Happy Easter

Our Family had a great and relaxing Easter.

Easter started on Saturday with dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Pincock's house. Then a surprise visitor came...

The Easter Bunny
Christian has been insisting that the Easter Bunny is Purple. (He was wrong) I think it is because MY Favorite Color is purple :)




Christian and Connor and Their Cousins, Mason, Mikayla, and Lexi went on an Easter Egg Hunt.




Here they are opening the eggs. Lots of Candy and Money !



Easter Bunny managed to make it to our house.
Boys went on the easter egg hunt and Made a Hall ... again





Lots of Candy and Money and A Bronco sweatshirt! The Easter bunny knows what the boys like.




After Church we went to my parents house for a great dinner.
Still not that great at remembering to take pictures.

Bi-Monthly Ritual - "Hair Cuts"

Every other Monday is Hair Cutting day at the Atkinson house. I have never met anyone whose Hair grows as fast as Christian and Connor's. I'm not sure how I became the sole person in charge of their Haircuts -- but it happened. So I learned how to cut boys hair and I think I have become pretty good at it, but considering the amount of haircuts I have done over the 7 years (7 years + 2 boys + every 2 weeks = A lot of haircuts) ... I should be good at it :) In the past year, Brian has decided I have to cut his hair too! (He wasn't up for the picture taking) I have also cut many other boys over the years (neighbors, cousins, nephews, friends).

I bribbed the boys to let me take a before and after picture. They were not very fond of the idea.

Here they are before their Haircuts








Here they are after their Haircuts





It might not look like they needed haircuts, but first thing Christian asked me this morning was if haircuts were today. I said, "I didn't know" and he said, "Please!" They hate when it starts to touch their ears.

Christian Service Project NJHS

Christian was inducted into the Franklin Middle School National Junior Honor Society on March 18th. His good grades qualified him for this honor. One of the requirements is to complete 2 hours of service each semester. On March 30, along with a several others from Franklin, Christian went to the Pocatello Food Bank to fill backpacks. In cooperation with schools and other sites, and with the help of generous donors and volunteers, the Foodbank supplies backpacks filled with food and
sends them home with children who are in danger of not eating over the weekend.
The kids pick up the full backpacks on Friday and return them empty on
Monday.

What a great cause and what a neat experience for Christian. The foodbank expected them fill 300 packbacks within their couple hours but actually did twice that amount.

Left to Right - Aaron Pope, Kade Hall, and Christian


The boys really went to work! Thanks to Lonnie and Nicole for getting things organized.

Cleaning Masonry Center

I am adding a few pictures. They were taken with my cell phone so not very good quality :( But I have pictures so that is Progress :)

The Masonry Center


Connor Changing the garbages


Christian vacuuming - he was NOT going to let me get a picture. I got one but it is terrible. Teenagers !!



Because we are SO FAST - there was no time for more Blog Moments.

Disgrace to the Blogging World

I can't believe how horrible I have been at this blogging thing. (Still can't remember to take a picture of anything)

Here are the highlights of the Last month:

Brian and I went to the movies to watch "Marley & Me" We Loved it! I laughed So Hard and Cried So Hard. Too many similarities to our lives.

I went with a few friends to watch "Bride Wars". It was hilarious!

I have started seeing a new Doctor, Dr Jones. For the first time in a very long time, We feel hopeful. Brian and I have learned so many things in the last few months and are truly grateful that Dr. Jones has been willing to spend so much time and effort in helping us. One thing for sure, I am an absolute disaster.

Finished up the City Season of Boys Basketball. Both Boys did well and really enjoy playing basketball. Christian's Basketball Coach (Dave Spillett) created a pick-up team to play in some tournaments. Christian played a Tournament in Idaho Falls March 13th - 15th, in Shelley March 19th- 21st, in Marsh Valley March 27th - 28th, and this weekend will play in American Falls. It has been fun to watch Christian and his team. They are pretty good ball players. Team name is Chubbuck Raiders and they win some and lose some at each tournament. We are grateful that Christian is able to be involved with such a great group of boys.

Connor and Christian both had Straight A's on their Last report Cards. (and actually, they have both had straight A's this whole year). We are very proud! Christian was inducted into the Franklin Middle School National Honor's Society on March 18th.

