Sunday Cake and Icecream (or milk) at Grandma's

Another great and beloved tradition I enjoyed growing up was cake and ice cream at Grandma and Grandpa Sullivan's. All of my Aunts, Uncles and cousins would show up for a good chat and some delicious cake made by my Grandmother. Nothing better. Most of us drowned our cake in milk like my Grandpa, a few preferred ice cream on the side, but however you liked it that's how Grandma served it up. I remember taking orders like a waitress going around the room asking which flavor of cake everybody wanted and how they wanted it. Then bringing the orders back to Grandma to fix up. Then I got to deliver them. I sort of loved it. She is not able to serve it up like she used to and would like to, but she still makes her cakes and it is mostly my siblings and their kids that gather, but I do have a few cousins that will show up on occasion. When it is nice outside we usually just stick to the porch to visit. The kids will usually start a game of "Andy-I-Over" and run around and around the house. This was the end of a really fun break and what better way to end it then surrounded by family on a nice day. So thanks Grandma. I don't know how much longer this will happen, but I cherish each time that we get to partake in the tradition.

Harry and Molly

 These two cousins were born just 10 days apart. This is only the second time we've had them together. It's sad that we live so far away.

 This is only just a few of the pictures from Grandma's photo shoot. 

 I'm sure they will be best friends. 

Easter Picnic/ Grandma's 86th Birthday!

When I was young we would meet my cousins out at the farm for an Easter picnic on Saturday. The food was always the same, someone brought the chicken, my Aunt Gay made her baked beans (still my favorite) Grandma made her famous potato salad, and... well that was the memorable stuff. My grandma or grandpa, would always do a great Easter Egg Hunt for us around the farm. The "eggs" were individually wrapped Robin Eggs that they would hide in holes, by barbed wire fences and under dry cow pies. Oh my goodness it was fun. Just thinking about it now puts a smile on my face. I loved my time on Grandpa's farm. Back to Easter, we have for a couple of years now gotten together at my Aunt Joice's for a similar picnic/hunt. The food has gotten a tad more elaborate, and the eggs are plastic and filled with jelly beans, but it is still so much fun to talk to my cousins and breath in that farm air. I really have always loved the smell of silage and hay because of my memories out at the farm.
This year, Easter Saturday fell right on my Grandma's 86th Birthday, so we all got to celebrate with her as well. I sure love my Grandma. I have great memories of time spent with her whether it was at her house, the farm, or even the Dixie College Bookstore, she always treated me like I was her most favorite grandchild. (I probably am, but she wasn't about to let that secret out with 21 or more other grandchildren to love). She's older now and not as able to do what she'd like, but she will do her best to do whatever she can to help you out or make you feel loved. She sure is great. So Happy Birthday Grandma! So glad I know you!

My beautiful sister and Harry

Grandma rented this jumpy castle for the kids. It was a hit. 

The grub!

Laynee is my oldest niece. Lucy LOVES her! She helped Lucy with the egg hunt. 

My entire family. (Don't tell Molly but she was in sleeping and I wouldn't wake her up. James is holding a stuffed monkey wrapped in a blanket). 

The Birthday Girl and Harry

The motley crew waiting to find those eggs. 

A few of my happy places

 At the park with these two. 

 Anywhere with this gang.

 Snuggled close to this chunky monkey.

 This is really Lucy's HAPPIEST PLACE: Playing in water!

 Having a tea party with these gals.

 And even tea party's with these guys. 

This was the group picture Lucy took at the end of our tea party. 

Zion

There is nothing more refreshing to my soul than a trip to Zion Canyon to see it's majesty and beauty and breath it all in. Everyone else around the world had the same idea. It was a Wednesday and the park was completely packed. People from all over the place. My Uncle Bruce who drives the shuttles said it was a record breaking day as far as visitors. It was still March and we half expected to be able to drive in ourselves thinking the shuttles wouldn't be running yet. They were running alright and packed. But Zion is not Disneyland. It doesn't matter how many people are visiting that day, you can see everything and do exactly what you came to do. We did wait a little too long to leave the canyon so we were stuck waiting our turn for a seat (or space) on a bus so we could get out of the park.

Molly got soaked at weeping rock. She didn't mind at all. 

Lucy loved riding the bus. She mostly loved not being strapped in. 

This was our first trip back since the honey moon for James and I. It was fun to bring the girls too. We stayed a little too long and they were pretty hashed by the time we got back to the car, but this is one place I want them to know and know well. It is so dear to my heart in every way and I can't wait to scale it's paths with my children. A girl I worked with told me she has lived in Utah all her life and not been. I hounded her constantly and let her know the crime she had committed and hopefully she has changed her ways... (Michelle!) I do think it is a crime to be so close to something so beautiful and not at least step foot on it's sacred ground. James and I hope to return in just a month and a half for our anniversary. Hopefully that will all work out as we have planned. Oh I love Zion!

Springs Preserve

I have been wanting to visit Springs Preserve since we moved here. Actually, I didn't know much about it but people kept telling me about it and how cool it was, so I knew we needed to check it out. James had 10 days off for the Passover (we love Jewish Holidays), so we spent it doing a few things we have wanted to do for a long time.  We left in the early afternoon, and packed a lunch. We ended up buying a family pass. And we were glad we did. We did not even get to check out half of it in the few hours that we were there. We saw the State Museum of Nevada and a few of the desert exhibits. Lucy loved it. It really is a little above her level but the few toddler things that they have were enough to keep her attention as we checked out the rest. We can't wait to go back. James and I both thought it would be a fun place to go out on a date. They have a cafe there that looks really fun and nice. So if anyone wants to babysit two cute girls on a Saturday morning/early afternoon.... ?
Anyway, we also visited the new Lied Children's Discovery Museum. We bought a family annual pass for the old one when we moved here, and couldn't wait for the new one to be finished and open. (The old one, was REALLY out of date). The new one is AMAZING!! I've seen a few children's museums and they are all kind of alike or at least have similar qualities and are really targeted for a little bit of an older audience (than Lucy)

. This one was really different and amazing for all ages. We didn't even see all of it. And Lucy was very mad when it was closing time and we had to leave. We tried to explain that we would go back, but she's 2 and she didn't get it. All she knows is we interrupted her fun FOREVER! I didn't take any pictures there, because we planned on returning just a couple of days later, but we went and it was Clark County School District's spring break. The line to get in lead back to the end of the parking lot. FORGET IT! I turned the car around immediately. We'll be back now that Spring Break is over.

Pi Theta Epsilon

James was invited into this club. Neither of us really get it because they don't really do anything, but you have to pay a initial 75$ fee. The only people that are invited are the top 35 percent of his class and have a 3.5 GPA or higher. They had to write an essay too. He did all of that and got pinned! He got a few of his classmates that weren't invited to babysit so that I could attend the ceremony with him. I was so happy to be somewhere with out the kids. That is a very rare occasion. So congratulations, my PI THETA EPSILON MAN! You are my hero. Let me know if you figure out who that money goes to. Maybe Pi Theta himself!???

This one is for his mother.