topaz mountain

Melissa & Jessie

Clint was so great to show us what to do & brought
a big bucket of hammers and picks and stuff so we could find the topaz.

Bri & Kel

What posers!!

Another fun day, during spring break, was our trek to Topaz Mountain. Our dear friends & neighbors invited us to go to this place I had heard of, but never had been. So we packed our lunches and drove West. There are some lonely areas in Utah and this was for sure one of them! Once we got there I was surprised there were actually other people there too! Our friends said they were surprised too because last time they went there was nobody. So we shared this little mountain with several other families and began looking for Topaz. I had no idea what we were to do, but we quickly caught on. Basically you wack at the mountain with picks, or hammers or whatever until this rock gives way and then you look at the rock for these little crystals or what they call topaz. They are a little more tricky to find than I realized, but our kids & dads had a lot of fun! We felt like the dwarfs in Snow White :) So we wacked at the mountain, laughed, climbed around and of course ate. It was fun and fun to try something new and see a new little place in Utah we've never been to before. We did find Topaz & we brought our treasures home with us - the girls have loved showing off their tiny treasure.

church museum

Jess & I checking out the Angel Moroni statue.

This is what it would be like to speak at the pulpit in the conference center.

The girls loved the "family" part where they played with these dolls that looks so real! Syd was a proud mom of a sheep :)

Our sweet neighbors & friends & Grandma Anita.

One day of our spring break - I know I am slow at getting this stuff on my blog - we went to the Church History Museum. We were able to meet up with the Jensen family & we just had fun wandering around & looking at stuff. I was shocked we spent over 3 hours there, mostly because we have been there several times before, but it was fun to just wander around & spend time together. Brian was a great sport and hung out with a herd of women ...9 to be exact :) He had fun & loved watching his girls play in the museum. It was a really fun afternoon & a great memory!

Easter Egg Hunt

fi is trying to figure out why we are doing this & why there is SNOW on easter!!!

aspen is "attacked" with silly string :)

kel is checking out her eggs & prizes.


Each year, at the annual easter egg hunt, we try to figure out where grandpa, uncle larry & aunt jackie hide the eggs...

we search & search, looking under everything...they are very tricky!

mimi found a bunch & didn't give up!

even the "big" kids got into the searching action and in fact...

caleb & colten were the big money winners!

thanks for a yummy dinner everyone and a fun tradition we've done as a family for several years. it was a great day!

Easter with the Family

For easter we had a family BBQ at our place. It was nice to have a get-together & the weather tried to cooperate. We ate & did an easter egg hunt...the kids loved. Then played with bubbles & jump ropes. It was so nice to be outside - it's been a long winter! We also enjoyed listening to General Conference - always a wonderful way to be uplifted & feel the spirit. We are so grateful for family & the love and time they share with us. It was a fun day!

Zions

In St. George we were able to take in some hikes in Zions. What a beautiful area! We were able to meet up with Matt & Tracy, Suz & Brent, & Grandma & Grandpa. They came down the same weekend & cheered Kel on at her dance competition & invited us to hike around Zions with them. Kel, Grandma & Tracy went on one hike & the rest of us went on another to see the falls. It was a little steep to start the hike off, but it was so fun to be together & enjoy that amazing park in Utah. I loved the red rock with the snow that was still on the peaks - what a beautiful contrast. I think it was one of the only times I have been to Zions and wore a jacket! We have some amazing parks in Utah & it was so fun to take one in with family!

Kel's St. George Dance Competition

Dance competition season is on again! Kel competed in St. George & did great!! We loved having a chance to get out of town for a few days to somewhere a little warmer!!

Jazz Game

Brian was busy with Operation Training last month...really busy, but they were able to play a night and go to a Jazz game. I was thrilled to be invited & really enjoyed meeting many of the people he works with from other countries. We had dinner & then went to the floor to watch Corver warm up. It was fun to be at the game! During half time we were given Jazz shirts and lined up along the floor where the Jazz team comes back in from the locker room & gave them "5" as them came into the arena.