Laid-back FHE

The first night of summer, the Monday after the weekend after school got out, felt so good! We made a conscious effort to stay home and be relaxed.

Celi's friend Gabe came over. Longboarding ensued.

Isn't Scott impressive?

Ptolemy made crafts like beaded chokers.

We got a letter in the mail from Freestone, who just got his braces off. The ortho has the kids write a thank you note to their parents and mails it. What a great idea! True to Freestone's nature, the letter was hilarious. When he got his braces on, Dr. Brown said he would get Freestone a "little more toothiness," meaning you could see his teeth more when he smiles. So we always joke about toothiness.

Scott came home with toothpicks and marshmallows for a project. Tziporah just gets so excited when we do nothing but hang out.

It was all fun and games until Freestone started a pile of sticks and marshmallows on fire. Just kidding. It was fun and games all night. These people are the best!

Pride and the Prophet

We had a diverse Sunday. After teaching Sunday School, Araceli, Freestone and I made a spur-of-the moment jaunt into Salt Lake to the Pride Parade. It was a happy, festive event.

Then lunch at Coco and Bill's. I love seeing my family.

Everyone fights over Escher and Iver.

Our friend from Ballet West, Lucas Horns, was in charge of the flag project this year, so we ordered a flag for a $15 donation to be placed in our yard for Pride Week.  I admit, I was a little apprehensive, mostly at having someone make a comment that I didn't like and then having bad feelings towards that person. But I think with all the teen suicide and just trouble so many teens go through, that we wanted everyone to know that our home is safe, like I wrote on my Instagram. I was happily surprised at all the positive comments from friends. I think everyone just wants to get along and be happy.

That evening, Scott took these beautiful people to the conference center to hear President and Sister Nelson speak. I watched it live on Facebook with all the comments streaming in from all over the world. The thing I loved about this Sunday was witnessing and being a part of two radically different events that were both so full of and about love. We were all inspired by the devotional. President Nelson cautioned us about social media and encouraged the youth to "take a break from fake" and step back from social media for a week. Being cognizant of the effect it has on your life is important.

All in all, I went to bed at the end of a beautiful day fully inspired and grateful.

Scott's Adventures

Whenever Scott and I divide and conquer, you can bet that Scott's group will have non-stop fun.  While we were on our big trip to Mexico, the kids stayed with Coco and Bill while Scott was at work.  Thanks so much, Mom! 

When he wasn't prosecuting and setting up trusts, he and the kids were off on adventures!  I love getting pictures when I'm away, so I can be in awe of what Scott can accomplish.  Not only does he take the kids to restaurants, movies, shopping and swimming, but he throws them in the car and goes on road trips.

Hey, there's an extra in there!

Scott ran into his very best friend in court.  I always knew B would amount to no good.  Ha ha.  He got a speeding ticket or something.

Since we were in MExico, Scott got the kids these treats.  Did I mention he's good with themes, too?

Scott sent me this headline June 16.  Olympe was devastated.  These horrific acts of violence have become terrifyingly common in France.

Scott showed the kids all the pictures I sent him from our travels.

He taught Tziporah to swim.

He sent me pictures of Golda's letters and reminds me about all of our fun memories.  Scott misses his little girl.

He took the kids to The Pie by the U and let them write on the wall.

Love

Then he took the kids to Park City, to their favorite place, Bath and Body Works.  For Ptolemy, trips mean 5-for5 hand sanitizers.  Man, he is easy to please!

Main Street

 

The Ranch

 

Since we don't have an oven at home, it's fun to bake cookies at the Ranch.

Meanwhile, I'm always sending Scott pictures of what I'm doing.  These were from the Mormon Battalion site in Old Town San Diego.  Ruby and Victor are so good with the kids.  I think Victor was showing Ptolemy the gold he found for him.

Scott was already in PC, so why not drive 2 hours east and check out Dinosaurland?  They didn't go to the national monument, which we'd been to last year.  Instead, they checked out all the fun stuff in Vernal that we didn't get to see driving through last October.

Aren't they the cutest kids?

