Some April and May happenings

In no particular order are some of the things we did in April and May.

On May 3, JB and James got a tree from Costco

We've tried planting in this corner before and the tree didn't take. But so far this one has stayed. It's a type of flowering pear (without fruit).

During a ward activity, Andrew and James were drinking their lemonade like this and it cracked me up.

This is listed in JB's photos as happening on May 4 but I don't remember it at all, haha. Millie did some sort of strength challenge against Andrew and then wrote her own certificate of achievement.

This is at cousin Emily's farewell on Sunday, April 27. I did not get the memo to have Millie wear the blue dress Nona made for her, but Nona also made this red dress that she loves. At any rate, here are some of the younger girl cousins together in their dresses!

These two may not see each other for a while, with Emily's mission and then Ben's mission.

Then on Tuesday, May 27, I was assigned to cover a devotional at the MTC for Church News and found Emily!

Andrew dressed up for a presentation at school on May 7

James throwing a football on May 8

JB and I had two weddings on May 9. 

One was a ring ceremony for our friends' son in South Jordan.

And then we drove to Lindon and made the last half of a reception for JB's cousin's daughter.

Shenanigans with cousin Kenny.

I got beautiful new pink scriptures for Mother's Day. I had had my scriptures since high school seminary.

We went to Suzanne's for amazing smashburgers for Mother's Day, then for Memorial Day we were back to roast all kinds of goodness over a fire pit. 

Random shenanigans outside with Andrew and James on April 16.

 

Also in April, JB made a countdown for his birthday to tease Millie (because hers is first this summer) and she did a thumbs down in response.

Ben went to Prom on April 19. He's been to just about every school dance this year with a group of friends. 

Here is our picture at Church for Easter on April 20

JB took this photo of the three younger kids that morning.

 Millie loves playdates. She asks for one every day.

Playdates almost always involve dressing up.

Sometimes we go swimming.

And sometimes when she is at a friend's house, the mom sends me pictures of how much fun they have.

JB and I went to the temple in April

Andrew got a haircut April 6

We went to a session of general conference on April 5

The week before general conference, conference weekend and a few days after I am always quite busy at work, so JB does fun things like pizza taste tests with the kids.

And Millie's shakes

And here is a picture of Max this month!

Tennis and tap dance

Ben had a great tennis season where we saw him make huge improvements with his serve and at the net and overall I think he really had a good time. He was also one of the team captains.

He won JV regions with his doubles partner Luke Moore. Here he is at the medal ceremony on April 27 holding Luke's medal for him, because Luke couldn't go back that day.

Most of the team at regions together.

After they won, they had a non-region match on April 29 in Bountiful that was a makeup from a rainy day earlier in the season and Papa came to watch Ben.

Here we are together at regions on April 23

Ben and Luke.

Shaking hands after the win.

He reminds me of Max here! 

Getting some coaching...

Serving...

Here we are at an April 21 home match, Millie and the stuffed sloth came.

Here's a picture together earlier in April after a match. 

We loved watching him. I often sent clips to my dad because my dad was a tennis player. So was JB's dad -- it is in the genes!

Ben is often gone with school stuff or sports or with friends, but whenever he is home he looks for Millie. "Where is she? I want to bother her," he'll say.

This year, Millie took a tap dance class. On May 10, she had her recital. She needed to have her hair in a bun and she looks so different!

She didn't want to wear her tap shoes on the grass so they are on her hands.

The song was "Shake, Rattle and Roll."

She loved having makeup put on for the recital.

Here she is when she brought home her costume on April 14

So sassy! Sometimes I look at her and say a quiet prayer of gratitude. I wanted a girl so badly and she is such a fun girl.

April's long walks

Ben made a bet or deal with his buddies over the NCAA championship. The loser had to walk back home from Bluffdale, almost 21 miles away. Ben was a man of his word when he lost, and he picked Saturday, April 12. JB said he would do it with him, and I think this will be something Ben remembers for the rest of his life.

I dropped them off just after 7 a.m. and took this picture with the copper mine in the background to prove to Ben's friends that they were in Bluffdale, but I think he also shared his location with them so they could track him all day.

Then I took this picture as they started walking at about 7:20 a.m.

The rest of the time they sent me updates and I tracked Ben's phone location as well. Walking with dad meant stopping for good food like gourmet tacos and frozen custard. They also took pictures at some landmarks in the valley.

Here's JB's watch when they got home at 2 p.m. showing the distance and steps.

April's other long walks per this post title came during JB's backpacking trip with friends in Southern Utah from April 24-26. They went to Angel Arch and Druid Arch in Canyonlands National Park. Angel Arch was about 17 miles, and Druid Arch was about 11 miles.