This week Ben turned 16!! What a great kid he is! We are so impressed with the young man that he is. He is kind. He is hard-working. He listens. He thinks deep. He betters the people's lives who know him. He is just amazing! Everyone came over on Thursday evening to help us celebrate. (We were only missing Chey who was on a trip for her spring break). The weather was terrific so we ate outside. Kevin grilled hamburgers so we talked and ate. Ben opened presents, we sang to him, and ate cheesecake! Afterwards everybody played ga-ga ball. It was a great party for a great kid.

This week was also spring break! Chey also had spring break. On Tuesday Beth, Ben, Kevin, and I all had a free afternoon so we went to Coin Crazy. We went head-to-head at PacMan, PopaShot, and SkeeBall. Watch out! Then Chey and Tyler joined us and we played a game of bowling! We all had a really fun time.

That night Chey left with her friend Haley to visit her home in Washington state. They had a great time paddleboarding, doing touristy stuff, and even attending the professional ballet! We sure missed her, though!

Ben had a great time planning for his spring break. He ran every day with his friend, Ben. They also spent a day on the phone together while cleaning their rooms and then another day while Ben cleaned the bathroom. Ben had such a feeling of accomplishment from reorganizing the bathroom that he said it was his best day of spring break! He also got together with friends (guys and girls) a few different times for games. Of important note, on Saturday, he and Ben and Spencer went on a birthday run -- 16 miles for his 16th birthday. Crazy! Then they came to our house and made crepes (they were very good at it) and played ga-ga ball. One of their game nights was that night. He came home EXHAUSTED but still got up before church to prepare his lesson for priests quorom. What a guy!

We also had lots of chances to play with grandkids this week and we even bought an inflatable waterslide for summer play. So far, Avery really loves it and the jury is out for our other cute grandkids! Also, when they came over Saturday, Beth made crowns. So fun!

Last Sunday, for Easter dinner we ate outside at Grandma and Grandpa Gazdik's pavilion. It was a lovely day and so good to be with family! This Sunday after dinner we played a game of Jeopardy featuring trivia about Ben in honor of his birthday. Ben's team won! Ha ha! As it should.

We celebrated Easter yesterday by coloring eggs as a family! We thought we had worked around everyone's schedule as well as General Conference and then discovered that Ben had to work just an hour before. What? So everyone was there except for him. That was sad! But the rest was fun. Most of us gathered in the morning for French toast made by Kevin. Yum! Then we watched the first session of conference together. Afterwards, we had finger foods for lunch in honor of Passover dinner and then we colored eggs. Fun times! Avery and Lyla probably had the most fun and colored the most eggs. Evelyn went down for a nap. Oliver watched from the high chair and Micah inspected his and then smashed it which sent his mom into a fit of giggles! When we were done, Cali, Richmond, and Beth hid plastic eggs for Avery and Lyla to find. It was a beautiful day even if a bit cold!

Also, on Good Friday I have often made hot cross buns. I bowed out this year and Sarah surprised us by bringing over a fresh batch of her own making! They were super good! I love passing the baton!

Today was Evelyn's first birthday! What a sweet, happy little girl she is! We love her so much! Mariah had a party for her at her Grandma and Grandpa Carter's. We had homemade pizza! Megan made Evelyn a basketball cake and she opened presents. It was a ton of fun!

Bethany got to sing in the Salt Lake City Tabernacle on Saturday night! Kevin and I drove Naoma and Jim up with us and we had a nice dinner at Little America beforehand. The concert in the tabernacle was AMAZING! 3 choirs sang together with the organ and a live orchestra. We felt like we were surrounded by angels! Bethany looked beautiful and sang with emotion and grace. I love that she has held on to this thing in her life. It has brought her so many good things and brings blessings into our lives as well like the concert Saturday. It was incredible.

Benjamin ran the 400 in a meet on Friday and did great even though he wasn't feeling well. We took him out to eat afterward and that brought his spirits up! His newest plan for his future is to rededicate himself to Chinese and become a diplomat! I love him to have dreams! I wish all his dreams included living forever in Springville next to me, though! Ha ha!

Cheyenne is enjoying spending time with Tyler. She is sad that he is leaving the end of April for a job in Colorado for three months, but is enjoying the time now. She is busy still with school and work and sisters and friends, too!

Savannah is still being a terrific aunt! She is a great babysitter. She has also spent time with Peter and putting in time at work. She went with all the siblings to see McKay in concert on Saturday and he did a great job, as always!

Bethany came back from her choir tour this week! She had so. much. fun! And Bethany had energy for all of it! What a miracle! They sang in the St. George Tabernacle on Thursday night on their way to Las Vegas. On Friday they sang for a choir coach on their way to their hotel in California and that night went on a dinner cruise. On Saturday they spent all day at Disneyland! My favorite story is that their choir director had them all go on Pirates of the Caribbean together and they sang the pirate song throughout! On Sunday, they got to sleep in before doing another concert that afternoon. On Monday they went back to Disneyland for the whole day! Then Tuesday they drove all the way back to Utah. Much of the choir came home sick. Beth's roommates went to the doctor upon arriving home and one had flu, one had strep, and one had walking pneumonia! Yikes! Beth has not had a fever but has had a sore throat and lost her voice since arriving home so she has not done anything since getting home. We hope she feels better soon, but are so glad she lived it up while she was gone!

Benjamin had a couple of days of road driving with an instructor this week which he says went pretty well! He's on track to get his license on his birthday! He had a JV track meet on Tuesday and ran the 800 and the 3200. He did great! 

Our favorite coach and her adorable baby!

Savannah went out with Peter more this week and has really been enjoying her time with him. She had much better health this week and it was great to see her looking healthy again!

Cheyenne has been busy busy busy! She had tests, clincals, and pass-offs happening at nursing school. She worked all night at the hospital last night and started a new job coaching little kids in tennis on Saturday. She "accidentally" signed up for a basketball tournament in Salt Lake City and played for the UVU intramural women's team for most of the day Friday. She also is crazy about the boy she is dating, Tyler, and has managed to spend time cooking, playing games, and going to the movies with him! I love being there when she pops in and out of the house to get updates on her and all her goings-ons!

On Saturday, Ben, Cali, Richmond, Chey, Mariah, Evelyn, Kevin, and I went to the open house for the Lindon temple. It was super fun and very, very beautiful!

Also, I love my grandkids...