Happy Easters

"Don't you realize I've had diarrhea since easters?"

Nacho Libre is one of those movies where it's really not that great of a movie, but it's so quotable.

Easter weekend is the bomb.com, especially when Easter weekend falls on General Conference weekend.

On Friday Steph, Andrew and I partied our way up to the grand ol' city of Mesa. We listened to grand ol' music and looked at a grand ol' Arizona sunset that never disappoints. Steph and I dropped Andrew off at his house and then went to my house to party with my family. The best part of coming home is always when Avery is so excited to see us (but especially me) walk in, (and the worst part is on Sunday when she tells you to never go back to Tucson).

Zach came over shortly after we arrived at my house. Steph, EJ, Kenzie, Avery, Zach and myself all went to Bahama Bucks, because it was Steph's goal for the weekend to get real life Bahama Bucks. Since Zach works there he had a ton of free coupons which we used, #perksofhavingaboyfriendwhoworksatbahamabucks and now that Kenzie works there, my family is going to end up with even more free Bahama Bucks #perksofhavingasisterwhoworksatbahamabucks.

After that adventure we came back to my house to play Dutch Blitz while simultaneously watching Phantom of the Opera. Apparently McKenzie has this obsession with the movie right now, and spent the entire game attempting to sing Christine's parts. Despite her perceived love for the movie, she has apparently been having nightmares of the Phantom rowing a canoe in our backyard full of smoke and singing to McKenzie. I like the concept of the movie but it still freaks me out every time I watch it. 

When it came to Dutch Blitz I was winning for a majority of the game. I started off winning a majority of the rounds and scoring high, but then it all started going downhill as I consecutively scored negative points. Zach ended up winning, but I came in second, EJ came in third, Steph came in fourth (this was her first time playing) and McKenzie was all too distracted by her own opera singing to do well.

On Saturday morning I woke up, ate some breakfast and then sat down to watch that morning's session of General Conference. There was definitely an overarching theme of marriage and family during the Saturday sessions, but let's be honest when is marriage and family not an overarching theme, it's central to the church... Anyway, Elder Bednar was my favorite talk of the day so here is a quote:

I've known for awhile the difference between Godly fear and worldly fear, but what came clear to me during his talk was that when worldly fear starts to take over Godly fear is the only source of enduring peace. Fear of God will always trump fear of the world. 

After some naps and some errand running we painted some easter eggs. Avery was entertaining because she only wanted to use one color the whole time, and didn't want to decorate her eggs any with any cool designs or anything. McKenzie was entertaining because she is in love with Miranda Sings and is always talking like her. My mother hates it, and for punishment she kisses McKenzie every time she does the Miranda accent.

Saturday night was Easter Pageant time! My mother, Steph, McKenzie, Zach and I went early to get a pizza, some drinks from DQ and good seats to save for the rest of the family. While we were waiting for the pageant to start I went and took some pictures around the temple because the sky was 10/10. Avery and Zach joined me along the way.

Talk to the hand

I think this was the first time that I didn't fall asleep during the Easter Pageant... not that it isn't good, because it's great... but because sitting in a dark place at 8 pm just makes me want tot go to sleep. But how could I sleep this time with a crazy four year old hopping on people's laps? Despite the distractions, the pageant was once again very good! 

After the pageant I went to Zach's house and his rockstar Mom gave me an easter present with sour skittles (my favorite) and a chipotle gift card.

Sunday morning I woke up with Avery sleeping next to me, she got up with excitement to go see what the easter bunny brought her this year.

The E-bunny always brings the best gifts. This year all the girls got skip-its (I haven't used one of those since elementary school) and all the boys got foam rocket launchers, which were later used as power ranger weapons.

My mom made everyone breakfast and we ate as we watched the first session of conference. I was happy to see President Monson get up and speak since he has been ill lately. I was even more happy to hear that three new temples are being built: Haiti, Ivory Coast and Thailand! I'm sure Mark Wager (who is serving in Bangkok right now) is completely ecstatic! 

I really appreciated Elder Holland's talk about the Atonement and his focus on the fall of Adam & Eve. I loved that he did not deny the existence of two beings and their importance to the plan of salvation, but he admits that he does not understand the circumstances surrounded by the entire story, there could be, and probably is, so much more detail surrounding the creation of the world and of Adam & Eve that the Old Testament is lacking. On top of that, the story he told about the two brothers was really awesome, y'all gotta go read it.

As usual, Uchtdorf blew everyone's minds and had a powerful and clarifying talk, this time about grace.

I really loved Bishop Caussés talk about the gospel and the Holy Ghost and how there is so much knowledge to be found in the gospel and the Holy Ghost is our companion and there to help confirm truths of the gospel, so we should never do anything to risk that companionship.

After the first session of conference, Zach came over to join us in the Richardson family easter egg hunt. The hunt famous for making a few bucks and getting more candy than you would ever need.

After two rounds of the hunt I made twelve dollars and guaranteed candy that I will never finish.

Shortly after the egg hunt, Steph headed home to Tucson, but Rory and I stayed for a few more hours.

We watched Pitch Perfect, played power rangers, people took naps... didn't watch the Saturday afternoon session of conference (but that's what the internet is for and #ldsconf) My Mom made the her traditional Easter of quiche, and EJ supplied a ham from work. It was all very delicious.

The rest of the time at home we all just relaxed, I had to take a short quiz for my international relations class, but I got 100% on it so I didn't mind.

Eventually it was time for Rory and I to head back to Tucson. We picked up Rachel, a friend from Tucson, along the way to take her back with us, and we had some pretty good conversations.

This school week I have been riding the struggle bus hardcore. On Monday it took me 2 1/2 hours to take an 11 question exam for my law of the press class. On Tuesday I had a work in progress due for my photojournalism class, and I didn't even start it until 1 hour before class started. Oh and I had an article to write for my reporting the news class and my main source would not give me the time of day... so that was fun. But the rest of the week should be smooth sailing, besides an exam I have to take on Friday for my international relations class (please recall this is the class that on the last exam I cried in front of my TA for... so wish me luck). The spring football game is this week and of course spring fling, so I am very excited.