April 2024
April had many activities! Here are our highlights.
General Conference and prom weekend.
Sterling went to his senior prom with his girlfriend, Avery. They are in theatre together and have had a lot of fun! We took them to the botanic gardens since the wind was crazy! We had lots of fun with photos. That explains this picture overload. :)
I sure love this handsome, fun, sweet boy of mine!
He also got a ticket for Sheri to attend since lots of her friends were going. She loved dressing up and dancing the night away!
The next day Sterling opened his mission call. We were so happy that so many friends could be there to support him in person and over Zoom! In attendance were:
Mindy, Presley, & Greg Smith, Sam & Emily Elliot, Erick & Ryan Foster, Duke & Gage Blazer, Kate & Kolby Vest, the Lowe Family, Melissa & David Pearson, Bishop Hendricks and his family, Avery Lloyd, Fisher Lurvey, Elliot, Zannah, Ashlyn, Alyssa, & Ava Barton, and Manning Barton.
On Zoom we had my parents, Scott & Jennifer, Ivan, the Williams, the Cammacks, Brody Riddle, Eve, Grandma Smith, the Owens, the Ramos Family, Allison, Karen LaCouture, Angel, Kaden Holloway, the Sanchez family, Cameron Grizzle, Ella, Kimberly H., Matt Ward, Tim Torres, the Cantrells, Regan Fackrell, Stacey Smith, Sister Elliott, Mrs. Cowden, Luke Sanchez, Carter Parkin, and Landon Tilby.
We know there were others that wanted to join but couldn't but reached out in other ways. There have truly been so many that have influenced him for good! Sterling was overwhelmed by the love and support!
Sterling received his call to serve as a missionary to the Santos, Brazil Mission. His start date will be August 5, 2024 and his Brazil MTC Start date will be August 14th. We are very happy for him and even more excited that his friend, Duke will be serving in the same mission on the same start date! I am happy that Sterling will have a buddy to travel with (hopefully) and to serve with!
We had root beer floats and other snacks. Sterling had his float with Joseph Smith Historic Site Root beer to celebrate!
The following week the kids had their final community performance of The Fall of the House of Usher! They had lots of friends come to support them!
On April 12th Sheri performed in A Mid Summer's Night Dream dance recital.
The kids have had many track meets in the last few months. Sterling competed in pole vault and in 110 meter hurdles. Sheri competed in 100 meter hurdles and the 300 meter hurdles. Here are some photos from April 3rd and 4th. I couldn't get more photos of Sheri because I was videoing and didn't have Matt with me to take still shots.
Sterling qualified for area in both events.
And here is Sterling at finals
Sterling didn't place at finals but I was very proud of both the kids' hard work especially with all their other activities.
On April 3rd, Sheri participated with her band in the UIL (University Interscholastic League) concert and sight reading competition. In the 3rd piece Sheri had a solo and played it beautifully! The band did an amazing job and got all ones "clean sweeps" (the highest possible scores).
On April 25th Sheri had a band concert and we got to enjoy hearing her solo.
Here she is with her band director, Mr. Bennington and Assistant Band Director, Ms. Henson.
Meanwhile, over in Provo...
Eve has had a great month. She celebrated her birthday (she is no longer a teenager)!
She decided to have a parfait picnic, but held it inside. It was such a fun time and all the guests enjoyed each other.
Matt went to Utah for work and was able to meet up with Eve for lunch and to walk the Provo City Center temple grounds. Spring is so beautiful!
Here are some other fun times she has been having.
Lunch with Abbie who will be leaving to serve a mission soon.
She found a great gluten free restaurant!
And she got to attend a Benson Boone Concert.
We love Eve so much and are glad she is having such great experiences!
Here are a few more fun moments from April.
The teenage kids went to a pre-FSY activity and participated in service projects to join in Global Youth Service Day. I got sick and couldn't make it unfortunately. Sterling led the get to know you games. The kids love being with friends!
The tulips Matt planted for me came up and I love to look at them every day out my kitchen window!
Sterling is playing a game with the other seniors called "Senior Assassin". Essentially they try to "kill" each other by shooting with water guns and be the last duo standing. Wearing goggles protects you for the first few weeks. It goes on for about a month and the kids enjoy plotting where they can get each other since school and church are not options. It has made getting up each day a little more fun. :)
The Young Women did a mock trial and Sheri was one of the lead attorneys for the defense. She did a great job along with Marianne!
Sundays are for swinging.
Sheri got to dissect a sheep heart for Medical Terminology at school.
Well that about sums up our month. Matt and I are continuing to work on our garden and we are all enjoying the warmer weather.
Happy Spring!
