Trip To Utah

We just wrapped up a trip to Utah for my brother's wedding.  We arrived a few days before the wedding so we were just able to play, relax, and spend time with family.  It was great!  

Bridget and Anna were basically inseparable.  Two cuties.  

Lots of games were played that week.  

We took the kids to Dairy Queen for blizzards.  They were a hit.  

This girl, so silly.  She always keeps us laughing.  

Thank goodness for Aunt Stacie.  She did hair and nails multiple times for Bridget.  She's gotta teach me some tricks when we move!

Bridget and Jaxon became good little buddies.  They played so well together.  

We spent a morning with Grandpa Yancey.  He will turn 90 this summer and I am so happy we'll get to live closer to him.  

Adults only trip for custard.  The custard was disappointing, even though this is the best custard place in Utah, but it did not compare to Kopps in any way.  Oh well, at least I had delightful company!

Uncle Jordan did not make his appearance until our second day there.  Marshall and Bridget were delighted to see him.  He is the greatest uncle.  

We met some of our favorite friends for breakfast one morning.  It was delightful.  We love these two!

Yay for family!

Sleepover With Max

We had Max over for his second sleepover last weekend.  Our first one was a bit crazy, understandably so.  We were dealing with four very excited children.  This time around though was as close to perfect as it gets.  

Anna dropped Max off at 6:00.  Marshall was at a birthday party so it was just the three kids and Richard and I.  We had pancakes for dinner and Max impressed us all with his appetite.

After dinner we did popcorn and a movie and then they all got a little play time in while I picked Marshall up from his party.  After everyone was ready for bed Max introduced us to "Light Saber Boy" on YouTube.  The kids all got some good laughs out of that.  

After a story and prayers everyone was in bed at 9:20.  At 9:30 Marshall, Bridget, and Max were still very quiet so I peaked my head in and found them all on Bridget's bed and Marshall was reading to them.  :)  Things got a little louder, but by 10:00 I could hear them start to peter out and they were all asleep shortly after.  

The morning brought us Krispy Kreme donuts and scrambled eggs.  Again, I was impressed at Max's appetite and wished that my own children would eat the foods he does!

Another great sleepover adventure.  We love Max!

Discovery World

Our last outing for Spring Break was a day at Discovery World.  We had taken Max to Discovery World before, but Anna and Fitz had never been.  It was a pretty crowded day, but we still had a great time and I declared it a success.

High school kids from Oconomowoc were there with robots that they had built!  I was pretty darn impressed.  All the kids thought they were pretty cool, except Rachel, who was terrified.  

Rachel loved the little clown fish.  

Bless Anna's heart.  She is the best.  I am too chicken and too disgusted to touch pretty much any animal.  Years ago, my parents came to Discovery World with us and my dad had to hold my arm in this pool so I would touch a shark.  I about died.  I haven't attempted since.  Well, Anna is way more brave than I am and helped Marshall overcome some fear and touch the shark.  These pictures are great, on so many accounts.  

I held Rachel over the water, but her little arms were not long enough.  That's all I could bring myself to do!  

Both Marshall and Bridget tried the bed of nails!  Marshall's report was it hurt his back.  Bridget claimed that it just tickled.  So proud of these two.  

Another successful outing with the Hassells!

March Wrap Up

Random March moments in pictures...

Anna and I took our kids to the Big Backyard one Thursday afternoon/evening.  We practically had the place to ourselves and the kids had a blast!

Rachel had a rough transition to no naps.  Obviously her idea, not mine.  

Our first walk of the year.  We were all so happy!

We took a zoo trip one morning and enjoyed some amazing weather.  Both my girls adore sweet Abigail!

This girl.  Love her.

Best night we've had in a long time!  Our wonderful friends, the Fritzes, who are in their 70s, treated us and the Hassells to dinner at Lake Park Bistro.  The food was beyond incredible, but sitting with those friends around the table was the best part of the evening.  Dale was the branch president in the branch for its last six years in existence.  Tim and Richard were his counselors for the last couple of years.  When I was the Relief Society president, Jan was one of my counselors.  The Fritzes are such fun and wonderful people.  After dinner, I told Richard about ten times that we have to be like them when we are in our 70s!

The new little five year old.  :)

Rachel got to come with me to Marshall's class two times in March.  She loved it and so did all the kids.  Marshall showed such brotherly love.  

A random placement of objects I discovered one morning.  Made me chuckle.  :)

Dr. Esser!  The best pediatrician ever!!!  I packed up all the kids for Bridget's five year check up so we could give Dr. Esser a card to thank him for 7 1/2 excellent years as our pediatrician.  I seriously had to hold back the tears saying goodbye to him!  He has been nothing short of exceptional and I am really going to miss him!  One interesting thing to note is that he works just three days a week and his wife works the other two days and he is a stay at home dad those days!  He has three kids, all just about one year older than each of our kids.  I honestly think this made a difference in his approach, because he is a pro at the medical side, but is also well aware of life with three crazy kids.  Man, we will miss him!

An afternoon croquet game with Marshall Man.  

Poor Bridget had a terrible stomach flu during Spring Break.  It really put a damper on a couple days of plans, but thankfully no one else got sick.  It was so sad to see her so miserable.

Thankfully, Bridget recovered and was able to make it to Abigail's birthday party.  She was told to wear her favorite costume and this is what she came up with!