Gratitude for a Good Life

In no particular order - a few of the good things we have been doing since Fisher graduated -Primary "Campout" activity that I helped plan
Mother's Day gifts for Grandma's

Visit to Idaho - Lou loves her Grandma C. She wasn't feeling well and wanted to be held by grandma all the time.

Yummy lunch at Craigo's Pizza Buffet

Curly and Lou on the plane to Atlanta - First time flying - what an adventure. We are spending a week with our good friend Susanna and her children.

Lou learned how to climb out of her crib so we have been closing the door - she falls asleep in front of the door (sounds familiar)

Visit to Wheeler Farm with all of our Lake cousins.

Pinata for Grandpa Lake's birthday party.

Another good thing - Fisher passed his clinical exams and can now officially get a job! After months of studying and worrying - this was a huge relief!

He Did It!!!

We're so glad that Daddy is home

This week we have seen Fisher twice as much as we are used to and it has been great. Even though he is busily studying for "the dreaded boards" during the day, we have the rarity of eating breakfast with him in the morning and I can enjoy time with him in the evening! We even watched a movie together! I could get used to this : )

Wicked Weekend!

The house is quiet and everyone is asleep after an exhausting (and of course fun) week and weekend. Fisher is spread on the living room floor where he zonked out around 7 and the girls fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow at 8. Why am I still up???

Today was the culminating event of the week with the fulfillment of something we have been anticipating since last July. Thanks to a nice Christmas gift from my parents, we were able to attend "Wicked." Fisher and I had planned to see this in New York two years ago, but our plans were foiled by weather that delayed our flight causing us to miss our showing... so we were very excited. It was awesome!

Yesterday was graduation day for my sister K-Rae. We are happy and proud of her. She graduated from BYU and is headed back East for graduate school in the fall.

My other sister Amie went back to college this week. We are very sad that she's not here anymore. Curly and Lou keep asking about her. During her last week, we packed in a lot of fun - we went to the temple, finished projects, went shopping and had a fun cookout at my aunt's house.

This was Fisher's last week of interning at the VA hospital and now he is ready to graduate in two weeks! Yay for Dr. Lake! Last week Curley had a very special opportunity of going to eat lunch with dad at his work. When I picked her up, she excitedly told me every detail of how she got to eat a hamburger and french fries and (her favorite) chocolate milk.

This was also Curly's last week of preschool. I have loved teaching in a co-op preschool with my friends. I will really miss the great women involved in preschool. I am sure Curly will miss her preschool friends... when we move (no we don't know where we are going yet)

One final picture - the Easter Egg hunt that Oma and Grandpa did for the grandkids. They make holidays so much fun!

It has been an eventful two weeks with so many unrelated activities that each deserve their own blog post... but, I will only highlight a few and post lots of pictures to share the rest. Ironically, the three events that I would like to describe, have few or no pictures to accompany them.

Fisher was out of town a few weekends ago and I decided to make a quick trip the Idaho to visit my parents. Curly, Lou and I had so much fun with their grandparents jumping on the trampoline, cooking yummy foods, looking at old pictures, and playing with the plethora of toys in grandma's playroom. This trip was partially inspired by something I have been thinking about lately - that is the importance of family and the uncertainty of life.

Fisher's sister in law's mother was diagnosed with cancer a little over a month ago and passed away a week ago leaving six children (three still at home) and her husband. Her diagnosis and the knowledge that she didn't have much time left on earth brought their family home to spend as much time together as possible and to care for their wife and mother. I attended the funeral this week and the comment was made that Norene had lived her life so fully and righteously that when she knew her time was short, the only thing she had left to do was to be with her husband and children. Listening to her life sketch, I wished I had known her better. She was a wonderful person. Finally, I was amazed at how peacefully and beautifully her children presented her memorial. They know that they will see their mother again. I am especially grateful this Easter for the knowledge that I have of eternal life and eternal families that are made possible by the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The final event of the week took place last night. My sister, Ammie and I wanted to plan a special date night for my grandparents. With the help of our cousins, we cooked a dinner, turned their living room into a restaurant, and then presented a "variety show" with each of the cousins performing a talent or skit. I have to admit that the whole evening went much better than I had ever dreamed...all of my cousins came through with a performance and my sister and dad altered an old "Gilbert and Sullivan" song (one of my grandparents favorite) with words describing why we love to go to Grandpa and Grandma's house. We all sang this for the finale. It was a fun evening and I am glad that we were able to show Grandpa and Grandma how much we love and appreciate them.

And now for the pictures...

Ammie dyeing Easter Eggs with us. We are sad that she is going back to college this week : (

The crafts we made for my preschool lesson this week

Curly, Lou and I were all happy that the beautiful weather returned!

An Easter Egg hunt with family and friends

My brother dressed up as the server for the date night.

Happy Easter!