Found the Hawk

We spent a long time cleaning today. The kids were great helpers. No complaining at all, and they helped a lot. I was on my knees vacuuming the bottom stair when I saw a weird needle looking thing sticking up. I pulled at it and it was Jorja's hawk earring that she lost a few days ago. Hopefully we can fix them, the pin is now sideways. I can't believe I saw it. It was buried in the carpet.

Jorja had a double date today. She asked a kid named Alex. She knew him in elementary school. He was in the Chinese program with her. He goes to a different school now. Sadler asked Hailey. They went miniature golfing and ate at Pizza Limone. Jorja loved the guy playing music on the patio. They spent a long time talking to him. She thought it was great.

Alex, Jorja, Hailey, Sadler

Jorja & Alex

Music guy, Hailey, Jorja, Alex, Sadler

The date ended about 9:00. Jorja then went to Ellie's birthday party. She played ping pong, foosball, and pool. She lost at all of them. Hahaha. She had a great time.

Mike and Alex

My brother Mike called today. He asked what I was doing. I could hear he was in the car so I asked him where he was. He was in Lehi. He asked if he could come over right now. Of course! I texted Bubs and he hurried over with his family. My dad is in Nauvoo and Matt and his family are in Idaho for Sam's family reunion. Mike rented a car and drove up yesterday. He got in super late. Skye is going to soccer camp at BYU. Larkin is staying the week with Christen's sister helping with her baby.  Anyway, it was sooooo nice to see him. I loved it! (Bubs is texting my brothers. I took this picture to send to my brothers. I'm sure we were in some baseball conversation with the ones who weren't with us.)

Mike, Skye's hand, Bubs, Ange, Abby

 Mike, Stephanie, Bubs

 Abby, Larkin, Skye

 Ella, Abby, Larkin, Skye

A few hours after my brothers left, Mike's childhood best friend called. His boy found a just hatched duck. They watched the chick hatch. He asked if we could take it. Mike said yes, so Alex and his wife Jodi came over. Except in-between the phone call and getting here a dog got ahold of the duck. The chick was still alive, but just barely. I don't know if it will make the night. It was nice for Mike to see Alex though.

In Jorja news, she is now on her way home! Mike was a little nervous because she texted us before she went to bed. When we asked how she was getting to the airport she said she had no idea. She got on the plane though, so all is well. She absolutely loved this trip. I'm so happy she is coming home. I'm so happy she had this experience. I'm so happy she loved it. I feel very blessed.

Officially in Tucson

Okay, all of the pictures will show you that we are most definitely NOT in Tucson, but Stockton now is! Stockton had to check out of the MTC at 5:00 in the morning, so it was an early day for him. He called me when he was at the airport. I got to talk to him for exactly 9 minutes. Still! It was wonderful to hear his voice. He sure did love the MTC. He's a little nervous about being an official missionary out in the real world, but I know he will be fantastic.

We had our last day at the cabin today. Steve left really early. The rest of us played for a bit. It was cold, but so much fun. We sled out front for a bit and one last trip to the Springs.

 So beautiful!

 Mike & Preston ~ penguin style

 Preston

 Stephanie

 Penguin race! Mike & Preston, Stephanie & Jorja

We had agreed not to try and crash each other on the race. Of course Preston does not follow the rules. Despite him trying to jump on us towards the bottom, Jorja and I still pulled out the victory!

The Springs was so fun even though we broke our last two of my favorite sled. I went off a jump and broke the very last one. Dang it! We had one too few sled for the last run. Alex wanted to just ride the 4 wheeler down. I talked her into trying penguin style with me. She was nervous, but I talked her into it. I told her we could just go until we meet the 4 wheeler path, which really isn't very far. She agreed. We went so fast! It was fun . . . but we crashed. I was having a harder time steering then I usually do and Alex isn't used to going that fast. Anyway, I re-injured myself. It feels exactly the same as when I hurt myself on the rowing machine. It's always the last run. I was still able to finish, on my belly too. I have never done penguin sledding from the Springs. I have actually never gone on my belly from the Springs. It was super fun. I wish I could go down again.

Snowman by Lisa and Nova

I took Maysen and Jorja home. Preston is saying good-bye to Maysen. He loves her so much. I regret not going through Idaho Falls on my way home. The roads looked great and I thought we would be fine. But soon they were an icy mess. We were already too far on the way when we passed a 'chains only' sign. We drove on ice for hours. It was not fun. It took us forever too. We even went a different way to Logan then the way we came, but the roads were still terrible. I guess in the winter it is always better to backtrack to the freeway. I was so glad when we finally dropped Maysen off.

Preston & Maysen

 Jorja & Alex

We helped Maysen bring stuff up to her apartment, then we went to eat with her. Last semester a hamburger restaurant opened in Maysen's building. Stockton was a fan. Maysen not so much. It was nice to be able to have somewhere to eat without needing to drive. We filled our bellies and said goodbye to Maysen.

Maysen & Jorja

We dropped Alex off around 9:30. I think. I was so glad to get home. We only made it home a few minutes before Mike and Preston, and they left waaaayyyy after us. Although they didn't drive to Logan and didn't drive on thick icy roads for several hours. Still. Anyway, this weekend was a lot of fun. I love the cabin. I love that Mike and our kids love it as much as I do. Happy memories.

So Much Snow

It is crazy how much snow is here! So beautiful! I love it! We had the morning to ourselves today. We went sledding around the cabin and then up to the Springs. Mike bought tubes because he has always wanted to try them out here. I have always been super against it. I don't feel that you can steer tubes, and that makes me nervous. There used to be barbed wire at the bottom of the hill. Now it is just a wire fence and the barbs are gone. I guess that is better. I shouldn't have worried though. The tubes didn't move at all. Super slow. The kids had fun being pulled behind the 4-wheeler with them though. Preston had a bit of success with the tube, only if he had a sled underneath. It was weird, but he enjoyed himself. We went up the the Springs this afternoon. It was FAST! Crazy fast. So much fun! I don't remember it ever being this fast during the day. I loved it!

 Maysen

 Alex

 Jorja

 Preston

 Preston, Jorja, Maysen ~ before the trip up to the Springs

 Preston, Jorja, Maysen ~ Almost to the Springs...these kids got pounded with snow!

 Maysen & Jorja

 Maysen, Jorja, Alex

 Jorja & Alex

 Alex, Preston, Jorja

 Preston with random dog

 Jorja & Preston with random dog ~ Jorja went crazy when she saw the dog and flew off her sled

 Jorja, dog, Preston

If I knew having a dog would keep Jorja from being boy crazy, I would for sure get a dog.

Jorja & Alex

 Alex

Steve arrived a few minutes after we got back from the Springs. That surprised us. We did not know he was coming. He got a phone call right as he got here with the news that Weston made Varsity for lacrosse. That's cool! That is also why Weston couldn't come this trip. The Hodson's were a few minutes behind Steve. Lisa came all the way from California! She brought Michael, Melissa & Derek, Nova and Leo. This is going to be fun!

Jorja & Nova

For some reason Jorja and Michael were fighting like dinosaurs

This is going to be so much fun!