Easter "Did You Know..."

Early Christians celebrated easter on different days of the week. In 325 AD, the Council of Nicaea issued the Easter Rule which states that Easter shall be celebrated on the first Sunday that occurs after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox.

Easter is mentioned in Acts 12:4, but this is probably a reference to the Passover celebration in Jerusalem.

1 NOW about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he akilled bJames the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of aunleavened bread.)
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in aprison, and delivered him to four bquaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after cEaster to bring him forth to the people.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

(New Testament | Acts 12:1 - 5)

The easter bunny is a collective folk memory of pre-christian spring festival rites in Europe. The early christians incorporated elements of local festivals into the easter tradition and the easter bunny is one such tradition that survives to this day.

2007-02-18 Michelle's update

February 18, 2007

Hi Everyone,

We had another eventful week. Katelyn's birthday was on Monday and her art party was on Tuesday night. We had 5 girls over and ate pizza and cupcakes and orange soda. We decorated crowns with hearts and glue and glitter and markers and we cut and colored pictures. Then we played games and opened presents and made necklaces. It was a lot of crafts and the kids had a great time. It's so nice to have three craft tables:) Enclosed are a bunch of pictures from the party and of the girls painting later in the week with paint supplies from Grandma. It's been great fun. We decorated the house and Katelyn has been saying to me since then, "mom, where did our party house go?" Meaning, why did I take down all the streamers and balloons. Katelyn has mastered the two-wheel bike and tells me she has "awesome pedal power." "Mom, look at this twirly dirly pedal power." It's fun. She got all arts and crafts for her party and so the week has been spent with new stuff. It's been fun for the girls. Sienna gave Katelyn HI ho cherry-o, which has also been great fun. We now have the roll and play, zingo, and hi-ho cherry-o that we play every day. Last night they played by themselves and it was cute to hear the conversations.

It's fun to have Laurie live close by. She's my cousin. Our kids are the same age for the most part and like each other. We are starting to do a weekly playdate. It's nice to have the comfort level of family even though we don't know each other that well. It always amazes me that our husbands both went to dental school and both chose here and now we are living near each other for the first time in our lives. It was fun to have Sienna at the birthday party.

I have been busy doing birthdays and valentine's day and making invitations for a baby shower. Lots of projects. Hans is almost done with the TV stand and it looks great. I'm excited to paint it next weekend while he starts on the radon project. The girls play so well in the basement that it's easy to get stuff done down there. Justin is a little scary down there. He likes to chase the girls around on their bikes, which always makes my heart skip a beat and climb up the stairs.

Justin is 11 months old this week. He has taken 7-10 steps in a row many times. He is getting really close. He is really steady and could walk if he chose to. He's just SO fast crawling. My favorite is when he puts his head down on the ground. I think it means he is crawling really really fast, except he can't see where he is going. It seems a little risky to me, but he thinks he is funny when he is doing it. He is so curious and busy. He never stops moving and has started only taking one nap a day this past week. He does fine and it gives a little more flexibility to my schedule. He loves typing at the computer and playing with the mouse, pushing the TV buttons, opening and closing the x-box, and pounding on the keyboard and pushing all the buttons. He is busy. It wears me out in church. Thankfully Hans has him the second two hours. He is on antibiotics again this week for ear infections. His 4th in the last 3 months. Ugh!!!

There is a picture attached of Ashley with a picture of her fish. She is into coloring fish and making families with them. She'll lay out her dora blanket and put them in dora's tummy and play dora's pregnant and just had lots of fish. She is very creative. She is a wonderful helper with Justin and I have to remind her to relax. She'll come in the kitchen and say, "mom, can you watch Justin so I can go play?" She is over-protective. It's cute. She is a great dancer. Last night we turned up the music and danced. It was great fun. It was good exercise and funny to see Hans try out his ballet.

Hope everything is well with all of you!

Love, Michelle

Idea for a restaurant in Utah

New Mormon Themed Restaurant Chain


This is a sparkling new idea for a chain of non-pretentious Utah restaurants. The name of these restaurants: "The Steak Center" Each Steak Center will have one enormous dining area with basketball hoops at either end and folding metal chairs and long tables covered in plastic tablecloths. The Steak Centers will not have hostesses, but greeters, (men in their 70's who will meet you at the door and talk like they have known you all your life).

The main menu items will be: Porterhouse Rockwell Steak, Primary Rib, and the Poor Wayfaring Pan of Beef, garnished with Parsley P. Pratt Funeral Potatoes. We will also have, when it's in season, Eliza R. Snow crab. Let's not forget a whole line of "And It Came to Pasta",including Kraft Moroni and Cheese.

Additionally, we'll have breakfast items, including Pearls of Great Rice and Frosted Minivans, as well as Adam-ondi-Omelettes. The house drink is "Apple Juice."

Also available, "In Our Lovely Desserts", including Fast Sundaes, Gadianton Cobbler and the sinful Laman Meringue Pie and Lemuel ice cream.

The waiters will be 12 and 13 year-old boys wearing white shirts and their fathers' ties. At the end of the night the customers will be asked to help fold up the chairs and tables and vacuum the floor.

