this and that

My Jenna has gone back to Utah.  As usual she is an awful packer.  For a long time she's know she was going back...when did she pack.  At midnight, the night before she left.  And she left her room a disaster.  This only causes me a little tiny sigh because she is awesome and I had so much fun with her that I don't really care that much but I feel like I should have taught her better.  I did ask her numerous times when she was going to pack.  Some might call that nagging, and frankly I can live with that.

Some of my favorite memories made this last visit were when we went to the National Harbor.  That was a really fun day.  We got to talk a lot and walk by the water and shop a little . One afternoon R called me to look out the window and there were all 5 of the kids playing.  Sierra and Jenna had gone out to lay in the grass with blankets and enjoy the sun and when the 3 little ones realized where they were they quickly jumped into their swimsuits and ran out to play.  They played soccer and blew bubbles and I heard a lot of laughter and screeches when the water balloons came out.  We stood at the window, arm in arm (like the grandparents we are) and felt happy.  Jenna was asked to speak in RS about her trip and I loved hearing her, and knowing she has a great testimony.  Sitting in church.  Watching movies.  One afternoon S and J and I went and got pedicures.  Such a treat.  And after the youth activity, which they so kindly helped me with, we stopped at Chilis (my fav) for desserts.  H, J, S and I.  I had molton chocolate cake (my fav) and we laughed (my fav)  Hugs.  It was great!  Now I get to enjoy Sierra for a few more week and Jenna gets to start a new adventure.  She made it on her flights and I heard Clayton sounding very happy in the background and Jenna sounding very happy on the phone when she called to tell me she was alive.

R and I are on a diet.  What's new right?  We need to be healthier.   I need to have lots of energy to keep up with my little brood and grands on the way and Lands End has the cutest dresses out this season and I want to buy one and feel cute in it so we'll see.  Strangely I've been thinking about oatmeal a lot. Which is odd.  I miss it and it will be first on my list when the carbs come back :)  He's been grouchy, he's not a good dieter.  I'm not either but I don't think I get grouchy, I just quit. 

Last night his back was hurting a lot.  I rubbed it for him and he took some meds and eventually fell asleep but it was no fun.  Getting old is so fun.

Daisy scouts last night was fun.  The girls had to research scouting in different countries and I didn't realize how global it is.  There is even a troop in Kuwait.  Patches are a lot of fun for the girls and Lu and I enjoyed looking at different patches from around the world.  Her little vest is getting quite full with her patches.

It's been raining and raining most every day.  It makes MD so beautiful and green.

Youth Conference is occupying a lot of my time.  I need to learn how to use excel better.  Maybe I need to take a class.  Jared had to help me and R had to help me.  Embarrassing. 

Last night was the season finale of NCIS and oh what a cliff hanger it was! Who is dead??  Is it Ducky, who we love??? 

Laundry laundry laundry.  Yesterday Hannah ironed 30 shirts and pants for her dad, now he will be all pressed and handsome at work.  What a sweet girl she is. 

I need to paint something.  This feels like a long week, I can't believe it's only Wednesday. 

birthday fun

Yesterday was my big boy's birthday!  He turned 42.  I didn't get to spend much time with him but I think he had a good day.  In the morning we got up and went to Lu's soccer game.  She did a good job and it was so nice outside.  Then we took him to breakfast at our fav little breakfast cafe.  It was yummy.  We took turns telling him things we loved and appreciated about him and he got a couple presents.  When we got home we all had chores to do then the 3 girls and I headed out to the stake youth activity and Lu, E and R went to E's soccer game and finally met up with Pete.  They went out on the boat and went swimming.  The water was freezing but the kids didn't care. They spent the evening at the Zawadas eating pizza and watching movies. 

The stake youth activity was a lot of fun.  We had an Olympic theme with lots of great games and then a wonderful talk by Pres. Volk.  We had four rotations.  One was a build and launch a rocket station, one was a scooter/skateboard relay/ one was an indoor relay with donuts, marshmallows and many other fun things, the last one was pool noodle games.  We made a noodle javelin course, a noodle pin ball, noodle soup game and noodle racing game.  Sierra and Jenna helped me man the noodle games, I was very grateful for the help and it was really fun having them there.  I think the youth had a lot of fun. 

It was an exhausting day.  But good.

Sierra's home!

