Hanna's 16th Birthday

On the glorious day of March 23, 2023, we made Hanna's favorite breakfast and got her a few presents to open in the morning. She had to go to school and she had a concert or something that night, so that was pretty much the end of it. If this sounds like the worst 16th birthday ever, don't forget that I flew her to Phoenix a couple months ago, and that she hates attention, didn't want a party, and never wants to be sung to! If I remember right though, I did pull her out of school, take her to lunch and let her stay home with me watching American Idol and Goldbergs the rest of the day while the other kids were at school. It's SO nice to have her all to myself sometimes. She is the most wonderfully loving human being in the world. I love her daily texts and hugs and snuggles. We are the best of besties!

 

Colby Got His Mission Call...

...and he is going to serve the Lord in the Chile Santiago North Mission! He was surrounded by support and love from so many family and friends when he opened his call. He is very excited for the chance to be a missionary and to leave the country. I find his call to be a hilarious irony since he refuses to eat beans and he didn't much like Spanish class. Heavenly Father is so wise and this experience is going to be just what he needs. And with his amazing smile and genuine testimony, I just know that the people in Chile need Colby too.

 

Spring Break in Branson

This year Colby booked his own Spring Break at Disney World with the PHS Band, and Destini couldn't leave town. That whittled us down to just 5 kids for our family vacation, which strangely felt very easy and cheap, haha! We went back to Branson, which never fails to entertain. The kids jumped straight in the pool upon arrival, and then we wasted no time being tourists, starting at the Titanic and "Believe it or Not" museums. Ripley's had a human maze and a mission impossible lazer challenge. Both were really fun! Mae was so good at the laser thing that everyone wanted to be on her team. Next we did a waterfall hike at Dogwood Canyon and ate amazing mushrooms at their delicious restaurant. Then we saw Queen Esther at Sight and Sound Theater, which was so moving and just epic, as always. The last thing we squeezed in was a trip to the aquarium before heading home. Except for finding out that Diamond died and Destiny was sad back home, we were happy and safe and blessed the whole time. Thank goodness in families who love each other, the good we receive always overshadows the bad we have to go through.