Lantern Festival...

There's a scene in the Disney Movie "Tangled" where the characters set off floating lanterns.  It's enchanting and visually amazing.  I found a lantern festival in Mesquite, NV and bought tickets for us all.  It was a little expensive and the place was packed!

We got there early and set up our spot.

There was music and food vendors.  Merril waited in a huge line to get everyone ice cream.

We prepped our lanterns by writing notes on them or goals or decorations.  Then it was finally time to set them off!

I was worried it wouldn't be a cool as it was in the film but it was so AMAZING!

The kids thought so too.  Songs were played as we released the lanterns and they picked uplifting songs that added to the ambiance.

It's one of the neatest things I've ever witnessed.

The company has a policy to pick up all the lanterns for us (probably why it costs so much) and they littered the exit road for miles.  The lanterns are completely biodegradable just in case they miss one.

It was totally worth it, totally amazing, and I think we'll do it again next year.

Star Wars Day...

It was May the 4th (be with you) and the kids could dress up as Star Wars characters. 

Mikayla such a cute Leia and Julie had Rey buns.  

Mark Preschool Graduation...

Mark is my shy little guy.  He's a homebody, doesn't like to be separated from me, and is fearful of change.  He started preschool in the Fall of 2018 and had a rough go of it.  He would cry and didn't want to be left at preschool.  He would fight against going in the morning.  Every time I picked him up, he was happy as a clam.  He improved steadily and by Christmas he was going pretty well.  Now it's time to graduate. Well kind of, he still goes to preschool next year.

He did well for half the program and got up to say his part.  Then he didn't want to sit up front anymore and came to sit with us in the audience.  

At the end, he went back up to receive his sucker, diploma and book. 

Even though Mark is shy, he's cuddly and sweet and reminds me of what it is to be a Mom.  He loves me so much and wants to be with me all the time.  Hopefully we can teach him how fun it is to go off on your own and make your own adventures! ❤

Construction room...

Emily Udy and I visited last month in Vegas and that was a spur of the moment kind of things because of the funeral. The 20-year high school reunion has been planned for a little longer and she's staying with me.  This is the task at hand: transform this room into a livable space before June 22nd. 

And the bathroom too! It's not going to be easy but I think I can do it! Or at least part of it!

Touring Merril...

Merril still goes on tour from time to time.  This week he took Japanese tourists to Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, and Route 66.  

We're just being dorks in the morning.  Love this goofy family of mine.

Broken windshield...

On SR-9 on the way home, Mark asked me to pass him a drink.  I reached behind me and looked backwards for a second and then heard BOOM!  Whatever hit my windshield left a baseball sized spider crack!  If I'd been looking forward, I might've swerved the car off the road to avoid it.  Luckily, I wasn't even watching the road for that millisecond. 

We can feel the end of the school year!!  Can you?

Surprise 40th birthday for Merril...

I'm not good at planning big parties. That being said, I wanted Merril's 40th birthday to be grand!  I planned a surprise birthday party and held it at the church.  So many lies were told to get him there and keep him away until it was time.

He said he had no idea!

We had snacks, sandwiches, and cheesecake.  Then we told "Merril stories."  Any fun, embarassing, or hilarious stories involving Merril were allowed.

I brought the banner home and tied it above the garage for a few days.

On Merril's actual birthday, he blew out candles.

This man is generous and ambitious! He does so many crazy and amazing things and I'm just amazed that he lets me tag along.  I hope he lives at least another 40 years with me!

Hiking West Temple...

Merril and Wade hiked almost all of West Temple in Zion National Park.  It was windy and there weren't any bolts to secure a harness to and Merril didn't want to get blown off the top of a mountain.  :)  So they turned around and came down.

I'm glad these two have found each other. Hee hee. They can do random things like hike mountains on a Thursday. 

I'm getting there!

I feel like I've been working on the backyard forever but the fire pit is looking so good!

Hike Hurricane 2018: Red Cliffs Recreation Area - Red Reef Trail...

We hiked the beautiful Red Reef Trail and it was super busy.

We didn't even make it all the way up to the falls but we still had fun hiking and getting exercise.

Hike Hurricane 2018: La Verkin Overlook

Okay so La Verkin Overlook isn't exactly Hurricane but you can see Hurricane from the top and so I made it count.  

We hiked with the Beatty family. Luckily no one fell off the edge! 

Look at my cute boys.

TurkEaster 2018

They are ready for Easter!  The kids had a specific color they were assigned.  They could only pick up eggs that were their color.  

Mikayla's color was pink!

I like to grab a selfie with my main squeeze every chance I get.

The outside hunt is always fun times.

Juliet seems to be the most competitive every year!

And a magnificent TurkEaster Feast!