We headed out this morning early to go exploring.
Madison was enjoying breakfast on the go. 
CC wanted to go swimming in the fountain. Yes, it was that warm. 
I thought it was cute when the two sisters held hands.
I can never get over how green it is here. 
MJ wouldn't get off the swing.
CC caught her first butterfly.
The mushrooms that grow up through the grass here in Pittsburgh are so big and crazy looking.
I love this water fountain. I think it is made from copper. It is so beautiful.
The flowers in the park are all in bloom and the girls and I enjoyed looking and smelling.
CC loves this old pine tree and thinks it is her playhouse. I wish I could wrap it up and take it with me to Colorado. 
She is obsessed with Butterflies. She chased them through the tall grass until MJ's patience gave way and we had to go swing.
Today this little girl was in the kitchen watching me make dinner. She said, "Mom, when we go to church next week can you come to primary with me?" I said, "Why" She said, "Because, I got a whole hunk-of-junk worth of friends. You have to see them all." Being gone three weeks, I think she may have forgotten how many people she loved here in Pittsburgh.
We indeed have made a hole hunk-of-junk worth of friends since we came here four years ago. We are grateful for each one. 
Yesterday, Sierra found a caterpillar. It was stuck to Nate's fishing chair. It hitched a ride home from their fishing trip. He is tiny. We want him to be fat. We had to go and find leaves for him. We found a leaf off this tree. We brought it home and gave it to him. He was very hungry. We hope he will turn into a butterfly.
The sky was grey when I woke up. It rained most of the day. As the evening came to a close, the thunder started fighting with the lightnings and the noises escalated into one final bang and then silence. The weather mirrored my mood perfectly. I was grumpy, then sad, then mad, and then silent. Reflecting back, I don't know what started it. Maybe the move. Maybe the chaos of trying to put life back together after vacation. Maybe my dirty house. Maybe my sassy child or my cranky one. However, one nerve on my circuit fried after another until I crashed. To close the day, we read a page from our scriptures. My heart wasn't in it. I read anyway.
Our page today, 194 from the Book of Mormon. "And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort,... and I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me heareafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions... And it came to pass that the burdens... were made light;... and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. 
These words spoke to me. Cheer filled patience seemed almost unattainable today. However, it came... even with torential rains. As I closed the day, I got to enjoy watching Madison lay peacefully on my bed and Sierra play with her complete Sleeping Beauty set, as I hung clothes. This calmed me and made me smile. I love my girls and their happy ways.
Today Nate took Sierra fishing. She was so happy. I got to clean my home in peace. I was so happy. MJ napped. When she woke up she wanted to go for a walk. Pittsburgh is green and warm and beautiful. As I walked through the neighborhood, I thought I could live here forever, summer makes me feel this way, but alas I won't. This place I love and have called home for four years will soon be a memory.
As I walked, I thought about my dear friend who announced earlier this week that they would be moving to Northern Michigan, to a small rural town, where everyone knows everyone. I am happy for her. I can see her as the leading character in her own small town story. I also thought about my sweet friend who just had a baby boy. He is so beautiful. When I held him yesterday I felt his soul. He made me baby hungry. I suddenly realized I was walking toward his home. I wanted to hold him again. I shied away when I got close and saw his grandparents walking up to the door. It is there time now. I will be back. 
Then I thought about the big changes that will be happening in our life. Nate officially accepted his job this morning. We are moving to Grand Junction, Colorado. I feel blessed. I know my Father-in-Heaven's hands are guiding us. I could not have hoped for a better ending to our Pittsburgh Story.
It was a beautiful day to fly. The trip was easy. The sky was beautiful. I sat by nice people. CC watched the Tooth Fairy twice. MJ slept. Continental served us breakfast and lunch without charging us, I thought I had gone back in time fifteen years. 
When we landed. MJ was so excited. She embraced CC and kissed her several times and hugged her forever. This kind of affection is usually reserved for mom alone. CC was so thrilled to get a piece of MJ's love. It was filling to see them loving each other so much. So, now there are no cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Grandmas, Grandpas, Great-Grandmas, Great-Aunts or friends to shower them with affection. Now there is just the two of them and they need each other.
As I was driving down this road earlier this week, I was filled with a sense of belonging. This valley has been my home most of my life. When I venture along its roads I feel a familiar beckoning of home. I remember what it was like to be a child when the houses weren't so close together because they were seperated by massive orchards. I remember climbing the apple, pear, and peach trees and splashing in the irrigation that feed the trees. Often, I long for the simpleness of childhood and for a life I miss.
Well, I spent most of the day catching up on my blog. I took a few breaks to hang with my mother and watch her feed Tessie. She is such a great Grandma. She has been such a huge help to Neil and Michelle through this campaign.
The girls played in the backyard. Tam and Kim made up some really fun, very creative games for the girls to play. They dressed them up as princesses and played a form of tag. They had magical powers to stop themselves from getting tagged. They are such cute Aunts and spend a lot of time playing and helping their nieces. (I am done. I had catch up for my blog book, which will be my scrapbook.)
We played minute-to-win-it for family night. I got the idea from a friend, thanks Shelly. We had a blast. Derrick was the only one that was able to stack three golf balls. He made it look so easy. We all had fun doing the oreo game. We laughed so hard. 
We had a lazy Sunday afternoon we all sat around and ate left over dessert from the reception and just talked. Sierra loved holding her little nephew Colton.
MJ played with some old dolls of the twins. Kimberly said this picture was freaky. Maybe the doll with the blue eyes is a little creepy. She was having so much fun I had to capture the moment.
Jennifer havin' some yum.
This is definitely a Sierra face. 
Nate not wanting his picture taken. 
Emily wanting her picture taken.
Michelle and Neil have been down for almost two weeks straight doing meetings. They have been camped out at my parents house. Between them and their four children upstairs and Michael and Chrissy and his two downstairs, it is definetly a full house. Derrick and Jennifer were so nice to open there home to us. They live two blocks away from my parents, so it is an easy walk back and forth and there can still be plenty of cousin time. It has been cold and there has been a bit of snow but we hope it warms up.
Sierra has past the time between bouts of bad weather coloring with her Uncle Derrick.
MJ loves her Uncle and just wants to hang out on his lap.
MJ loved playing connect four with Jennifer cheering her on.
One evening they all piled on the bed and watched UP. MJ fell asleep in her Aunt's arms, so cute.