Conference Weekend

Last weekend was the LDS General Conference.  As luck would have it, Blake had two tennis matches on Saturday, so we didn't get to hear/see much of Saturday's sessions.  After his first match, we went over to Brian and Celia's.  Celia had bought some pots to plant some seeds in, Maden thought they were the best toys ever.

He stacked and unstacked them over and over and over and over.

Blake and Celia played their next match at noon, I stayed with Maden so he could have a nap.  When they came back, we went to Wingers.  They came to our house later so Brian could go to Priesthood with Blake.  Jared came from Twin Falls and met them at the Stake Center. Jared's friend Nikelle came with him, so Celia, Nikelle and Maden and I just hung around waiting and waiting for Priesthood to get over.

Maden found some more stacking toys at my house.

Priesthood seemed to take forever!  Finally, it was over, and the men all came home.  Randy had been working, so he came down after work.  We were all gathered in anticipation of Jared opening his mission call!  The big white envelope had come on Monday, and I had to hide it so I wouldn't just stare at it all week.  It was a very long two hours for Nikelle to stare at it during Priesthood!

Jared will be serving in the Missouri, St. Louis Mission!!! He enters the MTC on May 25th!

Brian, Celia and Maden stayed the night, so we got up on Sunday and had Monkey Bread and watched conference.

Jared and Nikelle and Baby "watching" conference.

Brian and Celia "watching" conference.

Blake "watching" conference.

Maden entertained us all during conference!

Nikelle taught Jared to play "Called to Serve" out of the simplified hymn book, so he gave a little recital. It was very fun, Thank you Nikelle.  Maden had to help.

Brian gave a little concert, too with Maden's help of course.

It was Celia's birthday, so we had BBQ chicken and rice upon her request. Then we had cake and ice cream.  

I think it's a great birthday when you get to stay in your jammies all day!  I hope Celia thought it was a good birthday!

Spring Break?

Randy and Jared both had spring break the same week, even though they go to different schools, so Blake, Brian and Courtney took some time off work and we all headed to Garden City Utah, more commonly known as Bear Lake on Monday, March 21st.  We stayed at the Worldmark resort.  Brian and Celia and Randy and Courtney fixed some really good meals.  I appreciated having them do a lot of the cooking!  Thanks guys!  On Tuesday, Brian, Celia, Randy and Jared went out into the fresh powder.  It had snowed all night and there was plenty of it!

Brian in deep!

Just stopped in the powder.

Randy pointing something out.

Jared resting.

Even saw a lot of deer.

While they were out in the mountains, Blake and Courtney and I were entertained by Maden!

He sat on Grandpa's lap and sang songs and played with Grandpa's comb and pen.

He loves my camera and would come running as soon as he saw it to put the lens cap back on.

He thinks my reading glasses are funny.

He had a grand time opening and shutting the cupboard doors.

Wednesday, just the men went out on the machines.  It was a bright sunny day, so Celia dressed Maden up in his snow clothes and we went outside.

He wasn't sure what to think of the mittens. 

He really wasn't too happy about it all for a little while.  He didn't even appreciate that someone had made a snowman for us.

Finally we took him to the sidewalk, and he decided it was kind of fun.

Celia wanted him to pose for a picture, he didn't like that idea too much, but it's a really good picture of Celia!

Brian, Celia and Maden left on Thursday morning, so the rest of us went out on the sleds. It was snowing and fogged in the mountains, so we couldn't see very good and didn't stay very long.  We went back into Garden City and had pizza at a little restaurant.

This picture was actually taken on Tuesday. we didn't take any on Thursday.  But Jared had a great time in all the snow!

A New Era

Well, something a little interesting has happened to me this month.  I have become a working woman!  I am working at Curves, the job just kind of fell in my lap!  I haven't worked since Cindy was born, and we all know that she is getting OLD!  I had to fill out an application and submit a resume, even though I had been told the job was mine.  I will be the first to admit that the resume looked pretty silly!  It's a fun job, and I enjoy it.  It's only part time and I'm not making very much money, but I am contributing a little!

A Very Nice Surprise

Blake's sister Darlou is a very talented and accomplished artist.  She lives with her husband, Nathan and kids Garin and and Alia in Hampton, NH.  They came home for a visit in November.  Blake was able to pick them up at the SLC airport, and then take them back when it was time for them to go home. He was also able to get some help for Alia's sore toe. It was really good to see them.  Well, on Tuesday we received a package from Darlou!  

It was this painting!  This picture turned out a little fuzzy, but you can see what a nice picture it is. We love it!  She painted it from a photo she took on a previous visit to Idaho.  It was taken somewhere near where Blake grew up.  

We decide to hang it above the fireplace.  I think it looks really nice there.  Thank you so much, Darlou!  We feel very special to have one of your originals!

West Yellowstone

We had the opportunity for a winter vacation in West Yellowstone last week.  We left on Tuesday, Jan. 11th and stayed until Sunday. We stayed at the Worldmark resort in West Yellowstone.  Blake, Jared, Randy, Courtney and I stayed the whole time, and Brian, Celia and Maden were able to stay until Friday morning.

Maden loved the swimming pools and hot tub!

Even Grandpa got to spend some time with Maden in the pools!

We ate good food, watched some "programs", read some stories and even played some games.  

There was tons of snow!!

The snowmachines got plenty of use.  Everyone got turns to go riding!

I really do just "ride"!  

There was a little freezing rain on Friday, it kind of stuck to the glasses and goggles.  We were planning to go to Island Park to Meadow Creek Lodge, but decided that the top of the mountains would be fogged in, so we turned around and went back.

Randy and Jared love playing in the open areas.  Jared wears a yellow helmet and Randy wears a green one.

It was a great trip!  We were able to go to Sacrament Meeting in the West Yellowstone Ward on Sunday, it was interesting to walk up the tunnel of sidewalk to the chapel.  Some people came to church on their snowmachines!