Spring Break April 2019
Our spring break plans sounded like they were borrowed from, "This Land is Made for you and Me." We started out thinking we'd go to the Redwood Forrest but then Matt realized he had to stay in Salt Lake for a convention. I suggested he reserve some rooms at the Park City Vacation Club and miraculously they had two nights still available. We got dentist and eye appointments over with the first part of the week so we could play the latter part. The older three (still weird to have Mal home!) had work on and off so they came to Park City when they could, but what was fun was that we had other guests! Sadie brought Scarlett and Hartman and Cade and Ashley were in and out with kiddos. The kids were all OVER that resort. I tried to get a shot of them on the grand staircase but as you can see, they were non-stop motion.
Open mic night with karaoke fun...
Foosball, a pool table and baby Solly kept us all entertained.
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| Though this kid twirling around in his swim trunks also gave plenty of smiles. |
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| Solly jumping around on the couch. |
The lights around the resort were still it up at night and this caused Solly to run around in his swim trunks exclaiming, "It's Christmas time, It's Christmas time!" Then he stopped and pointed at the tree to ask, "Where is the star?" As far as we could tell, we were looking at him;)
I must be the kind of person who looks completely different depending on the lighting. We were all chatting away in the hot spring when all of a sudden Solly walked up and pointed at me, "Who are you?" Guffaw!
Cade and Ash and my olders headed home for the night but Violet and Ivy stayed for a slumber. The kids enjoyed a waffle bar the next morning in the kids' room. On the patio they had a little mining activity.
The gems were pretty expensive so while Sadie and I were out on errands we picked up some stones at Michaels instead. 
The kids also spent time in the theatre room, but mostly they were just back and forth and all over the place! Spring break was during the 'mud season' in Park City so I feared it wouldn't be very exciting for any of them. However, in speaking of spring break since then they all say it is the most fun they have ever had. Wow.
The kids stayed up waaaay too late the last night there so I was forced to give a rude wake-up call, "We have to check out in 15-minutes, pack your bags and eat this bread and jam." Matt was long gone to work for the day but he had brought in cases of chips and three family size Papa Murphy's pizzas. I was cursing the day trying to fit all of that onto the dolly.
After unloading the dolly, we headed to the trolley! We took a tour of Park City's Main Street. We hopped on and off when it suited our fancy.
At the Holdman Studio we told the guy working there that we grew up with the Holdman kids. He was so thrilled that he took a picture of me and Sadie to send to Willie right away. I wish we could get a copy of that picture too. Course, Willie wouldn't remember me, I am quite a bit younger....
There were all kinds of expressions of art scattered in the shops as well as on the streets. If we passed a steep never-ending staircase, the kids had to run up it, "Time us!" I'm telling you; they were movin! Non. Stop.
I had some pants for Graham that I needed to return at Walmart so we went there for lunch as well, Lunchables to be exact. That is how Heber and Elko folks dine in Park City.
General Conference
I suppose that because the last conferences have revealed big changes in the church, the members were anxious for more. Leading up to General Conference I started to hear some rumors of what people speculated would change. I personally think speculations are down-right ridiculous and took no part in it. After conference was over and there were not any big changes made, I took this as a teaching opportunity for the kids. We agreed that we never want to be the one where a rumor starts, instead we want to be the one where the rumor ends.
Provo Utah Temple
I did something really cool in April. I started working at the Provo Temple. Up to this point you couldn't work a shift if you had dependents at home but at Ward Conference in March, I learned that now that rule doesn't apply. I pretty much knew right away that working in the temple was something that would bless my life. I had only a couple of days to think about it before letting the Bishop know. The following Sunday the Provo Temple Presidency was in Heber to interview 50 potential new workers. I attended the evening in order to learn more about it and before I knew it, I was being set apart by the President Livingstone. It was a beautiful blessing. My first day was April 9, 2019. Here we go, good things to come for sure.
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| Cute text I sent to my Laurels |
I had my Laurels over to learn some easy recipes for Easter brunch and simple entertaining tips. I had plans to go to the store for this obviously but the day got away from me and I didn't make it there. However, I was able to pull out ingredients for fondue, egg cups, and cupcakes!
I learned from my neighbor at the Relief Society party about a drink called a shrub, which consists of mixing soda water with balsamic vinegar. I had just purchased some white peach balsamic on Main in Park City. Some girls loved it, some hated it but at least they all tried it! When I bought the balsamic Sadie said, "I would never get through all of that." Well, when you literally guzzle it, you go through it pretty quickly!
