A visit from Aunt Em and Bailey

Geoff's sister Emily, and her daughter Bailey, came for a few days this week on their way to Geoff's grandmother's in Oregon. This is Ceci's favorite little playmate. We were so happy to have them visit, and so sad to see them go!

A raid on Mormor's dress-up box

Saying goodbye...and where was Ceci?

Trying to stow-away in Bailey's car (not an uncommon thing for Davis girls to do...)
NOTE: Sorry for the sideways picture, just realized I didn't rotate it before downloading it...you get the idea.

Visitors

On of our favorite friends, Becca Archibald, and her cute kids came for a visit during their spring break. Her husband Jared was on a business trip and we missed him. This great couple is so easy to be around, so interesting to talk with, and always ready for a good laugh.

A little evening clay mask for weary adults...
(We brought this pure clay from France where it sells for about $2 a box.)

Our kids love and enjoy each other as much as we parents do. With all of the space and exploration around here we only saw them when we called them in to eat. They begged for a longer stay.

Nathan, Tennie, Kate, Ceci, Eliza, Adele and baby Andrew (not shown)

We are so grateful for Geoff's parents who not only generously share their home and space with us, but are willing to share it with our friends too!

Catching up...

Geoff was in Utah this past week doing all sorts of things...with our computer. I am, therefore, very behind. I'm going to skip most details to keep myself from not getting around to posting, and just get the general ideas on record.

As I mentioned, Geoff's sister Ingrid and her family were visiting for Spring Break/Easter Week. I say Easter week because Geoff and I are campaigning to make Easter the biggest holiday/week of the year. The events of Easter are the center of everything we believe in so we're trying to create a lot of tradition and learning around the last week of Jesus' life.

We had a daily devotional that corresponded with Jesus' last week, and acted out the stories as much as we could. More kids made it more fun, and more chaotic at the same time! We made clay lamps to use in our reenactment of The Ten Virgins, as well as to adorn the Passover table. We had a Passover dinner where we talked about the symbols of the food (which mostly "passed over" the kid's heads), and had a yummy lamb feast to follow. All week we tried out "Jesus foods" and on Sunday finished up the week with a fish dinner with honey(comb). It was a fun week. The kids were still most excited about the Easter bunny, which is to be expected, so as a comprise to their excitement and anticipation and our desire to separate Easter from the Easter bunny we had our egg hunt Saturday morning. It was a rainy morning so we had 120 eggs hidden throughout the downstairs. The Easter bunny hid them well this year and it took the kids a good hour to find them all.

General Conference, the semi-annual conference of our church, was over Easter weekend. Ingrid prepared little packets for the kids to keep them engaged, and she prepared a snack buffet during the mornings. Geoff made our second annual spring conference "Mormon Tiramisu" (which Ingrid told us means "pick me up" in Italian...quite fitting for a conference traditional food!) Oh my it was delicious! Conference was full of great counsel, the house was full of great people and food, and activity...we were all nourished temporally and spiritually!

Being with Ingrid and Trent's family was so delightful. We learned a lot from observing how they do things. They are great parents with some great kids.

Ceci sharing Milkshake with cousin Taeya

Working with clay

Lots of free time with cousins...here Adele, Ceci and Taeya had broken legs.

Each child goes for a particular colored egg and Ceci's were pink. I love Ceci's face here.
The magic of childhood...

This past week has been a week of catch-up after several busy weeks, which tail-ended some very busy months. It feels nice to have limited outside demands again.

Geoff was in Utah reconnecting with some old contacts, doing some consulting with the LDS Perpetual Education Fund, and judging a Business Plan Competition at BYU. He squeezed in a little time with his siblings who kindly chauffeured him around, and provided him with dinner and a bed each night. We girls are severely out of practice having Geoff gone and are so overwhelmingly happy to have him home again!

The remains of Willy Wonka

While the girls are sad to see their Willy Wonka days end, I'm pretty happy with the extra time! Overall this was an awesome experience for all of us. Geoff and I loved working backstage; getting to know the kids. The girls were energized by their new friends, belonging to something bigger than themselves, and hearing a crowd laugh and clap and cheer. Cinderella is the next play in the fall and the girls are claiming roles already.

You've seen some pictures in a previous post, but here are a few of the girls in action:

Tennie had three short lines in the Candyman scene

After the final show there were a lot of hugs and exchaging of phone numbers.

The girls with our friend, and the director, Dana Sanders

The shows are over, but the songs still linger throughout the house...

Palm Sunday

We started our Easter week celebrations yesterday on Palm Sunday. Geoff's sister Ingrid and her family are here all week, too. The kids are in hog heaven with cousins to play with all day.

After talking about why Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey colt, and why palm branches were strewn in front of him, we acted out the Triumphal Entry. All of the pictures of the acting turned out blurry (they were very enthusiastic yelling "hosanna") but afterward all kids wanted a turn riding a donkey...so I have a few shots of the post pageant fun.

Ladybug Land

Ceci grew some ladybugs these past weeks, and let them go today. I'm pretty sure I was the most interested in the changes these little bugs went through to become ladybugs, but Ceci spent a good hour playing with them before sending them on their way this afternoon.

Ceci with her Ladybug Land

She kept exclaiming, "They like me! They know me!"

Tenn is 10 in 2010

Tenn is 10 in 2010 was repeated more than 10 times yesterday as we celebrated Tennie's 10th birthday. Last year Tennie was clinging onto young girlhood with all her might; complaining that she didn't want to grow up. Nothing of the sort has been said this year. Three months ago she announced that she already felt like a 10-year-old, and she has a teenage attitude most days as of late. Our little Tennie is not so little anymore.

We've been handing over more and more responsibility to her the past few months. She interprets it as "freedom" and is a little huffy when she is accountable for her choices. Who can blame her? Unintentionally we have done more than our fair share of making up her mind for her, and we're now trying to allow her to grow up. Sometimes we cringe at her choices, and worry about her inexperience. Then we look at ourselves and notice we are just as clumsy at "giving" freedom as she is at "getting" it!

Sunday night we had a family dinner to celebrate her birthday. As our tradition goes we went around the table and said things we love about Tennie, and there wasn't a shortage of things to share. She is a leader. People want to be around her and do what she does. She loves and includes everyone, even those who don't have any other friends. Everything is more fun when she is around. She has great ideas, and the ability to draw others into the magical world of her imagination. She is sensitive and generous and thoughtful. She is helpful. She is eternally optimistic. She is exuberant and fun and has a laugh that is contagious. At an age when boys and girls usually don't mingle she has as many guy friends as girl friends. She loves the outdoors and is a steward over all living things. She is creative, she is endlessly curious, and she has an incredible memory (except for her math facts!) She has a huge heart with enough of it to share with everyone. She is affectionate, and loves to give love physically, with words and with actions. She has a strong desire to do what is right, and she is deeply spiritual. She is really an amazing little..er, I mean big girl! Geoff and I feel privileged to be her parents.

Yesterday morning we served her breakfast in bed, and did all of her chores for her. We didn't have school so she played all day. If there is anyone who loves to PLAY it is Tennie.

In the afternoon we went on a little walk along a nearby canal. Tennie loves adventure...

...crossing raging rivers...

and navigating a grassy swamp. She came home with a 6' stick. She always comes home with a stick.

Last night the girls had a Willy Wonka performance. We had the cast sing her Happy Birthday before the show and we passed out chocolate chip cookies.

The love continued today as she received some cards and gifts in the mail. Thank you to all who called and sent happy wishes her way...she loved all the attention!