May Fete

We had very ordinary and extraordinary details to celebrate this week.  

Our trampoline finally broke, but that did not stop the new configuring of games, forts and wildlife capture.  They say it's fun to roll down the mat in "Dead man."

Ryan's little palms crack and bleed.  We now have him wearing vaseline and gloves to bed at night.

Maisie studies every night with Nick and Maddie.  Her little desk is usually piles high with pens, notebooks and paints.  Her door is ALWAYS open, just like her heart.  She welcomes all into her room and her realm.  And when one leave her space, one feels lighter and enlivened.

Nick is still driving me to seminary everyday.  He's dreamy (and he smells good).

Maddie (girl of all things creative) conviced the little friends to make a music video.  "It didn't turn out right."  I had better post a pre-edit link.Wise Men

Wednesday-Friday morning Austin and I flew to Provo for Meg's college graduation! She paid for every cent, completed every assignment and figured out how to live.  Of course Elijah was her big accomplishment in the phase of her life, but a bachelor's degree in family science is pretty awesome.

(We spent the afternoon shopping and eating.  Our favorite trainer loves Trader Joe's, so I had to pay her homage. )

Look at this beautiful graduate!

Look at this handsome couple!

Look at these proud parents!

Look at his supportive extended family!

We're always so blessed to be loved and included within our family circle.  Ash/Tyler and Emily navigated their children, Sis attended two ceremonial walks, and Mother was the grandest of all.

I don't know who this guy is, but he seemed important.Graduation Walk

Photos will Willy.

Uncle Tyler is a professor at UVU, and she's his first UVU graduate.  He was meant to connect and keep collegiates on track.  We ate a lovely lunch and were able to sit and chat for a couple hours with the fam.  Grandpa B. said it best, "It's not a big deal to gradutate from college, unless you don't graduate."  We know she is a big deal, and we know that she'll do big things in her home.

Home Saturday for more football.  Ryan continues improving is QB skills.

Austin's yard work is in full swing.  My rule is: If Dad is outside, then you are outside.

Miss Molly is the least behaved six year old ever to sit on our bench.  She bounces from lap to lap giving and receiving kisses, giggles, backrubs and loud laughter.  Maisie is giving her a make-over with a wooden stylus.  I wish Austin would do that to my face.  But, he does keep me tucked under his arm, so how can I complain?  (Nick's pretending to be alert and attentive.)

See!  Now he's rolling her back and forth on his lap.

Talks,  Article of Faith #6 and prayers in primary today.

So, I feel pretty awesome about a goal I actually reached.  I memorized all the elements on the Periodic Table. Sunday School class took a boring dive, so I wrote them all from memory.  It was kind of an awesoem game.  (Our lesson included the raising of Lazarus from the dead, but that wasn't even mentioned.😕

Andy is still making so much good happen in his mission.

Did I already post that the mission president's wife, Sister Galland, called me?  Her report:

1. The elders around him are drinking more water and eating better.  I asked them if they felt forced, but they see Andy's example as an invitation to create better habits.

2. Elder Babcock makes us laugh even when he's not trying to.

3.  We've heard lots of stories about him torturing his siblings.

4.  He just loves others.  He has an aura of love, and not just the missionaries feel it, but those with whom he's teaching.

His report: "Our mission has 50 baptisms this month." Also, "I need to dry clean my suits." 

As a family, we're loving praying for and with our cute missionary.

Spring Finally in Full Swing

I overheard Molly saying to Eddie, "Get off me, you big lug! What's a 'big lug'?"

This week the recess activity of choice was the ponywall trick jumps.  

Maddie and Eddie have this thing about Teslas.  Maddie wanted to show Eddie the one we passed in the parking lot.  

Nick's tennis season is over.  We were all invited to his pizza banquet.  He is improving each game/set/match.  Coaches Conrad and Larry are quite awesome.

Flashing is charming grin and his gang signs.

Spring the perfect season for outdoor school work.

Austin and I decided to hike Bear Mountain.  We did it in the early morning hours.  We mostly hike in silence (so I get a little bored), but he knows that if he asks just the right question, the hike goes smoother for us both.

They build a paint spinner and painted.

A king snake got tangled in our garden.  Maisie was brave enough to pull him out, but we don't think he made it.

We have a little nest of quail eggs in the carrots.  Flat Stanley came to visit, so we put him by the eggs.

Saturday morning was a thing.  Austin took Eddie to wrestle, and I took everyone else to clean the church, to Ryan's football game, and to watch Eddie for a few minutes.  We also went to the post office and Maverick.  It's quite easy running errands, because I leave all the windows down and let that darling 17 year old sister hold down the fort.  That's a far cry from unbuckling four carseats and coralling several little people just to mail a letter.

