Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida

 The closest we could get to Nationals in Florida was Ogden, Utah. The send off was a perfect way to see the full routine and to show our support for Justin.

The Weber Spirit Squad has become a second family to Justin. I've been impressed with the coach, the team and their encouragement of each other. They headed to Florida as returning national champions.

Justin kept me posted throughout the event, which helped curb my guilt over not making it a point to be there. I knew logically, I didn't need to be there but over the last three years I have really grown to love watching his competitions and his growing skill.

I've never prayed for good internet connection and speed, but I admit that I did during the live broadcasts of Justin's performances. They had a qualifying performance one day and the finals performance the next.

During the prelims they had a couple of dropped stunts but Justin and his team went into finals with positive attitudes, and used those fails to motivate them to do their very best.

It was so great to watch Justin in his solo tumbling pass right there front and center. I held my breath, clapped and cheered at his completion, and was a bit teary-eyed with pride.

The results came just a short time later and with the internet hanging on by a prayer, I got to watch live as they announced Weber as back-to-back champions! Hyrum had just gotten home from school and together we danced around the kitchen, cheering for Justin and his team.

So much work went into that trophy! Justin will have a National Champion 2018 ring, memories and friendships as his take-home trophy.

I'm so proud of this kid and his hard work! I'm also proud of his positive attitude, commitment, ability to get along with those who are, at times, difficult, and his willingness work as a team member.

♥ LSWT ♥

Nathan's 12th Birthday:

Nathan received two very special gifts on his birthday: The Priesthood and a bunny.
But first, his "cake".

Nathan has never liked cake, so every year we try to figure out a worthy substitute. He thought he was stumping me with his suggestion and request for a "colorful, jello cake". Never doubt the mother!

Each layer took at least 45 minutes to set so this cake took roughly four hours to make. It jiggled just like he hoped, was as colorful as a rainbow, and as sweet at our pre-teen boy himself.

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For as long as I can remember, Nathan has been asking for a bunny. As cat owners that seemed like a silly idea and honestly, I didn't want the parental work that would be necessary to train him to take care of it. However, at twelve, I contemplated where the rabbit would stay, researched types of rabbits I'd be willing to add to our country abode, and started searching.

The only place I could find the breed of rabbit I would allow (one that would stay small) was in Utah. We were headed there for a send-off for Justin to Nationals so it was perfect timing to pick up his birthday pet.

He sat unknowingly in the van while I approached a house under the guise of "picking something up". I came out with a squirmy baby bunny, barely the size of a cupcake.

Nathan squealed, laughed, and tried to hide his happy tears as he cuddled up with his new best friend.

We quickly learned that Bruno, as Nathan named him, could daily eat twice his body weight and poop nearly the same amount. Although he looked round and chubby, it was all fluff that he could squeeze right between the bars of the animal pen. It took nearly 3 months before his head grew big enough to stop him from escaping.

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Nathan's 12th birthday brought a very big step in his spiritual life. He has been preparing for and looking forward to this birthday for the last several months.

After learning how to do indexing on the Family Search website, and having friends who were telling him how much they love going to the temple, he was really looking forward to doing baptisms at the Rexburg LDS Temple.

Before he could do that though, he was to be ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood.

That was a beautiful day full of family. Bret, Erika, Kailee and Derek came from Utah; Levi and Daymia came from Idaho Falls; Grandpa and Grandma Fullmer came from Utah and we all gathered for this important occasion in Nathan's spiritual life. As we all walked into the small classroom at the church, where the Deacon's met as a class, we filled the room with love and support. Grandpa Fullmer, Bret, Bishop Wray, Brother Allred, and Brother Lundin all joined LeRoy for the ordination.

The rest of the day was full of family and food, so we waited until Monday to take a trip to the temple for some pictures.

After a walk around the grounds, Nathan posed in front of the springtime trees just starting to bud their leaves. I thought he was just wandering the grounds but he started to look a little pensive.

"These trees are just like me. They are starting to bud their leaves and will grow and blossom throughout the summer with the help of the sun. I'm just now budding in the priesthood but with the help of the Son, I will blossom and grow too."

