July 2017--week 2

Cow appreciation day 2017!

Free Slurpee day 2017!

We started our family vacation with our cousins in Cypress and it happened to be Susan's Birthday AND National Ice Cream Day so we celebrated!

Storm clean-up July 2017

One Saturday in early July we knew there was a chance of rain and we took a gamble and went to the lake anyway.  From our vantage point up north we could see a storm brewing south of us but were blessed that it didn't hit us on the lake.  

But when we arrived at home we saw that the storm had made an impact in Allen.  As we drove into the neighborhood we saw many fences down.  Then we pulled onto our street and saw three of our close neighbors had been hit, significantly.  We offered to help Janine Glaser (single mom going through a divorce across the street) but she wanted to wait until insurance had a chance to assess the damage.

The next morning was Sunday.  We were just puttering around the house when we saw our neighbor from the corner, Jim Joyce go over to Janine's with some tools and begin to work on the tree that was laying on her roof.  Stephen immediately got dressed and joined him and the rest of my kids weren't far behind.  I was so proud of them!

By the time I got over there, I arrived to see that Jim had given Matthew a sawsall to use (good grief) and he was having the time of his life breaking down the branches for pick up.  I told Jim that it was his responsibility to manage Matthew.

The whole street came out to help, Jim, Stephen, Peter Blayd, and Robert Dove.  The time inched closer to when church was supposed to begin.  Sam was very concerned that they'd miss church, and that what we were doing wasn't keeping the Sabbath Day holy.  I asked him that if the Savior were there with us on that street, where would he be, and what would he be doing?  He got the message.  

Kaitlyn had an assignment to play the organ so the girls went in and got ready for church and left while the boys finished up.  They arrived at church after the sacrament was over.

Funny story, as we left for church, I was wearing a new dress.  As we got in the car, from across the street, Matthew yelled "Mom, you look beautiful!" and Robert Dove about lost it--he was so blown away by that unsolicited compliment and declared what a good son he was.

July 2017--week 1

I will raise readers!  It's a mantra I've really set out as a mom.  Each summer we are frequent visitors to the public library and relish in the incentives that go along with their summer reading program.  This summer was no different.  And we were THRILLED when one afternoon we redeemed our rewards and headed over the Nothing Bundt Cakes for a small cake EACH, and then for fast food for lunch.  

Also, I'm always looking for a good book for a read-aloud for our family.  We noticed that the amazing book "Wonder" was set to come out as a movie this fall so it became something we read aloud as a family.  The older two had already read it, but the younger two had not.  We most often read while on the road to or from the lake, the hour long trip crammed into the truck can cause issues, but when everyone is distracted by listening to a book, things go better.  I'll never forger reading the part in the book about when the family dog dies and we were all (ok Sam and Dad weren't) bawling.

We enjoyed some boating with our good friends Kevin and Ammon Billings....

And as it is summer, it means a reuniting of these 5 preschool buddies, we can't believe how big they're getting!

Another thing we're trying to do this summer is to do service.  So one afternoon we arranged to go play our piano songs for the people at the local retirement community.  We'd tried to adopt a grandparent but we had a hard time getting connected with one, so this was an alternative.  I was so proud of these kids, and everyone thought I had my own piano studio, not that I was the mom of all 4 of these kids! HA!

For the 4th of July we enjoyed a family outing to go try out Top Golf and then went to see Dispicable Me 3.  It was a wonderful day of using up gift cards and that was fun.  Then later on we stopped by to get our Sonic milkshakes and watched fireworks with our friends the Furness'

And of course there were more boating trips....

End of June 2017

Because of my assignment in Church Public Affairs I get to do some cool things and this was one of them.  Stephen and I attended a Ramadan break the fast with some Muslims from the Dialogue Institute of Dallas.  They come and serve their ethnic food and share with us some of their religious traditions, specifically Ramadan.  Many members of the Richardson Stake attended and there were a good mix of people at each table.  I appreciated being able to ask questions about their faith in a safe environment.  We likewise shared with them our custom of fasting each month, which they didn't know about and were thrilled to "build that bridge".

