Thanksgiving Pointe

Nicholas is rolling down the HUGE hill!

Spring Break in St. George

Catch-Up Photos

First Day of Spring. These boys spent over 3 hours in the tree. For a while I wondered if they didn't know how to get down. But then I realized they kept getting down and finding buckets, rope, skateboards?, food, drinks and supplies that they would then take up so they could essentially "live" in the tree. Sound familiar, Michelle?

Pretty Much Perfect

My family is darn good at Mother's Day. Nick made me a present at preschool of course and had a clear understanding that Mother's Day was Sunday and I was not to open my present until then. Since I like surprises, I wasn't tempted. But each day he'd say, "Is today Sunday?" Then let me know I had to wait until Sunday.

Chris has been working on his gift at school for several weeks. He has quite the crafty teacher and when I chose the 10 photos I needed to send in for the "secret project," Christopher informed me they couldn't be "crappy ones" because it was for something very special. Not sure if those were his words or hers.

Chris brought the project home Friday as well. But while Nick was touting the "do not open until Mother's Day" policy, Chris wanted me to unwrap it right then. I said it was okay and I wanted to wait, but he couldn't stand it. So we opened it together and it was a beautifully, creative picture book of him -- which I LOVE. Then we wrapped it back up so everyone else could be surprised on Sunday.

Last night Dan and I celebrated Valentine's, our Anniversary, Mother's Day and Father's Day at the Eagles Concert. IT WAS AWESOME! We then made it in the nick of time to Albertson's before it closed to buy steaks to grill for tonight's dinner. With me picking out all the menu, everyone is assured that I get just what I want for my Mother's Day meal. This way, everyone is happy.

We slept in this morning but awoke to breaking dishes. So nice to be able to turn over to Dan and say, since it's Mother's Day, you need to get up and go supervise. (Actually I was awakened to Christopher coming in and whispering, "Happy Mother's Day." And then coming in several more times to whisper other thoughts he had that morning. Made me think of when he was a toddler and he never really understood "Mommy Quiet Time" when I was pregnant or Nicholas was a newborn. Marty and Courtney were content to watch TV while I rested and didn't disturb. But Christopher always would sneak in and check on me or ask me questions. Although not conducive to a deep sleep, I rest assured I have a little boy who still needs his mom and loves her and I find this trait endearing now.)

My perfect Mother's Day morning included lying in bed and playing a game of Sudoku then reading scriptures. Later, we all took a walk -- Courtney and Marty riding skateboards, Christopher and Nicholas on bikes, Dan and I walking. It was a beautiful morning. After we got dressed for church we all ate lunch together and because of course I'd planned at exactly what time we needed to have breakfast, go on our walk, get dressed for church and eat lunch, we weren't rushed -- and maybe we need to start planning a little better on all Sundays so we can always eat lunch together and not be rushed.

After church everyone worked together to make our delicious dinner while I sat on the couch and read magazines and organized some files I've been meaning to work on for a while. Heaven to do something for myself while everyone else made dinner -- without feeling guilty! What a great day!

But wait, there's more... The best part of church today was that the men all took over Primary while all the women went to a special 2 hour Relief Society. This is a tradition our ward started 3 or 4 years ago and my gratitude to the men made me teary all day. Because I'm the Primary President, it can be a little tricky to organize teachers for each class as well as music, Nursery and sharing time leaders. But the men in our ward are so eager to help and serve -- with such an "I can do it, no problem" attitude, they made it so easy! A few weeks ago the Young Men leaders all volunteered to teach and take a young man to assist. One man was the Primary chorister a few years ago and every year so willingly offers to help again. AND when I realized I hadn't asked someone to conduct opening exercises, he said, "Don't worry, Angie, I'll do it." (He's called me Angie as long as I've been in the ward.) So we welcomed kids and got the men directed to their classes. And then when I was like, "We need 2 more teachers!" They were like, "No problem and ran off to find them. Then they kicked me out and said, "Go to Relief Society. We've got it. Good-bye!"

