Lindon Utah Temple groundbreaking

I got the amazing assignment from Church News to attend the Lindon Utah Temple groundbreaking on Saturday, April 23, and I took Andrew with me for some one-on-one time. I also hoped it would be something he would remember his whole life.

The program started in the chapel, and then we walked up the road to the site. After the photo ops and the others in the temple district all got a chance to turn a shovel of dirt, Andrew got a turn, too.

It was a little cold and windy, but he was a trooper as he waited for me to get the interviews I needed.

Afterward, we grabbed some lunch and then drove the 45 minutes home and I was happy to listen to all the cool things he loves to talk about and all his ideas that just brim from his brain. Spending time with him was a joy!

Then I had to write the story and turn it in. Here it is: https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2022-04-23/lindon-utah-temple-groundbreaking-signals-how-the-lord-is-hastening-his-work-251862

I've been able to give a few presentations now to different wards about my experiences with temple building. I am thrilled each time I hear of a new temple being built!

Max's tennis season

Another high school tennis season has come to an end for our dedicated Maxwell! He only lost a couple matches all year, and he had a second place finish for 3rd Singles in the region. Here he is with his medal after the region tournament ended on May 5.

JB got to go that day. He was able to go to many of Max's matches. Whenever I went too, I always knew I could count on JB to tell me the score, because he keeps it all so well in his head.

Look at that form and reach!

Max took a sports psychology class this year, and learned some good mindfulness/relaxation/concentration techniques. This is between matches.

Max's good friend Andy is also on the team.

I had to throw this picture in here from April 21. JB took it one morning as the kids were going to school (Ben had already left on the bus for middle school). Notice the tennis rackets in Max's backpack and his long curly hair!

Millie and dance

 January through April, Millie went to a dance class every Wednesday and she loved it. Absolutely loved every moment. 

And she was especially excited for her dance recital, when she got to wear a little bit of makeup! 

Here she is with her friend Hazel. We carpooled this year.

After her dances, which involved lollipop and cupcake props and candy-themed songs, we tried a selfie outside and this is what she gave us. Full of personality and sass!

When we said smile, this is what we got next.

While she was watching her brothers play basketball, I asked her if she might like to try a sport like soccer or basketball next. She said sure -- if she could still do dance.

James's basketball season

James played on a Boys and Girls Club basketball team this spring. I was so proud of his attitude and hustle! He has come a long way from that first soccer experience when he called the other team "the bad guys."

I could not find anything near us (Salt Lake City kept a lot of programs and activities closed a lot longer than other cities or even the county parks and rec program). When I did find something, I had missed the deadline to register. 

So we drove to Murray twice a week, and he played down on a 2nd grade team. But the level was perfect for him, as he is a young 3rd grader and hasn't played any organized sports in 2 years (because SLC closed almost everything for Covid). And thankfully after the first night and the feedback they received, the venue stopped trying to require kids to play in face masks. 

Millie went to every game, either with me or with JB. James even got a basket or two! But I was proudest of how he never complained about going, and he cheered for his teammates and encouraged them. We got some great video of his celebratory dances down the court.

Recommendations from 2022 so far

Books

Martha Keyes
This is a new author I have found to love. She is the niece of a good friend. Sweet and fun Regency-era writing, like Sarah Eden, Josi Kilpack, Kristi Ann Hunter, Heather B. Moore, Esther Hatch, etc. Her short story "Mishaps and Memories" was like the plot to the movie Overboard and made me laugh.

Little House on the Prairie
I've started reading this series out loud at night to Andrew and James and I remember why I have loved it so much in my life. Laura Ingalls Wilder is such a good writer -- descriptive, yet easy to read and read out loud. We are almost done with the second book.

Insights from a Prophet's Life
I can't believe I hadn't read this yet, by Sheri Dew. It's not a biography, rather it takes moments or stories from President Russell M. Nelson's life and gives more context or back story and memories. Great to open at random and read, or start from the beginning. JB and I keep telling each other different things we learned. I've read out some stories to James and Andrew before bed, too.

Yeager
About the test pilot and Air Force General Chuck Yeager, who broke the sound barrier. I found this in a neighborhood lending library in Old Town San Diego on our trip and I could not put it down. What a fascinating and courageous career! He paved the way for NASA and astronauts but because he was not college-educated, they did not pick him for the Mercury 7 team.

Juniper (The Girl Who Was Born Too Soon)
Skip past the first unnecessary chapter or so and get to the actual story of micro-preemie Juniper. This is written by her parents, who are both journalists, and their story-telling is great. I don't know how anyone could not fight for every baby's life in the womb after reading this. We read it for book group last month.

I Will Always Write Back
We read this for book group this month. The true story of how a pen pal relationship between Pennsylvania and Zimbabwe changed two lives. I liked it, and actually gave it to Andrew to read (just telling him to skip a part where the teenage girl tries alcohol or to come talk to me about it).

