Another Jumping One

Just another fun one.

Our New Van!

So, since I'm me and I'm silly, these are the pics of our van. We are so excited! I'm happy to have extra room, a rear door that doesn't fall on my head, automatic back doors, and radio controls on the steering wheel. The girls love the window shades, automatic back doors, the dvd player, and rear air conditioning.


Well, here is a normal picture...if you like that kind of boring thing.

Kathryn's Sunday School class

Today I substituted in Kathryn's sunday school class. I was really feeling the pressure because she's been so excited about it and has even been counting down the days! I taught about Nephi getting the brass plates from Laban. I brought treats for them, but told them that they wouldn't get them unless they were reverent and listened and sat still. I drew a chart of the chalkboard that had a sad face on the bottom and a happy face at the top. Throughout the class, I moved a magnet up and down the scale depending on their behavior. They responded very well to it. I can remember a teacher doing this for our sunday school class when I was 5 or 6, and it really having an impression on me. (Obviously, since I remember is 25 years later!) So, they made it up to the happy face and got to eat the rice krispy treats.

Stilt Walking

We all took a try at walking on stilts. Mike, of course, was the only one that could do it! I blamed the soggy grass for making it hard.

Children's Historic Festival

On Saturday we attended the Children's Historic Festival on Main Street in St. Charles. It was part of the Lewis & Clark Heritage Festival. Here we are miking a cow (Kathryn wouldn't participate), churning butter, writing with a quill pen, and playing old-timey games.

Kathryn really loved this game. She had fun throwing the hoop back and forth with her daddy.

Grant's Farm

Nonnie came back from her trip to Wyoming on Sunday evening. On Tuesday we were supposed to go to Grant's Farm for playgroup in the morning, but I ended up having to show up for Jury Duty! I ended up being excused but not until 11:30, so I ran home and picked up Nonnie & the girls and we headed to Grant's Farm. Better late than never! It was such a beautiful day! We enjoyed the tram ride around the park.

The girls were scared of the goat, and I don't blame them! They were trying to eat every part of them! I took Sydney in, but we went right to the exit since we were being attacked. So, we fed them through the fence.

Mother's Day

For Mother's Day we had cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Then we went to church and all the women got candy during sacrament meeting. (I love this choice instead of carnations!) Then we came home and I took a nap while Mike and the girls worked on my card. Mike took these pictures of the girls, then used them to cut silhouettes out of black and white paper. They turned out really cute! Mike also signed me up for some cake decorating classes that I'm excited about taking.

Member Day at the Zoo

So, even though the kids have been sick all week, I decided to drag them out to the zoo on Friday (5/8) for Member Day at the zoo. It rained all morning so we waited until Mike got off work and he went with us.

We got to be some of the first people to check out the new sting ray exhibit.

And we rode the carousel. Kathryn really wanted to ride the caterpiller.

Sick House

We have been sick for weeks! I've had a sinus infection and the girls have had ear infections. So, we haven't been doing too much other than going to the doctor and taking medicine.

Here is Kathryn enjoying her lunch on the deck. (May 7th)
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Sydney was feeling sickly, so she was snuggling on the couch. (May 7th)

Race Day!

(This picture is not from the race today, but a 10K I did last week. I just thought it was fitting. And...well...thanks to the cameraman's impeccable timing, my legs look killer, so I had to share.)

Yay! I finished another 1/2 marathon! This morning I ran the Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini Marathon! Even with eating a late dinner, sleeping horribly, and having self-diagnosed bronchitis, I beat my time from last year! I wasn't even nervous before the race started, I just really didn't want to do it...but once I crossed the start line, something clicked and I was off running! Here are my stats:

First	Last	Bib	DIV	FiveMile	TenMile	RunnerTIME	GunTime	PACE	SEXP	OVERALL	AGE	SEX	CITY	STATE	X
Emily	Morrison	41899	Females 30-34	0:49:40	1:42:12	2:14:39	2:27:47	10:17	4963	13844	30	F	O Fallon	MO	N

Aprils Past

April 2004

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April 2005

April 2006

(Apparently I wasn't taking many pictures in 2007!)

April 2008

The Magic House

Today we headed to Kirkwood to visit the Magic House. They recently expanded and we were excited to check out the new additions. They have a room that is dedicated to story telling.

And an outdoor area related to growing plants. Here the girls are planting seeds to sprout.

This is the beanstalk that you can climb up that is 3 stories high!

Easter Dresses

Here are the girls in their Easter dresses. Sydney's ended up being a little small because I bought it last year at the end of the season. They had fun wearing their hats. They thought it was very funny when the wind would blow them off. (Truth be told, I took these on Monday after Easter. Their hair wasn't fixed or anything, but I hadn't gotten pics of them on Sunday, so I figured this would do!)

Backyard Easter Egg Hunt

We hid eggs for the girls in the backyard. I don't particulary like telling the girls that some magical creature (Easter bunny) snuck into our backyard and hid things, but Mike didn't want me to be a downer, so we just decided that he could tell them whatever he wanted. In the end, I kind of played along. Whatever, I know it won't scar them, I just think it's weird. These eggs has M&Ms and money in them!

Easter Morning

I hid the girl's baskets in my closet so that I could control the opening. Isn't that Type A of me? I just enjoy watching them open their baskets, so I wanted to make sure I was there for it! I had fun filling their baskets full of goodies. Nonnie bought them some cute clothes and kites. Kathryn got a watch (digital) and enjoys telling us what time it is. I bought them Easter hats because they had seen some in the store and enjoyed playing with them. Mike bought me a pink fishing pole and some candy for my basket and I got him running socks and a tackle box (so exciting, right?).

I love the candy and presents part of Easter, but I have also tried to teach them the true meaning of Easter. I found different pictures of Christ in the Ensign (on the cross, in the tomb, resurrected) and taped them to our fridge. We tried to talk about it every day or so. I'm hopeful that something sunk in.