This one had a lacrosse game on her birthday, so we took her to a nearby Mexican restaurant afterward. She was starving and ate like a thoroughbred, haha.
Then we had late night Biscoff cheesecake and strawberries with friends.
So pretty #17!
Leslie and Cole had us all guess with sprinkles on our ice cream if we thought their baby would be a boy or a girl. Blue it is!
When I heard Darcy was flying her boys to Montana one weekend to surprise Mom and Jake's family for the State basketball tournament (our nephews and niece were all playing) I decided to join the surprise and make it a girls' trip! Darcy is pretty hard to pin down since she is so busy with work, and I was happy to rep our family in the fan club for Jackson, Bridger and especially Addy Long Legs. The games were pretty exciting.
Brooke driving us on the snowy roads was pretty exciting, too. Darcy was mocking us for our big sunglasses. Mine are proudly from the Dollar Store because I'm pretty hard on them.
Brielle and I were twins with bangs. Wish my hair had that pretty color, too!
We ended up getting snowed in and watched some of the games on TV at Mom's house. Although it was less exciting, it was cool to hear the announcer talking up the players and their backstories, especially Addy and her friend who were both 8th graders playing varsity.
This old picture is still on the wall. I'm not sure if I have a copy anywhere so I'll include it here. Duke, Mom, me, Dad, Jake, with Brooke and Darcy in the front.
Jeddy is my buddy.
It was good to be with my sisters. I wish I got to see them more often.
The plane ride back was so beautiful to be able to see the Buttes and river I grew up seeing from the ground.
Cooper forging ahead in Guatemala.
It was a little warmer back at home for lacrosse. Rosie and Ellie had fun cheering for Macy.
One day we took Rosie and Ellie to Cabella's because Rosie hadn't been since she was a baby.
And Leslie and Cole took Luke to the temple.
Macy got to sing with her choir in the Tabernacle.
Luke is pretty cheesy.
Boston was lucky enough to train one of his best friends who got called to the same mission in Spain.
Brooke's family came down to see us and visit family around Eastertime. Here we are at the new Lindon temple.
Luke, Benson and Brigham. They are all getting so tall!
We took a quick trip to Vernal with them to visit some family. Here are the kids at Moonshine Arch. I love how long and crazy the root systems of these desert trees are.
I think they were watching a video from one of the missionaries, but I love how everyone is squished around Mark. He is a fun uncle and dad.
And a fun husband. This night we went to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. I'd never been before and it was beautiful. The statues in the gardens were especially impressive.
We were with our friends the Funks. David decided to photobomb and did a pretty good job of it.
This statue scene was my favorite, of Lazarus Come Forth. I'd never seen something from this perspective of being inside the tomb, and the sunset shining through the door was incredible.
For Spring Break we explored a new destination, Glenwood Hot Springs in Colorado. It was fabulous and we wished we had known about it sooner. Will definitely go back.
The amusement park at the top of the moutain above the city was CRAZY. Even crazier is that Rosie went on this ride with Mark and the kids! I was happy to take pictures from the vantage point while the ride swung over the valley.
There are two big cave systems on top of the moutain included with the park pass. Way cool.
Everybody's favorite part was getting to ride the alpine coasters several times. Also a first for us. Super fun. The gondala ride up to the park was also pretty great.
It was finally time for our year with the BYU freshman to come to an end. This was a really funny event, cutting Landon's beautiful blonde surfer-hair for his mission. He got offered lots of big bucks by the other students to cut it super short. His mom wasn't happy but I think he made like 500$. Luke kept a souvenir of hair for a little while--he thought this was so hilarious.
Now they kinda match! Landon is an original and we miss him.
We were also missing this handsome fella in Spain. He had some great last areas.
Cooper is also having a great mission. We are looking forward to picking him up next June.
Macy went to the prom.
On our last Sunday at BYU we took this photo with three of our "kids" who will be serving their missions the same places as Cooper, Boston, and Leslie. Turns out, Cooper and Riley get to serve together.
Even if Darcy doesn't like my big sunglasses, Ellie is a fan. We spent a lot of time together while Leslie was on bedrest for premature labor.
Just trying to keep this baby in the cooker a bit longer! I told Leslie she was Fort Knox and he wasn't allowed to be born until after we picked up Boston in Spain.
Ellie gives the best hugs. She is a big fan of her Papa.
For our anniversary Mark took me to Red Butte gardens in SLC since we had never been. They were nice but we decided we liked the ones at Thanksgiving Point better because of the statuary.
Macy finished up a fun season of lacrosse, some wins, some loses. The game against Spanish Fork she had three goals, which is a Hat Trick!
I like the mouthguard picture.
For Mother's Day we had a nice dinner picnic...or that was the plan. The solar battery for the griddle didn't work, so we just ate dessert, took pictures and came home.
Macy and her friend Dani sang the national anthem for one of their games. They did great.
Macy finished up her high school choir career with the spring concert. Choir was fun but really time consuming.
These two were soaking up their one-on-one time with Ellie before the baby comes.
This is one of my Grandma tricks. Ellie likes to get into Rosie's room, where all the markers live. She is also very scared of vacuum cleaners--she calls them "Bobots." (Robots.) So, Grandma's Bobot guard's Rosie's bedroom when Ellie comes over. Problem solved.
All my beauties at the Butterfly Gardens.
