No School on MLK

Monday morning I was finally feeling a little bit better.  So, I took a soft ride and stretched.  It felt so good.

 All the while Maisie was learning Italian, because Austin promised her a trip to Italy when she speaks fluently.  Here she is dreaming of that trip.

Ryan needed a project for his 100th day of kindergarten.  We were very clever and made a broken piggy bank.  Check.  I really don't want to check that off his life lists, I want him to be five a little longer and kiss me, and cling to me, and hug me, and cheat at card games and use his dimple to get more treats and just be soft and sweet and delicious.

Good ol' Eddie knows just how to make tender moments into all out WWF matches.  All day long.  All night long.

 Our nice friends invited us to a BBQ for MLK day.  We enjoyed every moment of our free Monday with friends.  (Though the day did come at a great cost to its founder.)

 Maddie's selfie is sweet.

 We nap.  Everyday.  I just can't do without a warm body next to mine. 

 Thursday I spent the whole day in preparation for Andy's Eagle Scout Court of Honor. 

Austin was in charge of all the merit badges and scout camps.  He stayed on Andy, made his schedules, and attended his camps.  Those 21 badges were his baby.  Andy is his baby, too.

 I made blueberry peach, cherry and apple cobblers (and whipped cream) for dessert.

Andy's display table was great.  Grandma B. made him a power point presentation to display his project, which was so generous and thoughtful of her.

 Nick participated in the ceremony.

 I am very proud of Andy, and I'm very proud of me.  I followed through on my threat of no license until he completed his project.  He tried to negotiate his way out of it, but I stood strong and even drove those two to school every morning for a month until that project happened.  I did deserve my pin.  The paper work?  That was my baby as well.  Together, Andy and I made that happen.

This is after the fact, when we were almost cleaning up, and I made us all gather back together for a final picture.  I didn't even take a solo one of Andy.  Nice.

 I still hadn't read my chapter, so there I was from 9:30-10 keeping my commitment to me.  That always feels right.

 Simultaneously on Thursday night Meg was in NYC with the team preparing for her race on Saturday.  This is how she prepared in Time Square.

 Official roster stats.  She's my little cutie.

 Get this: Friday morning our alarms didn't go off!  I awakened to the clock with the last two digits of 42, so I quickly awakened Eddie to help him finish his reading in preparation for our family study.  He did ask me why it was 6:42 on my watch, but I told him it wasn't, that we hadn't read scriptures yet, and it was still in the fives.  Austin came rushing out to tell me that we slept in -- the first time ever!!!!!  I did wonder why I felt so rested at "5:42" when I got up.  HA! It was 6:42.  The big kids were late to seminary, and I drive the younger four to school, and we arrived right on time.  Thanks to Austin's breakfast help -- as is our morning routine.

 Saturday I spoke at stake women's conference.  I had three months to prepare, here is my work station the day before.  I did take notes all along, so 90 minutes later, I had my class outlined.

 I made more delicious bread and delivered it.  Then I took the three youngest through the car wash.  They loved the lights and sounds.  I opened the sunroof blinds so they could see the lights and suds above them.  (Austin took the big kids biking into Sedona.  One wrong turn changed their ride from a 4 mile loop to an 11.5 mile loop.  Maddie has a broken blister on her thumb.)

 Saturday night we went to dinner with our best friends.  We ate tacos, talked about life and were filled.

 Here is our candid Sunday morning.  All are studying and listening to the peaceful music.  There was love in our today.

 Games after church.  Grandma had icecream for us, but I didn't get a picture there.  The kids know how to go in, snuggle up in a book, and Molly bounces and talks all over the place.

A Week Lost

My new phone's upper speaker didn't work, so I was without a phone for an entire week.  I don't have any pictures, and hence memories from last week.  We were sick with colds.  I got it along with Nick, Ryan and Molly.

 I have to make this happen.

 Maddie is already a black belt in her recorder music, just two weeks in.

