love is beautiful

reading together

Sophie was sitting in the hallway.  She sat in front of their bedroom door...trying to get her message to them through the small gap under the door.  "Kate...I want to tell you something."  She repeated over...and over...and over again.  Her pleas were ignored and she kept persisting.

We have two of our bedrooms set aside for the girls right now.  Ellie and Sophie take turns sharing with Kate (she hasn't wanted her own room).  Having three girls---we have to be diligent in encouraging togetherness and avoiding the two against one scenario.

I waited, hoping that the two older sisters would come around and listen to the little sister pleading at their door.  They all continued.  I walked down the hall and invited them to head to Sophie's bed to read.  "If you aren't going to be nice---then you will stay together until...blah,blah,blah" I insisted.  They picked a stack of books.  They read...and read...and read.  They laughed, giggled and cuddled.  Although they were initially less than enthused as they were sent in together...they didn't want it to end when I called them for prayers.

There is a special magic in reading a book aloud to another person.  Especially to those you love.  I can't think of a better way to end a day.  They may not realize it now---but they are so blessed to have each other.  Danny and I are blessed to be a part of who they are together. 

family reunion

We gathered for her...

from OH, NY, CO, IA, AZ, TX & UT

June 24th-27th

She is our Aunt Dot (great-aunt for me)

It was a celebration of her 90th birthday!

She flew in from Ohio...after golfing nine holes.

I want to be just like her in so many ways.

She mentioned during one of our conversations during the reunion--

that we are all a bit more agile and fit than her regular companions.

I asked her the secret of her youth, agility and longevity...

Her secret:  no stress.

She was a child's psychologist for a school district.

She has spent her life doing the things she enjoys (including her work).

She has always been able to provide for herself.

She doesn't let little things bother her.

She spends a portion of every day helping others.

She is very witty.

She is a beautiful letter writer.

...and she had no kids of her own = no stress :)

She has most anything she needs or wants

so I was happy that we could compile a book of pictures and memories to surprise her!

She loved it.

We love you Aunt Dot.

Her only request:  keep gathering.

I know we will.

summer day

what i loved about today:

waking up with not one thing scheduled on our calendar

reading this conference talk 

(i don't remember ever hearing before and i need to read again...and again)

waking up to an overcast day to inspire cleaning and reading

while my girls were sleeping in i shopped this sale...

(then during "checkout" realized everything was an additional 30% off + free shipping!!!)

my girls wanting waffles for breakfast...

so they found Bisquick in the pantry...

improvised when they were short on the mix...

and then decided on their own to add fresh strawberries to their batter!

they (mainly Ellie) did all of this on their own!!!

(it was a proud moment for me)

everybody working in their workbooks

(a first for this summer)

 cleaning out bookshelves and packing away treasures for the girls when they are older

left over smothered bean burritos & corn on the cob for lunch

a phone call for Sophie...a friend wanting to play!

(those play-date phone calls are always for her sisters...she was over the moon!)

Ellie reading for AN HOUR on the couch...of her own free will

(thank you Sister's Grimm Series!)

Danny coming home after a long day of work...with a sigh..."it feels good to be home"

dinner on the deck

(breaded tilapia, homemade yogurt dill sauce, rosemary-paprika potato fries, steamed spinach)

ice cream for dessert

practice guitar...i can almost play this!!!

(the strum is killing me...i seriously have NO RHYTHM!)

a jaunt in the neighborhood making new friends!

choosing this before bed---instead of the news

Happy birthday America!

The Fourth of July weekend is my favorite holiday!!!

There is such a wonderful gathering of celebration~

friends, family, warm weather, good food, swimming and FIREWORKS!

Our weekend began with swimming with friends all day Friday!

We cleaned up just in time for a date night at the hospital with dear friends
the Williams and Theobalds.

(They are AMAZING by the way!)

Saturday morning I went up the canyon and assisted my sister in law on a photo shoot.

She is wonderful...and so are her friends.  

As I walked down the path back to my car I could hardly believe what a beautiful world this is--

and that my home is so close to such physical majesty.

Back to the pool for swimming, tennis & pizza for the afternoon.

A bbq at our house with friends and family.

Fireworks seen from a cozy deck with dear friends and family~

while kids ran and played below. 
(Thank you Mandy!)

Sunday we were privileged to learn more about our country, 

it's military and our freedoms from a wonderful captain in the Air Force.  

I was humbled with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat.

We had a quiet day at home...with a nice evening walk.

Monday began with an early morning breakfast.

We enjoyed especially singing God Bless America & America the Beautiful with a trumpet solo.  

The boyscout color guard and flag raising, 

with hands on our hearts, was a special reminder of the importance of our nations flag.

The girls loved the children's bike parade (bike's adorned with decorations).  

Friends and family over for games and play right after....

and then movies on my bed (how did I catch a cold in JULY!?)

As the girls finished music practice and baths we heard fireworks!

We stepped out onto the deck in our pjs and I grabbed my camera.

