I'm Going There Someday

Hey friends! Thought I'd ride this blogger ride while it's still rolling. :)

My family and I were lucky enough to travel down to the 'ol KC to visit my sister and her family and tour the Kansas City Temple during it's open house last weekend. The Church extended the touring dates for another week because of the outpouring of interest from the community and boy were we glad they had. It gave us the opportunity to not only see it's beauty and share it with my children, but to visit my family...bonus, my littlest brother Mack, even drove up from Stilly and were lucky enough to have him visit with us, too!!
We started off our weekend fun w/ a trip to the marble shop. They showed us how marbles are handmade. I found it quite interesting. There is a lot of technique and skill that goes into making a little round ball. I loved seeing the little blown glass sculptures in the display cases. They had handmade flowers inside a marble that amazed me. The flowers were so beautiful and real looking I had to ask if they were glass or the real thing preserved in glass. Amazing. While I was riveted in the whole process the rest of my family was higher up on the bleachers knocking things off the wall while wiggling around. Sufficed to say as much as I was enjoying the whole marble process they were equally busy trying to figure out how to "blow this joint". (we had to share a rather small and stuffy room w/ a. lot. of other people on the tour. They were on a field trip and we just caught it at the wrong time, so I figure the hot room and over-abundance of people took away a lot of the kids' attention) The kids were a bit more pleased when we allowed them to each choose a tube of hand-picked marbles (by them). Ella even chose to bring them to school for show-and-tell this past week. After our marble-capade we decided to catch a "free" dinner at a Burns and Mac public event. But wait!! Before we started the drive to the stadium for the event Spence pulled a "u-ee" (how do you even spell that?) into Sonic. I was so surprised I thought for sure we were there just for a potty break...but nope (and it wasn't even happy-hour) it was for a fun treat just because we deprived people of Northwest Indiana aren't graced w/ a Sonic. I know, cruel and unusual. After our drink orders were in the car, we were on our way. The whole Lifferth and Humphrey clan were dressed for a fairly warm day I realized on the way to the Burns and Mac event, and I started putting two-and-two together as we were driving the even as I saw the temp gauge in our car reading a chilly 60 something. I started to figure we might be on the chilly side. Things started really solidifying in my mind when I saw people walking w/ gale force winds towards the stadium all bundled up. When we parked and got out of the car we realized the wind was blowing really hard (harder than it was earlier) and it was really chilly. We decided to brave the wind and temps in our shorts and flimsy jackets because the siren call of a free dinner and Bouncy Houses was just. too. strong. We made our way down Little Everest (slightly kidding here...but not really. The hill was gi.nor.mous. and there was such a wind draft it was hard to stay on your feet. Naturally I'm in way-too-tall sandals trying to navigate it and my bad influence rubbed off on Whitney while she was tottering down also in my other way-too-tall sandals. Things were slightly dicey there for a while). After we got into the stadium parking lot (where the tents and event was set up) we hoped the wind would calm down, therefore letting it feel warmer (it did. not. feel like even close to 60 w/ the wind wailing). Not so. We navigated the parking lot all the while Georgia is crying because she is so cold, so we wrapped her up in a blanket and carried her until we found the Burns and Mac tent. We were lucky enough to find some yummy BBQ (another delicacy when you come from the North...it's something they just don't do up here...now pizza and hot dogs, that's another story...). We were all quite excited for our free dinner...after all, that was the siren call we were answering, right? The kids were all pretty happy because of the sidewalk chalk area and entertained themselves despite the chill and wind for quite awhile coloring. Cooper even took up advertising for Burns and Mac by designing a huge chalk sign on the pavement for them...an employee in the next 10 years?? Quite possibly. ;) Overall anything is fun and pretty bearable when you're accompanied by some of the best people in the world, but as we were walking away (sans jumping in the Bouncy Houses, it was just too cold) Phillip and I agreed there is never really a free meal.
The next day we were all excited to get up and go to the Kansas City temple open house. We were really bustling around to get out of there. (E.T.D. was supposed to be 9:00, we got out of there at 9:25-ish, but who's really counting besides *cough*, *cough* Spence. ;) Around 8:30 though, Ella comes to me throwing up. This is really upsetting people that little girl has been superexcited to visit the temple. She had been talking about it for weeks and now here she was sick on the Big Day. Phillip took her aside and asked her if she wanted to say and prayer asking Heavenly Father to bless her to feel well enough to go to the temple. She said she did and they said a sweet, little prayer. We decided to take everyone despite Ella still feeling unwell as we walked out the door. Miraculously, on the way to the temple Ella acted just fine, and then while we waited in line on temple grounds for the tour she was great and perfectly well the whole time we were on the tour. Truly the answer of a small and simple prayer by a child of Heavenly Father's. While on the tour it was so much having my small children be able to see where Mommy and Daddy are able to go when we "go to the temple". The Kansas City temple is beautiful, a work of art, really. It was a blessing to be able to visit. On the tour Grey caught sight of a golden drinking fountain. Phillip hurried him along as Grey was requesting a drink. Phillip thought that Grey was just thirsty and knew we would be getting a drink soon and didn't want to hold things up, so he didn't let Grey have a drink. Little did either Phillip or I realize that Grey wanted a drink from a golden water fountain and is still talking about his lost opportunity...poor boy. So, let this be a lesson to you small bear, let your little ones take a drink from a golden drinking fountain. It mean a lot to little seven year old boys.

