We're off having fun in April

We had a great April. It was still cool and soccer games and practices have been a test of endurance. The picture at the right is Audrey's soccer team during a blistery April practice. Obviously they are still having fun. Audrey is the black hooded girl in the back right. They are holding the goal down so it won't blow away!!

April is when BYU football holds its annual spring scrimmage and we really enjoyed watching it. Audrey was pretty disappointed when she realized that BYU was playing BYU (offense vs defense). She loves to cheer BYU on. Carson has decided, however, that he only likes "pre-school sports", a class he took this last winter. Since BYU is NOT pre-school sports, he doesn't like BYU. The shirt he chose for the game was funny to us parents. He is obviously undecided on the Red/Blue team decision. After the game, we enjoyed playing around on the field. This was a beautiful Saturday, we all got tons of sun.

Carson's birthday was in April, he is now 4 years old. Here he is with all of his friends getting ready to blow out the candles on his dinosaur birthday cake. He requested a dinosaur themed party with a Carnatorus on his cake and dinosaur games. He was so excited to have his first friend birthday party. The parents of one friend commented that giving invitations a week before the party was TOO early. The boys were all very anxious for the day the party would arrive.

We enjoyed the tulip festival at Thanksgiving Point. Here is Kate discovering some tulips. It has been so cold here, the tulip festival was really a daffodil festival. These were some of the only tulips we really saw. The children's gardens were awesome, though, and it was great to get the kids running around and having fun.

Monday, April 21st was the 112th running of the Boston Marathon, and I was able to run in it! Chad and I flew out to Boston and spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday experiencing the area. We met up with former Draper, UT friends (Wade and Nancy Powell) and had a great time exploring together. I love history and I was also reading the John Adams biography. It was so awesome to see the sights and know the stories. Incredible. Here I am in front of the Old State House.

One of our favorite things in Boston was the duck tours. The drivers are part comedian and part tour guide. After a journey along the roads of downtown Boston, the duck boak took a plunge into the Charles River and we had a leisurely boat ride. This was a great way to get a flavor of Boston, and also get a few laughs along the way.

Finally, Monday was the Marathon. I ran my heart out, completed the whole thing (though it was incredibly hard), and finished in 3:43:13, 10,157 place of 21,963 finishers. Here I am at mile 10, Natick, where Chad watched and then joined me for about 1/2 mile. I am the one in pink. It was cool to have run the same race as so many world class athletes, and to be joined by so many great citizen runners. Boston was full of runners and their families all weekend. It was fun to be part of a great network of runners converging on one great town.

Spring Is Coming!!!

Well, March hasn't been very warm, but we have seen a glimmer of spring. March, however was the month of Easter and Spring Break, so we did a little pretending. Here are the kids with their Easter clothes on (I made the girls' dresses!).

And, of course, The Easter Bunny!

We had a great spring break doing several events, but the favorite was probably lunch with daddy at Sugarhouse Park, across from his office building.

Carson and Audrey both went skiing in March. It was Carson's first time. He just turned and skiied down the hill until he crashed. He had NO FEAR. Audrey is very good at the "pizza" and can turn and control her speed very well. It was a very fun day for all of us. It was Audrey's second time and my third time, so Chad was surrounded by amateurs.

Is Winter Over Yet?

This has certainly been a long winter, but we have had a lot of fun anyway. This winter, I went skiing for the second time EVER in my life, and really enjoyed it! Soon after, Chad took Audrey for her first skiing, along with brother Brett and cousin Breanne. Both girls LOVED it, and Audrey talks about it all the time. We also had fun sledding a few times. We learned that powder is not little kid's favorite sledding conditions. Now, however, the snow is melting and we all have spring fever.

Here is what we have been up to besides the snow. We took a trip to BYU to go bowling. We had a blast with the bumpers on and a ramp for the kids to use. Of course, the adults got the benefit of the bumpers, also! It is amazing that I could still have so many 0's in the frames by just plain missing the pins.

The kids all went camping in our front room and loved it! Here is Kate peeking out of our tent. These kids are ready for our Memorial Day camping trip to Zions. We are going to have a great time.

Here is our first bike ride of the year on February 23rd. We rode on the bike trail down by the Jordan River. Along this stretch there are a couple ponds stocked with trout and a play park. The kids had fun biking, playing and watching water fowl.

We also did the February Wild Wednesday at Hogle Zoo. It was very crowded because the day was beautiful and sunny. We went with cousins Caleb and Taylor and Aunt Julie. Kate loved the penguins, and was yelling "Quack, Quack, Quack" at them.

