First outing of the spring

Even though Amy has cut back on her hours at the quilt store, we are still trying to have Saturday outings with dad to give her some time to work on her projects. Last weekend was really rainy, so we took our soccer ball to the mall and played there.

This weekend was beautiful, so we set out to explore a "lake" that neighbors had told us was somewhere behind the high school about a mile away. Catherine was playing with a friend from the old neighborhood and Spencer threw up in the morning, so that left David and Emma.

First we parked on a road on the top of a ridge.

Then we hiked to the top of a trail that appeared to lead down to the "lake."
And then we found it!
We saw a guy catch a rainbow trout, pet some big dogs, and crossed a little stream. We walked further past it and found a great playground.

Emma has been taking gymnastics lessons on Mondays and appreciated the opportunity to work on her "bar straddle."
David found this dinosaur fossil on the back of the playground's climbing wall.
We explored some of the trails around the park and saw the road that we could have used to drive all the way to the pond :) Oh well, it was fun hiking in. We walked back around the other side of the lake to see the ducks. It was the first of what will be many great outings to this spot.

Exploring our new canyon

Last November on an unseasonably warm day the boys and I explored American Fork Canyon, five minutes from our house. We found lots of pretty spots and rocks to throw.

Assorted phone camera photos

Michael here, still pulling photos off of my phone that I never posted.

At Bridal Veil falls:
Spencer gave a "talk" in the kids' part of church:
Spencer often chooses french toast sticks at Carl's Jr. for his "breakfast with Dad."
You often see what goes on INSIDE the piano recital hall. Here's what is going on outside:
I took Spencer for a quick trip to the mall just to get him out of the house. We played on the playground there, looked at his favorite stores, and ran everywhere we went. When we got home he said, "Mom, we got pretzels and cold water!"

I brought hot chocolate on a sledding outing while mom was on a well-deserved trip. The sledding was too intense to remember to photograph it.
Dinnertime can be tough, but big sisters can make it easier.
Catherine got to practice playing in the chapel once after church.

Apologies

Sorry that virtually everything I post is related to BYU sports. This tells you two things:

1) Amy manages the photos for every other activity, and when I only post once every six months this is what happens.

2) My kids are wonderful to indulge their overscheduled and undercultured father in his one and only hobby.

(Tonight Emma looked up from the sports section and yelled, "Number-one Syracuse lost to Lewis-ville, and they're not even ranked!" I never even dreamed of having kids like this.)

Family trip to BYU football

Back in the fall the three older kids and I enjoyed attending BYU's blowout of Colorado State. David gets to be in the picture this year; next year he can go to the game.

Spencer wanted to wear a hat like me, but the only one I could find was too small and plain. He was really concerned that it wasn't a BYU hat, so he took matters into his own hands with the help of a post-it note.

Spencer colored his whole post-it blue. Emma was less concerned about her gear.

Spencer shot this himself while he was bored in the second half:
Amy joined me for Utah State on a Friday night.

The boys meet BYU athletes

Every fall the BYU athletics department has a night families can come meet athletes from the different sports. Almost everyone gets in a long line to meet the football players, so we go to all the other booths. (Back when the team wasn't as popular, Spencer got a photo with John Beck, and Austin Collie's brother told Emma that his wife's name is Emma).

David was afraid of Cosmo, but Spencer isn't anymore.

Cheered on by members of BYU's nationally ranked women's cross-country team.

This time Spencer ran with his brother.

In retrospect, the coolest thing turned out to be the basketball booth. Because this was in August, nobody cared about basketball, and the only three players at the booth were walk-on Brock Zylestra, JC-transfer Lamont Morgan Jr., and, coming off a redshirt year, third-string guard Michael Loyd Jr. So there were no fans at that booth at all. The boys chatted with Michael and got his autograph. And now he has emerged as one of the stars of this year's 14th-ranked team, the winningest in school history.

Michael visits an aircraft carrier

In honor of John, I visited an aircraft carrier when I was in San Diego after Amy went home.

From the cockpit of an F-4. You can't see the switch that toggled between "nuclear" and "conventional," but it was there.
They didn't say so, but I bet this is the F-14 that Maverick flew.

Fun random photos

Spencer reprising the overall look he made famous after his accident at Hogi Yogis when he was potty training a couple years ago. This time he accented it with the leg warmer/bag the newspaper comes in.Brett is automatically the favorite uncle whenever he shares his iPhone.
David was really proud to show me this BYU football player he "made" with some of Aunt Laura's fancy scrapbooking tools.
The folks at BYU's animal museum take a little license with the Nativity.

Spencer's self-portrait:
Dad was so proud:

Uh oh - Michael finally downloaded pictures from his phone. . .

So I'm going to be sharing lots of photos in the next little while, sorry for the deluge. And many of them are out of date, but better late than never.

Heartbreak at the BYU bball game

BYU fell to the 10th-ranked New Mexico Lobos yesterday. The three older kids and I were part of the sell-out crowd who enjoyed the nail-biter that went down to the last shot. There was some confusion at the very end of the game, and as I was desperately searching for a reason to still hope, I felt something against my side. Then I heard a wail. It was Spencer, sobbing against my chest. He had been saying, "They can get a 3-pointer! They can get a 3-pointer!" because BYU was down by 2.

I sat down and he buried his face in my shoulder and sobbed. All the fans walking out patted his back and told him they felt the same.

I wanted to get a photo but didn't want to rub it in. So here he is, still upset when we got to the van.

I must admit, hearing myself consoling him actually helped me feel better about things, too.

And know we have.......................... the PICTURES!!!

Dad took me out to breakfast before school.
The Adorable presents.
Spencer and his yarn.
David and his hugs.
And more hugs.

My friends party.(Left to right) Emma, Me, Sadie, and Amanda. Meagan couldn't make it
My made-crazy-by-Spencer family party.
The little owl-case sewing kit from the Cannons.
The Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary; Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. I already have the first three books in this series. The fifth and final book comes out in March. YAAAAAAAAY!!!!!
More party-made-crazy-by-Spencer with Grandma Udall and Abby.

My Brownies with the funny 11. Thank you everybody for the wonderful, amazing Birthday!!!

Well since I'm 11 . . .

...........I might as well write about it all. (by the way I did a post a lot like this last year) I had a great birthday and I got some Wonderful presents from all my family and friends, Including: The fourth book in a series called Fablehaven from Grandma Cathy and Poppy King, a bunch of fun things from Grandma Udall, a scarf from Laura and Bret a picture I have wanted forever, a desk set, and a pair of Cute shoes, all from Mom and Dad. I also received a wonderful story titled Wintertime and a card from Grandma Rosie, Poppy Dave, Tim, and Matthew. Thank you everybody for such a Terrific Birthday!!!