Here are some highlights from the 3rd week of March.
Steve took Hudson to the butterfly museum, then played at a playground afterward. We made a new yummy dinner w/ ground turkey, broccoli, sweet potatoes and avocado. We are counting down the days until our next Disney Cruise in May. Getting super excited!
We took the boys to martial arts out in Riverton. While they were there we stopped at Costco, then played on a playground. When we got home the boys were ready for bed. Piper likes to snuggle w/ Carter especially. We find her on his bed most of the time.
Joann was in the hospital all week, up at LDS Hospital. She had some rough days, but was finally released on Saturday. The boys made a couple short videos to try and cheer her up.
Hudson at his preschool sports activity at the rec center, then holding baby Taft. Hudson on the playground while the other boys were at martial arts. Steve stopped by Dave/Joann's place to work on our camper trailer. Hudson got a snack and sat in Joann's chair and said he wanted her to come home.
Steve at Costco while they worked on our tire that had a screw in it.
I went to the temple on Thursday and did initiatories. Cute Hudson at preschool.
Steve met Zach Hannay at Utah Lake on Friday and went fishing.
Hudson loved playing w/ sticks in the dirt and holding the worms.
Friday after work, Steve took Nyles to the temple to do baptisms for the dead.
While they were gone, we played outside in the yard. Hudson dug a hole.
Hudson playing w/ his bubble blower and Carter and I passed the football to each other.
After they got back, Steve and I went to look at a Toyota Sequoia close by. We then went back Saturday morning to test drive it again, and decided we wanted it. While we were "negotiating" the boys got to play in a pirate ship. We did end up buying up, but didn't pick it up until Tuesday.
After being at the car place, we hurried home, got lunch, then went to Nyles and Carter's martial arts graduation. Nyles will earn his black belt next time, at the end of June. After that we hurried home, the boys changed, then we went to the rec center for Carter's last soccer game. They won again! Though they didn't officially keep score, the won every game and were thus undefeated! Nyles then stayed at the rec center for a swimming birthday party.
Nyles and Carter w/ their martial arts certificates and new belt ranks.
Carter at his soccer game and with his team afterwards.
On Sunday, it snowed. We hurried over to our church so Steve could help w/ a baby blessing of our neighbors. We then left and drove up to Midway for Ethan's mission farewell.
The snow at home and going up Provo Canyon. Rob rode up w/ us.
Ethan giving his farewell talk. The primary kids sang a song in between speakers. I asked Hudson if he wanted to go sing (as a way to distract him since he was being rowdy at that time) and he surprisingly said yes! He went up to the stand all by himself and stood there the whole time. He didn't know the song, but he tried to sing it. Silly kid :)
We went back to Melanie/Brandon's place for lunch. We visited a while then went home. We made Resurrection Easter Rolls after dinner. The boys helped make them. While they were baking, Carter made a marble tower and Nyles made a Lincoln Log building.
Carter giving Piper a belly rub. Then Piper licking Carter's leg. Silly kid.
Here are some highlights from the 2nd week of March.
Monday, March 11th, Carter stayed home from school as he wasn't feeling well. He developed a cough like I had, and Hudson. My voice is still recovering from losing it the week before, plus the cough. I didn't take anytime off work though, last week or this week. I rearranged a few things and had help from my colleagues where needed, then mainly communicated via chat, and or I whispered when I needed to talk.
Monday afternoon, we had our Primary Activity for the boys. Carter stayed home. We made St. Patrick's Day clovers w/ diamond dots. Surprisingly the boys stayed focused the whole hour and worked really hard to complete their clover.
So many birds flying across the street. The boys working on their clovers, then finished (Clay, Tristan, Jonah, Jacob and Ryder). Sydney Evans w/ her son Taft, taking a nap.
Hudson stayed home from preschool on Tuesday, still not feeling the best. But by Wednesday he was doing much better, so he went to his preschool class at the rec center.
Wednesday it also started snowing. By noon we had 3 inches.