Sweet Matthew's heart broke at the end of the school year.  Mrs. Bratton has been THE best teacher for him.  She's loved him unconditionally and he hasn't gotten in trouble once with her this year (quite miraculous considering Kindergarten).  Matthew would cry at night about missing her and talked about how he wanted her to be his teacher forever.  He really loves her.  To help calm his little heart we arranged to meet for ice cream over the summer.  He was so happy to see her!

Frisco water park with cousins!  We went with Rachel to this great water park last summer and had a great time, this time wasn't as magical.  We didn't have as long to be there as we'd hoped and they'd like doubled the admission from the previous year.  But we went ahead and made the most of it.

One reason we had to hurry home was to host this book club for Sam's friends.  We reviewed a book called "Last Kids on Earth" about a zombie apocalypse.  Honestly, it was a dumb book.  So the best thing I could come up with for a review was a Nerf gun war in the back yard and then swimming at the community pool.

(yes, they even let Matthew join in the fun)

MCO takes SLC!

This little songbird and I are getting away for a girls trip AND to go sing our hearts out to Salt Lake City on tour with Millennial Choirs and Orchestras (MCO)

We arrived in UT and our FIRST stop was some grub at Cafe Rio and to meet our favorite Aunt Sarah and Uncle Alex for dinner!

Day 1 of tour began bright and early with a rehearsal in the Assembly Hall but first we snapped this pic in front of the SLC Temple!

This is our choir, all 1200 of us on tour--split us into casts for recording and performing--WOW!

Day 2 was more recording at the Libby Gardner Concert Hall on the University of Utah campus.  We braved public transportation taking the train up there.  Later that evening we had our first set of concerts in the Historic Tabernacle.  We had stopped in for a visit to the Public Affairs offices in the Joseph Smith Building and were lucky to get dressed and ready there in their bathrooms.  It helps to know people.  That evening we were thrilled to have Angela Neilsen (mission companion) and Aunt Cheryl and her family attend the concert.  They were amazed!  So fun! 

Kaitlyn and I had to see what all the rage was with this place called "Swig" that specializes in sugar cookies with frosting and fun sodas--pretty yummy if you're looking for a sugar rush. 

Kaitlyn and I ready for our concert.  

Yes, I did sit in those seats, sang in the Tabernacle with those amazing pipes behind me--pinch me!

Day after tour, SO TIRED and "Sung-over".  But not too tired for a day of shopping with Aunt Sarah for school clothes for this cute girl.  She and I made out like bandits!  Then we met Uncle Alex and a friend at In & Out for lunch.

And met up a favorite cousin Laura for ice cream

On Sunday morning our group had reserved seating at the Conference Center for Music and the Spoken Word.

Then we spent some time on Temple Square with one of my roommates, Stephanie Slack and her sweet family.  Took the quick walk up to Ensign Peak to see the whole valley.

I wasn't able to take any photos of Kaitlyn singing in the Tabernacle so we went back on Sunday and I snapped this photo of her standing where she had stood the night before in the aisle during the concert.  How many 13 year old girls can say they've sung in the Tabernacle?

We had the BEST hosts while in UT, we stayed with my cousin Candace and her sweet family, husband Fernando and daughters Olivia and Kate.  Kaitlyn got very attached and cried when she had to leave them.

Also, not pictured but I was able to spend a lot of time with Candace's parents, Aunt Lois and Uncle Brian who I love a whole lot.  Candace even hosted a wonderful BBQ so I could see a couple more cousins, Jessica and Theresa.

All in all a wonderful trip.  A highlight was singing "Come Come ye Saints" in the Tabernacle.  I'll never forget how it felt!  Or how hot it was in there in June while singing.