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WARNING: FULL WEEKEND = LONG POST (pull up a seat, popcorn and drinks sold separately).

Thursday:  I made it to my book club, and finished the book in my car before heading in to the house.  We read The Chosen by Chaim Potok.  It’s heavy, but good.  It’s about American Jewish life during World War II.  It’s also about an unlikely friendship between two Jewish boys…one who wants to become a rabbi, and the other who is supposed to be the next "tzaddik", but wants to choose a different path. 

Friday:  We had our quarterly women’s night at church.  We had an outstanding dinner (one of our women is a chef!), a program, and a game.  I was asked to share some thoughts about "standing for truth and righteousness", and organize/orchestrate a game.  The ladies rotated to different tables answering questions about themselves.  It was a great evening with a really nice camaraderie among us.

Saturday:  Derek went out on a team ride (more to come on this subject) but got a migraine and headed home for an Imitrex.  I took the kids to our ward Easter Egg Hunt at a park.  This particular park is up on a hill and it was freezing!  But fun, of course, for the kiddos.  Caleb was all about quantity this year.  Jacob was concentrating on finding the "golden" egg which had as its prize a basket full of candy (thank goodness he didn’t find it).  And Samuel was so pleased when a woman handed him a single pink egg.  He gave her a big grin and held on to it for almost an hour.

Bucket Heads 

Then we headed over to some friends’ who were making homemade cotton candy as a way to socialize with their neighbors, and we were privileged to get invited!  We discovered that Caleb is not a fan of cotton candy, but Samuel IS.

  (notice Caleb’s face in the background)

That afternoon we worked in the yard and cleaned the house.  That night our friends/neighbors, the Kovach’s and Brooke’s, came over for pizza, salad, cake/ice cream and a game.  If you have older kids, like strategy games, or think you’d like Monopoly-1800s style, you’ve gotta get this game:  The Settlers of Catan.  When they were first explaining the game (after 30 minutes of setting it up), my eyes glazed over and I was tempted to bow out.  It sounded way too complicated.  But after some coaching and assistance, Derek and I got the hang of it and were hooked!  So fun.  Here’s Donna gloating in her victory.

Sunday: Samuel is now 14 and 1/2 months, and still not walking.  And technically not really that interested in trying it by himself!  So we’ve decided as a family to make this our Spring Break project…teach Sameleh how to walk. 🙂  He holds on to the boys, and they walk him all over the house.  And wouldn’t you know it…he got his "first steps" in yesterday…from Derek to Caleb, and then Jacob.  We steady him (usually by holding on to his overalls or pants), he launches himself forward with a big grin, gets a step or two in, and falls forward.  And we clap and cheer and he looks at us like we’re crazy, but is so pleased with himself!  Happy times at the Smith house…the looks on Derek and Caleb’s faces say it all.

And now we begin Spring Break…yippee.  I’m excited to have some fun with the kids.  Derek’s taking a few days off at the end of the week, and we have a list of things we’re hoping to do/get done, most of which are just pure fun (including seeing THIS movie and visiting THIS zoo).  I’m hoping to squeeze a massage and pedicure in to the schedule too, if at all possible. 

Wear your green today!  Happy Monday.