Out With the Old...

...In With the New

James here...

It's been a long time coming...too long maybe.  

It was nearly 10 years ago that I got back from my two year LDS mission in New Zealand only to find that I was sorely in need of a vehicle.  My pre-mission vehicle, a 1977 Honda Accord, was just not going to cut it anymore as I was planning to move to Utah and would be driving to and from frequently.

So I have to say thanks to my Dad who helped me at that time to find and procure a 1988 Honda Prelude.  At that time it was hardly a "new" vehicle at all...it was 11 years old and had 141k miles on it.

10 years, 70k miles, 3 alternators, 2 hoods, 1 clutch, and a myriad of other problems later, I've finally sold it for the amazing price of $150.  Could I have got more for it?  Probably (since it does still run).  Would I have felt good about doing so?  Definitely not.

So what have I replaced it with?  This...

That should easily last me another 10 years.

Easter!

Easter always comes at a busy time of the year for us. Which is especially odd as Easter is always on a different day. Last year it was the week before we moved. This year it came (and went) amidst James' mad dash toward the finish line at school and our first week in our newly formed Greenridge Ward. Things were pretty casual around here - just a small egg hunt - and we enjoyed seeing the sun for a couple days before it got soaked by rain and buried under snow. One year I'm sure we'll actually dye eggs (I have the kits, just not the inclination). For now, here are some pictures of the festivities:

Egg-cellent!

Who Needs a Basket?

The Easter Buddy

Gratuitous Hair Shot

FINALLY!

*I FINALLY got to see my nephew Devin for the first time since he got back from his mission. The last time I saw him, Zoe was 6 weeks old. He and his brother Dillon (who leaves for his mission in July) stayed with us last weekend so they could go to conference. My mom was also visiting so we had a bit of a full house. The kids slept in our room, my mom got the office, and the boys took the kids' room since Zoe's bed has a trundle. It worked out really well and I loved having my family here.

*James and I FINALLY got to go on a date. Our last one was in August. Yikes. Since my mom was here she held down the fort while we went out bowling, then got some ice cream, then trolled the isles at Wal-mart unhindered by little ones (not much to do in Payson after 9 pm obviously). It was bliss. Thanks Mom!

















*James FINALLY sold his Prelude that has been sitting, unused, in front of our house since December. He bought a new car several weeks ago but we're just now getting around to giving the Prelude the old heave-ho. It was bittersweet. But mostly sweet. Good luck, Dylan!

*After nearly 8 years, I'm FINALLY back in the Young Women's organization! Whoo! I got called as the secretary and I couldn't be more excited. Youth Conference, Girls Camp, Mutual, Dances, Girls Camp, Personal Progress, Service Projects, Girls Camp. And have I mentioned GIRLS CAMP? I simply cannot contain all the excitement that is percolating inside of me.

*It is FINALLY James' last week at school. He has a big presentation and a big project due on Wednesday so it will be a few more days before I get to see him on a regular basis, but the light at the end of one heck of a long tunnel is here. And it is a beautiful sight.

*Owen is FINALLY sleeping a little better at night. He usually goes down around 7:30, then wakes around 11 or 12, then sleeps through until about 6, then he goes back down until 8, unless Zoe gets to him first. I don't think we can call it sleeping through the night technically, but it's a lot closer than anything else he's done and I'll take it.