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!

Eddie is 6!

Eddie is 6!  He is the luckiest because his birthday landed on "Good Friday," so we didn't have school or work.  The best detail is that he wanted an "emoji" party and cake.  

Eddie has two best friends named Sterling and Lincoln.  They came family pizza lunch and cake along with our favorite grandparents.  Austin took the crew to the rec center for swimming and craziness.

 Everyone was exhausted at dinner time, so a whole bunch of reading coupons from Subway proved to be the best birthday dinner to date.  Everyone crashed into bed.

Eddie is our pickiest eater, best hider, greatest primary singer, gives the most kisses, hugest ninjago fan.  We love Eddie because he tickles Molly, rides his bike, independently reads and learns, and sweetest prayer. 

Molly is Better

Finally!  After three weeks of vomiting and diarrhea, Molly is on the mend.

I have been staying home from church with her, but I still wore my Sunday dress.  Meg came in to make fun of me whilst reading my scriptures.  So, I played along a pretended that a "double peace" made me awesome.

FHE was the activity in the Friend.  We read about the seven days leading up to the resurrection and colored the corresponding resurrected Christ. 

Ryan and I read everyday together.  He knows just the right answers about God's love for him.

Weekly park day was an egg hunt -- that was fun.

Thursday was the funrun at school.  All my children participated and excelled, per usual.

Andy won third place in the science fair.

We went as a family after school to see his display.

Marching Along

Spring Break ending suddenly and real life swooped in to take us all for a ride.  Monday morning triplets were sure cute.

Scouts.

For FHE we prepared for Easter by dying 120 eggs (Maisie announced this to her classmates and they couldn't believe that we dyed so many. HAHHAHA!  We eat 12 eggs every time we eat eggs for breakfast.  More eggs for baking and snacking all add up to at least 60 eggs eaten per week.)

Meg raced in Sedona and we wouldn't have missed it for anything.  Although Maddie did miss dance.  Meg is ranked first in state for the 800m at a time of 2:18.

These fine fellows were happy the entire hour we were there.

So were these ladies.

Later that evening RS at church was a birthday fiesta.  I dressed the part and made salsa.

Friday, was very bad.  She was completely dehydrated and Austin and I took her to the Phoenix Children's Hospital for some tests.  Her IV was just so darling and devastating all in one.  She received to bags of fluid, an x-ray, and an exam.  We were told that she had a virus that was kicking her trash.  After the nine hour adventure, we arrived home with a very sick baby and very happy children that Grandma B. rescued and loved the entire day.  How blessed we felt that Molly responded to the fluids and that we didn't worry one bit about the others at home.

Saturday morning started a new season of flag football.  These boys are not on the same team, but they each received the same color of jersey.  Both ran a couple touch downs and both won their games.

These little boys are tired of staying home to watch me sit and nurture Molly.  Alas, they are holding up quite nicely watching a million shows and sitting right beside us.

Knott's Berry Farm

Our last day in Cali landed us at yet another amusement park.  I spent most of the day with the littles, and we were quite happy riding all the rides in their area.

We met up for lunch and a bit of rain.  Dragging heavy jackets all over was way worth it to be warm.

As a teen my family would come to Knott's Berry Farm.  Grandma Guymon rode "California Screamin'" and screamed the whole way up and down.  I found her train and missed her.

This one coaster was plenty.

Another ride with Ryan kept us happy.

We stayed until way past dinner time.  Austin stuck with us the rest of the evening.

Maddie came to ride with Molly in the cab of the truck.

More time together.

She was entertained all day.

Our last ride took us in the air.  I think my boys look happy here.

Knott's has way less people, way more thrill ride, and way less ticket shock.  I spent many moments reminiscing about my time here as a youth, about my generous grandparents who took us, about my mother staying with the little kids while Dad took the big kids on the bigger rides, about eating lunch in the parking lot (well, packing a picnic is not new), and about the eternal nature of families.  I am blessed to be apart of such a heritage.