Flashback: 2 Years ago this past weekend...

Reminiscing...

Oh how they've grown...

The Last Weekend of March

We live for weekends, counting down the days until Daddy stays home from work, but they are sooooo busy! This weekend was no different. Christopher and Anneli had swimming lessons on Saturday. Again, I forgot the camera in the car! I was too lazy to walk out to get it. They both have been doing awesome! After swimming Christopher called and invited Meme and Pepe to lunch at the Imperial Buffet Chinese Restaurant in town. He likes to go there because he likes the pet turtles in the foyer. After that the kids went home with Meme and Pepe and Shaun and I went shopping alone! Thanks Mom and Dad! Anneli had the opporutnity to play her favorite game--Pizza Party. Of course she won!

When we got home we had family game night. We played Dora Candyland. It was cute, before we started to play Christopher said, "We should let Anneli win." He is such a super big brother! We started playing and to our surprise, we didn't have to "let her win". Anneli won fair and square. Christopher was so proud of her! I wish I had a big brother like him when I was growing up!

The winner!

The Big Brother--who came in second!

On Sunday, we woke up bright and early and went to church. Then as usual we headed off to Meme and Pepe's house for lunch. We had the kids favorite--Corn on the Cob! Thanks Pepe!! It was such a beautiful day that after lunch, we spent the afternoon outside. I cleaned my car, Shaun and Mom put the trampoline up--(yes Nick you are off the hook when you visit in May!), Dad fixed a few things with his HHR, got rid of leaves in the back yard and took the snowplow off his riding lawn mower---hopefully there is no more **Snow** this season! It was a great day hanging out together in the beautiful springlike weather!

Last day of National Craft Month...

(ignore the really bad picture of me--thanks mom!)

My mom recently got a Cricut Machine. The Cricut is a maching that basically cuts shapes, designs and alphabets for card making, scrapbooking, and paper crafting. I'm not really into scrapbooking, but I have good intentions to do it. Yes, I admit I buy things for scrapbooking, but I just don't get around to it. Maybe someday.... Anyway, on Friday, I went over to my mom's house and I played with her new toy. It was fun! I made two cards and cut out a bunch of cool shapes. It was super fun! I can't wait to go over and play with it some more!

(two cards I made playing with mom's new toy!)

Today I bought a cool cricut cartridge of Disney Happily Ever After. I was so excited because it was 50% off at AC Moore! YIPPEE! It retails for $100--no way was I going to pay full price for it! Anneli is going to LOVE it! Stay tuned for Anneli's 3rd Birthday Invitation that I'm going to work on hopefully later this week...

Sweet Moments...

I love sister; she loves me,

We love brother; yes siree;

He loves us, and so you see,

We are a happy family!

A Happy Family

Words and music by

Moiselle Renstrom (1889-1956)

What Do The Flowers You Pick Say About You?

What These Roses Say About You

You are a classic romantic who believes in true love. You often experience deep emotions and feel warmth toward almost everyone. You are a bundle of positive feelings and sweetness.

What Do The Flowers You Pick Say About You?

Painting!

Christopher had a half day of Kindergarten today because of additional Parent Conferences at his school. As soon as he got home he and Anneli were begging me to paint some wooded things they picked out yesterday at AC Moore. Here are a few pictures of them being creative!

HAPPY CRAFT MONTH!

We'll add more pictures of our finished projects once they dry and are finished!

Off to School!

Today was a gorgeous Spring day! Finally!!! Here is Christopher waiting outside for the bus instead of inside the front door! (notice the front lawn is freshly raked...)

Wait!!! Did Christopher forget to get dressed?!? He's in his Pajamas!

Uh Oh...there he goes!

Christopher wanted his picture taken today because he thought it was pretty cool that he was wearing his pajamas to go to school. He brought in $1.00 to donate to Relay for Life and he could wear his PJ's to school! Even Anneli had to wear her Princess Pajamas today! Fun, fun, fun!

Yardwork!

Yesterday, I raked the front lawn while the kids played in the Sandbox and rode their bikes in the drive way. They had a blast! Sorry--I have no pictures, I was too busy working! I couldn't believe all the dirt on the grass! Our lawn looks great, but my hands don't look too good and my body aches! What was I thinking...

