Their Biggest Fans

Dance and basketball comp season is here and one of the things I love the most is that our kids support each other and show up to cheer each other on no matter what they do. Makayla, Caden, and Brynnli are truly each other's biggest fans. 

Brynnli's show was first. She has 4 dances this year: All through the night (Contemporary), 500 miles, (Lyrical),  Chernobyl, (Jazz... with the gas masks), and Stallion (hip hop)

Then it was Makayla's turn. Dance is so much fun with friends. Makayla has been dancing with these girls for years now and this is their last year dancing together as many of them will be moving on to high school. Makayla's dances are People are strange (jazz), Boots (Contemporary), Repercussions (Contemporary) and The Devil wears Prada (Hip hop).

Then it was off to support Caden at his game. Caden is really loving Valley and has decided to stop playing with Dream Team so he can focus more on Valley. 

I hope my kids remember that their family was there to support them and cheer them on no matter what they do in life, and I hope they continue to support each other even when they get older. In the end, family is all that matters. 

February

You know what they say.. the family that does yoga together, stays together. 

Poor Tyler... February is really wearing him out. 

Brynnli is always the first one around here to get sick. Poor thing was down for a few days with this nasty cold. 

Makayla had a dentist check up, and she somehow convinced me that we needed to go to lunch before her appointment. Lunch was great and I loved catching up with her, but then she was begging me to buy her the Dubai chocolate strawberries for dessert. I told her no and she had to buy it herself. She didn't ask how much it was before ordering and guess how much it was? $20!!! Insane!!! I was glad I didn't offer to buy it for her and Makayla got a valuable lesson in money management... although she said it was worth it. 

Remember the "huzz" from last month at Caden's church basketball game? We knew there was more to the story. Turns out Makayla and Spencer are "talking".  Basically they text each other all throughout the day. But to be clear they are not dating. They have held hands and they hug before they go to class, but they are not dating. With Valentine's day coming up, they got each other gifts. Teen dating is so fun to watch. 

While we were on our cruise, the kids had fun at Grandma and Grandpa's with the cousins. 

We celebrated Tyler's 43rd birthday. Things were a little hectic with our cruise, Grandma Bonnie, and just life in general, but we couldn't pass up an opportunity to celebrate our favorite guy! I tell ya, they don't get any better than Tyler. He's a great husband and dad, he works so hard to provide for our family, and he's the one we all go to when we need logical advice. He makes us laugh, comes up with funny games, and helps us to be better. Tyler is the most disciplined and dedicated person. He wakes up every morning at 4:30 to work out and has lost over 40 pounds. Once he decided on a goal, he accomplishes it. We love you!!

Oh look at that, we finally got some snow... not very much though. 

We wanted to take the kids out to a fancy restaurant for Valentine's day. Tyler and I love Carvers, so we decided to treat the kids there. They loved the coconut shrimp, steak and rolls. We had great conversation, and learned how to have good manners at a fancy restaurant. 

Then for Tyler's birthday my parents took us to Texas Roadhouse. We were spoiled with steak again!

 February has been a roller coaster ride. We have had so many fun moments, and so many sad moments. I guess that truly sums up life, right? 

Grandma Bonnie

 Grandma Bonnie passed away February 18 and we are all heartbroken. This picture was taken last August, but I fell like it encapsulates what Bonnie loved, being surrounded by her family. 

After Grandma Bonnie fell earlier this year she was in the hospital and then went to a long term care facility. Tyler was able to go see her and play the piano for her when she felt good, but she later got an infection and her health declined. We were on our cruise and we were hoping so badly she could hold on until we got home to say goodbye. We were able to see her one last time, and she passed away that night. 

