The Big Race

This year only Jordan could compete in the pinewood derby race. Since designing and building the car is the best part, all 3 boys built cars. This was also a good way to keep Tanner and Braden busy to allow Jordan to build his own car, his own way. Here is Jordan's car, up close. The yellow racing stripes made it easy to spot during a race. This was my first attempt at using my camera for a video. Sorry but you'll have to tilt your head. Remember, you're looking for bright yellow racing stripes.

After winning many races...

It was announced that Jordan was the 1st place winner out of the Bear Pack.

And the 3rd place winner out of all the cub scouts.

The best part of the evening was watching Jordan having such a good time. He didn't realize that he was winning so many races. He was completely surprised when his name was announced. And the best part, he did it himself. Great Job Jordan!

Braden's Haikus

Haiku #1
The sweat in the air
Too loud to hear ones own thoughts
Thunder in the ground

Haiku #2
Feel the pulse as one
All in their own position
True love of the game

Tulips

Spring has sprung in my yard. My favorite time of year is when the tulips are ready to bloom. My tulips are very important to me since my Grandpa dug them out of his yard and delivered them to me so I could transplant them into my new, developing yard. They have been growing strong for over 8 years and since my Grandpa has passed, each year these tulips remind me of him. Thanks Grandpa!

Preparing for the big race

Jordan is preparing for his first pinewood derby race. He has designed, sanded and painted tirelessly. I hope he wins a few, that would make his week!

Happy Birthday

Jordan turned 9 today! He had a great day. Uncle Thane and Aunt Annie were here for a visit. They gave the boys a cool rocket that launches 1,000 feet into the air...with adult supervision, of course. Jordan's favorite gift was his Darth Vadar's ship lego set. For his dinner choice he wanted homemade chicken strips with cheesy potatoes and a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. All requests were granted (including lighting his own candles) to make a very happy day for Jordan.

Family day at the aquarium

To celebrate Jordan and Tanner's birthdays and to entertain Thane and Annie who were visiting from Colorado we enjoyed a day at the aquarium. The highlights were the frogs, the tropical fish, the moon jelly fish and the octupus. The all-time favorite part was the touch pool filled with manta rays. Jordan got soaked reaching deep in the water to touch the tops of the swimming rays who were mostly staying on the bottom. Thank goodness he had a hoodie to wear.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

Our new temple is almost completed. We enjoyed a drive to check out it's progress. There is still some landscaping to finish and final cleaning to be done but everything looks beautiful. The open house will be in June and July, with the dedication in August. Our family is excited to tour our new temple.

Jacks

On our way home from Bear Lake we stopped to see Danae's Grandma. We had a very nice visit. Jordan pulled a bag of jacks out of the toy basket and asked Grandma what they were. "You don't know what jacks are?" she said. She spent the next 30 minutes telling them about how good she used to be at jacks and how to play them. All 3 boys were down on the ground playing jacks, as Grandma instructed from her seat. For Jordan's birthday he asked for jacks. What a fun time we had.

Spring Break

Our friends the Dalton's invited us to Bear Lake for spring break. We stayed in a 3-bedroom condo which was a real treat. Braden was happy to have his own room and Mike and I had the whole upstairs to ourselves. The boys swam each day until their skin was wrinkly. One afternoon Mike took the kids to the beach, they found hundereds of tiny seashells, or lakeshells and a fossil. It was a very nice, relaxing get away!

















On the way home we met Amber, Travis and 2-yr-old Will (Amber is his nanny) for dinner. Will just loves Amber and Amber loves Will. Obviously, who else would she allow to share her salad. The funny thing was that he kept taking pieces of lettuce out of his mouth and putting them back on the plate. Normally this would have grossed her out, but she just moved the slobbered pieces to the side. He was so good, better than two other much older boys!

Egg Drop

As part of their Easter party, Tanner's 5th grade classmates each packaged an egg in some kind of creative container. Tanner used cotton, grocery bags, a box and an air-filled ziplock bag. Today their teacher dropped each one from the roof. Tanner's egg did not break. Great engineering!

Jordan is student of the month

Jordan was chosen as student of the month. Way to go Jordan!

The Cousin Fort

Bryan, Jen, and the cousins came for a visit from Washington. Tanner, Jordan, Adrianna, and Bethany had fun making a very cool fort in the back field behind our house.