This afternoon, Anneli was looking at my open blister and said, "Mommy, you have a hole on your hand. I'm going to have to get a new Mommy. But I don't want to, I love YOU Mommy." I reassured her that I would be fine, that it would heal soon and she wouldn't have to get a new mommy. She then said, "I'll take care of you Mommy." Then she snuggled with me for a few minutes, kissed me and then off she went to play on the computer! How sweet!

Way to go Christopher!

This afternoon, Mom came over to watch Christopher and Anneli, so that Shaun and I could attend Parent Conferences with Christopher's Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Hooper. It was a nice visit with his teacher. I've come to know her quite well this year as I volunteer at the school as much as I can, some things have included taking pictures for the yearbook, coordinating all Snack Parties for Christopher's Class, going on a field trip to the grocery store, working the bookfair in the fall and the spring, assembling AM/PM scrapbooks, reading to the class and anything else that they may need.
Anyways, we got a good report from Mrs. Hooper about Christopher. She said that he is the youngest in either of her classes and he is the most dependable. He is very bright and is certainly ready for first grade. She said there are two kids in the class that read rather well--Christopher and another friend of his. She pairs them together to read a more complex book while she helps the other kids read another book. We were glad to know that she tries to challenge him a bit! One thing she commented on was his ability to form sentences. Each day they write a sentence or two in their ABC Booklets. For example one day they were focusing on the letter "O". They choose an object from a list and then they have to write a sentence. He chose and "Octopus". He then wrote the next sentence perfectly. "The octopus blends into the ocean sands." She commented that his sentences and comments are very "learning channel" like. We laughed because he LOVES watching the history channel, animal planet and the learning channel! He is also obsessed with books that teach him about things like animals and tornados. It was fun flipping through his booklet and seeing what he writes about. We should set up a Blog for him...that's an idea...

We are so proud of you Christopher! Keep up the great work!

Soccer Anyone?

What a big guy!

Christopher got a new soccer ball for Easter from my parents-(Anneli got one too!)-along with candy and some other treasures. He was so excited and had to go right out with Aunt Val and Johann to play soccer! Thanks guys! Then Shaun went out and kicked the ball with him. He kicks it pretty good! He will start Spring Soccer here in town in a few weeks. He's really excited and even practiced yesterday with Meme and Pepe while my cousin Roger from New York was here visiting! He said he has to practive everyday! Such a dedicated fella. Fun, fun, fun!

Having some fun!

The Crazy St. Lawrence Family

having some family fun!!

Anneli was the only smart one. She wouldn't try it on!

Family for Easter!

Everyone in the sunroom watching NCAA Basketball after eating Easter Dinner. It was great having Grandma & Grandpa Mansfield join us! Thanks to them both for the Jelly Belly's and to Grandpa Mansfield for playing outside with us!! :) We hope to see you again soon!!

It was great to see Aunt Valerie and Johann this weekend.

Anneli misses them both--she talked about Johann all day yesterday!!

Easter Egg Hunt!

The Easter Bunny left 50 eggs for the kids to hunt for after church! They had a blast running all around finding the eggs. Christopher was very excited that they contained candy and money too! Thanks Aunt Val and Johann for hiding the eggs!
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cRaZy Easter Photo Shoot!

We tried to take some pictures of the kids after Church...BubbleShare: Share photos - Find great Clip Art Images.

Easter Morning

We woke the kids up at about quarter of seven so they could see what the Easter Bunny brought them before we head off to church for 9am. The kids got some treasures in their baskets and then did a small Easter Egg Hunt before it was bath time! Here are a few pictures.

Christ the Lord is Risen Today!

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

`

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the vict'ry won, Alleluia!

Jesus' agony is o'er, Alleluia!

Darkness veils the earth no more, Alleluia!

`

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

`

Listen to it here

Text by Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Music Anon., Lyra Davidica , 1708

Interesting Easter Date Facts!

I've always been fascinated with how Easter is a difficult holiday to pinpoint a date for, since Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the Spring Equinox (March 21st). As we all know, Easter is a bit early this year, falling on Sunday, March 23rd. The earliest date Easter could be is March 22nd and the latest it could be is April 25th. Easter fell on our wedding Anniversary, April 15th in the year 2001!!

Shaun and I heard some interesting facts on the WFSB news this morning.

