March

March really was a carazy month!  Most importantly, Brielle turned THREE!  I cannot believe that our baby is growing up so fast!  She is full of determination and personality.  She makes us all laugh all the time.  Because we were going to be gone on her birthday, we moved it up and celebrated on the 12th.  I don't think she minded a bit.  We had such a busy day though that we didn't get to the birthday celebrating until about 7:30, and by the time the cake was eaten and the presents were opened, it was way past bedtime.  Brielle was so excited about everything that I don't think she really fell asleep until 3 in the morning!  Which was a little sad because Sierra and I were leaving super early the next morning.

Backing up... the weekend before Brielle's birthday, we moved my parents moved out of the house we all grew up in!  I thought it was going to be sad and sentimental, but it really wasn't.  Their new house is only a block away, and once everything was moved in, it felt like home.  Audiu Moonglow Lane!

Bryson was pretty sick the day of Brielle's pretend birthday.  I took him to the doctor that day because I was worried that he had appendicitis.  Turns out it was just a bad stomach ache (we think) because his white blood cell count levels were not elevated.  I was leaving town the next day, so he had a Priesthood blessing and he felt fine the whole time I was gone.  I was very grateful for that! We were pretty worried about him though!

I accompanied Sierra to a national cheerleading competition in California! It was pretty fun for sure! The team did great and they won first place in their division (which wasn't too difficult because they were the only team in their division).  We went to the beach and Sierra went to Knottsberry Farms.  It was a pretty quick trip... just three days! But they had so much fun, and so did I!  It was the first time in a long time that I traveled without homework! :)

Sierra had a tough week of school because the very next weekend, the cheerleaders went to Boise to compete at State.  It was a much more difficult competition, and they did very well!  Sierra is definitely the cutest cheerleader out there! I just love watching my kids do what they love!  Sierra drove up on the bus and Jenika and I followed them with Nancy and Alyssa.  Whitney was dancing with her school's, dance team at the same time.  It was another quick trip, but it was fun to spend time with the Love girls!

While the girls were in Boise, the boys were in Shelly all day on Friday and Saturday at a basketball tournament.  They did great!  I really missed watching them play!

At the end of March, during Spring Break, my sisters, mom, and I did a sisters trip.  We went to the Hale theater and went shopping and made a cute craft in the hotel.  It is always fun to spend time with the girls!

This month was so crazy busy, but valuable.  I think we pushed our limits on how busy we could actually get... I think we learned that when life gets too crazy, we need to stop, slow down, step back, and get a perspective on things.  The most important things aren't things or even activities, but people and their feelings.

Cinnamon rolls for the Cheerleaders!

What I did in California

Brielle was so excited to be in a hotel!

March was exhausting!

Cutler at a HS basketball family night

Bryson at a "boy girl" party!

Confession

My name is Rachelle, and I am a terrible blogger and a procrastinator and I may have adult ADD because I loose interest in things when they get boring or difficult.

My goal was to blog each week for the year so that I could print this blog as a family journal.  I got through two months!  But, I am not giving up.  I am going to sum up the rest of March, April, May, and June, and then I will continue with the week thing.  Sorry family!!

March 1 - 17 years!!!

That's right!  We celebrated 17 years of marriage this week!  It's very surreal to remember 17 years ago, when we were a young engaged couple, looking ahead and dreaming about all we would do together in our future; and then now being where we are now, and looking back on where we have come together and still looking forward with a stronger connection and love.  We celebrated by attending the temple.  It was a very full session, but I am glad we went!  The IF temple will be closing this week for almost two years for some major renovations.  It will look like a completely different temple when it reopens!  I was glad that we could spend some time where our lives began.  Oh, how I love to be in the temple!

Shawn and I also got to go to a Collin Ray and BJ Thomas concert in Pocatello this week!  It was amazing!  Both artists have beautiful, pure voices.  Love Collin Ray and his music.  And BJ Thomas was FRIENDS with Elvis!  I shook his hand!  That was pretty cool!

We learned a few lessons about studying, grades, and responsibility this week.  Sierra had a rough time with her report card, and we were worried that she would have to drop out of cheerleading!  We worked out a few details, though, and we are hoping that she has learned a few things and will communicate, study, and not procrastinate in the future.

February 22 - parties, mistakes, and the temple

Bryson played his last basketball game of the season this week. :( They won and he played great! :)  I sure do love to watch him play!

Sierra competed in district cheerleading and they won first place in every event (they were the only team in their division though), so they are going to state cheerleading!  Can't wait to go to Boise to watch them!

Jenika performed at an elementary school assembly and worked at a clinic at South Fork.  She is awesome!

Cutler finally got to have his birthday party this week!!!  It has just been so busy, that I had to put it off week after week, but this week, it was warmish outside, and we just made it work!  He had a spy party, and the kids came, put together their spy kit, and followed clues like real live secret agents to find out who stole the birthday cake.  They seemed to have a lot of fun, and Culter had so much fun!  He was just thrilled to finally get his birthday party!

I made a major mistake and agreed to go to a sales pitch for some travel club thing because they promised a free gift for going.  But... I talked Shawn into buying the product for mucho money, came home, regretted it, returned the membership the next day, and gave up the free gift!  I am way too much of a push over to attend those dumb sales pitches!  

I got to go to the temple with my cousin, Rachel as she received her endowments, and then we again went to the sealing on Saturday.  I do love attending the temple and am reminded of my covenants and am renewed with peace each time I go.

I am a poor photographer... but here are some random photos.