard. It has everything you could possibly imagine and more, including an enormous tree house (actually three towers connected) that hosts a zip line. A. MAZING. I didn't see my kids at all that night!

I hate that I don't have pictures of everyone, but that's what happens when I am not the only photographer. Mindy and Tyler are great at getting pictures of their kids, but then I don't! Next time for sure. And yes, Nielson family, be ready for a "next time!" We really hope to be back soon!

Karoline at 2 years old

 Karoline at age 2 at Swirly Girls, a favorite hangout for us!

Karoline is supposed to be in her "terrible twos" and yet she is nothing by sunshine and smiles. I love this little girl and I can't get enough of her. Really. Sometimes I don't put her down for her nap simply because she is being extra cute and I want her around!
She has been an incredibly early talker and now that she is talking like a big girl, she can't stop! I think that sometimes she keeps talking just to hear herself and I can't get enough of it! Some of our favorite things to hear her say...
*When I ask if it's time for night night, she replies, "No Mommy, I awake!" As soon as she wakes up, she calls for us the same way, "Mommy, Daddy, I awake!"

*"Mommy, I have a tiny ball of dote?" while making cookies. How can you resist giving her some dough? I can't!

*I tell her it is cold outside so she needs her jacket, in which she replies, "No, it is spring, it is warm." 

*When she hears any song come on, "This is my favorite song."
*She has even said her first prayer. We helped her along and she was so proud of herself!
Karoline is my cuddle bug. She lets me hold her, squeeze her, and hold her some more. Our favorite cuddle time comes right after her bath when she asks to get, "cozy, cozy, cozy," right when she wakes up, and right before she goes down in the rocking chair.
I am a softee when it comes to Karoline asking for "Mommy, rock-a-bye." We sing songs and rock in the rocking chair. Her favorite songs include Monkeys Swinging in a Tree (which she does the cutest actions to!), Elmo's Song, I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus (because her brother and sister sing it for her), and my Rock-a-Bye, Don't You Cry song. Sometimes I catch her singing that song while rocking herself in the chair.
Karoline is a determined little girl. She sees her big brother and sister doing something and she has to follow. For example, Roman and Capri love their scooters and cruise around the block on them. When I offered to take them, I assumed Karoline would enjoy sitting in the wagon as we took our stroll. Afraid not. She insisted on riding her scooter which is still too big for her! She struggled as she would push herself along for about 5 feet, end up in the grass, have to pick the scooter up and put it back down on the sidewalk, and start over. It took us a good long while to get around the block!
I am so proud of my our newest swimmer of the family. Karoline started taking lessons in January and has learned how to float on her back, something she hated and feared. She has always been great going under water and now can sit on the attached wall with her hands above her head in diving position, and fall right in the water. She also likes swimming for rockets on the stairs.
Jumping is a favorite trick and now that we have a trampoline, she is in heaven! "Mommy! I jumping on the trampoline!" She would stay out there for hours if we let her and she is really getting the hang of it, especially while jumping with the big kids.

Dancing is a new found favorite as well. We put her new church shoes on and she immediately said, "I need to dance!" Since, she has found the most frilly of skirts to wear and twirl to her hearts content. I even broke down and bought her a pair of ballet slippers...bad idea when that is ALL she wants to wear now.

Karoline in Hawaii-January 2012

Karoline already has a great imagination. I love it when she asks me if I would like some dinner. When I say yes please, she lights up and asks, "You want noodles for dinner?" I say yes again and she hurries back to her kitchen to make some. She then brings me a plate and says, "Here some noodles, Mommy," and I eat them up telling her how good they are. She gets SO excited and then will say, "They're delicious!"and we start the whole process over again. It never gets old!
This girl loves to play toys, do puzzles, read books, watch home videos on my phone, color, and do anything her big brother and sister are doing. She loves to be funny and she loves to laugh. She must be a Curtis! She is finally willing to watch a tv show (I know I shouldn't be proud of her watching tv, but it sure helps me out sometimes!), loves to dress up, eat all by herself (and she is still my best eater!), run,  and be outside. Koko is full of spirit and puts everyone in a good mood. We all love Karoline to pieces because she is simply so lovable!

And here are her 2 year stats:
*25lbs putting her in the 25% for weight
*Over 36 inches in height putting her in the 97%-off the charts tall!
*75% for head circumference
She is still a tall skinny girl!