 Maisie is in the MUHS Broadway choir theatrical production with her two besties.

 She has her own mic on the right on the bottom of the riser steps.

 After.  What I'm really amazed with is the fact that she harmonizes and can stick to her guns in a group.

 Every morning Maisie and Eddie cuddle up for three minutes just after scriptures.  I set an alarm, and they just soak in the last few moments of the dark morning. 

 We tripled-dated with Molly this week.  She loved COSTCO and slept the entire way there and back.

 Andy is voraciously ready the "ERAGON" series.  I should do that.  He can't get enough.

 The kids spend hours creating with the Picasso blocks.  Get some for your posterity.  They'll love them.

 Oh, you know, just an unsafe game with lots of giggles and squeals.

 Meg sent me this -- she's popping out of her BYU track locker.  She gets to race in NYC this weekend!

 Molly receiving her free roller coaster shoulder ride.

 I still teach every other week.  I write down promptings all week as I study, and then it usually takes me about an hour to organize.  I just hope that more than presenting a message, the students in my class feel promptings about how to connect with our Savior and be a little more like Him everyday.  Sheesh!  Those are my same goals every moment.  I blew it twice today, big time, so of course the studying is more for me than anyone else.

A New Sunbeam

No more babies in nursery for us.  Mostly I had to make sure I didn't cry all day.  Molly sat still and sang me her brand new songs.  She has the best teachers -- Brother and Sister Keesler (he's my birthday twin).

 I didn't have time to take a picture when she was sparkly and shiny; she ate the white board eraser and now has a beard.

 Her tiny hands made me brownies during choir.

 Grandma B. made her a sunbeam mask in celebration.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9e8b8NAKXPYT2pXP8

And my new phone broke, so I have to get pictures from Maisie.  I'll do that.

Utah 2019-2020

I just love my annual Utah journey.  This year I traveled without Austin, so Meg helped me drive.  We arrived to homemade noodles and soup that Grandma Goodell made.  Delicious.  She taught me how to make those noodles when I was 9 and spent the summer on her farm.

 These cute cousins spent the week together.

 Maisie entertained these cute cousins.

 New Year's Eve was the traditional dance party.  John wins because he bought tons of glow sticks so we glowed.

 Being able to control the music and endlessly laugh is the best part of the night. 

We did sled for three hours Wednesday morning.  I need to have someone send me a picture of that perfect sledding day.

 Wednesday we actually stopped and watched a movie, "Togo."  Mother and Grandma cried, so did I.  We we snuggled and warm and our hearts were filled with the unconquerable spirit of man and his courageous animal.  It was ideal.

 That night was a delightful sleepover.

 Thursday was our annual "Girls' Day."  We always begin at the temple -- Ashley picked up Grandma and me.  Mom served in the temple that day, and we were able to work along side her in the initiatory booth.  Oh, my testimony grew 100 sizes that day feeling of her love for the Lord and His work.  I did the same thing about six years ago when Grandma was working in the Idaho Falls temple = soul filling.

 Afterwards we went to lunch.

 Then came the gift exchange.  I sewed birthday chair covers.

Seriously, receiving 10 glorious gifts is the ultimate gift exchange.

 I love my mother's expression.  Boss Baby is so lucky to have her smile in his life daily.

 Friday morning we went to see Meg's dorm at BYU.

 She gathered a bit of laundry.

 These little darlings made themselves comfortable quite quickly.

 Then, off to sushi -- another tradition.  We eat our $15 and then some.  The company is the best part.

 Our last night Grandma read her favorite books to her posterity.  This is just a small grouping of her 49 grandchildren.  Every person that comes into her presence leaves feeling loved and wanted. 

After a week of feeling the love of family and God, I am changed for the better.  I know where to focus my goals and how to try harder, but I'm not discouraged.  Choosing family is what this life is all about -- choosing to obey so that we can be apart of God's eternal family, choosing to love so that our earthly family knows God's love, and choosing to feel His love is what matters.