Family Fun in Moab

During spring break - Shayne took off a day (maybe 2?!?!) and we went to Moab.  Usually we travel with family or friends - so it was a unique trip to just be our own little family.  We had a great time just being together!  The room was nice and roomy and immediately the boys started a pillow fight.  We played at the Sand hill, went biking, hiking, explored Dead Horse Point, and even ventured over to Goblin Valley on our way home.  Oh - and there was plenty of eating too.  These boys do have their arguments - but they can also be each other's best friends.  You just don't know which gear they're in till the moment!

family selfie - at the top of the sand hill.

Braces-face and toothless together

These boys will follow their dad anywhere...

A rare moment - it's a family pic!

We asked Hunter to take a picture of us - he zoomed up and got us and our feet - literally.  I kinda wanted the view of Goblin Valley where we were standing in the pic - OH WELL!  Maybe the next trip he can try again. maybe. 

Easter Traditions

It's too bad that I'm posting this MONTHS after the fact - I can't remember what day we did what - but I do know that we get to have two Easter traditions.  First - with my family.  Dying the REAL eggs, hiding them, and rolling them, and then eating creamed eggs.  Some of my kids are even eating it now (I consider it a miracle if everyone eats the same thing)

With the cousins

These two could be siblings!

The meanest egg roller award goes to Skyler this year - he was a maniac!  Fortunately, some still survived and made it into the dinner we ate together!

The next day (I think this was on Easter Sunday) we met Shayne's family at the park.  The tradition: plastic eggs (filled with candy or $) and Grandma always tries to stump the grandkids with a really hard one to find.  We also threw in an intense game of Speed.

I see a little bird in the tree - no wait - that's Clayton!

I love that all the kids participate - even though they are growing up.

Here's Connor trying to find the really hard egg - it was in Grandpa's pocket (if I remember correctly!)

Carson found his egg!

Easter is full of fun traditions and family.  I am so grateful to be surrounded by family and loved ones as we celebrate the most important part of Easter - our Savior.  I hope my boys know how much He means to me and how my heart is full of gratitude as I count my many blessings in our little circle of chaos.

March Madness

Every year I take my clarinet studio to the Clarinet Festival - which rotates to different colleges in the state.  This year we were at Snow College and I had too many students to even fit in my car (which is a good problem).  Luckily, a mom was willing to spend the weekend with us as well and she drove a car load too.  Here we are at one of the clinics - it was a fun year.  Hunter came too, but he was burned out after 1 day and I wasn't surprised. Most of my students that attend have a few years under their belt and he barely had 1 year but I'm glad he came and was thrown into the swimming pool of information.

Even my seniors get overwhelmed...  lol.

Shortly after the festival I had a big change in my jaw/teeth treatment.  Up to this point, I had a screw in the palette of my mouth and it was literally pulling my whole upper portion of my jaw into a new position (and avoiding jaw surgery).  Having this work done - my teeth moved around and weren't quite so straight anymore (sigh) but it'll all be right at the end.  

Here is how my tongue looked and felt for months - it didn't feel very great.

You can see the contraption in my mouth that made eating, swallowing, and even talking very awkward.

The new look - I feel like I'm 13.  (I wish!)

The screw that was in the roof of my mouth.

I coached itty-bitty ball with Skyler and his bed friend, Anzer.  They both love basketball.  Watch out - that Anzer is going to be a monster basketball player someday.

Cole earned his Arrow of Light.  

And he walked over the bridge to enter to the scouting program.

Actually - he didn't cross the bridge - he jumped over it.  

That boy can't do anything as expected. 

And if I remember right - Cole wrote his phone # on the bridge - instead of the date.  He saw numbers and assumed they were phone numbers.  He cracks me up.

Both sets of Grandparents were able to attend - we're very lucky to have them close to us!

Cole with his best friend, Connor.

Cole - and he's actually smiling for this picture!