April 2025

4.30 - today Jacob was home sick recovering from an ear infection.  He and Devin pulled out trains and remote control cars and built a great track.  Then the girls got home and built an even bigger one. Then they ask went outside with the bubble machine.

Marie wanted me to record her playing the piano for a school talent show. We didn't get it done in time, so we tried doing it later for future just in case. Instead, we sent photos of her little brothers and talked about how great she is at babysitting them while I make dinner, etc. 

Marie's class earned a stuffed toy, outdoor day

Marie's class went to the Museum of Nature and science and got to dissect a lamb's heart

We went to visit Spencer's family over spring break. I sent his grandparents photos and this was their note back to us. They are in their 90's!

Charlotte's 1st grade class wrote a book and had a reading day where each kid read what their experience was as a 1st grader. 

Charlotte had her 7th birthday and has been looking forward to it for a year. She had a pizza-unicorn pinata in the park party and invited her whole school and primary class. We had over 20 kids

Devin wanted a picture of what he made out of magnet tiles

Shortly after Charlotte's birthday, I found this on the floor. She had made me an early birthday card  :)

Devin had another fever and was sick

Marie's activity was to make a box with little spa gifts - chocolate, lotion, etc. to give mom for mother's day. She wasn't sure she actually wanted to give it to me, but decided to. She was very happy I was willing to share it. Denise Vavrick is really great with the activities 

More at Charlotte's birthday

Opening ALL the gifts she got

more of sick Devin :(

In fact, between Devin, Jacob, Marie, Charlotte, Spencer, and I, there was about 2 months were neither Spencer nor I were both at church at the same time. We took turns staying home with the sick kid(s) or stayed home sick ourselves. Spencer was sick for about 5 weeks :(

Charlotte's lemon raspberry cake that Spencer made

March 2025

Michael is getting more smiley and has even rolled over a few times! The kids all love him

Poor Devin was sick and got ready for church but had to stay home. On the upside, his 104 fever only lasted one day instead of several

Stopping at Wendy's on our way to Utah. Charlotte had a sleep study the night before, so the other kids and I picked her and Spencer up from the hospital (My Mom dropped them off) and we got a very early start. This was our 2nd breakfast stop. It worked pretty well!

Devin finishing his ice cream cone at Little America on the way to UT

Jacob, Michael, Charlotte, Rosie, Alyssa, Marie & Devin

Jacob and Michael with great Grandma Nona Hess

Michael, Great Grandma & Grandpa, Jacob, Marie, Charlotte, Devin, Spencer

Alyssa with Michael

Devin and Maggie with Grandpa Scott Hess

Charlotte and Marie with Maggie (Laura's daughter)

Back: Jacob, Grandpa, Grandma, Rosie, Marie, Maggie, Alyssa, ..... Charlotte

Front: Leon, Joey, Izzy, Devin

Jacob and Devin deflating the air mattress in the morning. We slept and Scott and Sandra's 3 bedroom rental house. They are hoping their new house will be ready in 3-4 months. 

The kids at the park with their cousins. Scott and Sandra's rental is a block or two away from Julie's house, so the kids got to spend a lot of time with Julie's kids

They got to have a pizza, popcorn, and ice cream Sundae movie night with cousins

Leon, Devin, and Laura

The kids lining up for ice cream. Maggie, Scott, Devin, Leon, Charlotte, Alyssa, Marie, Rosie, Jacob, Joey, Izzy (youngest to oldest)

Devin helping make banana muffins. He loves to help in the kitchen. 

Jacob and Marie before the pine wood derby. Jacob came in 3rd out of the youth (deacons/girls)

Charlotte got to go to a jump park for a friends birthday and climbed the volcano by herself. 

When we were in Utah, Julie took Jacob and Marie to a Jump park, too while Charlotte and Devin were on an outing with Scott and Spencer

Spencer's resume is going around Lockheed. It looks promising

Charlotte's sleep study results - she's only waking up once every other hour, doesn't need oxygen nor a cpap.