Eddie's #12

Eddie is 12.  That's very big.  His birthday fell on a Saturday, so we were all home to celebrate him at a reasonable hour.  

Me: What do you want for your birthday?

Ed:  I don't really want anything.  I don't want more stuff in my closet that just sits there.

Analysis:  Wise kid.

Breafast of champions.

Eddie is all about math and board games.  I bought him the "Ultimate Monopoly" that uses a little computer and debit cards to accumulate properties and wealth.  He was quite pleased with it.  Go Mom! Go Mom!  Go Mom!

Austin even took a turn losing.

Then, I spent a portion of the early afternoon preparing for our Seder Easter Feast (Easter Sunday was the next day).  Eddie and Molly played outside, Nerf basketball and built homes for Molly's dolls.

Grandma and Grandpa came for our Seder Feast, which was a combined birthday party of sorts.  Last night Eddie and I made individual mud pies.  Delish.

Eddie's Birthday Song

The weather was perfect all afternoon, and the tramp called to them.  

Eddie requested a movie board charcuterie and a family movie.  

What a great party -- so relaxing and still.

 Eddie is the most strategic human.  He thinks through engineering feats, only looses a game once, and manipulates situations to only be in his favor.  BUT!  He also uses his skillz to protect Molly, navigate chores (he even wipes down the sink and asks daily about a clean dish cloth), organizes the passing of the sacrament, and builds the grandest forts, towers and imagination games.

Eddie thinks and acts just like Austin.  They talk through wrestling moves and  strategies, and Eddie just gets it.  When Eddie is in charge -- ie, when he is my priesthood holder during the day -- he knows how to protect me from forgetfulness, provide all with lunch, and presides over our school room as he reads scriptures and testifies of Jesus Christ.

We love Ed because his stature (and hands) is tiny, but his force in this world is mighty.  

Weak Week

I mean, sometimes Monday morning hits hard.  At least they found the sunshine and their novels.

I finally decided that since Easter was less than a week away, I should probably make the Easter decor happen.

I did.  And it turned out to be magical.

Maddie raced in Bradshaw and came home with three medals.  

Nick played some good tennis as well.

I reclaimed the library by restoring her to her former glory.

Eddie had one more day as an 11 year old.

Saturday afternoon I invited the grandparents and we celebrated Easter with the Seder Feast.  I prepared lovely rituralistic food, and Austin prepared the lasagna for the feast.

Seder this year was simple and sweet.  Grandpa testified of the atonement of Jesus Christ, Grandma led us in song and prayer, and each of the attendees felt the love of God and each other.  We know that Jesus was suffered, died and was resurrected.  My hope and faith hinges on this singular truth.  Luckily for me, I KNOW HE LIVES!

Trippin'

Sunday morning was St. Patricks's Day.  I pinched him, so he donned a green sweatband.

I pinched her, too.  

This clever mothered ordered tie pins for all her peeps, so we wouldn't get pinched at church.

It's the blooming Prunus cerisifera that makes me coo.

Monday, well, I drove 600 miles to Mother's house (leg 1) with my three friends.  Our time in the car was peaceful and delightful.

FHE was a hotdog roast with the local cousins.  Mother was the chef and preparator, Jib was the fireman, Ricky was the entertainer, Ash, Emily and Ale held babies, Ronnie was the basketball champ, and Sis helped me discuss leg 2 navigation.  Andy and Allie talked dating.  George and Maisie mingled effortlessly.  It was just so much delightful.

Molly closed her little lids in Grandma's comfy bed and was asleep instantly.

Tuesday we drove another 650 miles to Natalie's house in Idaho.  The fun never stopped.

During the three days we visited, there was only about an hour of screens.  The children swam, romped the property, picniced, cooked hotdogs, rode ATVs, played in the gym, shot off fireworks, threw the baseball, read, were introduced to Glitter Girls, and created vidoes.

The view from the kitchen window.

Natalie and I?  We quilted a runner for my birthday table.  We also fed scores of children and even stopped for duets one afternoon.  WHAT A TIME for loving, laughing, longing, learning and listening.

Saturday morning we traveled only 450 miles to Pocatello -- leg 3.  More podcasts, books, music and quiet chatter.

We met our favorite peeps at Costco for dinner and light roaming.

That evening we gathered to prepare for the twins' blessing day.  We mended, ironed, chatted around the table and simply ate up the babies.

Sunday morning was simply a manifestation of God's love.  Elijah spoke beautiful blessings to his two daughers -- blessing them with lives filled with goals achieved and dreams made true.  Girls with lives of big living and huge loving.  Then those two parents were the speakers for the remainder of the meeting.  They shared stories of faith in Jesus Christ and a Heavenly Father who listens.

Mother and Grandma Goodell are now even greater.  Perhaps not only because they've earned the added title of "great" to their roles, but because of great women that they are.  Look at them coo at their twinnies.

Five generations!  (Bea is wearing the Armstrong blessing dress, and Winnie is wearing the Babcock blessing dress -- the one made from my wedding train.)

Family. (Nick and Maddie were left behind for track meets, MORP and the love of grandparents.)

We then made our way to brunch.  Their apartment was crowded, but so cozy.

Us.

I drove Grandma Goodell home, whereupon she gave me a tour of her house.  I found this sign hanging, knowing it will be used again.

Here she is showing me her journals and pile of books.  "God love it."

We left that afternoon (Austin flew home) and traveled to Mother's again -- leg 4.  Of course the skies parted at just the right moment as we were passing Daddy's cemetery.  We stopped and loved him.  Glorious family was waiting for us -- the children romped and played all evening.  Andy, Maisie and George showed up at the right time for family choir.  That George has a booming baritone voice, and he knew every word to our hymns.  YES!

 Monday Mother fed us and we were off on our fifth and final leg, home.  But not before we noticed her crocus and daffodils.  

We hit a whole bunch bad weather, even though we chased the blue sky as best we could.  There was very little device time on our journey.  Eddie sat beside me all five legs, and he was a great navigator and food controller.  He was also the DJ.

Molly, keeping clean.

Home was so happy.  I noticed that Austin slept on my side of the bed.  That's funny.