Santa Monica

We went to Santa Monica today. Our first stop was the house of the Lord. The visitors center is nice and the grounds are beautiful. I was glad the kids wanted to see it today.

Grace found a cute little crawly friend.

Today was Bub's idea of torture. He hates shopping and being out of the house. He was a semi good sport as we walked around 3rd st promenade.

We enjoyed the pier and a little time on the beach.

This little guy was a highlight. I think he was trying to steal the fishermen's fish but I thought he was so cute!!!

We ate chicken and waffles and gelato. 

What a beautiful view.

Sunday

Today was our ward conference. The choir sang and they did a really good job. 

I spoke to the youth and that was really fun. 

We also had AP/YW and youth committee and the kids had BYD. Busy.

Rob flew to TX for some meetings so it's just us chickens home. 

Grace and I played a game tonight. Percy was very curious and disruptive. We didn't care.

Little donkeys and big loads of laundry

Saturday means different things to different people. Today for Rob and I it meant we did lots of laundry.

And cleaned the pool. (Rob and Grace also swam)

And went to Costco.

Hannah and Chelsea went on a double date to the LA Zoo.

Then they came here and hung out for awhile, really just killing time before Sawyer's surprise birthday party!!

They had a bounce house, a petting zoo, cake and pizza and a piñata. The girls had a fun fun day!

We had a good day too, but I was sad to miss the baby donkey!

Chelsea!

Chelsea came for spring break to visit Hannah! We have all been looking forward to her visit, especially Hannah!!

Friday night she arrived. By the time we got home she had been awake for 22 hrs! Ugh:)

Despite this the girls were so excited and chatty and happy. It made me extra homesick for our wonderful time and friends in beautiful Maryland. But that's okay, it wouldn't have been special if we didn't miss it.

I thought the girls would sleep in but they were up bright and early. We went shopping: Target and Barnes & Noble. We went to the car wash and to in-n-out and to the grocery store to get drinks for the high priest social.

Rob had heated the pool so we spent the afternoon either by it (me) or in it ( the kids!) Sawyer came over and there was much merriment. I had some baking to do for the social so I went inside and let them gaurd each other. Very nicely you can see the pool from the kitchen, and from my bedroom so I had a pretty good eye out. They are all better swimmers than I.

Chels sleeping in the sun on the deck. She was pretty tired today.

In the evening we went to the social. It was swimming and pizza making and visiting. Grace and some of the kids swam, they also heated their pool.  Dan built his pizza oven and I thought it was super fun.

I think there were about 60 people there and it was fun to visit with some new friends. 

Ethan and I were pizza partners and made this pizza that looked like a batman signal.

I had a good time. It got cold though and I was wishing that I had brought my coat. 

Blessed

I have a necklace with the word blessed stamped on it. It's true, I really am. I live a wonderful life. This morning I went to the Painted Turtle, a camp very near here that provides a camping experience for children with grave illnesses. Children who are medically fragile or terminally ill. It is a beautiful, cheerful, whimsical place. They are having campers arriving tomorrow and they needed volunteers to get the rooms ready. I spent the morning making beds in cabin after cabin. Laying fresh white sheets and well loved hand sewn quilts on bunks and beds. It was a sweet experience.

On the way home I saw tons of beautiful wild flowers. The poppies were the stars of the show. I pulled over and walked thru them and took some pictures.

The high school had a flex day so I picked up Hannah early in the afternoon. Took a bunch of her friends to their homes and then we drove thru star bucks for the cherry blossom frapp.

I am so grateful for happy, healthy children.

For gas enough to drop lots of kids safely home. 

For the time to serve.

And time to walk thru flowers.

I am grateful for my small & easy to keep clean home. 

For 2 silly animals that follow me around.

For fun holidays.

For friends all over the world.

Mostly I am grateful for a Savior. That Jesus  Christ suffered and died for me. That he paid my debt. I am grateful that I can show my appreciation to Him by being obedient and charitable and kind. I can never pay my debt but I can show my gratitude.

