Simple Things

This past week was pretty full. Especially from Thursday on.  I managed to take quite a few pictures on my phone though, so maybe I will just share the week in pictures (as if that's anything new).

Simple thing number one, I am grateful Andy has a job so that we can afford to put gas in our car....I will say though if it keeps going up we won't be able to afford it!  This week I paid over $4.00 a gallon. Yuck.

Seriously, it's times like these I am grateful we got rid of our other car!

On Thursday night Andy and I spent the evening at a friends home..which just happens to be the Thornewood Castle.  The gentleman that owns it serves with Andy at church.  Part of the Castle is actually run as a bed and breakfast, while our friend and his wife live in the other part.  Lets just say it is even more incredible on the inside!  What's the simplicity in that you ask?  Well I am grateful for our wonderful friends who watched Noah and Clare for a few hours so Andy and I could go see this place!

Since this weekend was our semi-annual General Conference for our church, Andy's parents came up to spend the weekend with us!  That means a date night for Andy and I (two in one week, that is practically unheard of)!  We decided to go see the Hunger Games movie, and we both really enjoyed it.  I joked with Andy and asked him if he liked it even more than Twilight - we both had a good chuckle out of that one.

Saturday and Sunday were spent mostly listening to our wonderful church leaders in General Conference.  It always seems that conference comes around at the time I need it most.  Usually when I need to recommit myself to doing and being better and just trying a little harder.  Their words always seem to help me do that.  Although all of the talks were awesome here were some of my favorites.....(Click on the Links to watch for yourself!  If you want to pick one, I put stars next to my two favorites!)

Cheryl Esplin: Teaching Our Children to Understand
President Henry B. Eyring:  Mountains to Climb
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: The Laborers in the Vineyard
**President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: The Merciful obtain Mercy
**The Prophet President Thomas S. Monson: The Race of Life
Elder M. Russell Ballard: That the Lost May Be Found

We also took the opportunity (since Andy's Parents were in town) to celebrate little Clare's first birthday.  The celebration wasn't really much, we just gave her her cake and let her pick at it.  I was hoping that she would go all crazy, but alas, she ate it crumb by crumb (even using a fork at one point).  At least she's proper I guess.  Either way, I can't believe Clare will be one this week.  Where has the year gone?  We sure love this little girl!

Now- if seeing her smile isn't one of the Simple Things, then I don't know what is!

Happy April all!

Easter!

I really should be folding my laundry...but the thought of having to put it away bores me - so I decided to blog about Easter instead.  I feel a little behind, even if it is only Tuesday.  Most of you have already blogged about your Easter..so here is mine, a few days late?

We had a great weekend.  My brother Nate, his wife Cami and their two kiddos came to visit us for the weekend.  It was great...and Noah loved having his cousins here.  We hadn't seen them since September...which is FAR too long if you ask me.  We had fun and filled our time with very important things...Conference (of course), Easter egg hunts, eating candy, watching movies, going to dinner at Craigos (YUM), and spending time with all the Fam.  It was awesome, and here are pictures to prove it.

 Family Easter Egg Hunt: 

Whoo! That was a load of pics,  but I didn't want to leave one out! We had originally planned on having the hunt outside, but due to the AWESOME (said with a lot of sarcasm) Idaho weather, we had to move it indoors.  No matter though, the kids had a great time and made out like bandits!

Easter Day: 

I have never been huge on the whole Easter Bunny thing...but I had been wanting to get this little farm for Noah for a while, and decided to use this as an excuse to get it for him.  Hopefully he doesn't expect so much next year...as if he will even remember it!  

I got him this adorable little 'grandpa sweater' last weekend and couldn't wait to put it on him.  Boy is he handsome! 

I hope everyone had as wonderful a weekend as we did.  I really enjoyed conference as well...so many wonderful thoughts on Family and Love. Click HERE to listen.