Just a few weeks later, LeRoy, Nathan and I went to do baptisms. The temple workers treated him as a very special guest. As we were waiting for our turns, Nathan sat next to me and started to quietly quote the Articles of Faith, all 13 of them. He grinned in his nervousness, explaining that they were helping him stay calm. LeRoy did the baptizing, Nathan was baptized, and I wrapped each of them in a warm towel after. Five family ancestors that Grandma Fullmer had found received the opportunity to accept baptism that day.

When we walked out of the temple, Nathan paused again by the trees, smiled and asked for a picture.

"See, we are both blossoming."


Nathan wanted a group party at The Craze here in town. We made quick invitations and planned it for the weekend after his birthday. On the morning of the party, the Craze called to inform us that the sever rainstorm from the night before had flooded the building. We couldn't even reschedule because they didn't know how long it would take for cleanup and repairs.

About a month later, the boys were able to play laser tag, miniature golf and arcade, and to down as much pizza and soda as they bellies can handle.

Middle School Game Night, Spring Piano Festival and Easter

Nathan had a Mother and Son Game Night at his school. However, I already had tickets for a conference in Utah so I had to find a replacement.

To quote Nathan, "every activity is better with Levi and Daymia there!"

Among other games, they played life-size human Foosball, Connect Four, Hungry Hungry Hippos and Angry Birds.

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After months of practicing, the boys were both ready for Spring Festival at BYU-I.

They both played their memorized pieces in front of judges with confidence, and I was so proud of their hard work and courage.

Our tradition after piano festivals is to get a treat at Cocoa Bean.

Depending on the weather, and our cravings, we get either hot cocoa, specialty mixed drinks or cupcakes. It was a specialty drink kind of day, but we always appreciate a good cupcake poster.

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Easter traditions seem to fall second to General Conference and Nathan's birthday, but Levi and Daymia are good to at least hide eggs for the boys and occasionally we get in a little egg coloring.

Keeping it simple. It's all about the time together, not the eggs.

Due to the wind and rain, we fair weather egg hunters kept the fun inside. We weren't positive on the number of eggs that were hidden, so even three weeks after Easter,we were finding eggs around the house. Luckily, we only use cheap plastic eggs filled with coins or candy instead of real, hard boiled eggs, so each find was a new treasure of a holiday often forgotten and well in the past.

Snapchat

In an attempt to keep their mom current, my kids have downloaded Snapchat on my phone. Laughter and insanity has ensued.

I quickly learned that filters could make me feel all perty and put together, 

but there are days where no amount of filter is going to fix my hot-mess self.

It's been fun to "play Snapchat" with my littles . . . 

and my bigs . . . 

and even with my animals.

It's good for sharing quick notes,

and love notes,

or showing off skills,

and serving as evidence of adulting.

Snapchat can catch the glum and glitz of any moment,

or really, any expression throughout the day.

Punny Conversations are limited to a picture and a phrase but not limited at all in humor.

Knowing that my boys were on a very limited budget and wanting to give them a feel for having a storage, I gave Derek and Justin a challenge. They were given a dollar amount with the assignment to set a menu, make a list, fill a grocery cart and stay within budget. It would then load up their shelves and refrigerator for a couple of weeks.

They followed through on each detail and I was thrilled to get these in response. I also got a video of Justin tossing cans from the grocery bag on the counter to Derek standing in the pantry as they unloaded their stash and loaded it onto the shelves. Another view showed me a packed freezer and loaded fridge. 

I do appreciate a clever way to stay in touch with my peeps (does using that phrase keep me current?), but my biggest gripe with Snapchat is that I have to screenshot everything and I have one chance to get it right. Miss that chance and the moment is gone, poof, into thin air. Videos? One chance (maybe one replay) to watch and then it's gone. For someone in their 27th year of photo documenting and storage, such disposable photo treatment is torture!

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

While wandering the clearance sales at Porter's, I came across some cute pillowcase kits. An idea formed in my mind and pretty soon, we were sewing.

Nathan did part of the sewing but mostly offered encouraging support and shoved pillows inside the finished cases.

