butter butter butter

There appears to be a direct correlation with the amount of butter we consume and the amount of fun we are having. This spring break we consumed a lot of butter. I feel satisfied with the results of the Lundberg first annual "Spring Break of Service." The highest rated activities were: playing with the animals at the animal shelter, picking up beer cans and trash along the highway (kind of like an Easter Egg hunt, except we plugged our noses and wore rubber gloves), and the bake sale. I think secretly paying for movie tickets for the people in line behind us was fun too, but didn't expend energy. The kids liked serving Grandma and Grandpa, but Grandma was too easy on us and the jobs were easy. Next year I'll demand the kind of work that brings child labor laws into question. The least successful was the sidewalk sweeping activity which ended in broom fights and tears on main street. We stopped at the Ronald McDonald house and made a donation and I hope next year we could make dinner and stay for a little while. The feeling there is so sacred. Better yet, I hope nbext year our whole family is in Mexico building houses for the poor. As long as they don't ask us to sweep sidewalks, we'll be OK.

Our trip to Utah was positive on so many levels. It is amazing to travel with one, fully capable 12 year old child. It gave me great hopes for the future and a tiny glimpse at how most of my friends live. It was nice to spend time with Debbie and Rand and their children as well as Tyler and Chelsea and their kids. I particularly enjoyed seeing Adam, Debbie's youngest, fat and healthy and smiling after his life threatening experience with meningitis. Debbie and I enjoyed a little thrift store shopping (for old times sake) and she indulged me in my favorite past time of rearranging furniture at 1:00 in the morning. As for Tony and Wilson, their highlight was Thursday night when they got word from Hainsworths (also vacationing in Utah) that the BYU football team was giving a fireside in American Fork. We stuffed down a quick dinner at a yummy Thai restaurant and off they went to strengthen their testimonies that BYU football is true. Wilson liked hearing Bronco's stories and hearing the whole team sing Army of Helaman.

Tyler, Wilson and Tony spent Friday on the slopes giving Wilson a chance to master the snowboard this year. Tony said it was a great day. They also went to Kate's swimming birthday party and I had baby Beck all to myself for almost 2 hours. At risk of sounding like a weird Mom, holding him made me teary at the thought of never having a baby again. In the words of my friend Betina, his cuteness was suffocating. Evan is the delightful age of 7. His antics included: sticking gum in his hair, subsequentlly horrifying his Mom by chopping it out with a pair of scissors, and clogging the toilet by flushing down a bar of soap. These activities are hysterical and endearing when they are done by your brother's kids. I enjoyed every minute of Kate who embraced her birthday with fervor and gusto. She so easily could have been the inspiration for our favorite "Fancy Nancy" books and is best described by the word "Pink." Tyler and Chelsea introduced us to two new foods that are going to make my top 10 list: Blue cheese and avacado pizza and buttermilk walnut cinnamon cake.

It was a delight to attend the solemn assembly on Saturday morning. I was so anxious for Wilson to feel the spirit testify that President Monson is a prophet of God that I almost forgot to enjoy it for myself. All of the talks of conference seemed so applicable this session. Elder Ballard's talk for young mother's will secure his spot as favorite apostle for a long time. Our only regret was that we didn't get to sit together at the session, however, under the circumstances we were thrilled to get a seat. We are blessed to have had this opportunity. I really look forward to having the experience with each of my kids.

Also of note this month, Eliza is officially 6. Her birthday was on the day of her dance recital, so her party was a rather informal "get ready for dress rehearsal" event. Audrey Kolb made the most beatuiful ballet slipper cake in birthday history, and Callie was a life saver for doing the girls hair and make up. Grandma and Grandpa came for dinner and the recital. I wouldn't describe Eliza as a naturally graceful primadonna, but she had to have been the strongest, leanest girl on stage. "Blendy pens", paperdolls, a stuffed animal from her brothers and a giant horse with real hair from Callie (not to mention $20.00 from Grandma and Grandpa Poodle) made all her birthday dreams come true.