November Closes

Sunday nights he reads The Friend to our little friends.

Molly found "lovebirds" in her math book, and naturally added several hearts.  [I wanted to buy a little lovebird figurine for my desk (really I want to buy Rodin's "The Kiss" but my household isn't ready for that, nor probably will ever be), but I didn't find the right one.]

Maddie's Severs disease is still pains her.  The podiatrist said that she's fine to run on it.  I loved our time in the car as we traveled to Prescott.

I found this note "hidden" behind the Christmas tree. Apparently Molly wrote a reminder, and apparently Ryan didn't want me to be reinded. 

The updates from our bigs (and babies):

Melijah's babies can handle full bottle feedings.  They are gaining weight and are growing so well.

Elder Babcock often has to remind the elders, "Elders, this is disgusting!  Y'all need to keep this clean."  Then he lifted up his feet and showed us his new shoes, "As you can see, these are pretty drippy."  And finally, "Pray for Simba's family."

Maisie called and I could hear excitement in her voice.  Luke lingered after class so he could talk to her.  She'd been waiting for that then entire semester.  "You're practically married!"  I heartily concluded.  "I know!"  she gushed back.  And, "I really need to go to the store -- I've only been eating oatmeal for two days."  

 

Giving Thanks -- Living a Life of Praise and Gratitude

 (Reversed photo order.)

Sunday morning we said goodbye to out little college girl.  Our tears were lessened because we know we'll be together again in three weeks.

Saturday morning we slept in and moved slowly the entire day.  We did manage to put away the fall decor and put up the Christmas tree.  I even found myself napping on the family room floor beside Austin during a football game. (It'l take us another day to put up the other million boxes of holiday decor.)

Friday we went bowling.  Not that's it's a competition, BUT Austin won the adult lane, Maisie won the teen lane, and Molly won the children lane.  I was labeled "disqualified" because I bowl with bumpers.  I hit the bumpers only three times, and my score was 90.  Ha.  We also spent an hour in the arcade with Austin swiping his gift card every 15 seconds for a new game.

Thanksgiving day truly a manifestation of living a life of praise and gratitude.  Filling our plates with ample food and drink, and filling our house with family proved to be the epitome of living eternal life now.  There was no need to take a picture of the pie table, because Brent sampled all of them.

The adult table.

The young adult table.

The kid table.  (The children actually ate longer than 10 seconds.  I think it was more like 20 seconds.  They were then off to play ball, infection tag and hide and seek.  

My plate.

Our feast (minus the meat counter).

Austin smoked/roasted turkeys, brisket, and salmon.  The food was devoured. 

Wednesday we hiked the 18 miles trek down Kaibab trail and up Bright Angel in the Grand Canyon.  Our weather was perfect -- it was much warmer this year.  We beat our time by an hour.  

The views only prove there has to be a Creator.  "Chance" cound not have produced such splendor.

Before.

Tuesday night was the cold plunge.  53* water temps for two minutes was exceptional.

Packing for the hike.

Tuesday day we spent in Jerome wandering through parks, window shopping, chatting and eating hamburgers.  The day was lazy and uneventful.

Monday night the Coons rolled in, so Grandpa hosted a cookout.  We ate the rainbow trout we fished earlier that day.

We simply threw those fishies right on the coals and gobbled them right up.

Earlier that day I took these very tall boys to the rainbow trout hatchery in Oak Creek Canyon.  We caught 14 among us -- the poor fish practically jumped on our hooks.

Monday morning we three spent some time cooking from the outside in and the inside out in a hot yoga class.  I love a good stretch, and it was way over due.

Thursday night was our p-day phone call.  Updates:

Meg's twinnies gained two ounces over night.  Melijah visit everyday for hours on end.  They sing, rock and love their babies.  "Going to the NICU is the best and worst part of my day.  I love going and being with my babies, but I hate to leave them.  I cry every time."  She also commented with zest, "Y'all aren't ready when my incision heals."

Elder Babcock, "Mom ain't afraid of no ghosts.  Mom ain't no drunk."  He told me that he's seen some pretty tragic examples of mothering, so he was very thankful for my intentional nurturing.  (That was sweet, until he finished up with the drunk part.)

Maisie announed that there are 34 days until he comes home.  "Everyone in the congregation is going to be transfigured when they're listening to my homecoming talk." 

Nick:"Andy, when you get home, I'm going to gleek on you."

Andy:"I'm so excited to progress.  There's too much to do to sleep in.  (I want to get my handwriting nice.)"

