Blessing the Sacrament

 Sam turns 16 this year and was ordained a Priest to the Aaronic Priesthood a couple of months ago. There are 16 boys his age, so they've had to make a schedule for passing the sacrament.   On March 16th Sam and Jeremy got to bless the sacrament together. I wished that I could take a picture, but it's one of those moments that your heart takes a picture (as my Dad says). He repeated the prayer three times.  Ada and I couldn't figure out why, but Sam said that the Bishop said that he was saying And instead of That in the ending of the prayers.  He did great and I loved seeing him up there with his dad. 

Just so

Cat begging Sam not to put her outside and just to cuddle instead.

This shelf is where we keep the cat toys and treats... maybe the cats too?

Seth "listened" to Sam's band concert.  I loved having him there with me.

 

Ballroom competition

 

Evelyn did Ballroom dance team with her friend, Rose, this year.  She says she likes it and likes being with Rose, but she says she probably won't do it again next year. This is their Jr High team. They split the team into three teams to compete with about 100+ couples at UVU this last week.  Their most experienced team got first place in teams.  Evelyn's got bronze ribbons.  They did amazing.  It was fun watching them.  

Evelyn and Rose

This is Evelyn's partner, Jacob.  He and his sister have a couple year's experience.  Evelyn felt like she was holding him back, but I think they did well together.  Poor girl woke up with a terrible allergy reaction.  She gets them every spring and the timing just lined up.  Her eyes were all swollen and her left cheek.  We gave her Claritin and Benadryl and sent her to have fun.  We also changed her bedding, showered her and washed all her jackets.  Tis the season.

They danced the Rumba... then they danced the Cha-Cha (the MC pulled it out of a hat and all the couples participated in that one). After that, all the guys had to ask a different girl to dance from a different team.  The kid that asked Evelyn to dance got third in the Cha-Cha individual competition. He was very good.

These were all three of our boys... They were all giggling and playing pinball together.

Here's the kid she didn't know.

Her and Rose got to dance by each other for a minute.

Evelyn and Jacob competed in the individual competition for Swing and Cha-Cha. There were over 100 couples.  They made it up to the last 24.

Evelyn orchestra concert

Spring, time for soccer, flowers and concerts.  Evelyn had her 8th grade orchestra concert.  She's making sure progress forward and I love how excited she is about orchestra.  She wants to do it again next year and she loves sitting with her stand partner, Brianna.  

Maddy is in the band, but we got to see her too.

 

Sam band concert

Sam is growing in band so much. Seth and I got to go to his concert last Thursday.  He's looking and performing so maturely.  

Jazz band

Sam and Brooklyn in Wind Symphony

Sam playing the piccolo.

 

yep

Look at these cute YW doing baptisms... I love them.

Our watercolor teacher posted this picture... I thought I'd share.

Sam didn't have a music stand for pep band in the commons the other day.  Ada took a picture of him and said that it sounded like she was walking into a movie as she walked down the hall.  Sam pointed out his music on his lap later.  I love it all.

 

February

 

We got together with the Hansen's and Aubrey/Corbin and Joseph to dip chocolates and play games.  While we were together we got to go to the edge of the hill and take a look at the march of the planets.... all 8 planets are on the same side of the sun.  This apparently only happens every 30 years.  It was neat to share it with our kids, cousins and Grandpa and I was telling them that next time we'll share this with their kids and Dad and I will be the Grandparents.

Dad, Jon, Millie, Sam

Millie, Seth, Walter

Ada and Evelyn

Jeremy helped me hang my first stained glass window project.... here's to many more!  

Evelyn using the window as a light table in her ballet outfit is just an amazing thing for me.  It makes my heart smile.

I've been trying to take the cats out on their leads to wander the yard... they are not fans and I almost lost Vinn while she was climbing in the apple tree and the harness came off.  Whoops.

Ada took this picture because she loved seeing what a wonderful dad and daughter relationship they have.

Misc from Jer's phone

From our ice skating day with Amy's family.

I finished all these squares... now to put them together.  This is a blanket I started for Ada before 2020... but 2020 threw us all for a loop.

A baby blanket that's made for my niece Lizzie's new baby... Now just to get it to her.

I have a stalker.

My cute daughters

My cute sons

Seth and Walter

Amy, Jon and Ellie

Nap time?

Evelyn's new fish "mayo"

Aubrey's graduation party.

The Porco Rosso train car that we made.

Emotional homework support cat.

me helping Seth make his Valentine's Day box.

Making Valentine's Day cookies.