Oquirrh Mountain Temple

it's like herding cats!

a little better :)

Today we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. I had never been to an open house before and neither had the little kids so it was neat to go. They enjoyed walking through and seeing the different rooms and seeing where mom and dad go when they go to the temple. It was very pretty.

After we went to the Mayan for dinner. H remembered going before and was excited to go again. E and G didn't remember but enjoyed it. Lu was scared of the show, with the lightning and fire. The other kids LOVED it, and screamed and clapped and cheered and interacted with the performers.

Girls watch the high divers.

Cavemen in action

Dinner time.

ready for church

all the kiddos looking so cute!
future
missionaries

two princesses

the girlies

dancing

the girls have been dancing a lot. M is a great little dancer and is teaching the other girls.

utah

We made it!! The second day of driving went not quite as well but still pretty good. Lucy was suffering from auto fatigue and it rained and poured a lot but we had to stop less and we made it safe and sound. When we got to MSV's town the GPS stopped giving good directions and we had to call Ange to come and save us. She and Em loaded up the baby and drove over at 10pm and showed us how to get here.

Natalia is SO cute! and friendly.

V's fam was all at a ward camp out so we had the house to ourselves. We spent the morning getting cleaned up and unpacking stuff. We went to Bajio for lunch, YUmmM! and then got some groceries.
Odd Utah thing, you can buy food storage bulk stuff right in the aisles of Macy's. 50lbs of powdered milk~ have it, grain mill~ it's there, dehydrated meat substitute in a #10 can~ yep. Crazy. How easy would it be to get food storage done here!

suburban boy

Happy 7th Birthday!!! Last night we went to sleep over at our dear friends home. R asked Brother what his favorite breakfast was and then fixed him everything he asked for: german pancakes, pancakes, bacon, sausage and grapes! This is one of about a million kind and thoughtful things that she has done for me and my family over the years.

It was very sad to drive away from our well loved home and best best friends ever. I hated each and every good bye and even though I know our friendships will last it will be different than sharing every day life together.

Our last stop before driving off was at the Blacks, our first Texas friends, and really family now. They are keeping J for a couple weeks, then we'll have Em, then they'll have J...I'm not sure those two will ever say good bye.

E and C this morning, wearing shirts that Nikko made them both. They are the same age for almost two weeks and often mistaken for brothers.

Today is also Mom's birthday! Happy B Day Mom!!

We spent the day driving, which E thought was appropriate to spend the day in a suburban, since he was born in one:)

The drive went so well. The kids were great, H was helpful, I didn't get tired and we made good time. Tomorrow is the last half and if it goes as well I will be so grateful!

3477.17 miles

Here's our route. Wish us well.

loading day

today the truck is getting loaded. tomorrow we say good-bye to Texas :(

packing day

thank goodness I don't have to do it!! I just have to keep the kids entertained while the house is packed around us :)

busy

too busy to post
packing
cleaning
organizing
saying good bye
enjoying the pool
spending time with friends

mudbound

I finished my summer reading challenge with Mudbound by Hillary Jordan.

I started this book first, but then put it down and read the other two. Not a good sign. When I completed the first two I almost didn't go back to Mudbound but I am happy I did. I ended up being drawn into the story and caring about the characters.

It is the story of two families in rural Mississippi just after WWII. One is black and the other white. One a landowner, the other a tenant. Both with sons who fought in the war and are now home and tyring to piece their lives back together. An unlikely friendship develops between these two men and the story is spun around their experiences, the prejudices of the people in the town, and the people they love.

Life really is an intereting thing and often leads us down paths we do not expect. This story has many twists in it, many hardships to overcome, many questions left unanswered but the choices they make and the way they try and make the best of their situation, or not, makes a good read.

counting down

what have we been up to? getting ready to move mostly, there is a lot to do when you move a family of 7 across the country.

Today we returned library books, went to the bank, went to the high school to get J's records sent to MD, made a trip to the store, folded clothes, talked to movers and inspectors and appraisers.

J is at girls camp this week. I hope she's having fun.

S quit her job, she's now coming with me to Utah, which I am very happy about. I was kind of dreading the drive by myself, plus she is great company.

E spent the day with C and Ryan celebrating an early birthday for C.

We've been spending time with friends and organizing and cleaning and fretting a little. I can't wait to get on the road, not because I want to leave, I don't, but because I am ready to get on with it...and we're looking forward to spending with with cousins and friends.

Birthday Celebration

See my Tabblo>

worth it?

Before
$5000 and some change later

spend the night

Our days have been busy with summery things, also with moving things. There are always little glitches along the way and as we count down we just continue to hope that things will go smoothly. I'd like to say that this is our last move, but of course I don't think it will be, hopefully the one after this is. It's too stressful.