2007-02-13 Michelle's update

February 12, 2007

Hi Everyone,

Katelyn is 3 today! She is such a big girl and so excited to be "a new number." She keeps telling me, "I will never be 2 again, mom." It makes me sad everytime she says it. I just remind her to enjoy 3 since she only has one year to be 3. It's a good reminder for me as well to enjoy 28. Katelyn is still an artist and got all arts and crafts for her birthday and is having an art party tomorrow night. She can't wait. Today we have already colored pictures of fish, cut many things, played play-doh, and glued stuff. I often find pictures glued to my walls. She is just so fun and so cute. Everyone loves Katelyn. She is full of joy and isn't afraid to show it. When she is excited about something her voice drops to a loud whisper and her face shakes while she talks. She follows me around telling me she loves me. She is so fun.

I had a fun birthday trip. Thanks for the phone calls on my birthday. I was impressed with Tarmy and Dad for reaching me and wishing me a happy birthday. I appreciated it:) Melanie and I skiied and sat in the hot tub and shopped at the outlets. It was a fast trip and fun. The girls loved seeing Aunt Melanie and Katelyn wanted Melanie to hold her, not me. Ashley was away from me for 2 nights and on the second night she had a breakdown and told Hans that she missed me because "I just love her too much." Very cute. They were excited to have me back. Justin was wary of me, as Melanie was there. I did successfully wean him while away, which proved more painful then I would have imagined, but he is now just bottle fed. It was bittersweet for me.

Today we are just getting back into our routine. We are going to the diner for Katelyn's birthday tonight and she has her friend Kaylee over to play. We rode bikes and played Zingo and lots of other games so it's been a fun day. I missed playing with the kids while I was gone.

Justin is pushing 11 months. Crazy stuff. He slept until 5 last night. He goes up the stairs whenever given the chance and then I panic when I can't find him and find him stuck in the laundry room playing with the vacuum. He loves the vacuum. He chases it around while I am actually vacuuming. It feels kind of dangerous for me. The girls were always terrified of it. He says mama, dada (it's more like daddy), more, and gong (which Hans thinks means hungry), Maybe so since he loves to sit in his highchair and eat. He can eat an entire peanut butter and jelly, two eggs, as much oatmeal as I eat, and probably more pancakes then I can. I'm wondering if this is how it's going to be or if he is just going through a growth spurt. He's not really that big. I didn't take him in for a 9 month well-baby so I need to for his 1 year. Poor guy will probably get lots of shots.

I hope everyone has a happy valentines day and that Paula and Rennald have a happy anniversary. We're thinking of you.

Love, Michelle

2007-02-10 Mindy's update

Sarah is cuter than ever. If I play the piano she will stevie wonder through the whole song. She has "so big" down and loves it. She loves the slide at the playground and is cruising really well. She had a rough two weeks with a cold and ear infections but seems to be on the mend.

Will has learned to snap. So now I get snapped at and have to jump to attention. "Mom, I snapped my fingers so you have to come here now." He has takent to game cube and would play for hours if he had a nicer mother. He has made a few friends in our neighborhood and has been enjoying playdates. Our yard is thawed out to complete mud which is pretty fun too. Our three year old can now go to sleep in his own bed by himself and stay there all night. About time. Took some bribes but it was well worth it.

Abby lost two more teeth. That puts her ahead of Jonathan. Her teacher had all good things to say about how well she was doing in school. Her piano is coming along well too. She is becoming a great skiier and enjoyed a day at Sundance with Coray yesterday.

Jonathan had a great birthday with too many friends at his party. His soccer team is undefeated (or undefeatable as he says). But his basketball team needs a little work. They are all beginners and still working on the basics. He is a natural athlete and is getting the hang of it though.

Our car accident wasn't a big deal. I was driving abby to dance and was rear ended. Our car is banged up but everyone is okay. We will fix it this week.

We look forward to getting our landscaping in and general settling in now that it has been over three months.

Love you guys,
Mindy

World of Islam

I read and enjoyed this book.

"In Islam's anguished heartland, some fear, lie the bitter seeds of global conflict."

The world of Islam / edited by Don Belt.
Washington, D.C. : National Geographic Society ; 2001.
Call #: 909.097 Wor

ISBN: 0792268946 (pbk.)

Subject: Islam -- History.
Islamic countries -- Civilization.

Questions Couples Should Ask (Or Wish They Had) Before Marrying

Questions Couples Should Ask (Or Wish They Had) Before Marrying
(from the NY Times)

Relationship experts report that too many couples fail to ask each other critical questions before marrying. Here are a few key ones that couples should consider asking:

1) Have we discussed whether or not to have children, and if the answer is yes, who is going to be the primary care giver?

2) Do we have a clear idea of each other’s financial obligations and goals, and do our ideas about spending and saving mesh?

3) Have we discussed our expectations for how the household will be maintained, and are we in agreement on who will manage the chores?

4) Have we fully disclosed our health histories, both physical and mental?

5) Is my partner affectionate to the degree that I expect?

6) Can we comfortably and openly discuss our sexual needs, preferences and fears?

7) Will there be a television in the bedroom?

8) Do we truly listen to each other and fairly consider one another’s ideas and complaints?

9) Have we reached a clear understanding of each other’s spiritual beliefs and needs, and have we discussed when and how our children will be exposed to religious/moral education?

10) Do we like and respect each other’s friends?

11) Do we value and respect each other’s parents, and is either of us concerned about whether the parents will interfere with the relationship?

12) What does my family do that annoys you?

13) Are there some things that you and I are NOT prepared to give up in the marriage?

14) If one of us were to be offered a career opportunity in a location far from the other’s family, are we prepared to move?

15) Does each of us feel fully confident in the other’s commitment to the marriage and believe that the bond can survive whatever challenges we may face?