Epic

We have one word for Uncle Sam's Easter Egg hunts: Epic.  They will now, and forever, be completely impossible to complete.  We're still looking for eggs.  From last year.

 

I think we have less than 10 to still find from this year.  Maybe my grandkids will find them someday.

 

Uncle Sam's hunts require physical, mental, and emotional skill.  And you should probably bring a snack, because you're going to be out there for awhile!

 

Highlights from Hawaii

Andrew took his first trip to Hawaii at the beginning of February.  I think he was most excited to miss over a week of school.  He also had his tonsils out last November, so his attendance record is suffering a bit.  But his teacher told me not to worry about any make-up work.  I asked and asked for work for him to take with him.  She wouldn't give him any.  He didn't need it, she said.  And he has straight A's, so I guess she was right!

 

I knew Andrew would love Hawaii, and he did.  He wasn't even homesick, and he was sad to leave.

 

Here he is overlooking Waikiki, where he stayed at the Hale Koa.

 

 

 Andrew found lots of animals to befriend, including fish, lizards, turtles, and birds.

 

One of his first stops was to Pearl Harbor.  He enjoyed the ferry ride over, and loved learning about its history. 

 

One of the best highlights of the trip was the Polynesian Cultural Center, of course.  It is probably the most fun part of Hawaii.  Everyone there is happy and funny.  There is great music and food and games, including throwing spears: 

 

 

 

Andrew also got to hike and swim at waterfalls: 

 

Here's more of Pearl Harbor.  This is part of the USS Arizona, sunk down in the harbor, and the wall of names of those who died.  Andrew also got to tour a submarine, which was loaded with guns, much to his pleasure! 

 

 

 

 

He loved the food, the weather, the smells, animals, and cool plants and trees that cover Hawaii.  It is definitely a cool place to be! 

Andrew's First Klondike Derby

Ben took Andrew to his very first Klondike Derby.  It was at Cooney Dam, and my understanding was that they would camp overnight, and then do little stations around the lake.  However, Ben must have strategically forgot to mention that the activities were not by the lake -- they were on the lake.  I was still recovering from back surgery, so who knows if I would have even noticed, but had I been of sound mind and body AND known that he would be running and sliding on an ice-covered lake, I might have changed my mind about the whole thing.

 

Apparently, it was safe enough, because everybody came home safe and sound.

 

I'm not sure exactly what they did, but I do know that Andrew helped make breakfast for the whole Ward, and something happened with some sort of sled.  It's probably best that I don't have any other information.

 

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt

It was so nice outside just before Easter (it's been snowing and awful this week, but that's just normal around here).  Andrew and our neighbor, David -- he's really more part of the family than a neighbor, and he is here almost every single day, playing with the kids -- decided to set up an Easter Egg Hunt in David's back yard.

 

They hid 47 eggs filled with candy.

 

We found all but one!  It's still missing.

 

We got started in the front yard, found a few eggs, then moved on to the back.

 

 

After the boys yelled, "Ready, Set, GO!", Matthew was a little confused, but still excited -- so he just ran really fast in circles until somebody went over there and straightened him out.

 

Grace, Matt, and Joey all shared their candy after the big hunt was done.  We've been eating candy for weeks now.

PROM!

Haley went to her first Prom last month.  She was invited by a really nice boy, Alex.  We thought they made a cute couple!

 

Haley had fun shopping for the dress and shoes and accessories, and luckily found them all in time.  Alex worked hard to make sure he matched.  He did a great job!

 

They went out to a farm with some friends to get their pictures taken, had dinner at another friend's house, and then went to the dance.  Being a bunch of Mormon teenagers, they only stayed a little while at the dance, because they didn't love the way others were dancing, or the music that was being played.  So they went off to another friend's house to play board games.  It was a fun night!

 

St. Patrick's Day

The kids were really excited the night before St. Patrick's Day to find out what those crazy little leprechauns would do.  Well, they were very naughty this year.  They left footprints leading to all the kids' rooms, where they planted big, wet, green kisses on each of the kids' faces.  They also used the facilities, as they do every year.  They added a bunch of green Styrofoam to the cereal. And they turned the milk green, one of their favorite tricks. But this year, the kids must have been very good, because they were left a big pile of gold chocolate coins on the counter.

 

 

We also enjoyed the St. Patrick's Day parade.  We sat in the sun and ate our Wendy's lunch, and gathered up a whole bag of candy!  I think Matthew waved for about 20 minutes straight.  He figures that must be what you're supposed to do during parades, so that's what he does!

The kids were stunned to see a two-level Wendy's restaurant.  They thought it was pretty cool!