Enjoying General Conference

We so look forward to General Conference every six months.  April's conference is no different.  What changes will be announced?  Will there be new temples announced?  Will they tell us where the Washington County Temple will be built?  I also look forward personal inspiration from talks that are given.

 Ryder began collecting supplies for projects that he wanted to do during each session.  I fell short by not getting the duct tape he requested.  Instead Dave provided painters tape which worked just as well.

Two large boxes

A little imagination

Equals a lot of fun.

Cleaning up not so much.

Each session he built and tinkered with his invention.  I love how they are drawn to where it we are watching & listening.  The spirit does talk to each of us with that still small voice.  Sometimes even when we are not actively listening but passively as well. 

Birthday Time Again...

Rylee is 17!!!  I am still not sure how this happened since she was only 2 yesterday.  She had the week planned out spending time with her friends that were visiting during their spring break.  She may have time for her family by the weekend.  That didn't stop us from at least trying to make her day special.

Presents

Reganne has good taste
in picking out clothes she will like.

No pictures please
I look a mess.

Ice cream cake still
frozen solid only one candle
instead of 17.

Making a wish!!!
This picture survived she didn't want
any one to see her.

The week flew by and along with it all her celebrating.  It is amazing to watch her grow before our eyes.  She has an amazing future in store and we are excited to be a part of it with her.

Minutes of March

March stomped in and marched right on by with out much of a pause.  That is what it felt like.  it was crazy busy but we survived.  Some days I wondered if we would.

Posing for the camera
Rylee rescued me when I locked my keys in the van.
She surprised herself by making it to the rec center
without getting lost or crashing.

3rd Quarter Grades
She worked so hard for this.
She even talked to one of her teachers begging for an A
instead of the A- posted by .02.

Meeting the Masters Art
His teacher loves to send us pictures.
He always tries to cover his face or pull a face.

He found the trampoline
Funny how it sits on the side yard all alone.
BAM!!!
It's new again!!!

Watch me try to do a flip.
Not yet...Keep practicing.

Love STEM Projects
Mom, check this out!!!
Water + Vinegar = A Mess!!!
The pressure shocked me and the sound shocked Ryder.

This month was also one of accomplishments.  Rylee got her drivers license and got job @ Fashion Runway.  What will April bring for us???

LC Kickoff Swim Meet

Long course season knocked on the door and Ryder definitely answered the door.  He was ready to get the training started with only a week to prepare for the meet.  Dave had the day off from work to go with us.  Ryder was glad since Dad drives fast.

This year the eyes weren't as wide when we walked in.  Instead the nervous jitters were evident.  There were also a few newbies that had the wide terrified eyes.  Ryder eagerly helped them out to find were they should go.  I also had those wide terrified eyes as this was my first official officiating meet.

Getting ready for warmups

Ready to compete

Back stroke

We all survived the first events.  However, we got behind in events and could never catch up.  9:30 arrived and there were still 5 heats of the 400 meter freestyle.  I was lucky enough to have a partner that lived in Cedar City who was willing to take over for me.  We headed home for some sleep.  First the boys were hungry which required a quick stop at Wendy's.

Morning arrived way to early for all of us.  We made it and once again with plenty of time to warm ups.

The pool started to churn

Love the bobbing heads

Ryder did awesome and was exhausted after a full day of competing.  I was exhausted as well from a full 2 days of officiating.  There was still another session so no official times were posted. It would be a couple of days of waiting.

During the waiting period Ryder changed teams to Royals 2 with Coach Dani.  She gave him 3 ribbons.

Event 5:  Boys 11-12 100 Meter Back, 5th Place, 1.42.80

Event 9:  Boys 11-12 100 Meter Breast, 6th Place, 2.05.26

Event 22: Boys 11-12 100 Meter Fly, 5th Place,  1.59.51

Event 28:  Boys 11-12 50 Meter Back, 58.84

Event 32:  Mixed 11-12 200 Meter IM, 3.52.32 (entry time: 4.06.59)

We are proud of him and his hard work.  His new team requires more practices and a lot of hard work.  We believe he is up to the challenge.