The next time Easter will be this early, March 23rd, will be 220 years from now in the year 2228! The last time it was this early was in 1913! Imagine that! The last time Easter was the earliest it could fall (March 22nd) was 1818, the next time will be 277 years from now in the year 2285. So no one alive today will ever see Easter so early again! Easter last fell on the latest possible date, April 25th in 1943 and will next fall on that date in 2038. But Easter will fall on April 24th, just one day before this latest possible date, in 2011!

Good Friday

With today being Good Friday, I want to take a minute to reflect on the Atonement of my Savior Jesus Christ. This month as I took some time to ponder and read about Jesus Christ, I read an article that I loved The Atonement of Jesus Christ by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. Some of you may have read it, but if you'd like you can pull up this article by clicking on the previous link. I loved how this article started out by an account of a dream of being with the Savior while he suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane. Toward the end of the dream Elder Orson F. Whitney (the missionary acounting the dream) stood with the Savior, and Peter, James and John and he spoke to the Savior and the Savior spoke to him. The missionary begged the Savior to take him with Him. The Savior replied, "No, my son; these have finished their work, and they may go with me; but you must stay and finish yours." The missionary then asked, "Well, promise me that I will come to You at the last." The Savior smiled sweetly and tenderly and replied: "That will depend entirely upon yourself." This dream account made the Atonement more personal to me. As we think about Jesus Christ and the Atonement this weekend, and always, may we remember that Christ has done his part and that the rest depends upon ourselves...

I'm grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and his awesome example we have to follow. I'm grateful He would give His life for me (us). I'm grateful for my family and for the privilege I have to teach my children of Him each day. I pray that I will be able to live my life so that I can live with Him and my Father in Heaven when my work here on this earth is finished.

A Good Friday

Christopher had the day off from school today and was very excited to head over to my parents house early to "work". My dad hired Christopher to help pick up sticks in the yard. Christopher was up early and ready to work by 7:15am. We raced over and Chris and Pepe went to the bank and then they worked outside for an hour or so. It was SUPER windy so they didn't do all that Pepe had wanted to, but Christopher worked VERY hard. He made some money and was very happy to go to the mall for lunch and look for something to buy with his hard earned money. He was very disappointed that he didn't find anything to buy. I tried to tell him it was a good thing that he didn't spend it, then he could buy something bigger and better maybe next time he saved a little more money.
Anneli went to Walmart with Meme while the boys worked. Pepe gave her two dollars for helping bring the newspaper in the house. As soon as we got there she saw a cute little white Easter Bunny she just had to have and she was lucky it costed $2.00--meme had to spot her for the taxes though!! All through the store she would whisper, "I want to get out." Then she'd turn to my mom and tell her, "The Easter Bunny wants to get out." The bunny was stuck in cardboard packaging of course. Meme told her that the bunny would have to wait until we paid for him. Every few seconds you could hear her tell the bunny that he would have to wait! Then she'd say, "Are we done yet, Easter Bunny wants to get out!" She LOVES making stuffed animals come alive! I love little kids big imaginations!

(I will post some pictures later!)

Thanks Grande Memere!

Thanks Grande Memere for the cute Blue Mountain Easter E-Card. The kids enjoyed clicking wherever the Easter Bunny went. Anneli got a kick out of the laughing tree and the growing flower! Both Christopher and Anneli had da blast playing this card over and over again! We love you and miss you! We hope you have a very Happy Easter! Thanks again!!!

Kindergarten Pancake Pajama Party!

Today was Christopher's "Easter Pancake Pajama Party" at school. Since I coordinate all his Snack Parties, Anneli and I had the opportunity to join them. Anneli even wore Pajamas like all the other kids! One of Christopher's friends fathers volunteered to come and help, look at the cute pancakes he made! (photo below) I love being able to stay home and volunteer in Christopher's class to help make his snack parties special! It was a fun day!

Spring!?

Today is the official first day of SPRING, but it's cold and windy outside! Hopefully the milder temperatures will be upon us soon! The kids and I have been searching for signs of Spring outside. They are few, but we've seen a few Robins and other birds around, our Crocuses have bloomed, some other little white flowers have appeared in the grass on the side of our house, our daffodils and tulips are growing rapidly--each day the kids check on them for buds--nothing yet, but Spring is definately in the air!

