April 2018

CONFERENCE WEEKEND IS MY FAVORITE WEEKEND OF THE SEASON!!!  I love listening to what the prophet and apostles and general authorities of the Church have to say.   I always learn something new about the gospel, myself and my family when I watch.

April 2nd I had a whole day to get the garden cleaned out and ready to move.  It was a brilliant day.  I love being able to spend the whole day outside with my  hands in the dirt.  It makes me happy.

April 3rd I spent the morning with my good friend, Sandra.  She had fallen while walking and broken her shoulder over the weekend and needed a ride to the orthopedist to find out what needed to be done in order for her shoulder to heal properly.  She was pleased to hear that it did not need surgery and would heal on its own.   Back at home I straightened the house, went shopping for a new pair of long denim ($5 Rock-n-Republics - 90% off!!), got my hair cut and went out to dinner with Steve.  It was a productive day.

April 4th Nick was back at the dentist to have his spacer put in.  Remember, last month he lost his last baby tooth, but there was no adult tooth to take it's place.  Today was the spacer day.    That night we had a surprise birthday party for Steve Wilson at our house.  I love being surrounded by good friends.

April 5th I moved the garden while Steve and Nick did some more work on Nick's Eagle project.  As if working all day on the Eagle project wasn't enough, Nick needed to finish up some requirements for his Home and Family merit badge.  He built a permanant, stone firepit in the back yard.  It is gorgeous.  I love it.

I love the scouting program.  They teach so many wonderful things and I get a new firepit.  WIN-WIN!!

Nick got to go to the Smith's house and help split logs as part of a service project for the ward.  Brother Smith supplies some of the ward members with logs for their fires when the weather turns colder.  The Young Men love to help out.  

Naomi and the Licastris kept sending pictures of their week at the beach.  Naomi had such a good time with their family.  She fit right in and wants to be adopted.  A family of only girls is her dream.  It was quite nice only having sisters growing up, although I really wanted a brother.

The view from their back deck!

Playing in the waves.  

Bella and Naomi

Out to dinner. 

They took their sketch books everywhere and drew pictures the whole week.  Two peas in one pod!!

April 7th was Nick's long-awaited paintball party for his 16th birthday.  He wanted to wait until it was warmer.  Several of his parties almost got snowed out.  He did not want that to happen to this party.  Everyone met at the house and we headed down to Glory Road Paintball to have some fun.  The day was rather cold and rainy, but that didn't stop the boys.  They had a great time.  

Nick and Blake all ready for some paintball action.  

Instructions before heading to the playing field. 

After a few rounds they were all wet, but having a blast.  Josh and Steve refilling their guns.

The whole crew - (Left to Right)  Nick in the front with Josh, Isaac, Blake, Braydon, Matt, Jeremy, Steve and David.  

After shooting at each other for about two hours, we headed back to the house to have deli sandwiches and homemade oreo cookies.  Once everyone was dry, thawed out and fed the boys just hung out and talked until it was time to go.  Nick said it was one of his best birthday parties.    Afterwards, Matt invited Nick to spend the rest of the day at his house.  We didn't see him until they dropped him back off about 9:30.  Meanwhile, Naomi was back from her adventure at the beach and was full of fun stories and adventures.  I missed her while she was gone.  Also that night, Steve and Jeremy went to an opera performance on the CPCC campus for Jeremy's music appreciation class.  They both really liked it.  WHEW!!!  Busy day.  

This tree was so cool.  Instead of having blossoms at the end of branches...

...it had blossoms all over the truck AND down the branches.  

April 10th Jeff Maughan came to stay with us for a few days.  He was back in town to finish up some business.  We loved having him at our house.  I really miss their family and was so sad when they moved.

April 11th Jeff and Steve spent some time in the garage doing some woodworking and getting further ahead on Nick's Eagle project.  It felt like old times.  If either myself or Cari could not find out husbands, we would call each other and check the garage.  They were there 99% of the time.

April 12th we took quite a few of the signs to Hinds Feet Farm and got them placed.  It is so nice to see this project finally coming together visually.  I think it helped keep Nick motivated.  The signs look amazing.

Naomi helped dig the holes since she is using this as her service project for school as well.  She is a good little worker.  

The first sign is in place!!!

Jeff giving the kids some advice on how to hold the shovel to make digging a hole easier.  

Naomi loved feeding the horses and they loved her feeding them. 

