2nd SESSION ON SUNDAY OF GENERAL CONFERENCE!

 I've always wanted to takem y family to General Conference (haven't been since I went as a youth for youth conference) and it seemed like it was now or never with Eli being a senior! It worked out great being in Ward Council every Sunday with a member of the Stake High Council, because one day I just leaned over and asked him how to get tickets and he hooked me up! i wanted to go to the Sunday afternoon session hoping to hear President Nelson speak and knowing they would announce the construction of new temples and hoping that would stick inmy boys core memories! Well, as we sat there listening to the Prophet announce 17 new temples in the middle he said, "Queen Creek, Arizona" we all got the biggest eyes and hugest smiles and turned and looked at each other! It was so exciting!! But even more than that was the feeling that I felt as the audience immediately got quiet and stood up as they were bringing in the Prophet. Everyone waving and smiling and so happy to see him. He stood up from his wheelchair and stood in front of his seat and turned and waved at everyone! The spirit was so strong! Then for the rest hymn during conference we all got to stand and sing "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet!" I turned to tell my boys to sing, but I didn't have to say anything...they were all singing! I moved Eli from my right side to my left side so he could stand in the middle of me and Jared...We just stood there and sang with our arms around him! I hope he could feel the spirit and our love for him. I was again, over come by the spirit and spent most of the song crying. Conference goes by so fast when you watch it in person. All of our kids, including Emma and Hunter were so happy to be there! When we made it back to Ashley's house, Jared turned to me and said, "I am glad we went, our boys needed to be there in that conference!" We will all forever have this as a core memory! 

ASHLEY'S HOUSE!

 Ashley and Blake are always so great to let us stay at their house every time we go to Utah! They have 2 spare bedrooms now so it's quite nice! Emma and Hunter came down on Saturday night to join us so they could go to General Conference with us on Sunday. My boys and Emma and Hunter entertained Ashley's kids all Saturday night and Sunday! They had the best time with their cousins. I love how my big kids don't mind at all hanging out with the littles! I taught Ashley how to take a point 5 picture - thanks to my young women teaching me. We all ate dinner together Sunday night and then had dessert and then Emma and Hunter headed back to Idaho! 

VEGAS PIT STOP!

 We took the twins out of school early on Friday to head up to Vegas a little earlier - we were trying to avoid rush hour traffic. Since we were driving to Utah and Jared and I both hate driving I thought it would be best to break up the drive and stay over night in Vegas. I wanted to stay on the strip to give the boys a taste of Vegas - even though it sucks - I was just trying to do something a little "fun". I also always wanted to stay in the Bellagio, so Jared spoiled me with that! The boys LOVED the hotel room, hate walking the strip and smelling all the weed. I told them they could look for 1 or 2 seconds at the ladies with the feathers, but any longer and they would be lingering....Tyson said, "I don't want to look at no dude ladies!" Eli remembered going to the Venetian Hotel a long time ago when we were there for dance and a football tournament and loved how the inside was painted like you were outside so we walked on the strip to the hotel to get treats! Never have I ever smelled so much weed and see so many butt cheeks and pasties! I probably never paid attention before but when you are with your teenage boys you notice everything. We did watch the water show outside and from our hotel room. We checked out the Conservatory! In the end, I am glad we went because it gave us something to do, but the boys hate Vegas just as much as me and Emma and have no desire to go back! ha ha! 

TWINS SOPHOMORE YEAR HOCO PARADE!

 Basketball doesn't have a booster club, but some how Aubrey and I ended up being the unofficial co-presidents. This is the best because I just get to help, but don't have to be in charge or anything! Last year was basketballs first year participating and it was just a truck bed so this year I got them a bigger truck and a trailer, but Coach Stuckey wanted the seniors to be in charge of the decor. Then last minute the night before he picked some underclassmen to join in the parade and the twins got to participate! They had a lot of fun. The seniors got to throw the candy, but they rode in the trailer and the threw the basketball at the students as they rode by and had them shoot it and try and make baskets! I loved seeing them have fun too! These are the things that make school fun! So glad they were lucky enough to participate in it! ps - several moms commented that next year...the moms are in charge of the float - ha ha! 

 

SENIOR YEAR HOCO PARADE!

 Eli was a sophomore the year ALAQC started the Homecoming Float and Parade and it was our first year with a baseball booster board. We never decorate it with a cool theme or anything, but we always have banners, balloons, candy, etc! Eli got the ride in the parade all 3 years! This year we made a senior side and an everyone else side on the float! They had beads to throw, candy, mini rubber baseballs, Seth brought rubber duckies and Eli brought a water gun to squir people! I am sad this is his last year, but so grateful I got to be there for all them and watch him have the best time chucking candy and the students watching! 

JACK IS BACK!

 Our little neighbor boy, Jack, loves to wander between our house and the Gresley's house. He is often found in our backyard roaming around, staring through our slider doors, playing on our sport court, coming up to our front door and hanging out, etc. Today he found me out front and started telling me all about his Beast mode Bumblebee transformer, but eventually I had to make dinner so I brought him inside to tell Eli and the twins about it! The boys and Jared are good sports to be kind to him! Nice little kid! 

FRIENDSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT!

 Friendships in life are super important! So grateful for Kati and Amber and our little workouts we get to do together in the mornings, supporting each other through weddings, cancer, birthdays, etc! I am also grateful for my young women who stop by and visit, allow me to help them through their troubles, allow me to be a listening ear to the good, the bad and the ugly in their life and for them coming over and helping me decorate pumpkins for our office pumpkin contest! The twins and their friends! They are so blessed!! They have a huge number of friends...they all intermix and they are all good kids!! Now sadly, Tyson is missing from each picture, but he was there at both places, just always talking to someone else! ha ha!