Color is everywhere!

Daffodil
Bleeding Heart

Creeping phlox

Lamium
Who knew there were so many sizes, shapes, colors, etc. of tulips? (This is just a very small tip of the iceburg.)

Isn't spring just the best? It's an awakening of the sleeping flowers and trees. The grass is greening up, temperatures are warm but not super hot yet, the tulips and other spring flowers are beautiful. It just makes me glad to be alive and thankful for the beauty God has created.

I have yet to make it to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. I'd planned to go this year but the rain came during the times when I'd hoped to go. I guess I'm a wussy when it comes to enjoy things in the rain - I just decided I'd pass and maybe try next year. However, each year when they offer their tulip bulbs for $3/dozen for premium bulbs, I'm a sucker for that sale. I never know what will come up the next spring, but in all the years I've been buying those bulbs, I have yet to be disappointed!

Spring Contrasts!

Taken at 7:34 a.m. Monday 4/13/2009

Taken at 6:57 a.m. Thursday 4/16/2009Hard to believe these pictures were only taken 2 days and 1 hour apart

Wow oh wow! I just LOVE LOVE LOVE spring. It is my favorite time of the year. I happened to have my camera with me Monday as I walked into work. What a perfect day - warm (70's), blue sky and sunshine, etc. The trees along the front walk into LDS Family Services were in full bloom - gorgeous.

Then what do we have just a couple of days later? Oh yeah, a spring snowfall! We didn't get just a dusting of snow, oh no - we got a several inches. The best part about a spring snow is that it doesn't last very long.

Easter Sunday

The Fam

Up, up, and away!

What would sidewalk art be without someone drawing on themselves?

Bubbles anyone?

Taylor joins the fun!

There's one for Brylee!

Raimee has good eyes!!

Kelbee found one

Brylee, Kelbee, and Raimee - looking so cute in their matching Easter finery!

Brie hiding an egg. That's a pretty good color match!

Brie is such a good aunt. She bought little toys, bubbles, and some candies to go into plastic eggs for the grandkids, and then she and Brian went about the yard hiding them. She also bought a couple of kites for them to fly. We were lucky in that the day was so beautiful. They were able to get those kites way up in the sky, and even though they were flying them in the street right in front of our house, there were no casualties with power lines or trees!

I quit making a ham dinner on Easter a couple of years ago when I found out noone really likes ham except me (love the stuff myself). They all like the honey-baked ham at Christmas, just not at Easter, so I fix a roast now. Everyone seems to LOVE that! It was so nice to have everyone (except Tonya's family and Mitch) here for dinner.

Just chillin' and snakin'

Brylee and Taylor

Dying Easter eggs

New suits

We finally broke down and bought a couple of new suits for Dave. After 3 1/2 years of being bishop, his suits were starting to get a little ratty! So, we heard of a sale and cashed in on it - buy one, get one free.

Doesn't he look so handsome?

Happy Anniversary and Congratulations Todd!!

Todd and Krysta celebrated 8 years of marriage, and the best gift of all was finding out that Todd passed his state nursing exam (this his 4th and final try) and will be licensed as an RN! Way to go Todd, and Krysta!

Girl's Night Out

What a difference Girl's Night Out during general conference priesthood was this year. In the past we've all been together, and even after Tonya moved to Ohio it was all of us except her and her girls. This one, however, was on the quiet side. Todd and Krysta went to St. George for the weekend so it was just Missy, Taylor, Brie, and I. We went to Chili's, which was also a change from the norm. In the past we've gone to Los Hermanos. However, it was still a very fun night, and we look forward to Krysta and the girls being with us at the next one. Tonya's moving closer, but she'll still be about 20 hours away, and I don't see her being with us at the one in October, at least not this year. She'll be with us in our hearts however.

Iggy's was where it was at in March!

Our waiter accidently knocked over a BIG glass of water - right into Jechelle's lap. She was a pretty good sport about it, even though she was quite uncomfortable, and he felt REALLY bad!

L-R: Shelly, Sally, Sue, Lena, me, Jechelle (Suzanne couldn't make it - she was too busy enjoying life in Jamaica!!)

We met at the new Iggy's in Orem - near University Mall - for our monthly get-together. (We missed you Suzanne, but envied you too!) The paper held by Lena and Shelly is significant in that Lena sent each of the boys a red tie for Christmas and asked them to take a picture of them wearing the tie and send it to her. Then she put all the pictures on a page to send along with their monthly newsletters.

Work those pounds off!

Dylan and I

Back

Tri-ceps

Sit-ups

Biceps

Shoulders

Push-ups

I had my trainer Dylan take a few pictures as I was working out at the hospital gym. I didn't get any of me working my legs on the machines. The hospital provided us with trainers for the 100-Day Heart Challenge. They are exercise science students at BYU, and we worked out with them 2 days a week.

Today is your birthday!!

We took Brian and Brie to Los Hermanos for lunch to celebrate their birthdays, both of which happen to be on the same day - March 21. Brian's now 25, Brie is 19. Happy Birthday to you two - we love you so much!

WOW!

I took the garbage out this morning and saw movement by the fence. When I looked a little closer, this is what I saw. He sure was beautiful!

Karma!!

There are times when someone calls for a temple recommend interview at the last minute. Dave is so busy sometimes that it bothers me that people aren't more prepared. Well, Heavenly Father does have a way of teaching us lessons, especially when we've been "judgmental" of someone else. He has eyes and ears everywhere taking notes!!

I was getting ready to head to the gym early in the morning when Dave said he'd had an "oh no" moment the night before. Two of his co-workers were getting married in the Bountiful Temple, and he had a terrible feeling that my recommend had expired. I thought - oh no - and went to check, and yep - that's right, it expired at the end of February. He asked me what I wanted to do, and I said - let me think about it. My pride said I would not call for an emergency interview so I first thought I'd go to the temple with him but just sit in the car while he went to the wedding. However, after thinking about it while at the gym I decided I would like to go. Getting an interview with the bishop wasn't a problem, he gave it to me right then. The problem was getting one with the stake president. It was about 7:20 a.m. Friday morning and the wedding was at 9:30 a.m. What should I do? Pride was still an issue, but I had to swallow it (not a very tasty breakfast today!!) and he called the 2nd counselor in the stake presidency. He was more than willing to meet me at the church around 8:00 (did I mind if he wasn't dressed up since he was on his way to work?) Oh my goodness, did I mind? Heck no, he was doing me a HUGE favor - I wouldn't have cared if he was in his grubbiest clothes he owned!! So, pride swallowed, recommend renewed, we headed to the temple. It was a very nice wedding and I was glad we both went.

Remember, however - Karma will get you sooner or later, so watch what you say (or even think!!)

Me and Mary

I had to go to a JetBlue training meeting and was surprised that the person leading the meeting was Mary Driffill (2 f's, 2 i's, 2 l's!!), my trainer when I went through my 4 weeks training. It was good to see her again.

New In Town

People who know us and know we're from Minnesota originally kept telling us we had to go see this movie. Finally we went, and I have to say I was entertained by it. Now, I had to disagree a few times with the characters in that they had a very pronounced accent and we don't really sound like that, but then Dave commented that there are times - after talking to someone in Minnesota or especially after visiting there - that I sound like some of them! I have been asked from time to time if I'm from Canada so I guess my accent still does come through. I would recommend seeing this movie if you want some good laughs and to be entertained.

Spring is coming!!

Spring is just around the corner. The tulips are starting to push through the ground, we still have an occasional snowstorm but the snow is off the ground, and is burger-grillin time! (We actually grill year round because we like grilled burgers and don't mind going out in the winter to do so.)