And so the adventure BEGINS!  

Sunday afternoon, we watched as my parents were set apart to be missionaries.  It was a beautiful experience.  The Stake President asked each of my brothers and sisters, and in-laws to share thoughts about my parents and their gifts that would help them in serving.  Being the oldest I was asked to be first.  I actually got through it without crying...getting sappy in my old age I guess, but it was really inspiring to hear everyone in attendance share their love for and confidence in my parents.  They will be stellar missionaries, helping refugees from Nepal, living in Minnesota.  

I will definitely miss them though....

Spring Break...

We decided to have a "staycation" this year over Spring Break.  Karl has a new position at work, and couldn't take off the whole week, plus, we're saving for a big vacation, so we planned mini-outings for the week.  

Monday:  After we cleaned the house....:)...the kids went to a movie with friends.

Tuesday:  Karl took the day off, and we went up to SLC and played all day.  There is a brand new mall in the heart of the city, that was fantastic!  

Wednesday:  The kids played with friends during the day, then we invited family to our home for dinner.  We had planned to head to the canyon, but it rained, so we just ate our hamburgers and hot dogs at our home and played in the rain.

Thursday:  Karl had the day off, and we went to a movie, then out to eat, then ice skating with Lee and Lisa's family (our cousins).  Taylor had never been ice skating, and was determined to just sit and watch, but then Karl convinced him to go out and try it, and wouldn't you know it, the kid was a NATURAL!  He just zoomed in and out of everyone.  I think his practice on roller blades paid off..

Friday:  Connor headed up to Logan with his friend for a soccer game, Alyssa stayed home to work on home work, so Karl and I took Parker, Ashlyn, and Taylor and their friends to the Lehi Legacy pool, then to Costco for churros.  MMMM!  

City Creek Shopping Center

They have all of these gorgeous fountains all around.

Finishing the day with ice cream sundaes...

2 cute kids....

Easter Fun!

Easter this year was fun and simple.  Allyson and Matt were in town, and Nate and Steph are close, so we decided to all get together at my house for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. Luckily it was a gorgeous day, and we were able to eat and play outside!

We had a simple luncheon of BBQ chicken sandwiches, chips and salad.

I don't think we ever get too old to go egg hunting!  My big boys seemed just as excited!  Steph and I had prepared 10 eggs for each child to find, then Allyson and Adrienne informed us that they had prepared 16 eggs for each kid.  So everyone found 26 eggs each, filled with goodies!  

Better make those dentist appts. pronto!

Success!!

Melt my HEART!  I checked Taylor and Ashlyn out of school for an afternoon, and we went to the park with Allyson and her 2 kids.  Ashlyn cannot get enough of Emma, and Emma adores Ash, and follows her around saying her name!   

Sooo cute!

Sadie Hawkins...

Alyssa recently went to Sadie Hawkins, her first school dance! 

The kids dressed in clothes from a decade of their choice. Her date was a great guy, and their group had tons of fun.  For a "day date", they went roller skating, then came back to one of the girl's homes, and ate homemade pizza.  Then after the dance, they came to our home and we fed them a yummy oreo/mint ice cream dessert.

St. Patrick's Day. 

Taylor has this cute shirt that really says,

"This is my LUCKY shirt", but he decided he didn't want it to say that anymore, so he wrote out "Happy St. Patrick's Day", on a sheet of paper and taped it over the other words...so funny...