MARCHH STARTS OUT WITH LOTS OF FAMILY AND GOOD TIMES

 After Aria's gymnastic meet in St. George, we drove straight to a BYU basketball game. They won their 7th game in a row. When we finally got home late that night, I stayed up to bake a cake for Kailee. It was her birthday on that Monday and, at the last minute, we decided to celebrate her birthday on that first Sunday instead of the following week. She loves German chocolate cakes. I wanted to make the cake and frosting on Saturday night so I just had to frost the cake and make the pecan topping on Sunday. Kailee was able to take home half the cake which she loved. 

The next weekend was BYU's final home basketball game. It was against Utah, our big rival. We had lost the first game with them by 1 point in overtime so this game was a big one for bragging rights. The fans all wore royal blue instead of the usual white. BYU even sold 'blue' berry cougar tails. The crowd was wild with enthusiasm. The game started out slow but by the second half, the cougars were out to win. At one point we led by 19 but in the end won by only 11. It was a great night for the team and the crowd. This BYU team ended up in third place in the Big 12 league which is quite amazing as they were predicted to come in 9th or 10th. They played in the NCAA tournament and made it to the Sweet 16. They lost to Alabama who went on to be in the final 4. Quite an incredible year for this team under a new coach.

Representing the BLUE cougar tails

The student's ROC section in a sell out crowd

Honoring our 4 senior players

After the game, Ryan and his family came to stay with us. Ryan had a doctor's appointment on Monday and they had arranged a tour of BYU for Julia who was accepted into BYU for the fall. They went to church with us on Sunday and then later we had our usual Sunday feast. The Westovers all joined us as did Olivia and Clark for a total of 13. (Todd and his family went to Kailee's sister's home for dinner to celebrate her birthday with the Leavitt side of the family.) We all had a good time with lots of laughs. We love being with our family on Sunday even if it means lots of work for me.

After church

Katie and Ryan had to play each of our
acrylic games.

 On Monday, Ryan left early for his doctor's appointment. He took our car so we went to Provo with the rest of his family where we all met for breakfast at The Bruncb House. Aubrey met us there and Ryan joined us just after our food arrived. The food wasn't worth what they charged but we were glad to spend a bit more time with Ryan's family. We took our car back home and the Millars did the BYU tour and some shopping. Ryan took Nathan home to St. George and Katie and the girls spent one more night with us. They went to do more shopping then Katie and Grace went to see Les Miserable that night in SLC before going back to St. George on the Wednesday.

Taken at BYU to celebrate Julia's acceptance

Aria had a State Gymnastics meet in Ogden. We didn't attend but found out she took 1st in vault for her age group which was the third highest score for all level 4's in the whole state of about 150 girls.  She also took 3rd in bars and her team took 2nd place losing first place by only .05 points. Pretty impressive for her first year of competition. 

At the end of the month, we celebrated Olivia's birthday. She requested tri tip for dinner and applesauce cake for dessert. It was a good Sunday with the Westovers and Todd's family here to join us. We are glad that Olivia feels comfortable to come to dinner on Sundays.

Olivia is so good with Todd and Kailee's children.
She absolutely loves holding little Ledger.

Avery is a real animal lover. Almost every Sunday, she takes the stuffed cougar in Paul's office and makes some kind of a cage for it. She takes cups and fills them with 'food' and water. Last Sunday, she even labeled the cups so the pretend food and real water wouldn't get mixed up. 

So cute!!!

And then there's Lincoln.

And that's a wrap for the month of March.