The Scholie

 This is our "Skoolie" we have owned the bus for a few years but it was this last winter that we officially began the conversion. This project for a long time was mostly Spencer's project but as our deadline for our maiden voyage approached it became very real to the rest of the family. There was plenty of running around for the kids as many a day we assigned the kids to just be with dad and run and get or do whatever he needed.  There was painting, sewing, lots of clean up, tool finding, vacuuming, cooling dad down with spay bottles of water until we installed the swamp cooler. Taping and untapping. Removing decals like "emergence exit" more clean up and finding of tools. Fetching dad snacks and water and holding things. Stetson got to do a little more hands on tinkering creating thing with dad. We all really enjoyed seeing dads vision come about and become a reality. So many hours went into this and we still have a few more projects left to finish up. 

Family Update

                                                      

Stetson started part time at mountain crest high school. He is taking a robotics class, engineering principles and seminary. He's a super smart techy kid who has built several PC's for himself and friends. He also really enjoys anything outdoorsy. He went on a 15 mile bike ride this week, an 8 mile back packing trip last weekend and an overnighter to Bear Lake this weekend to fish and tube and play on the water. He does best if kept very busy.

Evelyn has started Ballet classes and really loves it. She is super excited to be apart of The Nutcracker later this year. She just turned 12 today and helped me make her favorite dessert, Lemon meringue pie. Ironically that was my mothers favorite too! She still plays the violin and is starting orchestra next week.

                            

Hailey is prone to hurting herseft, unfortunately! This week while at Costco she somehow fell and sprained both her wrists and also her right elbow. She isn't able to pick up anything heavy. I'm sure she is liking not having to do some of her chores.  

Bristol lost her 2 front teeth yesterday. She sounds different now. Her and Ezra are often playing silly made up games together and mostly getting along. 

Ezra has all his church teachers wrapped around his finger without knowing it. He is just a kind, loving, fun kid. Who loves Silas and all of his siblings. Silas is a good eater, very active, and very smart. Communication is lacking and sometimes causes discomfort for all. We hope his vocabulary will increase soon. "He seems to think screaming at people is effective means of communication."(Stetson)

Spencer did an amazing job getting our bus ready for our Mount Rushmore trip. He worked very hard long hours at work and then came home and kept on working. We were able to get away for 8 days as a family. He is a great adventure planner. Now he Has been working on organizing our garage and new shed. Hopefully, as we organize, we will be able to find all his tools so we can finish the bus.

I am still primary president and gearing up for the third primary program since being called. Thankfully we have a smaller primary. I am also striving to preserve all that we grew in our garden and save it for later. I'm sure there are a 100 other things I could add, but we are staying busy and strong in our testimonies of Jesus Christ. We love you all and are so grateful for your influence in our lives.

Warmer weather, parks, fairs, movie parties, friends and more...

We went to the Hyrum cemetery to do service on Friday and Saturday. Friday with Grandpa where we focused on the area surrounding Grandma's headstone and Saturday with Dad and our ward family to work on another area of the cemetery.  

Also on Friday Hailey, Stetson And Evelyn volunteered at the Logan Zoo helping to remove and organize all of the Christmas decorations that needed storing away. 

While they were doing that the rest of us went to the adjoining park to play and eat a pic nick lunch. 

Friends!!!

Some of our favorite people are the Hayes family and we so enjoyed getting to see them for a few weeks as they stayed with grandparents near us and frequented our home. They have 5 kids all similar in age to my 5 oldest and they all get along famously. 

Sunday family photo. 

The girls were doing Stetson's hair and so it has accessories in it. 

Not a normal occurrence for that young man. 

It's not very often that all of the family wants to be in the same area. However, on this Sunday it seemed they all just wanted to be with Spencer and I and together all day. 

Evelyn invited a few girl friends over and watch a movie. They had popcorn and enjoyed some chatting as they watched before after and during. She has a big group of great girls to grow up with. 

