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Okay, so it's not MY quilt. It's actually a quilt our relief society has done for church humanitarian aid… but I have invested so much in it, it feels like my quilt.  And I wish it were my quilt… I think it's so cute.  Before you get impressed, I did NOT 

One of those short (about 13 hour) visits from my parents that is super fun for us – although they spend twice as much time driving as they do at our house.  (The trip – unfortunately – was not all about us.)  Still, we can cram a lot of fun into 13 hours – even if part of it is spent sleeping.  Thanks for the visit, Mom and Dad!  

Tthese guys have a special bond.  I love to watch them together.  And when I told Zach this morning that they were "brother buddies", he just beamed.  So cute.  

Here she is!  My big four year old… who has been planning and dreaming about and pretending (with a new stuffed animal every day) this big day since January.  And I think the day lived up to what she had dreamed it to be!  She was the proud recipient of a trampoline (with a lot of accompanying last minute drama wondering if it would fit in our small backyard… which it does… BARELY.)  and bounced the day away – thank goodness the weather cooperated and it was in the low 40's without the snow that was forecast.  Other highlights of her day included her doorway streamers, her princess flashlight, her flower cake, and her gumball machine.  The girl chewed so many pieces of gum at once she could neither talk nor close her mouth… true birthday delight.  Happy birthday miss Emma – we sure love you!

They say the grass is always greener on the other side… well, the grass in Salt Lake is definitely greener no matter which side you're on – at least in March when you're comparing it with Minnesota.  Nate had a conference in NYC so we headed out for a visit – and as usual, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  Here are some photos from our trip – so fun to see all of you Utahns!  

Zach is always telling Emma that she can't do cartwheels.  (Love how siblings do that.)  Here she is practicing… and proving that she can.  (Don't you love the church dress and the boots?!)  

It's maple syrup season!  We went for the first time to our zoo's maple syrup demonstration that the do every spring, where they teach you about how it is made and then take you on a hike to tap some of their trees and see it all in action. There was quite a crowd of people, but it was a [relatively] warm day and good to be outside. Emma loved tasting the dripping sap before they put the collecting bag on, Zach loved the hike, and Carter loved being outside. He has always loved being outside. The muddy morning ended with a taste of real maple syrup on ice cream – which Emma loved and Zach refused to try (plain ice cream only) – although he told everyone for the rest of that day "real maple syrup on ice cream is SO good!"  

This beanie was my 99 cent find at Old Navy – and has become Emma's favorite item.  She drags it around all day, snuggles with it, sleeps with it, you name it.  Well worth my money – who knew it would be so loved.

You would never know it was in the low 20's by the kids unrelenting desire to play football outside in nothing but jackets.  With Zach, it always has to be authentic – and the weather always plays second string to the imagination.  

   
Zach's school had a 'pajama day' to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday – and Emma wanted one, too.  So she had her little preschool friends over for PJ's, picnics, and nail painting.  It was so fun for her that she cried when they had to leave.  She has such a good time with these girlies!   (Hopefully their moms will let them come again even though I let them all paint their own nails…)