Living with and living for family has brought me more happiness than I deserve.  I thank my parents for teaching me to choose family, and I thank the Father of us all for His the diving gift of His Son.  His plan of happiness within an eternal family unit is worth the work and effort.  Most days I'm overworked and under appreciated, most days I drop into bed and wonder what made me so tired because there is no physical reward, but everyday I remember Him, I am guided to wake up and do it all again.  Life is sweet.  Living the covenants of eternal life now, is bliss.   

Fall Fest

What a strange week of only daily grind.  Work, school, thanksgiving prep, and chores were constant, but so were the sounds of piano duets, Killers songs and daily twin updates.

Molly found Maisie in her math book!  She also had a story about Eddie. 😊

Because Elder Babcock comes home three days after Christmas, we are considering celebrating on the 29th.  Molly wrote a letter to Santa about accomodating our schedule.

We needed a slow start Wednesday -- so we took it.

These two teens had their swim banquet.  Athletics is no joke.

They got bored

I found this note on the library door, then followed the arrows around the room and up to the top of the bookshelf where all Molly's "babbies" were hidden.  Poor teased girl.

Grandpa found the best spot in the house.  I need to take his cues and sit in between deliciously clean boys.

 I missed the p-day phone call because I was cleaning the temple.  

Meg announced that Bea and Winnie are off their central lines.  Elder Babcock was super busy with transfers.  Maisie reported that her public speaking speech on plyo vs. cardio was sensational.  She on purpose chose the cutest boy in the class to be her example of jump lunges.  

OH!  We spent Saturday hiking in Sedona with the Parker boys.  They were very tall, athletic, aware and they glow.

I'm a Grandma!

Everything changed when my posterity added another generation.  All of a sudden I know how much my grandmothers love me, and I love them even more because I share that same glorious knowlege of the bright future my grandchildren have!  They will be taught and loved by parents who make and keep covenants, by aunts and uncles who love them more every moment they spend together, and by that bond of family that can never be broken.

Friday afternoon Meg called and reported that they were coing to induce her that day.  Austin and I hopped a plane to SLC where Maisie picked us up and drove to her (Maisie played us all her new favorite songs and updated us on her craziest adventures -- like cooking and selling French Toast in the library).

We arrived in Meg's room at 11pm.  She was shaking and swollen and had all the signs of preeclampsia.  For three hours she labored in her bed -- Elijah didn't move from her side.  His eyes darted from Meg's face to the monitors.  He watched the babies' heart rates and protected all three of them with his physical presence.  Finally the doctors took MY scared and sick baby Meg to the OR for the next two hours.  She pushed for an hour, then baby's heart rate dropped, so a c-section was the best option for both babies.  They brought her back broken and scarred.  She was so brave, but barely hanging on.  Once again Elijah fed her apple juice and stayed right by her.

Saturday was a LONG day of recovery, but Bea Golden and Winnie Meg was healthy and stable in their little isolets.  Meg was able to hobble down the visit them.

Grandpa Austin used his phone to swipe all the doors and pushed all the keys hoping to unlock the different rooms on that floor of the hospital.  He kept things light, "It's hard work having babies," as he drifted off to sleep in a corner chair.  Maisie was his best accomplice, and they could be heard giggling down the hall.

We left Sunday morning, but we didn't leave a broken family, we left a family knit so tightly in faith and hope that they oozed love for each other and their two little miracle babies.  

Austin's goals for Meg:

These two big girls have so much in common -- they know what living a life putting eternal relationships first is everything.  They know how to leave home and navigate college.  They know how to depend on each other.  They know how to breathe life into others.  They know how to trust and pine for good husbands.  They know know to nurture.  Their eternal identities as mothers are barely beginning (and have not quite begun).

We came home to reverent Sabbath-worshipping children that Nick and Maddie worked hard to manage and keep alive.  Grandma B. of course spoiled them and rescued them.

(I cut back my rose-scented geranium, and her trimming only made her more full and bright.)

Austin finally purchased new glasses.  His were mission the ear piece, but somehow he balanced them for the last couple years.  

This picture came up on my google home this week from two years ago.😏

Elder Babcock's report: 

• "When I go to college, I'm not doing any of that stuff -- TV, movies, and games."
• "I'm so motivated to be a better human than what I was when I was home."
• "Ry -- Mom can only teach you correct principles, but you have to govern yourelf."
• "We baptized again this week -- and we'll baptize again on Sunday."
• "I took a personality test; I'm a protagonist.  I'll be an executive."
• "I'm going crazy."
• "Just a little yoga."

