PAT TILLMAN 4.2 RACE!

 It was the 18th Annual Pat Tillman's race - I have never run one before. At first, I wasn't really a runner when they started. Then I thought 4.2 miles seemed well...not worth my time since I would run half marathons. Then, I quit running. But this year, Denise texted me during the Superbowl and said, let's run it! I thought, "sure I can train for 4.2 miles no problem and what a good motivator!" Well - I ran twice for it. Once with Denise on the hottest day at 10am we did 3 miles and then one day I ran almost 5 miles with Kati, Amber and Brooklyn. I wasn't prepared, but I also didn't care. It was a lot hillier than I thought it would be - didn't like that. Did like all the people though - I love me a good crowd! I did have to eat some serious humble pie though. I would watch people post their times in years past and I would scoff at it - knowing I was faster than them without even training. Well...this year I was slower than them - ha ha - but to justify my time I will say I didn't train so there - ha ha! Good race and I would do it again with her! 

AUNT KATHRYN'S FUNERAL!

 Another Aunt passed away. The older I get the sadder I get going to these funerals realizing how great this generation was and they are all leaving us. I love hearing all about them and the way they were. Like Grandma Joyce - she loved her fancy dinner parties, had a million chargers, plates, goblets, etc. Aunt Kathryn and Uncle Reed were on the cover of a couple of different Chandler magazines in their time. She loved playing piano would never tell anyone no when they asked her to accompany them. I also enjoy funerals for the fact that I get to see so many of my long distant relatives. My extended family always makes me so happy.  As we walked out of the chapel behind Aunt Kathryn's casket, I saw Uncle Jimmy standing there with his daughters. I instantly stopped walking, hugged and said hello. I shed tears. I realized this is probably the last time I will see him alive. Uncle Jimmy was always a favorite and he was the man who sealed me and Jared together in the Mesa Temple. He is the man who told Jared that the first thing he should do when he walks in the door from work is give me a kiss. Me, Randi, Richelle and the Chase girls went around to visit a few of our family headstones. It's crazy how much family I have buried there. Aunt Kathryn, you will be missed! (Loretta, Carol, Randi, Sharon, Me, Marilyn, Richelle)

HURT FEELINGS!

 We found out yesterday around 3:45pm that Eli was going to have a game that night at 6pm at Notre Dame Prep - an hour away. No one was very excited about it. But like all good parents, we dropped everything, ran him over his game clothes, food, and then loaded up my car and I headed out to go watch him play in his game. Jared couldn't go because we had 2 carpool duties with the twins. I was so glad to go to the game - it was such a good game! Eli pitched that night really good, he hit a ball out to left field and they caught it, he got hit by a pitch, he walked and he made a couple of pop fly catches for some outs. The team was hilarious that night and were all fired up and being obnoxious but in a funny way. The game ended up in a tie because of time though. Then I waited around for Eli so I could give him a ride home and he shunned me. I didn't mind he didn't want to come home with me - I understand wanting to be with your friends, but you can at least acknowledge your mom when she drives an hour each way to watch you play. When I got home I was pretty upset about it and sent the boys all a text reminding them they needed to be more grateful for things, more respectful and treating their parents better. The twins never acknowledged my text the next morning, but Eli did. He sent me this very long text: 

From Eli:

mom i am so sorry for how i have been treating you lately

you do not deserve how i have been treating you

and if you wanna know this you can but you know what i changed about my batting this year? instead of going up nervous or being scared of the outcome i thought this thought exactly “just do it for mom. make her proud” and every time i go to practice i always try me best to get better because i know how much time you put into me watching me play and every time i go to a game i try my very best to make your time worth it so i play my hardest because i want to make you proud. so i may not acknowledge you physically at games but you and dad are all i think about during the game because i want to make your time worth it

and if you want me to quit baseball and just spend more time with you that’s ok i’ll do anything for you mom because i love you and don’t let anything change your mind about that because i love you so much more than i love any of my friends.

i just want to let you know that this last game is dedicated to you and the shear amount of time you put into me and my baseball career

i love you so much mom  

How can you stay mad after that. Love him! The text even brought tears to Jared's eyes. 

RANDOM APRIL HAPPENINGS!

 Tyler had a jr high basketball game and was on FIRE! He scored more than half the points for their team that game and when it was half time everyone followed behind him and was cheering him on for all his 3's he was shooting and how he dominated the court! Tyson keeps complaining about his stomach hurting so we finally took him to get some blood work done and see if he has any allergies...he has some diary and some meat....he can still eat both, but moderation for sure! Eli got his gums lasered to show more of his teeth! I got to go to Taylor Hatch's wedding and help at her reception, loved Stephanie, Taylor and Larissa! Jared finally completed putting together the gym and will no longer have to drive to Kyle's bootcamp...he is very excited about it! Tyson going up for a shot in a game! April has been busy but good to us! Eli went to Perry to cheer on Braxten at one of his volleyball games since Braxten and Jackson came to one of Eli's baseball games! 

EASTER 2022!

 The Easter Bunny decided the boys are getting older and toys and Sunday clothes are probably a thing of the past. So the Bunny thought one last gift for the boys - an electric dart board for the BRO. They were so excited and we may have stayed up past our bedtime playing it all together. The Bunny also thought candy filled eggs were a waste because these boys still had Halloween candy left over so since they are getting old he decided that cash filled eggs will be the way to go from now on.  It took the boys a little bit to figure out that all the eggs had cash in them and before church the twins snuck and found a money filled egg on the side of the house and then ran past all the other eggs going after that one egg. It wasn't until after a few minutes that they figured out they all had cash in them. Eli was slow to grab eggs too - I think he was so focused on the golden eggs that he passed up the others. Next year I fear it might be a blood bath out there! We spent Saturday afternoon at Brandon and Karli's house for the Jensen Easter party, games, Easter egg hunt, dinner and then Sunday afternoon at Grandma and Grandpa Rodgers house eating dinner and then we hid some eggs for Alyza and Kate to find and we celebrated Kyla's birthday too - it was a big day - it was the first time they all came over to grandma and grandpas house and met them. We missed Emma of course but did a facetime Easter egg hunt for her and she got to direct the phone and find the eggs but she only got to pick one - lucky for her she picked the golden egg and we transferred the cash to her bank account and the day before gave her an outfit and a little Easter basket with a few things in there for her and Maddie! We also met up with Nate and Jenn's family and went to the Easter Pageant. It was the best I have ever seen it - mostly because you could actually hear everything for once! It was the coldest night too - Tyler may have fallen asleep on the grass buried under blankets - ha ha!

UVU ESPRIT DC CONCERT 2022!

 Just spent 48 hours in Utah to see Emmerson & UVUEsprit perform at their first ever solo dance concert in the Ragan Theater! It did NOT disappoint! So good!! We loved seeing Em up on stage doing her thing! She co-choreographed a piece - it was probably the best one! Her and Lexi were co-captains this year! Esprit packed all 3 shows! We loved getting up there to see her for a bit! We stayed at Bryant's the first night and Ashley's the second night. We went to Bowl, Superfoods (best acai bowls) twice, tried a new place called Holy Taco, of course Jared and I ran some errands for her while we were there and stocked her up from Costco, all the medical supplies from Walgreens, etc. Love spending time with her in her place. We are so proud of her and how well this year has gone for her! Now we are keeping our fingers crossed she chooses to dance again next year! (not pictured from the concert was Ashley and Blake and Emma's bishop's wife and her niece!)