Kate's blog: May 2015

For mom's birthday present, LaRene, had a great idea to meet at BYU for Women's Conference. We tried to get Ginger to come too, but it didn't work out. Dad tagged along and spent time at the temple, with his Russian-speaking MTC tutor, and with Aaron and Molly. We 3 girls stayed in the Helaman Halls dorms on campus. We then spent a couple days going to classes on campus and having a great time.

Our first stop: 5 Guys Burger and Fries

We ate in the Cannon Center for breakfast each morning.

Needed a picture with the "Y."

The Marriott Center had props for us to take pictures.

Aaron had 1 more year of school left at BYU so we got to hang out with him and Molly,
especially for dinner here at Olive Garden.
And meet baby Stella!

Show at the Marriott Center included Gentri and other popular LDS artists.

We got to hear John Bytheway, Elder Ballard, Bonnie Oscarson, Wendy Nelson,
BYU President Worthen, and his wife, Peggy.

Mom and I would sit in front of LaRene in the Marriott Center so mom could lie back on Rene's lap when she was tired. She was recently diagnosed with chronic fatigue, but still wanted to go on this trip and was quite a trooper!
All she needed was to find a place to lie day now and then and it worked out great.

Since Helaman Halls only has rooms for 2 people, I was put in a room next door with someone I didn't know, but we realized there was plenty of room in mom and Rene's room to drag my mattress in and have a sleepover!

When I came home, everyone received BYU shirts!

Nicholas hooked on Rubix cubes!
Before...

After! Genius!

FHE - Mike showing the kids how to unclog a bathroom sink.

Gabe went with me on Brooke's field trip to Jackson Bottom Wetlands.
He's checking out the birds with binoculars.

Brooke's classmates: Brandon, Leslie, Brooke, Keila, and Janelly

Time to paint the house!
Goodbye this grayish/bluish color I never really liked.

After a few hours, I opened the door to take a peek at the new color.

And now a happy yellow color! Officially called Beeswax.

Enjoying karate with these good folks.

Another Red Cross blood donation.
Total of 2 gallons!

This is on our Sunday Walk with Grandma. Gabe decided he needed a backpack (probably with a coloring book and markers in it) and an Uno Moo game on this walk. He was ahead of the rest of us - a kid on a mission!

Mike and I seeing Phantom of the Opera for the first time.

David and Brooke working in the garden.

We went to a patriotic event in Hillsboro for Memorial Day. Not a large crowd there, but it felt good
to do something patriotic.

Brandy Crockett being the Child Charmer with her huge bubbles at our ward Memorial Day picnic.
Sadie, Gabe, David, Sofia, Ji-uk, Chase, Hyeon-a, Kinsley, and Hyrum.

Zach got out of school at Pioneer Heritage Academy a couple weeks before everyone else
and got paid to scrub the fence in the backyard.

Mike and I went to another Cure JM fundraiser, this one with a 20s theme.

We talked some of our friends into going and we all tried our hand at Blackjack.
(All the money was donated to the charity anyway.)
Aaron, Terri, Mindy, and Garrett