April in Gallup

 It's April.  We've had lots of windy days, lots of rainy days, lots of cloudy days, and a few absolutely gorgeous days!  It's a typical Gallup Spring!

The dad saved some seeds from an artichoke flower last fall so he could try propagating more artichoke plants around the yard.

He also buried a bunch of them in strategic places outside.  The ones he planted outside grew.  It looks like we are going to have artichoke plants like crazy!

Laura Montoya, the NM State Treasurer came to Gallup.  She wanted to read a book to a classroom, and I was lucky enough to be he teacher of that classroom.

The guy sitting on the chair beside her is the McKinley Count Fire Chief, who just so happens to be her brother.  He came along and read a story with her!

The kids had a great time with her.  Each child made a thank-you card and drew a picture of her on the front.  She looked at, read and commented on every single card while she was there.  The kids were thrilled!

Another cookbook, another recipe.  It hasn't even been that long, and I don't remember what this is.  I think it was good, though.

Sourdough bread -- I've been teaching Michelle Ferguson how to make it.

Our new electric assist bicycles. 

They really help with the steep hills here in our part of town.

Another recipe book--Corned Beef Brisket in the Instant Pot.

Our dirt area in the front yard was like a field of tulips!

Another recipe I can't identify.

We took the first grade classes on a Field Trip to the Navajo Nation Zoo in April.

It was a fun day for the kids!  These area all my girls.  I'm way heavy on the boys this year.

We had a little time before we needed to be at the temple for the dad's first Friday shift, so we did a little geocaching!

April sure went by quickly this year.  Let's see what May will bring!

David Gave a Talk at a House of God Devotional Fireside

 Last Sunday, there was a "House of God" Devotional/Fireside in Farmington for the saints in the new Farmington Temple District.  It was also held on Zoom for those who couldn't travel to Farmington.

David was asked to give a talk at the fireside, so of course, after our church we went over to Farmington to be there in person!  We feel lucky to live close enough to Brian's and Chelsea's family so we could do that!

At the temple the day before, I told everybody that I saw that was in the new Farmington Temple District that David would be speaking!  After the devotional, I got lots of texts from friends that mentioned what a grown-up job David did!

Before we went to their house, we stopped by to check on the progress of the temple.

Of course we played a game while we were there!  These three kiddos are amazingly good at games.  The sure beat their old grandma!

Here we are at the church before we went in.  David said he was nervous and excited all at the same time!

We weren't supposed to take picture or record anything during the meeting.  I think Amy took these pictures during the Zoom meeting and sent them to Chelsea, who sent them to me!

David did an amazing job.  We were very proud of him.  After he was done, he said it was so fun that he wanted to do it again!

General Conference Weekend!

General Conference Weekends are some of my favorite weekends of the year.  This April's General Conference did not disappoint!  The weather was lousy, so we stayed indoors most of the time.  We had fun together, and we loved listening to General Conference together. 

I'm thankful for the technology that allows me to listen to General Conference messages every morning as I get ready for the day.  I missed bits and pieces of many of the talks while I was helping the kiddos, and I didn't miss a beat.  By Monday morning, the talks were up on the internet already!

We had a glow-stick dance party in the dark. 

  

The flash lit up the whole room!

Watching General Conferende!

I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but the heater vent is putting off just enough heat and air to make Peter's balloon float!

Hungry, Hungry Hippos with Grandad.

David and I played this game.  I forgot what it is called.  David never for a minute questioned any of my "less-conventional" answers.  That's what happens when you say those answers with convicion!

I always get the kids new color books for General Conference--they pick the theme of the color book.

Grandad used to always sharpen knives during General Conference, but he stopped when we had toddler grandkids that could accidentally pull a knife off the table.  This is the first year in a while that he got the knives back out.

Working on a stupid puzzle.  (This was the stupid puzzle; the other was a good one.)

We always have Pub Mix during General Conference.

Brain Flakes

Poor little sick guy.

In the ER with the fancy barf bag.

During the night from Saturday to Sunday, Peter started throwing up.  He kept it up for hours.  Brian and Chelsea finally took him to the emergency room, and they gave him something that stopped the vomiting for awhile.  After they got back home, he started throwing up again, so they packed up and headed home during the second session of Conference on Sunday.  They listened to that session in the car.