Goodbye April

For the most part Mapleton is pretty flat. It's all farmland or former farmland so it's nice for walking. But if I choose a route closer to the mountain, I of course come across some more hilly terrain. I climbed up a newly constructed road at the base of the mountain and wound up to this view. I was impressed. 

I'm sure by next year it will be full of new homes so I won't be able to enjoy the view without peeking through houses but for now I 

Sarah ran for student council again this year and she made it! She has had so much fun serving this year and wanted to do it again. She wants to apply for student body president which means an interview with the principle or something then he chooses. 

For Earth Day we spent the morning cleaning up a neighbor's backyard along with other people from our ward. See this huge limb? There was another branch almost as big broken and lying on the roof. So some men armed with chainsaws took care of that. There was lots of limb cutting and hauling off. We filled a trailer 3 times and the truck bed like twice. I spent most of the time raking and sweeping the patio and when the kids showed up, they wanted a turn on the now cleared roof.

I feel like all I've done all month is trim trees and haul branches. The day before this we hauled all our fruit tree trimmings to the dumpsters the city provided. Add in our day of helping prune at Justin's grandma's and yup: branches, branches brances.

I spied this artwork in the hall across from his classroom. What is it with this kid and chicken nuggets? Tuesday was my last day helping in James's class and I am so sad about it. Am I always going to be sad at each of his milestones because they mark the end of an era?

My mom is forever unearthing treasures in her house. Just when I think she's gone through everything she pulls out a bag of cassette tapes. The red and yellow Little Critter tape was my sister's and came with a book. I listened to it all the time as a kid. We have a copy of that book and I even hear the tape narration when I read it aloud to my kids. Anyway, I adopted it and played it for James in the car and he was blown away. All my kids were so intrigued by how a tape works. I felt old and cool at the same time.

I mapped my lawn mowing with my walking app to see how far I walk. Not sure about that crazy big loop at the bottom as I did not mow my neighbor's yard, promise. I thought it looked pretty funny.

Yesterday my sister brought over a bike for James to have since her boys don't need it anymore. It had an extra set of pegs so Henry put them on the back of his bike and took his sisters for a ride. Erica wouldn't get on without a helmet.

And that's how we wrap up the month! May is a fun and busy month. I am helping six 8-year-old girls make mother's day presents, chaperoning a field trip to our local art museum, getting our back patio replaced. And of course Mother's day, Henry's birthday, kindergarten graduation, last day of school, our 17th wedding anniversary and somehow makeover the shed and plant a garden.

Here's a few pictures of our lovely flowers and blossoms. Everyday is greener and fuller.

Easter and Other Signs of Spring

Hooray it's Easter! I love this holiday so much. I think because it comes at just the right time and there's candy involved. For the Saturday Easter hunt at my mom's we were a small group again this year. I think the last time we had a good-sized group it was before covid. Next year! But Jaana was in from DC so that made it extra special! We had pizza for lunch and the kids were mostly patient waiting for lunch to be over and eggs to be hidden.

Usually I just refill the eggs they brought home the previous year but last year the kids got more eggs than would fit in their bucket and it was too much candy. I filled way less and they still got a basket full.

Later Justin, my brother-in-law, and nephew carried in a gas fireplace for my dad. He's been building the base for it and now it's ready for the unit. I tease him he'll have it done just in time for summer!

Easter morning! Justin had the day off from meetings so we were able to make a delicious eggs Benedict breakfast and make some yummy baked beans for dinner and a carrot cake for dessert later at Justin's parents house. I can't think of the last time we spent Sunday morning together. Well the day he was sustained in January but our minds were so occupied we didn't really enjoy the time together. After breakfast we watched some Easter church videos with the kids and talked about why this day is the most important day in the history of ever. Justin, Sarah, and Henry had to be to church early so they left before I could get pictures taken so these are done after church (thus the harsh sunshine).

Sarah gave a talk and sang in the choir. James and Erica sang with the primary. Justin's brother Nate and his family joined us as well. It was a great sacrament meeting! After church we went to Justin's parents house for another egg hunt and dinner. The kiddos rode in the bed of the truck all the way there (it's only a half mile).

What is with Henry putting his basket on his head?

Each of the kids have their own labeled bags they are hunting for too.

For dinner we had ham and funeral potatoes, green beans, fruit salad, and baked beans. For dessert, carrot cake. So good. It's one of my favorite meals and why I love Easter so much.

Our area had our turn for the traveling tabernacle. I haven't been yet but Justin, Henry, and Sarah went for an activity when it was Provo. Now it was our turn to have it nearby in Springville and Sarah volunteered on Tuesday. My parents went that day and took these pictures.

