We're Baaack

I'm sure you all missed us terribly and we are glad to be home.  Traveling is fun, but its always nice to be home.  We all had a good time at Grandma and Grandpa's.  HT got to play in the sand box that Grandpa made for him last summer down by the lake.  The weather was typical spring weather, fickle.  Sunny and warm one day, overcast and rainy the next.  But we did enjoy ourselves.

We saw a turtle but HT wouldn't touch it or pick it up.  I saw a really big one, it was about two feet in diameter and looked positively prehistoric.  My in-laws tell me that the turtles are laying their eggs and there is one old gal that likes to bury hers in the middle of their driveway, which isn't very convenient.

This is the turtle I saw, look at the size of it's claws in comparison to the gravel on the road.

They got to go on a tractor ride with Papa.  I think they enjoyed it.  HT  wanted to climb on every piece of farm equipment that was there.

I have more pictures to post, but will do that in another post.

Leavin' On a Jet Plane

We are headed to MN to visit Grandma and Grandpa.  I want to apologize in advance if you will be traveling along this month and you get the "pleasure" of sitting on the plane next to an infant.  I will do my best to keep my little one quiet and entertained.   Please be patient, understanding and pray for travel mercies.

Ta ta for now.

Happy Anniversary

This is about two people.  Two people, who met, fell in love and were married in the springtime.  Two people who got married on this very day in the year 1954.   Two people, so young, so happy and so much in love.  My father was ever so handsome in his suit, and my mother, a woman whose beauty was flawless.  Two people, that I'm sure, are happy still and celebrating today in heaven. 

They met on Halloween.  My father and his friends were looking for something to do.  They were too old for trick or treating, too young for parties and too non-Mormon to be included in the local singles ward activities.  One of my dad's friends said he knew this cute little red headed girl (he was sweet on her) and suggested that they go over to her house.  Upon arriving my dad knew he'd found the girl for him.  Her mother told the boys that she could go out only after she had finished the dishes.  My father volunteered to help.  Him washing dishes, her drying them and putting them away, he turned to her and said "We do this so well together we ought to get married." then she said "Okay."  Six months later they did.  Apparently it was love at first sight for my mom also.  My dad's friend later confessed that when he met the woman he would marry sometime later that same year he was reluctant to introduce her to my dad.  He didn't need to worry.  Dad was smitten.

41 years, 8 kids, 15 grandchildren (now 17) and 1 great-grandchild (now 4) later Mom went home to Jesus, she was 62.  Dad followed her there 5 years later he was 69.  It says in Psalms 90:10 "The length of our days is seventy years..."  I have always felt a little cheated somehow that they died relatively young.  But am still very, very grateful to have known them as long as I did and to have had the privilege to care for them in their last days.  However, I don't care how old you are when you lose a parent you still feel like an orphan.

So today for me is bittersweet, celebrating the love that bore fruit in springtime, and nostalgic for the loved ones lost.  Yet am grateful and hopeful, yes hopeful, always hopeful, for our someday reunion.


"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalms 90:12

I'm linked up today, click for more stories.

And here.

Later Mater

HT really likes the Pixar movie Cars.  He has been pretending that he is Lightning McQueen, that I am Sally and that Papa is Mater.  For the past week he has been calling me Sally whenever he addresses me.  I'm sure strangers think my name is Sally, and probably wonder why my son is calling me Sally rather than Mama.  I told him I was his Mama and he could call me Mama,  he said "Oh, I sought you were Sally."  But the funny thing was what he said about his Papa the other day while he was getting ready to go for a bike ride.  "Papa's an old stinky guy . . . we should buy a new fawzher that's not stinky."

So what do you think of the new model?  Still as goofy, but cleaner.  

We love you Papa!

Six Months Old

My sweet baby boy who turned six months old a few days ago, is so full of personality and is curious about everything.  He woke up from his nap this afternoon with a cheerful disposition so we went outside for a bit.  I think his tooth has finally broken through.  He is trying to sit up on his own and once sitting can hold himself up fairly well.

HT hated the grass as a baby, maybe because of the eczema.  His skin is very sensitive.  You would set him down on it and he immediately lifted his hands and feet so he wouldn't have to touch it.  EM doesn't seem to mind it.

Oh, and HT tells me today after having a pretend conversation on his pretend cell phone with Auntie and he gave her a pretend kiss good-bye and got one in return, "I like kisses, you know.  Sometimes, Grandma kisses me on da back of the neck and I wike it, I weally, weally do!".  Lock up your daughters!

Another crazy spring day here.  It snowed Saturday through Tuesday, but today it is nearly 60 degrees.  I think we'll grill burgers for supper.

He is Risen!

I hope this finds you all happy and well this Easter Sunday, reflecting on the grace of God and the gift of the resurrection.  We had a lovely day, went to church this morning, came home and napped, well some of us napped.  And now we are getting ready to have a quiet supper.  Okay maybe not so quiet, three year olds are only quiet when they are sleeping.

Every year at church the kids decorate a cross with fresh flowers making something lovely out of a symbol of death and shame.  They always seem to enjoy it.  This year HT brought me his flower rather than putting it on the cross.  It was very sweet of him to think of his Mama, but after service we took it up and added it to the others.

I don't know how many of you are familiar with Veggie Tales but there is a story about a Chocolate Bunny factory where some of the characters eat too many chocolate bunnies and get sick.  Well I put one  small chocolate bunny in HT's easter basket.  At first he was excited, but then told me. "Mama, dis is too big for me, if I eat it, it will make me sick, lets give it to Papa."  So they shared the bunny.

Nature's Fools

Just when I had gotten used to the idea of Spring, this is what we woke up to this morning.  Yeah, I am not amused, you hear that Mother Nature, NOT amused.  Ruined our day, we were going to go snipe hunting. The boys will be so disappointed.