Monday, April 21, 2025

3rd Week of April - Easter

We had a pretty busy week this past week.  Here are some highlights.

On Tuesday, we had activity days at our house.  We made Resurrection Rolls, discussed the symbolism, and played Easter Bingo while they cooked.  It was a fun activity.

The Activity age boys: Jacob Hamilton, Clay Evans, Ethan Gatherum, Carter, and Beau Evans.  Hudson playing w/ a cane from Dave/Joann.  He said he wants to use it for Halloween to be Scrooge McDuck.  Gotta love his Scrooge face :)

Tuesday, after work, we went up to Midway for dinner at Melanie/Brandon's place.  Noah then opened his mission call to the DC Mission (Spanish Speaking).  He'll leave towards the end of September, going to the Mexico MTC.

Beautiful blossoms and flowers around our house.

Cute Hudson was tuckered out after a day at Dave/Joann's place.  Steve went over every day to help fix things and get their house ready to list.  Flashback of cute Hudson (4.5 years ago).

Wednesday after work, we went down to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point.  
Rob came down w/ us.  This was his first time ever going.  Nyles ended up staying home to work on his Spanish presentation he was going to present the next day at BYU w/ his school.

There are SO MANY beautiful flowers!  I love it!

Amazing colors!

They also had different statues covered in flowers, which was cool.

Cute Carter and Hudson.

Picture time!

They have a new "Tree of Life" section as well.  Carter and Hudson held onto the iron rod up to the tree.  They also had other scripture figures on the pathway up.  Hudson w/ Captain Moroni.

Carter and Hudson w/ Jesus at the "Tree of Life" and on the cross.

So pretty!

Cute boys!

They had a bouncy house slide the kids could go on, so Hudson and Carter went on it a few times.

More pictures together :)

Rob really enjoyed seeing all the flowers as well.  I love the dark Daffodils.

Thursday morning, Nyles had to be at his school at 6:50am.  They then loaded up in buses and went down to BYU to compete in a Spanish competition.  Nyles competed in an improv conversation w/ a friend and a show and tell presentation.  He did great!  The whole school also did a song and dance in Spanish.  Nyles did a great job on his own, and together his school, Mount Jordan Middle School, actually won 1st place!!! It's the 3rd year in a row their school has won 1st place.  Amazing!

Lincoln Herd and Nyles w/ the 1st place trophy the school won.  Good work Nyles!

Thursday night, Nyles performed in his school play, Beetlejuice Jr.  Everyone did a great job.  
It was actually really funny.  There were over 100 kids who participated from his school.

More of the cast during the performance.

Nyles also performed the play earlier on Tuesday, for the local 5th graders.  They also performed it for their own school on Friday, plus a general audience Friday night and 2 more times on Saturday.  Needless to say they were all exhausted after performing all week, but also sad, as all their hard work was over that fast.  Nyles and the group have been practicing since January.  I was really amazed how well they all did for as young as they are.  Awesome job!

Friday night I had late night, so I worked until 6pm.  Steve then had a meeting to learn more about his responsibilities for Trek at 7pm.  Rob came and picked up Steve and they went to a guy's house, who lives at the top of the mountain, who is in charge of their Logistics group.  Rob was also called to help w/ Trek in the same group, so they'll be going together.  Trek will run June 30-July 3 in Bone, Idaho.

Nyles after his last performance of Beetlejuice on Saturday.  I made a loaf of sourdough.
Carter turned in a rock collection this week at school.  We're getting closer to our cruise in May.

Saturday we cleaned up both in and outside the house, prepping for Easter the next day.  Carter also went to a birthday party in Midvale for a classmate.  That night, after Nyles last performance, they went down to Jeff/Kim's for a Minecraft party.

Sunday morning the boys had a scavenger hunt to find their Easter goodies.

Quick family picture on Easter Sunday!

We had Rose and Pauline's family over for lunch.  We cooked up a ham, and they brought sides.  We then did an Easter bag hunt.  We forgot the brown bags, so we used plastic ones instead.  Carter trying to get his bag out of the tree.

We had lot of ham leftover, so we ended up not cooking up our 2nd one.  Family pictures!

Then we had Steve's family over for dinner that evening.  
After dinner, the kids found their color of Easter eggs around the yard.

Finding eggs and looking at their candy.

We're so thankful for this time of year to celebrate our Savior, Jesus Christ, and remember Him.  We're so thankful for what he did for each and every one of us.  We're thankful for the gift of repentance and the resurrection.  How blessed we all are for these Eternal gifts!

