Surprise!

Grandpa turned 70 this year.  On the same day Daniel turned 28.

Happy Birthday!

3/30/12

Kylene (18) & Kiera (15)

Tylan (8), Rachel, Tanya

Parker (9), Cassie (11)

Daniel (28)

luck o' the green

3/16/12

Dallin & Parker were much younger boys.

Leprechauns played & made mischief with toys.

We made green eggs & ham.

We said, "Leprechauns, scram!"

Shamrocks & gold brought St. Patrick's Day joys.

 

our lucky leprechaun on her way to school, 3/16/12

Then came an angel with golden brown eyes.

Loving & playful we reach for the skies.

Amber turned her hair green!

Parker colored her clean.

"Leprechauns visit, eat kiwi!" she cries.

saturday night parker started her bath water (& added a touch of his own - food coloring, not hair color!)  3/17/12

thanks for the great touch of green today (& for tomorrow, too!) Amber, Kiaya & Hannah!

a few notes: 

Kyralyn has been writing letters to Leonard the Leprechaun for the past several weeks.

He wrote back, on little tiny pieces of green paper (thanks, Mrs. Paxman!).

She learned that he is married, lives in a mushroom, has a pet dog named Lucky & his favorite treat is kiwi.

She made him a little house to play in when he visited us on St. Patrick's Day.

She used blocks, blankets & pillows.

She even left him books to read & a plate of little tiny chunks of kiwi to eat before riding away on his rainbows.

(I'm glad he used rainbows this year & didn't track in dirt, leaves & twigs like he has before!)

He read the polar bear book, played on the playground made out of blocks & ate the kiwi.

To say thank you, he left several pieces of gold with a chocolate treat inside and one of her favorite treats:  a green airhead candy.

He left some for the boys too, but more for memory's sake:  he missed the mini playgrounds they used to build for him.

I will say, he was much more behaved this year, must have been in such a hurry to get home, he didn't create any shamrock mischief!

Sunday Drive

valley on the south east part of Utah Lake

mine somewhere around Genola

Goshen

Elberta

Snow Sisters

2/28/12

snow kisses

all this love will give him life
(ps - awesome snowman Corrine!)

sixteen

Last night as I was cleaning up dinner and wondering what to do with the kids after I picked up Dallin from practice, my sister sent me a text that made me laugh.

It was a deep, refreshing laugh after a crazy day spent wanting to be somewhere else.

"I heard you spent your 16th wedding anniversary in sex-ed.  Better late than never."

I am laughing just looking at it right there.

Yes.

That is how I spent my 16th wedding anniversary.

Our Legislature has passed a bill to change sex ed in this state.

I think it is an act of ignorance as far as public policy goes.

But that's just my opinion.

I texted friends and family with info about an online petition to get the gov to veto it and the gov's contact info in case they share my opinion and want to speak up.

So sex ed in the morning.

A few chores.

Watching Tate.

Doing way too many lunges & squats.  

And attending 6th grade maturation with Dallin.

So sex ed in the afternoon.

 

Driving Dallin to and from basketball practice.

Fixing meals.

Watching Cars with my kids-thanks for the pick Parker.

And writing a letter to my Governor.

Please veto HB363.

So sex ed in the evening.

On the other hand,

Paul spent much of his anniversary in the gym at Salt Lake Community College for the Scenic West Athletic Conference basketball tournament.

He was reffing SLCC v. No. Idaho

and he got to ref with Greg which makes it extra awesome.

(Thank you SO much for the pictures Heather!)

remembering

Winter 1995

remember when:

i loved plaid flannel 

and hoop earrings

we played ping-pong

and met for lunch at the institute

you were a janitor

a milkman

a waiter

and a referee

we took long leisurely walks 

we talked about all the things we loved in life

and hoped for

 we hiked

we floated

we sang along with george

we studied

we listened

that day in august

we ate teryaki bread bowl salads from Perkins

your arm was shaking

the diamond glittered in the evening sunlight

that day in march

the temple shined through the rain

your heart

and mine

into the future

happy anniversary paul

 

Aerial All Stars

Nana came for a visit at the end of January.

This time she brought a special guest with her:  

cousin Hannah from Bend!

We were all so excited to get to spend some time with both of them.

We had a great weekend and on Monday Dallin, Parker & Kyralyn got to have their own personal holiday from school.

We tried out the aerial foam pits that had been suggested to Dallin by a friend at school.

Lowe's Extreme Air Sports in Provo.

Awesome fun!

Best time to go:  On a Monday morning while school is in session!

We had the place completely to ourselves!

Kyralyn even had a friend who got to take a personal holiday with her so that they could play together.

Thanks for sharing your time with us Nana & Hannah!

We miss you.

(P.S. - Sorry for the fuzz!  I really need to remember not to leave home with only a cell phone camera!)

1/30/12

Hannah, Dallin says you are "beast!"  

(In 12 year old boy speak that means "totally cool & awesome!")