Quinton

Quinton has had a busy year so far. He had a school program where he played a soldier. It was fun to see him dressed up! As a Deacon, he has more opportunities and responsibilities to keep him busy. He was able to do baptisms for the dead with his dad at the Bountiful temple (and have pizza afterward!) He went on a hike with his quorum. He also sets up chairs and collects fast offerings and goes to mutual. It's hard to keep up with him sometimes!

Kaysville Ponds

We spent an evening at Kayville ponds. Even caught a few fish!

Triston's Birthday

We had a fun weekend with Shari, Triston, and Connor. We celebrated Triston's 12th birthday with a visit to Classic Fun Center.

Clara and Danielle

Danielle was our neighbor in Pocatello and Clara has kept in touch with her since we moved. It's lucky that Danielle's grandma lives in Layton so every once in awhile they get to spend time together!

Running

Quinton is training with a group of kids (The Revel Launch Team) to run a half marathon in April. Usually Barry is coaching and running with him, but I got to join him for an 8.5 mile run from the Utah capital to the "U" on the mountain and back. I about died on the steep hills, but Quinton ran the whole way! This kid amazes me.

February

In February, Barry took all of the kids with Triston and Connor to the Classic Fun Center while I went out with my mom and sisters. We girls had a fun stay in Tremonton, soaked at Crystal Hot Springs, ate, and shopped!Some other fun things we did in February included a Daddy- Daughter Dance and Miles played in the snow for the first time. He liked it until he stuck some in his mouth and decided it was too cold! 

Dentist

You haven't really lived until you take 4 kids in for dental cleanings and exams, along with child #5 in your arms. They all did great, though. Sawyer actually had a couple cavities he had to get fixed. We really talked it up to him and totally bribed him with a box of Poke balls and he did great!

Jackson Hole Getaway

Sometimes you don't realize how much you need a break until you actually get one! Barry and I were able to spend two great nights in Jackson in February. We rested, ran in the snow, ate tons of good food, and saw a movie. We even went to a fancy chocolate shop and tried fancy chocolate and realized maybe we don't love fancy chocolate all that much. It was nice to just reconnect. The kids stayed in Rigby, but some of them were pretty sick. They keep doing that when we finally get to go somewhere. Overall, though, it was really nice to get away.

Singing in the Tabernacle

Barry and I had the opportunity to sing in the tabernacle for a seminary broadcast. It was kind of surreal to sit where the Tabernacle Choir sits and be so close to the general authorities. We didn't love being on camera, but the Spirit was so strong! Elder Rasband's talk was amazing about choosing cheer and not fear. He also talked on teen suicide quite a bit. It was a good, but exhausting night!

January

Here's some random moments from long, cold January. 

We tried to get the kids to finish their dang Halloween candy. How do they make it last so long?

Miles learned how to climb into all sorts of new things.

Sawyer and I went on a date for some frozen yogurt. Barry took the kids to Arctic Circle one night when I held my first book club at our house.

We said goodbye to Cocoa as she went to a new home. (No more guinea pig poop! Yay!)

Miles started eating more like a big kid. Messy face, feet up, and no problem.

Taking a Break in Logan

We had so much fun last year staying for a night in Logan that we decided to do it again! This time we didn't warn the kids. We told them we were going to get ice cream and turned on a movie. After driving an hour and a half they were like, "Where are we going? Why is this taking so long?" Haha. "Surprise! We're staying at a hotel." We didn't get many pictures, but we visited the Creamie, Fatboy, Pepperidge Farm, and Gossner Cheese factories and loaded up on good food. We had a lot of fun playing in the pool together. It was just the break we needed.

Quinton Becomes a Deacon

At the end of last year the Church announced that youth would no longer wait until they are 12 to enter Young Men's or Young Women's. Instead they move on in January of the year they turn 12. That meant even though Quinton just barely turned 11 in November, he could already be ordained a Deacon and pass the sacrament! He was pretty excited. We are very proud of the choices he's making. It made my mother heart clench a little when I realized he left primary a whole year earlier than I was ready for, though.

Air Force Museum

The kids had the day off of school so we went to the Air Force Museum and to get some Krispy Kreme donuts. The museum was HUGE! They had hundreds of planes in a giant warehouse. It was crazy to see them and the stories behind them. We saw inside the cockpit of the first one and there were so many buttons! Hard to believe someone knows what to do with them all.