Why we wont be asked back to the Residence Inn...

We stayed at the Residence Inn in Salt Lake City. The rooms had little kitchens and we were all really comfortable. It was nice that we all could stay together without sacrificing too much in the way of personal space and home conveniences. Lorien, Wyatt and Clare had a blast running up and down the halls, back and forth between our room and Grandma Judy's room. Lorien and Wyatt managed to run without screaming but Clare couldn't grasp the concept. Running and screaming go together like cookies and milk...you cannot have one without the other.

Easter day...

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Lorien, Clare and Wyatt digging into the egg shaped cake.

Alton after Cake... All the cousins eating cake... Riley... Clare....

The kids got up early and were extremely relieved to discover the Easter Bunny had managed to find them even though they were not at home. All the cousins had an egg hunt in Grandma Judy's suite and had baskets of Easter candy for breakfast. We went to church with Roy and Jean Wendt and then had Easter dinner back at the hotel. For a meal made in a hotel kitchenette it was divine! Grandpa Clay brought along a yummy egg shaped cake that put smiles on the kids faces and turned their lips green.

Family Easter Picture...

We don't take family photo's very often...you can maybe guess why. Wyatt and Momma had a heck of a time keeping their eyes open and Clare was not interested in sitting for a photo at all! Will just hates saying cheese all the time. Lorien is the only one who manages a sweet look in every photo. Here is our best shot.

Baby Brenton...

The kids had a great time visiting with all of their cousins. We hadn't met Aunt Charity and Uncle Ben's new baby, Brenton. Lorien and Wyatt just loved seeing the baby. They were very kind cousins and helpers with the baby.

Heading Home...

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Nevada was made a little shorter, not to a natural disaster sucking the whole state into the Earth's center like I hoped, but by plenty of Easter candy and sleeping children.

We had a great trip and are thankful for the time we had with family and friends. To those we missed, we are sorry and hope to catch you next time we make the trip out. To those we saw, Thanks! We love and miss you all!

Little Sis...

Me and Clare with Lesley and her baby girl, Lilly. Checking out the Golden Gate Bridge.

My little sister, Lesley, came out to California last weekend for an spur-of-the-moment visit. She drove by herself with her two little girls from Utah. We were happy to have her and very impressed with her ability to make it safely to us! We spent an afternoon in the city and Lesley got to visit her friend Mikenzie who is at school there. I watched Lesley's daughters so she could have a girls day with Mikenzie. For a few hours I had five kids and while it wasn't pretty no one got hurt and I managed to maintain a mild form form of sanity. Clare and Amelia (Lesley's oldest daughter) were best pals. They both love the same kinds of things...macaroni & cheese and yelling. They spent about 20 minutes hanging out on my bed growling like lions at each other. Monday night Lesley watched the kids so Will and I could go out to dinner for our anniversary. Thank you Lesley, I am so glad you came!

Lesley and Amelia at Pier 39 watching the harbor seals.

Wrestling Tournament...

On Saturday the Woodside Wrestling Club went to its very first tournament. In our family, Daddy, Lorien and Wyatt competed. Wyatt was actually too young to officially participate but he and his cousin, Evan, held a little impromptu exhibition match at the tournament. Lorien tried very hard to be a good wrestler. In her first match she and her opponent were evenly skilled. But he ended up winning the match. In her second match the boy she wrestled was much more aggressive. Lorien got tossed to the mat once and got up to try again but when she got tossed the second time Coach Will stepped in and let her bow out. Both Will and I were extremely proud of her for trying her best.

Will lost over thirty pounds to compete in the 163 pound open division. He wrestled three tough matches, succeeding with a pin in one and loosing the other two. Unfortunately the format was alien to Will (each of three rounds wrestled in a different style) so he was at a disadvantage. We were all proud of him and he ended up taking third place out of eight wrestlers in the class.

Daddy gave his bronze medal to the kids for the valiant effort they put into their matches.

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The pictures aren't great. It is tough to get good pictures of a match happening across the gym from the stands! The first picture is Lorien in her first match (her legs look so cute and scrawny in wrestling shoes, green socks and a singlet). The second picture is Will (in blue) almost pinning his opponent in his first match.

I love you more than cucumbers, cheese and stake...

Will to me when we were very newly weds: "Do you know what I love?"

"Yes, cheese and cucumbers." said I.

"Do you know what else I love?"

"Yes, stake."

"Do you know what else I love... more than cheese and stake and cucumbers?"

"What?"

"You..."

Today (Saint Patrick's Day) is our eight year anniversary! I love you Will. I am so thankful for you and for how much you love me. Thank you for loving me more than a wide variety of delicious foods (and more than anything else in the whole wide world). I love you heaps and piles and loads. Happy Anniversary!

Lorien's first at-bat...

The rules for little, little, little girl softball are pretty simple. One team is out in the field and one up to bat. Each girl gets up to bat in every inning (mercifully there are only two innings). The coach pitches three balls from about five feet away from the hitter. If she misses all three balls she gets to hit off a T and take first base. Each girl who hits after the first advances each player to the next base until the last girl sends everyone home. Perfect, no winners but no losers either. Lorien missed the first two pitches but hit on the third! The first picture is of her first miss (nice photo shootin' Mom) and the second is of her dash to first base. Way to go Lorien!

Self-serve Breakfast...

Most mornings the kids are standing around my bed asking for breakfast at about 7:00. But every so often they get a streak of self sufficiency and bust open a box of cereal without parental supervision. Here are a few shots from one such morning.

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