Happy Easter

"Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said, 'I will not leave you comfortless. [My Father and] I will come to you.'" -Jeffrey R. Holland

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I feel thankful today not just for the Great Atonement, but especially for the part that promises "the same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy (-D&C 130:2)." My connections to others--family, friends, associates--are what makes life not just bearable, but joyful. Thank you for being part of my life and being a conduit of the Savior's love in my life.

From the facebook...

Heidi just had an emergency root canal! We called at 8am, she was in at 8:20 and done by 8:50! So maybe tonight we'll get some sleep...??? Maybe...???
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Heidi doesn't sleep much at night and tends to "midnite snack" or "midnite drink", then factor in all the times we gave her a sippy of milk so she would just GO 2 BED...her lower right first molar was pretty much half-decayed. The dentist (our bishop) filled it last fall, but apparently didn't get it all, so this morning he dug it all out (or what ever they do) and capped her off. PLUS he said, "This one's on me." YAY! That Tanya Donnelly song, Feed the Tree, is going thru my head now: "Baby silver tooth, she grins and grins/ Take your hat off, boy when you're talkin' to me and be there when I feed the tree..."

Something so fun...

I wish I'd thought of it.

Catching Up

Last week, on the day I got home from Arizona, we got another new baby cousin down in Del Rio, Texas...
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Last night we had a yummy, healthy dinner followed by coloring eggs for FHE...

Heidi, Daddy, James, & Addie at the dinner table. We had broccoli & carrots, broied lemon chicken breasts, and baked potato chips. The lemon chicken was very easy and turned out great...try it!

1/4 c olive oil

1/4 c lemon juice

1 clove garlic minced

salt & pepper

Mix up and marinade chicken breasts for 20 minutes, then place on broiler pan (covered with foil in my case!) 2-3 inches from broiler. Broil each side for 6 minutes on high and VOILA!

Addie coloring eggs

(this is her new favorite hairdo--wavy from braids-- because "I look like Sasha and Malia Obama.")

Daddy, James & Heidi

James really got into coloring the eggs!

Addie, James, Heidi, and me

James, Heidi, Addie, and me

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Later, we loaded the dishwasher and Heidi took this picture of Polly the fawn.

Heidi took this picture of her frog this morning.

Nice dirty countertops.

Heidi also took this picture of our table this morning...the morning sun pours through the kitchen and dining room windows in the spring and summer (SE-facing)

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Before I went to AZ and Grandma Melin went to Florida, Grandma made the girls these Easter dresses. Addie chose the fabric & the pattern on our date to Billings in February, and they turned out so cute, I think. Here they are trying them on for hemming.

March 26th Easter dress fitting with Grandma...so fun!

I know, I know...

...enough about my Arizona trip already! But here are a couple of vidoe clips, and then I'm done, okay? :)


Dane C. at Devers' from MelinFamily on Vimeo.


Owen on Blessing Day from MelinFamily on Vimeo.

More Pictures from LAST SUNDAY

Mostly For Nana...Owen with his great-grandma Dever
Owen and Aunt Lisa

Sam showing Owen to Damien & his daughter.

Damien and Sam with their boys.

All the blessing participants...

Great Uncle Sam Elrey, Great Uncle Matt Elrey, Cousin Kurt Dever, Great Grandpa Dever, Uncle Mike Christiansen, Great Uncle Ralph Mayberry, Great Grandpa Elrey, Dady & Owen, Grandpa Layton, Steve Labounty, Grandpa Dever, Damien, Cousin Dave Mayberry.

Darling little Maddie Labounty (her mother is a Van der Werf, mom)

Great Aunt Lorelyn snuggling Owen.

Lisa & Uncle Matt

My stepmum, Becky, Dad Layton, and Aunt Maxine

Aunt Maxine, Becky, Lisa, & Amy

Damien, Sam, and Grandpa Bill (with teh Dever Grandpas in the background)

The Elrey Table at lunch time

Gramps, Gram, Uncle Matt, Lorelyn, and Aunt Elaine's elbow.

Papa Dever, Great Grandma Dever, Owen, and lovely Kristen.

Proud Daddy

Dad Layton

Cousin Dave

Sammy lit Grandpa's candles

Sam & Amy comparing boys

Little Pals

Owen was telling Aunt Lisa some stories.

Tuesday Photos

I ended up staying in Tucson for 3 nights because Sam wanted to go to the Career Fair at the UofA, so I chilled with my grandparents on Monday and half of Tuesday (sorry we missed you, Miki!). We walked (and shopped) at Park Place, ate Kristen's yummy leftovers, read, napped, and generally enjoyed the silence AND the company...March 31: Grandpa Bill, Me, and Grandma Lyn in front of their house.
This is the house on Eastland where I spent most of my AZ life.

My mom was taller than those palm trees when she graduated from high school...

look at them now!

Kristen's parents' backyard, where I enjoyed the weather and rocked Owen.

Blossoms everywhere at Devers'

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Tuesday night we headed back to Phoenix to Layton's house so Owen could go to the doctor on Wednesday morning. He was a good boy and didn't even cry when he got his shot!

Owen loves sunshine (and his silly dad)

Kristen is such an adorable mother.

Here she is snuggling Owen in the waiting room.

(Do you like his All-Star sneaker socks? His Daddy bought them).

The beginning of a yawn...

...more waiting...

Owen feeling perky after a nummy lunch.

Owen chatting with Daddy

Look at that profile! I think he's a great blend of Sam and Kris!

I'll miss you, sweetie boy!

***

I got a wicked migraine on Tuesday night and Wednesday and didn't have the presence of mind to take photos of my slumber party with Celeste (Arnett) Hall and her fabulous kids, nor our wonderful PF Chang's dinner with Stephanie Ingermanson Lund, Marce Mason, and Cassie Mason Bacon (in fact, my headache got so bad that I barfed at PF Chang's and ended up not getting any dinner. I know--tragedy! What's worse is that I threw up an $8 migraine pill AND the L&L BBQ Spam Musubi I'd eaten for afternoon snack--SHUCKS! I did have a great time with everyone after that, though, so it was totally worth it. I even stayed up chatting with Celeste until nearly 2am). Thanks everyone for the wonderful time. I will write in more detail about the good visits, impressions, conversations, etc., when I get a chance. For now, it's time to make some treats while Daddy is at priesthood meeting...HUGS 2 ALL!

(especially to all the Hall and Christiansen kids with whom I am now smitten!)