There are a few core memories I have of Grandma Bonnie. One time when I had young kids, I was in the thick of all the mom things and I was just really doubting myself. We were at a family party and when we went to say goodbye she looked me right in the eyes and said, "you're a really good mom, you know that?" I told her thank you as I tried to hold back tears because it was just the words I needed to keep going. It really meant a lot to me. The other memory I have of Grandma Bonnie is that she was at our endowment session when we went through the temple and it meant a lot to me too because it was such a big milestone in our family, and my own mom wasn't there. 

The viewing and funeral was really nice. Jo and Bill both gave really great talks that really highlighted her faith, strength, love of family, and support of all things softball. 

The kids loved being together, even though it was a sad event. 

This picture broke my heart. All of Bonnie's kids together to say their last goodbyes. And then Bill saying goodbye before they closed the casket. 

Here's a few pictures from the dedication of the grave. 

I have included Bonnie's rough draft of her obituary here. It's not the one that was final, but I think this one really captures Bonnie's life and legacy: 

Bonnie Jean Nielsen Evans, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend, passed away on February 18, 2026, in West Valley City, Utah, at the age of 93.

Bonnie was born June 18, 1932, in Hunter, Utah, to Alfred Christian Nielsen and Hazel Charlotte Day. Bonnie was a farmer at heart, shaped by hard work and determination, qualities she passed on to each of her children and grandchildren. She married William “Bill” Reid Evans on November 2, 1950, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they built a life over 75 years centered on faith, family, adventure, and unwavering devotion. They raised four children: Karen, William Craig (Terry) Evans, Vicki Lin (Terry) Meeks, and Joleen.

Bonnie was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints and a proud member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She served faithfully in many callings, including many years working in the Jordan River Temple. Her favorite calling was camp director, even when “the girls always wanted to get her hair wet.”

In her 93 years, Bonnie witnessed remarkable moments in history. At nine years old, she was living in Hawaii and watched the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Years later, Bonnie, Bill, and their four young children moved to Germany for a two-year work assignment. When it ended, Bonnie returned home alone with the children aboard a freighter, embarking on a grueling 21-day journey - a trip that perfectly reflected her courage, resilience and determination.

Travel was one of Bonnie’s greatest joys. While trips to Egypt and Israel were especially meaningful, her favorite journeys were always those to visit family and to watch softball, her favorite sport. On those road trips, there was one nonnegotiable rule: they had to stop every two hours and report that they were okay. In her later years, Bonnie was always ready to “go for a ride,” never losing her love for the open road.

Bonnie was the ultimate team mom and legendary for her homemade cookies and brownies. She became the team mom for multiple softball and basketball teams, tucking treats for her favorite players under the bench. She always showed up and was always cheering and feeding someone. Her constant cooking earned her the nickname Taco Bon.

Family was always Bonnie’s highest priority. She showed her love by being there—again and again—for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Whether it was softball, baseball, basketball, dance, football, or any other activity, Bonnie showed up. She cheered from the sidelines, celebrated every milestone, and made each person feel seen and supported. Family was her greatest joy, and to those who loved her, she was simply the best. Her presence was constant, her support unwavering, and her love unmistakable.

Bonnie was preceded in death by many loved ones over her long life. She is survived by her devoted husband, Bill; her four children; four grandchildren—Joshua (Scott) Meeks, Barbara (David) Grogan, Tracy (Jeremy) Jones, and Tyler (Kristen) Evans; and twelve greatgrandchildren: Johnathon

Grogan, Will Meeks, Nathan Grogan, Cooper Meeks, Carson Jones, Colton Jones, Jason Grogan, BJ Norman, Makayla Evans, Caden Evans, Camden Jones, and Brynnli Evans.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to all who loved and cared for Bonnie over the years. Special thanks go to Jonathan Olsen who helped her survive the COVID years, the surgeon who repaired her broken hip, the Legacy Village staff who supported her recovery, Alpine Meadows for her final days, and Active Hospice whose compassion and care were the blessing the family did not know they needed. In lieu of flowers, please go to a ball game.

Taco Bon’s gourmet dugout is officially closed.