Putting in the last big post for the day. 

The horses followed Naomi...

...and she loved it.  

Naomi needed some pictures for her project.  This is one of the signs that she helped with all along the way from sanding, to painting to placing.  

The whole work crew.  

April 14th was picture day for soccer.  I always take my camera and get a picture of the kids but this time I had left the SD card in the computer because I had been working on Nick's Eagle pictures.  Oh well.  Thank goodness AYSO posted the pictures on their Facebook page and I was able to get a copy from there. 

After soccer Naomi and I went home to pull weeds and mow the lawn.  Nick and Steve were helping with an Eagle project and Jeremy was with some friends hiking in the Pisgah National Forest.  That evening I met Jeremy on the CPCC campus to attend a musical performance for his music appreciation class.  It was a fun night.  

April 15th Naomi spoke in sacrament meeting.  She did a really good job and said she wasn't really that nervous.  That night we had a new family over for dinner.  Thomas and Christi Sewell were out here house hunting before their big move from Arizona.  They have four children, three of which are roughly the same ages as our children.  It was a fun night getting to know them a little better.  

April 18th Nick had an interview with Metrolina Greenhouse.  He was so excited because it was his first real interview for a job he really wanted.  He did well in the interview, but they weren't hiring for the hours he could work and told him to call back during the summer to see that might be available then.  

April 20th I got to sub in the library.  That is my dream job!!!  I should have listened to my hygienist back in high school and gone into library science.  At the time the thought of being a librarian was depressing (only homely, single women were librarians).  Times have changed.   After school we packed up and headed out to Knoxville for the weekend.  After dinner, Steve, Bradden and the older kids went to see Black Panther.  Sunny and I stayed home and got the younger ones to bed and then prepped for the next day.  

April 21st we got up and headed straight to a double-header of soccer.  Hyrums' game was first and then Olivia's.  Both of them scored a goal.  It was fun to watch them.  During the second game Nick got a little antsy so he and I went for a walk around the park and found a basketball hoop.  He dunked a few and then felt better.  The antsiness was gone and we headed back to Olivia's game.  

Olivia, Maddie, Naomi, Nick and Jeremy playing their own soccer game during Hyrum's game.  

Naomi and Maddie made this tent for some shade during Olivia's game. 

Me and Nick going for a little walk.

Naomi kept both Hyrum and Maddie busy during the second game.  

 Back at the house Naomi and Nick wanted to go for another walk.  Sunny took us down to the historic district by their house.  It was so much fun.  There was a small art gallery we toured and then the kids walked down the track and threw rocks into the lake.  Naomi found some old rail nails and brought them back as a souvenir.  We also found some shiny rocks.   It was nice and relaxing  Knoxville is such a beautiful place.

Naomi, Sunny and Nick walking down the train tracks.  

When we got back to the house the smaller kids were so excited about the rocks and nail they wanted to go on their own walk by the tracks.  Sunny and I stayed at the house to get cleaned up so we could go to dinner that night.   The walk/treasure hunt was a huge success.  They came back with a dozen nails and even more rocks.

Jeremy playing tag with Maddie while on their walk.  

We went to Blaze Pizza that night for dinner and had a great time chatting at the restaurant.  Everyone found something they liked for dinner and the conversation was on point.  Back at the house we all fell into bed after such an active day.

The next morning we helped Sunny get the kids ready for church and then left for home.  We stopped for lunch at Zaxby's in Asheville and then came straight home to get ready for the next day.

April 23rd Naomi and I went to the dentist.  Her check up was great.  Mine... not so much.  I need a crown.  YUCK!!!!

April 24th was a rare day where I had a whole day to get some cleaning done.  Weird, but nice.

April 27th was a pep rally at the middle school.  I was lucky enough to be subbing that day so I got to watch all the fun.  Pep rallies are really loud, but I love all the energy in the room.  Naomi and her friends had joined the lip sync contest and they did a great job. 

April 30th Nick had an interview at Tiajuana Flats.  They ended up hiring someone else, but this interviewing experience will pay off in the long run.

Nick was tired from all the shopping and wanted to ride.  He is almost too big for the cart.  

I found these Bumblebee glasses while shopping one day and bought some for Nick.  Our little buddy, Clark, who had just moved away, LOVES Bumblebee as much as Nick so we sent him a pair as well.  His mom sent us this picture of Clark in his glasses.  The smile says it all.  These two boys are the best.