April 2022

 We started the month of April in one of my most favorite places - the temple! Autumn received her endowment in the Mt. Timpanogos temple on April 1 and it was a beautiful evening.  It was made even more special by the fact that Megan and Mitch had come down for Conference weekend and Grandma Ririe was still visiting with us so they could be there too.  Such a great day!

We went to the temple several more times throughout the month as Autumn was eager to go to as many temples close by as she can before she leaves on her mission.  So far she has been to the Mt. Timp, Draper, Provo City Center, Provo, and Payson temples and has plans to go to her roommate's sealing in the Meridian temple and do a session in the Oquirrh Mountain temple in May.  She loves the temple and we love being able to go to with her.

We had everyone come home for General Conference weekend and it was so wonderful to be gathered together as a family to watch the sessions together and play games and socialize in between sessions. Devin and Levi invited a few friends to join us for the weekend which was even more fun. I love being gathered as a family!  And I love these pictures taken during Conference - everyone working on their projects. :):)

Bryce, Autumn and I drove to Boise for a weekend where Autumn and I helped Megan get ready for a Relief Society super craft day and then went with her to the activity and made some fun craft projects while Mitch and Bryce painted the nursery.  We also explored more of downtown Boise - we always have such a fun time when we visit Megan and Mitch.

Before

After

We celebrated Easter with a new advent that counts down the week to Easter by studying the names of Christ.  We loved lighting candles each night and talking about Jesus Christ throughout the week.  Seth, Delaney and Autumn came over on Easter Sunday for dinner and to complete our candle wreath.

We met Seth at the BYU Museum of Art so he could give us a guided tour of a new contemporary art exhibit that was curated by one of his professors.  The art was really amazing and was made even more amazing by getting to hear the history and meaning of the pieces from Seth, who is so passionate about art and has an amazing ability to remember the tiniest details of each piece.  It was so fun!

We took two trips to Thanksgiving Point's tulip festival.  The first one was with Autumn on a beautiful, sunny and crisp Spring day and the second was just 3 days later when Megan came to town and she and I went together on a cold and windy day.  You gotta love Spring in Utah! :)  Both visits were beautiful - we love going to the tulip festival each year and marveling at the displays of spring flowers.

We ended the month of April with a baby shower for Megan that was so much fun!!  Autumn was so happy to help me put everything together so she could be involved with the shower since she will be in Canada by the time her first little nephew arrives.  We had a great time and enjoyed seeing neighbors and friends that have known Megan since she was very little, some of Megan's high school and college friends as well as several aunts and cousins.  So excited to celebrate this happy event!! Here are a just a few pictures of some of the people who came:

Me, Megan, Autumn and Delaney

Megan and Alathia, one of her wardie friends. Several others came as well and it was fun for Megan to be with old friends.

Megan with her Finch side aunts Becki, Kathi and Kristi

Megan with her cousins Tasia, Bethani, Bella and Sabrina.  Bethani is only 1 week away from her own due date and Bella is 5 1/2 months pregnant with twins.

The cutest sisters :)

Megan with her best friends Rachel and Crystal. Her other best friend, Megan, was out of town and missed the shower.

That's it for April! See you next month!