East Egg Hunt

Yummy marshmallow Peeps.

Yea! I found my first egg (while my brothers collect every other egg in the entire yard).

Such an adorable crew of cousins, all ready for the egg hunt. Christian and Adam hid the eggs (one unfortunate one got stuck in the BMW tailpipe - Christian's not-so-great hiding place)

I love these boys. They are my life (if I could just photoshop Christian into the picture). I am so grateful to be a mother and I could go on and on about how lucky I am, but I think this picture says it all. How could you not love these boys?

More Funeral Pictures

Grandma with all of her grandchildren.

Bagpipes Done Right

Although this happened back in September, I wanted to post this video, taken on our flip camera, so it may be a little jumpy. While we were in our favorite town in Ireland, Kinsale, we happened upon a bagpipe band warming up for a birthday party. We followed them down the street (apparently traffic stops for bagpipes in Ireland) and along the pier. It was a gorgeous night and I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I always get choked up when I hear bagpipes live. I don't know why it happens, but it always does - at the St. Paddy's day parade in NYC, or right there in Ireland, it happens without fail. This was just about as authentic as you can get. I was in heaven.

Grandpa Jack Mitchell's Funeral

Two weeks ago Christian and I took Charles out to Utah for Christian's grandfather's funeral. It was a wonderful funeral with many loving and humorous memories of Grandpa and just a good spirit there. Christian gave a beautiful prayer, all of his uncles and father gave touching tributes, I played Danny Boy on the viola, and even my dad spoke. It was a very full day and I couldn't help think of him as a young man, happy, full of energy and youth. I'm just so grateful that we know about heaven and that he is in a wonderful place.

Mark held Charles during the dedication of the grave and then the two of them "said" goodbye to Grandpa. It was very sweet and made me all choked up.

Chapman leaving his boutonniere on the casket.

All of the grandsons as pallbearers. Grandpa was buried in the Lehi, UT cemetery.

Aunt Genevieve keeps Charles happy and sleeping.

All the Mitchell sons with Grandma. She looked amazing since losing a ton of weight after having both knees replaced. What a machine! That woman has some serious endurance. She and Grandpa raised four really great men who have some really quality children. I should know, I married one!

Clothes? Who needs 'em?

Winfield definitely wears fewer clothes in the winter than he does in the summer. I honestly can not keep clothes on him. He especially likes to hang light sabers on his underpants. What a crazy kid! Seriously. This one has ideas.

Our Five Year Old!

I know, this is the most pathetic cake ever made for a child's birthday. Ask Jack about it - if I'm lucky he won't remember at all. At least the kids liked putting the animals on it.

Jack had a kind of calm animal party, but the real theme of the party should have been Transformer party because that is what he got - from nearly every child! He was thrilled, of course, and seemed to just love being man of the day. So much for trying to hold off the superhero obsession. I can't believe how old he is getting. Everyone comments on how mature he's getting and how tall he is now and how old he seems. It's true.

Rub-a-dub-dub, three boys in a tub...

Jack thought something was hilarious - no clue what it was. He has been the one to transition Charles into the tub because he holds him while I scrub him. What a life saver to have a big brother around! Jack really does help me more than I realize.

Bath time has become quite wild since I added Charles to the tub. He loves to splash, much to his brothers' displeasure. At least he is unafraid of jumping in with two bigger boys. I think he'll do just fine being the third boy.