Luke's Rainy Afternoon

(Casey, this post is for you.)

"Dad, I'm all out of nails."

"Mom, Dad, come see the scooter I made."

A few fix-its required after the initial test drive.

Would this be considered a "Redneck Scooter?"

Five Year Plan Part 2

Last year I did an update on Mike's 'Five Year Plan.'

This summer should be the finished product!

This is the 5th summer living here.

But alas, the yard is still not done. Perhaps due to ten days after last years update he broke his foot and spent the summer laying on my couch!!!! The real reason, I believe it is not done is, because Mike has a "champagne appetite on a beer salary." And because we choose to do nothing unless with cash, we do it s l o w l y.

So far though, as these photos (and my bank account balance) will attest, we have made quite a bit of progress...

We won't even get into why it will probably turn into a 6-7 year plan...
That is a whole 'nother post!

Drew's Day

Sunday was Drew's Blessing Day.

Ellie was so proud that "Drew is getting old enough now to get blessed in church."

Baby Blessing's have never been my favorite event. In fact, I very much dislike the tradition and have had a bad attitude about each one. Saturday evening, Mike told me he was tired of me being ornery and said, "Think of it as a celebration of never again having to do a baby blessing party." My attitude changed and I instead focused on the blessing of having a new baby to celebrate.
Sunday in church as I sat surrounded by family and friends celebrating the day with us, I was overwhelmed with the love I have for each of them.

We are truly, blessed.

"She's Not Like You"

Last night, Luke described a mother he saw while at his fishing class who was not only "fishing with her kid, but unhooking the fish too." As Luke was concluding he added,

"I know she would gut it too."

"Oh" was all I could reply, until he said,

"She's not like you."

WHAT DOES HE MEAN NOT LIKE ME?

Not like me because he doesn't think she would look closely at all 5 of the baby fish he brought home even though I wanted them off of my property?

Not like me because she wouldn't finally give in to begging and allow her 71/2 year old to gut the fish on his own?

Not like me because she wouldn't listen to her husband and her father and finally allow an excited little fisherman to wash the gutted fish in my kitchen sink?

Not like me because she might have tasted the 3 inch fish he begged Daddy to help him cook?

Or not like me, because she didn't lay in bed last night with a proud smile on her face and a silent prayer in her heart because she hadn't heard her cute little 71/2 year old's bedtime prayer that said,

"Thank you that I caught five fish. Please bless I'll catch a big one next week."

Do Yours Stink Too?

SERIOUSLY, I need some advice
But first, I'll give you answers to questions that may arise with your comments.
I only use each one for one day.
I've tried laundering them alone.
I've tried using some bleach.
They are a decent quality.
I have owned them for 6 months.
I CAN'T get the smell out of them.
I CAN'T get the smell out of them.

I CAN'T get the smell out of them.

Do dishrags really only last 6 months?

Preschool Program

Mike and I have always thought, "preschool graduation" is kind of silly. We were pleasantly surprised when Ellie's preschool put the emphasis on a Nursery Rhyme Program rather than graduation.

Ellie did a fabulous job performing the Nursery Rhymes. Particularly her individual part as Jack Sprat's wife.

We celebrated no more Preschool for Ellie with lunch at El Matador, courtesy of Nana.

"Be-Be-Bah"

The first song Joshua learned months ago was, "I Love To See The Temple" with a two-year old twist. "Be-Be-Bah" is temple in his language.

So when our opportunity came to have a special tour of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, I wanted all of us to go together.

What a special occasion it was. Joshua clung tightly to his Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House pamphlet in one hand and held Megan's hand with his other as he reverently toured the temple.

It is a memory we hope for our children to always remember. The older three children signed their name on their pamphlets, and we traced Joshua and Drew's hands on theirs. We dated them and promised as a family to one day return all seven of us together to the temple when Drew is 19 years old.

"We love to see the temple, we went inside today."

P.S. I hope to never forget Luke's (temporary) souvenir from the temple. Ranch dressing! After the tour, we had refreshments, Luke liked the ranch dressing that was served with the salad so much, he brought some home because "this will taste really good with carrots." The sister in charge thought it was so cute, she sent us home with more.