Band is BACK
Graham's spring band concert. Matt was out of town in the days leading up to it and he said that while he was sitting in a meeting, just sitting there, his back went out. He could feel it seizing up and he came home completely crooked. I took Grayson to a Dr apt for a plugged ear, I attended Callie's parent teacher without him and then headed to the middle school for Graham's concert. Before I knew it, there was Matt wobbling in wearing his sweat pants, completely bent over. I usually have a pretty clear calendar but it is the days where I need to be three places at once that the back seizes. Seize the day! This time I insisted he see our chiropractor though. Back pain is something I relate to all too well.
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| Graham is in the back with his blessed (bless-ed) trombone rippin it up. |
Happy Birthday Little Lady
Though Kei and Ademir have moved to Idaho Falls, their townhouse was still vacant for a party.
My interest in parties is low these days but I took the little ones out to Eagle Mountain to celebrate cute Kalei's 2nd birthday. She was asleep during lunch but they woke the birthday girl for cake and presents. A prettier little thing you will not find.
And just when you think the days of frolicking and rolling around are over (they are still the babies...)
It was also Giuseppe's birthday. We called and left a birthday greeting and song entirely in Spanish.
After the party we still had a fair amount of day ahead of us so we headed to the Bean Museum in Provo.
Colorado Springs!
An investigator that Mallerie tracked into on her mission was getting baptized and she just had to go! I drove the girls to Silver Summit on a Friday morning to meet up with Sully, one of Mal's companions. They were at the baptism that evening in Colorado Springs! What a cool thing to have served so close to home that you can do that. They had a great weekend exploring the springs.
Fourth Time
No joke. Now Matt's work car has been hit on all four sides. He was taking Graham to collect fast offerings after church on April 14th when a guy in a truck ran a red on Main. The truck just skimmed the back corner of Matt's car. I am so grateful no one was hurt.
It is a blessing to have a company car at times like these. Though a hassle for Matt, the company is always good to give a rental during repairs.
Miscellaneous
I had to laugh at this description of overhead lighting from a book I was reading,
How true is that? I must be a vampire. Really.
I saw a huge group of elk in the felid just above our house. They were all just sitting there! I was giddy.
I had a long day my second day at the temple. I stayed in Orem to look for fabric for Ava's Prom dress and then headed straight to the Republican convention for which I am a county delegate. Our pal Luke was running for a county seat and I got to support him. After he won, I said, "Let me take your picture."
JUNIOR PROM!! April 20, 2019
Ava got the cutest invite to Jr Prom from a pal she met at EFY last summer. This kid drove up from St. George to take her! Their other pal took Alivia. These guys were so cute, and TALL!It was decided that I would sew the dress. Gulp. Ava found a dress online that she liked so I sent her countless options from JoAnn. My favorite was the top left but she liked the bottom left. Ha, that is the SAME knit lace that I sewed Katrina's wedding dress out of. I didn't know if I could stare at that print again. I had a lot of trouble sewing this dress. I think I had to make the top four times before being somewhat satisfied (I never DID get the triangle pattern to line up at the back zipper:/) My pals in my aerobics class liked to hear updates because, once I again, they thought I was crazy to be sewing. As prom neared, I was asked, "How is the dress coming along?" "I said, "Fine. I just need to cut it out!"
Then there were finding the right shoes...I got on that by too texting options to Ava.
Darling Alivia was also wearing a beautiful dress that Sadie sewed for Sophie a couple of years ago. Mallerie was a dear and made the boutonnières. She said, "I just wanted to be helpful."
Carson's mother also came up from St. George. Before they came to the door, I saw her taking pictures of the boys in the street doing this same kick. Must be their thang.
Ava decided to have appetizers at our house before the dance. All I had was a frozen bag of edamame that I steamed. I know, I know I should just go to the store, but the thing is, I don't want to.
Since you have to Promenade with a fellow Wasatch High School Junior, Ava was presented and danced with her pal Grant. The dance was to Calum Scott's "You are the Reason." It was beyond adorable.
And then the daddy/daughter dance to Miley's "Butterfly"...tears.
Her dance partner, Grant is a pretty fun guy too. His sister came over in the afternoon to braid Ava's hair. The date was so low-key. The boys don't know Heber very well so after the dance Ava texted wondering where they should eat. I suggested Lola's in Midway because they could sit outside under the twinkle lights. She said it was a perfect location. She had originally asked if I could make the dinner but I couldn't make that AND the dress! Geez, I was barely hemming it that afternoon.
Sadie and Brent had plans to drive back to Elko AFTER the girls got back that night. Brent fell asleep downstairs and we tried to convince her to just stay over and leave early. However, after she was already tucked in on the couch Brent came upstairs and said he'd rather get on the road then. It seemed so crazy to have to drive to Elko right then. The things us parents do for our babies.
