Mom turns 43!

Lizza's super fancy cake!

Sariah was home sick on Wednesday and although I wasn't glad she was sick, it was nice to have some company for my birthday.  While I was out walking, she made me this super cute page to count a blessing for each year of my life.  Being Sariah though, it had to be an even number so I got to list one extra.  I thought about listing all my kids together, but I just couldn't.  Each one is so unique, and each one brings different kinds of joy into my life.

I really do have so much to be grateful for.  It was a good day, the reflection of a very blessed life.

We didn't get a picture, but last night we had everyone over for a March birthday dinner.  Cole, Laryn and Brielle weren't here, but Hyrum, Dave and I were.  The day was gorgeous and so the kids played outside and then some of them came in to watch Mary Poppins Returns.  It is a great blessing to have family close and have chances to get together and enjoy each other's company.

James worked all day outside.  He pruned the grapes and then worked on the lawn.  He raked it, and cut it, and it looks so much better.  When the snow melted it wasn't looking very good with the snow mold.  He got a bit of a sunburn and a little dehydrated on his first full day of outside work.

This week Talmage and Bryant had their first track meets.

Talmage at the high jump.

Talmage at the pole vault, he's clearing his last year's PR of 9'6" easily.  At 10' his facial expression changed.  He's got to get over the mental 10' bar first.  

Bryant running the mile.  

Bryant PRed on the pole vault at 8'6"

Sariah and Hyrum enjoying a late night treat (leftovers from Vard's gift last week).

Pinewood Derby

One of the things we thought about early on when we found out we were having twin boys was that someday James would be helping with three pinewood derby cars at the same time!  The day finally came.  Even though Rex and Lyle aren't official cub scouts yet, the stake invited all boys who would be cubs scouts this year since it will be the last stake hosted District Pinewood Derby.  James has been working any spare minute he has had the last few weeks to get them ready.

Lyle (blue), Hyrum (black), Rex (red)

It was inevitable.  When your twin places and you don't, it's hard to find a smile.

Lyle got 4th place.

I hope they all remember a great day with their Dad.

(I was at Riley Salisbury's Memorial with Mom.)

Spring...Finally!!

Spring means Laryn's birthday.  When she didn't answer the facetime call we decided to take a picture and text her.  We love Laryn!

I think every day this week these boys came straight in the house after school and put on their baseball uniforms to go out and play in the sunshine. They were all giggles when they found some baseball cups and had three pair of underwear on to keep everything in place.

On one of the early release days this week, Lizza came and got Hyrum and spoiled him.  Thanks to Lizza for making our special boy feel special.  

Nothing says Spring like baby chicks.  I took Rex and Lyle over on Friday afternoon to Freeman's to see their new chicks.  They aren't little puff balls anymore.

Rex

Lyle

Good News

It's nice to get good news from the school.

Just a few days ago down below our house on Columbia River Road.

  We still have snow but it is melting slowly but surely.

St. Patrick's Sunday

Thankfully, we have a Dad who has a lot of ties and we were able to find enough with green on them to wear to church on St. Patrick's Day.  (Sariah thought green fingernail polish was sufficient.)  As I look at this photo I had the thought, "I hope Christ is always in our family pictures."

Haircut

It's been awhile since Sariah had anything more than a trim.  This one can be considered a haircut.  

James wishes he could have some of it.  Maybe not quite like this though.

What a funny Dad!

Miss Connell...Makaley Specht!

(Wish I knew how to rotate these.)

Sariah and I have been going to Junior Miss since 2010 when Laryn took the crown.  With Makaley participating, we took the boys with us this time.  Now there is another crown in the family!  She was outstanding for sure!

Sariah says she's feeling the pressure now.  So far 2 winners for 2 participants in the family.

Rose among thorns.  Handsome thorns anyway.

National Pancake Day

Following tradition, we made it to IHOP for free pancakes.  Unlike usual, we were in and out in less than 45 minutes.  The big kids took advantage of that and went to the discount Tuesday movies afterwards.  It's kind of fun to have them go off on their own together.  Talmage and Bryant know not to let Sariah out of their sight.

It also happened to be buy one get one for $.99 Blizzard week.

Pancakes followed by ice cream for dinner.  If they weren't all so skinny maybe I'd feel more guilty.

Hyrum Turns 10

It was going to be a fun birthday with cousins over for the night, but it got really fun when Kami found out it was Hyrum's birthday.  She kidnapped the three amigos and they came back with jackpot!!

And I think they actually slept that night until almost 6 the next morning.

Mr. Riverhawk

The long await event finally came, even after being postponed due to weather.

March 5th, Talmage and 13 other senior boys put on Mr. Riverhawk, a spoof pageant.  It was so much fun!  Talmage had waited and waited to showcase his Pirates of the Caribbean piano solo and he nailed it---after he rode his unicycle to the piano on stage.  The whole thing was just for fun and that made it fun for everyone.  All the boys had to sing a solo with earphones on so only they could hear the music.  Talmage dressed as Maui from Moanna and sang, "You're Welcome." It's been fun the last few weeks to hear him belting it out in the shower downstairs.  We took the whole family even though we missed the Pinewood Derby and no one complained because it was so entertaining.

Mr. Riverhawk

Each contestant had to come up with a school spirit costume and answer a question on stage.

The little guys were pretty impressed.

One of the boys has Down Syndrome and it was really neat to see how all the other boys helped and cheered him on.

Talmage is contestant #9 from the left.  He has his Maui tattoo shirt on under his white T-shirt.

More Winter

We never know from one day to the next whether or not there will be school.  This week while James and I were at his Area Conference at Skamania Lodge, the kids missed school a couple days so they made the best of it at Grandma's house.

After whitewashing themselves in snow, they jumped in the hot tub.

The kids said Grandma was crazy because she made them put on sunscreen.  Glad they were are her house, I wouldn't have remembered that.

I think this picture may have just been for show to send me while I wasn't with them.

Getting their reading done all cozied up.

We got back Friday evening, and Saturday James took Sariah, Rex, and Lyle out to 351 to work on pinewood derby cars and meet Vard there with his Razor.  They had a ton of fun zipping around with Vard.

Sariah's basketball season came to an abrupt halt after only 5 or 6 games.  Games were cancelled and rescheduled and cancelled again, and then spring sports started (kind of).  Her best game was 15 points at Riverview, the game James went and watched.  She has some good hussle and isn't afraid to get in and fight for it.  She even made both of a 1 and 1 which was at the end of a quarter so all the players were on the sidelines.  All eyes were on her and she nailed them.  I'm glad she stuck out the season even though she didn't like the long days.

Hyrum's team still has a game tomorrow and next Saturday.  Hyrum does a great job on defense always picking up the shooter when no one else does.  He isn't afraid to shoot and is everywhere on the court often getting his own rebounds.  He has good court smarts and I enjoy coaching him. 

Me, Hyrum, Caidan, Bode, Gabe

Owen, Tommy, Cash, Ayden

Blake, Jude, Tytan, Oliver

(It will be easier for you to turn the book than for me to figure out how to turn these pictures.)