We went to a "Family Resource Fair." Daddy was marketing there and we wanted to support him as he gave presentation about posture. The kids got a very individualized presentation and learned more about what daddy does each day. 

They also played lots of games, won treats, played with baby goats, met new people and enjoyed themselves.  

We also tried out new park equipment at a nearby park and enjoyed getting wiggles out. 

There are no pictures but the kids are participating in a play called "A Field of Star's." They will be preforming May 15th and we are learning a few things about the making of America and our founding fathers. I am excited to see the final production. 

 

Rainy Day Indoor Field Trip Activity

Relay races, scavenger hunt, hot potato, card games, coloring, dodge ball, bingo and more were played at this last minute field trip. We were scheduled to do another activity outside but the weather wasn't agreeing with us. Thankfully our group is full of talented women who love to help their kids and mine learn and enjoy friends. 

We had such a great time getting together as we always do.

As we were loading up and locking up the church I was looking for my Evelyn realizing that we had just left and locked the building and she was still inside. She was so interested in her book that she had come to the event but found an empty room in the building and just read. Thankfully I knew what room she was in and I knocked on the window. I scared her but she got the message and was a lot less scared than if she had been left there alone.  

 

Fire Station 71

Another great field trip to the fire station. We were not very far into our tour when the whole crew was called out to a incident. They were not gone long so we waited around in our cars and in the parking lot next door for about 20 minutes and then they returned and picked up right where they left off. We learned that this particulate unit, 71, is specialized in extracting people from collapsed locations and repelling in or out for rescues.  

We got to feel the pressure of holding a fire hose while it sprayed out water and see the distance of the water tank on a truck. It was a pretty chilly day so playing in the water was not so enjoyable but we still had fun. All the kids enjoyed this interactive learning opportunity and really liked all of the firefighters that we got to meet. Sure makes us grateful for these great men and women. 

 

Easter

 Who has ever heard of doing a Easter egg hunt in 3 feet of snow? Well it happened for us this year and we are still waiting for our year to emerge. 

Each of the children had a different color of egg to find in the snow. Bristol dark blue, Hailey yellow and gold and Evelyn pink. 

                                        Stetson Purple                                             Ezra Orange

Ezra needed a little extra help as the snow was as deep as he is tall in some places. Good thing that his dad put on his fishing waders so that he could hide the eggs in the first place. 

Looking at their loot. 

                  Silas and Ezra got a water toy to start the summer off with. We immediately started putting it together and then even though it was still quite cold we took it outside and Ezra played in it until his hands were too cold to play anymore. Silas had the light blue Easter eggs and they were filled with dinosaurs. Bristol got some Lego's, books, Beanie Boo and water bottle stickers.

Evelyn and Hailey got a fun 3 in 1 Lego set, some cloths, books, stuffed animals and treats. Stetson was good enough to know that he is probably old enough that he shouldn't need Easter goodies and presents but we did it anyway. 

Attending church was the best part hearing Hailey, Bristol and Ezra sing "Jesus Is Risen" and hearing others sing and share testimony of Christ.  I love that are our children get to attend church with many older members and couples and hear from them a lifetime of strength and fortitude. 

Jesus Is Risen!!!

Library

Evelyn especially has loves going to the library this year. 

She has really excelled in her love of reading and has found several series that she enjoys' reading. Namely "Junie B. Jones" and "Geronimo Stilton" I'm not sure that I can count how many she has read already. I thought that just her brother was a book worm but she is proving to be just as much a book worm as him, now. 

I requested an interlibrary loan this last week and my book came all the way from Hawaii. 

Hailey and Bristol didn't make it to the library with us this last time as they were invited to a friends house to make Easter cards. I acquired a few books for them that I am excited to share in our morning devotionals as the illustrations look amazing! 

The weather is finally warming up and we are very excited to be going outside more. I am hoping that the kids will be able to play outdoors more from now on.