My cute boys hanging out in front of the fountain at the Kansas City temple.

The proverbial "girly" picture....but hey we love 'em and we're gonna keep 'em coming!!

I hesitated putting this picture up because my daughter looks, *ehem* "special", but Scarli looks so darn cute and I thought she might need a boost of self confidence after this post.
http://semihipmom.blogspot.com/2012/04/sex-in-city.html

I do not indeedy like this family picture...but at least it's documented we're all together...
Me and my beautiful neice, GeorgiaHow cute are my siblings?!!

Again, how beautiful is my sister?!! Aww, love Ezzie. He is so cute and are his eyes closed...ohhh, who cares.
Some of my favorite people in the whole wide world and aren't they just the prettiest girls?!!

Well, that about wraps it up. Oh, I did want to mention Ella did spread her germs, I mean love, to all the family and we felt it's loving arms grip the boys Saturday afternoon and Phillip and I felt it's strangling embrace on the 9+ hour drive home Sunday and then Monday. It was l.o.v.e.l.y.
Enough of that...if you made it though this long-winded post gold star for YOU!!

This is for you Dad

**major Easter catch-up**  lots of pics and it's pretty wordy...  just don't say I didn't warn 'ya ;)
Ay, caramba!!!  I can't believe it's been soo long since I've posted.  What a slacker!!  Instead of posting the usual excuses like being too busy, (but I have!!)  I'll admit that I've become an avid Pinterest junkie.  If you haven't checked it out yet, do it...and then let me know and I'll follow you and feed my addiction a bit more. ;)  I made a promise to my dear 'ol dad this Easter that I would post soon.  I know this isn't soon enough...but we won't go into that. 

Elle-Bell showing off her pretty butterfly

Miracles do exist...Ella sitting on E.B.'s lap

We started our Easter weekend with a egg-stravaganza at the Fairgrounds with a community egg hunt and activities.  Ella had the most fun with the activities, I believe.  She got her faced painted and actually sat on the Easter Bunny's lap for a picture.  Most of you might think, "Sure, what child wouldn't want a fun opportunity like that?!".  Well friend, let me share, not my daughter.  You could've nearly knocked me over with a feather when I asked her if she wanted to get a picture with the Easter Bunny and she said yes.  I naturally had to press my luck and ask the boys if they would have a group pic with the furry friend.   They naturally declined.  Greyson is like Ella when it comes to furry strangers and Cooper was quite preoccupied with not appearing too "babyish", especially when he spied one of his frienemies  from school.  Don't know what a frienemy is...go ask a teenage girl (they're especially good at it).  When it finally came time for the actual egg hunts we were prepared.  We learned from last year to make sure you get a good enough starting spot, then we determined the best way to get the maximum amount of eggs was to stay in one spot and just load up your basket.  When we unloaded all of the loot the kids were a bit disappointed with the loads of Tootsie Rolls Ella brought in.  Greyson turned the tables back in our favor with gobs of free kid's meal coupons.  (he must of hit a coupon filled egg pile to load up on)  Our above theories are not an exact science.  Then, Cooper brought it home with a good mixture of candy, coupons and the lucky egg.  There were two eggs per age group that were "lucky" and you could go and pick up a filled Easter basket if you found one.  Cooper was lucky enough to find one of the two.  Lucky day, for sure.  He was thrilled and was even able to show his frienemy the loot.  Very cool in the fourth grade dept.
The kids were excited to come home that evening and decorate eggs in preparation for Easter Sunday.

