Happiness

Maisie got everyone ready for church while we were yet away at the wedding.  Maddie taught her lesson without me and did a terrific job.

Austin and I were detoured 2 hours on our drive home -- getting stuck driving through Grand Canyon National Park was not too shabby.  The park ranger looked at us and said, "Detour?  Just drive through."  We were a bit offended that we didn't "look" like the typical hikers.  I wanted to turn right back around and show her proof that we've hiked all the way down to the bottom and up again -- in ONE day! HA!  Bot.

Home again for naps and massages.

This week our school was so off.  We completed all our non-negotiables, but hardly anything else.

Maddie has the prettiest nails and capably gels them.

Monday evening was Maisie's MUHS track meet.  She acquired two personal records and is looking good for state.

"Run, little girl!  Run!"

The weather was so lovely, and I packed the most delicious food for the entire cheering section, so all were very happy to support our little runner.

Andy's diploma came!  Graduating a semester early and heading out 6 months prior to his original date was the exact prompting his life needed.  Thank you, Jesus.

Now that every night feels like summer and life teems with laughter, we jump and romp most evenings.

I asked Andy if he needed anything this week, "I need a good answer for people when they tell me that they don't need to go to church, because they have Jesus in their hearts."  I found this in Moroni 6.

Grandpa B. donated 13 eggs for our incubation project.  Eddie!  There's a bird on your head! (Please bless you've read the Piggy and Gerald book by Mo Willems with this same title.  It's my FAVORITE children's book.)

Our combined youth activity was a virtual tour of the Mormon Batallion museam.  One of the sisters in our stake is serving there, so she led the tour.

My friend bought me a new piano book.  Eddie convinced me to make frozen/chocolate bananas.  That was the best 30 minutes I spent for myself in a long time.

Thank you for this, Maisie.

More trampolie time -- I popped that ball just a few seconds later. 😒

Swimming with friends on Friday prompted the annual debate about when to heat our pool.

Saturday morning we ate late, and then, we just sat for a very long time solving puzzles, reading books, finally finding devices, and we were just chill.  I took a deep breath and let in all sink in.  Then, I made them get to work deep cleaning the kitchen.

Maddie was the winner, because her sleepover ended in a day at the fair.  She deserved it, though, she's the oldest at home and gets pooped on the most; she never complains.

 I'm often asked, "Why are you so happy?"  or, "What's hard for you in your perfect little world?"  HA!

In these moments, I testify of my relationship with Jesus Christ.  This week I read a quote that summarized my happiness: "Happiness is not about how much you have but how much you enjoy."  I'm happy because I enjoy the blessing of obedience and chose to enjoy life in all curcumstances.  My world is hardly perfect, in fact, I walk around most moments knowing that what I want is not what the Lord has in store for me right now.  I'm in the waiting stage of faith, and this stage might just last clear into eternity.  I'll keep my little pocket prophecy to myself, knowing that God's plan for me is better than what I can hope or dream.  And in this space, I can either be angry about it, or be happy enjoying what I have.  I chose happiness.

Nick's #15

Nick is 15!  We missed every bit of his birthday.  Maisie and Maddie decorated the kitchen table, fed him delicious food and nurtured him in all the ways.  Austin called him first thing, and Nick loved his little song.  He took the rice crispies I had prepared (3x batch) and reported that his class LOVED them.  I LOVE Nick.  

This birthday boy and freshman in high school is a reader.  

He's a gamer.

 He's a bot.  He giggles when he annihilates, giggles when he tired, giggles when he loses, giggles when he loves, and giggles when he hates.  He's usually happy, especially when he gets to do exactly what he wants.  He's growing into the "big boy" -- the one that lifts and moves all my heavy loads, cleans up dead rat guts and heads from the back mat, kills the scorpians and spiders, gets all the trash cleaning and window screening job, and is mad about it.  Still, he's coming around, because I need him, and he knows it.  His movie quoting one-liners are sensational, and he sings like a master.  His piano skills are not improving, but his art skills are -- especially when Maisie contributes.  He's very handsome and very true.  He's made several new friends at school this year, and Maisie reports, "Everyone loves Nick."  I guess he has a side-hustle at lunch: He takes money and buys people their stuff from the vending machine, then takes the change and gets junk for himself.  Genius.  I love Nick because he tries.  That's all I've ever wanted in a boy that is growing and learning.  He has to try to be good at something before he is good at something.  Nick accepts defeat and knows that winning is just around the corner.  He's a winner in my book.   Understanding his divine nature allows him to win at life. 