And, in the keeping it real vein: last night this cat threw up all over our bedroom. Like his body weight in vomit. Because while I was taking Grace to a-days no one cleaned up from dinner and just left it on the counter and he  jumped up and ate it. Also it was panda which tastes good but probably isn't great for you, which I bought because I subbed and then didn't want to cook. Also this morning no one wanted to get out of bed and Hannah missed seminary and I had to scold her, and Grace's toe hurts. 

It's all good:)

I love this new Netflix show!

Every day stuff

Social media is awesome, in my opinion. I love seeing what  friends are up to even when we no longer live close to each other. I especially love seeing what the girls are doing and the grands. I talked with Sierra for a little while yesterday. She is working and dating and hanging out with friends. It seems like things are mostly going well for her. She's had some health problems that she's working  thru. That is always a frustration no matter who you are. She's gone on a couple of dates with "the scientist" who she thinks is nice. Of course she doesn't love to talk about her social life and of course everyone is always interested:) in looking forward to a fun trip with her soon. 

Clayton got a new job. He starts in Monday. Last I heard Jenna was applying to grad school but she got started on the application process late so I don't know if she'll be on time. They are also looking at houses, which always sounds fun and exciting until you are doing it and then it's  much more stressful and challenging than anything else.  I'm not sure when we will see them in person next, maybe a quick hello this summer in Utah.

Poor Penny cut her chin open yesterday and had to have it glued together at urgent care. Also Marshall is waking like a pro and Tate is playing the piano. They are busy and doing good things:)

Ethan finally found out about his high adventure trip this summer. They are going to Santa Cruz the same week have girls camp. I think it'll be fun, he's excited. Also that frees us up to plan a visit to Utah since we finally  know our summer obligations.

Rob and I have been meeting with a financial advisor. Retirement is as close as 20 years away and it's time to plan. It's hard to know what's enough and what the markets going to do and all that. Not fun, but necessary. She said we are doing okay so far, which is good. 

Also the countdown is on for spring break! One more day after today!!!

pi party

Today is pi day. We had a party. The kids each chose a family to invite and last week we delivered the invitations. The Fasts, Crawleys, Jarvis, Harveys, Rushtons, and Pincocks came. Everyone brought pies.

We had a fun time. Everyone visited and ate. It was noisy and a little crowded but nice.  At one point the teens walked to the neighborhood park and played in the dark and the littler kids went in the garage to play basketball.
We voted on the favorite pie and my island pecan won but the prize went to the Crawley's apple cinnamon since I didn't want to keep my own prize. Ironically they bought theirs at Walmart :) but there were no rules it was just a vote and they got 3 votes which was the most after my 9. Grace won a prize for knowing the most digits of pi.

Island Pecan Pie

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar 
• 1 tablespoon corn meal 
• 1 tablespoon flour 
• 5 eggs 
• pinch of salt 
• 1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped 
• 1 cup drained crushed pineapple 
• 1 cup flaked coconut 
• 1 stick butter, melted 
• 1 unbaked pie shell

Instructions

• Beat the sugar, corn meal, flour, eggs and salt together. Gently stir in the pecans, pineapple and coconut (don't beat it). Stir in the melted butter and mix well. 
• Bake at 300 degrees in an unbaked pie shell approximately 50 to 60 minutes. 
• Here I covered the crust edge with some aluminum foil to keep it from burning. Cook 15 to 30 more minutes, or until the pie is set. 
• For the topping I did whipped topping and mixed in a little almond extract. Then sprinkled on toasted coconut.

playing a game after everyone left

I didn't get out my camera to take pictures of everyone while they were here but after almost everyone left we took one :)

In other very exciting news today Sawyer got his mission call.  He is going to the Nashville Tennessee mission in June!! So exciting!! He'll be awesome!  Hannah was invited to the opening of the call and she was nervous and excited.  I know he'll be a great missionary.  I am really grateful for the time he has spent with our family, and with Ethan in particular, so we could look forward and anticpate with him.  It's been such an exciting time and such a good example.  Ethan is a good young man and I wonder every day where he will be called.  The other senior boy in our ward got his call last week, Connor Harvey, he is going to Chihuahua Mexico.  His sister just got back from Chile a couple months ago.  They are a missionary family!  Now our Tanner is next.  The first grandson to go!!