Snowy Easter Day

The kids watching it snow through the window



Making a run for it!



Emily playing in the snow. Joey watching his footprints.



Arriving at Church. The kids go check out the hedges covered in snow.



Emily takes every opportunity to walk in the snow.



Mandy and Jenny in the Church Parking Lot



Home again--much of the snow is gone and soon the rain will melt the rest. Well, it was fun while it lasted!

Notice in the following videos our Homemade Easter Baskets. Our "real" ones must still be packed up somewhere.... so we got creative with paper sacks and yarn.

The Easter Egg Hunt









Dividing up the spoils.

Easter

Some of you might have noticed the change in the look of my blog. With Easter around the corner and the beginning of Spring, I thought it fitting to add color to my page. Here in the UK the bushes are getting greener and many of the trees are full of blossoms. The yellow daffodils are standing tall and other flowers are poking up their green heads. New life is beginning and some life is beginning anew.

How many of us have not felt the cold of winter? or the darkness of night? and in contrast, the warmth and light of the Sun? I've always gotten really excited when the sun peaks its head out after a long winter, but I am especially grateful this Spring. I've never experienced so much darkness in a Winter before this year.

My thoughts turn to the Book of Mormon story following the crucifixion of Jesus. The darkness was so thick, they couldn't see their hands in front of their faces, nor could they light a candle to get light. There was nothing but darkness for three days straight. I imagine children clinging to their mothers for comfort and wives turning to their husbands. When suddenly they hear a voice, a still small voice, yet it pierces them to their core. They look and see the Resurrected Savior descending from Heaven. What a marvelous sight to see his light in contrast to the darkness.

I've felt for some time now that the Spring is Heavenly Father's way of reminding us each year of the light the Savior brought to the world. Each winter we experience an added measure of darkness, and each Spring, the world gets brighter and more beautiful. Easter is a celebration of the light the Son of God gave to each one of us, the new beginning he offered us. Just as there is new life all around us each Spring, so Jesus gave his life so that we could live again. He went through the darkest of hours prior to his death so we would not have to if we repent and become clean of our sins. I'm thankful for my Savior's love. I'm thankful for His light. And I'm thankful for Spring.

I’ve been tagged for info on Joseph and I

His full name: Joseph Harris McDermott

How long have you been married: 10 years on June 13th

How long did we date: 4 years (if you count my mission, which really doesn’t count)

Who said I love you first: I honestly can’t remember.

Who sings better: We met in Choir so we both sing, but I enjoy it more.

Who's smarter: Joseph (I could never be a Pathologist)

Who does the laundry: Joseph washes the whites and his socks when he runs out. I do the rest.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed: Joseph

Who mows the lawn: So far, since we moved to England, we pay the neighbor to do it.

Who cooks dinner: Joseph cooks meals when he can tell I need a break. Otherwise I make the meals.

Who drives: I drive when I can tell Joseph is sick of it.

Who's more stubborn: Definitely me, though he has his moments.

Who kissed who first: This could go down as one my most embarrassing moments. He kissed me and he was my first kiss so I had no idea what I was doing (and he could tell).

Who asked who out first: Technically he asked me out. I suggested we all (in our carpool) have a picnic because it was such a beautiful day. He dropped the other girl off and then asked me if I wanted to go on a picnic today with him.

Who proposed: Joseph (unofficially while I was on my mission) and again in March (4 years after we started dating)

Who has more siblings: Jenny (has 8 siblings).

Who wears the pants of the family: I’d have to say me when it comes to discipline, and Joseph when it comes to family outings.

I tag: Molly, Juliann, Patsy, and Allison

Quotable Quotes and Sweet Moments With the Kids

A few weeks ago, Joseph was looking at Mandy who had enraptured him with her soft features and beautiful, expressive eyes. He said, “Mandy, what are we going to do when you aren’t a baby anymore? Should we have another baby?” And she said definitively, “No! I be the baby.”

We were sitting in Sacrament Meeting two weeks ago and I was trying to help Joey be reverent. I took one of my primary visual aides, a frog on a stick, and put it in his shirt pocket. I explained that if he was reverent, the frog would stay. Several times I had taken it out and he had to earn it back by showing me what it was to be reverent. He seemed extra thoughtful that week as they passed the sacrament and I reminded him to think about Jesus. When the sacrament was over he said, “I know Jesus has a tender heart, and he would be very sad to live on the Earth today and wouldn’t like us to get hurt.” I couldn’t help but think of the war in Iraq and all the places where people are killing other people. I couldn’t help but remember the last time I spanked Joey and he told me, we couldn’t live together forever if we spank our kids. I can’t help but think of so many times when I have gotten angry with him and he cries, and throws his arms around me and says in sobs, “I love you so much!” Is that the sweetest ever? He is such a good example to me of love.

A few nights ago Emily was playing with her cousin, Jaxon, when I pulled her away to finish homework that was due the next day. She had spent her normal homework time playing and it was now 8:00 p.m. Her homework had waited long enough. She wanted to play and was in no mood to be doing reading worksheets. She complained of her responsibility and accused me for her unfinished work. When I had suffered enough of her wrath, I left her room with the words, “Just turn it in blank and see what [her teacher] Ms. Wilson says about that.” Cold and frazzled, I entered my bedroom, locked the door, turned off my light, and curled up in my bed. Only moments had gone by when Emily, with a soft voice, came to my door and said, “I have something for you.” For Valentine’s Day I had given each of my kids a book of coupons to express my love. “It’s a coupon,” she said. How could my heart not soften? I turned on the light and read the coupon she had slid under the door, “one hour of my time.” I went to her room where she willingly read me the remaining story. She then told me, “I was saving this coupon for something really important. I knew something like this would happen.” Very appropriately, her book was entitled, Loving, and related the many things parents do for their children that show they care. Her worksheet instructed her to list 10 ways her parents show their love for her. At the bottom the instructions read, “Now go give them a hug.” And she did. I couldn’t have been happier with my Emily than I was that night.

Freezy Joey Eating Ice Cream in Rome...

I haven't posted anything in a while and I came across this video that is so sad it's funny. The poor guy is so cold he can't even talk! Keep in mind we went to Rome in November, not the warmest time of year, and this shop is not one you can close the door on and stay a little bit warm. It is pretty open and the breeze, I'm sure, is blowing on him. Yet he keeps eating his ice cream! It must have been very good!

Emily's Class Christmas Party

These pictures say so much about Emily. You see her sweetness, her excitment, her patience, and her enjoyment. It paints a picture that is so Emily, my sweet 6 year old.

Emily has a question for Santa (isnt' that the most angelic face?)

Emily's been waiting to get her present from Santa and it's finally her turn

Patiently waiting for everyone to get their gifts so they can open them all together

Ripping the box apart to get her present

She loves them!

Christmas Eve Signs

This deserves it's own entry. All on her own, Emily made these signs for Santa on Christmas Eve letting him know what she wants. She says, "I would like a dog like this one." If you look closely, you see arrows to let Santa know where the stockings and tree are. Then she adds, "I like you." What a cutie!