Playing the piano/Chuck-e-Cheese/Dirt/and more Easter-egg Hunts

So, here's to a lot that's been going on with the Lombardo's.

I rarely let the kids play the piano, but I was having a nice day. :o) They loved it and hopefully they'll love it even more when they take lessons.


I took the kids to Chuck-e-Cheese this week, with my sister Nikki and her girls. Wow! What a blast they had. And it was fun for the moms too.


Grace throws the ball like she's pitching it. Hilarious and a little dangerous!

Hannah had it figured out that she'd get some points if she'd roll it.




The kids were so excited when the actual Chuck came out to greet the children. They wouldn't leave him alone.



On our way home from Chuck-e-Cheese, we came home to this...

...and this. DIRT!!!!

We are finally putting in our back yard! I'm am OVERCOME with joy!!!


Last, but not least, we had another Easter-egg hunt. We weren't able to get together over Easter with my family, so we had our shin-dig today. It was so fun! Now, do you remember those eggs I was talking about, that my dad is the KING of? Take a look....
His are not the ones with the jewels. Those would be my Aunt Shauna's. Must run in the family, because those are pretty cool too. My dad has matered this art somehow. It takes a lot of patience and time to create his beauties. So fun!

When we got to my parents house, the kids were ready to find the eggs. My parents split their backyard up by age groups, to make the hunt more fare. At my dad's "go" the kids rush out the door and off they go.




I rarely take pictures of me with the kids (obviously), so this is for the sake that they will have atleast one or two pictures of me with them when they were little.



Once everyone had found their eggs and goodies, we sat down to our traditional egg-ala-golden rod breakfast. Yum! Fortunately, noone who has married into the family and no grandchildren protest this meal. We all LOVE it!




I have to put a little something in here about these two. Abigail and Susan have a special bond. Actually, they adore eachother. Honestly, Suz is a second mom to this little gal. We hope it'll always be that way.

The kids ran around crazy, played with their cousins, jumped on the trampoline, and made fun easter candy necklaces. (Thank you Aunt Robin). It was such a fun day.




Nathan was more interested in the candy itself, than making a necklace. No surprise!






These two love eachother.


We ended with a group picture, which is never without atleast one protest. We missed Carlee and her family, who live in Pittsburgh. And Liz and Ron, who actually were visiting, but were at a wedding. We atleast had their kids with us. I must say, it is crazy when we are all together, but we love eachother and I even love the craziness. :o)

Easter 2010

I love Easter! Always have....always will. My dad is the KING at dying easter eggs. Noone has ever topped his skill. I have such fun memories of dying eggs as a child. This year, Aaron and I colored the eggs without the kids. I know, a little selfish you may think, but A LOT more fun! :o) Once the eggs were dyed, we hid all the candy/eggs and put some things out for the kiddos. So fun!

I have to say this was such a great Easter. Staying home and watching Conference was so wonderful. I love how conference motivates change. I loved all the talks about the Savior. It was so special that Easter just happened to land on General Conference. I was moved greatly this year by what was shared. I'm inspired to be a better wife, mother, friend, and neighbor. I'm so grateful for my Savior. I know He lives! I know that we too shall live again when we die, because of His atoning sacrifice. I'm pretty sure it's because of what Easter symbolizes that I love this holiday so much!

All Bundled Up!

It's April, and it's still snowing. Abby is almost 16 months.

Brotherly/Sisterly Love

Need I say more!

Park City Get-a-Way

I think the last time Aaron and I took a trip just to get away from it all, was 4 years ago. We've done some business trips together, but there was deffinately more business than pleasure! :o) Thanks to my mom and sister Susan, Aaron and I took off for a couple of days up to Park City. So, if you live in Utah and haven't spent some time, like atleast a full day, in Park City, you have no idea what you are missing! The scenery alone is worth driving up for. It's BEAU-tiful! We stayed in a beautiful condo with amazing views of Park City. It was a literally a walk to the ski lift as well. We slept in every day, shopped at the outlets, saw a movie, and of course we skiied our little hearts out. I must say that Aaron is a very good skiier. I've improved over the years, but I'm nowhere near as daring as he is. It was an absolutely gorgeous day to ski!

