Easter

For Easter this year, we enjoyed it with the Wardwell family.  This was our kids first time spending Easter here.  They were pretty excited.  Jarom and Rian being some of the oldest, they had the chance to help out the younger kids.

 Jarom (bucket head) helped Daxten

Rian helped out Blake 

Ammon loved working together with Logan 

This little guy, Logan, just loved loved finding a Star Wars egg of Vader.  I just had to capture his joy!

Tarin and Raegan were so fast I wasn't able to capture their hunt, but I did find them checking out their loot.

Thank you Gma and Gpa Wardwell!  They had a great time.

Hope Of America

 I truly enjoyed this evening.  All 5th graders (over 2 night programs) from Alpine School District participated in Hope Of America.  It was held in the BYU Mariott Center and very full, but Tarin and I were early and loved watching the center fill up.  It was a long night, but I was so full of love for my country and for all these kids and teachers who worked so hard to put it together.  I was glad Tarin had the opportunity to be apart of such a great program.  I can't wait to do this next year with Raegan.  Tarin is wearing white...center flag row, 4 white rows up, top white and furthest seat on the left next to stairs.  I loved keeping eyes on her.  Love my girl.

Spring Break

For Spring Break I decided to head down to AZ, not only to visit family, but the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant was going on and I really wanted to see the new Gilbert Temple.  So Monday morning at 4am we woke up and layed everyone down in their spots and took off.  Trent stayed behind because he started a new job and couldn't leave.  Made it to Kanab, Ut (border of Utah and AZ) by 8am for breakfast and on to Page, AZ to head south.

Well, a funny story, with all intentions to gas up in Kanab.  The kids wanted breakfast first, so why not?  But after filling our bellies and feeling all happy again, I had forgotten all about needing gas.  I was about 25-30 miles into the next 74 mile stretch when I realized..."wait, I forgot to do something!"  My heart sank.  Because from Kanab to Page, there really isn't anything...I mean no life at all!  Although my brain was panicking, my heart was at ease.  I didn't want to let the kids know what was going on, but I did my best to conserve what ever gas I had left.  I turned the air off (still morning so it wasn't hot anyway), I slowed to 55 speed unplugged any devices...I was doing pretty well.  But without cell service and knowing just how far from Page I still was, I decided to make a choice to turn off into this small neighborhood.  Thoughts of being stranded in the middle of the desert with 5 kids ran through my brain.  How would I do that?  Hitch hike?  Walk?

About 5 miles west of Big Water (20 miles west of Page) was this place called Church Hill or something.  The kids became aware and I told them mom needed to look at something.  They know I'm one to stop and check things out, so they weren't too concerned.  I drove up and down the little desert streets and one green house stood out, but I kept going to see if there were any other options.  I hate to bother people, I feel I inconvenience others, so I wanted to find someone out and around.  But not a soul or even an animal moved.

I drove back the way I came and decided to turn down the street the green house was on.  Next door to it, it had a fenced in yard with a lot more green plants and trees, seemed maybe a woman could live there, so I tried the door...talk about awkward going into someones yard and knocking.  No one answered.  So I went back to my initial thought of the green house.  I knocked on the door and a nice older gentleman came to the door.  I was so embarrassed that me a "woman" ran out of gas..."women never run out of gas, we are very responsible"...well that is what one man told me in South Carolina (another story for another time).  I explained very sheepishly, but he was more than willing to help me out.  He has several 'toys' boats, dune buggy...so he had gas on hand.  Such a blessing.  I offered to pay but all he asked was that I pay it forward.  I said I would.  He gave me enough to get to Page, where I filled up to the brim!  Such a blessing to find someone willing to help out of the goodness of their heart.

By 3:30 we made it to my parents house.  The kids were glad to be out and moving around.  Me too.

We whipped out the hose, slip n slide and sprinkler head.  The kids were ready to enjoy the warm weather.  And when I say warm...it was HOT.  The week we came was their hottest week yet for the year.  It got as high as 98!  Anyway, I made sure to lather up my whities so they don't fry, and let them loose.  Between chickens, water fun, riding the tractor toy, picking oranges, and hanging out with grandma and grandpa, the kids loved being outside.

Wednesday of our Spring Break, was my birthday.  Probably my best one yet.  I was up at 4:45am to get ready and drive the 20 minutes to the Gilbert Temple to make the 6am session with my mom.  My dad and mom both work in the temple Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week all morning.  I not only wanted to see the brand new temple from my hometown, but also, my spirit was needing some uplifting in peace and love.  

It was amazing!  Wow, talk about spectacular and impressive.  It was grand and glorious!  All the detail and light that shown throughout the building was so ... reverent.

Because my parents work in the temple, and since I couldn't make the open house, my mom gave me the grand tour.  The Agave plant was a symbol throughout the temple.  It was in the stain glass windows, wood moldings, chair detail, carpet designs, tile designs...everywhere.  The subtle colors were a nice touch as well with this design.

From an article this is what was said about the plant... “We wanted something to represent the living waters of Christ, and for the temple to be an oasis in the desert..." --Principal Architect, Greg Lambright

Entrance, recommend desk

One of the endowment rooms, the one I was in

Celestial Room

Being in this room around 7:30 or 8, the morning sun coming in through this huge window was so grand and sweet I couldn't help but shed a few tears.

Up on the ceiling in a foyer, I think

After the temple, my sisters, mom and one of my sis-in-laws took me to lunch to the Blue Lemon.  It was fun to be around my family.  I just don't get enough of them. (yeah I look a bit tired but worth it)

Later my mom had the kids and Ashton help with my birthday cake.

