Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

Since we missed the tulips in Holland due to the cold, we took a trip over to the tulip farm south of Portland in Woodburn, Oregon! The tulips were pretty much in full bloom there. Even though it was windy, the kids were super patient and still had fun. Their favorite part was the water pump duck races. We got to see someone hand carving a wooden shoe too. After we were done playing and looking around, I got a special treat.... Andy let me order a bunch of tulips that will be delivered this fall so I can have tulips for several weeks in my year too. In Holland we learned about planting the flowers in layers so they grow up around each other and as one flower dies off the next one blooms. It should turn out to be a six and half weeks of flowers if it all works correctly. I'm excited to try it out! Wynn liked the yellow ones, Sydney and Abby the pink ones called Christmas Dream and I loved the Purple Elegance lily tulips. I like how they flare out and each petal has a pointed tip. They are so beautiful. :D

Conference Easter Birthdays

We had a busy weekend for General Conference. We went over to visit Kim and her family in Mountain Home, Idaho. The kids had a fun Easter egg hunt Sunday morning and then later that afternoon we celebrated my birthday after conference. Andy made me chicken parmesan for dinner and a red velvet cake! He and Kim also made me a strawberry shortcake. I was one spoiled girl that day and it was super yummy! I was actually a little bit sick that day so that was a bummer. But I napped and Andy gave me a priesthood blessing, then I started feeling better and was able to enjoy birthday dinner :). Andy had his birthday a few days later too. Busy week for us!

Amsterdam

We got to go to Holland in March. There was a Intertraffic convention Skip-Line needed to attend, so Maxine and I tagged along. After they worked, we stayed a few extra days to play! We visited the Anne Frank Museum, Van Gogh Museum, took a canal cruise, visited the windmills in the Zaans Schanz, looked at flowers at the Keukenhof gardens, and went to the Muiden Castle! It was a unique interesting city. I loved seeing the crazy varieties of tulips at the Keukenhof; their outdoor displays weren't in bloom yet unfortunately though because its been such a cold winter. Since I always love to see the ocean, we made it over for just a few minutes as well to see the North Sea... but it was freezing! We didn't stay long at all. My least favorite part was how much they charged for water and then charged us to use the toilet too! So inconvenient :-O

While we were gone...

While we were in Amsterdam, the kids got to stay with friends the first few nights and then my mom and dad were so kind to come and stay with them! The kids were really excited. They got to do all sorts of fun things like have lunch at school with them, celebrate Sydney's birthday, get nails done, have an Easter egg hunt, mini golf and lots of other stuff. They were having so much fun they didn't have time to miss us! We love Grandma and Grandpa Pack. Each of the kids knows how much they love them and can feel how special they are to them. Thanks for coming you guys they had an awesome time!

Happy 9th Sydney

I have a wonderful friend Linda who I met through visiting teaching that we have loved to have around and the kids adore her. She likes to decorate cakes, so this year I asked her to help me with Sydney's cake request... a unicorn cake! It turned out amazing... Thanks for the help Linda! 

Andy and I were leaving town for a work conference this year, so we celebrated Sydney's birthday a week early. We did cake and ice cream first before heading off to roller skate, play laser tag, and mini golf at the local Maridell center. It was just right to get the girls all hopped up on sugar and then take them to burn their energy out! They had a fun time and Sydney got to celebrate her birthday a second time the next week... more on that to come :). 

Sydney you are growing into a kind, understanding young women. Your heart and desire to do right shows to everyone around you. At a young age, you have a testimony of the gospel, the power of prayer, and strength in reading the scriptures. We know that will help you through your whole life. We love your silliness and are proud of your drive to learn things and do better. You are going to do great things! We love you.