Fun at Great Grandma Hodgkinson's

Our first stop in Mesa was to Grandma's pool!

The kids had fun swimming, picking fruit, and playing pickle ball in Grandma's backyard!

We are so excited with all the yummy fruit we got to bring home!!

Thanks grandma!!

Dallin was so cute with the kids doing Math problems underwater!

Everyone loves Aunt Sue!!

I have VERY similar pictures playing with my cousins on this court when I was their age!

Horseshoe Bend

Darin and I had discussed going to Arizona for my Grandma's 90th birthday and to help his brother move.  For MONTHS we have been going back and forth--yes and no.  A week before we finally decided a final no....until the morning of and we last minute decided yes!

I am so glad we did because we had a GREAT weekend!!  

We left Thursday and drove until Page, AZ and spent the night.
The next morning we hiked Horseshoe Bend.
The kids did it a few years ago but didn't remember it.
It was the perfect start to the morning to stretch our legs before the last bit of driving.

Valentine Date

Darin took me out for a little Valentine's Date!

First went out for some sushi!  

Then we went to the Stake Valentine's Dance!

I was a little nervous that we weren't going to be able to leave because there was NO ONE there besides the friends we came with!

It was a great night, and always wonderful to be with my awesome husband!

And thanks Laurie for taking these awesome pictures!!!! :) 

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Matthew's Baptism

We had a wonderful weekend with Matthew's special baptism.

I wish that I was better with words to express and describe all the details of the day.

Matthew was so excited and so ready to baptized.

My favorite part of the day was after Matthew's confirmation, the bishop had Matt come stand by him and look at all the people that were there.  As he told him to remember the wonderful support he had, I saw Matthew fight back tears.  I asked him about it later and he said, "I think I was really feeling the Holy Ghost, and I was so excited to get to have that feeling with me all the time."

Oh I LOVE this GOOD GOOD boy!!!

After the baptism we went to our house for a little potato bar lunch.

(And thanks everyone for your help!)

It was so great to be with so many family and friends.
Matt sure is a loved boy!

These sweet sister missionaries have been SOOO good to Matthew!!

We LOVE them!!!

Pack Meeting!

Two days after Matthew turned 8, on Saturday, we went and bought him his scout shirt, book, and patches.  By that night he had passed everything off to earn his bobcat award. Two days later was his first Pack Meeting, and he got his bobcat!

The last time I went to a pack meeting was probably when I was 5 and went to my brothers'.  I am VERY unfamiliar with cub-scouts, but I am excited to learn and to help this very excited boy!!!

CAA Picture Day

Last week Lindsay had picture day, and I could help but snap a couple pictures myself.  

I sure do love this little tiny dancer!

Darin's 35th Birthday

I feel like Darin often gets the short end of the stick for his birthday.

With Matt and Lindsay sharing a birthday week, I am often burned out by the time it gets to Darin.

But, this year, I think was a real winner!

I told Darin I had a surprise for his birthday.

Friday night, I told him I got tickets to the opera to see Man of Le Mancha at Capitol Theater!
(I actually really do love that opera, and I think Darin liked it too, but it wasn't the REAL surprise).

Saturday morning, Darin's brothers surprised Darin at our house, bagged it head, duct taped his hands, and threw him in the trunk of the car.  Then, they took him to Top Golf for a couple of games!

He was SOOOO surprised!!!  And it was extra fun because I got 5 of the brothers together and his dad,  (all but Tom, but he has a good excuse since he lives in Taiwan).

I didn't get a ton of pictures....which truthfully is an extra present to Darin!

Happy 35th Darin!  I love you!!