4th Week of April

We had another busy week.  Here are some highlights.  

Cute Hudson drew on the cement wall w/ chalk (his cousins also drew on the wall the day before during our Easter get togethers).  Pretty Lilac bush in bloom in the yard.

Tuesday evening, Steve and Nyles and the young men (Deacons/Teachers) went on a hike to Little Bell.  Steve taught them about the granite stone the pioneers retrieved from the area for the SLC Temple.

They had a great time and learned history as they went.

Pretty sunset as well to enjoy.

Wednesday night we went to the Tulip Festival, this time w/ Stacie/Phill's family.

Pretty flowers, fun times!

More pretty flowers in bloom!

Hudson loves to play in the water, and wanted to sit on the big flower again.

More fun w/ the water while enjoying the flowers.

Another boucy house slide to try and more pretty flowers.

I love all the pretty colors!

Amazing!

Steve bought a synthetic grass blind for the boat.  Friday late afternoon, we drove up to Idaho to visit my parents and Anna's family.  It was Ayden's 10th birthday also.  They waited until we got there then we sang Happy Birthday to him and had cake and ice cream together.

Saturday, Steve let Nyles drive for the first time (our big Sequoia), while Hudson and Carter got a ride on the motorcycle w/ Grandpa.

We then went over to Anna's place and helped feed their baby calves.

The boys had a fun time feeding them.

We also got to see their dogs and horses.

So many puppies!  Then we went over to the other cows to feed them.

We also found a few Robin eggs.

Then over to the horses by my parent's house to feed and pet them.

The boys checking out the big tractor.

We then went out and shot some clay pigeons.

Shooting clay pigeons.

Dad taking a turn.  Steve and Colton laying down, practicing for duck hunting in the fall.

Hudson and I left after a while.  We found an unshot clay pigeon on our way out.  Pretty fields.  

The boys shooting at the top of the hill.

Then playing on the swings, mowing the lawn, and Hudson playing in the dirt.

Nyles on the swing.  Hudson getting a ride in the loader w/ Grandpa.

Anna then took the boys on a horse ride, which they all LOVED!

Carter and Ayden playing catch while they waited for their turn on the horses.  

Anna and Tanner were so nice to take the boys for a ride.

Mom's pretty Lilac bush.  Nyles, Carter, Hudson and Ayden taking a break inside (it warmed up).

Then back out to do some target shooting w/ the .22s.

They were pretty fun, in my opinion.  Not as loud and didn't kick when you shot them.

A Kangaroo Mouse just hanging out.  Getting a ride back to the house.

Grandma VaLere stayed w/ us while Marla and Mark went down to Twin Falls.  

It was nice to see and visit w/ her for a while.  We then went on an Easter bag hunt.

We each found our Easter bags!

Then back over to hold the cute little puppies, and feed the calves again.

Anna's jumping dogs.

And pet the horses.  I told Carter and Nyles they needed to let the calves suck their fingers, to know what it feels like.  Nyles didn't like it, but Carter did!  Playing a game, then bedtime.  We had a great day on the farm.  We're so grateful to spend time w/ my parents, Grandma VaLere and Anna's family.

We left Sunday morning.  I got an updated picture of mom and dad on their way out to church, then we left to go home.  Only 19 more days until our cruise!  Great quote.

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: