Homecoming

First things first: A big hello to my kids' grandparents who faithfully continue to check my blog daily even though I've been MIA for long enough that you should have given up on us long before now. But thank you for sticking around. I'll try to do better. :)

Now. Back to business!

Nicole turned 16 this summer which means she is now allowed to *gasp* DATE! Needless to say, she was pretty excited for her first High School Homecoming Dance.

Here is a picture of how she was asked to the dance, since apparently now it is a federal offense to just ASK a girl to a dance, you know--with words--in person. (Okay, so I'm not that old. We did dumb things like this too.)  This was actually really cute. Our doorbell rang and Nicole found this fishing pole leaning against the door with the line out to the street. It was hooked on the box of goldfish. Cute, huh!

Nicole took her sweet time answering, letting Capt. Smithers sweat it out a little, and then she reciprocated in kind, surprising him with this set-up.

The day of the dance several of the couples had a "day date" boating at the dam and then they hurried home to get beautiful. This proud momma thinks that Nicole easily pulled off beautiful, with a little bit of stunning and dazzling for good measure. :)

Bridger was the perfect gentleman when he came to pick her up. They are such good friends and it was so fun to send her off with him.

Corinne and our neighbor, Dalan, were enlisted to help serve the dinner to the happy couples. I was so camera happy that night that I snapped a picture of these two when Dalan picked her up to go set up dinner. It was a fun night for everyone!  

Happy Easter!

I hope you all had a beautiful Easter Sunday. Yesterday, as I taught my little primary class of four and five year olds the Easter story I was so grateful, once again, for the atonement and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Because of Him I have peace in difficult times. 

Because of Him I know that I will be with my family for eternity. 

Because of Him we can all have hope.

I am also grateful for the fun that comes with Easter!

Last Saturday we went to the annual Easter Egg Hunt put on by Make-a-Wish at the dinosaur park in Ogden. We had never been there before. The park was so fun and the egg hunt was a sugary success!

Claire

 Spencer

Corinne

Making a run for it...

All of my cute kiddos about to be eaten

One of Spencer's favorites

We took about 10 pictures of this dinosaur, just trying to get all of the kids looking at the camera at the same time. This is the closest we got. 

Big Sis lending a helping hand

I love the basket on the neck!

Big loves for the baby dinosaur

Our cute little excavators

Claire with the Easter Bunny (who also appears to be a Utah State fan!) 

The balloon artist made a "boyfriend" for Nicole

 Of course we also painted Easter eggs. 

Corinne got very creative with hers and snapped a few pictures before I deviled them up for dinner yesterday.

And lastly, my favorite part of Easter. Here are a few of the cousins just enjoying each other at Grandma's house. It was a fun evening together and we had to pull the kids away from each other with promises of more fun together very soon. I'm so grateful for my family!

Pics from yesterday's walk

Yay! Our first Sunday afternoon walk of the year--Spring is definitely in the air!! We took the dogs over to the reservoir. Matt has been introducing Finn to the water this week and he's taken to it like...well, like a lab to the water! :) 

Here are Belle and Finn racing to the prize. Finn hasn't quite figured out the finesse it takes to be as fast as Belle. He's just a clumsy, splashing, puppy. But he sure loves it!

 Belle wins...again.

 Finn's not giving up!

He did this nearly every time and then when they got out of the water Belle would drop the dummy and Finn would be so proud of himself as he gave it to Matt.

On the way home I tried to get pictures of the kids but they were on bikes and I was on foot so it was a lost cause. I did get this one of Spencer when he had to walk his bike for a minute. He was none too happy about the picture or the walking.

Matt, Finn, and Nicole waiting for me at the corner.

Claire is always good for a happy smile!

It's great to be EIGHT!

We celebrated Spencer's birthday last month. He was so excited to turn 8 and so excited for all of the great things that come with being 8!

He had an "8" birthday cake...

...and he got his very own set of scriptures.

He also got his new cub scout uniform and is enjoying cub scouts immensely!

Yay for Legos!

He had a friend party and they played all sorts of wild and crazy games.

 And of course they enjoyed the cupcakes!

Later in the evening we had a spaghetti dinner and he got to blow out his candles...

...and then he ate a HUGE piece of cake!

This is his beaver pillow pet, hat, and shirt that he got for his birthday from his special family in Oregon.

He was most excited to turn eight though because he couldn't wait to be baptized! His baptism was Feb. 1st and it was a cold and snowy day. We were grateful to family who joined us despite the terrible road conditions!

Here he is with Dad right before his baptism.

And here he is with Grandma and Grandpa Lindhardt.

After his baptism we waited while Matt and Spencer changed into their suits. I snapped this picture of my newly baptized boy as they walked into the room.

His cute little best buddy Brandon came to support Spencer on his big day. 

Such handsome little men!

And here is our forever family!

It was such a beautiful day. How blessed we are!