My mom made all the boys ties for Easter. I didn't get them from the post office in time to wear them on Easter(thank goodness the Easter bunny brought ties also.) So the boys wore them after Easter. We wanted to get some good pics for Nana. Since I took pictures I thought I would share with everyone. Besides aren't my boys so handsome?!
Our bags are full can we have our ice cream NOW?!
The weather actually cooperated with us and it was a perfect outside activity.
Cannon and Cole had their Spring piano recital Thursday night.The boys did well. The recital got moved up a week and we were a little nervous about having a week less to practice so we crammed in some extra practice time. We practiced morning, afternoon and night. There still were a few rough spots but I think that was due more to nerves than not knowing their stuff. Cole also told me he had to go to the bathroom really bad. That always happened to me when I was playing sports. My mom would always laugh because I would be out on the field doing the potty dance. Cole's legs were shaking like crazy I guess that is how you do the potty dance sitting down. Anyway I got some video of the boys mostly for the family that wasn't able to be here for the occasion. Good Job boys keep up the hard work!
Just a warning to all thoe people who drive down our road, Adam is on his way to learning how to ride his bike so watch out for the little guy on the black bike. 
He has been pretty successful accept he only trusts his dad to help him so there are breaks in between tries. It does feel weird not to have Joel teaching him, He has taught all the rest of our boys. Something to do with having more patience with the child and the child not feeling like he can yell at Joel. It has always been very productive. So Joel if you are wanting a chance to participate in Adam's training you better head home sometime soon!
The Elementary science fair was last Friday the 17th. Cole's project was about air pressure. He poured hot and cold water on a bottle and depending on the different temperature the air would either push out the straw or suck water up it. It was a great experiment once we got it working. Michael helped Cole put it all together once he wasn't successful doing it alone. Michael got it all together and Cole some how couldn't get it to school without breaking something. So finally on the morning of the science fair Michael came and set it up in class and Cole then performed the experiment and it worked perfectly!
The air came out of the bottle when Cole poured hot water over the outside of it creating bubbles in a cup of water and then when he poured cold water on the outside of the bottle it contracted sucking water up the straw. It was a very scientific:). It might not win any national science fairs but Cole liked it and it worked isn't that all that matters.
Easter morning is one of my favorite mornings! The Easter bunny hides the baskets and leaves a trail of carrots from the kids' rooms to the first clue and they race all around the house finding clue after clue until the Easter bunny runs out of rhymes and then the kids find their baskets.
This year the older boys weren't quite as enthusiastic as in years past but they still followed the younger ones around to help read clues and decipher where they should go next. It was a little more exercise than in years past since we now have stairs for them to go up and down(the Easter bunny utilized the stairs well.) 
I actually had to wake all of the kids up this year. 
We had Stake conference at 10:00 and I knew if we didn't get things going we would all be late and cranky for church! We then went to conference, second week in a row of not attending regular church, and actually had a fairly pleasant stake conference. Adam realized he could get some reactions out of the row behind us so he poured on the charm here and there during the meeting but besides that it was a relatively smooth conference. We then came home took some pictures outside with the boys and their new Easter ties. You would have thought I was asking them to give me all of their candy by the reaction I got when I said "don't run in and take your Sunday clothes off right away I want to take pictures." My mom also made the boys ties and we will be posting pictures of those soon. Thanks Grandma! 
The boys then proceeded to inhale most of the candy in their baskets while we waited for the time to come that we were to go over to papa's house for dinner and another Easter egg hunt. We (or should I say the Easter bunny) over did it a little this year and the boys ended up with so much candy that we have put it away and only get it out once in a while. It was a great relaxing weekend , the only thing that would have made it better would to have my family around to celebrate with also! 
Just a thought about Easter. I know my Savior died for me and that is the reason for this holiday. He died and then rose again from the bonds of death. I know that many of the drops of blood the Savior spilt was for me and I am so grateful for His sacrifice. I know that I don't understand the atonement completely but when I think about how much I would sacrifice for my children and the sorrow it instills in me when they make a bad choice I in some small way understand the love Jesus has for me, faults and all. I am no where near close to perfection but when a holiday like Easter and Christmas come along I definitely think about doubling or tripling my efforts. It also makes me look more outside myself and realize that there is a lot more I should be doing. I am truly grateful for Easter in many ways. I am so blessed to have the knowledge of the gospel and now it is time to really apply it more in my life!