I love my Aaron. He is so much fun to be with. My only request for this getaway was to laugh a lot. Since Aaron's pretty darn funny, I did do a lot of laughing. I feel like we're at a time in our marriage that can be very chaotic. We both work so hard at what we are doing; me with the kids and him working VERY hard with work. I chuckle sometimes to think that it'll slow down someday, but I know deep down it will never really slow down again. Ok, maybe when the children are grown, but then again my parents are super busy still. I'm just so grateful to be married to Aaron. He understands so perfectly his role as a husband and father and does a tremendous job balancing all the demands that come his way. He is a little OCD when it comes to organization, so that deffinately helps. :o) Thankfully, little breaks away from children/work remind us just how much fun the two of us have together and now we both feel recharged to face our responsibilities again.


Right after our morning run.


The condo just behind me.


On the ski lift


Eat your heart out all you ski bums that weren't on the mountain this day!

What We've Been Up To

Nathan's been finding new places to nap.

Hannah's been dressing herself (actually for sometime now) and I've decided not to make a big deal out of what she chooses. This is a favorite of hers: Halloween shirt, horse tights, and red squeeky shoes.

Abby's been sitting inside stools.

And finally walking!

My 31st birthday

Toni, Katie, and Melissa

Good golly, that looks funny to write 31. So, I had SUCH a great birthday this year. Funny that they seem to get better and better each year. My fun began last Saturday with my hubby. We went out to dinner and a movie. Love when that happens. It was fab! Then yesterday, for my actual birthday I had lunch with my dear friend Suzanna, and my adorable neighbors, Katie and Toni, had me and my family over last night for cake and ice cream. (actually bananna splits. Yum!) It was great fun. We had 15 kids in the house, and 7 adults. It was loud, but I'm used to loud. :o) The highlight of the night was when Katie, myself, and Toni rocked out to "rockband wii". Hilarious! Unfortunately, playing the guitar is not one of my strengths, according to my score that is. It sure was a fun night and seriously, one of the best birthdays ever!

I Am a Child of God

It dawned on me that I'd never recorded Hannah singing this song that she learned a couple years ago.


These are the words for those who've never heard it before.

I am a child of God. And He has sent me here. Has given me an earthly home, with parents kind and dear. Lead me guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do, to live with Him someday.

This is how dinner is eaten at our house

Some of us wear half of it first. :o)

What is Love???

- Trusting someone completely
- Believing in someone more than you believe in yourself
- A lot of hard work
- Companionship
- Friendship
- Forgiving
- Laughing
- Creating life
- Watching my children's father love, coddle, and care for them
- Rubbing my aching feet (even when they stink)
- Standing side by side
- Being sealed to someone you could not live without.

Happy Valentines to you and the one you love.

Sisters

I sure love mine and I think they like eachother too!

An Answered Prayer

So, Hannah is quite sentimental. She has this bag full of thank you cards that she for some reason, treasures. This afternoon she couldn't find them anywhere and was starting to get really concerned. We looked for them together and couldn't find them so she said, "Mom, I'm going to say a prayer and ask Heavenly Father to help me find them." So, this sweet little four year old said a prayer and of course, we all know that Heavenly Father does indeed listen to little children. Not one minute later, she found them. That little girl folded her arms and thanked Heavenly Father.

Why don't we all have such simple faith like a child?

Abby in the morning

Gotta love that hair!

Fun times at our house

The perfect tea party with your very favorite cousin.

Abby trying to offer something for the tea party so she can be apart of it too.

This next picture is a regular accurance around here. Nathan LOVES my shoes. (don't most boys love their mother's shoes?)


Piggy back rides on daddy's back!

How to give yourself a hickie....

Just ask Aaron. He can tell you how to do it. Just put a suction to your forehead. Run around with it on for a while. Show the kids how cool it is. Try to take it off and realize there is a really good seal. Eyes go really big. Run to the bathroom mirror. Have a look of horror on your face once you realize what you did to yourself! Ta-Da! Your very own personal hickie! :o)

A Sweet Life

There is a little boy who lived but a short time. He was born with many challenges and obstacles to overcome. He was born to goodly parents. More like saintly actually. They loved him like noone I've ever known could love. They understood he had a specific mission to accomplish. Their son would help them, and so many others remember who we all are. He was a celestial being in a body that would humble any who complains about their own ailments.