When they woke up the next morning we found that the East Bunny left them too much candy this year.  I really don't know what he was thinking.  We're still trying to dig out from under it.  After church Phillip and I took the kids to a botanical garden that they have in town.  It's really beautiful and so much fun to drive by.  I promised, promised the kids that I would only take a couple of shots of each of them and leave it at that.  If you know me, and my kids surely do, taking pictures is like the saying "after one, you just can't stop".  I managed, although difficult, to hold up my end of the deal.  In return they were excellent when it was their turn to take pictures.  Here are a few of the shots that I got. 

Pictures of me are like getting a picture of Big Foot.  I'm not sure they exist all that often.  In my family, if I want a picture of myself I actually have to ask Phillip to take it.  How embarrassing is that?  If I want our family history documented at all on camera I have to be the one to do it.  Poor, poor Phillip doesn't even consider taking the camera to things...or even events like, ohhhh Christmas.

Phillip took this pic w/o me knowing.  He thought it was cute I was doing the "Mommy thing" getting Ella's hair ready.  I thought it was pretty cute Ella was smiling...

All three kiddos.  Ahhh, I love those kids.

After we got the kiddos pic's shot we went home.  The Easter Bunny surprised the kids by hiding the Easter eggs outside for the first time...ever.  Phillip and I were making dinner when the Easter Bunny made his untimely appearance.  We were trying to get Easter dinner on the table, but the kids wanted to go search out the eggs...pronto.  I was afraid if we went outside and looked for eggs the rolls would burn, etc.  So, we waited much to my kids' chagrin.  They were extremely concerned about our mini schnauzer, Henry, eating the eggs.  I saw that there were eggs on the patio and saw the Henry was paying them no mind, so I told the kids that probably Henry didn't even realize that they were there.  I should've listen to my kids.  When the time came to find the eggs, we realized that there weren't that many to find.  Eggs that should've been in places weren't there.  I looked on the patio where I had originally seen eggs and they were nowhere to be found.  We started investigating things a bit further to see egg shells where eggs used to be.  Sure enough, Henry had, we figured, ate 6-8 hard boiled Easter eggs.  No good.  The kids were pretty upset with their nay-saying mother.  I was pretty irritated at the dog.

Ella, in the above picture, is giving it to Henry for eating our Easter eggs.  I can tell he's real concerned about it.  Well, that about wraps up our Easter festivities.  Oh, one more thing before I go...  This year we weren't able to be with family for Easter.  Sad.  We really missed our family.  But...we figured some of our traditions had to go on whether or not we were with our own little family or with all of our extended family.  So, Phillip and I tried to make all the family favorites for Easter dinner.  You know, ham, rolls, twice baked potatoes, I even made Phillip's very favorite pie (which happened to look a little like brain matter.... word to the wise, don't try to make something that is naturally yellow turn pink--it doesn't work).  You know what happened??  Phillip and I worked like crazy people for a couple hours at least, making this "feast".  We sat down, my kids picked at a couple of things and asked to go.  Seriously?!!  Phillip and I just looked at each other across the table in astonishment.  Honestly, if we really thought about it...what did we think was going to happen??  Our kids would want to sit for an extended amount of time, witty chatter abounding all the while gracing Phillip and me with their compliments and thanks for all the hard work that went into making the holiday it was??  Uhhhh, nope.  At least not my kids.  Maybe we'll have better luck next year...or more realistically in about 10-15 years.
I hope you all had a blessed Easter holiday.  Here's to hopin' I'll have another post soon...right, Dad?? ;)