Joy

Maddie looked real cute Monday morning.  Her pink accents were especially spring-ish.  Not shown -- pink orthodonic rubberbands.

Two-toed Speed Walk. Nick toe-tally stretched out my shoes -- it was funny, though.

Eddie got braces!

He spent the rest of the week whining and eating ramen.  Boomer.

Ryan and Molly's dirt bike crash created quite an invalid at our house.  Her knee stayed swollen for over a week and she limped for a week.  Blast,  

Molly did go to activity days and create this resurrection scene.  Love this.

Wednesday was just a long one.  I had a very messy home which is rough when my crochet projects were calling my name.

I forgot about all of that and made

this.

And this.  (He's a broccoli.)

Primary people still live in our home -- I'm so grateful.  Molly and Ryan hunted for eggs.

That was fun.  

(Also on Saturday Austin and I went mountain biking and Ryan won his football game.)

THEN IT WAS PROM 2025.  Nick and Maddie were in the same group of darling teenagers.  Maddie was so sweet while we got her ready, "I feel like a princess."  Nick shaved a mole off his face, so he was profusely bleeding when he walked out the door to pick up his date.

Austin took Eddie and Ryan rapelling in Sedona.  That's pretty cool.

Maisie's update:

• The Flagstaff temple is a miracle.
• We were able to get in contact with three of our referrals.
• Mom, do you want to see me skateboard?  I skateboard around our house.  (Then she showed me.)
• I've been a missionary for over 200 days.
• I love General Conference, does that make me an old woman?
• I loved the prophet's talk -- the thought of adding Jesus Christ and virtue to all of it.
• Members being involved in missionary work is so important -- we could baptize the world.

Melijah and Andy spent Saturday together; nothing beats Dollar Tree and Del Taco.

Meg told me that her babies "dip, dip, dip" their food.  They even had a conversation over her -- she was sitting in the middle of them, and they were not talking to her.

Monday evening I was so filled with joy.  (I know that JESUS = JOY.) I had had a significant conversation with each of my eight children, and they all told me about the their lovely lives.  They are examples of the Lord rewarding effort -- because He loves effort.  They also talked about how much they loved each other.  

FHE was illustrating general conference flash cards.  HEHEHE.  We're going to memorize the apostle and prophets' topics.   

April Showers

Lots of rain and cold weather this week -- as proof by our minimal rebounding and maximum time inside.

I crocheted Jesus Christ.  The entire process was quite humbling, probably because the tutorial was in Portuguese (shout out to Nick who downloaded the Duolingo app and is grinding), but also because I wanted the end result to be perfect.  He has many mistakes -- which is opposite of His character, but very telling of mine.  However, I do testify that "with Christ there is no imperfect harvest" (Vern P. Stanfill).

I might even be brave enough to enter my art into the stake display.

Grandma B. needed help with a poster and wanted so polka dots on it -- 10 minutes later I came up with this.  Nailed it.

The laundry grind.

Nick lost is first match this week -- to Todd Walker's (my first cousin) son.  His record is now 8-1.  Seth's Prescott tennis team is made up of really great boys, so Nick and Maddie hung out with them after the match.   

Maddie's prom dress came.  Darl.

I was in charge of the stake youth activity.  The youth planned illustrating copies of the Book of Mormon.  These 70 youth were creative and attentive.  The evening went so smoothly -- all glory to Heavenly Father.

Just one youth found the beauty inside the holy writ.  Look how he is eating his refreshement while actually reading the BOM.

Ryan's last day being 10 years old.

Molly's Ride

Austin and I went to the House of the Lord to talk with Him.  While there we felt His love, and I felt He knew that we are trying to love Him.

The flowers on the temple grounds were so beautiful.  Spring temperatures are so happy.

Saturday, between conference sessions, we raced to Sedona to watch Maddie smoke all the other runners.

It was cold.

The heat sheet was messed up, so she ran in the second fastest heat in lane 8.  Boo.  However, she did win the entire event.  400m at 1.02.50.  She's now injured again.  GOAT. Maddie Slays

The other 5.5 hours we spent listening to and learning from our modern-day apostles and prophets.  The children decided that we only needed one bag of candy each session plus a couple bags of chips.  

Handy and Lexi went to the Conference Center to watch the Sunday morning session.  "Look for me at conference today.  My car was stolen one year ago."

Mid sessions to play a Alhambra.  Maddie won.

Maisie's update:

• 333 days left.
• 1 friends to church.
• In my personal study I'm focusing on an emphasis on listening to and learning from the Holy Ghost.
• Please pray that the 12 internet referrals will be receptive to the gospel.
• A member-family has a dog named Maisie.  
• Look how beautiful our area is!
• 
• 

Andy's update:

"I grind the hardest in this family."

Armstrong update:

• Two sick babies, and one sick daddy.  15 loads of laundry. 
• First day with piggies.

Ryan's #11

Birthday-boy Ryan was up too early to make sure Austin, Maddie and Nick were apart of his morning celebration before they left for the day.

He we still very nice.

His rip-stick was not delivered as expected -- so he received that Friday -- then he and Eddie rode it much of the day.

Ryan wanted to make the crepes for breakfast- -- wish  This is why we love learning at home -- no schedule to keep for us.

A quick run to Walmart followed by a quiet morning of learning  was interrupted by some hail -- he had to go out and catch it on his tongue.

Mozzerella sticks for lunch -- that was easy.

I then had to sew costumes for Nick and Maddie and their Palm Sunday production.  These three stayed right by me and pretended to complete their school work.

Ryan wanted to help make the pizza for dinner -- wish granted.

Ryan's Song

Sister Babcock called in and wished him a very happy birthday.

Dad:  I like Ryan playing football.  He works hard.  He plays hard.  He’s kind to his teammates.

Molly:  I like Ryan because he shares his candy.  He plays Monopoly with me and Eddie. He lets me play with his silly string.

Nick:  I like Ryan because he’s my gaming buddy.  He’s never mean.  He’s never out to get anyone. He also comes with me to pick up people and do mom's errands.

Eddie:  He’s always up to play a game or ride dirt bikes.

Maddie:  I like Vy because we always have a great time enjoying music together -- playing piano duets or listening to music while I clean.  He’s just goated.

Mom:  Ryan is still just chill. He usually sits on my lap after dinner and still wraps a leg around mine while studying at the table. His one-liners keep the family in stitches (I should write a few down). His dry hands and big teeth are so telling of his ancestry.

We love our very nice boy.