2006

 This morning we have a two hour delay.  These are my favorite days.  I don't want the kids to miss school but starting our day at 5:30 is brutal.  7:30 is awesome!  Hannah and Ethan are gone and Lu is in the bath . Of course taking a picture of a 9 year old in the tub is not appropriate...but finding a picture of a cute 1 year old in the tub is! She was such a sweet little baby girl.  She loved to give kisses and play with her dolls and to swim like a little mermaid in our backyard pool.  She was clever and liked to do things herself even then.  Love my little Grace.

Yesterday we wanted to go to IHOP because I had a coupon for $10 off.  It was a no school day, snow, and we had been home all day long.  I ran out of laundry soap and Hannah had some headphones to return to Target so we headed out around 5, when the roads were good and melted and planned to meet R at IHOP totally forgetting that it was Fat Tuesday.  When we pulled in there was not a parking space to be found.  Finally we did get one and walked into the restaurant to find it packed, standing room only in the waiting area.  What's going on we asked.  Free pancake day.  Not wanting to wait 75 minutes for pancakes we left and went to Plaza Azteca instead.  We had never been and were all very happy with the dinner.  We had a very fun time talking at the table and eating tasty Mexican food.  Earlier in the day Grace and I had watched a wonderful BYU devotional and I shared with the rest of the family the stories we had heard.  Grace helped.  It was about listening to the Holy Ghost.  Sometimes we have great dinners and great conversations where everyone is happy, participating and receptive.  Often it is not the case but last night was and I was very grateful.

Old picture of Ethan putting on the "Armor of God", we've been teaching the same lessons for many years.  And we have all been slowly learning them.  The good Lord is very patient with His children. More patient than I am with mine.  I have a lot of learning left to do :)