January 29, 2017

Monday morning we went to Walmart.  Eddie convinced me to buy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cookie kit.  They were fun to make, but not tasty.  Why did I still eat them?

 I made it all better by baking bread and a bundt.

 We finally walked to the basement and made a track.

 Eddie and I learn everyday.

Little binkies.

Maddie came home with her insides on the outside.

 Austin, AKA Mighty Molar Man, went to Maddie's class and presented a skit about dental health.

 They all gathered on my lap to watch.

 Saturday Nick had a basketball game.  He plays on the KNICKS.  He rebounded four balls and did a good job defending his opponent.  He is wearing his blue shoes.

 We played BINGO to determine our chores.  Meg won, and she was able to choose from the list first.

 Austin helped Andy with his science fair project about which wood burns fastest.

Austin picked up these boxes and curiously enough five children fit inside.

 Andy loves his baby girl.  Baby Girl loves him.

Pre church, feeding baby.

Today Maisie said she read two books of "Great Brain".  I should have taken a picture of her.

January 22, 2017

Monday evening I went to bed totally spent, and I regretted every conversation with my children, because I knew I had been angry with them in word and deed.  Then, something wonderful happened!  I found the selfies Maddie recorded on my phone, which happened to be videos of herself.  I listened to the commotion and sounds of all those around me, and discovered the opposite of my reflection.  My voice was calm, I was laughing, I was drying tears, giving commands to my kitchen help, singing to Molly and all of this in her 67 second sound bite.  It helped me know that today was not the day to lose courage, but to take heart.  I had actually done my best, and it mattered.  My best looked a lot different to peeps than to my conscience.  Clearly, I had used my best energy on those people who mattered most.  This week was better because I saw my efforts in a different light. 

Tuesday night I spoke at an RS meeting about relationships, and I actually spent 4 minutes to get ready and clean up -- I felt like a million bucks (though Austin missed it because he didn't come home until 10pm).

 We have a set of 8, 24 piece puzzles that we put together every day, at least twice.

 We figured out that marshmallows on each scripture pictures almost keeps their interest for a full story.

 We pretended that dishes and lunches were nonexistent on Wednesday night.

 These two play "beauty parlor" with Molly while I brush the little boys' teeth.  Maisie brushes Molly's hair, and Nick lotions her hands.

 She's very big.

 Meg begged me to make pretzels with her. So we did it instead of Saturday chores, and we had a grand time.

 Hail.

 Molly is three months.  She came trailing all the joy of the heavens with her.  We celebrated by taking her to a movie, in which she "talked" through the entire thing.  Austin held her at the back.

 Sunday is here.  Austin was home long enough to throw the football, eat dinner with the missionaries, and leave again.  But, I left all the dishes for him, and he quite faithfully did them.  He's very well trained.

 All of these teased Meg, so they had to sit here until dinner was ready.

 Our Sunday pledge to invite an investigator to a stake youth musical fireside.

I thnk Maddie has the prettiest little nails.  OPI polish is never ill spent on her.

January 15, 2017

Another blessed week came and went.  Saturday night these two little boys made a bathtub in the bottom of my shower.  They were very clean and very pleased.

 These three were all wearing purple, so as triplets Meg forced Andy to take a picture.

 For 150 minutes Molly, Ryan and I sat watching Andy play flag football.  We set up "camp" by the swings, Andy played well, and it rained.

 Friday night we held a dinner party with friends.  Here is the, the after was finally cleaned up at noon the next day.  How fun it is to be with friends and eat delicious food.

 I made delcious granola this week, so our afterschool snack most days was granola and whole milk.  I made them sit on the rug hoping to prevent spills and mess.  Nope, didn't work.

 Ryan loves holding his baby.

 Nick and Maisie competed in the geography bee, they both got out.  They probably should have listened to their mother when she told them to study all of break.....

 I found holes in my bread when I came to the kitchen to toast it at dinner time.

 Then I found the guilty party, though I never doubted; I'm just glad I bagged it.

 I find us playing on the floor by the hour.  Here is Ed's superman pose.

 I'm trying to get back into yoga.

 Naptime kisses.

 Band-aid sharing.

 Two hour major ordeal getting new tires for Austin's car was quite an adventure -- my friend ended up rescuing us.

 Monday night for FHE we playing BINGO.  We were all thrilled with our prizes.

 Maddie was especially thrilled -- she won a whoopie cushion.

I reached my goal to play piano for five minutes on two days this week, but I also pulled out my uke and played her for a good bit.  Blogging each Sabbath helps me see the beautiful blessings in my life.