Longest winter everrrrrrrr

Hello Michael! Are you ready for spring? I am so ready for spring! I've really enjoyed your last few letters. It sounds like you are just busy, busy, busy with all kinds of teaching opportunities. I hope you are loving the new area and your new companion and responsibilities. Bummer that you are back driving a car. Be safe out there with all the crazy drivers! Sounds like fun going to Rhode Island and also to Plymouth Rock and the Masonic Lodge. I loved your story about teaching Felicia, and I'm laughing at the thought of a family of Lenny, Lenny, and Lennix. 

Keep working hard. Everyone asks how you are doing, and I always say you are absolutely loving your mission. I'm proud of you!

 

This is what we've been up to:

1. Dad was busy with work over President's Day weekend, but we did manage to get some family time in playing miniature golf at an indoor place in Ogden. They had glow-in-the-dark holes that were fun. I think Dad got 3 holes-in-one! Even Tate got a hole-in-one!

2. That week we were told to brace for the biggest snow storm of the year. The boys were hoping school would be cancelled, but I don't think they really do that anymore. Elementary school was delayed, but HS and JH were already scheduled for late start. I think we got maybe 6 inches or so. But apparently Salt Lake got a whole bunch more than we did. I was seeing crazy pictures online of 20 inches on top of peoples garbage cans.  I heard the other day that this is the most snow we have gotten since 1984. I don't love snow, but I'm grateful for the water, and happy that it cleans up the air. Ready for winter to be over though.

3. Ty got sick on Monday night and then spent the next two days in bed. Bad timing because we were scheduled to leave for California on Thursday for the senior trip with his friends. Late Wednesday night I looked in his throat and it looked like Strep to me, so Dad took him in to the doctor. It was strep and they gave him antibiotics. I thought he would start feeling better right away, but he really didn't feel well the rest of the week. He was able to come on the trip, but didn't feel great.

4. Our Disney trip was fun---much different than doing Disney with Dad, that's for sure! We went at a much slower pace, and tried a lot of Disney treats. California was in the middle of a really unusual storm system, so it was really rainy and cold. Darn it! I was so looking forward to some sunshine! The best thing about the rain was that it really cleared the crowds out of the park. Downside was that some of the rides were closed, and they cancelled the evening shows. We did get to ride Rise of the Resistance for the first time and see the new Star Wars land. I rode the Guardians of the Galaxy and Webslingers for the first time. I think it also may have been Ty's first time on the Incredicoaster.

5. On Sunday we were able to go walk on the beach, and the weather cleared up. So I did at least get a few nice hours on sun and waves!

6. The rest of the group flew home that night, and I drove down to Fallbrook to spend time with Ryan and Kelsey and meet their new twins, Remi and Piper. It was really fun to go see them, and solidified my belief that I could not have survived twins! Ryan and Kelsey have it down though!

7. This week I took Ethan back in to see Dr. Tyson and he was given the OK to remove the knee brace. Hallelujah! He was so sick of that thing! He still has a long way to go to strengthen his muscles though.

8. There was a terrible police shooting in Farmington this week. Body cam footage has not been released yet, but photographs showed the car with many bullet holes. The man pulled over was a 25-year-old law student and driving without license plates. Apparently he believed he was a "sovereign citizen" who is not subject to laws. He was non-compliant with police, and I believe had an unholstered weapon. What a sad situation. Sounds like his extreme ideology put him in an extremely dangerous position that he did not survive.

9. Thursday night the boys had their piano recital and they all played extremely well. I have just loved listening to their beautiful music the past few months. They all got "Superior" marks at Federation last week. 

10. Ethan submitted his audition for Newsies. He sang the song Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious form Mary Poppins. I hope he makes it! That will be a fun class for him next year.

11. On Saturday we did baptisms for the dead in the Ogden Temple. I survived the freezing cold experience and then we stopped at Farr's ice cream for dessert. Of course we stopped for ice cream!

12. Ty and Blake have both asked dates to Prom. that will be a fun night for them both.

13. Ethan has been cooking some more! This time he made pretzel bites, and they were amazing. the boys is relentless. He asks to bake cookies literally every day after school. 

14. Today Bishop Wood was released. Such strange timing that they didn't just release him in the fall and let the new bishop handle the ward split changes. They called Eric Orchard to be the new bishop of the Shepard Ward. I guess this surprises nobody?

15. Something that may be surprising. . . Dana announced today that she is pregnant! Her due date in in September. Yay for more nieces/nephews/cousins!

16. I was on Facebook the other day and saw a story from Collin Chandler's mom and it looked like he was being transferred to another mission again? I think maybe Washington DC. Is that a record or something?

17. Ty is making all sorts of cool bowls in his ceramics class.

18. Tate is starting to learn his letters and trying to recognize words. He is getting so sassy. Seriously.

19. Jett is obsessed with Big Nate books.

20. Something breaks every single day in this house. I can't keep up with the repairs!

That's all I've got!

Love you!

Mom