First Date

Kevin's friend Essie asked him to Accolade, the big formal dance at the end of the school year. Matt was excited to have some new pets. And the kids had fun at the dance at Union Station, by all accounts.

Driver's License

Watch out, Ogden drivers!

Happy Birthday to Kevin!

I can't believe Kevin's 16!

Although everyone thinks he's much older because he's so tall. Soon he'll be the tallest in our family, I think. He definitely has his father's height and brains. Kevin has always seemed older than his age, and I'm grateful to be his mom. It's sure been fun this year to watch him play on the high school basketball and soccer teams, too. We're looking for more and more great things out of this kid!

Bomb Scare

What is the world coming to? At Matt's school a note was found in the boys' restroom with a bomb threat, so there was an evacuation to the nearby Old Post park and parents were called to come check their kids out. It turned out to be a hoax by a student, but it led to quite a few tense moments.

Parents lined up to check kids out

Students grouped by class -patiently waiting

Stuck Inside, Playing Chess

The weather has turned rainy (and snowy) and cold the last few days. One of Matt's favorite pastimes indoors lately is chess. He gets anyone who is willing to play with him, and if they're not willing he asks them to play Stratego.  My brain is getting a workout. 

 When it's rainy outside, sometimes you have to bring a little bit of sunshine inside. Forsythia are my favorite, especially since deer always eat my tulips.

Happy Easter!

I don't have a lot of photos of our Easter weekend this year, but here are a couple of our annual easter egg hunt at Mommer's and Grandpa's. It was fun to see our cousins again and reconnect, and everyone always has fun searching for the big money egg!

Heavy Machinery

We want to plant some big trees in our back yard, but our soil is too rocky, so we have to do some soil prep.

Step 1- Dig great big holes with a rented back hoe

Step 2- Fill the holes back in with the dirt, sorting out rocks softball size and bigger

Step 3- Bring in top soil to fill in the holes to the top

Step 4- The tree guys can finally come dig the tree holes and plant the trees.

We are currently working on Step 2 -thank goodness for strong boys. Meanwhile, our backyard is a muddy mess. :)

No More Braces!

 The braces finally came off for Kevin! His smile looks great, although it was a couple of weeks too late, because in his first soccer game of the season he was hit in the mouth at point blank range with a soccer ball. Ouch! He kept playing, but the ref soon made him go out because of the blood dripping from his mouth. Braces can do a lot of damage.

Basketball banquet

The official end to the basketball season -the team banquet

 Sophomores

Everyone -what great kids

Jr. Jazz

We've had a fun time watching Matt's Jr. Jazz team this year. He is much improved this year, and he has played in some very exciting games.