Sadie turns 4 -

Sadie had a fun "Frozen" party for her 4th birthday.  Giana, a couple of the Skiba girls, and Lauren came.  Sadie, Sibley and I made gluten-free cupcakes and we bought a few as well.  We had cake and a piñata and it was a short, simple, fun party.  For a few days afterwards Sadie said she didn't want to be four...that three was enough.  But now she like being four.  She tells everybody.  Her favorite present was definitely the Princess Anna dress-up dress and doll set from Grandmama and Grandaddy.

Spring Break and California

Thanks to Grandmama and Grandaddy, we were able to go to the beach for a couple of nights during Spring Break this year.  We had so much fun going with the Sly family.  The first night I got so sick I thought I would have to go to the hospital, but Eran saved me with his traveling pharmacy.  Sadie and Tanner got along so well!  We stayed at the Best Western in Dana Point and it was very nice.  It was in a safe area and right across the street from the state beach, so the big kids went back and forth as they pleased.  The hotel also had a free breakfast, but the best part was that we had a suite with two rooms!  We will definitely be returning to that area!  Next time we want to go try out Laguna Beach (nearby) for an afternoon.  On our way home we checked out Newport Beach and the pier and we ate at the best Greek restaurant I've ever been to.  It was incredible and we are going back to that restaurant again too!

Saturday shopping with Grandmama -

On Saturday the girls headed to the mall and the men stayed home.  Joe's missionary friend came from across town to visit him.  He brought his family too, and since Sadie stayed home with Bryant, she was able to play with the children who came to visit!  They all went to the park and played some basketball and played on the playground.  The ladies went to the mall and got lots of spring shopping done...bathing suits, shorts, tee shirts, shoes, etc. 


Since Mama is losing her hair with this chemo, we looked for hats and headbands all day.  She found some she liked in Q.  Grandmama bought a couple of them but after we left she regretted not getting more.  Skyler and Sibley surprised her by going back and buying her more of them when they were supposed to be in a different store. 


All that shopping made us hungry, so we headed to "My Big Fat Greek Restaurant" for a girls' night out meal and it was delicious!  (Mama wore a headband at dinner and it made her feel warmer and more secure.)  Me and Mama shared lamb kabobs and vegetables and salad and it was so good, but she tried to get a piece of lamb off the stick and it flew off the plate and under the table and landed directly on my foot!  It was a funny way to end a fun day!
Then Sunday at church Daddy bore his testimony and told his conversion story about Leland Wach.

Grandmama, Grandaddy, and Joe come for a visit -

We had SO much fun with them!  They got here on Tuesday night, March 4th.  We rested on the 5th and Daddy took me grocery shopping.  Thursday we cleaned and had my Norwex party.  Friday Sibley skipped school (because they were just having field day anyway) and we all (minus Skyler) went to Falcon Field to look at old airplanes.  I had heard they had a B-25, and Bryant and I have always wanted to see one of those because Papa flew a B-25 "Mitchell" in WWII.  They also had a B-17 "Flying Fortress", and both bombers are in working order and are flown on a regular basis.  We got to see them in action, but not before we walked through the B-17.  It was incredible to be in there and check out the bomb bay and the gunner posts, etc.  It was one of the coolest things I've ever done!  It ranks right up there with walking through the ironclad USS Cairo in Vicksburg. 


They also have several other aircraft - helicopters and airplanes.  It was an emotional day for Mama.  She thought of Grandy a lot.  She thought of all of the brave young boys of Grandy's generation who, like him, volunteered for the war.  The docents there are used to people crying.  They see many veterans and many families of veterans.  They have veterans who were crew members of bombers during the war sign the inside of the airplane.  I wondered how the crew stayed warm and how they breathed.  One of the docents told me that frostbite was a common problem.  He also said that the men had to use oxygen masks and that they even wore electric underwear to stay warm!  I really learned a lot...so much more than I ever learned from reading about those planes in history books.  I think everyone thoroughly enjoyed the air museum, even if it was an emotional experience.
Bryant had to leave for work at 2, so we separated and I took the rest of the clan to the Krispy Kreme drive thru, Chipotle, the outlet mall, and then home.  Daddy was worried about putting some fires out at work.  We were all pretty exhausted after all of that anyway.  But it was a fun and educational day with family!

March in Review for Sibley -

Sibley is getting ready to go to her first girls camp.  She went to the Camp Kickoff on Sunday!  She's excited but she only gets to shower one time, so she's a little worried about that.


Sibley and Skyler both did a lot of shopping with Grandmama when she was here...both got cute new swimsuits just in time for spring break!


Bryant took Sibley, Sadie, and me to course selection night at the Jr high for Sibley next year.  I love her principal!  Several people in our ward teach there -- Sister Orem, Brother Judkins, Sister Heaton.  It was good to see familiar faces.  The curriculum (liberal arts) looks great and I think Sibley and Sadie will both be so happy there!

Gilbert Temple Cultural Celebration and March in review for Skyler

Skyler practiced for months for the cultural celebration.  It was cold and wet and rainy, but the kids got to hear Elder Eyring talk and to see President Monson.  Skyler says she can't wait to get married in the Gilbert temple!  She also says she made friends in the ward, got to wear cool costumes, and make a title of Liberty.  The Queen Creek East Stake plus two other stakes were Captain Moroni's Army.  Grandmama and Grandaddy plus lots of cousins and some aunts and uncles got to watch the Cultural Celebration via internet from Alabama.  Skyler got a close up on TV!  Grandmama felt very sick from chemo and she said that getting to see Skyler was a tender mercy just for her!


Bryant also got to participate in the Cultural Celebration.  Some of the leaders stayed with the kids at the actual celebration and others were assigned to be drivers.  Bryant was assigned to be a driver, so he and Skyler were in charge of taking four other youth back and forth to the practices for the months leading up to the actual celebration.  When he picked poor Skyler and the other kids up after it was over, they were soaked to the bone and shivering with cold.  It hadn't rained for seven weeks before that day, and as soon as the celebration began, it started raining cats and dogs!