Brian has been playing in some Golf Tournaments. No wins so far this year. He thinks he has not been able to play enough golf (I would disagree :)

March 23rd Brian and I celebrated our 7th Wedding Anniversary. Brian surprised me and took me to dinner at Ruby Tuesdays and booked us a suite at the Black Swan Inn - The Romeo and Juliette room. He even had a movie rented and made arrangements for the boys that night. Amazing!





Work has been insane. Not sure banking is the Happiest place to be right now ... Here is my office and where I spend the majority of my life :)

The Last thing that has kept us running is:

In May of last year, Christian, Connor, and I decided to take-over the Cleaning of the Masonry Center Office (this is where Brian works). Once a week, we clean this building and the majority of the money we earn is put in a Savings account for the Boys Mission's. Most of the time it is fun and we work together really well --- sometimes it is a disaster and I wonder why in the world we decided to do this :) We have a system and it works good, Connor is in charge is changing all the garbage and taking garbage out to the dumpster (there are 16 garbages) and he has to wipe down the showroom doors. Christian is in charge of scrubbing toilets (2 bathrooms) and vacuuming. I scrub the sinks and shine mirror and counters and I Mop all the floors. When we started it took us about an 1 hr and 15min to finish, we can now do it in about 30 minutes. Very Impressive!

What's next for the Atkinson's. BASEBALL! It starts in 1 week. Brian is the Head Comissioner this year and Connor will be playing in the Bronco league and Christian will be in Pony League. We are excited and sure hope the weather starts cooperating :)

We are Boring!

I am still trying to solve my camera problem. Brian bought us a very nice camera, but it is not the smallest thing to pack around -- So I don't :).
But I have a solution and now I just need my husband to buy in - A brand new Blackberry Storm cell phone. I always carry my phone, which means I would always carry a camera too! Perfect - now all I need is to convince my husband that this $200 phone is necessary for my blogging! Any suggestions on how to accomplish would be welcomed and appreciated!

Our family hasn't had too much excitement over the last 2 weeks. It appears we get up, go to work or school, run boys to basketball practice or scouts or mutual, go to bed, and then repeat. How much fun are we?

Update on Boys basketball games: Christian did not have a game on 01/31 but yesterday he did and their team won 40 to 10. As always, Christian did well and scored 6 points (I think !) Connor's team lost on 1/31 to a Fort Hall team. Their team did well but just couldn't compete with the other team's size. Connor scored 6 points (I think !). Sometimes it is hard to keep track. Yesterday, Connor's team lost. I think they forgot to show up! Connor had plenty of steals, but no points. The final score was 26 to 9. He was pretty frustrated!

Unfortunately, it is a well known fact -- The Atkinson's don't lose well. We are very competitive and like to win and for some reason if we don't - It has become Law that We must CRY. (which is very frustrating to me) Over these past few years, I have noticed that Little boys cry A Lot - not just mine -ALL boys! Since Brian played a gazillion sports growing up, I asked him if he cried when he lost a game, here was his reply: "No, I never cried! but then again I never lost!"

Boys Basketball

Christian and Connor both had their first basketball games today. Since both games were at the same time (and Brian is in nice, warm, weather golfing), I went to Connor's game. They both won and played really well. Thanks to my Mother-in-Law, Jane, I know that Christian Scored several points and had several steals. Connor made 2 baskets (4 points) and had A LOT of steals.

So once again, here is my problem --- I DID NOT REMEBER TO BRING MY CAMERA!

We need new family pictures! When we finally go and get them we are going to include Matty and Bogey.

My New Year Resolution

I have finally caved to "peer pressure" & "everyone is doing it" - so here is the Brian, Tracy, Christian and Connor Atkinson Blog!
I'm not sure We live a very exciting life, but hopefully I can find some interesting things to post. No clue why, but I am not a good picture taker. Maybe because I haven't had a baby and that is when you learn pictures are important! When I think back to the (almost) 7 years Brian and I have been married, I have missed a lot of events that are "picture worthy" and "picture important." I am hopeful, this will Blog will fix my problems of the past and help me "capture" more of our Family moments in the future. I wish myself luck.