Monday, April 8

Tuesday, April 9

Wednesday, April 10

Thursday, April 11

Friday, April 12

Saturday, April 13

Sunday, April 14 - Palm Sunday

Natalie participated in the Senior Assassin (a water gun game). She posted this video about it on Instagram. She was really disappointed with the rules that made it virtually impossible to get your target. (School campus is off limits as are school practices, no hitting targets while anyone is in a moving vehicle, etc. The only time you can really get them is on their way to and from their car at home.)

Mark loves his drawing set. He kept asking me to have a “drawing contest.” I didn’t know what he meant, but Jon had one with him and Tyler. I was making dinner so I came over to be the judge several times. I think Mark wanted to prove his artistic skills. It was super cute. Instead of declaring a winner each time I gave awards for the “scariest” or “toughest” creature, etc.

Mark didn’t want to smile for Jon’s photo right after our scripture time together. Tyler has been reading the Book of Mormon in the rocking chair of my room at the same time Mark and I read the Book of Mormon. This time, though, Tyler is using a study packet, which starts in the book of Ether. He is enjoying it so far.

Jon took Adam to the mountain bike team social where Adam could try on the uniform and order the new size he needs. The coach has an awesome yard with chickens, horses and goats. The little goats are Adam’s favorite!

Tyler volunteered to be Mark’s piano practice coach Friday morning. Tyler was getting all creative with having Mark choose a pen or pencil and then telling him which exercise to do depending on which item he chose.

Mark has become known as the big kicker in soccer! Normally a goal kick is a super vulnerable position in rec soccer. The other team swarms like vultures around the goalie box because they can’t typically kick it very far. But when Mark kicks it, it flies past all the vultures and reaches the other half of the field! It’s awesome.

Tyler and Mark helped me make Challah. They had so much fun making the dough into ropes and then watching me braid them. Then they brushed the egg yolk onto their loaf.

Amy humored the boys with another drawing contest while she did homework.

Galina and her kids came over for a visit on Friday. We had a nice time talking. They just found out they are moving in a week to California right after a business trip as a family to Pittsburg.

Little Leo just idolizes Tyler. It’s pretty cute. Tyler is the best sport and spent several hours playing with these kids after school.

I’m really happy with the scripture I cut out of vinyl and put in our kitchen: James 1:22 “Be ye doers of the word.” We have been focusing on action and not only knowledge this year in our gospel study.

Jon and I went to Liza Smith’s wedding reception in the Provo Library ballroom. We had fun talking with our neighbors in the reception line - mainly the LaPrays.

Tyler had a hat trick in his game. He’s fun to watch and has several amazing teammates to boot!

Jon does a great job coaching this team.

I need to ask the kids what this game was all about with tying themselves to the tree while playing soccer in the backyard!

Am I embarrassed by this fort the kids made in the backyard? Yes, very much, but they have had an absolute blast jumping off it onto the trampoline. They love it when their 4th cousins come over - the Crandell grandkids. They are a super good bunch of kids and we love it whenever they visit their grandparents next door!!!

Amy helped Natalie with “surveillance” on her “target” for senior assassin at school and also outside his house early in the morning to learn his habits.

They spent hours surveilling, Natalie even attempted to get him while in a ghillie suit (neighbors ratted her out).

On Friday, Natalie’s attempt was disallowed for “trespassing” because she hid in his car. Most people paid their target $ so they could shoot them, which is what the guy who had Natalie did. She agreed since she was going to be disqualified for not hitting her target before Friday at midnight. Jon was proud of Natalie’s real assassin skills! Here’s the video she made about it.

She made these intense plans with alternate scenarios and enlisted help from Amy and Adam.

The bread turned out beautifully, and was super yummy! We also had fish, rice, Edamame and lemonade. It was a simple and yummy meal!

The boys helped me set the table special with faux China and palm leaves on each plate.

We started our Palm Sunday lesson with learning about The Anointing at Bethany when Mary anointed Jesus’s feet with an expensive Spikenard oil. The kids got to smell and try out different lotions and perfumes/colognes. They totally got into it and I had to stop the boys from spraying so much perfume in the room because it was getting super strong!

They dressed up to act out Jesus’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. I love these traditions! It was an excellent Palm Sunday, perhaps the best yet!

I love coming across siblings spending time together!

This was an awesome week, and the next was even better because we got to celebrate Jesus Christ all week long!

Adam and Andrew worked a bit on model rockets for scouts.

Natalie and Tyler