APRIL FOOLS

 Our saucer magnolia did not freeze this year.

April first is always special because first of all it’s our Tiffani Dora’s birthday and also Aunt Bev and "little" Del.  Aunt Bev is the only aunt we have left and we love her dearly.  As a child I loved to go to Malad because she was there.  She reminds me so much of my mother. 

Doctor Brown predicted Tiffani was going to be a boy.  The nurses were surprised because he would never tell what he thought but the nurses agreed.  APRIL FOOLS!  What a joy she has always been.

 Granny couldn’t believe how good she was and decided she just was so anxious to come to this earth that she was at peace. 

My mother and Father came from South America for the blessing and after having her in a large basket for several hours, my mother couldn’t wait any longer and took the blankets off so she could see her.  She just never fussed.  I guess that’s because she had an older sister and brother who spoiled her.  She is a great mother and loves her family.  We are blessed that she found Dave to be at her side.

We bought a smoker on the 2^nd.  It’s Dad’s Fathers’ Day present.

It is Conference weekend which we love so much.  We always copy it so if we miss something or want to hear it again, we can.  We liked Elder Stevenson’s story of the lost key.  What a good reminder.  We love that Kristin sent us her notes so we can easily look over the main ideas of the speakers.  After the second session we hurried to Skylar’s reception. (Bethany’s sister) to share in their happiness.  We hurried on to meet Erik, Parker and Kolton so Dad could go with them to Heber and meet Clark for dinner and the priesthood session.  Shanelle and the little boys met me at Chick-Fil a  for dinner.  We had a great time.  The lemonade smoothies are something I wish I didn’t know about.  They are so yummy.

Sunday’s conference sessions were also so good.  We love to hear the Prophet speak.  He told us about 4 new temples and bore such a powerful testimony.  He is a man of God.  Every 6 months we are taught what to do in the next 6 months to better live the true gospel of Jesus Christ.  The sessions are always powerful and such a great time to review what we know to be true and what we need to do to gain eternal exaltation and live with our families for eternity. We so yearn for that blessing.

Erik and his family came for the first session and waffles, whipped cream and fruit after.  It’s a family tradition.  They were so much fun to have and we thoroughly enjoyed conference with them.

The painting relief ccrew

Scott, Bethany and kids came to drop off their Easter Bunnies for us to tend for a week since Scott is painting Tiffani’s huge house in Vegas.  I think a lot of playing will get done too.  We are loving the bunnies.

Erik and his family left for St. George for a few days because of spring break and for Erik to canvas the Half Iron Man all 3 sons are doing next month.  They played a lot too.

Tuesday we used the smoker for the first time.  We smoked some of Clark’s pork chops.  They were juicy and delicious.  We’ll be using that often.

Wednesday we worked in the yard.  It was so nice to feel warm.  Later Erik, Parker and Kolton came to aerate our lawn.  Parker fed the bunnies when his part was finished.

I finished 2 quilts this month; only 9 more to go.

The St George Temple is quilted on the main part but it can't be seen.  Oh well!

When Dad’s C-Pap gets so noisy that ear plugs don’t dull it I just go across the hall and finish the night in that bed.  Well at 2:50 last night I did just that.  I shut to door to both bedrooms so I couldn’t hear anything. Shortly after I got comfy, I heard a very loud noise coming from Dad’s basement, office window.  No sooner than I heard it the alarm sounded.  I jumped out of bed to turn it off but wondered why Dad hadn’t rushed out of his room.  I opened his door and there he was, sound asleep.  The alarm was so loud I felt the neighbors could hear it. After a few shouts, Dad finally responded.  I rushed to the control center to answer the man’s questions while Dad put on some clothes.  The panel showed that it was the office window.  When the man asked if we wanted the police, I answered “yes”.  The officer came and searched around the window and found nothing so we asked if he would check downstairs.  We found some of the bottles Dad has dirt and water in had fallen because the alarm piece had come loose and dropped on them.  What a relief.  We are so grateful for the policeman who come so quickly and stayed until the question was solved.  He was so kind and made us feel it was no problem for him.  We love our law enforcement, especially now. Dad fixed the faulty device.
We had the kids Monday and Nixon decided we needed to make fruit sticks.

The 12^th was our temple day and we always enjoy that day. I was especially excited because I did Ada Sally Walkingstick.  With Granny’s love for the Lamanites, I’m sure she was there helping me.  I had a very peaceful feeling the entire time.  We are most always the witness couple and I was having hip trouble that morning but it never bothered me the entire session.  We love the temple!
Tended Nixon on Thursday.  He was so good because he wanted to be a cowboy so that kept him extremely busy.

 even the chaps;

The 14th was Kolton's 13th birthday

  He has grown in so many ways.  He is always fun and loves doing things with his family.  He honors the priesthood which he holds and is always doing things for us. He is very talented in football and soccer and we love to watch him play. He is a stalwart young man.  We sure do love him.

Of course the next day was tax day.  OUCH!  We love this country but sometimes we wonder about this tax business.

Friday we went to Riley's game in the rain, hail and snow.  

It was so darn cold.  They tied but it was still a good game.  We were so happy to get back in the car with the heater and head home.  They had to clear snow off the field so they could play.  Nest time we'll check the weather.

Riley

 Susan Doty died so we went to her home to have some time with the family.  I won't mention that we forgot the funeral.  We went to Alpine School Dist to get some fertilizer for support of the alpine grand kids. On the way home Beth called and said they had some extra bark if we wanted it.  Dad loaded a truck full and we will get more next week.

