Fun at the Park

After the Easter Egg Hunt I brought the kids to the park to play.  They had a rousing game of tag and Jenna was in her own little world dancing around on this stage singing a song she had made up herself!

 

Easter Egg Hunt

This morning we went to the Easter Egg Hunt at the City Park in Ivins.  The older kids like this one because they have a hunt for all ages -- even adults.   But that wasn't enough to draw Janika out of bed.  She was   tired after her date last night (laser tag, arts festival, video, pizza, puzzle contest and homemade ice-cream).  (Whew!  That makes me want to sleep in too!)   

Janelle's Soccer Team

Messy Jenna

This morning I had an interpreting appointment and then did some shopping while Jenna played with her babysitter, Jamie.  After lunch she played with flubber and then cut it up into a thousand pieces, spread it all over the floor, and danced in it. 

I had another interpreting job this evening and came home to find Jenna (and all of the other kids) in the sandbox full of water.  The other kids had already gone in when I pulled out my camera but Jenna stayed and played until we finally dragged her to the tub.

Multi-Choir Concert at Tuacahn

Tonight Janelle performed in the big concert at Tuacahn where all of the choirs from all of the elementary schools gather together for a night of song.  They do one song together and then each choir performs one song separately and then they come back together for a few songs.  As you can see, it is A LOT of kids!  The entire amphitheater was packed too -- around 2000 people!  Rick stayed home which was good since he ended up with unexpected appointments at the church.  Janika had a babysitting job, Jase was stuck home cleaning the kitchen and then he took off with friends, and the five youngest came with me.  Jenna was bopping around to the first song but she soon became bored and kept asking for water or food or to go for a walk.  I hope the videos I took are not too bumpy with her wiggling on my lap!

 Janelle is the sixth one over from left on the very back row.

Here is Janelle's Arrowhead Elementary Choir.  They did a great job! (Janelle is the 4th from the left on the front row)

 

 

Silent Weekend, Camp Out, Conference

Thursday, March 29, Rick and I were able to attend Bryce and Ailleen's temple wedding in the morning and then my sweetie took me out to lunch.  How awesome to be reminded of the incredible promises we made to each other on our own wedding day almost 18 years ago! 

Rick and I attended "Silent Weekend" Friday night and all day Saturday.  A lot of work went into this event and those involved all did a terrific job!  Friday included an oath of silence (Patrick Lein was hilarious as he dressed up like a judge with a gavel and swore everyone in).  There was a great dinner of Hawaiian food, games, and a dance with various students performing songs in sign language on the stage.  They had laser lights, a fog and bubble machine, and all of the words to all of the songs displayed on a screen up front.

Saturday included some amazing workshops, games, lunch, and closing ceremony.  Going without our voices was really quite easy for those of us who know sign language but it was difficult for many of the students who are just learning.  We were disappointed that the Silent Weekend fell over General Conference but were able to catch up on all of the talks we missed within the next couple of days. 

Friday night Jared was gone on an overnight scout campout.  He had fun but the next day (on Sunday) he was sick and throwing up.  I am wondering if it was heat exhaustion or something because no one else got sick.  After the campout he came home and walked his piano teacher's dog (he and Jase do it twice a week to help pay for lessons) and then he took a loooong nap.  That evening he went to his first Priesthood session with dad and Jase, then out for ice cream, then straight to a party at Anti-Gravity for a couple of hours.  

Janika begged me to take her to the Hunger Games Saturday night.  I wasn't too hard to convince since I really wanted to see it too.  Jase went and saw it last Saturday with a friend and Janika was supposed to go see it with a date Friday night but it ended up being sold out.  We ended up going to the 10:00 p.m. showing after the guys got home from Priesthood and ice-cream.  Rick and I both read the books and so did Janika, Jase, and Jared. 

Sunday Rick made crepes with fruit and cool-whip for the family for breakfast.  It was nice to be able to stay home and listen to the messages from our church leaders.  The kids were excited to be able to see David Archuletta in the MTC choir on Saturday!   I thought it was interesting that Janika said, "I feel like this whole conference session was totally geared towards us (meaning high school students)."  How neat that the same talk can touch those of all different ages and circumstances in the way each person needs! 

Today was April Fools and no one in the family did ANY pranks.  That is a miracle indeed.  Except for the faucet tied with a rubber band to squirt the person who turned on the water.  But other than that we made it through unscathed!

Janika's Preference Pictures

Better late than never!