Time is flying

Not sure where March went, but I figured I should post something before it ends. But I've also decided that blogging is hard when your life is pretty mundane and shall we say, uneventful? About the only really exciting thing that happened in March was my fantastic husband's birthday...and that was more low-key than normal because he went to the MWC Tournament in Vegas the weekend of his birthday with my brother. So Luke and I celebrated without him. Well, not really, we waited for him to get back before we ate the cake and blew out the candles. :) It was hard to keep Luke away from the cake though. He loves chocolate cake, and blowing out the "handles" as he calls them. We got a few pictures with Danny and Luke on Sunday with cake and candles. Happy birthday Dan, we sure love you!



Luke is so funny about birthdays now. Ever since his birthday in January he thinks that any birthday that is coming up is his birthday and he gets so excited for cake and "handles." Maybe all kids are like that, I've just never experienced it before so it's still pretty funny to me. He wants to hear all the details about the birthday party and continues to ask "what else mom" until I've exhausted all party options.

The return of Saia

Last Friday Saia (my nephew) got home from his mission in Uruguay. He was an excellent missionary with a passion for sharing the gospel. It was immediate family only at the airport, but I had the coveted position of being the "photographer." So I drove up with the fam to the airport to welcome him home. Looks wise, he's still the same, maybe a little heavier five o'clock shadow, but that's about it. You can tell he's matured though, in all the right ways. He started teasing Elliot only moments after arriving, which was fun to see. It was great to see the reunion first hand and enjoy the moment with them. Welcome home Sai, we're glad to have you back!

Tribute to Dallini

Dallin (my nephew) is going into the MTC on Wednesday, to the India Bangalore Mission. He came down with his friend last week to attend the Manti Temple and we had a fun little photoshoot with Luke and Dallin before they left. In the first pics they are doing donkey kicks. Luke saw Dallin do this while playing table tennis at his house last week and just cracked up laughing, so that's why they are both going to town. I was quite impressed with Luke's back strength. The others are them just hanging out doing tricks together.







Dallin will be greatly missed, no one can replace him in the family. Not that anyone else is replaceable, but he just has a way with the younger kids (not to mention the ladies). They absolutely love and adore him. He's always been so fun and kind and actually seems to like hanging out with the family (all of us) and that makes us feel real special. :)

We love you Dal and know you will be an excellent missionary!

Fasting conversation

After church today I was sitting next to Luke at the table while he ate his sandwich and Cheetos before his nap. I was trying to hurry him along, and that never goes well, so I was trying to force feed him basically.

Me: Do you want more of your sandwich? (holding it right in front of his face)
Luke: No thanks, I'm fasting.
Me: Your fasting? That's...great! (laughing to myself)
(about 10 seconds goes by)
Luke: (looking at his drink of milk and Cheetos) I'm not fasting any more. (picks up his cup and takes a drink)

It seems that every fast Sunday we have to explain that we aren't eating because we are fasting and what that means and he continuously offers us food all day long. So I guess it's finally sinking in. :)

Shout Out to "the Ladies" and Amendment to HWOKWOIITSC

"The ladies" (Kareen, Lesley and Nicole) and little M (Lesley's wee one) made the long trek down to Ephraim on Saturday, we had a bit of lunch and a wee tour of the village that will be worth its weight in gold eh K-Ho? Thanks for driving so far and using a whole Saturday. I have to apologize to Lesley for not having something sweet afterwards. I just simply ran out of time...do-do-do, do-do-do. :( But it was great having you here and I sure wish I would've taken a wee photo of us all just to prove you actually came! I hope it was worth the gas (petrol).

As for the amendment, remember the post "How Would One Know When One is in the Sanpete County"...yah well, a few more things have just been brought to my attention that I am not sure how I missed. Maybe it's because the ladies were here so I was ultra aware of the quirky things of not being in the "big city" anymore.

5) His and Hers fleeces in duck hunting camo (or whatever it's called)
6) Having 10+ children and choosing to home school them
7) Home schooling...seems to be the trend here

I'm sure there are more things to come. I need to start photo documenting these so you all know that I am NOT even close to exaggerating. Good times, good times.

Sanpete Sheep and Beauty Queens

Apparently there is no shortage of either in the Sanpete County. In case you haven't heard (I just found out this week making the V.T. rounds) that Miss Utah was Miss Sanpete. Who knew? She's on her way to Miss America soon (so they tell me). That's another thing that rural Utah has going for it...everyone is involved in pageants. I had no idea. Almost everyone I've talked to has been a "pageant mom" as it's called. I'm thinking of signing up next year. (If you're not laughing at that comment, you should be.) Check her out: Miss Utah Kayla Barclay

The Jedi turns two!

He pretty much had a birthweek celebration. G&G Christensen came down during the week and brought a present to Luke that he thought was fantastic. Then we went up to the cabin on Friday and G&G Summers had presents and birthday cake for him, which he also thought was fantastic. THEN on the way home from the cabin on Saturday we stopped at Carrie's house in Spanish Fork because she made a cake for Luke and Carrie and April both gave him presents that were also... fantastic! Danny and I gave him our presents and made another cake for him on Sunday. He got to blow out candles three times, he loved it! (He had some leftover cake today and wanted candles in it, so I guess four times.) Although he was a little sheepish about being sung to, he would put his head down and rub his eyes the whole time. Too much attention! He gets that from his dad. It's been a great week.

Getting the gear on at the cabin to go out snowmobiling.




Playing with his new Play-doh duffle bag set.





















Opening presents at Carrie's house.