Maddie mowed the lawn for the first time.  She felt very old.

Then began the pergola jumps.  Eddie.

Maddie.

Look at me!  Look at this!  I tidied up the family room and added new books to the fireplace -- I passively invited all the family to spend a few minutes there.  EVERY person stopped to browse a bit.  Austin was perusing just before family prayer.  I love a good book.

 We heard little from Meg, because she was finishing up her COLLEGE finals/degree.  She kept her 4.0 in college, and several of her teachers suggested her applying for a masters program.  She just wants all the babies.  It'll happen.

Andy reported for seven minutes, "I'm just exhausted all the time, and my acne is bad again."  He had to end the call quickly.  He's in a AP trio, and the other two boys go home in July.  We can fill in the lines to know that he is working harder than he ever has before, but his results looks different.  He now reports the mission numbers, not the zone numbers or the companion numbers.  He wants protein powder so he can work on his gains.  I just might buy him a fancy kind so he can build his gut health back up.  I love to watch him love Jesus.

Austin #47 and Nick #16

Austin and Nick's birthday landed on a Saturday.  Silly me, I was hoping we would spend the day together, but the day was busy.

Traditional morning presents and birthday waffles were calm and relaxing.

Thank you, sweetest mother, for always remembering them (us).  They are cute boys.

She's low-key his little lap dog.

We went to Walmart earlier in the week and each of the children bought them gifts.  Nick mostly needed new clothing, and Austin never needs/wants a thing.  They are easy to please.

Ryan's football game was part of the morning.

Dinner and cake rounded off our busy day.

Birthday Song

Nick is thriving in this incredible space of growth.  Every time I look at him, he's taller.  Every time he needs course correction, he self corrects.  Every time it's time to improve his relationship with homework, a sibling or his phone, he's changing for the better.  I sure love this tall boy that is growing more fiercly in faith and fidelity to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  He often questions:

"What's for dinner?"

"Can I go play tennis?"

"Do you want to go play pickleball?"

"Can I ride my dirt bike?"

"Will you take me driving?"

He plays/studies/teases so hard during the day, that his deafening snores are heard by all those wo fall asleep after him.

Austin is thriving in this incredible space of forward momentim.  Every time I look at him, he's dreaming of retirement and vacation.  His time is still occupied with providing, presiding and protecting, but he keeps those few spare thoughts filled with questions like:

"Where do you want to go next?"

"Would you like to retire to a little hobby ranch?"

"What about acuiring a little side income that would allow me to only work two days a week?"

And yet, he still makes time to clip coupons, xeriscape our yard, serve on the schoolboard, bike/hike all the mountains/trails in Sedona, and keep the pool at the proper pH year round.  No wonder he falls asleep in less than 3 seconds.  Luckily his snores are more intermittent.

April

She's blooming! Isn't she lovely? (I taught the lesson in RS and took her to fill the presentation table.)

Molly is six and actually wears a size six.  I'm glad she still fits on my feet.

For two whole months I've needed to adjust the boys clothing.  The annoying chore is finally done.

Austin wanted to hike Thunder Mountain, so we did.  It was harder than I remember.

The Sedona views were worth it.  

Friday night Nick and Maisie found themselves at the home track meet (go figure), on principle the kitchen was closed, so Austin took us to COLT.  The children loved fetching their dipping sauces and eating on the patio.  Eddie and Maddie were thrilled about their giant burgers, Ryan spilled the dog water and the ranch cup, Molly read the "Spirits" menu and was confused.

It took us a couple days to finish our food.  

Saturday Ryan won the football game for his team, again.  He made three/four touchdowns and pulled several of the flags.  He's getting pretty good.

Maisie and I headed to the Old Jail Trail to take a few senior pictures.  She's a beautiful model. (Stopping to coo at a ladybug.)

Family choir began with me screaming to stop the teasing, but ended with a happy chorus of voices.  It's still my favorite gathering time.

We talked with Andy for literally seven minutes -- he had a training meeting to plan.  He did tell us that he eats junk, because he's not at his apartment, so he's at the mercy of others' fridges and fast food.  Bleck.  

One of the sister missionaries calls him, Elder Babcrack.  That was a new one.  "I'm just so busy."

"This is Nick.  He's reading the Book of Mormon we left him."

Melijah moved into a little apartment in Pokey. They are sleeping on an air mattress, reclining on the floor and searching for resuable furniture.  They are happy and are relishing their "good times."  We talk to Meg daily, and she still wants to know all the things happening.