Another Road Trip

We were headed off on another road trip.  This time in the other direction Dave, Ryder, and Rylee wanted to check out the 2019 Auto Rama in Sandy.  Reganne & I were going to spend the day with Grandma & Grandpa.  

Check out the clouds

Another angle

Reganne needs to draw these
they are amazing.

We made it to Springville Rylee decided to hang out with friends instead of going to the car show.  Reganne & I took Grandma for an early birthday lunch and went shopping.  Reganne was able to go with Grandpa on a ride up the canyon.

Playing games at lunch
We all made it to 2 left.

Loving on Grandpa

We helped them out around the house and just enjoyed spending time with them.  We had to gather everyone up again and head towards home.  It was uneventful and made it home before midnight.  Another busy weekend in the history books.  

Monday here we come....

Knotts Berry Farm

We have a new wrinkle in our vacation plans.  We need to have 2 bathrooms!!! One for the girls to get ready and one for everyone else.  Only one available takes considerably more time to get the days adventure started.  We finally were dressed, packed, loaded, fed, and ready to play.

We left the hotel with directions to the park.  Follow the path.  Our interpretation follow the line of people headed towards that direction.  We are good followers or so we would like to believe.  As we entered the park we had no idea where to start.  We turned left instead of right so it took us a little while to find the rides.

We found them!!!
Roller Coasters to spinny ones!!

Mom!!! your favorite from Lagoon.
This one not so much

Another spinny one

Very short lines

Bumper cards
Let's see how well Rylee can drive.

The brother with his new sun glasses.
I think this was the only time he wore
them all day.

We found a mild ride.
It was perfect one 

Everyone was tired, hungry, and really really hungry.  We had decided to try Mrs. Knott's Chicken.  The dinning room was slow so we got seats right away.  Thank goodness since everyone was starving.

Loved the berry shaped butter
and the yummy preserves.

The food was good and everyone was full once more.  It was time to try the last few rides.

Oh!!! how they have grown.
It's hard to get them to smile.

Under the water fall.

It was 5:30 and it was time to head for home.  Oops!!! Mom remember you promised us Starbucks for the ride home.  One more stop and we were on the road.  We turned on Google Maps and followed the instructions.  We made it home.  It was a good trip full of good memories.  No phones, electronics, more conversations, and just plain hanging out with each other.

The memories are great but Monday comes again.  It's the end of spring break 2019.  The last quarter of school begins.

More Hollywood

We decided to explore just a little more and what better than one of the crazy stores.

This maybe the best shot of
the Hollywood Sign.

Hanging with Bumblebee

Time to brave the traffic ....

Look at that!!!
It's a movie studio

An hour later we made it to the hotel.  Time to start the relaxing by hanging out at the pool.

Beautiful Sunset

Crazy boy
Radar for water

Dang it's cold!!!

The sisters agreed to
hang out as well. If not to
pose for my picture.

It was a totally exhausting day.  Everyone was tired and even a little hungry.  Nobody wanted to drive but room service was really limited if not pricey.  Dave & I decided to brave the driving once again and brought back food for the natives.

Time for bed!!!

On The Road Again

Road trip number 2 for the week.  This time we are headed to California for some family fun at Knottsberry Farm.  My question to everyone was can we have fun and get along for 2 days?  The all agreed to give it their best shot.  Who am I to argue with that and we are off....

Reganne really wanted to make a stop in Hollywood first to show everyone how crazy it is there.  2nd and most important maybe a stop at the BT21 Store which just happens to be in the middle of the craziness.

First we are starving

Rylee begged to try this
famous spot.

This doesn't look good.

Which way do we go??

Famous Theater
known by many names but the hand & feet
left in cement are amazing.

Closed for remodeling

Funny pictures
courtesy of Rylee

Another crazy picture
by Rylee

Lunch over, bellies are full, time to explore just a little more before heading out into the crazy California traffic.