 

 

Even when I'm home, I still get messages from Scott.  He's always sending me links to places I'd like, even though he knows some of them contain dangerous information, like cheap airfare or reasons to go to Ireland, for example.

Scott took the Euros on quite a few adventures.  This one was Temple Square and Ruth's Diner to celebrate the arrival of our dear Chloe. 

Scott astounds me with his capabilities.  Did I mention that whenever I'm not there, the house is immaculate?  Yeah, I slave away all day and all night to keep the house clean, and then I leave and Scott just magically has it clean all the time.  I don't know how he does it.  If I did, I'd be an excellent housekeeper!  He just has an organized mind behind that debonair face.I'm a pretty lucky girl.

I'm Back

Well.  That was quite a tantrum yesterday.  I appreciate all the encouragement.  Man, sometimes even the easiest, best life can get you down hard.  After my rant, yesterday's energy stayed low and negative.  Despite my best efforts to be upbeat, Ptolemy and Tziporah picked up on some ugly wavelenghts.  I brought them home from staging at Weber during a break, thinking they could relax, but fighting and crying ensued, and I had to leave Golda and Ruby with two miserable whiners.

As soon as Araceli and I got back up to Weber, Scott called.  Instead of just taking Golda to Park City for a getaway, he had Ruby and the two little beasts, too.  I knew it was the perfect solution to their grumpiness, as well as mine.  Scott to the rescue!  Poor guy, I think I scare him sometimes. 

I was able to finish my staging with a smile and bring a carload of kids home just in time for Araceli's big party.  With only three kids in the house (plus the 40 friends), I escaped downstairs with some magazines, books and snacks while the wild rumpus went on upstairs and all over the neighborhood.  (Sorry, neighbors. Teens happen.)  I surfaced at 10:30 to help the last stragglers clean up the kitchen, visit with my kids and check under the beds for boys. Ha ha.

This morning I continued my "What About Bob" vacation, "taking a vacation from my problems."  Or more specifically, realizing that I don't even have any problems.  I sat out on the porch.  I booked some short summer jaunts online.  I took a bubble bath with the windows wide open.  Now "my" kids are up and "Scott's" kids are doing this...

It's a beautiful world and I'm happy to be in the frame of mind to recognize that.  Onward and upward, marching through our crazy summer.

Fleetly Fleeing

This was maybe three years ago.  Now we don't have any babies, Araceli is ten feet taller, and we only see Golda every few weeks.  In three more years, our oldest two will be off on their own, soon to be followed by the next batch.

It goes way too fast.  Way too fast.  And if you want to see fast, just add an extra four kids to the mix.  We had Nikki and Clint's kids this week, and the time just rocketed by, full of games, classes, carpools and lessons; homework, dinner, breakfast and school.  One night, Tizzy asked me to lie down to sleep with her.  I hesitated because, you know, laundry for 12 people, dishes, mounds of backpacks piled up by the front door, full of things to be signed and probably rotting lunch leftovers.  I had Things To Do.

I said yes, though, because closing my eyes for a minute was an irresistible idea.  Tizzy was so incredibly delighted, I couldn't believe it.  She was happy just to have me there.  She giggled, then laughed loudly.  Then she closed her eyes and went to sleep.  She needed so little, and gave me so much in return, in that little giggle of delight.

Before I can fully appreciate her magnificent little 4-year-old giggle, Tizzy will be pulling a Mustang folder out of her school backpack and asking me to sign her reading log.  She'll be a pudgy pre-teen needing new ballet shoes every three weeks as her feet grow.  She'll be a tempestuous 14-year-old, storming out of the kitchen because nobody noticed that she curled her eyelashes.  She'll be a Davis Dart, car bouncing into the driveway whenever we're lucky enough to have her home from all the things she's passionate about.

Then she'll be gone.  She'll come back, but not often enough.  And instead of snuggling in with her at bedtime, I'll lie down in the very spot in our bed where her warm little figure once hogged the covers, sometimes forcing Scott and me to end up on couches.  I might cry because I miss her, but I'll dry my tears because that's what you do when you're all finished drying theirs.

I love this last picture.  Where did Tizzy go?  Celi and Free were probably fighting over her and she left.  Har har