Here's a little touch of SPRING from inside my house!Daffodils are my favorite Spring Flower!!

Yesterday, I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone a little before nine in the morning and Shaun pulls into the yard. All I could think of is that he was sick. Up to the door he came, with flowers! He brought me daffodils in the middle of the day for no reason at all. What a sweet husband! THANKS Shaun!

Cute Easter Craft Idea

A creative craft Christopher made for Easter!

Great Job Chris!

He's missing an eye...just pretend he's winking at you!

Thanks Soup Mem & Ray

Today the kids got Easter Cards from Soup Mem & Ray! Christopher was at school already, but Anneli was excited and opened hers right up. They love getting mail! She LOVED the Tinkerbell card. She loved the money that fell out of it too! She was so cute. She has been asking for a stuffed Dalmation Puppy from the Disney Store for Easter from the Easter Bunny. When the money fell out of the card she said, "I don't have to wait for the Easter Bunny to get a Puppy. I can buy my Puppy with money from Soup Mem and Ray! Thank you!" Here's a picture of her reading her TinkerBell card, "To Ana...."

Thanks Soup Mem and Ray for the Easter Cards and the money!We will miss you during Easter this year. We love you and miss you! Have a great weekend!

A Rainy Wednesday...

The Rainy Day

by Henry W. Longfellow
The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;

It rains, and the wind is never weary;

The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,

But at every gust the dead leaves fall,

And the day is dark and dreary!

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;

It rains, and the wind is never weary;

My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,

But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,

And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;

Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;

Thy fate is the common fate of all,

Into each life some rain must fall,

Some days must be dark and dreary.

Keeping Busy...

I've been keeping busy lately by helping out in Christopher's class. Today I spent the afternoon working on some "ME BOOKS" for his Kindergarten Teacher. Each year she compiles some work and pictures that the kids do for each month and she puts them in a type of scrapbook for each kid. She's been doing this for almost twenty years or so and this year I am helping her out by putting together the books at home for both the AM and the PM classes. It can take a lot of time, but it's been fun seeing all the kids hard work and seeing what they do in class each day! It'll be a great keepsake for the Parents and kids to look at--especially since you get sooooo many papers and what do you do with them all!?? Here's a picture of Christopher's papers from February.

Off to get more paper from school so I can maybe finish the AM pages tomorrow...and then the March pages will arrive!

Spring has SPRUNG!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

An Old Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Have you tried them?

IKKKY! (sorry! but YUCK!)

My dad brought home a case of Skittles Chocolate Mix this weekend. I saw them at the store, but I would never have bought them because I'm not a big chocolate fan. Hesitantly, I tried a handful of the assorted flavors: Vanilla, S'mores, Brownie Batter, Chocolate Carmel and Chocolate Pudding. YUCK! I wasn’t crazy about it at all! Shaun and I both thought they tasted a lot like Coffee Beans! If you have tried them let me know what you think!!

A busy Saturday...

Today was a busy Saturday!! We started off getting the kids in their swim suits and then out the door for Swimming Lessons. Sorry no pics today! Shaun took them swimming while I ran to the Recreation Department downtown to sign Christopher up for Soccer with the Plainville Soccer Club. Fun, fun, fun! After swimming and soccer sign up Shaun and Anneli headed up to UCONN Storrs to check on some contractors Shaun had working. Christopher and I ran a few errands and then we raced to a birthday party for his friend Justin from school. It was a fun party. It was at T-Bowl Lanes in Newington--it's known as the "Largest Duck Pin Center in the World!" Christopher had fun bowling and hanging out with his friends.

After the bowling party, Christopher and I rushed home because my mother in law and her friend Jim were supposed to stop by that evening as they traveled back home to New Hampshire from their vacation in Florida. When I got home, Shaun was slaving away in the kitchen cooking his yummy lasagna recipe and making a salad for supper. What an awesome guy! He even made two extra pans of lasagna, or as Anneli calls it, "zania" to put in the freezer for later! Yummy!! :)

We all had a nice visit with Memere from NH and Jim. We had a great supper, visited with them a bit, watched a few minutes of TV and then we all went to bed! Everyone was exhausted! thanks for stopping by Memere and Jim! It was great to see you!