Lilac Gardens

After heading up North past Seattle to the tulips last week, we decided to head down South towards Portland to see some lilacs this week.  I guess that's an advantage of living in Aberdeen.  We're located almost halfway between those two major cities.  Anyway, we didn't quite go down into Oregon, but we made it to Woodland, WA, which is about half hour away.

Woodland is home to the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens, which were absolutely BEAUTIFUL!  Lilacs are my favorite flower because they're not only gorgeous, but they smell heavenly.  They were even my wedding flower.  The florist told me that since lilacs don't last long once cut, they aren't typically made into the wedding bouquet, but she said she would oblige the bride, and she did. :-)  The bouquet turned out beautiful (I'm not sure what she had to do to get the lilacs, but it probably helped that my wedding was during lilac season), and I have to say, if I could have had my reception at the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens, I definitely would have had it there.  I think you'll see why from the pictures.  Once again, I didn't realize there were so many different varieties of lilacs.  Josh's favorite was the "Sensation" lilac pictured above.  He liked the white border around the purple center. 

Tulip Festival

The other day on Josh's day off we went up to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival about an hour north of Seattle.  It was a little bit of a drive coming from Aberdeen, but it was a beautiful day, and the flowers were beautiful, so it was worth it.  We picked up Josh's mom and grandma along the way and had a great time.  I didn't realize there are so many different varieties of tulips.  Of course, I liked the light purple ones (I pretty much love any light purple flower), but I really loved the yellow and red tulips which were called the Flaming Parrot Tulip.

 After the tulips, we went to a small dairy creamery nearby where they give little tours and have a small store.  Eli likes tractors and would pretty much do anything to drive one, but the smell of the cows was a little overbearing to him.  His Grandpa Grant would probably be disappointed. :-)  In fact, even when we were looking at the tulips, we could smell some manure (probably being used for fertilizer or coming from nearby farms), and Eli kept saying, "Mom, it smells like goat.  Why does it smell like goat?"  I think he associates the smell with petting zoos.  Anyway, Eli is definitely very sensitive to smells--even at home.  

We ended our day with a yummy salmon barbecue that the Kiwanis Club puts on at a nearby park in Mt. Vernon, WA. 

Easter and the Birthday Boy

Eli was born that time of year where his birthday is on or very near either general conference or Easter.  Last year it was the same day as Sunday general conference.  This year it was the day after Easter.  And as always, his birthday is on April Fool's Day.  Fortunately, April Fool's isn't a major holiday (but one of these years we're going to have a really fun birthday party).  However, there are many activities surrounding Easter, and general conference is all day Saturday and Sunday, so planning birthday activities gets a little tricky.  Since this is the first year we've actually lived near family, we decided to invite Josh's family over for Easter dinner and celebrate Eli's birthday as well.  The weather was absolutely beautiful, and we had a great time with everyone.  Eli loved it!

Earlier in the week we did some Easter activities--painting eggs and having an egg hunt.  I have to admit, the whole Easter bunny and eggs thing is really strange to me.  I know that many of our Christian holidays incorporate pagan practices, so the Easter bunny is a symbol of spring and fertility and all that, but how it ever got blended with celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a little strange to me.  I know, Christmas has the same problem, but at least for me it is easier to relate Santa bringing gifts to wise men bringing gifts and celebrating the birth of the Christ child.  Christmas definitely has too much commercialism, but at least there is still the idea of charity and the spirit of giving and being Christ-like.  But bunnies and eggs?  What exactly do I teach my child about the most significant event in history--that of the Savior being resurrected so that we all may live forever--by having him look forward to bunnies and eggs?

That being said, I still let my son enjoy coloring eggs and finding candy (we just try to keep it separate from Easter Sunday) since it's a tradition of the holiday that we celebrate here in America, but Eli doesn't get a basket full of candy on Sunday morning.  He also knows there is no Easter bunny, and we don't even try to pretend that there is one.  The tricky part is getting him to keep it to himself and not anger his friends' or cousins' parents, who may still want their children to believe. :-)

This year I did not want to dye eggs.  I never welcome the mess, but this year I just didn't want to deal with it or the many hard-boiled eggs that neither Eli nor I enjoy eating.  We decided to blow out the egg whites and yolks and paint the eggs instead.  Unfortunately, blowing out egg whites and yolks is not a very fun process either, but I have to say that I much prefer the painting to the dyeing.  At least once the paint dries, it stays on the egg, unlike the dyes that rub off on fingers and clothes and everything else.  Anyway, enough about my rant. :-)  Eli enjoyed coloring eggs here and at his Nana and Bampa Pratt's home.  Then he enjoyed a fun egg hunt with his cousins.

We tried blowing out eight eggs; only half survived.