(This was seriously the craziest day. I helped in James's class, had a hair appointment, took the middles to the orthodontist and crossed my fingers that Sarah made it to the church in back arranging rides on her own. There are days where I have literally nothing scheduled and somehow all the things got put on this day.)

Spring has definitely come to our town. I found this calf on my walk the other day.

What are these in this huge field?

Oh just some Texas longhorns.

So there are these trees outside of the Payson temple that I'm pretty much obsessed with. I've taken pictures of them all leafed out and tried to research what kind they are. Last week when I came out of the temple (it was pouring when I went in) I noticed that they were all flowery. Flowers are a good clue as to what kind of tree they are! Huzzah! A quick google image search came back with magnolia tree! Sweetbay, to be exact, after some deeper searching.

Now I just have to find one in a local nursery. Wish me luck! And then I'll have to find a place in my yard to plant it.

Summer 2022 (I love the white bark and multi-stem trunk)

On Friday the girls had their piano recital. The theme for the recital was duets. Each of the students picked a duet and a duet partner. Most kids picked their moms or piano teacher to play with them. One kid played with his sister on the harp and that was cool. My girls chose their grandmas which was really special. (I don't play and I'm glad it worked out this way.)

They all did so good! I loved listening to them practice for the last couple of months.

And if this isn't a sign of spring, I don't know what is. The kids treat the trampoline as their own imaginative playland. 

Spring Break 2023

We started off spring break with Erica's treat night Friday night. Most of us choose a movie, games are a close second but she was clever and chose origami. We found a couple of tutorials on youtube (there are like a million of them) that weren't too long or complicated. 

Some of us were more patient than others but I think we all liked the challenge.All boats need names, even paper ones.The rabbit on the side was named Bunster to match. Then we took them up to the bathroom to see how they sailed. The kids had fun blowing them around for 2 minutes until they absorbed water and sank.

And here's a random picture of Sarah that someone took.

Saturday morning was general conference and waffles with friends. We had both Silvey families over plus the Olsens, total of like 21 people and 100 waffles. Seriously so many waffles made by Justin and Henry. I didn't take any pictures which is too bad because the kids are so funny together. Seems like everyone has a buddy.

It was also April Fool's day. I was too preoccupied with planning breakfast, conference things, and our trip that I didn't play any pranks and James was very disappointed.

Until he saw this.

We didn't know who did it until Erica couldn't handle the suspense anymore and delightedly fessed up.

It cracks me up and I haven't removed any of the eyes and it's a little sad to throw containers away or wash them and say goodbye to the eyes.

The rest of the day was full of conference, bike riding and a little packing for our trip the next day.

Sunday between sessions we left for Kanab. We had only been to Kanab while driving home from the Grand Canyon 3 years ago and Justin went down for a short work trip last fall but we have never stayed there and explored. We booked an airbnb back in January hoping that the weather would be nice and spring like or at least warmer than home. It was warmer than home but not by much. We did miss out on the 8 inches of snow Mapleton got.

The highlight of the trip for the boys at least was the pump track. We stayed for like an hour the first time and they would not stop asking to go back the rest of the trip.

We had done a dirt pump track in Idaho last summer that they loved and the asphalt track was pretty fun too.

Justin tried it out as well. Then he tried to impress us all and totally turfed it. It was pretty funny and slow and he laughed too so I don't feel bad laughing. But I do feel bad after seeing the bruises on his leg.

Erica and Sarah tried it too but I don't have any pictures of them. I've come to learn that there are a few dirt pump tracks in the north end of the county so we may have to try those out.

The weather was clear and beautiful on Monday so we tried a bike trail. It would have been perfect for us since it wasn't difficult and was pretty flat. Unfortunately the trail looked like a herd of cows came through when it was muddy. So bumpy and slow going. Henry whined for the first half and walked his bike then once he was in a better mood James decided he had enough and started walking his bike too.

The wind started picking up and we knew it wasn't going to let up for the rest of the day so we called it.

We went for a drive since that seemed like a good thing to do on a windy day. We went up Johnson Canyon. I had found some info for a self guided tour online that explained what to look for at certain points on the road. This is Lion Rock or lion something or other. We discussed where the lion was but did not come to a consensus.

The kids were getting a little obnoxious so we stuck them in the bed of the truck. I've always wanted a limo window in the car and this was the closest thing.

This is what's left of the set of the tv show "Gunsmoke." Never seen the show. I learned that Kanab is quite the location for western cinema and tv shows.

These mountains are pretty. In a sea of red rock, it's nice to see some white rocks one in awhile.

We got out at a couple of places to explore a bit. 

