Once again playing catch up. . .
Alice finished her swim lessons in March having her last two on the 10th and 17th. Casey and I did a few lessons with us and her in between to work on her skills. She grew and was a lot braver when it came to the deep end in swim this spring. She learned to get some endurance and length in how long she could go in the water.
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Casey started track with the Middle School on the 16. He's got near 150 athletes this spring between 6th to 8th grade. It's been a lot to juggle and manage so far, but he's taking it in stride and doing a great job. He had his basketball banquet on March 16th as well.
I held book club 19th, we read the book "My Friends". It's always a juggle to hold book club during the school year, but I made a bunch of last minute treats and enjoyed a night with friends.
Kendal's first track meet was the Friday before spring break. It was a home meet here in Kimberly. Casey (aka Middle School track) was over the concessions so he was there the whole afternoon with me helping / going out when Kendal ran. Kendal's nerves ruled her day and she didn't eat as she should so she felt she had a harder time with her runs that day.
Sunday evening was of the start of Spring Break and we headed down to South Jordan to Vanessa's parents to stay the night with Brett and Vanessa's family. The next day we were heading down to Hurricane / Zion. The kids got to swap places in the cars to be with cousins and loved it! Monday we stopped at Cove fort a long the route for lunch and looking around. The kids did a scavenger hunt and we got to learn some neat pioneer history from Utah. (to toy of the week was pioneer wooden disks on string that the kids learned to spin. We then traveled a few more hours and made our way to Zion. We went into the park and checked out the Visitor Center so the kids could get their Jr Ranger books. We rode the bus up the park roads to see some sights and then did a short walk to Weeping Rock. After that we headed out to our air-bnb. Casey and I ran to grab some groceries and then after dinner we all went over to the pool. The pool was fun because it had a slide, and lazy river along with a couple of fire pits and pool area that the kids enjoyed.
Tuesday the older 4 kids joined Brett and Vanessa to go on a 11 mile hike that took them to Angel's Landing, Scouts Lookout, and the West Rim Trail. It was a very steep hike, and a lot of work to get through some of the places so we knew the little's should probably stay back. Some of the trail was very narrow and high, Pete's definitely not a heights fan, but was so brave and did it all. Everyone came home so sore and tired. (They were gone from 7:30 till almost 5:30 on this journey). Casey and I stayed back with the younger set, but were stuck to the area since our car couldn't fit all four kids and us. That morning the little's tired out the hot tub and then we went over to the basketball / pickleball courts to play for a bit. After lunch we took them to a much anticipated swim time for a couple of hrs before we went back to beat the heat and watch a movie. After the movie we hunted for a few local geo caches on foot before we headed back to make dinner. That night we all went back to the pool and the older kids were mostly in the hot tub while Casey and I were with the younger set in the pools.
Wednesday morning Casey, Vanessa, and I took the older kids (Thomas on up) to the Red Rock Temple in St. George. It was a beautiful temple and such a sweet experience to be there with the kids. Brett let the little kids play video games and watch shows back at the air BNB. That afternoon we headed up to Zion and hiked the river side walk to the Narrows. Some went up into the water / narrows for a bit while the rest of us played in the sand / edge of the water and took a break. We ended up driving another part of Zions that day too where we went through the tunnel in the mountain and saw some cool views from the car. We had a game night that night at the air BNB.
Thursday we went out early to Kolab Canyon first and did a five mile hike there. The kids were troopers and did so great in the brisk morning temps and rocky / uphill terrain. My lungs didn't love me and my knees were achy by the end, but it was a cool hike. We drove a bit further up the canyon and ate our picnic lunch before heading out and back over to Zion. We did an afternoon hike on the Taylor Creek Trail to see the Emerald Pools. I only made it to the first pool before I knew my knees wouldn't do well going further so I took the youngest three back with me to sit at the base of the hill and play there. The rest of the crew tried to make it to the other two pools. Brett ended up with the crew of kids and they got lost trying to find their way. They ended up giving up (because we were on a deadline to get back to the ranger program at the visitor center) and came back to where I was with the little kids. Casey and Vanessa were apart, but not quite where they wanted / needed to be either and finally found each other and made their way down to the beginning where Brett waited because I took the crew of kids back to the Visitor Center. We got to watch the ranger program to complete the kids' Jr Ranger books and they got to be sworn in as Jr. Rangers for Zion. That night we had another pool session and then watched some March Madness basketball games.
