Random shots from April

Here are a few more pictures from random events that finished out the month of April.

RAIN STORM

Neta under the down spout,
a favorite place to be during a good rain

Graigry's turn!
Nate is next up

They stood there and begged oncoming cars
to hit the curb puddles.
Missionaries came around twice,
which brought cheers and big smiles!

You've been SIMBA-d

Ro got Xela's forehead
with a small stripe of purple paint.
Xela got paint and, with help from daddy,
put a larger stripe on Ro's forehead.
(If you've seen Disney's Lion King,
you'll get the reference.)

FHE on the Canal

We took all the bread ends that had been collecting in the cupboard and went to the canal to feed the ducks. That is something that we haven't done in a long time. I used to go there daily when Eric was in school, and roller blade the canal while pushing Nate and Neta in the stroller.

We had to get the ducks attention;
they weren't really in a group
until bread was thrown in the water.

Nate wanted to one to eat out of his hand.
After several tries,
and finding a trusting duck, he succeeded.

I took a similar picture about two years ago.
All the kids are just a little bit bigger now. :)

It's been a very enjoyable month for all. May brings with it AP tests, finals and the end of school. This is where it gets more difficult for me, being stuck in an office all day without the kids. Eric keeps them busy with school, instruments and various property jobs, but I still miss them.

Spring Break in Utah - Part 3 - Apr 4

   Monday we finally got to the mountains! We went to the hill in Big Cottonwood Canyon, where I went sledding as a kid. There was still snow on the ground, lots of it!. Some of us weren't so prepared to go climbing through the thigh high snow stack, but that didn't stop us.

Pulling out of my parent's neighborhood
looking toward our destination.

We've arrived!

Now instead of walking on a paved trail (where's the fun in that?), we climbed over a small hill to get closer to the little creek.

Holding on to weeds
as we make our way to the snow

Xela (red) and Graigry (blue)
make their way to the creek.

We get to the creek and there is a 'bridge" that the kids decide to cross.

Over the bridge we go

Graigry crossed without any incident. I was a little nervous; it might look solid, but that doesn't mean it is, as Aurora found out as she stuck her foot all the way through and was able to see the creek flowing underneath. I wish I had video of that step. We were all glad she didn't go all the way through.

Daddy decided to traverse the terrain
on his hands and knees.

Xela getting ready to carefully
tread where her siblings have tread
before.

Neta with her cheerleaders
in front of her. 

All safely across the "bridge"
Now on to hike the mountain

We headed up, until Dad and I decided it was far enough. Neta stepped in Eric's foot prints and then I follow them as best I could.

Notice the shoes.
She went for comfort, not for purpose.

Following father's footsteps

The four of the five would have kept going. (Neta due to foot apparel, or lack thereof, was done before everyone else as her feet were getting cold). We found a tree to sit on and then let those that wanted to go up a bit more, go up while we watched.

"Climb every mountain!!"

Watching the others going up just a little more
just so they could sled on their pockets back down.

"I lost my shoe!"

Graigry follows Nate back down the hill

Xela in knee high snow

Once we regrouped, the challenge became getting back down the mountain without falling. First, however, where there is snow, there will be snow balls, and where there are snowballs, there will be a snowball fight.

Xela "innocently" approaching

"FIRE!!"

Neta again followed Eric;
Photographer was always last. :)

Once we safely made it down the mountain, there was one more throw down, mostly by daddy and then we packed back into the van and headed to the valley.

It's a Xela/Snow Sandwich

And to drink, Ro on Ice

Here are a couple of the scenery pictures as I enjoyed the view. I love the mountains!

Before heading back to the house, we went to see a sister missionary that served in our ward, Sis Camille Tua. She came out as part of her lunch break to say hello and give hugs. Neta was in love with her while she was in Indy and was very excited to see her again.

Kids with Sister Tua

After that quick stop, we needed to grab lunch and the winner was Wendy's. We ordered some food and then as we finished, I don't remember what inspired it, but a decision was made that there should be arm wrestles. Eric set up the rotation and we went out at it.

Nate oversees
the first set of challenges

Graigry not too big of an opponent for Daddy

Xela & Daddy in the championship round

Xela, Ro and I had to be at the airport by seven for an 8:45 flight, so after the late lunch, we headed back to the hotel to do a final accounting of our packing situation and we then headed back to Hibbert Headquarters and finished packing the checked suitcase.

