grant bday

 grant got his license on his birthday, but since Troy was out of town we waited until Saturday to celebrate.  And because he is saving to go on a trip to Europe this summer he is working and saving his pennies we just had a silly bday party for him Saturday afternoon.  We donated a few dollars toward his trip and gave him a bag full of travel supplies.  Morgan got him a blow up tie!  She has been dieing to buy one as a gift for someone, lucky Grant!  We got him sparkler candles that don't really blow out, awesome.  And turned the movie room into a balloon like pinata.  With prizes in the balloons.  Taking a risk in someone getting an eye poked out we gave each child a pin and a bag and let them jump in.  Grant ended up with a few friends coming over and they dove right in with the rest of the little kids!  The cool prizes were in helium balloons without strings that had floated to the ceiling.  Good thing all these boys are 6'1"-6'3"! Crazy.  Happy Birthday to my sweet little Grant! Love you.

sisters pics of kids

 pictures with cousins over Christmas break that Tricia took.

 When Troy and I were in Las Vegas Ana and Ethan stayed with my mom in St. George.  Tricia and her kids ended up down there too and these were pictures of them playing at the sand dunes.

March 7th

Grant turned 16 last week!  So after getting all the kids off to school we skipped out on Seminary, I know, and headed to the DMV to get his license.  We walked in, they looked up his information - submitted by his drivers ed teacher, took his picture, paid 30$ and he had his temporary license.

 So we returned home so that he could drive the little blue car to school, there goes my baby driving away from me, off into the big world.  He texted me that he arrived at the school safe and sound.  Then he texted me later that he took himself to lunch and made it to and from Subway in one piece - we had said no driving to lunch...  freedom and 16.

Other exciting news.  A neighbor boy convinced Victor to join the Jr. High wrestling team!  His first week of wrestling was the half way through the season and two weeks into matches.  But Victor has won all of his matches and last week he wrestled on varsity and won his first Varsity match!  Very exciting.  In fact he came home all deflated that on thursday there was no one in his division to wrestle so he didn't have a match to wrestle in.  Yippee that he may have found something that is just his and he is really good at!  This picture is with his wrestling shoes and the days they have matches the boys are suppose to dress up.  Wow looking good.

Symphony

 Friday night Morgan and I attended the Symphony at Abravanel Hall.  They had a viola (Morgans instrument) soloist, Brant Baylist, playing that night and he performed beautifully!  I hadn't heard a viola played like that before, amazing.  And now so much more for Morgan to accel towards in music.  He played a piece called A String Around Autumn, by Toru Takemitsu, and it was so wonderful and visual, he did marvelous.  It was the highlight, until he came and sat right behind us!  I tried to get Morgan to talk to him, or ask for a picture with him, but our very social daughter became very shy, so I'm sure Mr. Baylist thought we were a bit immature and strange, giggly girls.  The Utah Symphony was wonderful all evening.  Morgan was excited to go to hear Brahms as he is one of her favorite composers.  We attended with friends and had a superb evening.

first of march

 Grant's birthday is during the first week of March and we always seem to get snow right before or on his birthday every year.  It looks like it came before this year.  I know these clouds don't look dark and evil, but the sky kept getting darker as they rolled in over us.  It has been one thing that I have liked about living on the side of the mountain is watching all of the storms roll in and over us.  Some have been pretty intense.  This was just blowing in and brought a bunch of snow with it.

 The wind was worse than the snow at first.  This was 15 minutes after the cloud pictures, Ana was shoveling the stairs for Percy.  Below is 15 minutes later.  She took a paper cup out and started making little snow cups/people.  Funny stuff.

 The next day we got more snow while the kids were at school and so they came home Friday and headed straight out to the golf course for some sledding.  Great snow, they had a great time. 

So I got the flu last weekend and for some reason mine lingered on half of the week.  Grant got it Monday stayed home Tuesday.  Morgan got it Thursday stayed home friday.  Ethan got it Friday after sledding he came home and threw up... all night, poor guy.  Victor had the mildest case Saturday.  I think part of it was he told me he had never thrown up before and he was terrified too, so I think he some how held it all down.  But pale, clammy and feverish all Saturday.  Sunday everyone seemed fine, kept the boys home just in case and sent Troy out of town with our fingers crossed he doesn't catch it!