We were blessed to spend our Easter weekend with family in Utah this year!
Which meant a 9 hour car trip...
but with new movies and activities it wasn't too bad.
Our first night we celebrated Rob's Mom Barbara's 63rd birthday.
I posted about it already. It was a super, sweet day.
Thursday night Grandpa Anderson shared with our family and the Christensen family a wonderful evening devotional about the last week of the Savior's life including beautiful video clips and his testimony. It was wonderful.
We really appreciated being able to stay at the Anderson Resort in the 5 STAR basement suite! My parents always go above and beyond to get everything ready for us to stay, and it was great to be there.
That night Jana and Joseph were awesome and taught us to play Power Grid! I've wanted to learn for a long time, it was really fun.
Friday We were able to visit with Robert's parents again at their home.
This time we tried to do some chores to help out.
Trevor, Lolly & Rob helped sweep the front porch and clean out the gutter.
Ellie ironed some pillow cases and had fun seeing all the hats people have bought and made for Grandma!
Then the kids were able to have fun with duct tape up at the table, and also play downstairs and had turns to come up one at a time and have time to talk to Grandma alone.
It was a nice morning!
We were blessed to be able to be strengthened by Barbara's strong courage and example and deep love, we sure love her!
The afternoon was spent playing in the adorable playhouse and jumping on the tramp at
"Grandma Jello's house."
Brenna loved hanging out with '"Jo-speph" and he was so sweet to take care of her.
I love watching the cousins enjoy each other.
The caterpillars we brought with us from California in Chrysalis phase hatched just in time for Easter!
Friday evening we drove out to enjoy a delicious Cafe Rio style dinner with the Morris family!
Sterling and Michelle really enjoyed playing together. :)
Matthew and Ryan = Cool Dudes.
Can't believe these girls are so grown up!
Lisa set a beautiful table with the tulips from her own garden.
Thank you, Lisa, for hosting us!
We loved having time with the Morris family!
After dinner we were able to attend Rob Gardner's production, "The Lamb of God." What a neat program! Lisa played her violin in the orchestra and Anne was a member of the choir. We loved being able to watch it. Brian, Rob's dad Scott and his brother Danny were all there too. We love celebrating the true meaning of Easter.
Our kids were pretty tired by the end of the day. ;)
Saturday morning began with coloring Easter eggs at Grandma Jan's house.
Brenna fell asleep on aunt Angie...something this little busy body rarely does.
When the Easter eggs were colored we headed back down to the Anderson Resort for the egg hunt in the "Trees."
Big and little buddies.
"What do you mean I need shoes?"
What a blast to have an Easter egg hunt with our cousins!!
These cousins are so wonderful. Everybody was happy for each other and helping each other.
They truly LOVE to be together, there's nothing better.
HAPPY EASTER!
Digging in...
I love my Grandma Jan!
"Thanks for helping me open my candy uncle Jeff!"
We also had fun catching up with Lucy Peterson!
She was Ellie's primary teacher years ago when Ellie was 4/5 and we lived in Bluffdale for a few months.
Who needs lunch after all that Easter candy?
Unfortunately, Barbara started having fevers Friday night and was hospitalized again.
Saturday afternoon Robert had the opportunity to go with his brothers and Dad to a Utah Football spring training game.
I was able to have some priceless time to talk with Barbara at the hospital.
She is so tender and close to the spirit. What precious time!
I love you, Barbara Sou.
I loved this quote board in the cancer unit.
One that stood out to me was, "There is beauty in everything, just not everybody sees it."
I have been trying to see the good and the beauty in different situations, challenges, and opportunities for growth. There have been many tender mercies, tender feelings, and Heavenly tutoring experiences for the entire Soulier family during the past 2+ months of Barbara's leukemia battle.
I know our lives are truly in His hands, and that beauty can be found everywhere.
After our fun evening and a pizza party at the Child's,
we headed back down to crash in Bluffdale before our big Easter Sunday.
Easter Sunday began with sharing our traditional Easter Breakfast of Resurrection rolls and reading John Chapter 20 with Grandma and Grandpa Anderson.
We played our Easter playlist and it was a wonderful morning! Thank you Mom and Dad for the Easter lilies, the beautiful table setting, and especially the company and conversation.
We absolutely love celebrating Easter morning.
We are grateful to know that Jesus Christ lives, loves us, and that we will see Him again someday.
We headed out to Lehi and attended church with the Morris Clan.
This is my attempt at getting an Easter picture of Brenna by Lisa's tulips...
Not in the mood.
At least these lovely ladies were. :)
Michelle posed all by herself, cutie!
Easter Dudes.
Easter with our cousins! :) Now that's happiness.
I love all the different faces in these pictures. What great kids!!
Okay, drop the cheesy smile and just be yourself...
Another beautiful, delicious meal at Lisa's table. :)
It was truly a delightful day!
After lunch was cleaned up, we gathered the troops to sing an Easter medley via Skype for Grandma Soulier in the hospital. She wasn't available at the time, so we videoed it and brought it up to her to watch.
The kids did a really wonderful job singing together.
We followed up the singing with a
SYMBOLS OF EASTER
Cake walk.
(The cake was actually a gluten-free variety... rice crispie nest with jellybean eggs in it).
That was so much fun...let's do it again!
After saying "See you later" to the Marvelous Morris Clan (we don't say goodbyes) we headed up to the hospital to visit with Barbara and Scott and wish them a Happy Easter too.
The kids and I had a tour of the cancer unit floor while Robert had time to talk with his Mom.
We were able to write her notes to find when she was able to walk the halls the next time.
Brenna adores her Grandpas. She calls all the Apostles, "Grandpa" when we watch General Conference talks. :) We are glad she has such great men to watch over her and to look up to.
Sterling and the other kids had fun looking through a small binocular set Scott had out the window of the hospital and playing "I Spy."
It was hard to say goodbye, but we don't say goodbye's anyway.
We say, "See you later."
Because of Easter morning we gratefully know there really aren't any goodbyes.
We are full of hope and looking forward to more memories we will make together.
What a blessing to be together to celebrate the truths of Easter!
Our wonderful Easter Sunday ended with a Jerusalem style feast!
Not complete without homemade Naan from my beautiful sister Angie and her family.
Sterling enjoyed being one of the big boys, and Mckay decided he was too small for the big table and he would hang with the little guys. 
Since he's so small and all. ;)
We love you, Mook.
It was wonderful to catch up with aunt Jeni who drove up from BYU to visit and celebrate Easter with us!
We were all able to dress up in Jerusalem clothing, sing our Easter medley of songs, and have an Easter Devotional with Grandma and Grandpa Anderson.
Brenna loved dressing up as always.
The adults took turns during the devotional to talk about what it would have been like to be different characters in the story.
Grandpa Anderson shared video clips, information and testimony and it was a night to remember and a precious opportunity for our kids to learn about the Savior from their aunts, uncles and Grandparents.
During the graphic scenes the little Jerusalem-ites went downstairs to play the Symbols of Easter bingo with Grandma.
Cake and ice-cream finished the day.
It was an unforgettable Easter!
Early Monday morning Grandpa Anderson got Brenna's morning hug before we took off for Roseville. :) She wouldn't let go.
Goodbyes are too hard.
We look forward to when we see you all again!
We try to be like Dr. Suess and instead of crying because it's over, smile that it happened.
What a weekend to smile about!
We'll be smiling a long time.
Peekaboo never gets old. Not even after several hours across Nevada!
Zonked and zoned after a big, wonderful weekend...
We are grateful and blessed to be a part of our families.
Thank you to everyone for the wonderful, Easter weekend memories we made!