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Friday we said so long to cousins and parted ways. It was truly so much fun having the kids together for the week and it made the trip so great! We went down to St. George so I could show the kids the Sugar Loaf / Dixie Rock. My knees were killing me Friday so I didn't explore much, but we made it to the scenic part where I showed them my Grandparent's house I grew up visiting. The kids played around a bit longer before we headed out. Since my Aunt Carol's house was covered by tree's I had Casey drive by both houses to show the kids where I grew up visiting. We stopped in for some doughnuts before making our way back up Utah towards Logan. That night we got some firehouse pizza in Logan and the kids got to see and hang out with David and Anica's crew for the evening.
Saturday we spent time with my family. We had a picnic lunch at Adam's park and let the kids play there for awhile before they did a couple of geo caches with Casey and David. We played some more at my parents house that afternoon. We had dinner and hung out that night with my parents and Katherine.
Sunday we went to church to for the 1 hr special Easter Sacrament meeting. We had a nice dinner and celebrated my Mom's birthday early with some brownies and ice cream.
Kendal's second track meet was also in Kimberly She had her best time so far this season in her two mile run, but had bathroom issues preventing her second run in the mile from being a success.
Last weekend we got to be home and watch Conference on Saturday. Billie put together another Fantasy Conference sheet that we quickly filled out Saturday Morning and spent all of conference ticking off things we got right and wrong. I ran Alice to an egg hunt at our neighborhood park between sessions and Casey took Becca and Pete to the track to get their marks for their triple jump. Sunday morning the kids woke up and got to hunt for their baskets and eggs. They had a harder time this year since the tricky bunny decided they were up for the challenge. The kids put together a little Lego video with a bit of Christ's final week to share with cousins in the afternoon at Grandma and Grandpas house. We headed out to Raft River right after conference was over and had a delicious lunch together. We all watched the afternoon session of conference then the kids all shared about our Saviors last week before they searched for a goody bag from Grandma and Grandpa. We lingered and let the kids pal around / chase rabbits before we headed home.
Alice has had a couple of Activity Day's this last month. Both were at the Ballards way park. She first did a kindness activity and then an Easter one last week. Alice is earning her honors reader and made it to the half way point. She's taken off with reading and has been reading books that I've tried to get her into for a year or so. She's love the Harry Potter books and devoured Matilda. It's fun to see her enjoyment for reading blossom even more!
Pete's first track meet was this past Tuesday in Declo. Pete had a great meet placing second in the Triple Jump; he came second in the 800, and fourth in the mile. All three events were a PR for him!! He's determined and on a roll this year so he's hoping to see great results as he continues this season!
Kendal's third track meet was at Filer this last week. She had a season best in her one mile, but couldn't get her anxiety and breathing under control for her two mile run.
We've got 6 weeks left of school this year. I'm not going to lie my classes are difficult and the kids are on one a bit so I'm trying to get by most A days. I had a crappy evaluation this week (not in feedback from my principal, but in how bad the students were acting the whole time she was there). Casey feels like he's in more of a groove with track and school so hopefully his anxiety lessons as he finishes out this month of track and this year of teaching.
Now picture randomness from the last month!
Pete with his bestie Austin!
I was obsessed with our tree this year and a bit bummed that our spring break landed on the peak week of it's bloom ( I may or may not have stared at it longingly through the front door cam while we were gone).
Behold the turtlecorn!
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