Zoo field trip

Aaron's class had a field trip to the Hogle Zoo. With Utah weather being Utah weather, it snowed on April 30th. Snow. Big, fat, wet snow. That didn't stop the field trip and the kids from seeing what animals dared come out in the snow. We did spend some time in the indoor exhibits - things that I would normally skip like snakes and lizards but it was soooo cold and they kids were wet and freezing. The polar bears put on the best show there. They came right up to the glass and interacted with the kids as they moved a water bottle around. Needless to say, Aaron and I came home and had hot chocolate and mac and cheese to warm up. 

Aaron rides a bike

Aaron decided today that he wanted his training wheels off his bike despite the fact that he hadn't really used them while riding for a long time now. He rips around on his balance bike with great easy so he's got the balance, but was so afraid of losing the crutch of the training wheels. But today was the day and that was that. They came off and then we rode down to the village for dinner.


This second video was an hour later. Like he's been riding for a long time (because he has). He was so proud of himself. As we returned home and rode into the driveway, he said out loud, "I'm so proud of myself!" We are too.

The next day, he rode over 5 miles to his basketball game and around town together with myself and Emily. Training wheels are total history.

April sporting events

We had a flurry of sporting events in April. 

Aaron was playing rec basketball again and enjoying himself. He showed great improvement and took more shots and made many of those. He seems to really like basketball. 

We took in a SLC Bees minor league baseball game. It was fun and similar to our experience watching the Durham Bulls baseball team back in North Carolina. 

Jeff got the company seats for the Utah Jazz playoff games in Round 1 and Round 2. I was lucky enough to go to the Round 1 game against OKC with him. He took Jon, Kyle and Emily to the Round 2 game against Houston. It was an amazing fun game to watch with him and I know the kids had a great time as well. 

Battle of the Books

Emily and her friends at school entered the battle of the books competition. They were school champions and advanced to the district competition. They had a great time showing off their knowledge of all the books they had read and advanced to the finals. Ultimately, they finished 2nd by 1 point on the last question. It was a lot of fun to see these kids show off their book smarts. What's even more, at the end of the competition without any prompting, Emily went over to shake the other teams hands in a great show of sportsmanship. She initiated it and it made us so proud to see her lead like that and show such grace and great competitive spirit. Go Emily!

April (snow) showers

Utah spring weather is weird. April 17th we got a few inches of snow in the morning. Then it was melted by noon. Schitzo mother nature. 

Ski season closing

Ski season is winding down, but not before Jeff and I got in a few more ski dates and discovered the back side trails at Snowbird. You go through a tunnel to get there which is pretty cool in itself and then the runs are even more wide open. Hard to believe we didn't explore this until so close to the end of the season (actual season ended mid-May, but the conditions weren't great so we stopped going ahead of that time). 

On a random weekday that the kids were off school, I took a half day and took the kids skiing in the AM to show them the tunnel and back side trails. While it was cool to show them, that day was particularly windy and cold with ice pelting us in the face and Emily had an ear infection. Needless to say it wasn't the idyllic experience I was going for. 

Smiles here but not for long :-) 

Grandma week

I had to go to Nashville for work this week and my mom came to town to hang out with Kyle, Emily & Aaron while Jeff had long days of work.

I went to the Nashville Parthenon for Emily because she loves her mythology. My coworker told me that parts of the Percy Jackson movie were filmed here so I took a quick lunch break up there to share some pictures with Emily. 

Grandma had the kids out and about and enjoying the days together. 

K1 Speed

For his birthday, Aaron really wanted to go to K1 Speed. We went for Kyle and Emily's birthday over the summer, but Aaron wasn't tall enough yet (less than an inch below their junior threshold). Since that time, he has been working on his growing so he could go to K1 Speed on his birthday. And thankfully he is growing like a weed and made the cut. He was super thrilled to drive his first go-kart and got more and more comfortable driving to really rip around the track. 

My Coworker

Aaron is an excellent coworker. He pulls up a chair and a little table to work on his workbooks while I am working. 

Happy Birthday Aaron!

Happy birthday Aaron! Hard to believe you are already 6! You are a sweet, loving brother and son with such a kind heart. You love Yoda and all things Star Wars as well as playing video games. But you also love being outside playing with the kids and riding your bike. Happy birthday baby!

Jackson Hole

Jeff and I went skiing in Jackson Hole when Kyle and Emily were babies (they had a great time staying with Grandma) and loved it. With our Snowbird passes this year, we could use those to get heavily discounted lift tickets in JH so we took the opportunity to take the kids skiing there as well. And we just love this amazing cowboy town. 

Jeff and I went to the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar one evening

Yeehaw!

The skiing was excellent and so much fun that we could all ski together. 

We enjoyed a nice dinner where Jeff and I had the best elk dish on our first ski trip there together. While they didn't have the elk this time, we still had some pretty good food here. 

We also visited the Elk Refuge in Jackson on their sleigh ride tours. Was pretty cool to see so many elk up close and learn more about them. 

That is Aaron sleeping on Jeff. 

Hand War

While I was working, Aaron asked me to take a break with him so we could have a hand war. I think he saw this on Clash Royale and had this all set up - a table and with a dollar on each side as our bet on winning this arm wrestling match (that he called a hand war). Love his spunk. 

San Diego friends visit

Our dear friends from San Diego came out to Utah for a ski trip and to spend some time with us. The kids picked up right where they left off, as always, and had a blast playing in the snow together and several rounds of hide and seek. 

More ski season

Mexico

We all headed down to Mexico to celebrate my mom's birthday. My mom and all my siblings and their families were there for a fun week together. 

Kyle got to sit in the front seat with me. Haven't been in a 3 across the front seat car since the 80s in a station wagon. 

Aaron was tired from the travel. 

Kyle and a bird

All day, every day. 

Emily got to have a sleepover with Grandma and one of her cousins. These 2 had a blast and even snuck in an extra sleepover night. The boys also had a sleepover night with Grandma and one of their cousins.

Seesters

Sleepy Bear. It's hard swimming and playing all day. 

Grandma and all her 13 grandkids. 

Everyone!

Happy Birthday Mom!

The kids at the pool

Mom and the 5 of us. We are so lucky!

Me & Mom