And it's really a tender sight to see the Primary filled with men teaching. And setting such an amazing example of service, of fulfilling callings with a willing attitude, with their "cool" guy-style of teaching and communicating with the kids and their confidence in jumping in and loving it. I think it's so important for my boys to have male role-models understanding them a little better as boys and teaching them how to be men. So this Mother's Day, I'm giving thanks for the men in my life who help me be a better mom. I'm feeling really blessed.

Grandma Adair

I just got home from a fun afternoon taking Courtney and three soccer friends up to their game in Logan. A car trip with four teenage girls is VERY entertaining and I loved every minute! Part of the reason I was happy to make the 1.5 hour trip to Logan on a Monday afternoon was for the excuse to spend time with my Grandma who lives there. She's 92, is so fun to talk to and has a dry wit that makes me want to record every conversation so I can laugh with her all over again.

We had just had a family dinner Saturday night and I'd seen her there. After she reprimanded me for never calling her, I told her I'd be visiting on Monday which was even better than a call. She agreed. There were a lot of people there, including two of her nieces which no one in our family had seen or visited with in years. Knowing I'd see her on Monday, I didn't interrupt her conversations with her nieces. At the end of the evening I said goodbye, gave her a hug and told her I'd see her Monday.
Grandma: Who is that talking to me? (She's can't see faces very well and has a difficult time hearing conversation when a lot of people are talking.)
Me: IT'S ANGELA, GRANDMA. (Keep in mind I'm yelling, because you need to yell to be heard.) I'LL SEE YOU MONDAY.
Grandma: Monday?! You're coming on Monday?
Me: YES, AT 5:00 IN THE EVENING.
Grandma: Well that's wonderful dear! But someone else is coming to see me on Monday! Who is it? Someone just tonight said they were coming too!
Me: THAT WAS ME, GRANDMA. I TOLD YOU EARLIER TONIGHT I WAS COMING.
Grandma: Have I seen you earlier tonight?

Uncle Ron called me at 8:30 this morning to ask when I was coming. I told him 5:00. Apparently Grandma was convinced I was coming first thing this morning to watch Dan play in a soccer tournament. He said he'd let Grandma know I was actually coming this evening. When I arrived, (at 5:00) she said she'd been sitting in the same spot all day, afraid to go anywhere because she might miss me and I wouldn't know where to find her. (Kind of made me think of that sad Mormon movie about the Grandma always looking for a letter in the mailbox.)

We sat and visited for 45 minutes before we headed over to Courtney's game. Grandma told me a lot of fun stories I hadn't heard before about the day they got their first washing machine. The day she saw her first airplane -- it landed in her town and people could pay money to go for a ride. She told me about the refrigerator her father built -- a wooden box lined with burlap sacks and a pan of cool water inside. It did a good job of keeping the butter and cream cool and they would last for 2 or 3 days. She said she loved to play basketball in Jr. High and loved going to the basketball games in high school and follow the team to all their games. She would cheer so much she came home hoarse most of the time.

She also wondered if I'd brought Nicholas because she hadn't seen him in so long (4 months ago, but she keeps forgetting and tells me every time I visit that she's never met him.) She asked me about Dan's business and thought it was great Courtney played soccer and played the piano.

Rachel, you may want to give her a phone call. I mentioned you had a new boyfriend and she looked at me and said, "Who's Rachel?"
I said, "Angela, Michelle, Michael, Sheree, Rebe..."
"Oh, Rachel! That Rachel!"

So after our 3 hour visit we sat in the car waiting for the girls to get Subway sandwiches. We talked about family and I mentioned that Grandma Reagan just had her 100th birthday (even though she's now dead).
Grandma: Oh, I loved Grandma Reagan. I always loved visiting with her. You know, after she moved to California, she would still call me and we'd visit. She was pretty lonely without you kids there.

We talked for a minute about Grandma Reagan and Aunt Marge and then:

Grandma: I loved Grandma Reagan. But how did you know her?
Me: (WHAAAATT!) Well, she was my Grandma.
Grandma: Who do you belong to?
Me: Your son, Mike. And Nancy.
Grandma: Oh, yes. I know that.
Me: (joking -- kind of) Did you think you've been driving around with Joy all afternoon?
Grandma: (laughs) Well there's so many names and people, it's hard to keep track of who's who!