A WINDY SUNDAY DAY AT THE POND

 The girls were out in the wind today watching it ripple the pond. Their hair was knotted in the wind. I wanted to know what they were doing. As I inched my way forward, I heard them singing. I had to giggle because Sierra insists she hates singing. 

This has been a busy week, Sierra got awarded student of the month, because she was helping a little girl who just moved her and only speaks Spanish. She asked her Dad to buy her a book on how to speak Spanish and she has been trying to communicate with this little girl and make her feel welcome. She says it has been hard because she is really shy. I guess that makes her efforts all the more precious. 

Madison and I got to hang out alone on Saturday we went and bought some dinner and a movie. I wasn't in the mood for takeout, so I went to Sam's Club and bought something easy to make and then we bought a few movies at Target and came home. The girls watched the movies why I did laundry and cooked. I think the last few nights bedtime has been absolute chaos. We need to get back into a routine again.

The missionaries, Nate and I taught a second discussion to Leslie on Friday night. She felt and acknowledged that she was feeling the Spirit, testify truth to her. The missionaries said, that is really rare for a second discussion. I know she knows the things she is learning are truth. It is so awe inspiring to be apart of such a beautiful experience. 

Nate was gone all last weekend until Tuesday picking up the HVAC and a Jacuzzi Tub from California. He stopped over in Utah to go to the temple. He said that he tried to go to the Provo City Center Temple but couldn't even get in the parking lot, so he went to the Provo Temple.

My in-laws stopped in on Friday and stayed over to Saturday, so it has been a busy week. We had fun with Grandma and Grandpa and they watched a movie with the girls while Nate and I went to the discussion at Leslie's house.

I have felt so blessed all week. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I know it true by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is in me. I feel blessed to be apart of this great work.

PLAY DOUGH

We made play dough together. James loved it. They all loved it. That little Caitlin is a Houdini. She is cute as a button, but don't turn your head.  She snuck over and got the purple dye and dyed her entire being. Yep, that is the kind of babysitter I am, give me pinch-able flesh and I will give you grape baby.

LAZY SUNDAY EVENING

This hammock has been their favorite thing. They live in it. I don't think it is going to last through the summer it is already fraying, but they are having a blast. 

80's SCHOOL DANCE

 The PTA threw an 80's party. I volunteered to do the pictures. We took quite a few pictures. The kids had a great time. The girls ate cookies, popcorn and drank water. They got glow bracelets. They danced. Mostly, they hung around the photo booth with Jenn and I.

 

Earlier in the day my friend Leslie took me out to lunch and for a pedicure for my birthday. I have never felt so pampered. I have never had a pedicure. I didn't know your feet could look so smooth. Thank you Leslie, you are an angel.

SICK KIDS and VISITORS

 James has had a week long ear infection and fever. We had friends stop by and stay the weekend. I think the best part was watching "Once I was a Beehive." What an adorable show! And Inez took Sierra shopping and bought her the necklace she is wearing and the one Madison was wearing. I think she enjoyed that. I took a nap. I haven't slept in a long while between the visit to Michelle's and having company and my boys being sick. I just needed to rest. Nate went fishing with Jerold. I know he loved it.
But, it was exhausting and difficult having friends in my tiny house. I didn't poop for three days. I didn't sleep either. My son just cried the whole time. He has been so ill. So, let's only entertain in the dead of summer, after Nate builds the outhouse. Then anyone who wants can plop a tent down. Deal?

BUBBLES

 I still have a million things to do but he just wanted to blow bubbles. We took a minute and blew bubbles together. He kept trying to blow a bubble. I think the way he blows is so stinking adorable.

GREEN COOKIES

 James wanted to make green cookies yesterday. We whipped up some cookies together. I have felt behind since I got back from St. George. Between, taxes, bills, cleaning out the car, tending the garden, and cleaning the house, catching up on the laundry, and getting back into the routine of school after a long break, I have been exhausted. Oh, and James has had an ear infection and hasn't slept. I didn't want to make cookies but I felt like I need to take a minute and be present with my boys. What are these green cookies? Chocolate chip cookies, minus the chips but plus a package of pistachio pudding. He liked them. They were more green before we cooked them. He was so excited because he thought that if we made cookies grandpa would show up. He has been mad ever since we made the trip to Utah and didn't get to see his grandpa.

LAST DAY

We headed home on Saturday. It was a long visit. We were grateful to be headed home and I am certain the Walters were grateful to finally have a little less chaos. We got to listen to Conference on the way home. I love Conference weekend. I loved listening to all the speakers. This was my favorite talk this weekend. I thank thee, oh God, for my Prophet.

 

Well the highlights of my trip to St. George are as follows in order of favor.

