April 2018

Easter
Easter was fun this year. We had a ward party and went to the city egg hunt as well.  The Easter bunny hid 12 eggs of one color in the backyard at our house and the kids had fun finding them.


Patten
Patten is 2!  He had his birthday again during spring break and Don had the week off again.  So we headed south on his birthday.  We stopped at Papa's work, had lunch at a park, visited new second cousin Gracie, played at a park with cousin Asher, and had pizza for dinner at Gram's.  I think he had a fabulous day.
This little guy is full of energy and crazy!  I can't keep him in the house and when I can he's always into something.  He loves pizza, chicken, pretzels, bananas, fish, and anything sweet mostly.  He loves "Popcorn Popping" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" but I get yelled at for singing anything else to him.
He has a mean streak he thinks punching is funny, something to work on for sure.  He thinks that if he smiles when he says no that that will make it okay to say.  His smile melts my heart and he knows that. He loves being outside, jumping, and riding his bike. He knows who Jesus is and loves to see pictures of him. I love this little boy so much.


Spring Break
We had such a great time hiking with Gram and exploring where Papa grew up in Mesquite, NV.

Cousin Charles was born this month!

Kayla is 4
She is another year older and wiser too.  This little girl had such a fun birthday party.  We played house with fake money.  They friends spent them at different shops: Beauty Shop (nails, hair, make-up), Smoothie Shop, and Jewelry Shop.  Then we had a bakery where everyone decorated their own cake.  It was a blast.
This little girl has so much sass.  She loves to play with friends.  She is a daddy's girl all the way and loves him to pieces. She loves to ride her tricycle.  She won't ride a regular bike because its too scary.  She love watching Sing and Letter Factory.  She loves "I am a Child of God".  She doesn't like noodles with sauces very much but loves to eat mostly everything else.  She likes chicken nuggets and fish a lot. She was really brave at the Dr. as she got all the shots she would need to go to kindergarten in a few years. Learning isn't her focus but cooking and cleaning the house with mom is what she loves. She also likes to read books.



Ribbon Dance
We had the ward fundraiser and Bishop Hughes and his bishopric gave a fabulous performance.

Pinewood Derby

March 2018

My Birthday

That's right I'm getting older.  My birthday was a wonderful day.  I was able to do "Parents and Pasteries" at Landon's school, have lunch with some friends,  attend Cathy's retirement party, and then go to Teppanyaki for dinner.  It was a day filled with things that I love.

Landon's Injury
Landon seems to fall a lot and hit is face.  This month he fell and put his tooth almost all the way trough his lip.  The Dr. said it didn't need to be stitched but two months later there is still a big knot in his mouth and a very visible scar.

My Parents
This was a really tough month for my parents.  My Aunt Linda passed away, Dad got the actual flu, and then Mom got pneumonia. Dads flu had a complication when he didn't eat anything and only drank honey and lemon water to sooth his throat.  This made his blood sugar over 300 and he was taken to the ER to lower it quickly.  He was scary for those involved and a very emotional month for everyone involved.

Patten
Patten enjoys repeating scripture to us.  I LOVE this part of my day. It makes all the stresses be okay and is really cute.
Also this month Patten started sleeping in a toddler bed.

St. Patrick's Day
Green milk & eggs is a must.

Fire Department
We went on a fun field trip with our preschool friends.

February 2018

Jaron is Growing

This month Jaron went on the scouting Klondike, had the open house for the Jr. High, his birthday, and ordination.  All of these events showed me that he really is maturing.  He is always nervous for new experiences but has the courage lately to do them anyway.  This is new for him.  Don and I are so proud of the man he is becoming.  He is dedicating himself to pray and study the gospel of Christ on his own as well as giving FHE lessons to the family.
The Sunday that he was ordained was a really wonderful day, but the Sunday following was even more so.  It was fast Sunday as well as his first time passing he sacrament. The morning started with snow.  The YW of our ward were in charge of shoveling the snow the month of March.  So he went to do that, then went to collect fast offerings from the ward.  Our Stake President has asked that the boys share a message and bear their testimony when the collect the offerings.  Jaron shared Alma 7:11 and the really helpful priest that was with him said that it was better than a Slurpee. Following fast offerings that same priest helped him learn the positions for passing the sacrament.  He did a fabulous job of passing.  The other 5 children were watching him the whole time.  It was Bishop Hughes week to conduct so he also had the opportunity to share his testimony.  Following him Jaron just stood up and bore his testimony.  He testified of the Church of Christ, the power of passing the sacrament, and that families can be together forever.  He was very emotional. It was so uplifting to hear his  testimony.
For his birthday this year we had root beer floats and watched a movie as a family.  The weather was bad so we went out on Monday to miniature golf together and play arcade games.
He is 5'3" and 90lb.  Jaron loves most sports and reading.  He still loves Italian foods, Rigatoni especially. He really enjoys watching or going to sports with his Dad.

