Happy Easter 

 I hope you all have had a wonderful Easter.  I was bemoaning the fact yesterday (to myself), that I didn't get the Easter lights, or Easter eggs on the tree on the front porch (still has the red and pink Valentine's Day lights on), nor did I get my Easter wreath hung (yep, still have the Valentine's Day sign up), and I didn't even get the Easter baskets down this year. The last couple of months have been a little crazy - But actually this has been a really great Easter day.  Yesterday, after conference, we went to the Easter Presentation set up by the North Stake. We went last year too, and it is just so amazing!  They have the cultural hall divided into each day of the Holy week - it almost looks like it is done professionally. It just really sets the tone for the real reason we celebrate Easter, and I am so glad we could go.  Today we watched conference, and the talks were all so good.  I am attaching a link here for the talk this morning by Sister Emily Belle Freeman. She talked about having good days and bad days - something we are all familiar with.Emily Belle Freeman. If you didn't get to hear it, take 8 minutes and watch it - 

What our Family Has Been Up to This Week 

  Hollie spent the weekend in Denver at a Culinary Competition and she was awarded a silver medal.  WAY TO GO HOLLY!

 I'm not sure what this is that she made, but it looks like it has chocolate in it, so I know it is delicious!  

 Gordon Ramsey would say, "Well Done, you're on your way to being the next Master Chief"! 😋

 Paul was invited to Prom this weekend - probably his last one!  He had a good time, and it looks like a cute date !

Time is going by so quickly, before we know it, he will be on his way to Vancouver, Washington ❤

 Sayre got to go to a friend's birthday party this week, finished up swim lessons, and is getting ready for another soccer season. 

Kate and Jonathan are on a mission to teach him to expand his taste buds.  Apparently, he only likes foods that are beige 🍞🍦🍰🍳🍪😄. Kate said he ate a couple of bites of ham tonight, so that's a great place to start. 
 

Kim and Chris have had a busy week, but not so busy that they couldn't see Spencer tonight.  I am looking forward to our May trip to Chicago and hopefully will get to see his new apartment.

Chris and Blythe visited the University of Tampa this week, and made it official - Blythe is going to be a Spartan! 

Kim and Chris also got to host Zack this week, as he was passing through Chicago on his way to help Emma move to a new job.  She has been working in a tiny little town in Iowa, and now will be making Wisconsin (or Minnesota?  I can't remember) her new home.

AND it is official! Kim has earned her Bachelor's Degree and can happily put her computer to rest for a while 

 We got to have Jake on Friday because his school had a teacher's workday.  We always love it when he comes - he teaches us so many things! 😁  We were trying to find the store he wanted to go to that had soccer cleats.  I thought I knew where I was going, but I had the wrong store in mind (and of course, I left my phone at home), so he told me not to worry - he got on Google Maps and navigated me there 😳

 Lily also had a game this weekend, Adam coached, and their team won 9 - 0.   

FINALLY - the best Sunday Selfie 

Max was able to get tickets to the afternoon session of the conference today, so he, Amelia, Max's good friend Levi, and his Fiancée were able to go.

So happy for all of them! Levi will be getting married this summer after his Academy graduation ~

 A little on the sad side this week - 

 My sweet friend Helma passed away on Wednesday evening.  She had declined so much over the last few days that it wasn't unexpected. I will always remember how much she loved it when I took grandchildren to visit - Jake, Emma, and I think Eilis.  

 

 Also, Shannon has had a hard week - She has an infection in one of her lungs, the doctor considered surgery, but decided against it, and now they are just trying to keep her comfortable.  I will keep you all. updated when we get more information.

I am so thankful for my Savior.  Today reminds me of how thankful I am for His life, His Atonement, and His resurrection.  Without these, life would be worthless.  I love Him, and as was repeated so many times this weekend, He loves all of us, no matter where we are, what we are doing, or the choices we have made.  He is always there for us❤

                                           LOVE YOU ❤

 HAPPY SPRING BREAK!

 Hoping everyone had a wonderful and relaxing Spring Break Week -   Enjoying some time off of work and school, lounging in the sun, reading a good book, and especially, spending time with family.

 Blythe and her friends (and her friend's parents) spent the week in Cancun, and by all accounts had a very fun time.  She got back on Friday, tanned, and ready to conquer the last two months of High School.

Adam, Cory, and the kids also spent the week down south on a cruise that took them to Mexico and Honduras.  By the look of it, the food was delicious (Paul got addicted to Granda's Cake), and the adventures, non-stop.  I also think they relaxed in the sun while the kids made new friends.  

 Yep, that's Paul with 6 pieces of cake 😀 👉

👈 Ready for the zip line

Jake with his monkey friends

Lily with her lizard friends

 Samantha, just being cute! 

They should be getting home tomorrow, and they may or may not get Milo back.  He makes us laugh every day!

Nothing is better than a birthday celebration over Spring Break

Ben turned 8 on Tuesday and spent the day having some family fun.

 

 He went miniature golfing and got to help pick out his new bike. He wanted pizza and brownies for his birthday party, and was so excited to open his presents.  

Kim and Chris decided to stay home this year. They did some house "things", and Kim worked on school assignments.  They also went to the Temple and did sealings for our family. Kim said one of the people they were doing sealings for had been baptized 100 years ago, and had waited that long to be sealed to her family.   We are crossing our fingers that Kim is finishing up the last of her required classes and may be able to graduate in April.   Hang in there, WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS!

