Elena's Birthday and Spring Break

This last week was Spring Break and, boy, did we play! Monday was Elena's 5th birthday. She was so excited! We bounced her out of bed in the morning even though she claimed she needed more sleep. She said she had been so excited she couldn't sleep! However, we needed her to get up because we had a whole day planned! We let her open one present at breakfast. Elena wanted a strawberry cake. It didn't turn out as fantastic as my last couple cakes, but it worked for her so that's all that matters!

Elena opening her present for "Grandpa and Grandma with Belle."

So, we packed and loaded up the kids and headed for Utah. We first went to The Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy. It was really cool! The best parts were the giant octopus and the penguins!

Elena driving the "boat" at the aquarium above and Becca below

You could touch the stingrays. However, the girls just wanted to look, I was running the camera, and Jason claimed he saw what happened to the Crocodile Hunter. So, we just watched them swimming around. They were pretty cool but stinky!

Mckenzie thought it was really cool that she could put her face and hands right up on the glass but not get touched by anything!

Me and Elena watching the penguins. We stood there for the longest time because it was just so fun to watch! I think it was our favorite part of the whole aquarium.

After we were done at the aquarium we went to our hotel. We thought that would be fun and then we wouldn't have to worry about driving home so late after the game.

The girls thought it was really cool. Elena and Becca called the hotel "our vacation".

Before going to the Jazz game, we had a little birthday party for Elena.

She got them all blown out the first try!

Super excited to get "The Princess and the Frog"

She wanted her own jewelry box with her own jewelry (I don't let her play with mine!)

We were close enough that we decided to walk to the game. It was nicer than trying to find a place to park the van.

I love this picture of Jason and Mckenzie walking. She is charming the guy sitting there.

Before the game we walked around and saw the sights.

Sisters!

Elena deemed this her Best Birthday EVER! Of course, she and Becca complained the whole game that they were tired and wanted to go back to our vacation. We told them "this IS our vacation!" They did like walking to the hotel afterward.

On Tuesday we went to visit with Jason's old roommates for Ricks. It was really fun! The girls had a good time and it was fun to visit!

Mckenzie in a princess dress and holding a baby. Elena and Becca thought these dragon costumes were the coolest!

We played their Wii which we haven't really done before and that was fun! My arm was sore for 2 days from trying to beat Jason at boxing.

Elena and Becca trying their hand at boxing.

I don't have pictures but we came home late Tuesday night (got home about 12:45 AM). We just hung on on Wednesday. Thursday we went to Idaho Falls so I could have a lady sign contracts for Premier. We decided to go out to dinner at Applebee's and went shopping at the mall. That was really fun! Friday we took the girls swimming at Blackfoot Pool. They LOVE going to "the big pool!" Becca even jumped off the diving board until the lifeguard said that lifejackets weren't allowed in the deep end. Stupid! After swimming we decided to go to Jason's parent's house for conference. He drove the truck down with Elena and Becca so we could bring back a couple twin beds. I followed with Mckenzie after the "Easter Bunny" stopped at the store for some supplies!

Coloring Easter eggs

Ready to hunt eggs

This is the only picture of egg-hunting I got because my camera battery died.

Now I am facing a huge mountain of laundry, a house that needs cleaning top to bottom, and dirty dishes. I'd better get to it! When you play, you have to suffer the consequences of putting off housework for a few days! But it was worth it!