Grateful

Today I am feeling extremely grateful that I have my little girl and my niece still with us. And that my niece was with my daughter and was able to keep tragedy from happening. On Saturday Brian and I were out with some friends and Brian's family was watching Jayanne. They were at the church cleaning up from Great Grandma Singleton's 90th birthday party when Jayanne and Mackenzie ran through the wrong door and slipped and fell into the baptismal font. For some unknown reason the font had been filled with water. Mackenzie was able to get Jayanne above water and keep her there and get her out. I cannot even begin to describe to you how grateful I am that Mackenzie was able to get her and was there with her. She saved my little girl. Mackenzie kept an honest accident an accident. There were a number of ways that tragedy could have struck that night. Jayanne could have been by herself or with Milly or the font could have been empty and instead of falling into water they could have fell four feet onto concrete. There was also ways that it could have been prevented like the doors to the font being locked and since it was filled with water someone should have been there at all times to make sure that something like this didn't happened. But for whatever reason it did happen and the worst that happened was that they got wet and scared.

Having something like this happen has really made me so grateful that I have a temple marriage. That I have been sealed to my family for time and all eternity. I can't imagine not having Jayanne here with us but if she was taken from me its so comforting to know that I will see her again and that she will always be mine. I can't imagine not having my family together forever and I am so blessed that I grew up in a family that taught me the truth and raised me to be worthy for a temple marriage. And I so grateful that Brian was raised in the same way. I love my family and I love that I will always have them. I'm grateful for the gospel and what it means to me. I know that its true. I know that Christ did come to earth and that he was resurrected and that its because of him that I can be with my family forever. I am grateful for my family, both sides, and all that they do for us. I grateful for my parents and Brian's and the example they are to me. And I am grateful for Mackenzie and for her doing what she did to keep Jayanne here with us and that neither one of them got hurt. Someone was definitely watching over them and kept them safe from harm.

The Stephens Easter Cookie Party

So every year my mom has an Easter Cookie Party. We do quite a bit. We make sugar cookies, frost the sugar cookies, dye easter eggs, have an easter egg hunt for the kids and at some point eat. This year Brian and I did the first easter egg hunt for the adults. I really like that Jill involves the adults with hers so we decided to do one with my family just a bit different. It was just a total free for all and whoever got the egg with the sticker inside got the prize. It was quite enjoyable to watch. We even got my parents involved in the hunt. The best part of the whole adult easter egg hunt was the fact that there was a hole in Emily's bag so my brother in law McLain just followed her and picked up all the eggs that fell out of her bag. She only had like 2 eggs when it was all said and done. It was awesome. Sheri was the big winner. She didn't win alot but she did get some popcorn and some sprite. And the joy of being in charge of next years adult hunt. YEA SHERI!!

 We absolutely love when easter comes since we get to do the cookie party. When we were younger, my Grandma Stephens would have a Christmas Cookie Party and we looked forward to every year. It was really kinda sad when we grew up and she stopped having them. So now that my mom does one on Easter all of my brothers and sisters and I get to go back to being a kid again and make cookies like we did at grandma Stephens house. I love that Jayanne gets to be part of something that I loved when I was little with her Grandma Stephens.

I love the smug look on her face.

She was so excited to show daddy what she had made.

Who needs spoons when you have fingers.

Getting ready for the hunt. We have almost all the grandkids there. Adilyn was sleeping and Bridger was home with a broken elbow.

Enjoying their spoils

No cookie party is complete without a taste of the frosting.

Thanks Mom!! It was alot a fun.

The Singleton Easter Egg Hunt

So Jill had an easter egg hunt at her house about a week before Easter. The kids had a lot of fun. Jayanne was way into it more this year than she was last year. I felt bad though cuz it was really cold so all the kids were shivering but they totally had a blast anyways. Jayanne did really good at just getting her color of eggs. Jill has one color for each of the kids and it works out really well. It was alot of fun. The kids love going inside to see what is in each egg. They also have an adult easter egg hunt. Its just a free for all and each egg is filled with something small and random. This year as all the daugther in laws are pregnant there was not as much pushing or elbows being thrown as we race just like kids to get the eggs. And just like the kids we can't wait to open the eggs to see what is inside. Its a time we all enjoy. Thanks Jill and Duane!!

Hogle Zoo- Spring Break 2012

So for one of the days of Spring Break we went to Hogle Zoo with Brian's family. It was alot of fun. Jayanne absolutely loved seeing the animals. Sorry, there will be a bunch of pics.

These two tigers totally got into it when we were walking by.

And the winner is...

This guy who looked at ya like he was gonna eat ya.

Jayanne took her own camera and took pictures with her camera as well.

Feeding the ducks