Butterfly Countdown

 Reggie and I started planning our Tennessee vacation in January. We haven't gone yet, but we're getting closer! I saw some cute, colorful, glass butterflies at Hobby Lobby and decided they would make the perfect countdown, especially because one of Dolly Parton's monikers is the butterfly.

 I also started noticing butterfly stuff all over the place, like candles and lotions from one of my favorite stores . . . .

and even real butterflies out on the playground and at the Academy of Sciences. 

Working in a preschool is the perfect place to think about butterflies - kids seem especially fascinated by them.  There are so many cute books about them.

 One of my favorite art projects at work last year was of the butterfly life cycle.  I was going to post a picture, but I don't think I took any. SO, now I have another great idea! Since we have 4 preschooler grandchildren right now, I think I will try to re-create the project with them. In fact, let's call it something like "Grandma's Preschool Club 2026!". 

So anyway, let the Butterfly Countdown continue! And, I can't end this post without another Dolly Parton song:

Giants Game

The last part of our family-long-weekend was spent at a Giants game Monday night. I didn't go, as I just knew that more walking, stairs and bleachers would be the end of me after a full day of work. But I treasure the pictures - they remind me of how much Reggie has done for our family over the decades, missing many outings because he had to work, in or out of town. So me missing an outing because I had to work is more than ok. I am happy to take my turn, and I am so happy he had this time with our posterity (minus Luke, who was not feeling well.)

Easter Outdoors, part 2

 The Easter Egg Hunt! Mariah suggested a grassy field we used to visit in their childhood. It was a wonderful, yellow superbloom. The eggs were filled with candy, a few toys, leftover food (my idea, as a joke) and "coupons" that Mariah came up with. It was cute to see the kids cashing in and giving what was promised in the coupons, like "one free piggy-back ride from Luke" or "one free dance lesson by Bear" - stuff like that. 

Samantha brought along her croquet set - a Stowell family tradition from way back. The lawn was certainly not manicured like it should be for croquet, but we had fun trying to whack the balls around with the mallets anyway. 

It was a wonderful Easter Day and weekend.

Oh it's on! They are talking smack, to Reggie I think. They have their game faces on!

That glorious anticipation!

 Reggie & I are counting down the days till our Tennessee trip. We've been learning all we can about The Smoky Mountains and re-watching the Ken Burns National Park documentary. Therefore, here is my current ambience music of choice, highlighting so many of God's wonders: 

    Acoustic folk instrumental music "Spring Western Wonders" Open Road Folk Music".

Easter Sunday Outdoors

 Our Dobbins family started a tradition years ago that we have all embraced - flying kites at the beach on Easter. We went to Ocean Beach this year and it was magical.

We enjoyed the sea and the sand,

of which I especially enjoyed sand crabbing. Some of my earliest memories in life are digging for sand crabs as soon as a wave retreats. We found so many this time! One even had a bunch of orange eggs attached to its underside. We made sure we set them all free, eventually.

The next two pictures are of the crabs in the water in one of our red buckets. Weird!

As the hymn goes:

                I think because it was Easter, my heart was feeling especially full for all of our blessings. 

Easter Sunday, Indoors

 It was a wonderful Easter weekend for our family, especially because we were all together. 

Some of us started out the day with General Conference in the living room. We had puzzles out for the kids. Their attention span didn't last for the puzzles or the talks, but I love how Reggie & Hillary - with our new prophet, President Oaks -  helped Kaia finish this one. We did not listen to every talk over the 2 day conference, but I love that we can go back and access them online. I am especially enjoying listening to a talk a day with Samantha on our work commute this week. 

It was a beautifully, sunny day, and in the afternoon we did some fun outdoor activities, which I will blog about later. 

Easter dinner was great, and Julia was sure to have the kids add the traditional Easter decorations for the cake she brought. My Mom started the tradition in the 1950's and we plan on keeping it going forever.

Uncle Luke ate with the kids

Before bedtime the kids opened the Dragon Eggs Reggie and I got for them. They are pretty unique, and though they are advertised as fidgets, or sensory items, they seem a bit fragile, so I hope they last a little while.