TV Shows 

Sanditon season 2
I checked out the DVD of Sanditon from the library for season 1 last year, and I believe the PBS version was tamer, because I did not care for parts of the show at all (should have come with a content warning). But I gave season 2 a chance this spring on Sunday nights, and it was quite good. (Except for Edward. He is still the worst.) #Fralison

Call the Midwife season 11
I have watched this show since the beginning, and this season has had a lot of lovely moments. Also some real tear-jerker moments! Will they ever let Nurse Trixie Franklin be happy? And the actress who plays Nurse Phyllis Crane is so good. 

Name That Tune
This season is a little easier, with more recognizable songs. Ben, Andrew and I love to shout out the answer or sing the song when we know it. 

Moonknight
Ben wakes up early on Wednesdays to watch. One of his friends came out of surgery and loopily kept talking about it to the nurses. I haven't watched it yet, so I hope it is ok.

Gravity Falls
The boys watch this together and think it is funny. Parts that I have seen seem clever. I'm just glad they agree on a show!


Movies

The Parent Trap
I grew up on the "old version" compared to the "new version" (which to my children seems old) but I have to admit the Lindsay Lohan version is fun. Millie and James have watched it a few times since we saw it together for a family movie night.

The Right Stuff
I'm only so-so recommending this movie half-heartedly but not quite. I wanted to watch it after reading Yeager, but I didn't like some of the scenes at all. I kept yelling for an editor to show up and cut stuff out. But I have always been fascinated with the space race, and I spent a while comparing things in this movie to the TV series "The Astronauts' Wives Club" and "The Right Stuff" series on Disney+ and what I have actually read about the whole Mercury 7 era.

Mulan
(The cartoon) We watched this together on a Sunday afternoon for the first time in a while and had a good time.

The Emperor's New Groove/Kronk's New Groove
We've loved these for years. They are getting onto today's recommendation list because I seem to pull them out for road trips, and did it for our spring break trip last month. Tradition I guess.

Spring Break - More beach, two parks and dinner with friends

 Wednesday morning we went to a park in the Carlsbad area that I saw on Instagram called Odyssey Park. This is quite impressive. Built into a hill, with a zip line and basketball court and other amenities. 

Amenities like this weird double swing -- separation anxiety much?

That afternoon we walked back down to the beach.

I'm not sure what these two buddies are doing, but they were laughing a lot.

Then they played a "bury Max" game.

This girl just couldn't get enough of the ocean. But she never went in too far. Too cold.

On Thursday morning, Max joined JB for a walk along the beach.

Then we drove to Oceanside and walked out on the pier.  This is near the beginning.

We spotted some pigeons and I think Andrew and James tried to name them.

Here's further down the pier. We met the nicest man, a volunteer with Oceanside Police who walks up and down the pier every Thursday (7 miles by the end of the day!) and talks to folks.

After that, we ate at Angelos and at a Mexican place next door with loaded fries and fresh guacamole I keep thinking about.

Then luck and Google led us to a nearby park called Buccaneer Park. Andrew is a tree-climber.

Some of the features matched what the kids have at their school, but the ropes were all new to them and quite fun.

Max and JB tossed the football.

More basketball for these boys.

Then that night, we took pizza to our friends the Davises, and stayed in their Casita for our last night in the area. Millie loves these California friends and talked about them since last July. James loves how William has a great Pokemon collection. (Allyson is our sister-in-law Collette's sister, so these cute kids are our kids' cousins' other cousins.)

Friday morning, we were up and leaving at 6AM and drove all day to get back to our house in SLC that evening. We entered a long wait for either a crash or construction, and got all loopy/giddy making up stories about the other drivers — including a truck driver in front of us who took it as his duty to block two lanes so no one could try to drive around him. We just kept laughing at his antics.

The next day I was working for Church News covering general conference and I was gone at least 12 hours Saturday and maybe 9 hours Sunday. I was grateful for the time we had all spent together that week before hand!

Spring Break - Legoland

Legoland is not Disneyland but it still is really fun. We all went this time, after I took the three youngest to Legoland during our July trip. 

Can I just say, look how tall Max and Ben are now next to me? They were troopers, even though there really aren't any really big thrilling rides for teens. They enjoyed being on rides with the family and watching the little kids.

Huge Lego creations are very fun, especially if they are a character we like.

Andrew and Harry Potter, Andrew and Darth Vader

James and Batman

Millie's Lego Friends

J and a dino

James made an American flag to display on the wall in one of the creation rooms while the big boys and JB did the X Factor ride. I also liked how some long lines had a Lego building station in the middle of the zig-zagging ropes. 

This Ninjago ride still had a long line, even first thing in the morning, but it was a fun one

Waiting to drive the cars

Waiting for the Egyptian ride

Still waiting. Thank goodness for water, snacks and gum. But the kids were all really good!

We did the boat tour all together of the Miniland USA

JB picked up some great burritos/tacos and we went to Costco for hot dogs and drinks nearby afterward. I was glad for a beautiful day and a fun time with everyone!

At the end of the day, Max and Andrew walked with JB to see the sunset over the ocean. This is Andrew's face when he is telling a joke, and he was telling something to Max that he found quite funny.

The sun starting to set

And setting.