Ben's Baptism

It was a busy few days for Ben.  We had his birthday party the day before his birthday and then he was baptized on his actual birthday.  Ben was baptized by his brother Caleb.  It was a lovely baptism.  We had friends and family over for dinner after the baptism. 

Ben's 8th Birthday - video

The kids wanted me to video them doing front flips at Get Air.  Here is the video.

Ben's 8th Birthday

Ben, Davis, Gage and Dane taking a break from jumping

Party Room - time to eat

Party Room - pizza, cake and icecream

opening gifts

Ben opening gifts, caleb and alana bought him this ninjago set

Aunty Caroline made Ben this Captain America quilt

For Ben's 8th Birthday he wanted to go to Get Air.  We did a combined birthday party with Ben's friend Austin.  His birthday is the day after Bens.  The kids had a lot of fun, it was a good day, busy, but good.

Camp Fife

Here are some cute pics of Ben at his first Cub Scout Camp.  They held it at Camp Fife this year.  Ben had a ton of fun, is already looking forward to going again next year

Kangaroo Zoo

Dane being a crazy man and Ben being a cool dude

ben and dane relaxing in one of the inflatables.

Took the boys to Kangaroo Zoo.  It is just a warehouse with a bunch of Jump Houses with slides and obstacle courses.  They had a lot of fun.  After an hour of following them around I was ready to go, but they weren't. The had one big, long slide that Dane was terrified to go down.  Ben coaxed him up and he came down the slide with Ben.  The look on Dane's face was priceless.  He didn't do that again.

GOING TO THE ZOO, ZOO, ZOO, How about YOU, YOU, YOU

baby elephant giving himself a bath in a mud bath he created with the water

Giraffe

Ben and Dane watching the seals

Ben and Dane hanging out with the Polar Bears

trainer working with seal, they do a good job with them

We decided to go to the zoo yesterday and check out the new Rocky Shore.  It was pretty impressive.  We saw the seals swimming, but the polar bear didnt seem to want to get in.  He just paced up and down.  It has been a long time since I've been to the zoo, so it was a lot of fun, they have certainly made a lot of improvements to the place since I was last there.  We had a lot of fun there.  The boys really enjoyed it, and Alana was a good sport to come along.

HAWAII

Polynesian Cultural Center - Tongan Village

Polynesian Cultural Center - Samoan Village, tree climber for coconuts

PCC - Samoan Village

PCC - New Zealand Village

PCC

Hawaii Laie Temple

Gary in front of the Hawaii Temple

an example of the beautiful flowers in Hawaii

PCC - New Zealand Village

Waimea Falls

Pearl Harbour

Pearl Harbor - Gun Turret of the Arizona

North Beach, where the big sea turtles swim

Chef at Benihanas

The gang at BeniHanas, Clark from TF treated us to dinner

Jessica and I at the Luau at Paradise Cove

So we went to Hawaii!!!!  We spent a lovely week there.  Even though my purpose for going was to work, we still had the evenings and then I got to take a day off.  Our Hawaii trip also co-incided with our anniversary.  We got to celebrate our 22nd Anniversary in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.  Gary and I were able to go to the Temple and the PCC.  The days I worked, Gary went sightseeing.  He did a couple of hikes - Waimea Valley, Manoa Falls, Diamond Peak.  He also went to Pearl Harbour, lots of beaches and of course the swap meet.  We had wonderful dinners in the evening with our co-workers and even managed to go to a luau at Paradise Cove.  A wonderful trip, can't wait to do that again!!!!

SPRING DANCE

At dinner at Zhangs after the dance

NOJH had their Spring Dance.  Here are a couple of pictures of Kaylee and Alana.  After the dance a group of about 15 went to Zhangs for dinner and then back to Whitney's place.  Alana had a great time, Good Times being a teenager and have good friends!!!!

EASTER

making sugar cookies.  Easter wouldnt be Easter without sugar cookies, and yep, if you're wondering, they did taste BETTER than they looked!!!!!!!

Aleah helping Dane hunt for eggs

Dane was off and running when the hunt started

Ben getting him some egg action too.

Checking out their spoils after the hunt

We had a quiet Easter.  We didn't have any family over this year, just out immediate family.  We had a great turkey dinner, and followed it with the Easter Egg Hunt.  We have WONDERFUL neighbors.  We had the Easter Egg hunt with them.  Ben and Dane had a blast.  At first Dane was just running everywhere and just picking up one or two eggs.  He had to have a little help from the older kids ;)

SPRING BREAK

Playing at the Cabin

Ben at the back door of the Cabin - look at the amount of snow they have.

Ben and Dane sledding in the front yard of the cabin

City Creek

Get Air Trampoline Park

We started spring break by going to Island Park and staying at a friend's cabin.  The kids had a lot of fun.  The snow was old, but it was still fun for sledding. 
We also went to City City in Salt Lake City.  It was pretty amazing.  We had such a fun time down there, shopping, eating and looking at all the new stores. 
We went to Get Air.  It is a trampoline park out in Roy.  The little boys had such a blast, going from tramp to tramp.  Alana took a friend and they practiced their front flips.
We spent the rest of spring break going to the bookstore (one of our favorite past times) and picking out some good reads and then going to Caleb's water polo games.  All in all we had a fun week.