Eldon's Hero Program

Eldon was very excited about his Hero Program at school.  He did a great job.  He didn't completely memorize the Gettysburg Address but did several lines of it.  I was pleased with his efforts there.

Hughes Day

On February 24th we were able to attend Jack's baptism. Baptisms are always a great experience.  We then had a baby shower for Carlie and Jason.  Then the Hughes birthday celebration.  It was a tough day because Patten was feeling really sick, but the boys had a good time with family.

Chinese New Years

Landon and I were able to celebrate Chinese New Years together at his school.  While walking down the hall holding hands he told me that he loves doing things with just me.  I love doing things with me kids.

Valentines Day!

Don's New Car

Snow

Some of the boys really have taken to helping shovel the walks for others when it snows.  It is really wonderful to see them want to help others. 

Blue and Gold Banquet

January 2018

Kayla is a Sunbeam

Kayla LOVES primary.  She is so excited every week to go. Patten is still doing good in nursery too.  We were worried he would regress when she wasn't there anymore, but he is doing wonderful.

Jaron's Ballroom Competition

Jaron did really well at his completion and I was able to be a chaperone for his group. They got 2nd out of three schools.  His team got a silver ribbon.  He was a little disappointed in the results but I think he had a great time up until then.

Treehouse Museum Fieldtrip

December 2017

Playing in the first big snow

Ward Christmas Party

Don got most of the photos with Santa so you just get to see a select few.  Kayla however got her picture in front of our Christmas tree when we got home because she would have nothing to do with Santa. 

Let's be real for just a minute; forcing our kids to sit on a strange mans lap is almost as bad as making them go door to door asking for candy, just saying.

Barlow Christmas Party

Landon's Christmas Program

Hughes Family Christmas Party

November 2017

Bishop Hughes

Even as I write those words I get a little teary.  On Sunday October 29th Don was extend the call to be Bishop he was given time to select counselors and on November 19th he was sustained. 

Don had felt for several months that a call to the bishopric was coming and he even felt it might be THE Bishop. I on the other hand didn't think that God would do this to us at all.   It is not that I wasn't willing to support him or even that I thought that he couldn't do it.  I had just come out of a spell of rather sever depression and was not at all sure that I could step up in the home like I would be required to do. Since we moved to Syracuse Don has been there for our little family whenever I needed him and that time would now have to be laid on the alter of sacrifice. President Hjorten was really clear about the struggles that might come if we accepted this call.  Don has always been a man filled with faith.  More faith than I have.  We both didn't hesitate to accept the call, I just wan't 100% sure that we could both physically handle this. And I'm not going to lie, it's been hard.  But I know through the strength of the Lord we can do ALL things.  We have already seen the blessings that come through faithful service to the Lord. As a couple we have drawn closer together in our daily prayers together.  We have started studying the gospel together and growing in knowledge.  We have had to learn to put aside our selfish desires sometimes and see what really matters in this life.  Our family has been spending what time we have together in better ways.  The list really does go on and on.  I know it won't be easy, but nothing really worthwhile in life is. I also wanted to say I am so thankful he called the men he did to serve with him.  They are all very different men, but a great team in moving the work forward. It's going to be a good five years.

Utah Basketball

Don has season tickets to Utah Football and Basketball this year.  This game is actually a free woman's game that we all went to.  It was a Star Wars theme.  They had family activities as well as Star Wars characters for the fans to enjoy.

Thanksgiving

Our day started with a 4th Ward Turkey Bowl.  We actually played soccer but according to some, that really is football.  The Powell family brought a lot in numbers so they went up against the rest of the ward and won.  Maybe next year the rest of the ward will come out victorious.
We spend the rest of the day in Santaquin and really enjoyed our time with family.

Bad picture, good transnational food.

A Few Other Things

Doing Jaron's science experiment.

Listening to Melynda play at Temple Square.