Happy Easter!

We have definitely had eggs on the brain lately- we are trying Potty Training Round 2. This time, to motivate Jackson, I filled easter eggs with treats and little toys and he gets to pick one to open when he goes in the toilet. The first couple of days I was getting discouraged... but today was a little better. We press forward (with plenty of eggs to go round- Jackson makes me pick one too sometimes, when I use the toilet.)

Last year we celebrated Easter with dinner and coloring hard-boiled eggs.  This year I made Jackson this awesome Easter Basket:  I won't lie: I told Jackson he could help me. I would say "Where should we put this egg Jackson?" And he would show me the spot and I would say, "Um, doesn't look good there... how 'bout here." Statement, not question. Sorry Jackson, get your own art project!! But Jackson did choose the bunny you see among bunny images on google. He also picked out the butterflies.

We spent the morning at a park in Pasadena w some friends in the ward. The kids had a tear-free easter egg hunt. Here they are all lined up for their parents' pleasure. 

Here is Jackson and Quinten showing off their awesome eggs.

Steve thought it would be a great idea to hide some eggs in the rose bushes... the thorny rose bushes. Leave it to Steve for a good time!

After the egg hunt the kids ran around forever. Steve passed out on the grass like one of the homeless. Eventually Jackson decided to join his daddy on the grass, and that was the end of Steve's nap. But there's nothing better than cuddling with Jackson!

After a good solid nap for Jackson at home, our sweet neighbor Mallie invited us to an egg hunt for the kids in our apt complex.  I helped Mallie hide the eggs, then the kids ran around again, TEAR-FREE! Woo-hoo! I'm pretty sure all Jackson ate yesterday was candy.

Here are the little love-birds. Two weeks until we add a little girl to the equation!

Today we enjoyed a nice service, with some French Horn during sacrament meeting. And I enjoyed a nice sharing time by the Bishop's Wife. It's amazing how the simple things can touch us the most. We finished the evening with a dinner with some friends (We were lucky enough to inherit a bigger table last night at about 10:30). Steve being ever-frugal decided to chow on the ham bone. Love that Dr.Boyle!

We had a lot of fun this Easter, and we are grateful for the time to reflect on the joyous occasion of the Savior's resurrection. My favorite thought from the day is a quote from a general conference talk by Elder Wirthlin, October 2006. I remember this talk because it was just after Grandpa Egbert passed away. He said,

"Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.  But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come."

Happy Easter!

Time for Cousins!

There is nothing in the world like cousins! This past week we were lucky enough to have a visit from my cousin Tressa and her cute little family! They spent a day at Disneyland and then we all took a trip to the Aquarium of the Pacific. What a fun day! Here we are in front of the big lighthouse.

Braxton, Addison, and Jackson "smiling" in front of the sharks. Maybe grimacing is a better term?!

Jackson and Mommy in front of the "GIANT CRABS" exhibit. YIKES!

Wednesday Braxton and Addison played with us while Tressa and Chet went to the San Diego Temple--they said it was beautiful! Thursday we made a quick trip to the beach, but we spent most of the time huddled against the wind.

Jackson loved playing w Braxton and Addison, he kept calling them "My kids." He'd say "where are my kids?" Or "I want to go with my kids". What a fun week, we were sad to see the Packers go!

"Good hearted people are rare to find, and that's why I'm glad you're a cousin of mine."

By Judith Pleasant

Thanks for Visiting Nana & Grandpa!

Last week we were excited to have Nana and Grandpa for a visit! The weather was perfect!

Wednesday we went to the San Diego Zoo. Jackson really liked the Rhinos but for some reason our little snake-o-phobe liked this albino python the best. Jackson actually started to cry when we said it was time to go.  He also really liked the "sky-fari" ride that takes you over the zoo like a ski lift. 

Here is Jackson making friends with a chimp statue.

We made it to the beach on Thursday for a nice day splashing around. There were numerous star fish hanging out on the beach.

We were sad to say good-bye Saturday morning, but look forward to see'n ya soon!

The Giant Crab

Check out the Barnie on the leg of the crab. I don't know how old in crab years it takes to grow a giant barnacle but i would imagine it is pretty old

I found this giant crab the size of my head, hanging on a bunch of kelp in the ocean. So naturally I dove below it, cut the kelp off with my dive knife and starting hauling it into shore so i could make some crab soup. But the crab got wise to the gig about half way in and jumped of the kelp. So i had to man up and just grab him. He tried to pinch me but he couldn't quite reach. Then my wife convinced me to let him go. Something about her being pregnant and not being able to eat fresh seafood from the contaminated Malibu ocean and something about not having enough meat on it to be worth it ( I disagreed) nor did we know if it was legal.

When i got home i looked it up and realized it was a king crab! The next one will not be so lucky.