Spring Break

I have finally set up lightroom 4 on my mac and can export directly from my computer to blog, so maybe I will do some more blogging.

We had Spring Break last week so the kids and I decided to go down to sunny st George for a couple days. Eric had to work and my cousin invited us down with her family. It was nice to go with another family because the kids got to play in the pool with friends and go out with friends. My kids love the pool and are little fishes. Bryson and Carley can swim by themselves and don't need any help. Maddy only uses the little floating wings and loves the water and playing by herself or with friends. I didn't evern need to be in the pool with her.

Grace, Carley, and Maizy in the hot tub

Maizy, Grace, and Carley playing games in the pool

Maddy ready to go swimming

Bryson playing with his big swim torpedo with Bridger and McCrae.

The second day we went on a hike in Snow's Canyon. It was a little long for the kids and it was a sandy trail, so they got whinny, but we made it and it was nice to be outside.
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''On Thursday we went to a park called the spinny park. the kids loved it. This circle thing McCrae and Bryson are on spins around and you try not to fall off''
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I can't believe there are only 6 weeks left of school. I am excited for summer this year and for some more sun!!

My Grandma Barker

One of the funerals that I attended this past month was that of my Grandma Barker. For the past 10 years she has had alzheimers and deteriorated. The past year she was on bed rest with no comprehension of what was going on around her. It is a blessing that she is finally free of all her suffering. I was able to do a slideshow for her viewing and here are a couple of my favorite pictures.

She was born in 1926, so this picture was probably taken in the late 1920's. I love the heart necklace that she is wearing.

This is her high school senior picture that was originally in black and white. My grandpa did some pencil color touch ups to it.

This is my grandma and grandpa before they left on their mission.

This is my grandma with her children when they took a cruise in the 1990's

The viewing and funeral were very nice. I didn't cry much when she died, (and I was even there) but during the funeral when everybody was talking about the memories we had of her I started bawling. I think I came to the realization that my good memories of her were when I was a child and teenager and that this part of my life is now officially memories and I won't be able to relive them again. I loved coming to my grandma's house during the summer and at Christmas. I love my Grandma.

my family

my mom with her brothers and sister

My kids in front of the casket. The sun was in their eyes and this was the best picture I got.

soccer in st george

So this is what took us down to sunny St George this last weekend. Bryson and his club soccer team participated in the President's Cup. They played a game on Friday, which they won; but then they lost both of their games on Saturday so they didn't advance to play on Monday. We still had a good time enjoying the sun and cheering the team on.

Bryson's teammate and goalie for the team Hawk
Bryson fighting for the ball

One of the shots scored by his teammate Spencer.

Zion National Park

So hopefully I am back to blogging, it has been way to long. Among the list of my excuses begins with no computer to organize pictures, Thanksgiving, Christmas, 2 funerals of grandmothers, 2 quilts made for the girls for their birthdays, and the everyday comings and goings.

I am now a converted Mac user thanks to my husband and i love my new laptop!!!

This last weekend our family went down to St George to watch Bryson in a soccer tournament. It was fun to get away to the sunshine (60 degrees is better than 30). We had a day off on Sunday and went to Zions National Park. Neither Eric nor I had ever been there. We figured it was a good time to go because we could drive through and not have to take the shuttle like they make you do in the summer. It was a snowy and cloudy morning,

but it turned into beautiful blue skies, by the afternoon and it was AMAZING with the snow on the cliffs. we did have to stop for a few minutes to let a tractor clear off the road where there was an avalanche from this mountain.

We had one of Bryson's friends with us and the two were a bundle of energy and ran the whole hike. It was a great day.

Carley's first day of school

These pictures are of Carley's true first day of school. I can't believe that she is 5, but she is totally ready for school. She is such a social butterfly and loves school and loves learning. I have already seen a big jump in her learning and she loves coming home to do homework. She also comes home telling us about her new friend of the day