New Math

i think doug would think that was appropriate...

here's another one of my favorites:



and here's the link for lots more.

san diego

we just got back from san diego. much fun was had by all. my kids and i have traveled over 5000 miles in the space of a month. the house is a disaster. but life is good when you can go on trips.

Shetland Ponies in the West

what i am going to do for easter sharing time tomorrow...

and it might be fun to do with your family. i got it from my sister who got it from someone else in primary in seattle...

the 12 Easter Eggs

12 plastic eggs (I numbered them on the outside with a permanent marker...after the kids find them, you need to open them in order...)

contents of the eggs:

1. sacrament cup

2. three dimes

3. rope tied in knot

4. small soap

5. piece of purple cloth

6. nail

7. pair of dice

8. little rocks

9. piece of white cloth

10. smooth, round stone

11. bay leaf (I actually have a cinnamon stick because I think it smells good...you just need a "sweet spice")

12. empty

In addition to the item listed, I cut the following things out of paper to read when each egg is opened. I had older kids read the scriptures, younger kids I just read the little paper to them and discussed it.

1. Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He asked Heavenly Father to bless Him. He did not want to suffer. He said to Heavenly Father, "...if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." He suffered for all people who repent of their sins. Matthew 26:39-44 (sacrament cup)

2. One of Jesus' twelve apostles names Judas Iscariot made a deal with some wicked men. The wicked men wanted to hurt Jesus. They said they would give Judas 30 pieces of silver if her would show them where Jesus was, so Judas took them to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was praying. Matthew 26: 14-49 (dimes)

3. The wicked men took Jesus to the Pharisees. They tied Him up and took Him to Pilate, the Roman leader. Matthew 27: 1-2 (knotted twine)

4. Pilate, the Roman leader, asked Jesus many questions. Pilate told the Pharisees that Jesus had done nothing wrong. Pilate wanted to let Jesus go, but the Pharisees hated Jesus. They said to Pilate, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate did not want trouble with the Pharisees so he washed his hands in front of the people saying, "I am free of the blood of this just person." Pilate let his Roman soldiers take Jesus to crucify Him. Luke 23:13-24 and John 19:6 (chunk of soap)

5. The Roman soldiers took Jesus, stripped Him, and put a purple robe on Him. Then they put a crown made of thorns on His head and a long green branch in His right hand. They made fun of Jesus, calling Him names and spitting on Him. Then they took the long green branch and hit Him with it. Matthew 27:28-30 and Mark 15:15-19 (square of purple cloth)

6. After the Roman soldiers had done all of these terrible, mean things to Jesus, they took the purple robe off Him, put His own clothes back on, and took Him to Calvary Hill. The soldiers laid Jesus on a wooden cross. They nailed His hands and feet to the cross. Mark 15:15-19 and Luke 23: 26-27, 33 (wooden matchstick cross and nail...I just have a nail in mine...)

7. When Jesus was on the cross, He prayed and asked Heavenly Father to forgive the Roman soldiers who crucified Him because the soldiers did not know that Jesus was the Savior. The soldiers took all of Jesus' clothes and played a game called "casting lots" to see who would win Jesus' clothes. Luke 23:24-34 (dice)

8. Jesus' mother and His apostles and friends were very sad. They loved Jesus very much. Jesus suffered on the cross many hours. Then Jesus died--His spirit left His body. The sky was dark. There was a big earthquake. Rocks broke in pieces. The Roman soldiers were afraid. Matthew 27:50-51 (bag of crushed rock and potting soil...I just have a few pieces of crushed rock from my driveway...)

9. One of Jesus' friends named Joseph took Jesus' body off the cross. He wrapped Jesus' body in a clean cloth and laid it in a tomb. (A tomb is a place where people were buried.) Matthew 27:57-60 (strip of white cloth)

10. After Joseph and laid Jesus' body in the tomb, he rolled a big stone in front of the tomb so that Jesus' body would be safe. Matthew 27:60 (stone)

11. Jesus' body was in the tomb for three days. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body with sweet spices. Matt 28:2 and Mark 16:1-9 (bay leaf...I have a cinnamon stick)

12 This egg is empty, just like the tomb was empty. When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb, the stone had been rolled away from the door. They looked inside and Jesus' body was not there. They saw an angel who said to them, "He is not here for He is risen, as He said." Jesus was resurrected! His body and spirit had come back together. He was alive again! Jesus promised that we too will be resurrected like Him. This is a very special gift that Jesus gave to us. Matthew 28:6 (empty egg)

smelling the flowers.

we visited my sister in beautiful washington. where they can grow more beautiful plants than in idaho. such is the life when you live in a desert. sigh.

conference packet

here's the link. found via chocolate on my cranium, in case you were wondering.

anyway, i am back from vacation and should be answering questions. and maybe even posting.