Friday, April 12, 2024

Spring Break

We were so happy that Tiff and the kids were in town for Spring Break.  Hallee and I went over there on Monday. The girls had fun baking cookies. 
On our way over there we ran to the elementary school to drop off some clothes.  We saw Eddie and Wyatt walking down the street with a filing cabinet.  Our neighbor has a bunch of filing cabinets in their driveway with a sign that says "free." Wyatt loves free stuff and wanted to get one for his room, but I won't let him.  That day Dallin was over and they decided to take one to Dallin's house.  When I saw the boys walking toward the church with it I pulled over to ask what they were doing.  They said Dallin was at the church by the dumpster with hammers and they were going to destroy it. Wyatt always has such big ideas and I hate how much I have to tell him no.  I decided this was probably harmless enough, so I didn't stop them.
We even ran home and got him a jacket because it was raining. I snapped a picture before we drove off.  While I was at Tiff's I started getting texts from Emilee and Thomalee talking about the boys being destined for a life of crime.  I finally called Keith to see what they were talking about.  Apparently someone called the police on the boys because they thought they were vandalizing the church.  The cops came and talked to them and took their names and called Dallin's dad to come pick them up.  Wyatt had a cut on his hand that was bleeding so they called the paramedics and they cleaned up his hand and put a band aid on it.   Dallin's dad came and took them all home.  Poor boys, that really scared them.  We all agreed that they are good boys with big ideas! 
On Tuesday we got to go to the Orem Temple to do baptisms for the dead.  
Tiff and the kids joined us.
My kids loved having their cousins go with them. Tiff and the kids came over after.  We loved hanging out with the Barths!
We love having the temple so close to us.
Keith and I went to the store and we were surprised to see Wyatt and Jonah behind us at the stoplight.  We stopped at the gas station and that is where Jonah and Wyatt were going. Wyatt said Jonah came into his room and said, "mom and dad are gone, you know what that means, a drink run." Wyatt would never turn down a drink run, especially with his brother!
There is a new track over by the skate park that Wyatt likes to ride his bike on. 
Wyatt did it over and over to try and get faster on it. 
Hallee didn't like that track so she rode her bike at the skate park. It's nice that they are right next to each other. 
The dreaded April 4th was during Spring Break.  This year Easter was on March 31st, just like it was the year Jen died.  My mind plays those days over and over in my head at this time of year. Keith and I went to the cemetery. I don't love the cemetery, but some years I want to go. 
Keith and I needed to get out so we made an evening of it.  We used the gift card Caitlyn gave us and went to Chili's after the cemetery. It was so fun to eat out and not worry about money! Things have been so slow on the job front.  Keith has had a couple of phone interviews, but that is it.  It has been so hard to hear nothing day after day. We are both struggling to stay positive and hopeful.  
We went to visit mom and dad after dinner.  It was nice to visit with them. Dad gave Keith and I a blessing, which was really nice, we definitely needed it. 
We had so much fun at the skate park that we went back a few more times.  
Hallee was in a much better mood this day.  She was grumpy the day before because it was hot.  Me too girl, me too!
Hallee brought her scooter to try on the track. 
Wyatt hates when I take pictures of him.  Sorry Wyatt, you'll thank me later!
Hallee printed up some coloring pages for her and Keith.
Friday night we watched the new Disney movie with Hallee.  Jackson looked so cute sleeping on me.
I was excited that we were able to be home and watch all of conference.  Hallee joined us Saturday morning.
Jonah was jealous that all of his friends were on vacation for Spring Break.  Me too Jonah, me too! He picked up shifts every day to earn money for prom. It's a good thing he did because this dance is costing him a fortune!
We went back to the skate park between sessions.  It was warm and sunny the day before and it started snowing while we were there. 
On Sunday Hallee pulled out all of her beads to make bracelets during conference. 
Wyatt did Sudoku puzzles. 
The kids were pretty restless by the second session on Sunday.  Hopefully they heard the talks because they were great!
Caitlyn went with Anna to her friend's house to watch conference.
After dinner we went back to the skate park.  I had fun riding with them.
This reminds me of Covid times.  I bought the scooter back then so I could join them and we spent a lot of time at the skate park. 
We brought Jackson with us and he loved it.  We took him off the leash and let him run down in the pit with the kids.  Hallee and Wyatt loved it. 
Keith took the kids to a skate park by his old office.  It is a lot bigger and the kids loved it.
Wyatt has loved conquering these big hills on his scooter.
Emilee and Elisha were in Cedar City for a water polo tournament so they stopped in to visit Caitlyn.  Emilee bought them Jamba Juice and then they went and saw Caitlyn's apartment.  Emilee sent me this picture.  Caitlyn loved visiting with them!

Monday, April 8, 2024

Birthday Girl

Keith and Hallee did a great job on Caitlyn's sign.
She especially liked the picture of Johnny Depp.
We had an early Easter dinner so Caitlyn and Amarie could get on the road early. Hallee and Wyatt were so excited to give her their present.
They came up with the idea to do a canvas with pictures of Jackson and they put his paw prints in the corners.  It turned out so cute.
Caitlyn loved it!
Caitlyn wanted a lot of posters.  She is excited to decorate her room with them next semester.
She also wanted some nail polish. 
We tried to make it a great weekend for Caitlyn.
We were all so full from dinner that we didn't even eat any cake.  We sent it home with her. 
Her roommates had the apartment all decorated for her when she got home.  The next morning Amarie decorated their room and bought her a cake.  She went to dinner and an escape room with her roommates to celebrate.  Caitlyn said she had a great birthday.

Easter Celebrations

Grandma was very happy that Caitlyn would be home for Easter weekend and wanted to celebrate the March birthdays while she was here. Caitlyn surprised grandma with a necklace made from the stone of the Taylorsville Temple.  Grandma loved it, she is so excited for that temple.
She got grandpa a treat for his birthday.
We had an Easter dinner Saturday night.  I love any chance I get to see these cute babies!
Cody said he loves when I send pictures of the family so I took some pictures that I could email him.
It's so fun to watch EJ be a dad.  He is such a good dad!
Grandma did an Easter Egg hunt for the kids. 
They had fun looking at their treats and making trades.
The March birthdays!
The Easter bunny came to our house Saturday night. 
Everyone was happy with what they got.
Caitlyn saw this penguin and just had to get it for Wyatt.
She also got Hallee this squish mallow.
Caitlyn was so sweet and surprised Keith and I with this huge Easter basket full of all of our favorite treats, a game, body wash and a gift card to Chilis. 
That was so thoughtful of her and we appreciate it so much! 
The kids are always happy to find the money eggs!
Keith wanted to try something that he found online to dye the eggs.  You put food coloring in whipped cream and color the eggs that way.
It didn't stay on the eggs very well, but they had fun with it.
We dyed most of the eggs the regular way.
Caitlyn and Hallee looked so beautiful for church. Church was so good.  We had lots of musical numbers and one speaker.  The speaker did such a great job.  He shared the prophets' witnesses from the Bible and the Book of Mormon about Jesus Christ. It was so good!  
I loved having the whole family together at church.  After church we had our Easter lesson.  I had been reading a lot about the last week of Christ's life and shared what I had learned for our lesson. I love Easter and I love Spring time.  It is such a beautiful, hopeful time of year.  Coming out of the cold winter months into warm weather with the sun shining and plants coming to life really makes you feel alive and energized.  I love the symbolism of how Christ brings new life to all of us.  He is the hope and the light that we all so desperately need. I am so thankful for Jesus Christ and the knowledge we have of His life and resurrection.