Carson has been in "preschool sports", and right now it is basketball. He is learning to love playing ball. It is so cute to watch the kids playing. It is only for 3 - 4 yr olds, so they are all just beginning. After Carson's first basketball day I told him "Carson, you are really good at basketball". He told me "Mom, you said the words I was going to say!"

Christmas is Fun!

What a fun season it is. Our football highlights of the season are:
BYU beats Utah November 24th and then a victory at the Las Vegas Bowl on December 22. Chad and I were at the Utah game, and cheering madly with the crowd. Of course, we rushed the field as they actually pulled out the victory after what seemed like a sure defeat. Chad also went to Vegas with a few friends for the Vegas Bowl. The rest of us cheered from home! Once again, a close victory found Chad on the field celebrating after the game.


We enjoyed the first big snow fall by making a snow man. Here the kids are hugging their new friend. We have received several snow falls, and the temperatures have just plummeted. But there seems to be magic in the air, because it even snowed on Christmas Eve. Santa sure has come through for us here in Utah.




Here is Audrey during an in-class Christmas recital for parents. She loves ballet and her teacher not only teaches ballet basics, but also lets them imagine they are fairies, butterflies and princesses as they dance around. Audrey has told us that she wants to be in a real ballet someday.






On Christmas Eve, we acted out the Nativity with our kids. They were very cute, of course! Here on the left are Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.

What about Kate? Don't forget the Angels that sang to the shepherds.



Opening presents was a blast. Kate screamed with delight at every present. She definitely stole the show. Audrey and Carson were very excited to play with their toys as well. We had a great time!





Today is Chad and I's 8th anniversary! We celebrated yesterday with a couple get-away. Part of our get away included a trip to the Salomon Center in Ogden, UT. Here is Chad body boarding at Flowrider. This was so fun. Two thumbs up for best get away in 17 degree weather.

Halloween Is Fun!!

It was very exciting this year waiting for Halloween. We made a paper chain to count the days to Halloween, in September!!! Audrey and Carson were Dragons and witches. They enjoyed the Halloween parties at their schools this year.

Kate was a beautiful princess. Princess for Halloween. She likes to get dressed up and looking pretty.

Carson and Audrey loved the spooky decorations on the houses around us. Here they are trick-or treating an especially spooky one. We had a terrific Halloween with the kids. Of course, as soon as trick-or-treating is over, we hear, I can't wait until next Halloween!

Audrey is losing teeth like crazy. Here she is sporting 4 teeth out at the same time!

Fall is going well. With the beautiful weather, we have enjoyed a lot of park time and outside time. Now, however, the kids can't wait until Christmas. Here come the winter holidays!

October Fun

Happy Spooky Halloween!

Chad, Audrey and Carson stir up some magic spells at the Scarecrow Festival. They enjoyed the games, bouncing, haunted house and European Bungee Jumping.

Here are Audrey and her friend Rylee at the Witch Festival. They had fun posing with scary witches. Audrey is going to be a witch this year for Halloween.

Carson visited the skeleton pirates and had more than he bargained for. The spooky music had him pretty spooked.

Kate learned to walk this month (15 1/2 months old). She is so excited to walk by herself.

Audrey continues to play soccer. She is our soccer star! We are so glad to have these cute kids!

September started out with Audrey's birthday. She had a fun princess party with her friends, including a treasure box craft, princess games, a treasure hunt, pizza, and a Belle cake. She has been looking forward to her birthday for a whole year and had a blast planning it. One of her first comments after the birthday party was "I can't wait until my next birthday!"

Audrey is right at home kicking a soccer ball. Especially during a soccer game. Her coach says he just loves how she grins the entire game. She has sure gotten fast. It is fun to watch her play. They named their team the "Princess Fire-Dragons". The sidelines usually shorten it to "Go PFD's" or "Go Fire-Dragons". They play girls 4 on 4 with no goalie, so of course, Audrey has been racking up the goals.

This month has been the first day of Kindergarten for Audrey. She was a little nervous about starting school. She would tell me, "let's not talk about it." Our first day of school, we almost missed the bus. It came 5 minutes earlier than we expected. Then, I drove to school to see how it went. On the way home, I once again shadowed her and got her to her bus. Now, she is pro with school and the bus. She loves to talk about bus stops and loves Kindergarten, especially recess.

Carson also started school this month. He is attending 3 yr old preschool at the same preschool Audrey went to. He is so excited to finally be in preschool. He asks everyday if it is a preschool day yet, and he wears his preschool shirt every time. He also is excited to talk about colors they are studying in preschool and tells me what colors will be next. Very exciting!