I didn't last too long in the wind and cold and I can't handle watching my kids hop and jump around dangerous terrain but it was still a cool place to explore.

And then we went for some Chinese food in town. The kids scarfed it down and we had to order another dish.  We drove to a reservoir that we decided we wanted to see on a calmer day, picked up some ice cream at the store and went back to the house for games and made dinner later.

Tuesday was cold but not stormy. We went to a visitor's center in the morning while we waited for it to warm up a bit. 

Could you imagine digging around and finding pieces of a bowl like this? And then putting it all together? Ultimate puzzle.

We went to trailhead near the pump track that promised to not be difficult and have some amazing views. It also said it was a bike trail but the sign was wrong. Justin started out on his bike but when we came to boulders, he then had to turn around and we waited for him to return his bike to the truck and catch up to us. Good thing we bundled up and the sun was out.

I'll admit I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to mountain biking but how could this be a bike trail?

This was actually my favorite part of the hike. I love scrambling over boulders. 

This was maybe like a fourth of the way up and about where we turned back. It was so cold!

We hiked back down and then let the boys ride their bikes at the pump track again. Then we went back to the house for lunch and tv and games. 

That evening we went out to dinner at Houston's. I picked it because it had good reviews and I like a cowboy themed restaurant. There was a bit of a wait so we went next door to a giftshop where I told the kids not to ask me to buy them anything (Justin ended up buying them stickers for their waterbottles). I did find this carved bison like the one I have from my Aunt Ilona. It wasn't as big or as finely carved but I liked it.

How many photos do we have of Henry and a burger?

The food was pretty good, not awesome but good. The kids all loved theirs. James went on and on how good the fries were while he was eating them. "These fries are so good!" I didn't know he liked fries that much. In true James style, he barely touched his mac 'n cheese but devoured dessert.

Wednesday we visited the sand caves. These are manmade caves made for mining salt back in the day.

The pattern of the rock is pretty impressive. Most of the walls are all marked up with classy people scratching their initials.

Next to that is the road to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. This wasn't as cool as Erica and I hoped it would be. We saw a couple of guinea pigs and some horses. If you want to see more you have to sign up for a guided tour to some of their many buildings housing 1600 animals. More than half are cats. Once I heard that I knew it wasn't going to be that fun. I thought it would be more like a wildlife safari or at least a petstore. 

Sarah and Henry did spot an Alaska plate. I think they found 20 states on this trip.

We did see the largest pet cemetery I have ever seen. Well, it was also the only pet cemetery I have ever seen. It was unnecessarily large. Actually it was just unnecessary. I came to the conclusion I don't care much for animals. Luckily we didn't spend any money and got a bathroom break out of it all. The road through the sanctuary loops around back to the main road and was pretty scenic aside from the pet graves.

We went back to Kanab to eat lunch at Escobar's Mexican restaurant and then went to the reservoir. There they have a bar park. What's a bar park, you ask. A park of bars, of course. For doing stuff like this.

And this.

And this.

And this.

It was about here we discovered Sarah's bike had lost it's rear axle and Justin's axle had nearly fallen off. We think too many bumpy roads. So much for a family bike ride around the reservoir. While they worked on their bikes I took the 3 other kids. The little and I turned back about a third of the way because they were tired. Henry continued on and then when I got back Sarah rode my bike on the trail in the opposite direction to meet Henry coming our way.

From there we were pretty close to the state line. And by close I mean just over a mile. If there's anything my kids like it's crossing into other states. We stopped at the Arizona sign...

Then got back in the truck, did a U-turn and stopped at the Utah sign.

And then did the two-places-at-once thing and the hop-back-and-forth thing. Utah, Arizona, Utah, Arizona. That's assuming we were looking at the correct markers.

And then it was time for The Belly of the Dragon. Dun dun dun!

This is a tunnel under the highway made to divert water but I don't know if it's still used for that. We didn't see any water.

It's just long enough that you can't see the light from the other end when you start walking through it so it's a little scary. But then you see the light after several feet in. I still had to turn my flashlight on so I could see where I was stepping.

This what it looks like going in the other side. The trail continued on for a bit but it was all sand and walking in sand isn't all that fun.

I think this was my favorite feature of the trip.

We stopped for ice cream at the Brown Box to round out a fun day.

And those are the last photos I took in Kanab. We were too full to eat dinner that night. We packed up and left the next morning. We stopped in Monroe to visit our friend Ben. He and his wife bought a miniature golf course and are fixing it up to reopen later this month. They kindly let our kids try out some of the holes not under repairs.

Justin and I hope to go back down this summer once their cabins are completed as well. We got home that evening with plenty of time to unpack and warm up the house before bed.