Questions

Soccer try outs are this week. Ethan got cut. I don't know why. He is an excellent player. This was very shocking and sad news for all of us, mostly him though. Very very sad. The afternoon of the first practice he felt very confident and said he was very happy to have something to do in the afternoons.  It's been a hard adjustment (our fateful move) and while he's made "school friends" and "church friends" I was really looking forward to a real friend for him.  Sad.

Grace got her ballroom shirt. She is super busy with cats, which is great. 

These guys went home. They made it safely and I am so glad we had a good visit. I do love living "close". 

I applied for a few jobs today. I often do and I never get hired. I also don't know why. It's expensive here, which is super frustrating. 

The boys have a scout camp out tonight. Ethan has an all start game tomorrow. Grace has practice tonight, tomorrow and Sunday, then the performances start.

  

Last question of the day : do I even want to be thin?

Eleven

Grace is 11! So exciting! Elementary school, primary, and all things little girl are coming to an end. We've seen the signs for a while now. The slow morph from stuffed animals and cartoons to more teenagery interests is happening under our noses. Today at sephora she wanted her color palate done, I don't know mine but now we know Grace's.

This morning we had birthday sprinkle pancakes with a candle and everything.

Nana, Abba, UB, the grands and I went to her school assembly where the principal had the whole 5th grade wish her a happy birthday. And where she got an award for 4.0 gpa and top science student. 

Coldstone cake!

We did a little shopping: at the pet store and the book store. Went to dinner.

Opened presents and had ice cream cake. 

I think it was a very good birthday!

And to conclude a little blast from birthdays past!!

Enjoying

Every day things are a delight when you do them with the ones you love. This morning I let Dani sleep in and made breakfast for and played with the little grands. It was a sweet time. I enjoyed my kids when they were little but I enjoy the grandkids more. It's just a sweet pleasure to spend time with them. 

When everyone was up we cleaned up and then did kid yoga. 

After school we went to the mall. Our purpose was to let the kids play on the super lame indoor play area, since it was raining and we couldn't go feed the ducks. They had fun. We also did a little shopping.

Nana bought treats at Sees candy and we enjoyed some samples:)

Dani made a delicious dinner. We filled up the big table, which is awesome.

After dinner there was homework to do. Legos to build. Walking to practice and a warm fire to sit by.

Grace had play practice again and wasn't home for more than a minute. 

Some more photos from yesterday:

Long Beach

We drove down to long beach to visit the Thacker relatives. It was very nice. They bought lunch for everyone and we enjoyed a fun tour of homes thru their 3 properties. Brother Jim was there from Minnesota as was Michael, the son of Jack. Their homes were beautiful but the nicest part was just how welcoming and hospitable  they are. 

We walked down the street to the beach and enjoyed a few minutes of play time. 

Then we went to the Queen Mary. None of us had ever been. It was okay. Run down and super expensive. The group took a "ghost tour" but I thought it would be too scary for Penny so we went to a 4D movie of Sponge Bob instead, then we talked like jelly fish. Dani had stayed in the car with a napping baby boy and when he woke up they strolled around looking at the ducks and the lighthouse and the water. 

After we drove home we stopped at Outback for dinner. Sierra and Tatum, who weren't feeling well and didn't come with us, met us there and we had a fun family dinner.

 It was a fun, long day.

Well who could believe this?

Last night, or actually this morning early, I heard Rob walking around in the living room with shoes on. I thought that was strange. Then I heard him talking and heard weird chicking noises. I was laying in bed wondering what was going on, finally I got up to look and was SO SURPRISED to see Dani and Sierra and the kids in the living room. What!?!?!?!!! How exciting! They decided to drive down and visit with us and with Nana and Abba and UB. Rob was in on the surprise and didn't breathe a word. So fun!

Grace had a dress rehearsal today. She looked cute. They rehearsed from 1-7. 

We went to sacrament. I also had a stake youth committee meeting in the evening.

We had a great day playing games, making a yummy dinner, and visiting together. 

Marshall was a hit!

Day of service

It was a busy one.

We got up and met with our ward. We had a service project in partnership with the community to clean up illegal dumping spots in the desert. 

We spent about three hours, had a great turn out and together picked up a lot of trash.

Grace had to leave early.  She had practice from 9-4. I drove her and then went back to help some more. The weather was perfect and we had a fun time.

After we rushed home to greet Nana, Abba and Uncle Brian. They came to visit! 

We only had a short time together before Hannah and I had to leave. We've been waiting to be trained as hippo-therapy volunteers and today was, unfortunately, the day. 

The barn is pretty close to our house and we had a great time. It was fun to meet the horses and to learn how to help out. I am excited to start. 

This horse, picture taken from the website, was my favorite. Her name is Heidi and she's a fjord draft horse.

We spent about three hours there and then came home and showered and spent the evening with the family. We went to Chilis. Yumm!

Now we are looking forward to a couple of fun days together. 

A day of serving others is my favorite kind of day.

As the world turns

This is diet food. Only it's not really fun and festive like the cartoon.

This is not diet food. This is what I lovingly made for dinners the other day. Squash soup in a bread bowl. Chicken enchiladas.

I would rather eat this.

But my heart wants the other. Not my heart like the essence of my very being, but my heart like the organ that pumps blood, in my chest . As does my waist, my future grandchildren and the people I will serve when Rob and I go on missions. 

I just have to remember that.

....frankly I stink at dieting. Like a solid c-. Today I went to the doc to check my blood since he put me on a new dose of thyroid. I have lost 17lbs but his scale only showed 15 (I was wearing shoes). I was bummed. Even though I am a big cheater I still want the weight to fall off. Right? Who's with me?! 

Then Rob and I went to lunch with Wes and Nellie and I ordered a salad .....and ate two rolls. Then since I already cheated I ate a taco for dinner. (Makes sense right?) So I probably gained 5lbs.

And tomorrow I will start again. And tonight I will feel guilty. Awesome. 

I love our new bed FYI.

Tonight Shelby and Hannah went to the mall and then they are going to watch movies at our house.  Ethan invited Matt over. Grace has practice. 

I need to drink some water and fold some laundry. And so it continues.