We said bye to the remaining Scott crew, and when Grandma & Grandpa packed us in their van, it was about 6:30. We got checked in and were ready with just over an hour to spare, so using the free wifi at the airport, there was homework and journal writing and Facebook surfing to attend too.

Good bye mountains!

Our plane didn't arrive in Indy until 4:00 am Indy time. Aaron Robinson came to pick us up and we got home around 5am. We had about 90 minutes to sleep before I had to take the girls to school and I had to be to work (yes, they skipped seminary that day). I was grateful to be in Noblesville where things weren't as quiet thereby making it easier to stay awake.

Upon return home, we found on the porch, this thing in a box, holding a card with Xela's  name on it. Xela opened the card and, as you can read, was pretty excited.

BB8 from the new Star Wars movie,
made out of a soccer ball, bowl & small easel

Before I could really say anything, she had responded to Daniel King with a "yes." I texted Eric a picture and he was not at all happy about it (he hates the very idea behind prom ie "daughter auction"). Good thing I was home to greet this, and not him. We went to Kroger and bought some Marie Calendar pot pies, nuked them at home, and called that dinner. Ro fell asleep on the couch while she "studied." I think we were all in bed by 10:00 as there was seminary, school & work to attend to in the morning.

The other four got home on Wednesday afternoon (otherwise I would have done some sort of house fix up) before we three returned from school & work. I had told Eric that I wanted to get a BYU t-shirt or hoodie so the kids would have something to wear on their college spirit days at school and because I didn't have any apparel from my alma mater. At dinner Wednesday night, Eric pulled out a suitcase he purchased at Deseret Industries for $10. Inside it were t-shirts upon t-shirts and sweaters/hoodies upon hoodies all with some sort BYU something. WOW!! And all for about $50 (which includes the suitcase) at DI. I thought that was quite hilarious, and perfect!

Utah was a WONDERFUL spring break trip. There were memories made that I will treasure always. Being with my family and participating in General Conference is something that strengthened myself and my Scott family.

Spring Break in Utah, part 2 - April 2 - 3

General Conference weekend is one of my favorites of the year. It was even more memorable spending it. literally, in the presence of the prophets and apostles. To be in the Conference Center and to have worries and prayers answered during those talks. It was a wonderfully wonderful weekend.

Saturday morning we watched from my parents home. As the congregational hymn was being sung, Eric asked Nate and Neta if they would like to attend a session of conference inside the Conference Center. Nate was a little confused because as far as he knew, there weren't extra tickets. When Eric told them that we had tickets if they wanted to use them, Nate's face was almost an expression of disbelief. I wish I'd had a camera.

It was decided that Neta and I would go to the Saturday afternoon session and Eric would take Nate to the Sunday afternoon session. Once the Saturday morning session ended, Neta threw on her dress, Mom dropped us off at Trax and we headed downtown.

Riding on Trax
(I think this is the best selfie I've ever taken)

My baby & me
at the Conference Center

We had great seats, write behind the media box, which was made a little more fun for me as I could see what was on the teleprompter. There was a buzz in the center as people were visiting and finding seats. Then, as soon as President Monson walked it, quiet, as everyone stood. I loved it!

Neta slept through almost the whole first half, waking up during the congregational hymn. After the session, we went through Temple Square in route to our Trax stop. I wanted to take her up to the Christus.

Neta striking a pose...

...then stopping to smell the flowers.

Temple Square is so beautiful during conference. The tulips were stunningly colorful (I like tulips) and the tree blossoms were magnificent. I loved it; made me smile just walking on the grounds.

 Saturday night, Graigry, Eric and Dad drove downtown with Neil and Grant. Eric had three tickets to Priesthood Session (the original reason for the trip) so it could be a generational priesthood trip on Graigry's first official priesthood session. After the session, all the boys (uncles and nephews) went to the Lion House for dinner, a semi-annual event.

The girls and my Mom and I watched priesthood session from the living room. Priesthood session is probably my favorite session and this time, it was definately was. President Uchtdorf's talk was an answer to some of my recent prayers/worries.