Dad and I also stayed home, and we also did some house "things", and school work, and we went to the Temple Thursday morning.  It was such a nice day! 

I stayed with Helma one afternoon while her daughter had an appointment with the eye doctor, and we also spent some time with a sister in our Ward who we minister to.  

This is the last week for my class, the last week I will have to do a worksheet, YAY!!!  This week, our focus is on President Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis that happened in 1962.  I was in 5th grade, and I can remember so well the reports on the news, and how panicked people were - there was a lot of talk about home bomb shelters, and people were clearing out the grocery stores.  I am guessing that I am probably the only one in my class who was alive during this time.  It was an interesting time, and if you like history but are unfamiliar with the story, you might enjoy reading about it.  

Kate, Jonathan, and Sayre enjoyed their Spring Break last week.  Kate was at a conference in Atlanta, and Jonathan and Sayre spent some fun time together - including a night in a hotel.

Last week it was official, but this week it is officially official!!!

 

Max and Amelia have set the date and have a reservation to be sealed in the Provo City Center Temple on August 7th.  We are so excited for them and so happy to welcome Amelia to the family ❤

Sunday Selfies ~

                

I love this Easter Week, and remembering all the events that led up to the resurrection of our Savior.  I am so thankful for Him, and for His Plan of Happiness, to know that we are eternal families, that the bonds of death cannot be broken.  I love that when I am in the Temple, I often think of my Mom and Dad and can feel them nearby.  I love the Gospel, and can bear witness of our Savior's love for each one of you.  Think of Him this week! ❤

 

  CONGRATULATIONS        MAX & AMELIA ❤

  We are so happy for Max and Amelia, who are officially engaged and planning for an August 7th wedding in Provo ~

They are perfect for each other, they make life fun, and I am excited to have another beautiful granddaughter to love 😀

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO . . . 

Kim, our first baby girl, who turned *#$&% yesterday!  What a gift she has been to our family. She is light in our lives, a friend to everyone, an amazing wife, mother, and sister (and dog Mom), and a beautiful daughter of our Heavenly Father.  She is a fabulous cook/baker - everything she makes is delicious, and an awesome partner in crime (oh, the laughs and fun we have had)😈, 

  Love you so much!!!

AND TO BEN . . . 

Who turns 8 this Tuesday! 

 

Our youngest grandchild, who is incredibly loved by his family, doted upon and continuously teased (Eilis) by his three sisters, and is just one of the happiest kids I know.  He says the funniest things in the funniest ways, and is amazingly smart. He loves trains, Legos, brownies, and pizza (my kind of guy).  He is thoughtful and kind, and we love it when he comes to visit. 

Happy Birthday, Ben!❤  

🌻🌷🌻🌷HAPPY SPRING BREAK🌻🌷🌻🌷
I am so happy to have this week to spend at home with Kevin, Sendai, and Milo. We are going to work downstairs and get everything put back together - Yes, I forgot to mention, the new carpeting is all in!  We are going to order the tile for our bathroom, and other than that, my only plan is to soak up as much sun as I can.  It has been so warm here that on Friday, I took the laptop outside, and did a lot of homework - it was the best!

I have my notebook, my In-N-Out drink, a cup of popcorn, and the sun - my day couldn't have been any better 😁

KATE spent her Spring Break Week in Atlanta at a conference for her work -

 She was able to go to the Atlanta Temple, visit the World of Coca Cola Museum, and also managed to run into a Gelato store - Wow!  (so glad tonight is ice cream night😋

While Kate was away, Jonathan and Sayre spent a night in Des Moines and visited some very cool places 😎

ADAM, CORY, SAMANTHA, PAUL, LILY, and JAKE

are spending their Spring Break Week on a cruise, enjoying the warmer weather of Mexico. 🚢🌞

All I can say is it didn't take Adam and Paul long to find a lounge chair

and a pina colada 😃

DAD and I got a head start on our Spring Break, and on Thursday went to see Phantom of the Opera at the Buell Theatre in Denver!  It was amazing!!! I love the music, the orchestra was incredible, as well as the singing.  Thanks so much for the fun day!                                              ❤ ❤ ❤ 

AND, thanks so much to EILIS, who stopped by to spend some time with Sendai before she had to go to work. She is always so willing to give us a hand - Love you, Eilis!

BLYTHE is headed off to Mexico tomorrow, with friends (and friends' parents) 

 ALSO - She found out this week that she was accepted at George Washington  - that is so amazing!  However, I think her heart is set on warmer weather and the University of Tampa.  

  WAY TO GO, BLYTHE!

I was talking with Kim on the phone one day this week when Blythe joined in, and suddenly we found we were in an intervention. She wanted us to tell her one good thing we liked about ourselves, and that was hard. 

She went on to tell us that we all have good things about ourselves, whether it is physical, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, etc.  We should recognize the good in ourselves - the worth we have as human beings, as children of our Heavenly Father.  If we can do that, then it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.  We will never find true happiness if we try to adapt how we live and who we are to what our friends or the world thinks we should be.  We need to identify the attributes we like about ourselves, expand on them, and use them to do good things.   We have to love ourselves, before we can love others ❤

I hope everyone has a wonderful week - rest, have fun, get some exercise, eat good food, and send me lots of photos!

LOVE YOU ALL!