Aunt Donna

Aunt Donna was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the end of 2025. She wasn't feeling well at the end of October but it took awhile for the doctors to know what was causing it. She was in so much pain and discomfort through the last few months of her life. Her cancer had metastasized beyond treatment so she went on Hospice and passed away at the end of February. We were sad but also grateful that she didn't have to suffer and be in pain for any longer. Her memorial service was the first week of March when Lynnlee and I were gone. It didn't work out for any of us to go. I'm glad my parents, Betsy and Katie were able to go to her service. Here are some of our favorite pictures of Aunt Donna. She was a wonderful aunt and a great hostess when we visited Florida. She will be missed.

Sweethearts for James and Lynnlee

FCCLA was in charge of Sweethearts so Lynnlee had a huge part in decorating. She started decorating after school on Friday and didn't finish until late that night. She was exhausted when she got home. 

The date dance group consisted of Lynnlee and all of the FCCLA officers and their dates. Lynnlee asked a boy named Caleb. A girl named Avea asked James. She also asked him last year so James wasn't too thrilled to be going with her again. It was my bad for not handling the situation better. The story behind it is that Avea told Lynnlee she had no one to ask. She asked Lynnlee if she could ask James again because she had no one else she felt like she could ask. Lynnlee asked me and I didn't think it would be a big deal if he went with her again. I also didn't think he would mind. So instead of checking with him, I told Lynnlee that she could ask him again. She asked James and he was not happy. He had heard another girl was going to ask him and so he was disappointed. He also did not want to have to go to a dance with the same girl twice. He was a good sport and went anyway but he was not happy about it. 

It was fun that he could be in the same group with Lynnlee again. Their day date was at Jack and Jill's. They bowled, did the arcade, and played laser tag. 

They took pictures North of the lake. One of the dad's took the pictures. The quality was good but the poses and everything else about the pictures was weird and unique. We had a good laugh looking at all of them and I posted the few decent ones. 

Lynnlee and her friends Lexi and Brooklyn.

The decorations were amazing! Lynnlee and the FCCLA students did a great job! The theme was A Night on the Red Carpet.

They had to clean up after the dance. It took so long that they didn't have an after party. James was good with that. 

Soccer Tournament in St. George for Kade and Tag

It was so nice that Tag's team and Kade's team played in the same tournament in St. George. There are soccer tournaments every weekend in February in St. George so the fact that they ended up in the same tournament was a blessing. Normally I take them but this year Marshall took them. They did baptisms at the St. George Temple with Tag's friend Gio and his dad. 

They had a weekend full of soccer and eating out which is so fun since we don't eat out at home. Kade's team won the first game and lost the next two. 

Tag's team played up a year so they were going against boys a year older. They took 2nd place. 

They were sad not to win but still impressive that they took 2nd while playing against older boys.

Jump

James and Marshall got passes to Jump for Christmas. It is a virtual squirrel suit experience. You get three different jumps. You wear a virtual headset, are suspended with cables, really jump off a platform and there are fans blowing on you to make it feel realistic. They really enjoyed it for the most part. Marshall was feeling motion sick after his second jump and so he was really motion sick when he did his 3rd jump. Jump is in Bluffdale and so it was only 15 minutes from home. Marshall came home white as a ghost. He got in bed and didn't get up until the next morning. He and James were glad they got to try it out but I think it's a one and done type of place.  

Cupid's Crazy Cafe

We enjoyed another year of Cupid's Crazy Cafe. We stuck with a menu that we've used the last few years. Roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, salad, roasted carrots, jello, rolls, fruit, and dessert. Everyone got two utensils. 

I only took this picture but Kasey's family was there too. Sid was visiting so it was fun to have her join! 

James at Skyridge Sweethearts

James got asked to Skyridge Sweethearts by a girl named Grace. The day date was at the space center in Pleasant Grove. James said it was really fun!

The girls asked the guys to wear sweaters. I found some good options on Amazon, thankfully. They took pictures at the State Capitol. 

The dance was at Skyridge. They played games at one of the girls houses after. He had a great time!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's was on a Saturday. Everyone slept in and Marshall and I went to a sealing for a cute young couple in our ward. It was a nice start to the day. We stopped for lunch on our way home. We went to Chipotle and this bowl was pretty epic. I love guac and they piled it on.

We went to Zeppe's for a Valentine date with the kids. The funny part is that Marshall, Lynnlee and I were doing a no sugar challenge so we couldn't have anything. I also wouldn't have been able to have anything since I can't have corn. Corn syrup is in the Italian ice and custard. We played a game while Kade, Tag, and Sienna had their Italian ice. James was gone all day to Sweet Hearts at Skyridge with a girl named Grace who he met through a friend. 

Night Park Hopping

Lynnlee hosted a Galentine's Party at our house. Her one request was that everyone be out of the house. It's funny how some Friday nights can be so quiet and it would have been easy to stay out of her way. This was completely opposite where everyone had friends over after school and it continued through the night. We had pizza for dinner and then I took everyone out of the house. It was hard to know how I could entertain them for a few hours. Since it is such a mild winter, we went park hopping. I wanted to head west and go to a few but it was so windy at the first park. Everyone played for over a half hour which was way longer than I thought. We headed east to some fun parks in Highland and AF. It wasn't windy there at all. We didn't take a picture at the Highland park but it was a lot of fun. I took Chewie with and he and I walked laps around each park. 

We didn't get to stay too long in Highland because the park was closed and they made an announcement over the PA system that the park was closed. We did not want to cause any trouble. We went to Hunter Park last but it was so dark. I shined my lights on the playground so everyone could go down a few slides but we didn't stay long. 

We finished with getting an ice cream cone from Macey's. Lynnlee was happy to have the house to herself and Marshall enjoyed a quiet night at home.