I DID make Easter dresses...

I think they turned out pretty darling.  I should have taken the pictures before church, instead of after when Ellie was on the verge of a I'm-to-tired-to-try-being-happy meltdown. Clara, however, had just nursed, so she was super happy.

I had these plans for making cute pink swing coats too, but it just didn't happen.  That week had been spring break and we had a lot going on, so two adorable (and fully lined) dresses (plus the Cinderella dress), was all that happened.

Tokyo Disneyland

This past week was Spring Break for Ben.  We had planned a trip to a nearby national park (Hakone), but the girls got sick over the weekend, so we had to scrap that plan. But when they recovered quickly we decided to go to Disneyland Tokyo instead.  Ellie has been asking to go to Cinderella's house, and Pooh Bear's house, so it seemed like a good plan. Are you prepared for a deluge of pictures, and overload of Lewis girl cuteness?!

Waiting to enter the park.

We got there a lot quicker than we thought we would, so we were there 30 minutes before it opened. Both girls were ready to go, especially Ellie in her Cinderella dress (that I finished sewing the night before) and her sunglasses.

Pooh-san!

Just as we walked in the line for Pooh-san was forming, so we asked Ellie is she wanted to meet him, and she heartily agreed.  We jumped in line, and waited, and of course when it was our turn Ellie got scared.  She did manage to stop crying before we snapped the picture.

Waiting in line for the Jungle Cruise.  Which somehow isn't as funny when all the jokes are in Japanese...

In the Swiss Family Treehouse. Yes, it's still called that in Tokyo.

A sweet Japanese girl took pictures for us in front of the castle.  They thought our girls were too cute!

Cheesy face!

Then we went and saw the show "Minnie, Oh Minnie." It was so funny to watch Japanese dancers do Latin dance. I'm not sure why I found it so amusing, but I did.  Ellie just liked seeing Minnie and Mickey.

I can't tell you how many times I had to tell Eleanor to stop licking the bars.

Dumbo was one of her favorite rides.  She LOVED it!

While we were in line to ride Dumbo we saw Cinderella, Belle, and Snow White walk by with their princes (except Beast...curious). Ellie had been asking the whole time to see Cinderella.  So I picked her up and pointed to Cinderella, who noticed us and waved and pointed at her dress and blew a kiss.  And Ellie buried her head in my shoulder out of...fear...I don't know. But she still talks about how she saw Cinderella.

She liked to walk around with the map, like she knew where she was going.

At Minnie's house.  Though Eleanor was a bit disappointed that she wasn't home.

So, they didn't actually ride it, because Ellie got scared by the anamatronic Buzz they saw while waiting in line.

Clara by the space rocket ride.  You can't tell, but Ellie and Ben are up there.

Eleanor's other favorite ride was the space rockets.  It must be the Brown in her to love all the thrill rides.  Heaven knows why she got so nervous around all the characters...

Clara in Mickey's house. We lost on of her socks there...

Ellie on Pluto's cushion.

Ellie with her Japanese friends.

Hippo tutus!

With Mickey as Steamboat Willie.

So, if it isn't obvious, Eleanor was a little scared by Mickey.  And Clara was a little tired.

We certainly had more fun than we could stand.  Eleanor zonked out in the stroller ride back to the car, and Clara was out within minutes of hitting the road.  And Ben and I were just grateful for the time we were able to spend together as a family making memories.

Happy Easter!

I wanted to take a moment to share my personal feelings and testimony of Easter.

Throughout the Christian world at this time we celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His Resurrection.  His Atonement makes it possible for each one of us to repent and be cleansed of our sins because He already suffered the price of them.  His resurrection broke the bands of death that each one of us might also be resurrected, that is that our bodies and our spirits might be reunited in a perfected and immortal form, just as Christ himself was resurrected on the third day.

I was about 2 and a half when my sister Sierra was born.  The first memory I have is meeting her for the first time, wrapped in a yellow blanket.  Eight weeks later she died from SIDS.  My loving parents taught my brother and I that we would see her again one day because of the gift of Christ's Atonement and Resurrection.  I have never doubted that. I have felt the truth of this confirmed over and over again in my life.

When I was 10 my sister Cheyenne died of SIDS also while I was babysitting her.  I remember everything about this. But mostly I remember that I felt so at peace because I knew that this life was just part of the greater plan our Heavenly Father has for us.

I am so thankful for my Savior and His willingness to sacrifice His sinless life on my behalf, to suffer the price of my sins, and offer freely to me His grace. All I can give in return is my best effort at living my life as He has commanded, repent when I fall short, and follow Him in faith. 

Ellie Plays the Piano

Ellie put the boxes together to make this piano. I helped her draw the keys.  But the songs are all her own!

Happy Pi Day

March 14 is known as Pi Day to all the geeks of the world, that includes us.  It's Pi Day.  Pi is 3.14.  Get it?
So of course, I made a pie, and apple pie to be precise.  It was awesome.  It would have been even better if we could get our hands on Granny Smith apples, but they only carry three types of apples at the commissary, and that wasn't one of them (golden delicious, jonagold, and fuji for those who are curious).  I digress...

It's not burnt on top, the caramel stuff is just browned

The missionaries joined us for dinner and even provided a little Pi day spiritual thought.  It was from 3 Ne 14:15 (get it...3.1415) which is about recognizing false prophets vs. real ones by their fruits.  They brought a pie too.  It looked lovely with whip cream on the top.  It was made of sand.  It was a great lesson and we all got a kick out of it. 

But we ate my pie.

Clara's First Scootings

She crawls much better than this now, but it's too cute not to share.

It's Good...

Eleanor makes the funniest faces sometimes.  This is one.  I wish I could get the other ones on film, but she's too quick for me.