Mid-April

Monday morning scriptures always come early.  We are soooo lucky that the suns awakens the littles before six every morning now.  Eddie seems to know that he is the luckiest.

 Ryan and I are working hard at blending sounds.

 Our weather is really quite nice - mid to upper seventies.  Eddie took Molly for a ride after school.

 Ok. Ok.  Monday night we ate BLTs for dinner and then served milk shakes for dessert.  All my people were in heaven.  Maddie then gave the FHE lesson about the First Vision.  Grandma and Grandpa B. came to be with us.  That was such a treat -- we've missed them.

 Wednesday Andy and Nick ran some races (Maisie was injured).  They both won ribbons.

 (Andy is in black tights.)

 Austin harvest the fennel he planted from seed last August.

 We roasted it for dinner.  It was so mild and sweet.

 Maddie took her earrings out and changed them for these dangling ones.  She was very pleased and very darling.

 Andy was home sick two days.  He is very easy to please -- quesadillas and ramen keep him happy.

 Saturday was Meg's meet (at the same high school in Prescott). She placed first in both the 400m (58 seconds) and the 800m (2:20) and third in the 4/400 relay. 

 We sat in the hot sun for four hours and survived without a stitch of sunburn.  (We to be super dorky with big hats, sunglasses and lots of sunblock.  No cancer here.)

 Here is our winner post-meet.

 The missionaries then came to dinner.  Once they left, I actually sat for five minutes and all of these came and found me.  I sure love my peeps.

 At Nick's football game earlier that morning Ryan fell off the slide and scraped his head.  Yikes.

 Today at church these two twinners were very reverent. 

 These triplets all matched in their lace dresses and summer sandals.  (Meg matched but had already changed at this point.)  They did look very pretty.

How blessed we are that our days are very full.  How blessed we are when we begin each day reading scriptures and praying as a family. 

No April Showers

Maisie spent hours building with legos.  

 I did, too!  I made that sweet pool and pergola to go with her house.

 Sunday morning Nick put shoes and socks on this pixie.

 I'm so wrinkled when I get home.....I hold someone on my lap for three hours.  I never have time to take a picture before we go, but, oh, well.

 Twinners.

 Nap time was surely needed.  #nofilter.  JK.  #everyfilter

 Ryan and I made cookies.  Ryan and I ate all the cookies.

 I ran a 9.5 on a HIIT treadmill workout.  I have never run that fast -- I was pretty excited.

 Wednesday was a five hour track meet at Mingus.  They all three ran the 1600m and 800m.
Andy ran a 5:58 mile and 2:39 half.
Maisie ran a 6:24 mile and 2:54 half.
Nick ran a 6:30 mile and 3:01 half.

Meg took the some littles home, but Molly stayed strong to the end.

Andy was disappointed in his 4th place finish.

 I made a sour dough bread in my dutch oven; it made a lot of hungry people happy.

Meg had her track meet Friday at Mingus.  She ran a 1 minute 400m.  She beat all the girls in her heat by 100m. 

Rylie made her a cute sign.

Grandma B. came to support.

Afterwards we ran home and had 30 minutes to get her ready for mormon prom in Flag.  She was set up on a blind date with Ryan.  They did look pretty cute together.

The couples.

Saturday was three football games.  We spectators sat on a cozy blanket in the shade and ate popcorn.  All three games were favorable for the boys.

(Eddie refused to be in the group shot.)

Grandpa B. came to view the games -- he shared his snacks as well. 

Someone snapped this shot of my backside.  I found it on my phone.  Nice.  A little funny.  A little revealing.  A little humbling.

Sunday came around again and Molly went to nursery for the first time (she's one week early).  She was very brave and only fussed a little bit.

It always makes me tear up -- loosing my baby to nursery.  Well, I guess I need another baby.

Solo Runner

This week Nick was the only track star.  He ran the 800m (3:01), 1600m (6:48), and jumped in the long jump (9'10").  He landed medals in all three events -- he's a fifth grader competing against sixth graders.  Way to be awesome, Nick!

Ryan is 4!

Ryan is FOUR!  He opened lots of PJ Mask presents.

 Morning kisses and scriptures.

 We went to McDonald's for lunch.  Eddie came with us, but the playplace was closed.  Bummer.  Naps followed.

 Ryan helped me make his Gecko cake.

 Grandma B. came to help celebrate -- Grandpa was in the hospital with some heart complications.

 More pizza and cake and presents.  Deja vu from last Friday.

 Ryan was so happy all day -- which is so normal.  He just fits in and is kind.  He eats all his food without a fuss.  Sits and lets Maisie read to him for hours.  Watches shows while I exercise.  Goes with Austin to Home Depot.  Ryan allows Nick to wrestle him to the floor.  He poses for millions of selfies with Meg.  He plays lots of card games with Maddie and Eddie.  He teases Molly effortlessly and relentlessly.  Lately he comes nightly to my bed just in case Eddie might barf on him.  He is just so sweet.

General Conference

General Conference had a different feel for us this season.  Saturday was interrupted by two football games -- that they boys played after -- but that they still needed to quickly get there.  We did participate in the solemn assembly to sustain our new prophet.  It was a powerful spiritual experience to watch each group/quorum stand and sustain President Nelson.  

 In the evening we three big girls went and got pedicures.

 Sunday morning found Grandpa B. in the hospital with a heart attack.  Austin spent the day there, so our worship was a little more disjointed. But, we pushed through and watched both Sunday sessions.

 Austin presented the huge tubs of legos to the kids, and they spent much of the time creating artillery, weaponry, machinery and soldiers in an epic battle of boys versus girls.

 We sat nicely on the couch and listened (that's Ryan's little finger).

 Girls base.

 Front lines.

Maisie converted this water flyer into a highly powered missile launcher.

Our snacks were minimal this year, but all ate with gusto.

Although there was much uncertainty surrounding Grandpa B. and his condition, we still felt the peace that living gospel principles brings.  We felt the hope of the resurrection, the cleansing of the atonement of Jesus Christ, and eternal nature of families.

Oh, although today was Easter, there was not one Easter basket or eggs -- no one even mentioned it!