Max Turns 18!!!

     Well, it happened AGAIN.  We have another legal adult in the house.  Max's 18th Birthday celebrations took up two weekends.  What he wanted to do more than anything was to stay a night in the haunted hotel in Jerome, AZ with his best friend, Ricky.  Because we are in the middle of the basketball season, we quickly planned this in about a day.  The ONLY weekend this would work was the weekend before his actual birthday.  So on Friday, January 13th, I booked a room at the Jerome Hotel for Max & Ricky--we were only allowed to do this because Ricky was already 18--and I also booked a two-hour ghost tour for them from 9-11 pm that night.  (I got the last available room AND the last two spots in the ghost tour so it was definitely meant to be).  Here is the video they made about their night/ghost tour:  (side note--the MOST haunted room in the hotel is Room 32, that one was already taken but I was able to get them in Room 30 right next to the most haunted room--room 30 was the old "nursery" area of the building when it was a hospital).

Max & Ricky-Trip to Jerome!

    Then the next weekend--his actual birthday--Papa Frank came up to watch a couple basketball games to celebrate Max's birthday with us.  We ate lunch at Texas Roadhouse and then had to get home to get ready for JACE'S BAPTISM!!!  Jace is a Senior in high school at Heritage Academy with Max.  They have known each other since the 7th grade (but didn't like each other in Jr High😂).  Max & Jace became great friends this year and Max has been working with him as Jace has been learning the gospel.  He took all the discussions in our home and attends our ward each week.  It has been a tremendous experience for all of us.  We have LOVED having him in our home.  The baptism was AMAZING!  SOOO many people from Heritage Academy (all the way in Mesa) came to support him.  Max was honored to be asked to do the actual baptism and he did perfectly.  Super proud of this boy of mine:

Jace & Max

Jace & his parents--Adam & Valerie

Elders Yonkman, Alstrom, & Moessling

Jackson, Jace, & Max

Pickett Twins--Landon & Braden

Hyrum S.

Coach Ruiz

Reagan T.

Mr. Blau (Band Teacher)

Phelps Family

Heritage Academy Students

Maren M.

Sarai W.

Bro. Young

    After a BUSY Saturday, it was really great to have a nice, quite family dinner at home on Sunday.  Here is Max with his official cake.  Happy 18th Birthday Max.  We LOVE YOU TONS:)