Steve hates having the driveway covered in snow, so he and Hudson went out and shoveled it.
Thursday, Nyles went to choir practice in the morning, then came home sick after Steve dropped off Carter. Ironically the snow melted by the next day, and it looked more like Spring again.
Our first Daffodil blooming! Awesome note from Carter's teachers. Nyles made cinnamon rolls from a can! Good work Nyles!
Friday evening, Nyles and Carter had a martial arts phase test they had to complete in order to advance to their next belt rank this month. We are now driving to the Riverton studio, as they closed the Draper one. Definitely not what we want, but we're making it work.
Saturday, Carter went to play w/ his friend Colin, who lives in Riverton, before their soccer game. After dropping him off, the rest of us went for a bike ride next to the Jordan River. It was a beautiful day to go for a bike ride. We went about 4 miles. It was fun!
On our bike ride. On our ride back, Hudson fell asleep :)
Our beautiful Crocus flowers in bloom and first daffodil! We have more blooming this year than last year! We have these new voluntary mixed one of white and half purple ones; so pretty!
We went home, dropped off our bikes, then met Carter/Colin over at Dimple Dell Rec Center for their soccer game. They did awesome and won again (undefeated), though they don't keep track of score. Carter got to play goalie for a little bit again. He's really enjoying soccer.
Sunday was another beautiful day. After church Steve and I took a nap. Steve started feeling a little yucky earlier in the week as well. Basically the whole family has been sick, but we're managing and slowly recovering. That afternoon the neighborhood kids gathered in the circle to play. Hudson wanted another bike ride, so Steve took him around the block while I was talking w/ neighbors. We also met our new neighbors who moved in behind us. It was a beautiful day. We are looking forward to Spring and Summer coming up. The boys are excited to go camping this summer.
Steve taking Hudson around the block. The kids playing in the circle w/ neighbors.
This past week was a little long. Hudson and I were both sick all week. Here are some highlights.
Hudson enjoying his yogurt (he got it down all by himself from the fridge w/ his chair). The next day, Hudson fell asleep on the couch while watching a show. Nyles and Carter doing PMA now at the Riverton studio, since they closed the one by us in Draper. Great quote.
Tuesday Steve and I took Hudson for a walk. He was eating his Fun Dip Candy, but then fell asleep. He even stayed asleep for a while after we got back in the house.
Wednesday morning, I completely lost my voice. I could only get a small whisper out. I rearranged several things in my schedule so I didn't have to talk much, mostly just chatted w/ people. Hudson seemed to be doing better though, so Steve took him to the rec center for a preschool activity. Ironically our neighbor, Sydney Evans, was there w/ her 3 year old Tate and baby Taft. Hudson was so excited to see baby Taft especially. Steve used it as a motivation for Hudson, so when he got done w/ his class he got to hold baby Taft. He was so excited!
Hudson enjoying the preschool games, then holding baby Taft.
That night, Steve took Nyles to a maturation program at the middle school. Hudson, Carter and I went over to the Elementary school to play for a while, then Steve met us there. Pretty flowers in bloom in the yard. They're trying to encourage it to be Spring!
On Thursday, Hudson and I were both still feeling sick, so we decided to go to the Drs. I still didn't have a voice, and since I was supposed to teach Relief Society on Sunday, I wanted to see if I could get something to help. I went to the Sandy Instacare downstairs, then Steve took Hudson upstairs to the Pediatrician's office. The Dr. basically said I had adult Croup (so caught it from Hudson), which attacked my throat/voice. The Dr. gave me a steroid, prednisone, to help w/ my voice. Hudson's Dr. said he still had Croup, which apparently is lasting up to 4 weeks for some patients.
Hudson fell asleep while waiting for the Dr. Later that night he was out pretty quickly.
Steve and I decided to order bikes for ourselves, so we can ride w/ the boys. Mine was delivered that afternoon, so we went out for a quick ride around the neighborhood. It's definitely been a while since we both rode bikes. Our legs haven't used those muscles in those ways for a while, that's for sure.