Great quotes:






Monday, April 14, 2025

2nd Week of April - Kids' Spring Break

Here are some highlights from the 2nd week of April.  The boys were finally, officially on Spring Break!  They were so patient waiting for their "turn" as other schools were on Spring Break the week or 2 before us.  I worked in the office all week, but made it home in the afternoon.

Monday, Steve took the boys to Thanksgiving Point.  First to the Farm area.  Carter loves the goats.

They fed the goats grass, then had a snack.

They then went to the Dinosaur Jungle.

Steve was able to attach the metal siding around the trailer that my dad cut and formed for us last year.  Nyles then helped to paint it.  It looks awesome!  I also finished all the mind puzzles.  Nyles was on the honor roll again.  Good work Nyles!

Pretty "Popcorn Trees" in front of the Delta Center (across from my work).  Tuesday night we went and saw the new Minecraft Movie w/ Rob.  The boys slept in the Lego room during the week.  We got air mattresses out so the boys could sleep better.

Wednesday, Steve took the boys fishing at Deer Creek.  Zach met them there.
They had a good time and caught several fish.

The fish they caught.  I made both a sour dough loaf and a cinnamon loaf.

Hudson was so excited to get the water table out.  He keeps asking, "Is Summer tomorrow?"  
I mowed the lawn for the first time, yeah!  I love all the pretty flowers in bloom!

Thursday evening Steve and I went to the temple and did initiatories.  
They have so many beautiful flowers around the temple grounds!

I also completed a puzzle of Jesus.  

Steve and the boys went over to Dave/Joann's several times to help get their house ready to list.   They plan to list after Easter. Steve has been working on the laundry room, patching, painting, taping, etc.

Friday Steve took the boys to a park in Draper.  
That night we went to the rec center to go swimming.
 
Steve put up a duck picture in Carter's room (used to be from George, Dave's dad).  
Our pretty tulips and Daffodils in bloom!

Cute Hudson w/ his rainbow Popsicle.  Pretty Tulips w/ cool edges now in bloom

Saturday morning I helped w/ our stake baptism.  We only had 1 this time, so it was pretty easy.  We'll be in charge of the baptisms every 1st Sunday of the month (the Stake Primary Presidency).  That afternoon we headed up to Lagoon.

Hudson fell asleep on the way up to Lagoon.  Pretty Tulips in the park.  
In line for Primordial, our first ride of the day.

While waiting in line we enjoyed the beautiful flowers!

We finally made it on the ride!

Phill and Conor met up w/ us after Primordial.  Phill then took Nyles and Carter w/ him to do the "bigger, faster" rides.

Hudson having fun w/ Rob and going on rides w/ him.  Steve and I on the other one.  

Hudson and Steve went on the swings. Then we went on Bombora.

We did Tidal Wave, which got me dizzy, so I sat out for a bit.  I let Hudson go on some Kiddie Rides for a while.  He had a great time!  Steve went w/ Rob on Colossus and Spider.

Steve got 1st place, Nyles 2nd, me 3rd, and Rob 4th in Primordial.  We stopped and ate at Cafe Rio for dinner, then went home.  Hudson fell asleep on the way home as well.

Sunday, we walked to church, like usually (since we live so close).  Steve ended up going back home to help our neighbor Karolyn.  Their van broke down in the circle and they needed to get a trailer back that they rented, so Steve let them borrow our Honda Pilot.

Hudson by a cute Popcorn Tree at our church building.  He loves that song!  We made origami during sacrament meeting.  After church I made some sour dough.  This time 1/2 w/ cinnamon chips (because we ran out), and 1/2 just regular dough.

Sunday evening we went over to LuDean/Diane's place for dinner.  I made cheeseburger soup.  Cute Hudson loves to play in the dirt, even w/ his cute crack showing ;)  Conor dug w/ him as well.  Nyles has officially passed me up now, and is taller than me!  I knew this day would come.  I just thought it would be later ;)

Great quotes:



Wednesday, April 9, 2025

First week of April

Here are some highlights from the first week of April.

On Monday, March 31st, Steve had surgery to remove another kidney stone. Steve took Nyles to the train (at 7 a.m.), and then Dave came and picked up Steve to take to Alta View Hospital for the surgery. I then took Carter and Hudson to school, and then I came back and worked.  I then picked Hudson up from preschool.  Dave brought Steve home around noon. After Steve was home and situated, Hudson and I then picked up his prescriptions at Wal-Mart.  Steve then rested the rest of the day on our bed, while I worked.  I then picked up Carter from school, then later Nyles from the train.  It was a busy day trying to manage everyone, but we did it.  We appreciate Dave taking Steve and for all his help!


