Easter

We had a great time on Easter weekend. Saturday, we traveled down to Landstuhle to visit the Terhune family. We had the men go up to the castle on the hill and hide some eggs. Then we took the kids up about 1/2 hour later and let them run loose. We had so many eggs! It was the perfect place to have an easter egg hunt, in the courtyard of a castle.

If you look closer, you will see some of the eggs the men "hid" on this fountain.

Eva sure got some loot. I think she went a little crazy.

These two kids are Eva and Gabe's best buddies. Evan and Sierra Terhune. We were so sad when they had to move an hour away last year. At least they didn't move all the way back to the states.

We also had a few other families come join us. These were just some of the kids.

The courtyard of the castle.

The Terhune family. Lisa is expecting her fifth child any day now. Her due date is May 3rd.

On another note, at the beginning of the year, our Relief Society gave us the challenge to read the entire book of mormon by Easter Sunday. I'm proud to say, Hans and I finished! Hans decided he wanted to do the challenge with me. It was a great experience for us. We have never done that as a couple before. I think we're going to start on the D&C now.

It was a busy Easter Sunday for me. I am the ward choir director, so I had to direct a song we've been working on. I was also asked to sing a solo during Sacrament meeting as well. So, I chose to sing "Come Unto Him". I love that song. It's just a soft, but powerful piece. The only thing I didn't expect was that the entire stake presidency was there because they released our bishop and put in a new one. And of course, I also think there were more people in Sacrament meeting then I've ever seen there before. Then, I also had to give the Relief Society lesson. I got to teach on the conference talk given by Pres. Uchdorf called "Waiting on the Road to Damascus". If you haven't had a chance to listen to that talk yet, I would strongly encourage you to. It was such a beautiful message.

I felt very close to the spirit on Sunday and I'm so grateful for all the opportunities I had that day to talk of Christ. On the drive to church, Eva asked me to tell her the story of Easter. Explaining the true meaning of easter in simple terms to a four year old makes you really ponder on the simple fact that Christ really does live again and we have the opportunity to see him as well as the people we love after this life. How grateful I am for that chance to put my arms around my Savior and thank him personally for his ultimate sacrifice on my behalf.

Lindsey
P.S. We are leaving tomorrow for the Canary Islands, so Adrianne, I just wanted to wish you a very happy birthday and if you have your baby while I'm gone, good luck and I'll pray for you and your baby's good health!

Keukenhof Gardens, Netherlands (Holland)

 I'd like to say this was the best trip ever, but I'd be lying.  We had decided to try and do this in one day.  Normally, it's a four hour drive from Wiesbaden to the Keukenhof.  However, we weren't very bright.  We decided to go on the day they were having the flower parade, which is the largest parade in the world.  I know...stupid huh?  We thought it would be cool to see the parade.  Well, never again!  We left the house at 6am.  It took us six hours just to get there and seven and a half hours to get home.  So, our little day trip turned into a really long day.  However, we had a nice time being together as a family.

 I really wish I would have gotten a ton more pictures because this place was truly amazing.  I didn't take more pictures though because I felt unsafe.  It was so crowded that I worried so much about the kids.  The second I would take my eyes off the kids, I would panic trying to find them again.  I have never been anywhere so crowded in my life.  So, pictures took a back road to my kids safety. :)

 The dog in this picture is a friend's.  I like to think of her as half ours.  We get to keep her every time this family goes out of town.  This is the best behaved dog ever.  Normally, I'm not a small dog lover.  However, coco is just so sweet.  My kids love her!

We didn't get to see the parade because it was so crowded that we were standing too far back.  I think by a certain point, we all got hungry and tired anyway.  The drive home was nice (even though it was seven and a half hours) just to have quiet time with the hubby.  The kids fell asleep and we were able to have adult conversation.  There's something to be said about being stuck in traffic forever.  It was a very beautiful place and I'm glad we did it.  We have been to Holland five times now, but never made it to the gardens until now.  If we ever do it again, it will definitely not be on the same day as the parade and we won't do it as a day trip.  Lessons learned from the Lokodi family.  :)

Gabe, Gabe, Gabe

This kid is so dang cute sometimes.  He sure knows how to melt a girl's heart.  The other day, we were standing in line to get some food and a woman behind us kept commenting on how cute Gabe was.  When her heard her, he looked straight at her and gave her the "lady killer" look.  I think she just about died laughing.  That kid knows how to throw on some charm.  :)

On another note, Gabe is really into all things boy.  He loves making guns.  For his birthday, we bought him a bat cave that you have to assemble yourself.  Well, he never uses it for that.  He just takes the pieces and creates all different kinds of guns.  I don't know how he has figured this out, but it never ceases to amazing at the different guns he comes up with.  Maybe I should be worried, but I can't help but be in awe instead.  Enjoy the samplings.

Love affair

I love what the host says at the end of her singing.  "Sometimes you can add all the dancers, laser, light shows, and special technics you want, but if you've got a voice like that, all you need is a piano".  I find this woman's voice mesmerizing.  I love that low register of hers.  It's husky and pure sexy!  I would love to see her in concert.