Grandma Young's Retirement Party

 Grandma Young finally retired this year.  We were all so excited for her that we planned a party to celebrate her being done.  She has worked for around 20 years!  I am grateful for the sacrifices she made for me.  I know she worked to help pay for college and missions.  Now that I am a parent I know how hard it is to raise kids financially.  I know we all want to give them the best opportunities in life and I am grateful to my parents and the long hours they put in on my behalf.

 Grandma loves to garden so the theme was a garden party.  I wanted it outside but, it was raining that day so the garden party was brought indoors.  We had dinner and then played Bingo together which was really fun.  We then sent the kids downstairs to watch and movie and the adults enjoyed talking.

 A picture of all the Young Grand-kids.

All the nieces loving their Auntie Jill!

It was a fun night and I am excited for Grandma to have more free time to do the things she really enjoys!

Eliza's Dance Recital

 Eliza had a love/hate relationship with dance.  Some days she loved going but, towards the end she wanted to be done.  She decided that she didn't want to do dance anymore.  But, she has changed her mind again and wants to dance next year.  She is actually really good so, I was sad to hear that she wanted to quit.  She did great on all her dances this year and we loved watching her.

 The best part was taking dance with Leah.  She loves doing anything with a cousin.

 The two older sisters thought it was funny to wear the TuTu's around the school.

We love you Miss Eliza May!

Off Track- April

 April we were off track.  We had some good weather so, we tried to take advantage of it.  We spent a couple of nights out by the fire pit and listened to each others stories.

 One night we went to the Cove Pond and did some fishing.  It was a good evening to go because everyone caught a couple of fish.  It was so fun!

 The girl's and I trying to figure out how to take a selfie.

 We went to the Natural History Museum up at the U of U.

 Anne held a Madagascar Cockroach.  It freaked me out a little!

 We went to the new Aquarium and enjoyed going with other friends in the neighborhood.

 We went to Temple Square to look at all the pretty tulips with Auntie Jill.  She also gave us a tour of South Temple.  SLC has a neat history.

We then tried a group selfie.  It turned out pretty good for a first timer like me!

It always so much fun to not have school or homework.  We really enjoy the weeks we have off from school.

Easter

 Easter morning the kids woke up and found their Easter baskets.   There was lots of candy and few little surprises in their baskets.

 Having 1:00 church was nice.  We had a nice Easter breakfast together as a family and then just enjoyed hanging out.

 Easter outfits for this year.

 Love these kids!

 After church we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Young's for Easter dinner.  They had an Easter egg  hunt in the back yard.

 Most of the Young cousins.  We are missing Brad's family.

 Anne loves Elizabeth and enjoys watching her.

 Grandma had a special story to help the kids remember the true meaning of Easter.

 Some other shots of people I love!

I just want to take a moment and express how I love the Savior.  Mike and I have been trying to teach our kids about the power of the atonement.  I really want my kids to understand it and the power that it can have on their lives.  Even at their young ages, Christ cares about them and their needs.

The other day, I told Jason and Anne about my first experience in realizing the power  of the atonement.  It happen when I was about 12 years old.  I had never really been taught what the atonement was.  I thought it was only to help me be forgiven of sin.  One night, I was really sad and was praying to Heavenly Father to help me with something I was really worried about.  I remember feeling the spirit so strong in my room and that the Lord came and lifted the problem from my shoulders.  The spirit then whispered to me to not worry about the problem, that the Lord would worry about it, and he just wanted me to be happy.  From that moment on I loved the Savior so much.  That experience was written on my heart and I have never forgotten it.  I didn't know at the time that what the Lord had done for me was part of the atonement.  That he suffered for my worry in the Garden of Gethsemane.  It wasn't until I was older that I realized what power the atonement had on me at such a young age.  This experience has been a driving force to my testimony and also my reason of serving a mission.  I wanted others to feel the love the Savior has for them.  I wanted them to know that they are not alone!  So, this Easter I hope my kids know that their mother has a testimony of the Savior that I love him with all my heart.  I know that he lives and because of him I can return to the presence of Heavenly Father.   I know that because of him our family can be together forever!  I know as we turn to the Savior that our life is better and our burdens are lighter.  My testimony is a burning fire inside of me and something I hold as my most precious possession!

Schwitzer Easter Party

 The Saturday before Easter Grandma Schwitzer had us all over for a get together.  We started out with the egg hunt in her back yard.  The kids were successful finding their eggs!

 We are just missing Jacob in this picture but, here are the Schwitzer grand-kids!

 Grandma Schwitzer came up with this new tradition......the Easter fish pond.  The kids go nuts for it and can't wait to see what their fishing pole will bring them.  Each of the kids got to go to the pond a couple of times.  Each of the gifts are so thoughtful and fun for them.  Grandma is brilliant!

 We would send the kids in their age groups.  I caught a couple of them with their groups!

We ate some yummy food and just hung out.  The kids played at the park and it was a really fun evening spent with family.