When they got home, Neil and Grant hung out a little and continued a conversation from the car for a while before heading to their homes. We gathered our troops, minus Xela and Ro who were sleeping at Hibbert Headquarters, and headed back to the hotel to sleep.

Sunday was another two sessions of conference. Nate and Eric were able to attend the last session of conference. Their seats were almost as good, just a little further right than our seats were.

Sunday night was a big family dinner at the Smarts' house. The whole crew, minus Patrice and her family, were there to eat and play.

Visiting with Grant, Steph (facing forward),
 Corey & Joe (back of heads)

Moments away from the "Come and Get It" call
(after prayer of course)

The crowd gathers for prayer
(Smart kids in the background,
Neil holding Owen Wride,
Ethan Wride has the 'Y' shirt on)

Corey does a little finger dancing on Ro's flute
while the youngest file through the food line.

Neta and Abby hanging out on the front porch

Nate and Edmund on the trampoline.
(I thought I had video of them bouncing, but I can't find it)

No, they are not saying family prayer.
Uncle Matt & Aunt Bekkah are
leading a game of Avalon with the nieces,
nephews and Uncle Neil.

After the masses were fed, they went into the front yard and played a little Flies Up (at least that is what we called it back in the day). Even a couple of the fathers got into it. So fun to watch the cousins & uncles play together. Guess who catches the ball (while in the back of the crowd)???

After all kids and parents were herded to the front yard, we took an all cousin picture. It took a little bit of work, kind of like...

...herding cats.

And then hoping they stay in position...

...for at least...

...30 seconds.

We, well, I got a decent picture. With that  many kids, you've gotta click quickly and hope for the best. I wonder what everyone else got...

After the family photo, families started to disperse, the Scotts being one of the first. I took Eric and the three younger ones back to the hotel and then drove back to the parent's house for the Hibb Sibb "Late-Over." Neil originally wanted us to have a sleep over, but most decided a late-over would suffice, and we stayed L-A-T-E, like 2am before we had family prayer and went to the driveway. I felt bad for Neil who had a 45 minute drive home. Grant's drive was almost as bad, and they had work in the morning.

We chatted and looked through Dad's telescope while waiting for everyone showed up. We played, I don't know, ten or so rounds of spoons, which was SO MUCH FUN!! Mom was in with us, and Dad, not much of a game player, held Owen so Tiff could play. Neil and Grant were great at, I won't say cheating, but instead, creatively helping others get spoons once they had one in their hand.

Tiff was accused of "playing like Dad" (did I mention Dad doesn't much care for games). Tiff wasn't very competitive so would coordinate with Neil, who was sitting by her, to see what cards he wanted before cards started moving. She also didn't make much of an effort to grab a spoon, so we were tempted to play "Spoonserific" if it got to that point. I love laughing with my family and we did a lot of that.

Once we called that quits (at like 11:30pm), we pulled out the baby books and flipped through them. Grant looked through Patrice's because his book is still just a box of photos somewhere. Joys of being the youngest of a big family. :)

We eventually moved back to the living room to chat. Several times, Dad, who is likely to turn into a pumpkin anytime after about 10:30, asked to say family prayer so that he could go to bed. We would all fold our arms and then the conversation would continue and prayer would get delayed. Twenty minutes later, Dad would make the same request, we would prep and then get distracted. I think it was Neil or Grant that got us back on track and refocused on Dad's prayer mission. Dad smiled and said, "Nothing's changed in 40 years." We said prayer, Dad wished us all good night and then headed to his room. Mom, as usual, was up until the kids were ready to call it quits.

It was so good to visit with them. My usual self, I did more listening than talking, but I was able to learn certain things about my siblings that I never would have guessed in a million years! Struggles they've been through, trials they've faced and overcome. I learned, again, never judge a book by it's cover. If someone looks like they have the perfect life, wife, husband, kids, whatever, they don't. There are always things we do not see or know and we need never compare ourselves or judge them, because we just do not know.

I think it was about 2 or 2:30 am by the time cars started pulling out of the driveway. Eric had texted around one and I told him that I would stay at my folks house. I didn't know where my hotel key was and I would come get the crew in the morning. That's what I did. Xela and Ro were downstairs and I slept on the living room couch.