I love Eli's expression in this picture!

Eli pretty much only ate chocolate on this day.  On the car ride home, he complained of a tummy ache, which was a good opportunity for us to remind him why we encourage healthy eating.

Afterward, Josh took Eli and I and his twin nephews to his Grandpa Earl's grave.  Josh was really close to his Grandpa Earl, and I know he has a good testimony of the resurrection because of his grandpa's death.  Josh was able to talk about the resurrection with Eli and Brennen and Camden (his nephews) while visiting the grave.

On Easter Sunday, we had dinner and celebrated Eli's birthday with cake.  Eli said he wanted both cupcakes and a cake, so I thought that I would make a two layer cake with two different flavors so that I could have leftover cupcakes.  The two flavors were coconut and chocolate.  Well, the chocolate accounted for one layer, but the coconut cake made a TON, so I ended up with a three layer cake (two coconut layers and one chocolate) plus coconut cupcakes.  I also ended up with some scraps and leftover frosting, so there are now undipped cake balls in my freezer along with some frozen birthday cake.  It all tasted really good though. :-)

Since we took Eli to Disneyland for his birthday, the cake was mickey mouse themed.  I carved a mickey mouse face on the oreo cookie creme centers and used mini oreos for the ears.

I should have gone with all cupcakes.  They were much more simple than the cake.

By the way, the coconut cake is Martha Stewart's recipe, so if you ever make it, just know that it makes a LOT!

Yesterday on Eli's actual birthday, Josh had the day off because that's when his work gave him off for the Easter holiday.  We took Eli to see The Croods movie in 3D.  Eli is so funny to watch because he tries to grab the images in front of him.  Then we took him to Baskin Robbins for a free birthday scoop, which he loved.

Eli is now super excited because he's been waiting to turn five so he can go to kindergarten.  I have to keep telling him that it's not for several more months.  He is just so proud to be a big boy, and the truth is, he is definitely growing up fast.  In some ways it doesn't seem that long ago that I was rocking a crying baby and changing diapers, but in other ways it feels like it was forever ago.  Maybe because I haven't changed a diaper for a long time (and truthfully, I don't miss that part).  But there are other things I do miss, which of course is always harder when I realize I might never experience them again.  Being my only child, Eli and his birthdays are always connected with a bunch of emotions, one of which is the extreme gratitude I have for being his mother.  He is a wonderful, big boy, and I certainly love him!

Vacation Part 2: Visiting Family

One of the nice things about going to Disneyland was that it was close to where my sister lives in La Habra.  We spent the day on Friday with her and her family and stayed with her on Friday night.  Then we spent part of Saturday with them before she took us to the airport.  It was the first time I got to see my niece Cadence, and only the second time I got to see my nephew Paxton.  We had a good time and are very grateful for Bronwyn and Toni's hospitality.

We went to a children's indoor play area, and we went to the park on Saturday morning and enjoyed some beautiful weather.  Eli is so funny because he will tell you that he wants a little brother or sister, but when he has younger kids around him, he's not sure he likes the invasion of space.  He gets grumpy at church or in the grocery store when a little kid is just looking at him.  I guess it's proof that he is an only child and has no idea what having a little brother or sister means.  Hopefully one day he'll get to find out.  In the meantime, he certainly got a little dose while playing with Paxton, and in the end, Eli was sad to leave.

Eli and Paxton doing an art project

My cute little niece Cadence

Eli and Paxton playing at the park

From California, we flew to Vegas where my dad picked us up at the airport.  We enjoyed four warm days in St. George with my family.  My brothers Spencer and Nephi came down with their families, so I got to see all of my siblings on this trip except for my brother Kendall.

We played outside and hiked in Zion National Park.  We also played some miniature golf and went swimming.  Eli got an early birthday celebration, which he loved.  Unfortunately, I started getting a cold on my first day in St. George, so by the end of the trip, I was absolutely exhausted.  But the weather cooperated beautifully, and we still had a great time.

Once again, Eli did not want to leave.  He was glad that he got to see so much of my side of the family.  It's not often that we all get together.  I guess we should start planning some regular family reunions (hint, hint). :-)

Josh reminiscing his childhood days on the playground by playing my brother Spencer in a game of tether ball.

Eli jumping on the trampoline with his cousins Sophee and Logan.  Eli absolutely adores Sophee.  She's the only one close in age on my side of the family.

Eli's Uncle Nephi and cousin Dieter and Aunt Monica

My dad giving Eli a cookie--the theme of visiting grandparents...on either side. :-)

We hiked the Gateway to the Narrows while at Zion.

Josh racing my brothers, which was hilarious to watch.  They were all gasping for air at the end.  I don't think there will be any Olympic golds in this group. :-)

Eli LOVES his Aunt Monica!