tacky, sticky, and chilly

tacky

We kept pretty busy this past week...starting off with Ben's 2nd grade "Reader's Theater."

Each of the second grade classes recited a different book, and Ben's class did Tacky the Penguin. It's a cute story about a penguin who doesn't mind being a bit different and unique, and how that difference can actually sometimes help. Ben's little group had a lot of lines to memorize-they played the part of Tacky-and they did a great job. In photo 1 Ben is on the far right.

I wanted to get a picture of Quentin and Ben after their assembly. They have been buddies since they were three years old in Nursery 3's at school. They are in the same class again this year, and they play lacrosse together. Quentin is a fun friend.

sticky

This is the time of year that the best tasting strawberries are available, so when I saw them on sale I grabbed three 4-lb. containers and made strawberry jam the rest of the day. I make plenty every year because we go through it like crazy. YUM!

chilly

Lacrosse started again for the spring season. They have only been practicing for a few weeks, with some of the practices cancelled because of snow, but this past Saturday was finally their first game. I didn't really believe Ben when he said his friend, Taylor-who is a girl, was practicing with them. Sure enough, on game day there was Taylor, dressed and ready to go. I took this picture of her because I think it's so cool she's playing with all the boys. I talked to her mom so much at the game that by the time I got around to taking pictures it was near the end of the game and Ben didn't play anymore. We took some other fun pictures, though. Especially when Will and Jake got a hold of my camera.

Ok--photo 3 is a picture with Will and his prized posession--Hank "Halloween" Murphy, from the Cars movie. He had just earned it the day before, but it was a big week for him. He also earned Jerry's Recycled Batteries truck, also from the Cars movie, earlier in the week. It's one that he's wanted ever since he saw it a few weeks ago.

I read somewhere that they are making another Cars movie, due out in 2010, but have not been able to confirm that. I sure hope so--we love that movie around here!

Anyway, I got off track...back to lacrosse. The boys played a very hard Alta team, but squeaked out a 6-5 win, on a very cold morning. Way to go boys!! I'm pretty sure Ben is the tall one in the middle with the white helmet. ;) I'll do better next time!

easter

Sometimes I drive myself crazy with so many pictures in a post, because they take forever to sort through and then download, etc. There was a lot going on easter weekend, so naturally I took lots of pictures. First up, the flashlight easter egg hunt at Brenda and JD's house Friday night.

Each family that comes brings 100 filled easter eggs--filled with candy, money, or any prize they want to put in. (Brother) Darren and his wife, Heather, and their kids came, along with a family that lives near Brenda. So there were over 400 eggs.


Once it was dark, at 9pm, the flashlights and the hunt was on. And did I mention the coveted gold and silver eggs?! Will found the gold egg and got $8...he was pretty excited about it.

Once the hunt was over, about 5 minutes later, it was time to gather and check out the spoils. Here Ben poses with cousin Chloe, and then the rest of the gang: Kate, Jake, Liam, Ciera, Garrett, and Eli.

Did I mention Grandma Airplane was still here in Utah? It was fun to have her around for the egg hunt, and even funner that she got to come home with us that night and spend a couple of days at our house. As always, the boys had a blast playing with her all day on Saturday--except for the couple of hours we took to go see Monsters v. Aliens.

Easter Sunday

I think we barely stopped to breathe on Sunday there was so much going on. As he went to bed Saturday night, Ben said that he hoped there would be a treasure hunt for their easter baskets the next morning. Since somebody-who-will-not-be-named reads these blogs on occassion, let's just say the bunny probably was up pretty late putting together a totally awesome easter egg hunt!


And the hunt was on!

This was a fun hunt--they each had their own colors they had to find at each stop. The clues were cut up and they all had to put them together so Ben could read them. He thought it was a blast!

Jake sure does like his chocolates! After the hunt and breakfast we took Grandma to the airport, back home to get ready for church, and went to church for the first classes. We took off after that because we were heading for Logan.

We took the sa-weet cruiser van, which the boys LOVE!! Jake got a hold of my camera for a bit.

Boys eating outside.

The hunt...

And the treasures...

Last part of the day before we left for home was a truck ride in Brandon's Baby Blu. Good times!

another spring day in utah

Spring in Utah is like a box of chocolates: you just never know what you are going to get!! This is what we woke up to yesterday morning. It was so beautiful, I had to grab my camera to get some photos, because believe me--the snow wasn't around long!!

the front yard and the back yard

I loved watching the snow melt and water drip off the crab apple tree!

Jake got into the spirit of the day and headed out for handfuls of snow. Will stayed inside and enjoyed the fruits of Jake's labor!

Spring also means that there is usually a good show in town. This year it was the greatly anticipated musical Wicked. Daren and I saw it with some friends in New York a couple years ago, and it was unbelievable. This time I knew the music much better and loved every minute of it. At intermission Daren leaned over and said, "I should have let you bring Ben to this instead of me. He would have loved it." Yes, he would have, but we are working on it so maybe he can still go. Thank you to Daren's parents, Barry and Susan, for the wonderful Christmas presents!!

what did you do...

...this past weekend?! We watched/listenened to plenty of General Conference...


...played in the snow on Saturday...

(It snowed all morning on Saturday--probably about 4", but an hour after it stopped we went out to build a snowman and this is all that was left. Spring in Utah!! And this is Jake and Jaycie.)

...and Ben built a "satellite" in between sessions on Sunday! Whew!!

The plans and the contraption...it seemed like it would work on paper!!

setting it up

Attempt #1--using Sprite, but string not tied on tight enough, and when he finally got it on tight, it barely opened and fizzled out. But he was not to be denied!! The neighborhood friends wanted to come over and see what was going on. "Is that a science experiment?" *asked friends, all excited* "No, I'm just trying to send a satellite up into space." *spoken so nonchalauntly by Ben*

Attempt #2--Sprite again, fizzled again...but this time help was on the way, at least help by Jake and Will to prevent too much of a mess by trying to drink it up--yuck!

Attempt #3--Ronnie and Jaycie try with a Dr. Pepper, shook up really hard. Fizzled out again.

Attempt #4, or #14--who knows?! I lost track somewhere in there. Ben and Ronnie tried this time to use a milk carton and a Diet Coke, shaken real hard and left in the sun for a few mintues to warm up...Didn't work, but don't give up, Ben. In the words of Bob Wiley from What About Bob, "I just never gave up hope!" (one of the funniest movies EV*ER if you haven't seen it!)

So, when all else fails, throw it up in the air yourself and pretend it has blasted off!! Even if it does still have a little Diet Coke left in the can to get you a bit sticky!

Danielle's dad, Lynn, came to the rescue with his plastic tub with water in it, a tin can, a fire cracker, and a match to light it. Thank goodness for a well-prepared scout leader! And then it was time for more conference...