The Weekend

Last week Maisie received the Rotary Club award for her beautiful skills as a fifth-grader.

 Austin and Grandpa B. went backpacking, so Grandma B. spent the weekend with us.  We watched soccer games, and they were able to attend our primary program sacrament meeting.

 She saved me Monday by helping out with scouts, dishes, sick kids, school reports and carpool.  I told her I need to hire her every Monday for the rest of my life.

 This weekend was our ward Chili and Square Dancing party.  We fill an entire table.

Austin spent his third weekend working on sprinklers.

 The big girls and I watched the General Women's Broadcast and were reassured of our divine potential as daughters and mothers.  I love my darling daughters.

LIttle Boys

Ryan and Eddie are my constant companions.  We read scriptures, sing songs, go to the park, go to Food City, water plants, purge bedrooms, play play-doh, and eat.  It is a joy to have two little boys.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

This new book has changed my world.  Here are some photos to prove it.  Better still, my room has been decluttered and tidy for two weeks straight.  My room is now a place of peace, a place to ponder, pray and plan.

All my t-shirts and work out clothes fit in this one drawer.

 Just one of the two bags thrown from my master bath.

 Just the junk in the top drawer of my nightstand.

 The drawer today.

 I went through bows and ribbons as well.  Eddie has been a very patient helper.

 This bathroom has empty cupboards and drawers, but is filled with seasonal decor.

My life is better because I can clearly focus on the people and relationships in my home instead of the mess and clutter.  Read the book.  Change your life.  Progress.

Truly Wicked

Austin gave me four tickets to see "Wicked" for our anniversary.  Naturally my three daughters happily obliged to attend.  It was a rare treat to be surrounded by my daughters.  We sang, laughed, ate and slept -- the best wholesome recreational activity we've had in a long time.  (Maisie squealed in her highest most excited pitch after every song.  It made me giddy.  That poor lady next to us.)

 Dinner choice.

 Anxiously awaiting.

 The stage.

 Asleep before intermission.

 Morning.

 Breakfast.

 Lunch.

 My boy was so nice to think of this and make it happen.

Amazing Maisie is 10!

This girl is so grown up!  Although her birthday was fast Sunday, she was very obedient and happily fasted.  We spent the morning at church, the afternoon eating her favorite pasta and ice cream roll cake outside, and the evening with our home teachers.  Her new fuzzy chair for the corner in her room was the perfect spot to read her six new novels.

(Eddie is helping her hold up all ten fingers.)

We love Maisie because she creates excitement and happiness in a wake all around her.  She can be heard singing in a beautiful pitch perfect voice most of the day.  Maisie is kind and loving, and likes to ride her bike, swim for hours and has picked up a bit of ukulele.  This girl is going places!

Grandpa's Funeral

Funerals are supposed to be sad, but Grandpa's was a celebration of eternal love and families.  The mere four hours we spent together as extended family was soul filling and testimony building.

 Here is Grandpa and Grandma's headstone.

 All those pall bearers are righteous priesthood holders of God -- my brothers and cousins.

 Grandpa received the purple heart in WWII.  He had "Taps" played and flag folded.  He was truly a quiet hero.

 His two sons, my uncle and father.

 Four of my five brothers, three cousins and their boys.  Missing Mark, serving his mission in Tempe, AZ.

 Placing red carnations and saying our final goodbyes to his mortal frame.

These two boys.

 My little family.

Three cousins.

 Four cousins.

 Eight cousins.  (Missing April, Natalie and Kimmie)

I feel only blessed to be apart of an eternal family forged link by link in God's grand design.

Vegas

On our way to Panaca we stopped for the night in Vegas.  First we swam, but the children are so accustomed to our warm pool that they were quickly disinterested in the cool waters of the public pool.  Except Ed, that is.  The zero entry was just up his alley.  Finally, his first and last official swim of this season.

 We went bowling.  Austin issued a boys vs. girls challenge.  The winner received a turn in the massage chair just inside the alley.

 The girls won!  Meg bowled just two pins under Austin, and Andy just one pin under Maddie.

 We all enjoyed our $1/4 minutes in the chair.

 We walked by the arcade and I found myself actually following Austin in.  The ticket redemption is the portion that always takes all my patience.

 After a night with boys in one room and girls in the other, and Ryan awake and crying six hours of it, all were rested (except big Baby and me) and ready for the breakfast buffet.

 They didn't have seating right away for us, so we had to wait.  The kids chose interesting first course food items.

 Nick came back with dry frosted flakes and an ice cream cone.

 Maddie wanted one pancake and a piece of pizza.

 Ryan worked hard to manipulate his gigantic fork.

 Meg and her sausage and bacon.  Andy with french toast and bacon.

 Eddie with a fine fare.

 All together, discreetly placed in the far back corner.  Nicely chosen, waitress.

We were full and I was happy that we didn't need any more snacks in the car along our journey.