Catch Up

Lots to catch up on. Sorry no pics yet--check again in a couple of days because they're cute. I'm in Utah and Jake has the camera at home, so he'll put them up on Monday. Sage celebrated her 4th birthday on the 29th. None of us can believe she is that old already. She was soooo excited for her big day. Exactly two weeks before her birthday, we were at the library doing the storytime craft, and Sage went around the room getting everyone's attention to tell them that we would not be at storytime in two weeks because it would be her birthday. Anyway, both of Sage's grandparents and Shayla came to her birthday party. She really wanted a pinata, purely for the candy, and I made her a pony castle cake. We were finally able to give her the "FurReal" Cat she wanted for Christmas. I got it on clearance in January, and we hid it in the laundry room closet. So for the past few months, we've heard these little "meows" coming from the toy every once in a while! Nani and Papa and Shayla were able to visit for a few days. It was great to see them. We went on a few adventure hikes. I had to carry Keiger in the backpack up one of the hikes and about died. That kid is built...and I need to work out more! Jake's soccer league started up again, so he's happy to get some exercise. Sage makes a great cheerleader, and Keiger just wants the ball.
We've, okay Jacob, has been doing a lot of yard work, and things are looking great. We've made a few trips to the nursery for plants. Jake is into the perennial flowers, but I can't get enough of the grasses. They're just too fun. I want Jake to take pics of the yard to post--it's a dramatic change since we moved in. I headed up to Utah while Jacob was working in the field this week, and we took the kids to Lagoon the other day. Sage showed a bunch of brave and went on nearly all the kiddie rides. And, of course, she chose to ride the chicken on the carousel. She really didn't like the "Tilt-A-Whirl," but then I didn't either. Ugh. She went on one ride where you ride in a rocket and have a little gun to shoot. Naturally, she doesn't even touch the gun. She probably had no idea what it was, yet she was surrounded on the ride by all these little boys who are all about shooting each other. And then there's my dad yelling at her, "Shoot the gun, Sage! Shoot the gun!" Oh boy. Then it was pretty hilarious to see her on the bumper cars. She was so proud to figure out how to steer it, and then to see the look on her face when she got bumped and stuck in a traffic jam was pretty funny. We ended up spending all day at Lagoon; the kids had a great time. It makes me more confident that we'll be able to handle Disneyland. What do you think, Jake?
Oh, just before Sage blew out her bithday candles, she made her wish and said solemnly, "I wish that I could fly." So at Lagoon she and my mom rode on the tram/chairlift thingee that takes you across the park. While they were high up in the air, Sage said out of the blue, "My wish came true!" Honestly, she remembers everything!
We experienced a bit more Taos culture the other day when we got invited to a reception for a kid who was graduating from high school in our ward. It was crazy! Tons....Tons...TONS of food and all out decorations at the church. It was huge. And then I was told that this reception was pretty mellow in comparison to others who actually rent out reception halls for their graduate. Families here like to have get togethers.
And, BIG HAPPY NEWS! We have new neighbors! Heather is back to the Los Alamos for the summer. The Munns have moved into Alburqurque (the big town with the temple that I always spell wrong), and the Lloyds will be there for the summer too! Yippee! Who would have thought so many would end up in New Mexico for a bit. Pretty crazy, but I'm happy.