Victoria and JT are engaged!

 

Victoria and JT went to the Outer Banks with the Sheridan family for the first weekend in April. While there, JT proposed to Victoria bright and early on a walk on the beach!

So romantic!

V obviously said, "Yes!"

JT's sister, Danielle, is a wonderful photographer and sneakily followed them to take pictures from afar! Thanks, Danielle! Good plan, JT!

And...how cool to have a future brother-in-law, Tevita, who captured Proposal drone footage!

V sent a happy picture of herself wearing her beautiful ring and alongside her new fiancé!

Sod fam took screenshots when they Facetimed! We were so excited for them! JT had talked to Danny and I about it on Easter, so we knew that it was coming, but didn't know all of the details. He did a great job planning! Documenting the memory was important to V and he totally nailed that!

Danielle took some beautiful pictures of the newly engaged couple at the Sand Dunes at Sunset!

Young love!

And... a few weeks later, Aunt Lorel took formal engagement photos in Williamsburg for the Wedding Invitations! Thank you, Lorel! They are stunning pictures! We are so blessed to have talented and sharing family members!

This is one of my favorites!

A little note about the dress-I found it on a clearance rack in her size in January and bought it on a whim because we knew it would make the perfect engagement or rehearsal dinner dress for her one day in the future! Who would have guessed that it would have been so soon?! She looks like a million bucks in it! 

 (This was while JT was still in England and they were not dating, at all! Even though we had thought, at many times, that they would get married, there was this weird time when he was gone that we stopped presuming or even really considering it. They had broken up months before his mission; he had dated another girl, and V had dated plenty of other guys. Still, what is meant to be, will be. I don't think that most people are predestined romantically, but in their case, it almost seems to be. So many stories make it feel like their love was meant to be.)

They sure are happy in love and can't wait to marry each other!

March 2024

V, Kate, and I went to see Batia in Mean Girls. She was great!

These two had a lot of dates! You know V documents, but I have a few of her pics to share too.

Speaking of, I haven't had as many pics of the boys lately. They don't take or send me that many pictures, but I love them still the same! 

This is one pic of Grant from this month. Sick . Boo. In general though, Grant has been getting better with physical therapy. His kneecap is still loose, due to his MPFL tear, but he is feeling better and gaining strength, He tried out for baseball and will play with a big brace on. If he injures it again, he will definitely need surgery. His tendon needs to be repaired. We just hope he can get through the season.

Christian is working out at Planet Fitness most nights and is very strong. He spends most of his time at home at the dining room table working on schoolwork. He also continues to work, workout, and spend time with Mia. He still makes time for his guy friends too. 

Supportive friend, Dawson! We are so happy to see Grant on a field again! Big thanks to John, his physical therapist, for helping him get back to playable!

Also, some games are cold. Danny in his CCHS parka bringing cookies and milk to share with the announcers.

V and JT- datenight to see Orion in a play.

Grant at and SCA retreat. He loves them.

Have you ever had "caramel apple grapes"?  I made them for a multi-stake prom and they were bomb.

These cute friends! (Susie's birthday)

Gameday!

Prom Night

It was fun to see our youth all dressed up and having fun! The hosting stake made it so cool! These things are always so impressive. This is not a good picture of me, but I just love Julie and Gabriela and feel so lucky to work with them!

Victoria feels so lucky that JT is back!

More pics from the SCA convention.

Grant enjoys being with this group and also loves making friends from other schools at these conventions.

Family Fun night from Grandma. She gave us kits to make really cute little St. Patrick's day houses.

They turned out cute and the day was ok, but let me be real for a bit. I got home super late from the dance, like way after midnight, and JT was spending the night to spend time with us and get to know us again. I freaked out about cleaning when I got home in the middle of the night and just wanted everything to be perfect all day. Breakfast, church, lunch, and dinner, and activity, dessert, and/or anything else. I wanted to present "our perfect family." This type of ambition on very little sleep is a joke. Perfection as a goal is always a joke. Even though I have thought for years that V would probably marry JT, now that they were dating at a more serious age with that as a goal, it felt big and scary and I wanted everyone to go well and the pressure was ridiculous and I wound up crying because things weren't up to my ideal. I didn't want any problems, so I saw every problem and I became the biggest problem. It was messy and uncomfortable and he was very kind and tolerant of and to me as I was an overtired mess. "Welcome to the family." Mia was very kind to me that day and ensured me that it was ok. Danny and I discussed with her and Christian that I am more comfortable and vulnerable with her. We know that it will get better with JT. I think he is fantastic. It just takes me a while to get comfortable.

Look at this cute crew watching Grant's game. It was really kind of Bishop Riner and Kelly to come!

Katherine was one of 31 students at CMS to complete the VRC. Virginia Reader's Challenge. Go reader!

Katherine's team, won the tournament! There were 4 teams and their team went undefeated all season and swept the tournament. Most of the girls on her team had played before and were good. Katherine learned a lot and wants to play again next year!

Nice ring, Kate!

I get a lot of text pics of these 2 together.

Katherine made good resurrection rolls for us.

Traditional egg dying night

Always fun!

Mia joined us!

Easter morning!

Haha, these pictures.

Cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Then, we went to church to worship and celebrate the Ressurrection and Atonement. Then we had a wonderful lunch at my Mom's. It was lovely.

JT came and was informed that his spot would be at the younger kids' table. He was totally fine with that.

He was also interrogated by Kate and Eve about how and when he would propose. He was totally fine with that, too! 

Then, V wanted to take pictures. He was totally fine with that too! Sweet guy!

We also went to the Soderholm's house for Easter dinner and played fun outside games there. I need to find those pictures to add.

Good March.