Happy Halloweeeeeen

Tuesday is actually a really great night of the week for Halloween to land.  So, Monday we ate our festive feast (the missionaries joined us)

Mel's "Dinner in a Pumpkin" was a real winner.  (Weeellll, acutally I asked Ryan to salt the inside of the pumpkin, and he must have poured it in.  We ate very salty casserole. 😕 Luckily, the roasted veggies, big green salad and buttery bundt were seasoned to perfection.)

And the brew.  We must have the witches' brew.

Halloween!  One of the major homeschooling perks is that on Halloween morning I do not have to get the kids dressed up then attend a school parade.  Austin's office dressed in the 20's era.  

I think they look pretty cute.

Here is our awesome "BOB ROSS" theme.  Eddie is the painter, and we are the canvasses complete with happy little trees and mountains.  Luckily we painted these a few weeks back, and that was kind of the best part.

Grandma B. came right as we were leaving to beg for candy, I mean trick-or-treat.  Her little bags were especially thoughtful -- we love her.

Season 7, episode 1.

Big boys.

I heard this little vingette coming from the back seat, "A kid told me to give him my candy.  I told him to fight me."  My bet is on Ed.

We were home by 7:30 and in bed early.  Ahhh.  The Haul

Molly puts her makeup on most days -- which is something that she didn't learn from me.  She loves wearing her colors shopping and to the library.  I told her a firm "no" to church.

Friday was my Mayhew grandparents' wedding anniversary (they are on the right).  It's a good thing they got married, not only because they have a beautiful posterity and legacy as converts, but also because Papa George gave me the muscle-building gene -- probably because my muscles are short because my stature is short, but it still counts.

Austin picked up a few Christmas toy boxes to fill with his posse.  First he told the children to look at catalogs and get toy ideas, then they made lists, then they went shopping, finally they came home and packaged their boxes.  (I stayed home to fold 8 loads of laundry.)  What a nice daddy he is.

I just can't find the right jean for this era.  I found this Levi pair in my dresser, so I hemmed them.  I hope I'm trendy, but I just look shorter and frumpy.  It's too late in my game to deny my current decade.  

Saturday we spent the day in Flag.  Austin took us to rent our skiis for the season.  This is what it looked liked:

Molly hopped from bench to bench trying to entertain herself, but getting in the way of customers and employees.

It was hot in the shop, so naturally Ryan "cooled" off by laying is heavy self right on me to watch Maddie game.

Eddie sat right by that window and used his watch to create a reflection that would blind unsuspecting siblings.

Maddie sat mutely and won every game she played.

Nick helped carry all the skiis and boots, and he even gently put my boot on.  

Austin paid for it all.

I then had the best idea to eat "fast food" to start our fast.  HAHAHHA!  I'm a little bit clever.  I actually think it was the perfect little event.  We were done eating at 2:30pm, and we were stuffed.

Sunday we all fit in my little car -- there's only seven of us.  Here we are on the way home; Austin is talking with Meg.

It't still in the 80's around here.  "Monster" is the perfect Halloween game."Monster"

And the updates from the P-day group call:

Meg is having her babies on the 15th of this month!  She is healthy and so are her little bits.  We fasted for her as a family today.  Pregnancy and delivery always placed me in a vulnerable spot, because I couldn't control much of the miracle.  But when my faith increased, my fear decreased, and that's what I know to love this girl through her first rodeo.  She optimistic, and she should be.

Maisie called today, "We didn't fast this week because of ward conference, but I still watered my cactus."  She also reported that she's planning on serving a mission!  Along with, "All I want to be is a housewife that writes books, so why am I in statistics?"  She still checks all of her boxes and is choosing to sleep more.

She spent time at mother's house with the cutes cousins.

She and Haley went to a concert.  They pushed their way into the middle and had the best time (I think this was last week.).

She and her roommates dressed as boys for Halloween.

Elder Babcock reported:

"I've been grinding."

He then had us watch a video of his companion getting a cyst removed from his head.  It was a pimple popping dream.  Bleck.

Here he's eating an entire can of green beans, because that's the only "healthy" food he could find on exchanges.  "I'm eating nothing processed."

"The man we baptized brought 10 friends with him from his law school.  People are 80% more likely to be baptized if they've gone to a baptism and felt the Holy Ghost.  That's good for them and for us."

What a joy it is to be a mother.  How blessed I am that living life is a place where the payday takes years, the insurrmountable work never end,  and the soul-breaking stress is just the place for me, because that's how I become who He wants me to become.