That evening, to top off my birthday, I took my kids to the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant.  My mom and brother Dan came along too.  It was so awesome to be there!  I was in this pageant as an angel on the top my senior year in high school.  Such a neat experience.  Now to come full circle and have my kids see this depiction or our Saviors life, it was a joy for me.  To be at two temples in one day, and be with family, couldn't have been a better day.  I felt fulfilled.

Next day, we went to the Maricopa County Fair in Phoenix to see Josh and Hunter show their pigs they raised.  I've seen pigs, but these were huge!  It was neat to see all the different animals ready to be shown.

Hunter                                                                                  Josh

It was a very HOT day at the fair.  98 degrees is not too fun.  Good thing we could go inside and see fun things people made and enjoy the cooler air.

Jarom, Tarin and Raegan tried the roller coaster.  For a carnival ride, it was pretty intense for them.  They were pretty scared with some parts of it.  Worth it!

Ammon got his chance to ride too.

Ammon's first roller coaster ride.  He was pretty scared, but was a good sport.  It was so cute to watch him be brave.

Pretty funny, Jarom wanting to do this, Tarin tired and hot, and Ammon trying to reach it...

This boy loves trains.  He loved the huge model going around.

Finally Saturday at 4am we were up early ready to take off back to Utah for home.  This is in Page, AZ at the McDonalds for breakfast.  Perfect halfway home stop!  Made it home about 3:30 to 4, loosing an hour to daylight savings, stopping for breakfast and...these guys are awesome at traveling.  So great.  A fun Spring Break!

Conference Weekend

 Sunday afternoon session we went over to Trent's parent's house.  There was a lot of food, cousin time, and of course puzzle time.  This year Stacey did Ute's against cougars for the puzzles.  With the house divided, it was perfect participation.  The Lord's school puzzle won of course, but it was fun competition.

School Play

 Raegan and Tarin wanted to be in the school play this year.  Raegan was a villager, and Tarin loved being stage crew.  She helped with microphones, lights, props and other things.  They had a blast.

Raegan loved dressing up and being in several scenes.

The name of the play was Princess Whatsername. 

Their cousin Avery was also in the play.  It was a great few nights.

Snow In April

Being April, we thought the snow was done...WRONG!  It wasn't too much, but enough to make a miniature snowman.  Kids kept this in the freezer for about a week.

Activity Days - Conference Notebooks

 Once again, I've been called to Activity Days.  I love this calling so much, maybe too much.  My convert partner may be a little overwhelmed by my enthusiasm to "conquer the world"...or just get these 11 yr olds passed off before graduating from primary.  Anyway, with conference coming up on the weekend, I had the girls make these.  It was a lot of fun.  I have close to 18 girls, so it was a bit crazy, but worth it.

Before hand I had these all cut up and numbered in order.

Then they had tapped the tabs on so they could take notes.  And the next activity, we talked about conference, and guess what?  Everyone of them took some notes in one form or another.  And the games we played and stories we talked about from conference, they knew them.  I was very impressed!  I love this calling...or did I already say that? :o)

Women's Conference

 This was the first Women's Conference that allowed 8yrs and older to attend.  I took my girls to get a bit to eat then met up with my sister Tana and her daughter Hallie to ride up to the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.  It was great to be together for such an occasion.  Thank you to my brother Jeff for getting us great tickets.

Because we were early, we were able to see different news stations broadcasting on this event.  Tana had to get a picture with Carol Makita from KSL.  If you see the lady in the background, we were actually interviewed by her 2News at 10.  I'm sure there is a link to our footage, but who knows when that will expire, so no need to post it.  But it was cool to see us on TV that night.  Me and Raegan made the editing cut. :o)

Once inside, we soon met up with Trent's mom, sisters and their daughters.  It was a wonderful night in Salt Lake.

Afterward, me and my daughters went out for ice cream.  It was a perfect end to the night.

Choir Concert

Rian did a great job on her Concert Choir concert at Vista Heights Middle School.

Trisha Howard

This beautiful person is someone who taught me a lot about the purpose of life.  She really did have a bad hand of life dealt to her.  Being the oldest of...I think 10, she was definitely the strongest.  She had some sort of disorder with the frame of her body, keeping her stature short.  She had her first stint of cancer at age 7.  With little support from her family life, she made it through with great determination.  But because of this, she would never bear children.  This saddened her thinking no one would ever want to marry someone who couldn't procreate.  Either way, she again picked herself up and accomplished so much, such as going on a mission, loving all of her nieces and nephews as her own, and even taking care of her own siblings in their hard times.  

Among all this, she continued to battle a cancer 6 more times...a cancer that is not common to come back even a second time.  She is a warrior and true soldier of strength.  She testified of our Savior again and again!  I awed at how strong her testimony was through all her trials.  She did have the blessing to marry and take care of children, but on her last test of strength, the mortal body had lost.  I did notice a slight peace from her that she knew her time was near.  But she still would brighten up and smile.  I had the honor to be her companion in Visiting Teaching.  I loved her gentle heart, her sweet outlook on life and her unwaivering point of perspective.  She knew her purpose and she lived it well.  I love you Trish and I will always remember your life you shared with me. 

At the funeral near the round about, the ward had put purple ribbons all over!  Trish's motto was Purple War.  Such a strong spirit was there!  It was so powerful and forever strong.  

A Gormley Night

Our good friends from Cedar Hills, the Gormleys, also moved out to Saratoga Springs.  Stratton is one of Ammon's best buddies.  Jacque invited us and some other old friends from Cedar Hills to be together.  It was a lot of fun seeing all the kids growing up already.  Ammon had a blast most of all.