Spring Routine

 We're in the thick of Spring sports!

Camden has soccer Tuesdays, Westin has football Tuesday and Thursdays, and both have games on Saturdays, plus Bennett and Camden's karate Mondays still. We're finally done with weekly swimming lessons after next week and that feels happy -- we've been taking some combo of kids to Splash swim school every week for almost four years. Asher hasn't done his yet, but he'll do some weeks of lesson at our neighborhood pool and then maybe we'll be back to Splash next school year. 

Westin has a goal to get to the temple every month this year and he went twice with me this week. On the last day of April we went with Joyce for her first temple trip, and the next day all the youth went on their quarterly temple trip. So Westin felt pretty happy about checking off April and May in two days :)

Other fun things this week were Cafe Rio for Ashley's birthday, trivia night with the Gregorys and Behunins, seeing Project Hail Mary with friends plus Westin and Bennett, March Madness at the Behunins, and gearing up for Easter and conference weekend.

Right now Camden's soccer games and Westin's football game are at the same park and it's so lucky. We are loving Saturdays with double games in the same spot. It just feels like such a fun stage, and Camden's little goals are so fun to watch! Spring is so fun.

Birthday lunch for Ashley!

Ready for first soccer practice.
He's so excited for this season.

Joyce's first temple trip.
It was really special to go with her.
She just continues to impress me so much.

Kitty is extra snoozy and cuddle in her old age.
Sweet little thing.

Artemis II! This was amazing to watch!

A walk to the lake.

Project Hail Mary with friends!

Big fan of the egg spinner.

Easter morning!
The Easter bunny somehow had all the kids' second choice book fair picks from when they each got to pick out a book a couple weeks ago.

Shark book, big hit.

Easter Sunday 2025

 

Came home and immediately set out Easter.
The Easter Bunny somehow got some of Portugal's famous tinned fish.
But I don't see that being as well-received as the Reese's eggs.

Sharing some Pasteis de Nata and telling them about our trip.
Jenny and Lydia took SUCH GOOD CARE of our boys for us. That was the biggest service and so kind.
Our boys were so happy with them. I'm so grateful they were with family while we were gone.

This cute crew on Easter Sunday. 
They had a great week together, thanks to Jenny and Lydia!

We were so happy to come home to these boys.
It's not easy to leave them.

Easter Sunday is just such a JOYFUL day.
I was so happy to be home with my boys and feeling so grateful for our trip,
and for my body that feels so much better than most of the years in the last decade.
Today was a lot of thinking about resurrected bodies and how amazing that is.

Neighborhood Easter egg hunt! We're quite the crew now.

These kids are lucky to have such a good neighbor crew.

Arizona Wedding & Easter with Cousins

We took off to Arizona on Thursday to go to Michael's cousin's wedding, and it was so fun to see a lot of family that we haven't seen in years. There was a lot of family there that I think we haven't seen since our wedding. I wish we took more pictures with people! We really loved being there and catching up with them.

We landed late Thursday and the boys were great on the plane. Two hours to Arizona feels pretty doable after a long Hawaii flight! We went for a walk to feed baby ducks on Friday morning, then the Walkers were super kind to take us boating that day even though we had a short window. The boys totally loved tubing and Michael did a great job getting up on a surfboard! I have some work to do... can you learn surfing from watching YouTube videos? I'll try it haha. Then I'll be ready for next time :)

That night we ate dinner at Michael's aunt's house and it was really nice to see so much family. I particularly just loved meeting Michael's Uncle Barney, who we've been in touch with but I had never met yet. The next day the boys had fun with their cousins while we went to a sweet ring ceremony, then we had some pool time at the Walkers. Asher went down for a nap and we went to the temple sealing ceremony, then we came home to put a bunch of bow ties on a bunch of boys and make it to the wedding reception. Rachel and Spencer got into town just before the reception, so it was so happy to meet Rachel's baby girl.

The cousins had a fun Easter morning together, with hidden baskets and waffles and a trip to the Mesa Temple Visitors' Center, then an Easter Egg hunt. Pam was so sweet to make it fun for sooo many little kids! We have now seen everyone in Michael's family except Shelley's family in the last few weeks, which has us really excited for our reunion this summer. The kids just have so much fun when they're together. Cousins are magic.

He looks so much older during and after haircuts.
This is his first time agreeing to the little cape and standing instead of being in Michael's arms.
Melting me.

During one workout this week he repeatedly would take my hand and say "Lie down, mommy."
Then he'd just lie down on me and give me a hug and it was not a very productive workout
and it was also the best workout ever.

Lighten Print Holy Week printable made me really happy this year.
We have plans to really spend more time on it in future years but it felt good to just get it out there.

Breakfast of little boy champions.
They love eggs from my mini waffle maker.
I can't bring myself to make more than a dozen like this and they would eat them forever if I could do it.

Got rid of probably 40% of my closet. So freeing.
I have had dozens of bodies in the past dozen years and it gets complicated!

Seder dinner for YM/YWs. These are dear to me.

Camden's voice down the stairs:
"Mom! Presenting.... Dr. Asher!"

Found him with this mask on his head blowing on a whistle while all his brothers were gone.
Sometimes it just strikes me funny how this littlest brother doesn't quite know what to do with himself when he's alone :)

Came around the corner at the airport and just felt grateful this cute crew was mine.

Made it to Aunt Pam's! Late. But we made it :)
They did not sleep like this but they wanted to haha.

Feeding ducks with cousins

The Walkers were so nice to take us on a fast and furious boating trip before dinner at Michael's aunt's house that night. I have no surfing skills! Someday.

Asher couldn't get enough of this.

Michael got up! Couldn't quite get over to the waves though.
We'll conquer this someday! But at least he's standing up haha.
I couldn't say as much for me!

The Walkers brought a cooler full of hot water for a little kid hot tub on the boat
and that was just genius.

Lots of meeting and catching up with extended family this weekend!
I looked over during dinner at Michael's aunt's house and saw Westin and Rachel eating cream puffs on the pool chairs haha, and I had instant memories of killing time with cousins while adults just talk and talk and talk.

Wedding day! Michael's cousin had a beautiful ring ceremony, temple sealing, and reception.
I've never been in the Gilbert Temple before, it was gorgeous.

Siblings! So sweet.

Michael hasn't rocked a bow tie in 30+ years and this was a first for all the boys but I loved it :) 

This kid. Glued to his dad.

Michael eats most all meals like this when we travel. 
I sometimes feel bad, but I took the nursing shifts and ate many a meal with a kid attached to me,
so, it's all good :)

Cutest dates across from me.
But they wouldn't come on the dance floor... stinkers.

Asher was a straight up hazard with this thing.
We managed as much as we could.

All the little cousins taking a vow to not tell other cousins where their Easter basket is if they find theirs first :)

Trade time.

Easter devotional.

Mesa Temple Visitors Center. So kid-friendly.

This picture totally cracks me up, because there a little soundproof booths throughout the visitors center as a place to study or pray. And this is my two-year-old busting into mine when I decided to sit in one for a minute. This is a very accurate representation of most all of the studying and praying and thinking I try to do :)

Eli and Bennett had a lot of fun together, cute guys

Easter Egg Hunt! The kids were sweet to leave the piano eggs for Asher :)