Hyrum was determined to sew one entire case on his own and he did it!

We chose to deliver them to a group called Sleep in Heavenly Peace because they build and provide free beds to children who are sleeping on the floor. The new bed sets include a mattress, sheet set, pillow and pillowcase. After looking them up online, we found a date that they were having a build and we showed up with our completed pillows.

Later that day, we saw on Facebook that the picture they had taken was now posted online. A short time later, a bunk bed set was displayed at the health fair and there on the bottom bunk was the pillowcase that Hyrum had made.

A couple of months later, I received a message from the manager at Sleep in Heavenly Peace, informing me that he had again included them in an emotional post. There again, the boys pillows were seen in the pictures.

It was a great project to do together and it was fun to see it ripple throughout a couple of months with us wondering about the six kids who were now sleeping with brand new, made-with-love pillows and cases. It was also good to regained an appreciation for the simple things that we enjoy (like pillows) that others may not have.

New Homeowners: Levi & Daymia

Levi and Daymia called one Sunday morning and wondered if we could go look at a house with them. With afternoon church, it was easy to step away and tour a house in Idaho Falls. As we walked through, it felt like theirs. With new carpet, freshly painted walls, an updated kitchen and bathroom, and a plethora of potential that Daymia could easily transform into their home, we were impressed!

After almost a month of paperwork and financing, a one-day move from the third floor of an apartment building to a moving van (a very long moving van that tested Levi's driving and parking skills), a panicked Ferguson (cat), and a quick unload at the new home, Daymia posted on Facebook on March 26th that the house was all unpacked!

Daymia's mind and Pinterest board were full of ideas! Shortly after moving in she built some shutters, hung a wreath, and updated the house number to bring the exterior of their new home up to date with the Pinterest worthy interior that she had so beautifully decorated.

Throughout the coming weeks, I would get update pictures of newly decorated spaces. Using decorations that they already had, speckled with a few new ones, she turned even the bathroom into a place of comfort and homey beauty.

Her birthday gift from Levi a few months later was to purchase a shelf and decorate a blank wall that had been waiting for the perfect interior design. As always, she nailed it!

Another space that she had an idea for but couldn't find the right bench for, was the large window in the living room. On Derek's visit home, he was thrilled to put Daymia's idea to paper and saw.

My brother in law Derek @derek_edwards505 hit it out of the park again with this project I threw at him! He built me this beautiful 7 foot long bench and I couldn’t be happier with it. I’ve been loving slowly making this new house our home 💙 — with Derek Edwards.

A springtime move gave them a couple of months before the yard would need some attention, but soon the thick green grass was taking over and they had to face the reality of yard work. Their new homeowner's budget was stretched again as they purchased a lawnmower, hoses and other supplies.

Derek was also put to work in the yard during his visit. I couldn't help but laugh at Levi's comment on the picture he sent me. His memories of visiting Grandpa Fullmer all include some type of outdoor chore from weeding in the summer to hauling wood in the winter.

Hyrum's 10th Birthday

I'm not sure where March went. I'm not sure where my baby went. How has 10 years passed already? He was thrilled to be grown up enough for double digits. He mathematically figured out that he is now the square root of 10.

Hyrum is considerate, thoughtful, and kind. When I asked him what he wanted to take to his school class for his birthday treat, he immediately responded that it needed to be peanut free and gluten free. He wasn't concerned about picking his favorite treat; he was concerned about everyone being able to have it.

It took a little research because I still wanted to make something that Hyrum would love. When I came across these homemade chocolate pudding cups (not from a box), I knew I had a winner. Hyrum loved them and the class loved that he shared them.

For Hyrum's birthday we went to Fat Cats for a round of glow in the dark mini golf.

We didn't keep score, just used the time to be silly and be together.

Speaking of silly, this boy is a hoot! He can turn any situation into a comedy with his expressions, dance moves and comments, and a good outfit makes it even better.

His creativity occasionally makes its way to paper, especially if it's assigned in school. At the Hibbard School Art Show, Hyrum's name was drawn for a free paper pack for future drawings.