This year we actually had great weather for our two week spring break from school! It was wonderful for us because the kids could spend time outside playing basketball. One afternoon we even pumped up our bike tires and took a few spins around the neighborhood. I say we, because for the first time in probably 20 years, I donned a helmet and climbed on Alan's bike to see if I could still even ride a bike. Well, I can. Alan and the kids wondered what had come over me that I had this sudden urge to ride a bike. Maybe I'm feeling old and wanted to prove to myself that I'm not . . . I don't know. I even had Elliot video me to prove it to the other kids, because sure enough when I told Tess on the phone, she said she couldn't really picture me riding I bike and I said, "Sure you can, we have it all on tape!"
Enough about me. . . . The rest of spring break we spent relaxing and getting things done (do those two things really go together?) Well, we alternated. We watched movies, went shopping, cleaned out a few closets and hauled everyone to the dentist and to hair cuts. Elliot had been working to earn money to buy a game cube from a friend of his and he was able to get it mid break so he and Clark had a new fun toy to play with. Madeleine was also working to get her Driver's Ed online classes completed as well as working hard on an editing project a neighbor has hired her to do. We also celebrated Elliot's birthday during all of this. It was a fun two weeks not having to worry about homework and bedtimes.
Elliot turned 13 this year and is really looking older by the day, it seems. He is a really fun kid to have in our family -- he keeps us all laughing, at him and at ourselves. He loves to play games and watch movies together. Tess came home for his birthday and brought him a new BYU t-shirt that boasts of their basketball team on the front and their football team on the back. He is still quite the fan although we were all disappointed to see BYU lose the conference tournament championship. We had a great birthday dinner to celebrate and then did the present thing. It was Grandma Pat's first fun outing since she came home with her new hip.
Since it had been a couple of years since Alan and I had been on a get-a-way, we decided to spend a long weekend in San Francisco. He had been there once many years ago and I had never been there. It was wonderful -- I loved it! We had a great time seeing everything including our cute niece Jessica who lives there and was willing to spend a Saturday morning driving us around in her cute little red car. I realized as I was writing to Loren about our trip, that we flew on an airplane, sailed on a boat, rode in cable cars, trolley cars and taxis as well as walking a ton. It was quite the transportation trip!
It was more scenic than I had thought it would be -- I was entranced by the city scape, the streets, the bridges, Alcatraz -- everything. It was beautiful spring weather while we were there with only a bit of fog on the last night. And fog can be cool too.
We would sightsee all day, have wonderful seafood at night and sleep in every morning. It was a great routine. Of course I took a few pictures and it is fun to relive our trip as our screensaver kicks in.
This year Elliot was on the 7th grade basketball team at Waterford. He enjoyed playing but didn't feel like his team did a well as they might have -- talk to BYU, right? Their team ended up 2nd in the conference. Hopefully next year they will have the tournament before our spring break since obviously the other teams are practicing while ours is on vacation -- not good planning.
At the March Court of Honor Elliot received his Life rank and several merit badges. He is working hard in scouts and hopes to do his Eagle project this summer. We are looking around for good ideas.
Loren is doing well. He just got transferred to McAllen (the city containing the mission home). He likes his new companion and is excited to be in the new area. He is starting to send boxes home with stuff he doesn't want to cart around anymore but wants to hang on to. I think he really enjoyed the winter weather and is a little reluctant to see the hot weather returning. He sent another camera card, but unfortunately forgot to send any info along with it. But I'm still including the pictures --they are still fun to look at even if we don't know who everyone is.
General Conference
As always, we were looking forward to General Conference. It was fun to have Tess come home for the weekend. We also enjoyed being able to visit with Alan's parents and with my family. We also had a quick visit from Thomas and Melora Collette while they were out here from New Hampshire for Conference weekend. I always think of Conference time as a time of gathering -- a time to come together as a church and as a family to renew our faith and relationships. My Mom loved Conference. I miss her.
Everyone Else
As I reread this, it looks like March was all about Elliot! All the other kids are doing great. Tess is starting to gear up for finals in a couple of weeks and then will be moving back home. I think she is already dreading how quiet it will be at home compared to college and dorm life -- I try to be fun...! Phillip is still working and finishing up his class at BYU and Madeleine and Clark are back in school -- one reluctantly and one willingly. It is fun to still have a kid in the family who likes to go to school!