Mariah played in the state tournament this week.  Their first game was Monday and they won!!  Such happy girls.  They proved just how far they had come.  They played again on Wednesday and lost in that second round.  Mariah is not so much distraught about the loss of the title as she is with the loss of two hours of basketball everyday.  She loves basketball!  I just roll my eyes at her.  It's not like she won't still play basketball.  And she has.  Everyday.  Silly girl.  She also went to her first day of track practice.  She asked me again why she always feels so tired? Hmmm, let me think. . .

Cali and Chey transitioned to play rehearsals until 6pm everyday this week.  Yikes!  They're not in all the scenes so even though they're there for a long time, I don't think it's been too intense.  They're having fun.  They even had "The Longest Day" rehearsal on Saturday which was 9 to 4 and survived just fine!  We can't wait to see them perform next week!  And look what they can do (although, apparently only with their eyes closed--!

Bethany had activity days and karate and piano and her last Springville basketball game!  She played great, and her mom-coach made her team the traditional giant cookie for end-of-season celebrating.  It was a fun time!

Benjamin had karate and guitar lessons.  He also played with his friend Niko during the week and Caleb on Saturday.  We've had a TON of snow so he even managed to do a little sledding and snow-fort building, but not too much because it's so COLD!

The view is pretty great still!

This week was Savannah's birthday!  She turned 22! We had a birthday dinner for her on Sunday night at our house with Grandma and Grandpa Gazdik.  She opened presents and blew out 22 candles.  Yay!

On her actual birthday, which was Tuesday, we met her and Megan at Brick Oven.  Sarah was working there, so we managed to include her.  Mariah had just finished a basketball game in Heber, so she couldn't make it.  Grandma Gazdik came, though!  It was late, so the four youngest and I had already eaten.  We had root beer floats while the others had pizza sampler.  They let Sarah take a break and sang to Savannah and took our picture.  Fun times!  We love that Savannah girl and are so glad we got to be with her this year on her birthday!!

Sarah did her two-job thing all week!  Her dad set her up on a lunch date Saturday.  She had fun but decided it probably wouldn't turn into anything more.  On Monday she stayed home and put together the bookcase and dresser we bought at IKEA the week before.  I was so glad I didn't have to do it!

Megan is dating a fun boy named, Ammon.  We knew she had a fun time with him and felt really comfortable with him but we were all amazed when he talked her into going to Cali and Chey's basketball game with him dressed as a gorilla and her dressed as a banana!!  It was so funny!  What a good sport she was!  I am, however, not allowed to post the picture so I will leave it to your imaginations!

Mariah had her last regular-season basketball game on Tuesday in Heber.  It was a close game but they ended up losing by 3.  Because of that, their record tied with another team in their region and they had to play a play-in game on Thursday.  Never fear!  They won that one by 12!  So, they will start state games tomorrow.  Here are some basketball pictures to get you in the mood:

She also went to the Sweetheart's Dance on Saturday night with a boy named Jake.  Their group had a lot of fun having dinner, going to the dance, and then playing games.  She had a good time!

Cali and Chey had their last Springville Rec basketball game this week.  They actually had a basketball game Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday--two Bantam games and two Springville games.  Crazy!  They love it, though even when they have to leave play rehearsal in order to be there (which only happened once!).

Bethany had a game this week and she and her teammates had a ton of fun!  She also had karate and piano and sewing.  On Saturday she got to go to a birthday party.  Fun times!

Benjamin had karate and guitar and school and still managed to build many extremely cool things in Minecraft and make his sister, Bethany, very mad when he flooded her entire city.  Apparently, that's a pretty fun thing to do in Minecraft (if you're the flooder, not if you're the floodee).

I got to go to a writing conference this weekend, Thursday-Saturday.  So. Much. Fun.  I learned a ton and got ideas for my novel and got to see lots of authors I have read and find out what they're like and what they think about writing.  It was like a little bit of heaven.  Happy sigh.  When I got back, I went hiking.

Kevin and I went to our old ward for a farewell and while there, we got a picture of the current bishop with the last three bishops.  Good men, but I like the one second from the right best of all!

Benjamin has had a cold all week, poor guy.  He's been coughing and running his nose.  Friday, he even came home from school.  He's still kept up with his activities otherwise, going to karate and guitar and doing his homework and even doing his night of dishes and cleaning the bathroom on Saturday.  He is a good kid.  We sure love him and hope he feels better.