Vegas Austin -- #46

Austin's nephew, Taylor, planned his marriage for April 23 in the Las Vegas temple.  Austin convinced all his sisters to arrive a few days early, to celebrate his 46th birthday.  They consented, and we had the best weekend dual celebrating their wedding and his birthday.  Rachelle endearlingly coined him, "Vegas Austin."  Probably because he knew exactly where we were going and how to navigate the fun perfectly.

Thursday night we met up for a family dinner; Austin made these two nephews try new food. What does "four" mean?

We all went to see David Copperfield.  Rachelle went up on stage to witness a trick, but our phones were put away, so we have no documentation.  Not my favorite, it was a magic show with muppets, but a Vegas classic.

We walked to watch the Bellagio fountains dancing and singing along the way.

Here are the Bellagio gardens -- once again my favorite painist was playing his instrument in the atrium with ease and accuracy that far surpasses my imagination.  I wish I owned a player-grand piano in my home, a good seranade changes everything for me.

Friday morning we went to work out -- aka use that $100 resort fee.  The only machines that weren't being used were the Peloton bikes.  HA!  I logged in, rode with gusto, and I loved that we were working out together.

I planned a little party for later that morning.  

I brought presents, hats and his favorite cookies.  

Austin's Song

He wanted a picture with his sisters from the front

and the back.  

We had a couple of hours before the rehearsal dinner, so we headed to the outlets.  Austin invited us to join him in the fish pedicure.

Those little fish nibbled away at our feet, leavning an enzyme that would solve all our problems.  The sensation was popping bubbles.  Grandpa B. was so relaxed, I need to find a group picture.

BRIO was the rehearsal dinner destination.  We ate and chatted and cooed over the bride and groom. We crammed an extra rider in our car, but I'm so good at that -- and so are they.  Being surrounded and smashed by family is my favorite place to be.

Austin suggested a 9:30pm show -- we all went.  This is the same show we saw in 2011, and I remembered quite a bit of it, but it did not disappoint.  The choreography is mind-blowing.

Sensational!

We all heard, "You have to, it's my birthday!" like 5,000 times today.  This was the first year he milked his celebration to the fullest -- I was so proud of him.  We did have a grand day, and he deserves all the love from all his family.

Austin is an ultimate alpha.

He knows what he wants, and he works for it.

He has a following of family and friends that trust his wisdom and capabilities.

He listens carefully and opens his blunt mouth boldly.

His daughters adore him and his sons revere him. 

His wife is only just beginning to understand his eternal importance, but she sees his significance and his potential.

"46 sounds a lot closer to 50 than 45."  It's okay, Austin, we'll hopefully all come along with you, and we'll always be ready when "Vegas Austin" comes to town.

Viva Las Vegas!

 

So Good

Maisie and Nick didn't have school, so the entire household slept in until 9am.

Then the water balloons were filled and the balcony slip-n-slide was a natural progression of events.

"You barely have to touch this baby, and it pops."

Poor, Eddie.  His kitchen job this month is to rinse the dishes.  He is a good sport, and he often plays in the bubbles.

We were all home, so we all went to Walmart.  We were a crazy group.

We miss our big girl so much.  She's bright and cheeful and so happy.

Early morning workouts are bright as noon day.

Ryan's big teeth change his little boy face into a big boy.  Even Andy thinks he looks older.

Mark and Emily both graduated from BYU!   All of my mother's 11 children are BYU alumni.  What's even more precious in my eyes, is   that we all have faith in Jesus Christ and know that life is all about family.  Our parents sure taught us well -- and happiness sure follows obedience.

This is my mother on Natalie's BYU graduation day (22 years earlier).

 

Here we are at our BYU graduation (20 years earlier).

50% of college graduates never crack a book in their field again.  I hope my children read, read, read their entire lives.  Reading creates understanding and promotes growth; a positive relationship with learning is what I wish I had learned while earning my education.  Alas, I can teach this principle to all my children.