I hope Ava's evening was magical. She deserves it, she looked beautiful and I love her.
Grayson missed the whole thing because he was working at Papa's. He said there was a girl who was working who is a junior and would have gone to Prom if she would have been asked. Being the nice guy he is, he felt badly for her. He said, "That is the kind of person I would ask." I said, "Someone who is just happy to be there, rather than someone who has spent all day in the salon getting ready?" He asked mortified, "Do girls really do that?"
And I won't have to worry till little Callie coo in 2025!
Callie Coo
Here she is with her pal Lily. Callie is a sweetie who also keeps us chuckling nonstop. One evening we were swapping favorite Harry Potter lines. The next day when she got out of the car for school, she gave me her best Professor Slughorn impersonation, "Farewell....Aragog." I smiled the whole way home.
When Matt was out of town, he sent this photo of a street he was on, Callie Marie way. You know, I always tried to make her whole name stick. I guess I should have hyphenated it, Callie-Marie.
I attended her fourth-grade field trip to the Swaner Reserve in Park City. I didn't have it in me to sit on the school bus so I met them there.
I couldn't see where the class was and the back deck looked so inviting that I sat down and ate my salad with the dreamy view in front of me. I was able to locate her class eventually...
She chose to drive home with me instead of riding the bus. We stopped at Quench-it to use a drink gift card we had. She bounded back in to school feeling so special. She should. She is special.
Easter Sunday April 21, 2019
I got a little side-tracked there talking about little C. Grandma and Grandpa came back for their monthly dinner on Easter Sunday. I decided to plate up the food this time. I kept the menu pretty simple (Jr Prom had been just the night before). I am always grateful to the food nanny for coming through when I need a last-minute tweak to a meal. Instead of a traditional ham I just added cubed ham and some corn to my potato casserole. For dessert I pulled a homemade carrot cake out of the freezer...but not soon enough. We had to wait a spell before we could eat it. I know, I know, quit freezing everything. I can't stop. Truth is, I had made this cake earlier in the week and I wanted it to remain fresh. Believe it or not I needed a break from sewing and I just felt like baking! I stood up, made a delicious cake, and then went back to my task at hand.
I just had one family Easter basket for the family this year instead of individual baskets. Matt had the idea to cut up a picture from the friend into a puzzle. On the back he had clues and scriptures to lead them to the loot. It was hidden in our bedroom closet but they couldn't find it. He was surprised they couldn't figure out the last clue until they said, "Is it the basket in your closet?" I suppose that maybe they did expect their own baskets....
Callie found the golden egg.
ILP in Ukraine
Mallerie has anxiously been awaiting her "International Language Program." I was somewhat anxious about sending her off to Ukraine. Even more so than sending her to Colorado Springs to be honest. I felt better after going to the offices back in March and learning more about the program with her. She will be in Ukraine from April-Aug 2019! She left not knowing a soul but made life-long friends in not time. That's Mal.
Percussion Club
Okay, we get back to talking about my Little C again;) She joined the Percussion Club at the elementary school this year. She loved it! She went before school to practice. The performance was on April 26th. |
| Callie front and center |
Matt attended the morning performance and was so impressed that he went back for the afternoon performance. We had to chuckle when he didn't notice that we were also there.
Callie seems to like to sign up for anything they give her a flyer for. Oh, except for 4H. I had to laugh that I saw that flyer on the counter with her writing covering the whole page, NO!
Girls on the Run
Wednesdays were a long day for her. She had percussion practice before school, and Girls on the run after school. She was leaving one morning and I said, "See you at five o'clock!" On April 27th was a local 5k run that they had to have a running buddy for. Wouldn't you know it that Mallerie flew out just the day before to Ukraine! This left me as Callie's running buddy. She was so afraid I would slow her down. We were able to stay together most of the way but as soon as we saw the finish line in sight I said, "Go ahead." I think we might have another runner on our hands, folks!
Spring is barely here, but it is fall for me!
I shouldn't even admit to the time I biffed it at Graham's middle school recently. I was going in the check him out and there were these kids kicking a soccer ball back-and-forth out front. I don't know what got in to me in that instant but I totally stole the ball from one of them! It was just for fun but as I kicked it away, I stumbled over the ball and went straight down! I even had to get a new screen protector for my phone because it was all pitted after that. The guy was like, "Whoa! Whaddya do?"
You know the security footage was probably played on a loop in the staff room. I wished I could watch it myself but then I found an EXACT replica of my fall!
I had Ava check Graham out for the Percussion performance.
I can't ever show my face at that school again.
