Easter at Fawn Hill

I know you've all been anxiously awaiting my Easter post so I will tease you no further. I also just discovered that I can share a slide show of our pics with the picasa technology. I.LOVE.IT.



However, there is a slight downside to putting all the pictures in a slide show format because I can't narrate each one. I say "slight downside" because, well, there are many of you who just want to see the pictures. But in case some of you want the synopsis of the trip here I go ...

I picked up Rog and Cyndi just after 1 pm on Friday for our two-hour drive up to Fawn Hill (Auburn). Highlights: Sarah and Will slept. Rog ate his lunch in the car. Cyndi, Rog and I discussed Holy Week and debated about when the Last Supper was given.

We arrived at Fawn Hill around 3:30 and met "Boppa" Heber and Grandma Ann (our host and hostess). Cyndi's brother Craig and his family (wife Susie and kids Carly, Sam & William) were also visiting for their spring break. Afternoon activity highlight: Feeding the neighbors' donkeys and stick racing in the ditch. Sarah was "scared" (her new favorite word) of having the donkeys eat out of her hand. However, William braved it like a champ. Sarah's stick did pretty good during the race down the irrigation ditch, but Cyndi's stick pulled through with the victory.

Friday night highlights: Super yummy Easter Dinner. (Craig's family needed to leave Saturday morning.) Everything was delicious. I especially LOVED the salad and Sarah scarfed down two rolls! (This is somewhat spectacular from my low-carb queen.) After dinner we dyed Easter Eggs. Since this was Sarah's third time dying eggs in a two-week period she was a PRO. She was just a little disappointed that she didn't get the same free-reign as she had at home. She consented to let William, Sam and Carly have a turn. After we put the kiddos to bed, Rog and I enjoyed the incredibly good homemade carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and settled in to watch Get Smart. It had been a while since we had seen it in the theaters, but Roger still laughed so hard he had tears coming from his eyes. We may need to own that movie ...
Oh and before we went to bed, the Easter Bunny helpers filled the plastic eggs and snacked on way to many chocolates in the process.

Saturday morning after breakfast we found that the Easter Bunny had taken all of the plastic eggs and dyed eggs and hid them outside. Sarah had a great time finding the eggs - especially the ones that made noise. She even stomped on one hard-boiled egg. I still don't know if she knew it was an egg or if she just thought it was part of the rocks. After all the eggs were found, we headed over to the well road to roll our eggs. Sarah didn't quite understand the "rolling" technique and threw her egg down the hill. The poor thing, there wasn't too much left of it by the time we got to the bottom.

The Easter Bunny left clues for treasure hunt that ended with the kids finding their Easter Basket. Sarah was particularly excited to find that there was "Juice" in her bag and ALL of the eggs in it made noise when she shook them.

With all of the exercise we had chasing down the bunny treats, we decided it was time to hop into the hot tub (or pool as Sarah referred to it.) We played a game of corners that was super fun.

Wow ... we did a lot and it's just lunchtime!

After eating a quick lunch, we said goodbye to Craig and his family and were off to Bridgeport for some hiking. Sarah and Will napped in the car on the way down. I think Rog and I even got a quick snoozer in. The hike was BEAUTIFUL! Sarah found a stream right before we turned around and had a great time throwing rocks with Daddy. I kept William out of the sun with Cyndi's visor. It was fun to learn the names of the plants along the way.

When we got back to the car we proceeded to eat all of the snacks we forgot to take with us on our hike. We were famished!

We had another yummy dinner - this time Enchilada Casserole. (Yes, they were speaking Roger's love language.) Sarah loved it too!

After the kids went down, Cyndi, Ann and I worked on the quilts for girls camp. Yes, Ann and Cyndi are very talented over-achievers. They helped me start on a 9-patch square for the Stake Young Women's contribution to the quilts. In 2 1/2 hours I was able to put together 1/3 of the square (x25). I had tremendous pressure to get it perfect. I am not known for my exactness in sewing. I am happy to report that Ann took pity on me and did not make me redo a single row. I can't believe we didn't get a photo of this experience. I guess you'll just have to believe me when I say I did it! All the while, Rog and Heber watched The Ten Commandments on T.V. Rog did do a little studying as well.

By 10:30 we were exhausted and fell right to sleep. Again, I am thankful my babies were good sleepers away from home. Will slept in his car seat and Sarah in the pack-and-play.

Easter Sunday started early with tasty french toast and then church at 9 am. The night before, I realized that I forgot William's church pants. I was sad to not have him wear his new Easter outfit to church. However, Sarah got many a compliment with her cute green polka dot dress. And I am pleased to say we made it to church during the prelude music. I can't remember the last time I have gotten there before the welcome! On the way home, we got to drive through two tunnels - twice each. Sarah LOVED it.

In the afternoon we walked with Flat Stanley in tow to the lone pine tree on the edge of Ann and Heber's property to take pictures. Sarah wasn't too sure about riding on the swing, but ended up having a great time with Daddy. Will loved swinging with Mommy. He would smile every time the swing swung backward.

Well, I think that's all. We hopped into Cyndi's car-truck and headed back to the city. It took just over 2 1/2 hours to get home. Sarah and Will slept in the car on the way back. (Yes, we were three for three for naps in the car!)

Thanks again to Cyndi for sharing her home and family with us this weekend! We had a great time with Boppa Heber and Grandma Ann. We can't wait to go back!