Easter!

So this weekend was Easter/Conference Weekend. I love conference! Sadly, I can't always say that I have loved it. When the kids were little, it was always so difficult to get them excited about watching people just talk for 2 hours at a time. Luckily now, we have the internet with great sites like http://www.theideadoor.com/ to download conference packets to help keep them entertained. I also do a quiz with the kids at the end of conference where they get a piece of candy if they answer the question correctly. At the end of the weekend, whoever answered the most questions right get to go on a date with Todd and me. You wouldn't think at their ages that this would be that big of a deal, but gratefully it is. We also enjoy a big breakfast of cinnamon rolls on Saturday mornings session and Potato Bacon Breakfast pizza on Sundays session. (Yup, I know the way to their hearts--food!) It was also Easter this weekend and for some reason it always feels like a sacrilege to me that we don't get dressed up and physically go to church (this must come from my pentecostal days). I am so grateful for the atonement in my life and for the sacrifice that Jesus made. I used to think that the atonement was just to wash away my sins, but it is so much more than that--he suffered EVERYTHING that I have suffered--physical and emotional. That is so overwhelming to me that HE did that. On Easter we always have a big ham and "Yummy Potatoes" dinner. Todd and I were able to enjoy watching the kids hunt for their Easter eggs and go through their Easter baskets. We always get the kids a new movie to put in their baskets. Kenz got "Alice in Wonderland", Austin got "Sherlock Holmes" and Cam got "Blide Side". I love that they still love being surprised with the holidays. When I think of how many holidays we have left before kids starting getting married and going on missions it makes me so sad. Even though I am happy for them and for their futures, I really think it's a mean joke to entrust us with our kids only to send them on their way. I don't like it much! Anyways, we hope you all had a wonderful Easter and enjoyed your weekend with those that you love.

Seiko!!!

So lately I have been a horrible blogger...just so much going on that this has been the last thing on my mind. For the last month we have had the opportunity to host another student from Japan. Her name is Seiko Kodama and she has the best smile ever! She will always be near and dear to our hearts. We had so much fun teaching her about our American culture and teaching her more English-especially slang. We found out one day that she had to give a speech in her English class about a new word or phrase that she had learned. The night before we were watching America's Funniest Videos and the comment was made about a "redneck". Sooo, of course we had to explain what that meant and had a very funny conversation about trailer parks and rednecks. She thought it was so funny that that is what she gave her talk on. Yes, us Manning's know how to have great converation! Seiko also wanted to teach us a little about her culture and wanted to make us dinner...we ate squid! It actually was pretty good (or at least some of us thought so). We all had such a great time with her and are all very sad that she had to go home. Hopefully someday we will all get to see her again. Thanks for the memories Seiko!