Summer Week #7

This week just hit differently.  Our Sunday evening at the grandparents' was simple and pleasant.

Later that night I found Maddie and her friends packing for FSY.

Monday morning we dropped her off at NAU for the week.  "Bye, Mom!" and she was off.  I called her once, and she was way to busy for any communication.  Friday night she called to tell me to pick her up the next morning at 7am.  That was it.  Ergo, Austin and I only had to navigate three children this week -- all of whom are on the same schedule and demandless.  

She did send this.

I was missing Nick so badly, but his picture popped up in the paper again.  That was sweet.

I crocheted this little hanging pot.  It has 30 flowers -- don't let this side angle fool you.

Haircuts for these boys who never comb their hair post water, so they got chopped.

Lots of swimming with each other, friends and bugs.

Inter-squad swim meet found these winners happy.

This happened.  We removed a table leaf.

Baby table with six chairs.  It's a little trippy.

More swimming.

At Jim's wedding I asked Grandma Goodell to teach me how to crochet.  I sat beside her and she gave me a 2mm hook and crochet thread.  I basically held on for the ride.  Her best advice, "It's the tension that will take you six months to master."  She was right.  And yet, I've arrived.  I'm not a master, but crocheting a lace doily was a new venture this week.  I mailed her the OG doily using a $.73 stamp.  I think she'll be most smug on her 96th birthday that I sent her a gift that cost <$.50 in supplies and just over that to ship.   

Two Babcock missionaries represented in the church cabinet.

Updates:

These twinnies have enoigh hair for piggies.  Winnie is tickled.  Bea looked annoyed.  Meg is the smuggest.

Andy-boy turned 22!  He wanted new Nike socks and Renew lotion.  Easy to please.  Andy calls me most days and reports on his progress in all areas.  He's been thinking about working in the temple, as well as attending as a patron each week.  He's just so wonderful.

Peep his standing back flip.

https://www.facebook.com/messenger_media/?attachment_id=1259531482231629&message_id=mid.%24gABXtJzyLBIqeLsd5TGX_YItnDqZO&thread_id=6171727286174858

Nick loved his first week in the MTC.  He loves Jesus more and more each day.  Cousin Tommy is there as well.  They run into each other often.

Maisie asked us to pray that just one person would want to hear her message.  P-days are spent at Six Flags, and her happy personality shines in every photo.  She's working hard to stay positive and keep holding on.  We miss her.

Friday I went to a baptism for a new member, studied section 76 with the family and Mosaih 18 with the three children.  I found the connection with all these events on the same day in verse 13 my whole day was summed up.  I believe and trust in a God who validates through scripture and blesses through peaceful ponderings.

Summer Week #6

Elder Babcock's last Sunday with us for a while hit hard.  I drank him up.

Dinner.

Conference talks.

Yard games at Grandma's.

Quiet chatting.  Then Sunday was over.

Monday came and we worked together to pack him two years of clothing and supplies.  We enjoyed ourseles.  

He also cleaned out his room.  

Those two efforts along with his MTC classes filled up our final day together.  Grandpa and Grandma came for ice cream final hugs.

Monday night Austin walked Elder Babcock through all the minutiae of the upcoming morning.

All of a sudden it was 4am and morning came.  Our two hour drive to Phoenix was a solemn one for us.  Elder Babcock was so happy and chill.

We said goodbye for two years.

And he was gone.  Meg picked him up from the airport and spent the day with him.  Wednesday morning Andy took to him to my mother's house for breakfast and family.  Andy then dropped him off at the MTC and that was that. (I did get an email from him asking if I had packed him pants.  😏. Good luck, son, it just might be a long two years without your mommy.)

Austin took us to breakfast.

Then we floated the river casually and calmly.  It was just what our souls needed.

That night Austin made good on his promise to join me in my hobbies, because I spend hours joining him in his.  I found this instrument for free, but it does not sound good, so we only played a few minutes, and then he said that it's no use.  I was tickled. We played Elgar's anthem once and Molly recorded it.  He already found another sax for sale, but it's a bit of a drive away, so I'll have to ease that into our lives.  It's going to be worth it.)Austolie -- Duet

Rapelling is our hobby of choice lately.  Here we are!  I actually quite enjoy hiking up and skipping the downhill hiking.  The workout is real, but the joints are not jostled.

GO MOM! GO MOM! GO MOM!

Molly keeps up.

Grandma's 76th birthday was a success.  Fancy-shancy pizza and shortbread went over real well.  

We sure love our nice grandma.

CFM felt a little empty without Nick, but Molly kept Eddie happy and the rest of us entertained.  Her book is perched on the back of the couch.

INDEPENDENCE DAY!  Two of the twelve families that I invited to our backyard swim/BBQ were in town.  The total number of 12 people was bleak, but we had such a relaxed time eating and lounging in the pool.  

Austin smoked the burgers and peppers which made the most delicious burgers.  So many vegetable options rounded off the meal.

Maddie's braces gone!  That also happened this week.

The only holiday picture.

Saturday we cleaned the church, the office, harvested all the basil and made pesto, then I finished wiping Nick's existence from his room.  

Very sad.  I was very sad.  

I had no chance to wallow in the emptiness of it all, because we were invited to a wedding event that lasted all afternoon and evening.   I did my very best to be fun.  I was.  Despite the fact that my heart was aching and I looked so bad.  Poor Austin.  The best remedy is that he danced with me all night.