April

This month was a wonderful time being busy doing a lot of fun things before Jess and Brad left for the summer and Jake left for his mission. During spring break, Jake, Mike and I attended the Oquirrah Temple one day.  It was so pretty and fun to go to a different temple (although Jake had only been to one other temple so far).  We had a nice day together stopping for dinner and ice cream on the way home.

 Cam kept very busy with baseball during the month- especially with a few games getting rained out.  He played a lot of JV, and a little Varisty.  Varsity ended up winning region for the first time in 20 years.

Jess and Brad joined us on a temple trip to the Jordan River Temple.  It's so much fun to visit new temples.  We had a really great day together. We ate at Red Robin on the way home.

The Saturday before Jess and Brad left for Texas to sell for the summer, we all had a busy day- mostly in the yard.  Mike prepared and planted the garden, Cam mowed the lawn for the first time, Jake and Brad went to the Skeens in Paradise to pick up our ping pong table they had been borrowing for the past 2 years and set it up on the side of the house, I did some weeding and Mike assembled some new wicker patio furniture. It was so nice to have good weather and be able to get a lot done.

The next day, we had one last celebration before Jess and Brad left.  The Bundy's joined us for a bike ride to Hillcrest school to play on the playground (Jess and Brad were babysitting the Hess's, so they brought the kids along).

We ate outside for the first time and enjoyed a meal of rice and shisk-ka-bobs.  The 5 kids had a great time playing together.

 Jake had to say his first goodbye as Jess and Brad left for the summer.  It was very hard to witness and just made me realize how much worse it was going to get.

Three days after that lovely Sunday, this is what we woke up to.  You gotta love spring in Cache Valley. . .

The three of us attended our final different temple by going to the new Brigham City temple.  It's a small, but beautiful temple.  I'm so glad we've been able to attend the temple so many times with Jake and to experience several different ones.

It was very sad to see Jess and Brad go after many fun months with them living with us. We had so many fun times with them, and it really added to life to have them around.  It was always fun to have the Bundy's join in the fun.  

March

 Carol had a going away party for Matt who joined the Navy and was leaving for basic training in a few weeks.  It was a nice party and good to visit with Janet, the Griffins, Skeens, Romneys, Bundys, and of course the Searles.  Matt is a great kid, and it's just amazing to see him so grown up.

 Cam had his first baseball game in Ogden the day of the Junior Prom, so had to go late to the dance. One of his friends on his team asked a friend of the girl Cam asked, so the girls went together with the group to dinner, then Cam and TJ met  up with everyone at the dance.  Since he wasn't sure if it was going to work out for him to go, his officially asking his date- Sabrina was very last minute, as was my helping him put something together to wear.  It all turned out good and he had a fun time. (I don't know what I did to the color on some of this month's pictures. . .)

 Can you tell who is who?  It's mind boggling to me that my son and I look identical from the back. . . I think he has me beat by a half inch or so in length. That's just crazy!

 Kylee and Brody were able to come for a week during their spring break and we made the most of each day we spent with them.  On Sunday the 17th, they came to Sacrament meeting with us then we met up with many extended family for a fun progressive dinner.  Mom had just arrived back in town driven here by Paul who stayed a few days before flying home, so they were there along with the Romneys, Skeens, Searles, Bundys and Petes.  And the 8 of us.  So it was a houseful.  We started at our house for appetizers and a game, then went to Carol's school for Cafe Rio sweet pork burritos, then to the Skeens for dessert and games.  We hurried home long enough to pick up the sugar cookies I made to make fruit pizza's with, then went to the Weyerts for dinner along with Stacie and kids and the Calls.  So it was a fun filled family day.

 The next day was Cam's 17th birthday.  He didn't think any of his friends would know it was his birthday (he was wrong- he got lots of happy birthday wishes) so I decided to go decorate his car while he was at school. After school and work, all 8 of us crammed into the pilot to drive to Ogden to spend a very fun evening at the Salomon Center.

 First we ate a tasty dinner at Pizza Factory.  We had a great time visiting, and although the top picture shows everyone on their phone at the same time, we just did that as a joke!

 

After dinner, Jake and Cam got to do something they've wanted to do since we went to the Salomon center for the first time several years ago- Ifly.  The long wait didn't disappoint- they both LOVED it.  Even though they only got 2 one minute turns, they said it was worth it.

 Next the boys did the rock wall and had no problem zipping up each wall.

 Then all the kids did the Flowrider and had a fun hour getting better and better at surfing.  And for the first time ever, the 6 of them had both sides to themselves- with the addition of one other guy.  It was great that they hardly had to wait for their next turn.

Mike and I have each tried this activity one time- and once is enough for our old bones.

While the boys got oriented for ifly, the married couples had fun playing some arcade games.P.S. RIP to Brody's "swimsuit."  What will he come up with next?

 Jake and Cam had enough time to for a few games as well.