Steve ready for surgery, coming out of anesthesia, and then home sleeping/resting.

Hudson w/ his sleep mask, ready for bed.  We woke up to snow on Tuesday, April 1st (April Fools).

I made some more sour bread.  Cute Piper sleeping.

Tuesday afternoon we had activity days (I wasn't released from my ward callings yet).  We worked on physical fitness in the church gym.  Thursday evening I had Primary meeting w/ the rest of the Stake Primary Presidency.  We are prepping for the stake baptisms coming up and more Ward Conferences.

Dave found this letter Steve wrote him when he graduated with his Master's Degree in 1996.  Too cute!

Friday morning Steve was able to take out his stent.  He took narcotics after taking out the stent since his kidney spasmed.  By the evening was feeling a lot better thankfully.  After getting out of school that afternoon, the boys were officially and finally on Spring Break.  We were one of the last school districts to go on Spring Break.  That night, they wanted to sleep up in the Lego Room/attic.  

                                                        Ready to sleep up in the Lego room.

Saturday, after the first session of General Conference, we went over and helped Dave/Joann more on their house.  Nyles and I worked on spreading mulch outside.  We then dug out extra dirt from the window wells, then went and bought more pebble rocks and filled them back in.  While we were doing that, Steve, Melanie, Brandon, Noah and their exchange student Juaquin hauled more stuff out of the house, then reorganized all the stuff in the pod. 

The window wells all done.  Nyles helping w/ the wheelbarrow.  New mulch.

We then came back home, went and picked up mulch for our place, and spread it around the front flower beds. The boys also played w/ their monster trucks in the circle.

Watching General Conference on Sunday.  The boys playing w/ magnetic blocks.  I also did a puzzle of the SLC Temple.  The boys helped Steve smoked ribs for dinner.

We went for a walk to Sprucewood in between General Conference sessions.  I worked on the puzzles (brain busters) during the afternoon session.  I actually figured them out, though not sure how haha.  Silly Carter getting licked by Piper (he loves it).

Sunday evening, we went over to dinner and LuDean/Diane's place.  We brought the smoked ribs.  Steve used a new seasoning, and it was amazing!!!  Dave/Joann came over as well.  It was great to visit w/ everyone.

I'm thankful I was working at home this week, as I took the boys to and from school several times, as Steve was tired.  It was a long week for all of us, and we're glad to have it behind us.  Steve met w/ the bariatric surgeon this week as well.  They are having him take calcium along w/ his Citrate and Potassium Citrate to help lower the likelihood of kidney stones.  Here's to hoping it works!

Great quotes from General Conference



This is funny!

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Last week of March

Here are some highlights of the last week of March. 

Monday, March 24th, the boys didn't have school.  It was a pretty nice day, so Steve took the boys fishing at Deer Creek.  They had fun!

They even caught a few fish!  Hudson even reeled one in one-handed while holding his Danimal :)

We talked about the armor of God in our scripture study this week.  Hudson willingly modeled for us how the armor works and is used.  Cute Piper hiding behind the drapes.  Steve and I went and did sealings Friday night at the Draper Temple.  Saturday morning Steve and Nyles did baptisms.

Saturday afternoon, we went to Lagoon for a few hours.  It was the first day it was open, so the boys were excited to go.  We picked up Rob to go w/ us.  Phill and Conor met us there.

Pretty Daffodils.  We went on a few rides like Scrambler and Cannibal.

Rob, Steve and Hudson along with Nyles and Conor on Scrambler.

Bombora, one of Hudson's favorite rides.  
We then rode Dracula then went home as it started to rain.

After Lagoon, we went home for a little bit and did laundry.  Then we went over to Dave/Joann's place.  We picked up Domino's pizza for dinner and ate together at their house.  Then we helped pack up more boxes for them and load them into the storage pod.

Sunday, Carter had the opportunity to tell the conversion story of his great-great grandpa Hegerhorst, who joined the church in Germany.  Hudson will get to tell another family conversion story in July.  Then they'll both be able to retell them during the Primary Program in September.

I made some sourdough.  We have a Tulip in bloom!  And more pretty Daffodils!

We went over to Pauline's house for dinner.  We took over our big blue kayak, as Pauline wanted to buy it from us.  The boys had fun playing w/ swords.

We walked over to a park close by to play for a little bit after dinner.  
That night Hudson fell asleep w/ a mask on.  Silly kid :)

Great quotes: