iFLY Utah!

Riley (13) and Hailey (12) both had birthdays in January. Deciding on birthday gifts is always a dilema, especially just after Christmas. We finally decided to take them to iFLY Utah! With piano lessons, YM, YW, our travels etc., we had a tough time getting our schedules together. Today we made it happen! Riley and Hailey both go to Spring Creek Middle School in Providence. After school they took the bus to our house and we drove to Ogden. Riley and Hailey gabbed the whole way down.

While I filled out the necessary paperwork and paid, Riley and Hailey watched some other people fly. That helped them know what to expect as they experienced indoor skydiving. Then it was their turn to go to 'flight school.' After that, they got all suited up for their adventure. They were both a little nervous. The company tries to sell DVDs of the flights and iFLY t-shirts but I declined. (way too expensive) The pictures below are not very good, but I tried. Besides shooting through thick plastic or glass, the rapid motion and lighting made picture-taking pretty difficult.

HAILEY

RILEY

Well, they survived and had a great time. Here they are with their certificates. They wish they had a lot of money to do it again and again. They would like to get as good as their flight instructor. He really put on a show for us. We went around to another door in the same building and watched the surfers for a few minutes. You should have heard these two kids laugh and chatter all the way home about the experience. They never shut up! Happy belated birthday!

Homemade Hot House

Sometimes when the growing season is a little short, you just have to be a little inventive. I planned on using hula hoops until I found some flexible pipe in Lowe's. Re-bar stakes were pounded in the dirt first. Then the pipe was put on the re-bar and bent over to the other side onto another piece of re-bar. Reed has a bunch of seeds started and placed under the plastic dome. Other things he planted earlier like peas, beets and radishes are coming up along the east side of our backyard garage.

Tanner's Baptism Day 4/11/09

It's Great to be Eight

We are proud of you, Tanner!

Tanner was baptized and confirmed by his father, Jory

Tanner showing me his sore tongue

OUCH! He bit it off!
What a goofball!

The babies

Miles and Brooklyn

Olivia and Owen

Hailey and Brooklyn

Jodi and Olivia (and Jill)

Hangin' out at the VanWagenen's home

Bryan and Brandon,

twin boys in blue,

born in 'seventy-two.
Can you tell who's who?

After Tanner's baptism and confirmation, we met at VanWagenen's home in West Jordan. We had sloppy joes and salads, chips and veggies. It was originally planned for the pavilion behind the church but the weather wasn't very cooperative. With family and friends, there must have been at least 45 people in the house.

The Hawkins Family visited from Oklahoma

Owen and Grandma ready for a ride

Miles had to have a turn too!



Olivia...dripping and drooling



Playing in the bed of the pickup



Captain Owen driving the boat

Owen, Brynlee, Jayse and Ashley at Riverwalk

Walks are more fun when you're carrying a stick

Before the Hawkins family left for American Fork to stay at Robin's, we tried to do a few last minute things. On the Riverwalk we saw many ducks, a few snakes and a couple of weasels. Owen, age 3, can recite four Articles of Faith. According to him, I am married to 'Grandpa Weed.' He is a little smarty pants. He writes and spells very well. Miles, 1 1/2, likes to make animal sounds. He is especially good at cow and horse sounds. He points out birds to us. He is very active and likes to be outside. Olivia, 9 months, seems very happy and content. She and Miles take long naps.

Conference Weekend

What a weekend! We certainly tried to listen to General Conference but with our crowd of 29, it was pretty noisy and nearly impossible. At least we got it recorded. Jodi, Ty, Owen, Miles and Olivia came from Oklahoma. They made our celebrations complete as it was the first time in nearly 5 years that the whole clan was together. We thank Jodi for arranging for family photos. We had pictures taken by Jodi's friend on Saturday after conference at the Logan Tabernacle. It was nearly an impossible feat to get everyone's schedules to allow for the photo shoot. The weather and some of the kids didn't cooperate the best, so we are keeping our fingers crossed and anxiously awaiting the proofs. The photographer says she can PhotoShop very well. After pictures we had a light supper of chicken salad croissant sandwiches, whipped lemon jello salad, potato chips and raw veggies. Dessert was chocolate ice cream and Milano cookies. Some of the guys had to leave early for General Priesthood Meeting. Most of the womenfolk and kids went swimming at the motel where Candace and family were staying.

This shows some of the family at the end of Saturday's meal. I could never get everyone in a single picture. Many of the kids don't settle down in one place long enough and my little camera doesn't do wide-angle shots.





After the first session of conference on Sunday we ate together. On the menu was ham with pineapple topping, funeral potatoes, peas, green salad, rolls and butter. Thank goodness for two refrigerators and two ovens! For dessert we had Katelyn's birthday cake.

Here is Katelyn with her birthday cake. She will be 3 years old on Tues., April 7th.

Robin lit the candles and everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to Katelyn.



After cleaning up, putting the tables and chairs away and loading the dishwashers, we had our annual Conlin Family Easter Egg Hunt. This year we divided the kids into two groups. The babies, Olivia and Brooklyn, didn't participate. Miles was a little young, but here is the next youngest group, ages almost 3-6 1/2, getting ready to hunt eggs...Brynlee, Landon, Kaden, Ashlyn, Katelyn and Owen.

With a little assistance from their parents, the little kids ran from egg to egg, picking up their prizes.

This is the 8-13 age group. From left to right: Ashley, Natalie, Hailey, Jayse, Tanner, Riley, Courtney and Mason.

Receiving final instructions from Aunt Jill...stay out of the garden area etc.