General Conference Weekend

At the end of Spring Break, we had General Conference Weekend. We thought it would be great to go see the Sage Grouse since that has kind of become a Spring Break tradition.

We got everybody up really early in the morning and headed out. There was a chance of snow so we would turn around and go home if the weather didn't look good. It looked good. All the way through Provo Canyon, all the way past Heber, then all of a sudden it hit. Seriously, just sitting in the van looking out the front window, it was totally clear, when all of a sudden we jumped to hyperspace. Whoa. Snow coming right at us, hard to see the lines on the road, all the vehicles going slowly. We got toward the top of the hill by Jordanelle Reservoir and started losing traction. We had already made the decision that we would abandon our trip if this happened, we just didn't realize it would happen so suddenly. We found a pullout and just hung out listening to audiobooks and the boys played video games on their devices. 

Several snowplows went by and the snow calmed down a little bit. We were able to get to the next exit that thankfully had been plowed, and were able to get on the highway going back the way we came. Once we got down into Heber area again, it was clear all the way back home.

We went home and some of us slept then got up (picked up Nichole as she wanted to sleep instead of seeing the sage grouse), watched General Conference, ate nachos, some of us slept during Conference, and made brownies to start from the middle for the evening session.

O.K. Funny story before we left. My phone was connected to the van speakers via Bluetooth. I turned the van on to warm it up while we got the last of the stuff from inside. I had my audiobook on Libby on my phone in my pocket so I knew it would start playing through the speakers as I buckled Jet in. What I didn't realize is while the boys were sitting there in the van, all of a sudden they would hear, "Beast. Blood everywhere," in a menacing voice through the speakers before I paused my book. We all cracked up.

Sunday, April 7, besides being General Conference, was No Housework Day. Ha! I got up that morning to one child throwing up. So much for World Health Day. I think he was dehydrated because after that morning he was fine the rest of the day. 

Nichole made the comment it seems like somebody always gets sick during General Conference weekend.

It was a good weekend even without sage grouse.

Spring Break- Wednesday

This day was so action packed it gets its own blog post.

We started out early in the morning to head to the Henefer Lek to listen to and watch the sage grouse displaying. It was fun to take the whole family this year. Most of the kids have never gone (like I said it is an early morning trip). It worked out. Jet mostly slept through the whole sage grouse part of it. He started stirring as soon as we got to the lek. It's not so good to have a baby crying while you have windows down. We got him back to sleep, though. 

The boys in the back seat were content because they had devices. 

They did pause to listen to and look at the sage grouse from time to time.

 

Nichole, Jeremy, and I were content because we had a camera and binoculars.

There were a bunch of grouse near the road so we were able to get a good look when we were on our way out. 

After the lek, we headed over to East Canyon Reservoir. It was coooooold.

There were plenty of birds and ground squirrels to take pictures of, though. I even got to hear a loon in real life for the first time ever. I've been wanting to and I did. I was so happy.

We picnicked in the van at another spot along the reservoir. Since I forgot to bring out the Twinkies the day before, we celebrated the anniversary of the invention of the Twinkie Observed on Wednesday and had them with our lunch. While we ate, I gave the kids a background about how the Twinkie came to be.

After the reservoir, we stopped at another reservoir, Deer Creek, to look for more loons. There were at least a couple and guess what. We heard another loon calling. Eeeeeeee. I was even more happy. Two loons at two different reservoirs. Yay! 

Jet was ready to be awake by that point so we decided to go somewhere where he could run around. We went to South Fork Park. This is what we got when we arrived. 

This

vs this

Eventually everybody got out so we could get family pictures with Flat Stanley.

This is what happens when you get out so early in the morning. You fit a lot in. Jeremy and I were even able to get a nap in after we got home before we had an Easter Egg hunt in the back yard. Much different from last year when Jet could barely reach the eggs on the living room floor.

He even enjoyed playing with the empty eggs after we got back inside (we had the kids empty their eggs into ziplock bags so we wouldn't have all this candy sitting in eggs for so long).

So it really was an action packed day. We haven't had one of those in a while. I'm so glad it worked out.

 

By the way, April 7 was National No Housework Day. Perfect day for all of this. It was also National Walking Day. Perfect for running around at the park. It was also World Health Day. Getting out in nature is so good for our health.

The KAT's Meow

Jeremy:  Sometimes I'm so clever I pontificate.
Kristin:  What?
Jeremy:  Sometimes I'm so clever I pontificate.  I don't even know what pontificate means.  I hope it's nothing bad.
Kristin:  I know I've heard the word before but I don't know what it means.
Kristin (looks up in the dictionary):  Pontificate.
Jeremy (reading and laughing at the same time):  To speak in a pompous or dogmatic manner.
Kristin (laughing):  Sometimes I'm so clever I pontificate.  So it does fit.
Jeremy and Kristin:  Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.



Mommy:  Whose green apple is this on the table?
Jr.:  Oh, mine.  I didn't finish it because my stomach started to feel bad.  You know my problem where I eat something healthy or I just drink water, it makes my stomach hurt?



Mommy (talking about needing to get the kids new shoes before the school year):  It's expensive to have children.
Jr.:  At least it's not expensive to have love.
Mommy:  Awwww.
(Hugs)

National Doctor's Day 2013

To celebrate National Doctor's Day, March 30, I spent the day pointing out to the kids what doctors would consider healthy.
A cheerful attitude is healthy.  Not whining is healthy.  Saying you're sorry and forgiving each other is healthy.
Exercise is healthy.

It is important to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Oatmeal is good for your heart.  Carrots are good for your eyes.  Eggs are good for your body, too.
Helping out is healthy.  Having a clean room that is comfortable is also healthy.