General Conference

We decided to go to a session of General Conference this year!

Ben was able to get tickets to the afternoon session on Saturday :)

Halle had never been, so this was a special treat!

Ben's mom was in town with Michelle and Matt.  So Gwen and Austin watched conference 

with them and Angela in the tabernacle on Temple Square while 

we went into the Conference Center (Ben only had 4 tickets).

Here we are in our seats.  I had forgotten how massive this building is, 

and how many people can fit into it!

Abby and Halle enjoyed being in the Conference Center, and Gwen and Austin had a 

GREAT time with Angela and Nana.

They kept talking about the ice cream they got :)

Once it was over, we rode the train or tram (whatever it is called) for a short time to get to our car, 

and the kids thought that was the best thing ever!

I still REALLY  enjoy watching conference at home, 

but it is fun to go up there once in awhile and see it in real life!

Nana in Town!

Nana was in town for Halle's game too!

Halle played well again, scoring 3 of the 6 goals!

It was pretty cold outside, but Halle doesn't seem to notice.

Volleyball

Abby played volleyball again this spring!

She really likes it and is getting better every season.

I felt like her season was so short this time.

She missed a couple games and practices because of play rehearsal or shows, 

and then someone was sick at our house for about two weeks, so I was just dropping her off at her games instead of staying to watch :(

Nana was in town for her last game!

So fun to have the extra support!

April Fool's Day

So, April Fool's Day isn't a holiday I really celebrate (along with St. Patrick's Day).

I think my kids are sensing my lameness because when I woke up today, 

this is how the kids all looked!

They each had made up this crazy story as to why they were so battered.  

They went to school like this (well Austin didn't wear the wig to playgroup)! 

Maybe I will have to rethink celebrating some of these holidays :)

End of March

Halle started spring soccer this week!

She couldn't wait for it to start.

She is super awesome out there.  

She scored three goals and had one assist.  Her team won 4-1. 

So . . . any questions? :)

Cousins! 

Cousins had spring break and came to visit for the weekend.

We went to the BYU Blue and White game.

We spent some time at BYU, and enjoyed them hanging out at our house.

Us girls went to the Women's Broadcast last night.
It was a wonderful meeting and I enjoyed being
there with my daughters, nieces, sister, and sister-in-law.
Gwen actually is about 6 months shy of being 8, but we let it slide :)
I wish I had gotten a picture of us all :(

After the meeting, we went to dinner with Ben's family!

This picture of Austin I just had to throw in.

I teach his Primary class on Sundays.

Today, when I asked who wanted to give the opening prayer, 

Austin asked if he could say the prayer in Spanish.

He doesn't speak Spanish, 

so I'm not really sure what he was 

going to do . . . but I'm pretty sure it was not going to be reverent :)

Austin is 5!

Austin turned 5 years old today!

We had made a paper chain 2 weeks ago to help him know when his birthday would be.

He has been so excited! 

 5 years old is a big birthday (for him and for me)!

We had a friend birthday yesterday.

Austin's sisters love to help with parties, which is so nice for me!

They will direct everyone to the next game and take charge.
Gwen unfortunately had been quarentined to her room since she had a fever :(

Austin picked out race car invitations.  So we made race car cupcakes!

We played musical chairs (to Frozen music of course)!

We also did a cake walk . . . thanks to Gwen who had made all the numbered papers. 

Since the weather was okay outside, we let them jump on the trampoline and run around crazy outside.

We opened presents and ate cupcakes.

Austin had a great time!

This morning Austin woke up pretty excited to be officially 5! A month or two ago, I found a tool bench with a couple tools while shopping  with my sister at my favorite store :) Austin actually was with me,  and he played with it in the store the whole time we were there.  When it was time to go,  I told him Aunt Lisa was buying it for his cousin Carson (hehehe).   He was pretty sad, and asked me several times why he couldn't have it :) Lisa stored it in her garage for me. My mom and dad got him some extra tools to go with his workbench! He was so excited about this present! He has been so busy fixing things!   His sisters gave him a scooter (now he doesn't have to ride the pink princess one around),  and a Cars helmet.

I made a mistake with the cake.

I made cupcakes for his birthday party, and then made a homemade Magleby's chocolate cake for his real birthday.  After I had made the chocolate cake though, I discovered Austin still wanted a cake made out of the car cake pan.   So . . . I ended up making another cake. 

We have a lot of cake at our house right now :)

I figured, one for me and one for him?  It's kind of my day too, right?

I let my kids pick what they want for breakfast and dinner on their birthday.
For breakfast, Austin wanted chocolate cream of wheat, eggs, sausage and bacon.
I told him he could only pick one meat, so he picked sausage.
For dinner, he wanted spaghetti . . . and bacon.
He found a loophole in my rule.
So we had spaghetti, bread, salad AND bacon for his birthday dinner!
Happy Birthday Austin!

Abby's Play

 Abby was in her Jr. High's production Guys and Dolls this year.

Performances were this last weekend, with one more tomorrow night.

We went on Friday night, and were SO IMPRESSED!

 Some of the YW came to see the show!

Abby was excited to get flowers afterwards!

She was a doll and in about 4 of the scenes.

She is planning on trying out again next year!

(And I don't think she is taller than me yet . . . she is wearing heels 

and I am not . . . and had poofy front hair:)

The show ran for 4 nights.
The night of the last show, Ben ran in to get a few more pictures!

Aunt Liz, Neal and Kensington came to the show!
(Aunt Lisa and Uncle Alex came too . . . but we weren't able to get pictures with them)
Abby loved having some family audience!

Abby with her friends Phoebe and Kaitlin.