Shakespeare

Second graders at North Ogden Elementary perform Shakespeare plays. Why? I have no clue. I didn't know about Shakespeare until seventh or eighth grade when we had to memorize some passages in English class! Never hurts to start early, I guess. One second grade class performed Macbeth, one class performed Romeo & Juliet, and one class put on a Midsummer Night's Dream. But Chance's teacher, Mrs. Filiaga, put a little twist on Shakespeare by having the kids learn certain Shakespearean sayings, what they mean, and what they mean to them. My favorite:

this lady (me) really does protest too much!!!

Shakespeare was indeed a "phrase maker!" Then, they sang songs about the sayings. It was really, really cute.

a few of the phrases

Chance was 'Mr. Redd', the assistant professor to Mr. Bennett (Quinn, his good friend). Chance had a large speaking part, most likely due to his ability to memorize. I was totally impressed, yet again, by this kid's memory. One of my favorite songs they sang was called "No Women." They sang this because Mrs. Filiaga's class had only eight girls in it – the rest boys!! It was entirely appropriate. Grandma Debbie, Grandpa Brad, Aunt Lindsay, Grandma April, Courtnie, Brielle, and Gracie all came to see Chance's play! What an awesome, supportive family we have!

Afraid of teenagers?? He should be. He and his friends yell at them as they walk home from school. I keep telling him they're going to get beat up one of these days.

Chance & Mrs. Filiaga (Amy)

Easter!

We were so lucky this Easter! We were able to talk the Easter Bunny into coming to our house on SATURDAY instead of SUNDAY!! Yahoo! That will definitely be a tradition from now on. I loved that we could have Easter fun on Saturday and then focus on our Savior on Sunday. Anyway, we had an awesome Easter Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, we woke up and found eggs all around the house. Someone (Shawn) was mad because the Easter Bunny brought Smarties and bubble gum in the pre-wrapped eggs. Apparently the Easter Bunny is supposed to HAND FILL EACH EGG with CHOCOLATE. Tip for next time, I guess. Shawn used his culinary talents to create bunny-shaped chocolate chip pancakes. Those were a huge hit! Since it was Easter Saturday, after the eggs and Easter baskets were found we had time to color eggs. Mine was the best, of course.

Cute little West-a-boy

Chance's, Hannah's, Nat's eggs

I had to make a Ute egg just to make everyone mad.

Shawn "mad" about the pink ears. Chance a little too happy about wearing bunny ears.

This girl has someone wrapped around her finger!

I didn't think a bunny-shaped pancake could be made! Proved me wrong.

the boys

On Easter Sunday, we made it to church. Hannah was asked to be Mary Magdelane and tell the story of seeing Jesus after he was resurrected in her own words. We practiced this at home, and she was goofy, moving around, and not taking it seriously. Late Saturday night, I asked her to please do it one more time, and take it seriously. She looked straight at me with her big blue eyes and retold the story. Her words literally brought tears to my eyes! She was so innocent in retelling about how she saw Jesus and he told her not to touch Him because he had not yet ascended. It was the sweetest thing. She did a good job in Primary during sharing time also, but that little moment at home was absolutely priceless.

After church, we went over to my mom's for dinner. She asked me to bring an appetizer, so I made something easter-y and something I knew my dad would love. Deviled eggs. I showed up proudly displaying my deviled eggs, and lo and behold my mom had also made deviled eggs! So they were coming out of our ears and my mom's were better than mine, but they were still good. We had Lion House rolls that come frozen, just like Rhodes! They are awesome! My dad had to do a little "teambuilding" project for work, so I took/edited the bottom two pictures for that. My dad is a spitting image of my sister Lindsay, but I can also see a little Chance in him! After dinner, we went over to Courtnie & Matt's for dessert and had a fun time over there, as usual.

I tried to find two pictures of these two with the same expression. They look alike, don't they!?

The kiddos

Had to post this picture. It is my favorite. I love the stream of drool coming from West's mouth, and I love that they are laying on my "gee gee" that I've had since I was a baby and yes, that I still sleep with! ha! Classic.

The J A Z Z

If I haven't mentioned it before, our family is obsessed with the Utah Jazz basketball team. Chance and I were watching a Jazz game, and saw an ad to enter to win dinner with one of the Jazz players, the center, "Big Al" Jefferson. Chance asked me to enter, so of course I did. I entered online for each member of our family, and never thought about it again. A few weeks later, I got an e-mail saying that we had won dinner with Big Al! We were so excited. Chance and I went together the week of Valentine's day. The fancy-schmancy dinner was held at Devereaux Mansion, a little place across the street from the Energy Solutions Arena. Chance was the only kid there, amongst all adults. Chance and I were able to have our pictures taken with Big Al, and then while eating, Big Al came to our table and talked to all of us! The dinner happened to be on the same day that Coach Sloan had announced his retirement, so Big Al wasn't too perky at the beginning of the night. But toward the end he seemed to cheer up as he visited with all of us. It was a great time!

Then, to add to the Jazz excitement, Chance and Shawn were able to go to the Leapin' Leaners charity dinner at Energy Solutions Arena. This is a dinner where all of the Jazz players attend and mingle with the attendees. Superior Roofing bought a table and Chance and Shawn were lucky enough to attend. You are supposed to wear tennis shoes with your dress clothes, because that is how Larry Miller used to dress. Pretty cute, huh! Chance played video games with Jeremy Evans (rookie forward) and Derrick Favors (rookie forward/center), played ping-pong with Francisco Elson (center), played air hockey and had a 3-point shooting contest with Devin Harris (point guard), played H.O.R.S.E/free throw contest with C.J. Miles (shooting guard) and Earl Watson (point guard). Talk about a kid's dream come true! Chance and Shawn both had basketballs autographed by all of the players, were able to visit the locker room, and won an auction of an actual NBA basketball hoop signed by all of the Jazz players. Night of a lifetime!

Four Months! (okay, almost five, I am way behind!)

@ 4 months: height - 26 inches (75%) * weight - 14.12 pounds (50%) * head - 41.2 cm (25%)

At four months, Chance and I were in Chance's room and I had put West on the floor for a minute. We looked away for a split second, and when we looked at West again, he had flipped over from his back to his front! He is also drooling quite a bit, but no teeth yet... West has started eating rice cereal, which he only likes if there is fruit in it. He refuses to eat vegetables. With my other kids, I gave them veggies first so they wouldn't refuse them and only eat fruit. But I got a paper from the doctor that said it was a "myth" that you needed to offer veggies first. I respectfully disagree because West gags at the first taste of vegetables. Hopefully his palette will change!