Spring Has Arrived!

Earlier this spring a robin decided to build her nest directly over my front door. Since I knew this would be a huge mess, I knocked it down. Being a dedicate and persistant mother, she began again. I knocked it down. This continued for a few days then Amanda told me she heard if you move the wreath from the door into a tree it will lure them away. I tried it but it didn't seem to work as the nest building continued. Finally, she gave up and we cleaned up the muddy twiggy mess! Well on Saturday when we were working in the yard, a robin flew out of the pine tree in the front yard. I wondered what she was doing there and went to have a closer look. Low and behold, it had worked after all!! She had built her little nest right in the center of the tree and is currently sitting on 4 pretty robin blue eggs! I'm looking forward to seeing the babies hatch and grow up. I'm being careful not to disturb her too much but wanted to share a few pictures I was able to take. I think this means that spring is finally here!!!

Congrats Ty!

Well yesterday Tyler accomplished a first for our family. He graduated from college! We are so proud of him and his focus and determination. He began his college journey during high school taking concurrent enrollment and AP classes, continued it online while serving with the Idaho National Guard in Iraq and completed it on campus after returning from his military service. He was so blessed to have the love and support of his amazing wife Amanda. Having a tendency to be a bit ADD I continue to be amazed at his ability to stay focused on a goal and see it completely through. On Thursday he accepted a teaching position at Roy Junior High School. He will be teaching 7th and 8th grade English and I know he'll love it. I have loved working in at a middle grades school. These kids have so much potential and are just discovering who they are. It's a great experience to be a part of that. I know he plans to continue his education, but for now we just want to say congratulations and thanks for setting a great example and working hard to accomplish your goal!

Spring Break Fun

Over Spring Break last weekend we went to Salt Lake as a family to see Wicked. We had seen it in New York in 2006 and loved it. I also had the random opportunity to see it last summer in Los Angeles. I was at skateboard camp with Daren. He was a camper and I was a parent volunteer as a driver. One of my "responsibilities" was to shuttle people from the camp in Tehachapi, near Bakersfield, to the airport in LA. On one trip I actually got to take Carrie Strugg, yes the former Olympian and darling of the Atlanta games, to catch her flight at LAX. She was at the camp working with the gymnasts that were there. It was really fun to visit with her. I don't think I've ever had that much contact with an actual celebrity. She was itsy bitsy and had a voice to match. But she was really sweet and I enjoyed spending a couple of hours with her. The last day of the camp I traveled with three other "drivers" on a charter bus with 25 kids that had finished the camp and had to catch flights home. After we got them safely to their terminals we spent the night only to return the next morning and pick up the next 25 or so kids that were coming into camp for that week. Well, after we got the kids taken care of on Saturday morning, the rest of the day was free. I couldn't convince any of the other moms to join me, so I called myself a taxi and rode into the city to the Pantages Theater to see Wicked. I was on row 6 in the very center and can't ever remember a more enthralling experience. I think it was so intense because I didn't have anyone to share it with. I just had to keep it all in! Very weird experience for me! But it was such a cool thing to and I was so proud of myself for being able to do it all alone. So when we got the chance to see it in Salt Lake, I was all for it! We all had a great time and I was again so impressed with the whole experience. It's such an amazingly well costumed show! I just can't imagine how people think this stuff up! And the singing was terrific as well. I'd love to go every single night! These pictures are from our trip to New York since I left my camera in the car on Saturday!

Happy Easter!

We had a great time celebrating Easter with the family. Emorie had an Easter egg hunt in the back yard and we all ate lots of great food and way too much candy! I love peeps! Especially when they sit open for a couple of days and dry out a little bit! Cadbury eggs are also very delicious. I forgot to buy any before Easter but I hit the 50% off sale at K-Mart and stocked up! I think we might make it until next year! It was great to spend time together with the family and remember how blessed we are to have the gift of the Atonement in our lives. It is so great to have the example of the Savior in our lives and the opportunity to continually work at becoming more like him.

The big 50!

Last week Ted celebrated a milestone birthday. He is now a half a century old. This is one of those times when I'm glad I am 4 1/2 years younger than him! We went to dinner before the Priesthood session of conference with the family as well as the Madsens. Zac was the only one who couldn't come because of work. Ted assumed that dinner was the big celebration. However we girls hurried home and blew up balloons and decorated the house for the surprise party with more family and friends. I scanned in several pictures from his life and we watched the slide show and enjoyed cake and ice cream. He was mostly surprised and I think really pleased that we had wanted to make the day special. I love and appreciate him so much! I can't imagine my life without him. He's my very best friend and I'm looking forward to spending the next 50 years together!

Aggie Tournament Trips

It finally feels like spring is coming! It's been a long winter. We have tried to find some fun things to do to stay occupied. In March we loaded up the Suburban with the four youngest Kings and drove to Reno for the WAC basketball tournament. It was a lot of fun and the Aggies helped make it great by winning the title! It's always so much fun when they win. We even had time to drive from up to see Lake Tahoe. It was pretty cold, but so beautiful. The boys even managed to have a snowball fight.

Our NCAA game was in Boise the following Friday. Ty & Amanda, Zac and Richie went up with Ted and I. The first 15 minutes of the game it looked like we would get blown out by a very good Marquette team, but then they guys came to life. They just kept fighting right up to the end. We ended up losing by just a few points. (I know, I should know the exact score like I'm sure the boys do.) We were dissapointed, but still proud of their 30 win season. We're excited about a new football coach and hope to see the program come to life! We'll be there regardless, but it's so much more fun when we win!

Sunny Mexico!

In January Ted and I were lucky enough to get to cruise the Mexican Riviera. The seas were calm and the weather warm! We went with a group of dairymen and their wives. Ten of us all together. It was so great to just get away for a few days. Even though it was still cold and snowy when we returned, the warm memories have helped get us through the rest of the cold January days. I definitely suggest that as a couple you take any chance to get away without the kids. We have always tried to do this even if it only meant a night in Salt Lake. Life is just too short to not take the time to make some great memories!