snow day (-) any snow

snow day = baking day

snow day = video game day

snow day = friends to play

fish lamp

We came home from school to find a box on the porch.  Always a fun surprise.  It had Grace's name on it, which made her day.  There was no note so we don't know who the giver of this beautiful fish lamp is but she LOVED it!  She's a little fisher woman.

We watched a good movie tonight after FHE, it was called Blast 23. Unfortunately we all got wrapped up in it and forgot to put the children to bed on time.  Crossing my fingers that the fore casted snow comes and we have a delayed start time tomorrow!

Weekend

We enjoyed a very nice weekend.  Everyone had friends to play with which is always fun.  Saar invited Ethan and a bunch of boys from school over on Saturday afternoon.    They played football.  It wasn't warm out but it wasn't wet and when they were running around they were fine.  A little fresh air is always a good thing for a boy.  Grace played with Arden and got to go to Target with me.  She had saved her Christmas gift cards until her birthday hoping to combine them and although she said it was very hard she managed to wait.  She bought a camera and has many plans on when she would like to use it.   Hannah went to a cast party after the play, they played charades.  Saturday she went to Holly's to do her hair and then both girls went to Gwen's birthday.  Time to play is welcome.

Meanwhile it was also stake conference.  Rob had to go early to the leadership meetings and drove up with Wade then Jodie and I drove together later.  That way we could each drive home with our respective husbands.  Conference was really nice.  Saturday night is always my favorite.  It's adults only and it's wonderful to see friends from around the stake, to hear the inspiring council and to sit with Rob and to have no one little complaining.  The talks were so awesome.  One of my favorites was from Bro. Folsom from the Anacostia Ward.  He's a sweet man from somewhere in Africa. He talked so plainly about our responsibility to love one another and help one another.  How Jesus Christ is the most important and how we must follow Him.  He said when he first moved to the US he couldn't drive and a member drove him to church each week.  He talked about the great love and gratitude he felt and how they became the dearest of friends.  He prayed that he could have the ability to drive and the means to have a car and it wasn't too long before he was blessed.  Then it was his turn to drive many people to church and to talk with them and help them.  Now he is the seminary teacher, of the 6 students in his class only 1 has a parent that can drive, so he gets up early and drives to their homes and picks them up.  He talked about how much he loves to talk with the youth on the drive and to get to know them.  He asks them "What do you love about Jesus?"  He was so powerful and humble and sweet.
My dear dear friends Tara and Jodie both spoke and did as good a job as anyone could do.  The mission president's wife bore a sweet testimony and Bishop Cottle shared about the joy of serving in the vineyard.  It was uplifting and joyful.  The music and other talks were also wonderful.

Saturday hair

Today is Sunday and we went to conference as a family.  Again I enjoyed the talks so much.  It was a lot about temple worship, the important role of the family, and forgiveness.  Kitty, who I love and admire, spoke brilliantly about what  to do when life doesn't seem fair.  I love gathering together and strengthening one another.  What a treat.

When we came home we watched "The Good Lie", which I liked.  Now we are making chicken and waffles for dinner and getting ready for a new week.  The children are hoping for snow. I am hoping not ;)

kitchen help

Friends and Clutter

Tonight was one acts.  Hannah has been rehearsing for months.  She kept telling me how terrible she was and between that and last years one acts, where I didn't think she was terrible but I didn't enjoy the performances, I had quite low expectations. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.  She was not terrible, in fact she did a good job.  The play was clever.  It followed a group of 2nd graders through their lives, sort of.  It explored themes of disappointment and mistakes made in life but was funny at times and sweet at times.

This week has been a strange one.  We feel the loss of Millie . It's strange to be home without her here or to come home without her bounding to the door.  She had a lot of important jobs in our family.  She walked Grace to the car at night when she would finally go get her homework, it's a dangerous walk those 4 steps between the front porch and the car parked in the driveway.  She barked when any thing was amiss outside, like a deer eating too near our grass or a pedestrian walking on the front sidewalk.  She cleaned up spills left on the floor and made sure I vacuumed every day by leaving reminder hairs in the corners and under the tables (and every where else).  She picked up trash and laid on our feet and drooled on the window sills.  It's amazing how big a void her absence makes.

Ethan went on a field trip to the Smithsonian.
We went to a good-bye dinner for Wheels (Rob's boss) who is moving back to Fort Worth.
I subbed two days and we had girl scouts and soccer.
Z went to the puppy spa.
I cleaned the fridge.
Grace played with Arden.
Eric came over for the evening tonight (Friday).

Ten

Grace Anne, oh my goodness she was a sweet little peanut! We were very happy to welcome her to our family. Dad begged and begged me to try one more time. We had 4 miscarriages and that was hard even with 5 lovely children to take care of and enjoy. We were very blessed but wanted another. Our prayers were answered and we got our little Gracie Lu.

Ten things about Grace:

1. She loves loves loves animals.

2. She is good at math and puzzles and logic.

3. She loves science and wants to be a vet or an inventor.

4. She is musical.

5. She loves to play on the computer.

6. She loves babies and toddlers.

7. She is a good girl scout and a good activity day  girl.

8. Grace is funny.

9 . She loves STEM and crafts and writing.

10. Grace is a good swimmer.

Happy 10th Birthday Grace!!!!

Ups and downs

Crazy day. The temple has been closed for a couple weeks for maintanance and today was the first day it was back open. It was packed. We made the 9am session and there was barely an empty seat. We saw several people we knew which is always fun. After we stopped at the visitors center to see the new models they have of the temple and Solomons Trmple and Moses' day tabernacle and the Kirtland Trmple.

Today we took Millie to the vet to be put to sleep. She's been suffering from declining health for a couple of years. She had colitis, and arthritis, she had many tumors and fell down the stairs a lot and lost control of her back legs from time to time and had a stroke and... We had wanted to put her down while she still had good days, I'm worried we waited too long but still it was terribly hard. We cried. She was a great dog.

After we got home from that we needed a diversion so we drove to a nearby new state park that was so awesome. We had a great time....

Until Hannah jumped out of a tree and hurt her ankle. In fact she's at the ER now with Rob. Hopefully it's not broken:(

UPDATE: not broken

Camp report

It was fine.

That was the glowing report I got. It was 24 degrees in the night and the boys shivered through bravely. I asked Ethan if he used his gear and he said no. Not sure there is much more I can do than help him pack adequately. Rob did make him wear a jacket, not all the boys did. 12 year old boys aren't much for coats...or for using their brains. 

It's good though. Having some clue outdoors is an important life skill.