Feliz Cumpleaños Jack

Our baby is turning 4 next week and I wonder where time has gone. He is so aware of his birthday this year, he is counting down the days. Last week he got his first birthday card in the mail and he was so excited he could hardly stand it. He held on to his card and kept it close to his chest. He showed it to all of us several times and would tell us how much he loved it. So who was the wonderful person that made Jack's year with this wonderful card?

A big "Thank You" to our health insurance company.

Thanks to Jack's wonderful card we know how to keep him healthy in English as well as in Spanish. He could care less exactly what it says. He is just so glad that it was addressed to him and that someone took the time to remember just him and notice that he is really getting bigger.

It makes me think of Elder Ballard's talk today, that we need to keep life simple. If a little boy can find joy in a simple card....I know that I am missing out in finding the joy in simple things.

Mr & Mrs Smith come to NYC

For Matt's spring break we had visitors come to us so that we did not have to go far for fun. Scott and Christy graced us with their wonderful smiles and sense of humor. It was a bit cold since Spring started on Sunday but the Lord was looking out for us and we were able to walk around without scarfs and gloves.

While the Smith's were here we saw all of the usual tourist sights. We went on the boat to get a closer view of Lady Liberty. We visited the MET the American Museum of Natural History, Time Square, FAO, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building and Central Park. There were plenty of sights along the way to keep us busy.

For Saint Patty's Day we ventured out to 5th Ave and were almost taken over by the huge green mob. So we raced into Central Park and visited the Penguins. Then we went on a treasure hunt and found Belvedere Castle.

Another day we wandering about Time Square and fun more chocolate than you can dream of. For dinner we went to PJ Clark's and ate until we could no longer move. After dinner we went and sat on the steps of the Lincoln Center. People watching, looking at the temple and keeping the planet safe from the steps... what more could you ask for.

Claire enjoyed making faces while I had my camera pointed at her.

And then there were the boys on the steps of the Lincoln Center. Lance and Jack recruited Scott as one of them to defend the galaxy from the Dark side. The "boys" crawled all over the steps shooting each other, falling apart, and being rebuilt all over again to keep fighting.

Thank you Smith's for sharing some of your last kid free days with us. Thank you for the trampoline in our living room, the iphone games, the hugs and kisses!

So I have washed the sheets, our new dishwasher is installed and we are ready for visitors again!