More beautiful Crocus blooming in our yard.
Saturday morning we went and played pickleball. Rob met us there also and played w/ us. After lunch we took our bikes out and rode about 3 miles. It was a lot of fun!
Saturday evening Carter also had a soccer game. He scored the 1st goal again. Good work Carter!
We are loving the Cara Cara oranges. We all eat several every day. So yummy!
On Sunday, thankfully my voice came back enough, after 4 days, and I was able to give my lesson in Relief Society. It was from Sister Runia's talk called "Seeing God's Family through the Overview Lens. It's such a great talk/lesson. I encourage you all to read/listen to it again. There are so many great things to learn/apply. We had a great discussion, so thankfully I didn't have to talk much.
The "Overview Effect," looking at Earth through space, encouraging us all to "zoom out" in life and our circumstances. Cute text about Hudson in Primary. Silly Piper laying on our pillow. Nyles helped Steve made smoked brisket for dinner.
Sister Tamara W. Runia, "Remember, families are a God-given laboratory where we’re figuring things out, so missteps and miscalculations are not just possible but probable. And wouldn’t it be interesting if, at the end of our lives, we could see that those relationships, even those challenging moments, were the very things that helped us to become more like our Savior? Each difficult interaction is an opportunity to learn how to love at a deeper level—a godlike level."
February has come and gone, and we are now into March. This week's weather was typical, in that one day it's Spring, and the next we're back to Winter. We're looking forward to Daylight Savings this next weekend for more sunshine after school/work. You know how the saying goes, "March comes in like a lion, out like a lamb." Here are some highlights of the last week of February and start of March.
Monday, February 26th, I went rode the train into work. It was our "Connect week" so I went in the whole week. We got a little bit of snow this week. Our oven also stopped working. I was baking cupcakes w/ Hudson last week and heard a weird sound coming from it. I looked at the bottom of the oven and it looked like a small fire (orange color), so I turned it off. I was using the convection, so I changed it to the regular oven. The sound stopped and thankfully I was able to finish the cupcakes. A couple days later, I wanted to see if it did it again and show Steve, so I turned on the oven. The temperature said it was at 350 degrees, so I put the cookies in and cooked them. The first batch went normal, but then the 2nd batch was taking FOREVER to bake. I finally adjusted the temperature and it said it was only 200 now, instead of 350. I cranked it up again, and finally got the cookies done.
Steve took the oven apart the next day, and sure enough, the element had burned out, not only in 1 spot, but 2!!! He watched some Youtube videos to see how to replace it, got the new part, and replaced it! Good work Steve! Though the part was covered by the manufacturer, we'd have to wait a couple months they said to get the part, so Steve just went and picked it up himself and replaced it himself. I'm thankful to have the oven back and running again. It definitely warms up quicker now too. Not sure how long it has been going out.
The bottom element that broke in the oven. Waiting for the train in Draper, then passing the SLC Temple while riding to work.
I hurried home from work on Monday for a joint appointment, then we had activity days at the church. I asked Steve to teach the boys how to tie a couple knots. He went all out and had them test their knots and see if they could lift a weight on the basketball hoop, tied to a pully. They had a great time and Steve did awesome!! I appreciate Steve for helping and teaching it so much better than I could. Hudson and Nyles came as well. Hudson wanted to hold my partner's little boy Taft the whole time. Sydney Evans is our neighbor (just a couple houses over). She as 4 boys and we have 3, so they love to play together. Ironically, Sydney grew up by Steve, so they knew each other from their childhood. Her mom lives close to Steve's parents still. It's great to have them in the neighborhood.
Hudson holding Taft. Steve teaching the boys how to tie some knots.
Testing out their knot, and pulling up the weight. Showing their knots.