 The next night the Bundy's joined us for a yummy homemade rumbi grill dinner, then we all went bowling.

 



 Thursday was a very special day as Jake received his endowment in the Logan Temple.  It's so hard to believe that he's old (and mature) enough for this big step!  It was a wonderful experience.  Thanks to all who joined us.

 The big day finally arrived that Mike and I have been living for for the past year.   Cam has had a "thing" with his hair being longer than we've wanted for the past several years, but this past year he somehow talked us into letting it grow past his shoulders just to see what it was like with the promise that he would get it cut really short and not bug us about growing it long again. Also, he agreed to work on his Duty to God and work towards his Eagle with no complaining.   We set the cut off date for shortly after his birthday, so on Saturday, March 23rd, at 11:00 am, it all came off.  He was a great sport about it (even though he would have liked to keep growing it) and I think he's pleasantly surprised with how he looks. He was very afraid of looking like he was 12 years old with it short, but that's not the case.  He looks soooo handsome, and I'm so happy with how it looks. I love that he now looks more like his Dad instead of more like his Mom.  haha Thanks to Stacie for doing such a great job.  Goodbye twin hair son who looked like a girl, and hello handsome 17 year old boy!

 Is this the same boy?

We had to wait until the day Ky and Brody had to leave to go home to take some family pictures because I had to have Cam's hair cut for these since they will probably be the last ones we have until Cam comes home from his mission!  It hurts my heart to think that this may be the last time we're all together until then.  Tom and Freda were so great to take the pictures last minute on a freezing cold day.  I'm really happy with how they all turned out.

 Because of the timing of the hair cut and what time Ky and Brody wanted to leave, we were left with taking the pictures in the middle of the day which is not ideal.  Luckily the sun was behind the clouds for most of the poses, but this one we were battling looking into the sun. . .

 This idea was cute, but Mike looks lonely up there all alone. . .

I love these of the 4 boys.  They're such good sports to endure all the photo's we girls push on them and I love how these turned out.  It makes me laugh every time I look at them.  I just love my family!

February

  February started off with a fun superbowl party for the 4 of us, the Wheelwrights and Bundy and Lydia.  Jess created some appealing goodies and we had a great time eating and watching the game.  Sadly for Mike, the 49ers lost which means he lost the family football picks and the boys tied for the 1st place prize.

For the Weyerts regular 2nd Sunday dinner, they decided to celebrate Chinese New Years.  We ate delicious Chinese food and enjoyed taking home the prize for wearing the most red.  We went all out and it wasn't difficult to pick our family as the winners!  We won a $30 Itunes gift card.  It was great being together with almost everyone.

 For years now Cam has complained about being such a "moley" boy so he convinced me to let our friend Dr. Wood (who is an ENT) remove as many as Cam could tolerate.  That turned out to be 13!  Nine were on his back, and the rest on his neck and chest.  When you consider each mole needed at least 2 shots to numb it, you realize that's a lot of shots!  Once that part was done, the rest was cake!  They've healed up nicely and Cam is a new man!

 I did my traditional heart-attacking Mike's side of our bathroom for Valentines day, and this year I did the boys bathroom (instead of their rooms) and the guest bathroom which Jess and Brad use.  I should be more prepared and not save everything until the morning of Valentines Day. . .   Mike gave me a giftcard for a pedicure and a nice note.

 On the 13th, we invited the Bundy's over for our traditional heart-shaped pizza dinner.  They contributed Jamba Juice-like smoothies made in their blend tec blender.  Delicious!  I had made oreo pops for everyone and we had a nice evening- watching the premier of season 26 of Survivor.

 On Valentines Day the Skeens invited me, Mike, the Wheelwrights, Bundy's and Peterson's over for dinner, trivia games, and a family/Valentines Day edition of Jeopardy.  It was a great evening.

 Much of February was spent living in an inversion. And a deep freezer.  And lots of snow storms. Most days were white skies and little or no view of the mountains or sun.  It got old. 

 
 When we did see blue skies and the sun, it was a happy day! (even though we were still in a deep freeze. . )

 We very much look forward to seeing the sun more in March and feeling some warmth from it.

I've enjoyed having Jake come to see me at work a few times and bring lunch for us from Taco Time.  I love chatting with him and spending an hour together.

 One day in February my Zumba instructor did a couples class in the gym (instead of aerobics room).  It was pretty entertaining to watch the 4-5 brave husbands who came to try it out.  Needless to say, my non-dancing husband wasn't one of the brave souls. 

 I saw this sign in the parking lot of Walmart and just had to take a picture to demonstrate one of my biggest pet-peeves.  The incorrect spelling of your/you're!  It's embarrassing for people who do it wrong because it's the easiest thing in the world to double check! 

 Brad turned 26 on the 27th.  We went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse with the Bundy's and also celebrated Emma turning 7 a few days later.  We had a delicious dinner and a fun time together.

 After dinner we came to our house for presents, pie and Survivor.