 

1. Spending time with my sister Michelle in the St. George temple. I was trying to remember if we have ever done a session in the temple together. I don't know that we have. We have been to weddings together but to actually go and sit by her in the temple and be with her, I don't think I have ever had such an experience. It was truly special. (We ran into Brother and Sister Vicki Hill while we were there. It was great to catch up with them.)

 

2. Spending time with Michelle on the roof at Harmon's eating soup and salad and just feeling the warm sun.

 

3. Shopping with Michelle at Ross. I bought myself some new shirts and a pair of pants that feel like you are slipping into butter. Soft and comfortable.

 

4. Staying up late to watch Age of Adeline. The show was edited, so I can't recommend it, but it was really good edited. I thought it was going to end crappy, but it ended wonderfully.

 

5. The miracle of the duck: While we were out shopping, James got a hold of Emma's duck and imposed irreparable harm upon it. It was barely alive and the children were calling frantically about it. Michelle asked her neighbor to go and check on her kids and the duck. (She is an animal lover.) She said she didn't think it was going to survive, but took it to the vet. The vet gave it some vitamins and sugar water and put it aside and said, "I don't think it is going to make it, but let's wait a bit." She ran some errands and came back and the duck was alive. With a little more love the duck was up and walking by the next morning. The duck is still alive. I am sure it was an answer to all those little children's prayers.

 

6. I got to go and spend time with my cousin Anjanel. (I think this is the first time I have thought about spelling her name and I don't have a clue how you spell it.) She just gave birth to a baby girl. She was a few days home from the hospital. I have a million cousins I never see, so to visit her at such an important time in their life was priceless. Anjanel, has always been such an amazing example of bedrock strength. She is true to what she knows. She doesn't waver. She is always happy. Her smile lights up the room. She has such a beautiful family and a beautiful home.

 

7. Teasing Claire and Lydia in my witches voice. I am certain they now both think I am a witch but they were so cute. I cackled that now that I was in charge we were going to go to the store an buy up all the ice cream and make sundae's and put whipping cream and banana's on them. Then we were going to put a cherry on top. We were going to throw all rules out the window and eat sugar all day. Claire said, "No you can't throw the sugar out the window. My mom will be mad!" Lydia said, "You are scaring me Aunt Lisa. We can't eat sugar all day my dad and mom will be mad."

 

8.Reading to Tessie and Claire one of my favorite books, the Secret Garden and reading Tyler, Robin Hood.

 

9. Having Madison ask if she could sleep with me one night even though it was still an option to go and sleep with her cousin. She just needed her mom for a minute.

 

10. Watching Madison and Tessie whispering together and Emma and Sierra laughing out loud together.

 

11. Watching Grace, and how sweet she was to James while they were in the pool together. She was sweet with my boys, on multiple occasions. It was tender to watch her.

THE PARK

 

 

 We went to the park for a few hours. Sierra ran into her friend Aniston. She has been wanting Aniston to come over and play at our house for sometime. I was glad I had the opportunity to meet her mother. It was so random that we ran into her. We just happened to be in St. George at the same time and end up at the same park. I feel there was a divine hand in it. Sierra loves Aniston she is a great girl.

 

 

 

 

SWIMMING at the POOL

The kids swam in the neighborhood pool. It was really cold a few days we were there but a few days it was warm. This girl loves to swim and was super happy to swim with her cousin.

HIKE

 One day we took the kids for a hike. My boys fell asleep on the way there and I sat in the car with two sleeping babies thumbing through Michelle's Facebook. I haven't been on Facebook in over six months. It was fun and I loved it but I don't care to get back on it. The kids ran around and had a blast. James loved climbing the large rocks. Michelle packed snacks. We haven't been hiking in St. George since 2008. I can't believe it has been that long.

We went to Zeppes after the hike and got slushy, custard cups. They were yummy. James lost the custard off the top of his and started to cry. We asked the lady working the counter if we could have bit more custard. She was so sweet and gave him more

Crazy girls.

 

ST. GEORGE TRIP

 My sister Michelle lives in St. George. She has six children. Emma is besties with Sierra and Madison and Tessie are besties. They wanted to go see their cousins for Spring break. We got in the car and drove the six hours to visit them. Quite plainly I was scared to death of the drive, but the drive I think was the easiest part. I was grateful. Michelle was a perfect hostess like always. It was so fun to be in her home and watch her mother. She is an incredible mother who is fiercely loyal to her children and would do anything for them. She does so much and does it all with grace. Watching her made me realize several things I want to be better at including making eye contact with my children when they need me in earnest. Also, encouraging my children to make phone calls and coordinate outside our home to accomplish their plans. I want to focus more on preparing healthier meals. I could go on and on. There were other things though that reminded me that we are all in the thick of it  like enjoying the chaos of family scripture study. I realized watching her that it is in doing it and not really doing it perfectly that is so beautiful. See the picture below.