I went to Dawson's funeral last Saturday. I did a fair share of crying. My heart ached for his sweet parents and for his brother and sister, whom he left behind. Then I continued to cry as I thought of my own children. How would I work through losing one of my own? Would I, could I, be as strong as Amy and Ryan? Is my faith strong enough to endure what they've gone through and what they continue to go through? There is no anger in them. There is no questioning, "why"? There is complete trust and understanding of a deeply loving Heavenly Father, with a plan. A plan that includes all of us on this earth; who've ever lived on this earth or will ever live on this earth. I was amazed at Ryan and Amy's incredible strength. Not to say they didn't cry. They did. They sobbed. Their hearts are aching. But they both bore testimony of the reality of the Savior as strong as any testimony of Him I've heard before. They KNOW they will be with Dawson again. They know there family is eternal. Because of this knowledge peace has entered and strength has moved in.

So, I've spent some time reflecting, pondering if you will, even questioning. I've turned to the scriptures. Peace has come to me and a witness reborn that God loves us. He knows us, even if we don't know Him. He does indeed have a plan. We are His children. He cries when we cry. He smiles when we smile. He aches when we ache. He wants us to be happy, just as we want that for our children. Things happen for a reason. Dawson's life was full of purpose. One could easily question why. Why would God allow such a sweet and innocent child come to this earth so early from his mother's womb? HAve to endure pain that most of us never will have to experience? This one little child touched thousands of people. Some who didn't even know Ryan and Amy. I'm guessing that he helped many find their way back to Heavenly FAther. HIs life was not in vain. There is a purpose for everything that happens.

The last several days I've hugged my kids a little longer. I've said I love you whole bunch more. I've been more patient. I've tried to see them for who their incredible spirits really are. Amy said it best when she said, "What is stopping you from believing that ALL children carry within them something amazing. Something sacred. Something pure and Christlike. Something WE are supposed to learn FROM THEM?"

There is so much to learn from children. I've always known that, but I am living it now. My three are eternally connected to me and that brings incredible joy.

Another thing that really has made me think, is I was sitting next to Aaron at this funeral, hand in hand. THankful beyond words that he was sitting next to me. That he knows and understands all of these things to be true just as I do. We are eternal companions. There was a time that someone important to me didn't share the same standards as I and didn't believe what I know to be true. Although there was heartache for us both when we went our seperate ways, there is happiness beyond what I could have imagined being sealed to a man that looks at our children with the same understanding of who they are and what we as a family are capable of having.

So thanks be to a little man who's changed us now and forever. His life was beautiful and a gift from our loving Father in Heaven. Click here to read Dawson's story.

A Very Belated Birthday

My siblings threw a surprise party for him since this is his 70th birhtday. We were in California so we weren't able to be there. Each of us kids wrote my dad a letter of a favorite memory. Here's what I wrote:

Happy Birthday Dad! We really wish we were there to celebrate with you. This is certainly a milestone birthday.
There are lots of wonderful memories I have of you, that it’s hard to narrow it down to just one. You’ve taught me so much in my lifetime. I really give credit to you and mom for me being the person I am today. How do I thank you for that? Now that I’m a parent, I have a whole new appreciation and love for you.
One of my most fond memories is of our family camping. I loved that we lived so close to the mountains and how you would often come home early from work on a Friday and we’d load the camper up, and head for the hills. You gave me an appreciation for the magnificent mountains that were quite literally right outside our back door. Once we had found the perfect camping spot, you would take us on hikes, or fishing, or play games with us at our camp. We were even lucky to see the milky way one time and I’ll never forget that incredible experience. However, my most favorite part of camping with you, was always the bedtime stories you would create. There is one still to this day that I remember. Those stories would often be hilarious, and always had some moral point to encourage us to follow. They made me feel safe in the dark woods. I chuckle now that I married a man that does the same thing with our kids. I hope it will become a favorite thing about their father too.
You are a wonderful man. A terrific father. A fun grandpa. And someone that I’ve always looked to for guidance. You’ve given me the greatest of all gifts, (besides life), the gospel. I really mean it when I say there are so many great memories to choose from. My greatest wish for you this birthday, is that you can look back over your 70 years and feel good about the man you are and the amazing things you’ve accomplished. I love you so much!
Love,
Melissa