lots of anniversaries and other stuff

Alex and 4 other boys have been asked to rotate playing the piano in Priesthood meeting. Alex played last week for the first time. He could only play the top hand, which is what several of the other boys will be doing, too, but I think it's a great idea. He hasn't had piano lessons for a few years because he really didn't like taking lessons. I'm so glad he has this chance to play at church.


There were 4 anniversaries in the family this week. Tuesday was Glen's parents' 58th anniversary. Thursday was Jacob and Susan's 5th. Saturday was Denise and Pat's 33rd. And tomorrow is Andrew and Heather's 3rd. Happy Anniversary Everybody! That's 99 years total. Wow.

Beside celebrating their anniversary, my sister and her husband were also celebrating Pat's promotion to the position of Las Vegas's Channel 8 News NOW Art Director. Good luck Pat! We're so excited for you.


Glen is on the Board of Directors of the Fallon Community Theatre group. They have been trying to save the old movie theatre. Their grant recently came through, so it looks like their efforts have paid off. 

They have started having an old movie night. In March it was "The Quiet Man." This week we saw "The Shootist," which was the last movie John Wayne ever starred in. We hadn't seen it before and it wasn't quite what I was expecting, but we enjoyed it. It's all rather fun. Glen made the cutest cookies for "The Shootist."

missing from this selection is the best cookie of all--it was a buzzard. too cute

 
Two music groups from BYU-Idaho performed in Fallon on Friday. "Sound Alliance and Vocal Union combine to create an instrumental and vocal concert that will entertain and inspire audiences of all ages. The groups present a multi-faceted program with both ensembles interwoven to perform inspiring vocal and instrumental jazz selections." 

Jazz isn't my thing, but they were so talented. I've had "It Don't Mean a Thing if It Ain't Got that Swing" stuck in my head for 2 days now. We were able to have 2 of the musicians spend the night at our house before they left the next morning.

I kind of felt bad for them as it was dull and quiet over here without Hannah. She was in Reno participating in a YSA "Latter-Day Night Live." She performed Andrew's 2 "Book of Mormon Movie Trailers." She said she forgot what came next in the 2nd trailer, walked off stage, looked at her notes, got back on stage and continued. Apparently she did it in such a manner that the audience thought it was part of the skit. Wish I could have seen it.


And the highlight of the week, on Saturday night Jiaxin surprised us with a visit! He's transferring from BYU-I to BYU Provo and was passing through. I can't tell you how good it was to visit with him. He's the closest thing to having an adopted Asian brother that Hannah will ever get (in case you didn't know, for years she's been telling us to adopt an Asian brother for her).

Which brings up Elder Victor Siné. Victor is one of the Elders who taught Jiaxin the gospel in our house back in 2011. Victor and his fiancée are now internet sensations. They are getting married at the end of May and Victor wants to adopt Julianne's baby. They set up a GoFundMe account to help pay for the adoption and had a photo shoot where they dressed up as Rey and Finn, characters from the new Star Wars movie. I loved the photos even before I knew who was in them.

 Victor, Julianne, and baby Addie:
 

The real actors:

Hannah's house, hanging out with the boys, Henry, and home maintenance

Last Sunday it became official. Hannah found a place to stay in Reno! She'll be sharing a house with 4 other girls near the UNR campus (and not too far from her TMCC campus). For the first time in her life she will be sharing a bedroom. She'll spend Monday-Thursdays there, come home to work at the movie theater here on Fridays and Saturdays, and then teach Sunday School (on Sunday of course) before heading back to Reno. She gets to move in May 1st. Excited for her to have that experience. Excited for me that I don't have to worry about her driving back and forth early and late 4 days a week.

It was a relaxed week for Eric, Ryan, and me. And a fun week for all of us. We played a lot of games and just vegged, so there really isn't much to write about.

Oh, Andrew, I finally managed to (just barely) win "Castles of Burgundy." It came down to a tie-breaker against Alex, but I won. :) (Lost just about everything else we played this week though...my losing streak that started while I was at your house lasted for many games)

Eric and Ryan are headed back to Rexburg today and start their new semester tomorrow. Eric is again taking 4 art and 2 religion classes. Ryan will have physics and a lab, calculus, religion, and an Energy in the 21st century class. They are staying in their same apartment, but are getting some new roommates.

heading back (with their in-between-semesters' facial hair most BYU male students feel the need to grow)

Tuesday was Henry's 1st birthday. We got to "talk" to him on the phone. Wish we could have been there, but at least I was just recently with him.

Love this--first family photo I've seen where Henry is standing instead of being held!

Easter egg hunt!

Henry's first Easter

love that smile!

making messes on his 1st birthday

Glen, who lately has been spending most of his "extra" time building set for "The Sound of Music," took one of his personal days on Thursday to be with the boys and do some home maintenance. Besides going to the temple with us, he he went under the house where he changed the water filter and fixed a small leak. Yea for water pressure! He also fixed our toilet (did you know there is a filter inside the toilet tank? I didn't. Our tank was taking 20 minutes to refill before Glen fixed it). And of course we played games.

Sad news for the week. Chloe went missing. She's gotten out many times over the years, but has always quickly returned (or been returned). At first, I kept thinking I'd open the door and see her. I no longer think that because I can't picture her surviving so many nights outside without returning home, but maybe she's been taken in by someone. But, I'm thinking the worst. :(