I don't actually have Ethan in a head lock in the photo :)

So happy, my house is filling up with all my little chickies.  Being a mother to grown daughters is such a joy.  Who knew?  They are a delight to me, so much fun and I am so proud of them.  Being a mother to my little ones is such a joy.  They keep me busy and are cute and smart.  I miss being a mom to a baby and toddler but have happy memories to look back on and now have the great joy of being a grandma....although funny Tate thinks I'm her auntie.  She and Dani were chatting about her grandmas the other day and she said she had 2 grandmas.  Dani said no you have Mimi.  Tate said I was her auntie like Sierra and Jenna.  I'm choosing to think it's because I am so young and fun :)

perfect day

Today Lu had her LEAN exercise class after school so I knew I didn't have to pick her up until 4:45 and I was able to swap driving directions with Debbie and H has a key so I decided today was the perfect day for an mother/daughter outing to the National Harbor.  We wouldn't have to rush and I wouldn't have to worry.  I have never been there, but have wanted to and it was the perfect day.  It was very nice out, sunny but cool.  Hardly anyone was there, we found parking right away and it was a lot of fun.  We looked at all the shops including the very cute peeps store, the silly pet apparel and accessories store and the stylish charming charlies. 

J bought a hat and I bought some new sun glasses.

We loved this cool dude coming up out of the sand and wanted to run out there and climb on him, sadly the beach was fenced off.  We did sit on the dock, climb on some drift wood :) and walk through the Gaylord.

Then we had lunch and it was YUMMY.  We both chose the mahi mahi on a potato crab mash with a sweet corn whatever on the bottom.  It was to die for!  We ate outside by the water, which was of course delightful

After that we stopped at cake love for a little dessert then headed home.  It was a perfect day.  I always laugh so much when I am with Jenna, she cracks me up.  On the way home I feared for our safety and had to tell her to quietly look out the window so we could stay on the road :)  she was making me laugh so hard.

dinner tonight

burgers on the grill, and corn on the cob, also cooked on the grill, watermelon and for dessert an apple pie that Grace made from scratch.  We had pink lemonade and ate on the deck.  It was lovely.

We had a nice day, full of church meetings, hugs from friends, a few card games and a lovely dinner al fresco.  What could be better?

pink cheeks

Happy Day! The warm weather is here!  Love it!  We had a busy Saturday.  First thing in the morning I went to the grocery store with the girls.  Then we came home and got ready for Lu's soccer game. 

The game went well, it was hot out and she got pink cheeked and needed a cool down treat after :)  Thank goodness the ice cream truck chooses to park in the parking lot and overpriced frozen confections were available to us.

After her game we came home and had just enough time to get Han to her DI end of season party and head over to Ethan's game.  It was a very exciting close match.  Lu played on the playground with Summer while he played which made her day.

In the evening we went to Brian Davies'  Eagle Scout court of honor. 

We ended our evening with a stroll at the wharf.  Han got to spend the night at Alyssas.  Jen hung out with H2 and Alexis.

Finally when everyone was home and little children were tucked into bed J and I put on a DVD of "Modern Family" season 1, which neither of us had seen and everyone raves about and we watched 4 or 5 episodes.  It was funny.

24 more school days left and then we can look forward to lots of pink cheeked, sweet treats, relaxing days!

rain rain go away

 We're still having chilly weather and some rain, mostly in the mornings. The afternoons are pleasant and beginning to smell like summer.  I am ready.  Well, I am always ready for summer.  We have important work to do...like finding a beach destination to visit. 

 Last week Dani and Sierra went to their cousins wedding, also mom and dad got to go.  I heard it was a lot of fun and wish I could have gone.  I sure to miss all the in laws I used to have.  So anyway, here's Tate and Papa dancing.  She had a blast.  I suspect he did too, he loves to dance and all his girls (from mom all the way down to the great grand daughter(s) now) love to dance with him.  It's fun :)  I love this picture. 

Here is Bryce (who looks just like his dad), Brittan and Sierra.  Cute cousins!  In my head Bryce is still like 9 years old, actually he's all grown up with 5 kids of his own.  Crazy.  When Dani and Brittan were babies people thought they were twins.  I used to keep him while Valerie worked and we'd go everywhere and they were the same size and both little blondies so it was natural. 

Subbed today.  Special ed.  Subbing tomorrow on May the 4th be with you day.  Bub wants to celebrate so I need to think of something.