Hudson woke up w/ croup that night. Thankfully we still had 1 dose of steroid medicine, so Steve gave it to him and Hudson was able to breath again and go back to sleep. Steve made a Dr. appt that morning to check him out, and get more refills of the steroid medicine. Dr. Erickson confirmed he had croup, but since we already knew, he said he wouldn't charge us for coming in, and also refilled the prescription. Dr. Erickson has been the boys Pediatrician since Nyles was born. We're thankful to have amazing Drs that we do. Hudson was of course ornery all day, and nothing would keep his attention for more than a few minutes. Steve said he finally took him for a drive and he fell asleep in his car-seat.
We also found out that they are closing the Draper Premier Martial Arts, which is right by us. This was the last week it'll be open, so next week we'll have to go over to the Riverton one. We're not happy about this of course. We have loved the convenience of being so close to it and they have it 2xs/week for 1 hour. Nyles is so close to finishing his black belt though, so we'll continue on. They have a graduation and belt advancement at the end of this month. Then the next one in June, Nyles should get his black belt! We'll see if Carter wants to continue or not after Nyles is done.
Nyles and Carter w/ their instructor Thomas. Hudson asleep in the car, sick w/ Croup. Silly Steve likes to wrap a blanket around him as he goes outside w/ Piper right before bed.
The next day, Steve took Hudson on another walk after picking up Nyles/Carter from school. They played in the circle w/ the neighborhood kids while Steve walked around the neighborhood w/ Hudson. Thankfully he got a 1/2 hour nap in.
Hudson asleep in the stroller. Awesome poem from Nyles.
Thursday, Steve went and visited w/ all 3 boys teachers for Parent Teacher Conferences. He met w/ Hudson's teaching that morning, then once I got off work, he went to visit w/ Carter's and Nyles' teachers. Hudson and I stayed home. He wanted to make cookies and do puzzles. Thankfully the oven is working great now! We had fun! All of the boys are doing well and trying their best in school. We are so proud of them and their progress!
Making cookies and doing puzzles.
We had a couple days of sunshine, so more of our Crocus flowers are blooming. So pretty!
Thursday was also a leap day, February 29th! The past 3 leap days/years I've been pregnant w/ the boys. They were all born on a Lear Year: 2012, 2016, and 2020, which also is a Presidential Campaign year. I always had to add in the leap day when calculating my due date. I remember the past 3 leap years really well, due to my pregnancies. I'm thankful not to be pregnant this leap year ;)
The kids didn't have school on Friday. They found a new activity to play in the circle w/ the neighborhood kids, hitting a tennis ball around to each other. That night, Steve and Nyles went up to Midway to Melanie/Brandon's place for a young men "campout." They had pizza and then went over planning for the rest of the year. They then watched a movie and went to bed.
Hudson and Carter passing the tennis ball w/ others in the circle. The Young Men planning.
Carter, Hudson and I stayed home while Steve and Nyles were up at Midway. Saturday morning, they helped me change our bedsheets. Piper wanted to help as well ;) They thought it would be fun to build Piper a fort :) Thankfully Piper is very patient w/ the boys when they play w/ her.
Steve and Nyles got back by noon on Saturday. The wind was picking up and it started to snow on their way down. We were all getting super strong winds all night and they continued most of the day as well. After they got home, Steve took Carter to a birthday party at a Ninja Warrior place.
Carter and Nyles at the birthday party. Cute Carter w/ his ninja mask. They stopped at Costco afterwards for a few things, and found a cool Stitch Lego set.
It started to snow while they were out. We ended up getting at least 4 inches. My flowers look so sad w/ the snow on them ;( Steve picked up more yummy Cara Cara oranges. They are super yummy. Steve eats them like candy, in that he eats several a day.
Sunday morning, I woke up w/ a sore throat, so I stayed home from church and our family dinner that night. Steve took the boys to church that morning, and to the family dinner, while I stayed home. This memory came up today. Phill had them recreate it tonight. Conor and Nyles were about 6 months old in the first picture, now they're 11.5 years old. I'm so glad they can grow up together. Cute boys ;)
