Somewhere over the Rainbow

We've been having the stupidest weather lately. Cloudy then sunny, cloudy then sunny. Yesterday morning it was pretty nice so I hurried out and started my little garden but really had to rush because the sky just kept getting darker and darker and of course the wind was blowing. It looked like a doozey storm was headed our way. I guess it blew over because it never really rained. Later in the evening it did a little and I looked out the back window and saw a double rainbow. One was super bright and they weren't very long because we could see where they started and ended. I couldn't resist a picture. Although it doesn't really show how bright the colors were it was still cool. Try to ignore all the redneck junk at the bottom.

The Graduate and the Bug

Last night was a busy one for us. First we had Hayden's preschool graduation, and then it was Gracie's 2nd grade play. They were only an hour apart and we had to tag team it so Greg had to leave graduation a little early to get Gracie to the school but it turned ok and I got to see all of both of them.

Hayden has been excited for graduation all year. She has loved school and her teacher Miss Shari. She has really learned a lot this year. She is reading already and loves to do her homework and is so excited to start kindergarten. She goes to take the pretest tomorrow and is really nervous but I think she has some pretty unrealistic expectations about it. We are really excited to get it over with and find out who her teacher will be. At graduation they did a bunch of songs and nursery rhymes and then stood up to answer some questions about themselves. They all did really well and I'm surprised at how none of them were really shy about getting up in front of a room full of people.

Gracie's class has been practicing for this play for quite a while and I think it turned out great. She brought a paper home about a month ago that said what they were doing and that she needed a caterpillar costume that turned into a butterfly. ???? What the?? How was I suppose to do that?! So we came up with a plan to make sort of a cape that looked like a caterpillar on one side that she could flip around and had a butterfly on the other. I bought all the stuff a few weeks ago and of course put it off until the last day thinking I could just whip it out in a day. Wrong. Little did I know that one thing I bought wasn't what I thought it was, and didn't discover it till 8:30 Sunday night. Luckily it was only the dress rehearsal the next day and she took her cape half finished and I still had time to go to walmart and get the right stuff to finish. If I do say so myself it turned out pretty cute. Too bad when it came to performance time there was a breakdown in communication and she didn't take it off and flip it over she just opened it up and let it show a little bit. All that hard work and you really couldn't even see it. I admit I was a little disappointed but the play was great and she did a great job with her part. They sang quite a few songs and danced and they really all looked adorable. I just wish she would have chosen the maggot costume!Here's the finished product that no one really got to see. It has sequins and everything. Someone is definitely being a butterfly for halloween next year! I can't get a clip of her to upload so I'll keep trying and post it when I figure it out.

Gracie's Baptism

My Gracie Jo got Baptized on Saturday. I can't believe how the time has flown by. It seriously seems like yesterday we were blessing her. It was a great day. All her family was there to support her and she asked her Uncle Tony to do the Baptism and Confirmation. She was pretty nervous but not that she wouldn't go all the way under, she was nervous that Tony would hold her under too long. He likes to tease the girls. I think there were 13 kids from the stake that were being baptized and one other little boy from our ward so the church was packed. We are so proud of Gracie for choosing to be baptized on her own. It is something she has been looking forward to and set as a goal for herself. She is a great example to her sisters and her parents as well. I hope she'll keep up the good work and continue to make the right choices throughout her life.

Of course we were running late and I wasn't able to get a picture of them together in their white clothes but here is gracie in hers.
And Gracie and Uncle Tony.

We want to thank all of our family who came and supported Gracie. It meant a lot to us and especially her. Also a big thanks to Uncle Tony, for Baptizing her and Uncle Addison, and Uncle Eric who stood up in the circle for her confirmation. It's so great to have such great family to turn to when you need them most. Also a big thank you to Billie Jo and Tim for letting the girls come to church with them every week. Everyone should have such great neighbors!

Easter

Well since I have nothing else to post about I guess I should put some pics from Easter up.

We went to my Aunts annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday and we were a little late but the girls had a ball. She had a ton of stuff for them to find and then she always has prizes and fun games planned. Ever since I was little we have been going to Aunt Kay's for her Easter Egg hunt. She has a big fire and we roast hot dogs and have pot luck galore. I don't know how she does it but it's always fun! Thanks Aunt Kay!

When we came home we colored eggs. I almost forgot this year. Greg had just as much fun as the girls. I almost had to stop him because I didn't boil that many eggs.

Easter morning I was startled awake at 7:15 by Hayden standing about an inch away from my face. I think she actually got up earlier because I heard an egg full of jelly beans rattle at around 4-ish. So we got up and the girls went through their baskets and i tried to keep them from eating too much candy at that early hour. Then after church we headed to Aunt Ericas for our annual Averett Family Easter Party. It's the best because the girls get more money than candy. Thank you Grandma Dixie! Then we ate yummy turkey and ham etc... and the highlight of the day is always flying kites. The kids all love it and the Crandalls house is the perfect place to fly kites. Not surprising, Greg was the last one to bring his kite down. He grumbles about having to put 3 kites together but he takes his kite flying very seriously. I can't wait to hear him grumble about putting 4 kites together next year! Gracie's kite never did fly but she still had fun and Chandler did awesome! I saw her standing out in the field and didn't realize she was holding on to her very own kite just like a big kid! I kept waiting for her to let go of it but in the end I'm the one who lost my kite. I thought it was history but Greg chased it down!

We always have such a good Easter thanks to the Crandalls and Grandma Dixie. I hope we will keep up this tradition for a long time!

Gotta love a magic marker mani-pedi!

This is what happens when mommy doesn't feel good and goes in the other room to lie down.....

She wouldn't let me take her picture so I had to wait till she fell asleep.

For some reason she decided to hang out in her swim suit all day. Well part of it. It is spring break after all.

She decided to do a little coloring. This is the second time in about 2 weeks she's colored all over her legs. Who is baby sitting anyway? Whoever it is she's fired.

She gave herself a magic marker manicure

And with that you have to have a magic marker pedicure. Of course this just happens to be one of the only markers in our house that isn't washable. This is why mommy's can't get sick.