Maddie's #12

Sweet Maddie's birthday is often blinded by other holidays.  This year it was the wedding.  She was kind and thanked me for her beautiful day -- even though I fell apart and screamed at everyone.  She accepted my apology and moved forward.  What I will remember about Maddie on her special day? I will cherish the mercy she showed me when I needed it most.  Thank you, darling girl.  I love you.

Molly helped her open all her gifts.  I especially liked Molly's card, "To Maddie this is my gift."  Molly wanted Maddie to know that she bought her a gift (Andy took them to Dollar Tree the day prior in preparation.  I love how he does that.)

Just a morning of gifts and songs -- somehow it's always enough.

Photo bombers

Swimming all the hours with Coons cousins that came into town.

We stole away in the afternoon for wedding pedis.  This was Maddie's first one, and we really enjoyed every moment.

Meg also needed a mani to prepare for her wedding.

Another mercy was that Maddie didn't want a cake -- she wanted brownies and THAT I could do.

We just love her.

All of us.

At the close of the day she played her new game.  

Maddie did some big things this year: 

• She taught herself the entire 6th grade math book.
• She learned how to do back-handsprings, back-flips, aerials and bar tricks.
• She began her YW journey.
• She found the strength of personal daily scripture study, prayer and journal.
• She perfected several piano songs -- and accompanied the YW.
• She taught Molly how to make their bed together.
• She learned how to mix and bake bread, cookies and dinner via Mel's.
• Every week she attended history class prepared and confident.
• Everyday she came to CFM with insightful comments.
• Every moment she loved others and progressed.
• Her future is bright.

 

Week of Wedding Prep

The week of Meg and Elijah's wedding was jam packed.  Here we are during FHE planning and making sure we're ready for the weekend.  Someone took a picture of Ryan and Molly rolling all over me.

I printed a bunch of pictures and framed them for the reception tables.

Meg swam with the kids everyday.

She lanuches Ryan high into the air, and he back dives into the water.  His form is so cool.

I started a new program where the kids fold their own laundry.  Progress.

Our freezer went out the day before Mark's wedding, and we needed to save the butter.  I will always save the butter.  Always.  I used 15 pounds to bake bar cookies for the reception.

Thursday we traveled the Phoenix temple where Meg received her endowments and made sacred covenants with Heavenly Father.  What a beautiful moment in motherhood.  

We melted.  We did take a group picture, but I don't know where it is.....

Afterward we traveled downtown to pick up flowers.  

We stayed awake; they sacked out.

Don't worry, Meg had enough energy to dance and prance all over the floral fridge.  Elijah is very patient. AHAHHA!

My ultimate wish is that a wedding planner would take care of all the details, so we could just enjoy the family and the entire process.

Juuuuuuuuuuuuuune

Shared Sunday meals are happy familly moments.  We gathered for the church broadcast.  Most fell asleep in mounds around the room.

Look how Grandpa pulled Eddie into a tight hug and just held him.  I love those two boys.

FHE this week was more time in the grass.  Maddie can now do a backflip on the grass.  Andy and Maisie versus Nick and Meg is a great game of Spikeball.

Ryan just lays on or against people.

We all fit on the blanket, except Austin -- he doesn't love to be smashed.  

Twinning Spartans.

Look at this pizza I made!  Legit.

I found Molly's schoolwork.  Eddie has just two more math lessons.

YW/YM was a swimming activity at our house.  The youth played watermelon football and chatted.  I love getting to know my girls and hearing about how they spend their time.

Thursday Meg swam with the pinks while I prepared some bedrooms.

Molly often visits Meg while she talks to Elijah for hours.

Imagining up news game is a passively forced behavior for those who only get devices for one hour each day.

My BOM verse testifies that there is joy to be had when we partake of the atoning power of Jesus Christ.

Why is the lawnmower so magical?  Every week when Austin pulls out the mower, the kids go crazy.  The run wildly through the grass and chase him like wild animals.

Elijah came!  Meg is so happy and so complete when they are together.  He performs many tricks -- this is his push-up with those two boys on his back.

Molly discovered her own trick -- no hands.

I had to run a few errands at ACE, and we ended up waiting a while.  Maddie hopped up and convinced the others learn how to chop down and tree and power up a chain saw.  Those are indeed powerful life skillz.

Friday morning we moved rock and sand in preparation for the wedding reception in one week.

Working together is so beautiful.

Maisie helped me with my picture project.

Saturday Andy was finally home to raft the river with us.

Good times.

We finished the night with a BBQ -- Grandpa is always a welcomed guest.

Of course night swimming was epic.  Austin was trying out new pool lights -- he bought 400 of them.

It's so easy to be busy, and it's so hard to sit still.  Yet, everyday I must choose the better part.  I struggle, though, because my family gets hungry and tired and needs to be clean.  I'm trying to balance.  Often I find that listening to promptings guides and directs me to exactly what I need to do in each moment.  So as I increase my sitting still via study and prayer, I increase my ability to balance the big and small moments.  As I draw closer to the Savior by chosing Him in word and deed, I receive more promptings and life becomes more clear.