Breaks and Birthdays

We've enjoyed a long week off.  The weather started nice, turned to snow midway through, then was nice again.  We spent time at the park, in the yard, on bikes, on the trampoline, at the kitchen table playing games, at the planetarium, at the new mall fountains, on the mini-golf course.  We transitioned from winter to spring clothes in our drawers (the kids, anyways) and shuffled hand-me-downs on down the line.  We listened to General Conference on the front-end, and closed with the celebration of Easter.  TEC and I managed a date somewhere in there.  More than once during the week, the house was actually clean; now it is not.

Somewhere in the middle of it all, we saw this beautiful young lady turn 9 years old.

Beautiful and truly full of beauty as she takes in the world and life around her.

I was reminded this week that Miss RVC is not so little anymore.  Her favorite thing to do during the break: stay up WAY too late reading, and consequently, sleep in each morning.  On her birthday, she was thrilled to receive mostly clothes, earrings, and books.  She mastered braiding her own hair.  When a friend came over, the two of them flipped through a catalog at the outfits they thought were cute.

Luckily, she also spent a good part of the week just being silly and care-free.  I tried my best to give the kids a real break and not be too much of a nag this week despite having all 5 of them around me full time...not sure how successful I was.

Temple building during General Conference

Hair that went too many days without washing or combing

Birthday visits from grandparents

Fun at the planetarium