Spring Break

Remember that old saying about the month of March - "it roars in like a lion and out like a lamb"?

This year we experienced just the opposite.

Mostly, the weather in March was warmer than normal.
It made me down right giddy from time to time.

Waking up to lots of snow on April Fool's Day was no joke.
But, considering drought conditions, no one is complaining.
In fact, we've been asking for it - literally.

The two classes of first graders at H. Elementary dazzled the audience with their spring musical performance last week.

Brekka and Elsie

Memorizing lines was easy for Elsie - and her "rain dance" was adorable.

I love the innocence of this heart-warming age of children!

If only I could freeze time...(on occasion anyway).

Well done, Elsie!

As the first round of children return home from school (Elsie & Anna), we can always be found in the kitchen.  They eat snacks while I do dinner prep and we chat about the day.  I had made a big pot of noodles for the kids - which they like to sprinkle cheese on.  After dishing Quinn up, he raced out of the room and moments later came back with the bike pump he found in the garage.

The noodles were still hot so he took matters into his own hands.

And Elsie volunteered to be his helper.
How ingenious!

He usually asks me to blow on his hot food to cool it down - but now that he's older - I encourage him to do it himself.  Apparently, he came up with an alternative plan because he didn't want to "waste his breath" (literally).  Funny kid.

"Track is Good" t-shirt & bag received
by track team at special HS assembly.

The track season is in full swing for Tanner.  And thus far, it has been an inspirational season  - special thanks to teammate, Rhett J.  After the state meet last spring, Rhett was diagnosed with cancer in his knees.  It has been a very serious matter and Rhett was close to losing his leg.  Selected by the "Make A Wish" foundation, Rhett set aside his initial "wish" of flying his parents to Hawaii or having the family receive a snow-mobile - and turned his attention outward.  His desire was to give back to an organization that meant so much to him - the local high school track team.  Rhett decided it was time to replace the old, worn-out hurdles used for countless years so that became his "wish".  Make-A-Wish Foundation contracted with an athletic equipment company to help bring Rhett's vision into reality.  When the executives of the athletic company caught wind of Rhett's "wish", they were so touched by his selflessness, they threw in ten new starting blocks and a special cart to transport them.  The total cost of the complete set of new hurdles (and blocks/cart) neared $18,000 - a price far beyond what Make-A-Wish Foundation typically provides.  It was, however,  made possible because of the generosity of all involved and it started with the "wish" of a selfless high school senior.  

I can't see these hurdles without getting a lump in my throat.  

I love this touching story!

And I love finding these notes on my office desk in the morning.

Spring Break isn't much of a break around here

(though we do love Spud Harvest Break).

Brinley decided it was time to host another "crazy dinner" of sorts where everybody orders meals from mixed-up menus.  After a fair amount of deliberation and drama, we settled on a menu and went to work.

It was a lot of work but the younger kids always enjoy this activity - especially at dessert time.

Lunch at Chuck-A-Rama

The next day (Friday) we packed our bags and headed out of town for a few days.  After reviewing the schedule for our extended weekend which included all of the children's favorite activities (not) -- attend church at different ward, take dad to airport, visit the dentist, etc., Aaron and I decided to throw in a little surprise we knew they would LOVE.  

Our bi-annual event of eating at a restaurant as a family.
And we may or may not have stopped at a certain outlet to spend $62 on goldfish crackers and milano cookies...what was I thinking!?!

Malinda, Cyd, Keri, Hilary, Heather - dinner at Indian Restaurant

Upon arriving at G-ma and G-pa P's place, Tanner, Brinley and I took a tour of the latest rental property acquired by my parents.  Another fun project in the works for them.  Then, I transferred my bags to Hilary's car and bid farewell to Aaron and the kids.  Hilary and I drove to SL where we met up with the K-1 Crew for an exciting evening of "mom talk & stuff".  Highlights - travel/talk/Costco with Hilary (sister-bonding), Kerdog's baby dredlocks,  Malin's 10-year travel plans & map, Cyd's Mo-Tab story, her unique bedtime routine & the barefoot breakfast mishap. We always have so much fun together and I feel rejuvenated - though we manage to stay up way too late...

Next morning - hotel lobby

We missed Kaylynn (in Canada) and will miss Ker-dog as she moves to Oregon in a few months.  Our '$15 a night hotel connection' is leaving town and I have a hunch that will put a damper on our sleep-overs but we have bigger plans on the horizon...

Meanwhile, back in CV, the kids enjoyed collecting candy at a local home & garden show with C. cousins, grandparents on Saturday morning.  They made quite a haul in the candy department. 

After lunch, Aaron and Adam took the kids to burn off a little energy at an indoor trampoline park.

Good call!

 They had loads of fun and maximized their investment to the very last minute.

 Jameson and Brinley 

Jantzen swinging into the foam pit.

The party wasn't over yet for Jantzen and Aaron.  It was just beginning as they drove south to attend their first ever REAL Salt Lake soccer game.

And have a little ice cream together.

A full-house and loads of energy - REAL Salt Lake won (3-0)!

G-ma P, Hilary, Jenna, Brinley, Heather with Korinne, Elsie, Anna in front

All the women/girls enjoyed bonding in a different way while attending the first-ever historic Women's Conference together.  It was a beautiful meeting where we were reminded about the importance of covenant-keeping.  The video presentations and multi-age choir were visual reminders of how we all need each other to progress through our mortal journey successfully.

Jameson & Quinn reading scriptures after church.

After attending Sunday meetings and devouring the comparable to Thanksgiving feast after church, we left CV for SL where we (possibly) camped out for the last night at G-ma and G-pa P's little apartment.  Monday morning - it was time for Aaron to catch a flight to New Jersey and for me to take six children to the dentist's office.  Three+ hours and seven cavities later, we "tried" to eat lunch and then drove north arriving in P. on time for Brinley to rehearse with an accompanist while everybody waited patiently in the car en route to home.  We made it home and eventually everyone got to bed - school resumed the next day.