PHS Homecoming

Matt Barry took Claire to Provo High's Homecoming.
Don't they look great?!?!?
He even brought me a rose, ahhh, what a guy!

Mr. Wonderful

This is especially for you young moms that wonder if your little ones will ever be independent. Thomas called from school this week to see how I was feeling. The conversation went something like this:
"Do you have anything planned for dinner?"
"No, is there something special you want?"
"Do you feel up to making dinner?"
"No, it's been an especially rough day."
"How about I hurry home and make you dinner before I have to leave for my activity?"
"That's sweet honey, but you shouldn't have to go to school all day and then come home and make dinner for the family because I've been in bed all day!"
"Well, what if I want to?"
"Ok"
So, he and Laura came home, made a wonderful dinner and ran out the door to their activity without even eating...they didn't have time.
Thank you, Thomas, for taking care of me. I love you!

Just sweet

Thomas and Laura after a long day...

Abbie fell asleep in Thomas' bed...so they had morning snuggles.

Stewart Falls

Thomas had the day off work and was determined to get out into nature! He and Laura and Lane went hiking.

We're so blessed to live in this beautiful land!

My Claire

I know she's mine, but isn't she beautiful?!?!? Dennis wanted some updated photos so we did a little photo shoot today.

Not bad for mom being behind the camera! I really need to learn how to use my own camera~

Just a lot of nonsense

Kayti's silly "up do"

Abbie's turn for Kayti to do her magic

Just what CAN you do with Mom's short hair?

The best sports of all...with millions of tiny pony tails...

Sunday Night Singing

On Sunday evenings the kids all gather and sing hymns. Tonight we decided to do it around a fire on the patio...and roast marshmallows! Hmmm, how do you eat roasted marshmallows while singing....?

We love having them here. "Them" changes weekly, tonight it's a small group.
Fun, but small 8)

Amber and Claire

Melanie, Claire and Amber

Thomas....doing what? Mr. Photogenic doesn't even look stupid when he's being stupid! Oh wait, he's doing something important...that's a tuning fork next to his ear! We love him.

The love of my life

Happy Birthday Lane!
16 Sept 60
I think so often about the many things I love about my husband, the many ways he blesses my life, my intense gratitude that we have been sealed for eternity.

So, my love, here's a partial, very partial, list of the things I love about you. There are 48 actually, because you're 48.

They're not in any specific order...

1 He loves the Lord and will serve Him in any capacity
2 He provides for our family temporally & spiritually
3 He is incredibly teachable
4 He'll admit when he's wrong and is quick to apologize
5 He can fix anything!
6 Loves me unconditionally
7 His dedication to his patients is inspiring
8 He kisses me good bye in the morning
9 He massages my neck
10 He rubs my feet
11 We pray together morning & night
12 He is committed to improving
13 He dates his daughters
14 He dances with his daughters
15 He keeps the garage floor clean
16 Our cars are always maintained
17 He washes my car
18 When he mows the lawn, he edges!
19 We go to nice restaurants
20 He interviews our children and knows them well
21 We gather as a family for scriptures & prayer nightly
22 We have an openhouse policy for friends & family
23 He works on the kid's friends cars with them,
teaching and talking
24 He's a good driver
25 We love road trips
26 He's a marvelous role model for our sons
27 I don't know if there's anyone who loves babies
more than Lane does!
28 He holds me when I cry
29 He takes over when I fall down
30 He gave my talk for me in church!!
31 He's man enough to cry, show his tender emotions
32 He walks with me...long or short, shuffle or brisk,
or anywhere in between
33 He helps me focus on the eternal perspective
34 We love projecting together
35 He's a good cook, mmmmm!
36 He's very forgiving
37 And incredibly patient with me
38 There are no secrets in our marriage
39 He's a great 'mom' when he needs to be
40 He allows chocolate week & too much ice cream
41 Family time is top priority
42 He's a good snuggler
43 He honors his priesthood
44 He gives us priesthood blessings, always ready
45 He loves to go to the temple
46 He laughs at me :-) even if I'm not so funny!
47 We play games together, you name it, we play it
48 He loves being a dad...and is a wonderful one!
Our children are very blessed

Grounded

So, some of you know that my doctor grounded me in June. For at least a year. I'm not allowed to have a calling, volunteer in anyone's classroom, take on any projects...nothing. That was a hard to accept but I knew he was right. I even had to admit to myself that I can't watch my precious nieces. (That almost took a 2x4!)

I made it to about half an hour of Stake Conference on Sunday before Lane had to bring me home. Wow, am I broken!!! I've had to remind myself many times over the last five weeks that I'm glad I have a body....

Well, now I'm in solitary confinement.

During the day, while my children are at school, I am not to take any phone calls, answer my door, etc. That added instruction came from a more Divine source than my doctor, but after just three days I'm feeling the benefit. I'm getting stronger, taking less medication etc. It's hard, but like anything else Heavenly Father directs us to do, it's right. I have to conserve all my energy for my family and even then I'm far from what I'd like to be doing for them.

Is it wrong of me to feel proud of myself for listening this time before He had to use a 2x4?

Happy Birthday to me!

 
I'll save you the counting...there are 43 and I'm proud of every one!
Thank you, everyone, for contributing to my very happy life!

Abbie has taken some lessons on hand quilting from my mom and gave me the pieces she's sewn and asked if we could finish it together and make a pillow for my bed. I was SO excited! It's a wonderful thing to learn a skill from your children.
Thanks, Abbie

Some things you don't get to plan and how you'll feel on your birthday is one of them. Unfortunately, my birthday came at the end of a very difficult "fibro" week. My sweet Claire was so concerned about me feeling celebrated. She even texted several of her friends and had them stop by to wish me a happy day.

She was photo shooting all through the yummy dinner Lane made for me and kept telling me to smile. Most of the pictures are appropriately dorky but this one won. After mixing all the colors of frosting from my piece of cake (I LOVE frosting but not food coloring...it's just wrong!) I made a smiley face for her...just not on my face.