50th Golf Trip

Jim turns 50 years old this year! exclamation point.

And since every week of this year is jam packed from here on out, we celebrated in March by going on a golf trip to St. George. 

I didn't golf. Jim and his friends golfed. To be clear. 

Thursday when we got into town we went and visited Sharley and then we visited G and G. 

We looked at all of J Glenn's model trucks/trailers he makes out of POPSICLE STICKS, and looked at his guns. It was fun to have Joe and Lisa hear all the legendary Glenn stories about getting robbed twice while living in Wells NV etc. 

Jim golfed all day with his buds,

like long lost Micah.

Me and Lisa and Whitney hiked to Hellhole. 

Then we went to the new temple. 

We new Laura was working, so we hoped to run into her while were were there. 

I didn't realize how HUGE  this temple is. So immediately I realized we would have to get real lucky to see her.

But right as we were walking up the stairs, there she was standing at a doorway! 

Saturday Jim golfed with is long lost buddy Derick, who is now a fabulous oncologist in St. George. 

Sand Hollow. 

We didn't get sunburned. 

It was so hot and so fun!
Jim golfed 4 days in a row. 

Don't ask me how. 

 

Two Down, One to Go

Where have I been? I've been having a secret heart attack during the three weeks that Evan was getting his license. 

He went in for his first written test: Fail.

Second written: Fail.

He studied and studied and my brain wouldn't settle. It just nagged at me to quiz Evan, get him to read the book, look up all kinds of quizzes. Quiz quiz quiz study study. 

It was so stressful because he knew all the facts, but he is a terrible multiple choice test taker. 

I signed him up for a written test that they read the questions out loud. 

He passed with a 90%. 

YAY!! 

I was seriously about to die waiting for him to come out with a smile or frown - smile. 

So next was the stupid driving test. Practice all the things that people don't really do in real life etc.

 I told him he needs to exaggerate every safe thing: stop at the stop signs for three seconds etc.

He failed. Speeding and not fulling stopping at the stop signs. 

All the things I told him to do. Listen to YOUR MOTHER>

blahhhh

So then we practice practice practice. 

My brain can't settle because Evan should be practicing at all times.

Second drive test: Jim had to take him because I was subbing.

I was full up on butterflies all day, then in the middle of class I got a ding on my phone from Jim:

"passed!"

I was soooo happy. I announced to the class that Evan passed his driving test. 

The final step: get up early and get in line at the DMV.

I wanted him to get the dumb license before we left town for the weekend.

We waited about an hour and a half, and then 

CHA CHING he got his stupid license.

It was the longest marathon of my life and I'm so happy it's done. 

He is loving it. I am loving it. 

After that giant marathon, this is the only picture he would let me get.

Evan is 16

Helping Andrew bench press. Hopefully the puberty puts muscles on his arms like it did for Evan.

Evan LOVES Koda.

My biggest piece of advice for people who are about to have teenagers:

GET A DOG for your teenagers. 

Koda is the biggest...hmmm what's the right word...de escalator.

calm

peace

heart and mind regulator

focus 

turn down the temperature

We all gravitate to her and become melty putty in her hands.

No one is "non chalant" the minute koda is involved. Everyone talks to her like she's the best thing they've met all day. All teenager pretenses are turned off. Care taker mode is turned on. 

We turned the Superbowl Party into a Birthday party.

Yay Seahawks!

At school the next day on Evan's actual birthday, Mr Dahl brought his accordion in and sang Happy Birthday. 

Evan often complains about having a sore but bone. 

We went to the doctor to get it checked out. They looked at his CT scan from last year's appendix situation, and found this fun situation:

See how his tailbone makes an L shape there at the end? 

Yeah. 

I don't know.

We wonder if his sacral dimple has something to do with it. 

But he has an appointment with a surgeon next. 

And we are working on getting his license. Why does the written test have to be so hard? 

He failed if for the second time today and my heart is just broken for him. He knows alllll of the facts but has such a hard time with multiple choice tests. 

So i don't know.......

Little Big Avery

The moms were posting all the class pictures on Facebook. 

So many of these kids will be graduating with Avery. They literally grew up together.

That little boy in the 3 Seahawks jersey...Avery has had so many classes with him...

The other day he talked to her for the first time in 12 years.

They were doing a lab together, and she reached for something and he said about her tennis bracelet (with face diamonds off Amazon) 

"that looks expensive"

haha I don't know why that cracks me up. Senior year, first time talking. idk

This is a class full of "Shapiro's Heros".

She always has a graduation party with the first grade gang. Avery is still friends with a few of these kids. 

Lots of best friends from this class. Chase, Jack and Carly. 

This was kind of a rough year. Not our favorite teacher.

This was her favorite elementary year. 

Fourth grade is always a favorite.

And then 5th grade was full of drama. 

Sigh. It's all so easy peasy in hind site. 

Remember these Cherry Babies from Vegas?

Three of the four are heading to BYU! 

Avery

Laila

and Audrey. 

Also the best thing ever:

Calvin Peterson called Avery one day and told her that he has this friend he grew up with (Bret) and she's looking for a roomate!

So they exchanged numbers and have been texting and Avery feels so great about knowing someone. She is getting so excited to launch, and I cannot tell you what an answer to prayers THAT is. 

And a side bonus that is HUGE: Bret got to pick her housing early, and she got into HERITAGE halls which is the JACKPOT of Freshman housing, and Avery got to slide right into that seniority pick. 

I cannot even believe it. It's all toooooo goooooood. 

Boys Trip

While be and Avery were on college business, the boys had so much fun in LA.

They went to SoFi Stadium which was a dream come true for Andrew. 

He is so into football.

Then that night they went to the Lakers Mavericks game.

The biggest bummer was Doncic and Cooper Flag were both out with injuries. BOOOO

During the game a kid came up to Andrew and gave him this Doncic jersey. 

Andrew was wearing the Mavericks Doncic jersey, so I guess he thought Andrew needed an update? We don't know, but it was super nice of him. 

All of this fun stuff happened in one day: 

Wake up at 4:00 am

fly to Vegas

fly to LA

tour Stadium

Lakers game.

They were super tired when they got to the hotel for the night.

They got a good night's sleep and then back up in the morning for a day at Universal Studios:

They texted me and Avery this picture of BUTTERBEER.

Evan won this gigantic grand prize stuffy of Crusty the Clown. It is almost the same size as he is.