Last night H invited several of her friends over for a "last" sleep over. The girls ate pizza and giggled and talked. We swam until well after dark and then they watched "Bedtime Stories" and went to sleep. This morning we'll have pancakes and send them on their way.

The girls were delightful and it was really fun to listen to them talk and laugh together.

Cap't underpants and diaper boy

wreaking havoc together again next week! Can't wait!!!

then and now

where do the years go?

2nd Book

Today I could write about going to church for almost the last time with friends we have loved and known for 11 years. Beloved spoke and did an awesome job, I got called up "shot gun Sunday" style to bear my testimony. I could write about our heavy hearts and how much we will miss everyone ....but I won't.

Instead I will write about "the Help" by Kathryn Stockett. My 2nd southern reading challenge book that I waited for Beloved to fall asleep two nights ago and then tip toed out of the room to finish. It was that good.

It is the story of several women in Mississippi in the early 60's and told in alternating voices. One a young white woman the other 2 black women who work as household help. This is after slavery but you might not know it to look around; the distinction between white and black is huge. Separate drinking facets, churches, lives. Jim Crow laws are in effect and there is a lot of unrest.

Eugenia, home from college and trying to decide what to do with her life, wants to write. She decides to tell the story of what life is like for the help that each home in her town employs. It is hard to get the women to open up to her but eventually she interviews 12 domestics and tells their story, as well as her own.

I don't want to give it away because really it is a wonderful story that tugs at your heart and explores the richness and strength of relationships, the courage to speak up for something you believe in, and the sameness of every human heart that longs for safety and opportunity and love.

Go read it.

Flag Day

We woke up this morning and saw our nation's flag flying in the front yard. A fund raiser by our cub scout troop. Every holiday they come and plant a flag. It is a wonderful site to see it billowing in the summer breeze. We are so blessed to live in a nation Under God's watchful care and to have the freedom to enjoy so many of life's blessings. With great privilege comes great responsibility. We must stand up and preserve freedom. We must lend our voices to fight for what is right in the eyes of God.

Right now, the House is considering HR 2410, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, creating an "Office for Global Women's Issues" that Hillary Clinton plans to use to promote abortion around the world. Click here to tell your Representative to oppose this bill. Americans United for Life Action (AUL) has set up a web site that makes it easy to send an email to your Representative.

Thanks for helping protect human life around the world!

Saturday

My second favorite thing to do in the summer time is to take the kids out to the pool and watch them splash around. I love the sun on my skin, the cool water, the smell of sunscreen, the happy screeches and big splashes of the kiddos.

My favorite thing is when Beloved takes them out and I get to stay in the house enjoy the AC and a book :)

Just kidding, kind of, usually I go out with them, but sometimes when I don't it's a nice quiet time in the house.

We had stormy weather last night. We'd planned on taking the kids to a concert in the park with fireworks and lasers but the weather changed our minds and we went to McD instead for some ice cream and playground playing. S and J both went to spend the night with friends. After the kids went to bed we sat on the porch and enjoyed the sounds of frogs, the lightning show and our friends company.

Storm

We have had some powerful summer storming these past two days. Wind and rain and lightning raged outside. Some areas had hail and trees falling and floods and electricity out. The fury of the elements kept us up much of the night and morning found a dog, and two girls sleeping at the foot of our bed.

Still we were safe and sound. Our electricity was out for a short while but our home is safe. The kids rode it out with the help of some ds games and a movie. They did really well.

Recently at Stake Conference President Hadley asked us to do several things each day, to keep us safe from the storms of life. One thing was to read the scriptures with a pen in hand so we can jot down ideas, impressions, feelings that we have. I bought each of the kids a notebook and while we read they can write down things. Lu mostly draws but the others write meaningful things. Yesterday while we were reading Brother shared his page with C and all the kids wrote how keeping the commandments keeps us safe, and while life isn't problem free we can have help. I thought that it was interesting that all three wrote the same thing independently (we were reading 2 Nephi Chp 1). I think that exercise really gave them peace because all the ruckus outside didn't frighten them. The boys slept through it after they were tucked in bed, and the girls did come in our room during the wee hours of morning but they weren't crying or distraught.

I am feeling tremendously blessed lately and my heart if full of gratitude for the loving care of my Heavenly Father.

good times

daddy daughter dance

Last night was our Activity Day Girls blast from the past 70's style Daddy Daughter Dance!!!!

