A Change is as Good as a Rest

Alan and I have enjoyed Spring Break this week.  We've had the best of all worlds throughout our week's activities.  Monday we visited Brian's family and enjoyed pizza and Monopoly. Thursday we had lunch with Brian at Costa Vida.

You've never really played Monopoly until you've played it with a six-year-old and four-year-old competitor.  Camden got so excited, we frequently heard his "I'm about to conquer the world" laugh.  Poor Maris landed in jail several times and finally burst into tears.  Her heart was somewhat mended when she got a "Get out of Jail Free" card.  We had to end the game at 9 p.m. (much to Alan and Brandy's dismay), so Camden and Maris could go to bed. Camden was declared winner of the night--a true Monopoly champion.

Then, Alan's favorite, we worked and worked in the yard Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  We were so sore on Wednesday, we could hardly walk.  It has been snowing since Thursday afternoon, and I'm quite sure Alan prayed fervently for the snow to come to stop the yard work. But look below--a day lily flower bed with no weeds, and daffodils who have been crushed by the snow, but refuse to be defeated.

 Erik's dad is preparing a wedding video for Erik and Alicia's wedding, so we enjoyed a trip down memory lane as we picked out pictures to include in the video. We reminisced about vacations and milestones in our family life.

How time flies!

Each day I worked several hours a day on Alicia and Erik's quilt.  I only have three more strips to finish, so I can sew the whole thing together.  It's getting close, and is going to be so pretty!  Here is one section.

Another exciting event thanks to blessed, blessed Skype!  We got to share in Emmaline rolling over--and over--and over.  It was so kind of her to accommodate her faraway grandparents and do the rolling while we were on Skype watching her.

Friday, Alicia and I went on the Great Bridal Shoe Hunt.  Alicia had some pretty strict criteria for shoes--no open toe, no sandals, high heels.  I wasn't sure we would ever find the perfect shoe.  But. . . after three hours hard work. . . Alicia found a pair of shoes she loves.  The heels are high, the shoe is sparkly, the toe is closed and pointed.  Hopefully she won't be hobbling after wearing them all day on June 23.  Mission accomplished!

We've worked hard; we've played hard; we've watched four movies to help me pass the time while I am ironing quilt pieces.  We've eaten Costa Vida sweet pork burrito, Papa Murphy's Hawaiian pizza, Imperial Dragon lemon chicken, and Panda Express honey walnut shrimp.  It's time to quit the fast food, open my school bag that has five sets of papers that need to be corrected, and get ready to go back to school.  It has been a great week.  A change really is as good as a rest.