I forgot until I was looking through the pictures from the Easter weekend that Michael took Cannon and the rest of the younger scouts to Cody to finish up their aviation merit badge. The boys have been doing all sorts of stuff to get this badge and the last thing was to go and fly in an airplane. Todd, Michael's brother, is running a portion of the airport in Cody and so the boys got a tour of the facility and got to get into some of the equipment and have a fun morning. I thought maybe some of the kids would throw up but none did. Michael said the air was calm and it was a perfect morning for a flight. I was hoping for some gruesome stories about puking hahahaha. They had a good morning and one more merit badge done on the road to Eagle.
Adam loved the hunt 
Cannon was too old this year so he was the photographer/helper
The older boys were so thrilled to hang out at the park can't you tell? Eventually most of them walked home.
We left to go to Utah right after school got out on Thursday. We left around 4:00 hoping to get ahead of the weather but unfortunately we found and went right through a storm starting about South Pass and followed it on to Utah. Michael is always the driver and the rest of us slept. It was nice to have Friday just to hang out and enjoy the cousins and be lazy. Michael and Cannon went on a little shopping spree but came back only with dinner no clothes. Michael and Cannon were going to go to a Utah Flash game with my brother, Steven on Friday night and right before they were going to leave Cannon went out to do a couple back flips on their tramp.(and you know how lucky we have been with tramps lately) Anyway the next thing I hear is My sister-in-law Denice saying I think Cannon hit his head on the tramp. I went out to find my son grabbing the back of his head and saying I'm fine I'm fine it is no big deal. When we finally got him to let go of his head to examine the damage it was pretty bad. There was just this huge cut and it was really deep. I was the first to see it and after Cole's fiasco I thought we should take him right to the emergency room. Well not Michael he calmly brought Cannon in washed his head real good this time dried it off and glued him right up. The whole time I was a little nervous about doing the fix-it job again ourselves but the cut seems to be healing well. Michael thinks it is all in the glue. We didn't have the right glue last time and Michael is sure that is where we went wrong. So before any of you head on down to the ER you might want to stop by and see if Dr. Michael can do the job!:)
As I mentioned before we got to spend time with my brothers kids and it was fun as always. The kids all got along really well(accept for a few little fights among Adam and Elle.) The first morning I decided to do a little exercising and while I was doing my video my little niece followed along and worked out with me. Once we were on the floor doing some push ups she looked me right in the eyes and said "I Love You!"
Talk about immediate connection, she was my pal for the rest of the weekend. Girls are definitely much more dramatic than boys and they are far more persistent and they give you much more information than boys do. I loved every minute with Elle and I can't wait for them to come visit some time soon!(that is a hint Denice) Travis and Isaiah always get along well. Cole and Caleb became fast friends and whenever they were sitting still Caleb was always on him somehow,on his lap, shoulders or back.
They all did have a great time together. I am so glad Steven and Denice live in Utah at least one of my siblings live within a days drive. We had a great time and appreciate Steven and Denice's hospitality. We love you and thanks for the weekend.
Michael has a friend Brian and his brother Dave is in charge of events at the Conference Center and so the boys got to go and see some different parts of the Conference Center(no President Monson sightings though.) They also got awesome seats. Michael said you could actually see the speakers face. When we have been to the Conference Center before we were waaaaaaaay up in the top rows. Cannon had a good time and actually came back remembering some of what was taught during the priesthood session. Michael and Cannon went to Salt Lake with my brother Steven and Michael's good friend Brian and his son Anthony and Brian's father-in-law Lamont.
Lamont is one of the funniest people you will ever meet and Cannon came home with soooooo many stories of this funny man he just met. Fun was had by all and I hope that we will be able to keep this tradition alive for the rest of the boys. There is nothing like the feeling you have when you are sitting anywhere in the Conference Center and the Prophet walks in the place goes immediately quiet and the spirit is so strong you can't deny it.