H was so excited. Several months ago when they began planning it she was quite distraught because she had, unbeknown to us, been waiting for YEARS for her turn to go to one. On our bulletin board in the foyer was a picture of a previous dance and the younger girls would look at that and think it was so fun. So they waited. Well, when it was announced H was so upset because Beloved was already scheduled to be in MD. She cried and cried.

Then the schedule slipped (again) and now he was here!

They painted pet rocks, and ate and danced.

a good time was had by all!

Friends

Hallelujah!!!!

6 months on the market, 39 showings, countless bottles of tums and it's sold!!!

for Nana

our evening:

5:30 come in from swimming
5:45 start making dinner
6:00 eat dinner
6:20 clean up dinner
6:30 bathe Lu and Beloved and brother head outside to practice bike riding and J heads upstairs (S is out with friends and H is spending the night with Kenna)
6:45 stories and bed for Lu because she almost fell asleep at dinner prep time (all the swimming wears her out)
7:10 the boys tell me they are going for a ride around the block.
7:15 call comes,can we show your house in 15 minutes.
...sure
7:16 run outside and yell for the boys to come back
7:17 yell up for J
7:18-7:40 RUN AROUND THE HOUSE cleaning the debris from the day.
7:41 all leave...except for Lu who is sound asleep so I stay behind.
7:50 they arrive. I explain and see myself to the porch where I rock and read (cuz I am super cool like that!)
8:15 this picture arrives from Beloved who is in Tori's back yard.

See there are buffalo there.

Ella Minnow Pea

I finished the first book for my southern reading challenge.

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

I liked it. It was the story of a little island off the coast of South Carolina that was it's own country. It's main claim to fame was that it was the birth place and home of Nevin Nollop, author of the phrase "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog". They erected a statue in his honor with the phrase on it and lived a simple life but one full of rich language, letter writing, and expressions of thought.
One day a letter falls off of the statue and the town council meets and decides that it must be Mr Nollop speaking from the grave letting them know not to use that letter again. They set up most severe consequences for breaking this rule. A three strike situation; strike one a warning, strike two either a public flogging or a day in the stocks and strike three banishment from the island with threat of execution if you return. Some of the citizens of this island nation are aghast at the ludicrousness of the situation but most go along.
As letters continue to fall off, and people's lives are altered we find our heroine Ella, and her family and friends fighting to save the island from the encroaching totalitarianism.

I found myself eager to find out what happens, curious if I could make up such a sentence with so few letters (no) and rooting for the heroes.

It was so interesting to me to see the historical parallels in a social sense as it often brought to mind atrocities in our world's history (like the efforts of Hitler) and how little by little a small change here, a seemingly inconsequential freedom taken away there and pretty soon a bleak and dismal evil takes over. One thing that really struck me was how many of the islanders didn't want to rock the boat or join the fight and I wondered how often we see injustices and just let them slide...maybe until it's too late.

Interesting book. The language was a delight and the story compelling.

Dani's visit

Dani went home yesterday. We had a very fun visit. So fun I forgot to get my camera out and take pictures of it!

We hung out at the pool

Went to Dani's favorite restaurant, Spring Creek, and had BBQ.

She helped me with H's party and celebrated the last day of school with us. Thursday night we had family over for dinner.

We did some shopping.

Went to Salt Grass, Brio and Chili's.

She cut some hair.

We got to spend time with Nana, Abba and UB together.

and watched some TV.

Best of all was just having her here and being able to talk and spend time together.

Last Day of School

last week marked the end of first grade for Brother and 4th for H. Mrs. W was his teacher and she was wonderful. She was so sweet and nice and soft spoken which I liked. Just as good was her emphasis on math and science (her loves) and her ability to help the high kids really excel and keep engaged. This is a hard thing to do when you have a classroom with a wide range of abilities. We were very pleased with the whole year.

I was H's room mom this year. We planned an ice cream/pizza part for the last day. H had a good year. She got an award for having the highest math grade in her class, as well honor roll and excellent citizenship. Her teachers were very nice and she learned a lot.

Graduation!!!

(these photos are taken from a long way away and in the darkish so I am pleased that we can see anything)

Last night was S's graduation!! So exciting.

Nana, Abba and Uncle Brian came from the East and Mark, Bea and Grandma Joyce from the West and the Blacks came from down the road :) so we all celebrated together.

S wanted us to go to Salt Grass for dinner. We had reservation pretty early but still she got to sit at the table for about 2 minutes until she left and the rest of us ate in her honor.


Then we went to the Convention Center. It was a festive, rambunctious celebration.

After we got a few minutes with S to snap some pictures and congratulated her.

Then she was off to an all night party for Seniors at the High School.

Now, on to conquer the world!