Snippets

Here are some random events from the winter and spring:

I took a girls trip to New Mexico where I enjoyed good food and conversation for a weekend.  I loved being with my sisters, mom, and Keeley.

Pink Valentine's Day pancakes say I love you - especially when mom makes an E for Emily and Lily shows off her sign language skills.

Lily wanted on a heart in her hair for Valentine's Day - she wasn't very happy with it but she loved the K she insisted on for 'K' day.  That one pushed my creative skills.

Emily got to be on an after school basketball team - so fun.

For school Emily had to make a Leprechaun trap so Lily made one of her own (I guess Leprechauns like sprinkles). 

Lily spotted this unicorn horn headband while sitting in the cart at Wal-Mart.  She had to have it!  Three dollars of her birthday money was well worth it.  That horn rarely leaves her head and it creates a lot of attention in public.  

The other picture was taken while I was exercising in the garage one day.  She'd made me straighten her hair and she'd put on that hat - well she looked so grown up I had to take a picture.  It is bitter sweet to watch her grow up.

For Kate's 5th grade state project she did a report on Massachusetts.  She worked so hard each part of the project, especially the poster.  She even dressed up as Emily Dickinson for extra credit.

Hanging out with the cousins at Rachel's baptism.

One morning in March I was looking out my window and saw something strange in the lake.  By the time I figured out it was a river otter and ran in the house for my phone - it was gone.  I still can't believe there was an otter in our backyard but I'm pretty sure that was what I saw.  After that Lily and I camped out on the dock in the rain watching and waiting for it to come out of the brush with no luck.  It even inspired Andrew and Emily to go out in the kayaks after school.

Lily's lovely hammock.

I got a call in early May from one of Natali's friends saying that Natali had hurt her self at track and I needed to come quick.  This lovely ankle, courtesy of pole vaulting, sent us to quick care.  The doc said it was a sprain, told her to stay off it a few days and sent us on our way.  Three weeks on crutches and she still couldn't put any weight on it so we went to a specialist.  Diagnosis - severe sprain and 4 weeks in a boot- we were headed to Alaska in just under 4 weeks! We went the day before the trip and luckily he said she could try just using a brace, but Natali ending up using the boot a lot on the trip in order to hike and see everything.  That boot is hashed and we are glad she is walking again.  

Lily's preschool took at trip to Babby Farms and we took the play group girls with us - fun times.  See the Kangaroo?

Here is Natali being welcoming into National Honor Society just a few days after the sprain.  She also competed in the state solo completion sitting on a stool because of that ankle.  She placed 10th.  It was her first time competing in something like that.  I was so proud of her and loved hearing her beautiful voice.

Birthday Time

Katers turned 11 and got her own ukulele.

She wisely asked for Recese Penut Butter Cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory - yum.

Then Natali had her big day.  Yikes- how did she get old so fast.  I can't beleive we have a 16 year old.

On her big day she had Chocolate Mousse and cupcakes from a friend - her cake came another day.

Andrew changed things up this year by having his usual cinnamon rolls for breakfast and a Dairy Queen ice cream cake for after dinner.  He was a very happy boy. 

Greg hit the big 40 this year.  He enjoyed his Almond rolls inspite of them being the worst I have ever made.  Love all my spring birthday buddies but I'm always releaved when it is over.

Cinderella

For the Spring Ballet Production the girls did Cinderella.  Kate was in the Ballroom scene and she and Emily were in the Bippity Boppity scene.  Lily was a butterfly.  They had such a blast.

One of the best parts was that the Wilford's came to watch!

Birthday and Baptism

Emily was so excited to have all the family over for her 8th birthday.  She wanted a narwhal cake and  I think it turned out pretty cute (she was happy so that is all that matters). 

 She got her own pair of binoculars, a set of scriptures, and Grandma Dame made some clothes for her doll.

Then a few weeks later Grandma Nani and Papa came for her baptism.  It was so nice to hear the testimony of both her Grandmas.  She sure does have amazing grandparents.  It was a wonderful day. 

Easter Campout

Spring Break finally lined up with Greg's family's annual Easter Campout.  We have heard about it for years and were so excited to join in the fun.  We headed out early and made a slight detour to the Golden Spike Monument.  Every time we drive to Utah we see the signs for it but are always in too big of a hurry so this time we made it one of the destinations.  Honestly it was a little bit of a let down (there isn't actually a Golden Spike) but it is crossed off the bucket list.

Next stop, Antelope Island, another bucket list item crossed off.  This one was pretty cool; unique to see bison while looking across the lake and seeing Salt Lake City.  On our way off the island Andrew was sure he could see a porcupine in a tree WAY off the road.  We didn't believe him and tried to drive on but he insisted so Greg stopped and the two of them hiked out there.  When they didn't return quickly and started circling the tree we figured it must be legit.  We all hiked out there and were lucky enough to watch this porcupine climb around in the tree.  Andrew has definitely passed me up on spotting skills.

From there we headed to my Grandma Lula's 95th Birthday Party.  Not a great pic but it was awesome to see lots of family and talk with Grandma for a while.

The next morning we headed to Nevada and stopped at Kolob Canyon for a beautiful hike.  Kate was not sure about hiking so she was given the responsibility of taking pictures.

Do you think it's a cougar?

It was kind of windy but beautiful up there.

Then we finally arrived in Mesquite and headed to the campsite.  There were a bunch of cool rocks that the kids loved to climb on.  They also came in handy for hiding Easter eggs and having a major Nerf war.  

Lily was a surprisingly good climber.

Can you see our tents off in the left corner?  Mack and Andrew slept in McClain's truck on the right.

Andrew and Emily climbing.

Ready to find Easter eggs.

The Easter eggs were traded in for prizes and wow we had a lot of prizes.  5 tables worth of prizes.  Those kids were so lucky and happy.

I have never been camping with this kind of food.  Nani is incredible.  We had fabulous food everyday complete with dessert.  One night she pulled out 8 different kinds of cake!  Seriously - she is amazing.

Lily and her Papa

Ari, Natali, Piper, Cecily, Dahlia and Lily

Andrew and Greg way at the top of the rocks.

Natali put colored streaks in all the girls hair...then it got crazy and they put it on the boys.

Luckily, a day or two later, Aunt Neelie came to the rescue and brought some shampoo and water to wash the color out.  Andrew and Mack were very grateful.  

Epic Nerf war- Kids Vs. Dads

They had a blast.  Nani had made a bunch of special belts to hold the bullets and we all brought our own guns.  It was awesome.

Our last night was a talent show.  Natali and I represented our family by singing Don Gato - made incredible with Tanya's husband Maurice acting out the part of Don Gato, complete with rolling in pain in the dirt.  He was hilarious.

Mack, Talon, McClain, and Ethan did a skit where they put make up on someone.  I was not so happy to be picked by Mack, but I guess I should take it as a sign of love.

This picture was taken at the end of our long fun hike to see the petroglyphs.  It was such a fun trip but camping in the dessert is dirty and hot.  Thank goodness Nani is such a planner - we had everything we needed and the kids had cousins so they were as happy as could be.

On the way home we stayed at the Pierces to watch conference and hang out.  We even went to an Israeli place for dinner in prep for Easter.