Mom and Sons

 Its officially spring break! Unfortunately for us, Scott is stuck at work with a government audit. And while at first that ruined plans, I decided to put on my mom pants and do something alone with the boys. My mom was flying into SLC from Texas and needed a ride home, so that gave us perfect opportunity to get out of the house. We decided to go down to SLC on Monday, grab a hotel, pick her up Tuesday and head home. Let me tell you, it was the best one nighter vacation ever. 

The drive down was great. We packed lots of snacks and I let everyone make their area comfy with blankets and pillows. We listened to a book on tape (Our new favorite thing) and drove straight through. It was so fun. As we checked into the hotel, they informed us the pool was broken. I literally gasped out loud. That was the only reason we went down so early. We planned on swimming most the afternoon. Luckily, we were able to cancel and get a new hotel just down the road. I was so proud of myself. This is Scotts department when we travel, but I totally troubleshooted and managed the problem. 

After we got checked in, we wasted no time getting to the pool. We had the pool to ourselves for about two hours. The pool wasn't as big as the original hotel, but the boys had fun anyway. 

We finished up swimming and headed to Wendys for dinner. Then we drove around and looked at The Salt Lake Temple, The Conference Center, The Church Office Building and The State Capital. On the way back to the hotel we grabbed some ice cream and snuggled in for the night with a movie. The best part of the whole night was the 12 year that decided to cuddle with his mom while we watched. It was amazing. 

In the morning we went swimming again and headed to the airport to grab my mom. We stopped at the aquarium in Layton on the way home. It was so fun! 

Cache was in tarantula heaven!

These fish ate the dead skin off your hands. They really loved me. Gross! 

Feeding and petting the iguanas. 

Feeling the forces of a hurricane.

This trip was amazing. It showed me that I can do things on my own. The kids are old enough that it wasn't hard. We actually enjoyed the trip without any yelling or fighting. We loved being together. Honestly, it could not have gone any easier. I can't wait for more mom and son trips in the future. This was the first of many, I'm sure.  

Fish On

 Over the summer, the boys really took an interest in fishing. Especially the older boys. Grandma and Grandpa Packard encouraged the new found love and bought them all new fishing poles for Christmas (Except Cache, who got his for his birthday). They have been dying to use them all winter. 

The weather finally warmed up a bit and it just so happened a local inlet had just been stocked with fish. We gathered up our gear and hit the river. We haven't fished a river yet, so I prepared the boys for failure. I told them this would be a great opportunity to learn about their new poles and practice casting. I didn't realize we would have such great success. 

Tayden was the first to catch a fish. He's the son that has become most interested in fishing, regardless of his lack of success at Snackards in Ashton. He has done lots of research and watched lots of videos about fishing, so it was really exciting to watch it pay off. He was ecstatic as he reeled in rainbow trout. Promptly after he got the hook out and the fish situated on nylon string, he headed back to the same spot. Within 5 minutes, he caught another! 

We soon realized that was the sweet spot and let Beckett have a turn there. Not long after he began, Beckett caught a fish. And so it went, each boy taking a turn in the sweet spot and each boy catching a fish. Tayden and Beckett were fishing completely independent, Cache only had supervision and I helped Kyle cast (much like helping a kid bat) while he reeled. We ended up with six fish, Tayden caught three and one for each of the other boys. We let three go and kept the others to cook, although Luna was sure they were for her. 

It was a beautiful night on the river and I see many more fishing trips in our future. I told the boys, I might not be hunter, but I can get behind fishing. I would really love for this to turn into a family hobby. Especially if the boys are self sufficient! It was the best family night. 

Turning Sisters into Friends

 Last night we had our first in person Relief Society Activity since COVID. It was so nice to rub shoulders with the sisters of my ward again. There is strength in being together and I felt that last night. Our Relief Society did such a great job putting together a fun activity for the sisters to enjoy and even had a picture booth set up. 

Kristie Denning, Stacey Packard, Heather Petrus and Jodie Hansen. 

 I love these ladies so much. I cherish their friendship and the support group that they are. Especially Jodie. She is my daily phone call/text. My go to girl for everything. My neighbor, my confidant and my best friend. Everyone needs a Jodie. 

March Madness

 Its fun having a 12 year old that wants to participate in March Madness with you! 

He's taking it to the next level. 

Welcome, Welcome Sabbath Morning

 What a blessing today was! Just two weeks shy of a year, our ward was able to meet together again. For the last seven months, we have been meeting every other week with half the ward for Sacrament only. Today, we met together with everyone and enjoyed 30 minutes of our second hour. The kids were so excited to go to Primary and Sunday School! What a joy it was being in a chapel full of our friends and ward family. Learning together about the gospel, bearing testimony and feeling strength in numbers. It was incredible and I will never take gathering together for granted again. It felt like home. 

Painting Lessons

 Over the summer the boys had the opportunity to take painting lessons from my Grandma Karlson. Every Tuesday the great grandkids spent the afternoon in her garage learning her art. I can not tell you how much those afternoons meant to me. I got to spend time with my cousins while my kids got to know their distant cousins. We laughed, painted, shared lunch, ate popsicles and played football. I will cherish those memories forever. And I am so grateful my kids get to have those precious moments with their Great Grandma, whom they love so dearly. 

Caches paintings. He was with the younger group and didn't do as many. 

Becketts Paintings.

Taydens 

I will love these paintings forever.