(I don't think I will ever take firework pictures without my lensbaby again!)

I am so grateful for....

wonderful friends and family

the freedoms we enjoy in our country

men, women and families who sacrifice so much to protect those freedoms

the beauty all around us

the communities all over this country that gather and celebrate together~

Happy birthday America!

run walk crawl

WASATCH BACK

June 17-18

How do they do it!?

I have some amazing friends...with incredible abilities!

Like running 8 miles straight up a mountain kind of abilities!

I finally did it...

after signing up three times...I actually did it!

Heather, Brittany, Rebecca, Heidi, Katie and Mandy could not have been anymore fun!!!

It was an adventure filled with great music...good friends...Mandy's costumes...beautiful vistas...energetic people as far as the eye can see!

I had a wonderful time...but I am pretty sure it will be my first and final relay race.

How did I get SO wimpy!?

my favorite memory

We were playing "Make Me Laugh."  We would divide the room into two groups.  Each group would do about anything to crack the stone faces of their opponents, while they sat together on the couch.  My group was my aunt, her boyfriend (now uncle), my little sister Annie, and me.  We were up against my mom, dad, sister Dede and my brother Mike (one of the funniest people I know).  We were definitely the underdogs in this group.   

We tried to put our funniest feet forward...but there was nothing.  They were a hard crew to crack.  My small team huddled in my bedroom (I was a senior in high school).  I don't know whose idea it was...but we switched outfits.  Annie traded with my aunt (how did she get my little sister's, who at the time would have been 11 at best, shorts and t-shirt on!?)  I wore my uncles clothes (khaki slacks and a blue polo) and he put my jersey floral dress with sweater on.  We walked in one by one....Annie first...and then we all walked in...they were fine until my uncle entered---wearing a teenagers dress...and
WE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

And he won us all over that day...we loved him, and we will miss him.

Enjoying Arizona

My sister Dede and I wanted to attend our Aunt Bonnie's funeral. We piled 3 kids each in her car and drove. Other than one of mine getting carsick, the ride down was uneventful and fun!

Our first day here was even better! Thanks to my sister in law, Annie, we had plenty of fun activities to do!!! The weather is a perfect 100 degrees (heavenly)! To top it off it was my nephew Reagan's birthday!!! To celebrate we:

Toured Krispy Kremes:

Visited Makutu Island (a 3+ story indoor playground):

Made chocolate pizzas at a chocolate factory:

Finished the night off by watching the recent Pirates of the Caribbean movie at the drive-in. It's funny, I don't remember going to the drive-in since I was a girl, living in AZ with the cousins we have come down to see. We need to go more often. We had SO much fun!!!

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a golden birthday

Some sweet friends called you on your birthday today and told us about "golden birthdays"  (thank you Brooklyn!)  Your golden birthday is the year you turn the age of the day your birthday lands.  (She explained it better than that.)  Anyway---Kate's birthday is on the 7th and she turned 7!!!

We spent a quiet day with just our little family.  Those really are my favorite birthdays.  I know Kate's preferences lean more toward a grand production with a lot of friends and family, but she was a great sport!  We took her out to lunch (she had a hard time deciding between Chipotle and Jamba Juice, lucky for me they are next door to each other!).  We made her birthday dinner (spaghetti with meatballs and salad).  We ate dinner outside on the deck.  We found the prettiest cake at the bakery.  We played in the back yard.  We finished the day with bike rides and frisbee at the park. 

Kate,

For this birthday you REALLY wanted a cello.  

You are taking such good care of it.  

You have begun lessons...and you beg to practice everyday.  

Your teacher asks you to sing a song as part of your practice-

I love my cello very much.  

I play it everyday.  

I love to watch the spinning strings as my hands fly away. 

We gave you a book today called the Strawberry Girl. 

It reminds us of you...because you are sweet---

and when you were a toddler, 

we couldn't get any strawberries to ripen in the garden because you loved to pick them 

(and eat them as soon, and as green, as you saw them.)

We love the young lady you are becoming.

We will love you forever.

Could you please grow up a little less quickly---

You look too grown up today!

Love you~

The Kennedy Center

Annie has recommended The Kennedy Center to me each time I have visited Washington DC.  This May it worked out!  Annie and I saw Iphigenie en Tauride starring Placido Domingo.  In our childhood home, our dad gave us plenty of opportunities to enjoy operatic tenors.  Pavarotti was most often playing, but we enjoyed The Three Tenors as well, of which, Placido Domingo was a part. 

The music and artistic display was beautiful.  Annie took time during the intermission to fill me in on the story.  I was intrigued.  I loved the ending.  The building is absolutely beautiful.  If that whole experience wasn't enough---they announced an opportunity to stay for a Q&A with the performers.  We hadn't eaten dinner yet---we were hungry.  But how could we pass that up!?  We stayed and it was absolutely delightful.  I was surprised to have been most entertained by the conductor William Lacey.

I hope to visit The Kennedy Center in every future visit I have to DC.
Thank you Annie xoxo