Tanis and Lea were great help 

 The kids showed us the bunnies' home.  Sorta extravagant.  They sure are happier than they were in the little cage we had them in.

April 17th was a great day.  The blessing of our first great grandchild. William Clark Johns is such a joy to all of the family.

                         

 Tyler gave him such a beautiful blessing.  The Spirit was so strong.  After the meeting we delivered a table and chairs to the John's home for the dinner.  It was a banquet.  It was great to be with the Johns, the Goates, and our family. Only Erik's family was able to be with us.  I'm so glad all of those extended families are fun to be with.  It was just a great time.  It was cold so the pictures aren't the best but the occasion was terrific. The photography was expertly done, (Hailey)it's the people were so cold.

Clark's Family

The Greats

After the dinner we went to our home ward for Sunday School and Priesthood/RS.  We are so blessed to live in such a wonderful ward.

The next day we went to Park City for Riley’s soccer game.  They won.  No pictures.

 notice the foot in the ice bucket

Tuesday night we went to Erik’s for dinner and to help Erik give Shanelle a blessing in that the next morning she was having surgery.  Erik gave a beautiful blessing.  We are so blessed and grateful for the priesthood on the earth today.  It is such a powerful gift from our Father.

The nest day I took Dad to the temple at 4:45 because his truck was in the shop.  I then went to Erick’s to help get the boys ready for school.  They needed no help.  They got up, Parker helped Camden cook breakfast and everyone got to school on time. After taking Camden and Asher to school I headed back to Provo for my dental appointment.  After the apt.  I got my car washed, went home to dry it and had a call from Dad to pick him up; his assignment was over.  I then visited 4 sisters in our ward who I felt needed a visit.  It was so fun to be with them.  They are all home bound.  At 3:00 I picked Dad up off the freeway at a boat shop and headed to Draper for another soccer game.  They won 3-0.  By the end of the day we were so tired but it was a wonderful day.  Thank goodness for the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Erik had let us know that Shanelle did very well in her surgery and was home.
April 21, we got up to go to PG and help Shanelle.  Everyone was doing what they should so we jut watched.  The older boys left at 6:45 and we took Asher to his before class, and headed to Larry H. Miller Dodge to get Big Red.  Only $1300 repair.  Good thing we haven't had to do anything else in 70,000 miles.  He's 16 years old.  We sure do miss Clint.  We left to go to Scott's and get the rest of the bark.  We both shoveled until we got it done.  When we got home I made bread and Dad unloaded the bark.  Our yard looks better than it ever has.  Thanks Scott.  

This is a star tulip.  It looks just like a tulip in the morning and spreads out like a star all day.  It is 2 or 3 weeks old here.

We even had enough to do Erik's front flowers and some of the back.  The boys did that while we supervised.  We were upset because Shanelle had weeded all of the front flower beds; a day after surgery for Pete's sake.  Needless to day she was hurting and tired.  With all of that we managed to fit in a viewing.
Beth Anderson, Kristin's mission companion, and a friend, Shiela, had been staying at our house while taking a class at the convention center.  We were so busy, we only say them for about 15 minutes a day.  They left today.  We just love Beth and were happy to save them some money even though we didn't see them much.  At 3:00 we left for Kamas and another soccer game.  Again, they won.

the fans  Ashley brings Will to every game

Riley and Granddad

William and his Granddad.  Granddad's not very proud.

William and Granddad Great

Saturday we were still so tired.  We went to Asher's soccer game which he played very well.

 We were very proud of him.  On the way home we bought a ramp so we can put the tiller in the truck to share it with the boys.  BYU volley ball beat UCLA to claim the conference championship.  YEA!
Monday, April 25 started with Cliff Boyd's funeral.  He was a wonderful custodian while Dad was at Timpview.  We're certain ya'll remember him.  He was a good man and always willing to help anyone.  After dinner we went to see how Shanelle was doing and take some dinner.  She is doing way too much but is doing fairly well.  It does no good to chew her out because she's going to do it anyway.  We surely do love her.

The 27th was Kristin's birthday.  WOW!  How thrilled to finally have a daughter of my own.  She was such a treasure, and so good.  

They have just moved to a different home and she has already made it so comfy.  She has an amazing ability to put things in order quickly.  She has always had her room and everything just as she wanted.  She is very mindful of others and helps people even when it is not convenient.  She LOVES her children who are so easy to love.  We love the way she finds fun things for the family to do on a penny.  How blessed we were to have a precious daughter first. (She was, according to her siblings. always trying to be the mother.)  We remember when she ran away from home with her bike and a red wagon.  I told her she could take anything but what we had provided for her.  She turned around and pouted home.  What memories.  We won't talk about setting fire to the Seminary bathroom.  She is a special daughter of our Father in Heaven.  

WE LOVE YOU KRISTIN.

We love our family and the way our children are so diligent in teaching their children to live the doctrine of Christ and to love one another.  We love to be in their homes and just  feel that family love.  Our children are such better parents than we were.  We love them so much.  The restored gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ.  How blessed we are.

The last few days of the month found us at

Kolton and Camden's soccer games.

Camden's game was very cold as they all have been.

We love to go to grandchildren's events.  The very last day of the month we went to Parker's school to watch the play "Fiddler on the Roof", where Parker played the Constable.  He was terrific.

 It was an amazing production.

Best audience

 After the play

Clark's family came and we all gathered at Maceys for Cong cones after. (We were sad that Riley had to work.)  Hailey had all of the kids ride with her in the Yukon; it was rockin'. We were well entertained that evening.  

What a great way to end a month.