News From THE BIRD'S Nest: APRIL

TULIPS AND SNOW
No one wants snow in April. The good thing about it- it melts fast!
I couldn't resist snapping this picture because although I hate snow in April, I thought the tulips and the snow together were beautiful.

WELCOME TO MY CRAZY LIFE
March and April have been especially busy- perhaps even too busy.
My class schedule, field work, projects and finals have pretty well consumed me.
Add in my part-time job, church calling, PTA job and trying to clean my house and there is very little left of me to go around.
Yet I still stretch because my most important job I haven't even mentioned yet- my family. Homework and scouts and mutual and soccer nearly every night
and trying to find time to eat dinner together, or just do something fun-
it's not easy.
And then there is the neighbors and friends who I should visit, help, serve-
but when?
I need another day of the week, or a few more hours in the day, or I need to let something go.
But what?
Where should the sacrifice be made when I can justify everything?
I don't know the answer, so for now I'll just stay busy and try to enjoy it all.

EASTER
Easter snuck up on me this year (my busy life again). We had to hit the mall the day before for Easter ties (which I love- they look good I think). We don't do the Easter basket-bunny thing but I do always give some kind of gift or do something fun. I wasn't very creative this year but everyone got new soccer socks and a new water bottle filled to the top with candy. The weather was beautiful and the day was nice.

Egg scramble at Grandpa and Grandma's with the cousins.

SPRING BREAK

Sadly, I had to go to school during the week that the boys were out for spring break, which means we didn't really get to do anything fun. Thanks to Aunt Tamra they did get to go swimming and out to lunch one day. Here they are at the mall- nice Aunt, I wouldn't have allowed the no shoes look. They also got to spend a day at the Bird's with Grandpa and Grandma and two aunts to keep them busy.
Thanks family!

We did do one thing together- J took a day off of work and they all came to pick me up from school. We drove up to Salt Lake to take a tour of the capitol building- it fulfilled a scout requirement for Z, and gave us something fun to do together. Because of the rain, we didn't get to walk around outside much but we enjoyed the tour inside where it was dry. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and he tried very hard to be humorous with his dumb jokes. S got a little bored, and T kept telling us he'd seen it all before (field trip), but I thought it was nice for us all to just be together. Here are the pics:

Outside in the rain on the front steps.

T and S- wish they could have played around a little bit more.

Z and S in front of the marble lion statue. I remember sitting on top of that statue when I was younger.

Family pic.

These columns are tall!

Above where S and T are standing is the dome and a huge chandelier. The rectangular pieces around the circle are a type of glass that you can stand on. If your on the floor underneath they act as a sky light in the ceiling letting light through. If someone is standing on the glass and you are on the floor underneath, you can look up and see the bottom of their shoes.

Just starting the tour and already getting a little bored.

BEST COHORT EVER
After spending almost a year with this group, I'm going to miss them. We are all going different ways now- some doing internships, and the rest going to different cohorts for their last year. It was fun learning and teaching together, suffering through hard classes and learning from great professors, spending late nights working and stressing (via facebook), and even singing and dancing together. Good times and good memories!

SEVEN

Happy Birthday to my baby- I can't believe he's 7. S loves to help others and is kind and thoughtful. He always tries to follow the rules and do the things he is supposed to do. He finishes his homework willingly and loves to read. He is social and plays with friends almost every day. He loves to play outside, ride scooters, play soccer and jump on the tramp. He is a great brother and son and we are all so glad he is part of our family!

Birthday surprise.

He didn't ask for a bike, but I think he's pretty excited!

Aunt Tamra's creation.

Every year Aunt Tamra and S look up pictures of cakes and try to find the perfect one. Then Aunt Tamra spends the whole day working hard to make it just right. This years choice was a little challenging, but I think she did a pretty good job and S loved it!

SOCCER AGAIN
Once again, our lives are revolving around soccer. Z is playing on 2 teams, the Shooters and a city team, and he has practices or games 4-6 times a week. T is still playing goalie for the Shooters and he loves it. He usually has practices or games 3 times a week. S plays city soccer and plays 2 times a week. They all play at different fields and different times and on different days- it can get pretty crazy. We really enjoy going to games and associating with the wonderful parents and friends. It is a great community of people to be around. Even though it is busy, I love the things that the boys learn such as: working as a team, listening to a coach, respecting referees (even when they don't want to), the joy of success and the disappointment of defeat and so much more. Even though it's busy, I think it's worth it.