Eliza's Gymnastics Season

Eliza was able to compete in gymnastics this year, and she had such a wonderful time! Her first meet was nerve wracking to say the least. But with each meet she grew more and more confident. She's worked really hard this season, and we're proud of how much she's grown. 

In total she competed in five meets, with the final meet last week. The best part was that she is with a gym and in a league is so amazing! They really focus on developing strong gymnasts and even stronger people without pushing the competition aspect too much. 

State Meet Line Up

Bars - St. George Meet

Waiting nervously for beam in her first meet

Eliza has made some great friends on her team! She was also so lucky to have two friends from IMA attend two seperate meets. They were so sweet to come and cheer her on! 

Eliza and "Kiwi"

Eliza and Natalie

Savannah and Eliza

Little by little Eliza improved so much this season. She's gained so much more control and technique. Here's her first beam routine of the year which she was so proud of! 

And here's her final beam routine at State. She had a goal to hit the handstand without falling off, and she did it! She also got her highest score of the whole season on any event - 9.5! Her face at the end says it all.

We're proud of you Little E for working hard, for believing in yourself, and for meeting your goals! While the meets are over for this season, luckily gymnastics isn't. Come Monday they'll be back in the gym practicing and working on new skills. She can't wait! 

Second Place on Vault at State! 

Coach Faith with some of the team

 

Aunt A, Aunt J, and Uncle T

It takes a village to raise a child. My kids are so blessed that their village includes their amazing aunts and uncle. Aunt Jamie, Aunt Alicia, and Uncle Tj are always loving our kids and serving our family. Last weekend we were lucky to have all three of them at once. 

Jamie decided she wanted to take each of the kids on a National Park trip when they turn 12. Hazel's didn't happen last year with all the covid closers. So despite grad school, teaching full time, spring breaks that didn't line up, and preparing to take her pharmacy tech tests, Jamie wanted to squeeze in a trip with Hazel. She picked her up last Friday, and they enjoyed a few nights in Moab seeing Canyonlands and Arches. 

They drove through the parks (convertible top-down of course), had fun hiking, did some watercolor paintings, and had a great time! 

Meanwhile back at the house, Aunt Alicia came over after church to teach us how to make brioche bread! I ended up at a ministering appointment during most of it, so the kids were extra lucky to have something fun to do. The bread was amazing too! 

That evening we had family dinner planned before Jamie headed back to California. Uncle TJ wasn't feeling well, but he still drove down to our house to drop off food. He also insisted on patching my tire that had a nail in it despite feeling sick. In true TJ fashion though, he avoided all pictures. 

We are so blessed to have these three in our lives!!! The way they love and care for these kids is priceless. 

Five Things for Friday

- 1 - 

Conrad's Broken Nose

The only surprising thing about Conrad breaking his nose is that it hasn't happened sooner. This little guy hit his face hard on the edge of our wooden bench (the same one that sent Eliza for stitches. It's a ruthless bench!) Immediately gushed blood and swelled up. Within a few days it still looked crooked, so he earned a trip to the ENT. They suspected a minor fracture, but nothing that needed to be reset. 

- 2 - 

Creative Play

Eliza and her dolly have matching hair.

Michael found the tiniest cast iron pan ever and of course HAD to get it. The kids keep stealing it to play with. They even named their restaurant - Tiny Pan Grill. Then Michael finds it missing and takes it back until the kids find it and sneak off with it again. Meanwhile, I sit back and laugh at the whole thing. 

Orson's niffler is always looking for shiny things and sticking them in his pouch.  

No idea what's going on here... 

Orson has been so in to Legos lately. He wakes up and builds something nearly every morning. 

Conrad being a goof

UVU campus security. If you look closely Conrad has a mustache drawn on scotch tape! 

Lenora and Daddy having some fun.

Haley gets creative too sometimes

How big can they make their human totem pole?

Statue of Liberty 

Batman (with muscles!)

Lenora swings upside down

- 3- 

Learning New Things

Conrad has been more and more interested in joining us for school lately. He loves working on writing his name, and it's looking great! 

Last month I had Michael and the kids do a blood typing lab. I already knew I was A+ but Michael didn't know his blood type. The results.... Michael is O- (which is so cool because anyone can receive their blood!) Lenora is also O-. Eliza, Orson, and Conrad are all A-. Hazel's test didn't work out very well so we're not sure on hers. It was such a fun science day! 

Construction has been happening again up the street, so Conrad is learning a lot by watching them work! 

We were lucky enough to arrive at a friends house moments after one of their goats gave birth! The baby was still lying down and everything. We watched it stand up and nurse for the first time. It was so cool! They had another goat that had given birth just a few days before, so we also got to hold one of the kids. Eliza was in heaven. 

- 4 - 

Girls week/Boys week

Over Michael's spring break at UVU, he decided to take the boys to California for a few days to visit his parents. We all would have gone, but the girls had several things they couldn't miss. I think they had a great boys trip. I know they got spoiled by Jamie, Grandma, and Grandpa! 

Meanwhile, the girls and I stayed home and had a lot of fun too! We had tickets for a homeschool performance of Treasure Island at the Hale Center Theater. IT WAS AMAZING!!! I realized this was the first time my girls have ever seen a professional theater production, and they were in awe. The set was a huge highlight because there was a giant pool under the whole stage. The pirates rolled "dead bodies" in the the water, dropped in it from ropes, and swam around in the water. 

That week we also had a Bob Ross day and painted.

- 5 - 

St Patrick's Day

We don't usually do much to celebrate St. Partick's Day, but with Hazel doing Irish Dance, we quickly realized it's a big deal for performing. Hazel was in three performances the week of St. Patrick's Day - The parade in downtown SLC, a performance at the Spanish Fork library, and a performance at a nursing home. Lots of fun and green! 

- Bonus! - 

Just some cute pictures that needed a spot on here