APRIL 2017

I thought that things would slow down eventually, but every month seems to just get busier and busier.  We started the boys on private swim lessons at Summit Athletic Club.  They each get 1 on 1 instruction for 30 minutes a time.  They will each get 15 lessons total.  Their teacher is so good and they just love going.  I will definitely do this again next year - and until they are good enough that I don't have to worry about them drowning!  

On the 14th we went back up to Salt Lake for a visit to the wheelchair shop at Shriners.  I guess that we can't just see the wheelchair people, he also need to be seen by a physician, so we saw one of those while we were there too.  He was really nice.  He requested that we have an x-ray done of Talen's back because it was really started to look curves.  And the x-ray make it look even worse!!  

On the 18th, for YW we went on Stake Hikes.  It was fun because I got to go on the 3 mile hike with Kennedy's group.  She didn't stay with me (she took off with her friends) but we did get to eat lunch together and the view was breathtaking!!

The last week in April was Missionary Week.  This is one of my favorite weeks of the year.  I love seeing the kids wear Sunday Best to school on Tuesday.  I love that they don't watch the normal tv shows (or any tv for that matter).  I love that they devote a little more time to family and scripture study.  But what I loved the most was that the only music in our home for one full week was calm,  uplifting music - not the popular garbage that is on all the radio stations.  I am so proud of Kennedy for sticking to the rules of missionary week, even though some of her friends didn't.  I love that she will choose the right, no matter what her friends are doing.  I am so proud of her and so thankful for the wonderful young woman that she is becoming.  What a great example to all of us, especially to me!!  

The only other thing that happened this month was that we had an appointment with Dr. Murray (endocronologist).  She said that it looks like Talen's growth plates have closed and we are good to start weening him off the estrogen.  We should be done my the end of July - yay, no more boobies!!

SUVA Tournament #4

We decided to make this another quick trip and just go down an back in the same day.  Grandpa Victor even came with us (actually, we went with him).  The first two games were great, we took  both of them in only two matches.  The third game we should have won, but simple mistakes will kill ya and that is pretty much what happened.  Kennedy did such a great job!  She is improving so much and I love that she loves the game.

Clint Black Concert

For Christmas last year I asked my parents if they would rather get their normal Christmas present (a John Grisham book, brownie mixes, and a calendar) or if they would prefer a pair of Clint Black tickets.  They chose the tickets - except I wasn't going to let them go alone so I got a ticket for me as well.  The seats were great but at first I thought it was going to be a lame concert because he came out and just started to sing.  I as kinda disappointed but after the first couple songs he started to talk and tell stories.  He played some songs that I haven't heard in years!  Half way through the show I looked over at Dad and he had a huge grin on his face.  I asked him if he liked it and he said he has having a great time.  By the end of the show Dad said that it was so much fun we will have to do it again.  Guess I'm gonna have to keep and eye out to see who is coming to Tuacahn next year and turn this into their normal Christmas present!

Kennedy's Art Award

Kennedy brought home a flyer from school that said that there would be an exhibit for the artwork that the students had done in class, but I kinda ignored it until I got an email from Kennedy's teacher saying that Kennedy had won two awards.  We didn't realize until we got there that there would be a presentation of the awards!  She won $20 for getting 2nd place in the drawing category and Honorable Mention in the mixed category.  Apparently it wasn't just the kids from her school either, it was all the Intermediate Schools in Washington County.  I am so proud of her!  Artistic ability certainly did not come from my side (unless it skips a generation and she got it from my mom).  Good Job KiKi!!  Keep it up girl!!  

Daxton turns 6

I think I outdid myself this year!  Daxton wanted to have a Superhero Birthday Party, so I went all out.  We invited 17 boys and 15 came!!  I made homemade masks and superhero capes with all the boys initial on the back.  At the party they each made and decorated their superhero shields.  They played a couple superhero games like pin the star on Capitan America (which Kennedy drew freehand!), Hulk Smash, and Superhero Bingo.  Thank heavens Kennedy's friends were willing to come over and help with all the games!  It was a pretty hot day out, so we got out some of Talen's large syringes and let them use them as water guns to shoot the girls with.  They all had a blast!  We ate superhero cupcakes and kryptonite krispies and opened presents.  I let them play outside for a while and just before the party ended they were each awarded a certificate with their new Super hero identity and told their superhero power (which I found on a Superhero name generator app).  They boys all had a blast and I was thrilled that it turned out so well - especially after all the hard work that went into preparing it!!  Then later that day we had family over for some cake and ice cream.  I didn't get very many pictures of that, but he was spoiled with lots of toys!  I can't believe that my sweet little Daxton is 6, he is just growing up way too fast!!  I sure love my Daxy-boy!!

 

Left to Right, Back to Front: Owyn Christensen, Will Boyer, Andrew Wittwer, Micah Vaughn, Kyan Smith, Carter, Asher Seely, Daxton, Benny Hambilton, Harrison Hood, Hank Leavitt, Hudson Smith, Beckett Bringhurst, Hyrum Owen  (not pictured - Porter Owen)

Easter

Some days I am just the worst mom ever!!  With all the hustle and bustle of work, shuttling kids to and from activities, training for my bike ride, and Talen's recent appointments up north - Easter kind of got put on the back burner this year.  It wasn't until Saturday night that Jay and I were finally able to go out and look for Easter outfits.  We got on a new dress for Kennedy (which was a headache in itself - long story short - she didn't like the dress we picked so I took her back to the store to find something she did like.  After tears and trying on every dress in the store, she finally settled on one.) And we got new white church shirts, ties, and suspenders for the boys.  As far as baskets went, we decided to postpone that part of Easter and just give them a movie (Monster Trucks) and some fruit snacks.  Bad idea!!  We both felt so guilty for not getting them proper Easter baskets and Carter said a couple times that he wanted more from the Easter bunny.  So, this year was an Easter fail!!  I sure got some cute pictures after church though.

Our ward also had an Easter get-together.  They fed us hot dogs/hamburgers, salads, chips, and dessert.  There was a huge Easter egg hunt for all the Primary kids.  They were each allowed to find a certain number of eggs.  Carter could hardly contain himself until they finally said it was time to go gather their eggs.  Don't ask me why he only collect yellow eggs, but he had a blast.  I really enjoy our ward, I wish we had more opportunities like this to get to know the people in our ward better.  Good Easter!!

SUVA Tournament #3

With it being General Conference weekend, we decided to take all the kids down to Vegas again for this tournament.  Robin watched Carter and Talen, while Jay, Dax, and I went to watch KiKi play.  Her team is getting so much better.  They totally could have won every single one of their games, but they can't ever seem to get things together for their first set.  However, they did pull out a win on their last game!!  Yay!! Her first win!!!  I was so happy for her and her team.  They have worked so hard and improved so much over the last couple months.  I am so glad they are finally able to taste a little bit of victory!!  Oh, I must also mention that on all the tournaments, her team is all 13 year olds and they are playing in a U14 (14 and under) league.  It is very obvious that most of the teams she is playing, the majority of their girls are 14 (I wouldn't be surprised if some of them aren't over 14 either).  So great job team SUVA!!  Keep up the hard work!!