Bethany had school, karate, and piano.  She played great at our basketball game on Thursday evening, made two baskets and guarded the other team's best player.  She had a fun day Saturday.  She woke up and painted two paintings to put on the wall of her room.  A friend from Brookside called and wanted to come over.  While she was here, they made a Valentine box in many different shades of pink.  Then Beth had a play date with a friend in the ward and they created with clay!  What an artistic day for our sweet, creative girl.

Cali and Chey had play rehearsals all week, including one in the morning on Saturday.  They also had a couple of basketball games and are playing great.  In fact, on their Thursday game, they scored 30 points between the two of them.  Wow!  They always come and support Mariah at her games, too. They've been practicing piano pieces for solo festival and are sounding really good.  Saturday night, they escaped to a friend's house and watched some winter Olympics.

Mariah had her last home game for the season on Friday night and what a game it was!  They were down by 13 at the end of the 3rd.  Then our own hard-working, determined, never-give-up gal made FOUR 3-pointers in a row!  The cheering from the stands went through the roof!  We were back in the game!  We lost by one but it was so exciting and Mariah was at the very heart of it.  It was so good to see her hardwork pay off for her and her team.

Saturday night Mariah and I went out with some Moms and daughters from Brookside.  We went out to eat and then to a comedy show.  It was tons of fun and what a sweet gal to spend time with her mom!

Sarah worked hard all week at the public schools and at the Brick Oven.  I talked her into taking a day off on Friday (well, part of it) and we went hiking in Provo canyon and then went to IKEA to get a bookcase and dresser.  We had a ton of fun together.  What a fun girl she is! 

She worked that night and again in the morning so that she could have Saturday night off for date night!  This is something that I orchestrated but my kids hope I never try again.  Oh well.  Sarah and Megan were good sports and had fun together with their dates.

Savannah and Megan have been working hard at not drowning in homework and tests.  Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't!  Savannah took a break and went with all of her friends to Hot Pots on Friday.  Her birthday is next week and this was a pre-celebration.  She reports that it was a great time!

Mariah had two games this week.  They had a decisive win over Mapleton on Tuesday.  This is our arch-rival so it made everyone deliriously happy.  On Friday they played Skyridge who will probably be region champs and just barely lost in overtime.  This made everyone deliriously sad.  :(  She also went with Sarah and Megan to a BYU Men's tennis match on Saturday  and watched a movie and ate muddy buddies with Meg at our house Saturday night.  I think that was comfort for her soul.

Chey and Cali had play rehearsals and piano lessons and basketball.  They lost a Springville rec game this week to their friends but had a great time playing.  They also lost their Bantam game Saturday night but felt really good about their play.  They are playing great.

Bethany had two basketball games this week.  She and her teammates are playing good defense and shooting some baskets and all around having a good time at the games.  That makes this coach happy.  She also had karate and piano lessons.  Then on Friday she had her sewing class.  Afterward, her friend in the ward, Eden, who is in the sewing class invited most of the class to her house for a fun girls' night.  So much fun!

Benjamin had karate this week and a late night with Devon at our house Friday night.  We had guitar lessons together on Saturday and then he got invited to play with an old friend, Mason, whose grandparents are in our new ward.  Fun times!

Sarah substituted Mon-Thu and worked at Brick Oven MWFSat nights.  It's a lot of hours but she is (most of the time) happy to be busy!  On Tuesday night she went to Mariah's game with us and on Thursday night she actually covered someone's shift for a few hours back at Brick Oven.  Saturday afternoon she went to that tennis match with Meg and Mariah.

Megan and Savannah continue to grapple with their college classes and all the stress that involves.  We've seen both of them back home this week so that's been fun.

Kevin left town Thursday after a brief TV appearance on Good Things Utah and has been in Arizona ever since teaching.  We are excited to see him again today!

I have rewritten the first chapter for my new novel 47 times this past week in anticipation of the deadline for a first chapter contest I'm entering next week.  If it were on paper, I'd burn it and watch with great peace and calm as the ashes floated away on the wind.  It's on my computer, though, so I guess I will continue to fight the good fight.  Oh, I also took some time off and hiked Round Peak.  Sadie and I had a great time.  I left from my front door.  It was pretty awesome.