Back Home

We had a fabulous Christmas week in Mapleton. We now feel like we are truly back home. We have 'haze' in the air, a child that threw up today, errands to run, laundry to do, and water on the floor by the washer/dryer. Yea for being home. Back to reality. Here's to diving into 2014.

Thankful

Today we each said something we were thankful for as we were eating dinner. Rachel came up with the idea, so we went with it. She said that she was thankful for Heavenly Father. Layne mentioned that he was grateful for Christ...and that he married me. (He has to throw things like that in every once in a while.) Megan said that she was thankful for clothes...Jonny said something about the beans we were eating.
I was pleasantly surprised to hear Jacob state that he was grateful for seminary. I was surprised because most of his comments about seminary have something to do with how he has to get up early so he can be there for class to start at 7 (on the dot). It was a pleasant thing to hear because he said that he thought it was fun. And, I think it's a good place for him to be. We usually talk about what was discussed in class while we're driving home. I'm glad it's been a good experience for him so far.

Missing Them

We dropped the boys off at the library tonight. As we were driving away, Rachel stated that she missed the boys already. I asked the girls about what we were going to do when people started moving out. They asked what I meant. I told them that eventually they were all going to do things like go on missions, go to college, get married...and that those things meant that they would move out of the house and be doing things on their own when they were adults. I told them that their Dad and I would miss them. I didn't have the heart to say that by then it would just be me missing them. That really wasn't what the conversation was about anyway.
I also asked the girls about what they wanted to do when they got older. Again, Rachel asked what I meant. She ended up telling me she wanted to learn more about animals. I asked more questions and she came up with wanting to train animals to do stuff. Megan first asked if there was a pizzeria around. She can be random at times - so, I asked her if she was asking if there was one not far from our house or if she was wondering if there was one she could work at when she was older. She said that she wanted to be a pizzeria woman, a mechanic, and an artist. But, not all of them all at once. Rachel then piped in with...'Oh ya, I wanted to be a mechanic too.'. She had commented on it a few days ago and had just forgotten I guess. She had commented on how she wanted to build things.
Both girls have also commented on wanted to go on missions too. So, we'll see what the future holds for them.
I thought it was nice to have an idea that the kids are close and will miss each other when the others aren't around. I'm glad that even at the ages they are, they still like being around each other. (Well, most of the time. There are times I'm not so sure.)

Today's Photos

Here are some things I wish I had a picture of today.
The small grasshopper Jonny found while we were weeding that Jacob held for the rest of us to see. The ladybug that was crawling up my arm...the kids came to look, Rachel was going to get it and then it flew away. After they noticed it landed on my back, the ladybug flew elsewhere. (Apparently, it noticed that my shirt was not a plant.)
Jonny being a 'commentator' as we weeded. (And, the rest of us laughing.)
I will also remember Jacob taking a shovel to the weeds with all the power he could muster. (I have never seen so many and such big weeds before in my life...and, it all happened so quickly.)
The tan compost container that was filled to overflowing after this round of weeding.
The tomatoes that are starting to grow.
Megan helping her Dad stretch his legs.
Jonny struggling with a song on the piano and his attempt to learn it correctly.
Megan reading to Rachel. (I felt a twinge of regret about not reading to the kids more. It makes a difference when they can all read by themselves and read to each other. Their Dad reads to them too...but, I'm not ready to let go of the Mom reading to the kids moments. We do some, but it has been irregular the past few weeks.)
Layne helping a neighbor 'jump start' their car.
The kids running off to 'free lunch' at the park with the neighbors.

The day's half over. I'm hoping there will be more memories to be made.
Jonny is having a couple of friends come over to help celebrate his birthday (that already past). It'll just be a hang out session with brownies eaten in there somewhere. It's nice to not be stressing over plans and prepping before a child's party.

Pictures

I desperately need to post some pictures...and more pictures. Just a bit BORING around here. Oh, and pathetically out of date. I will attempt to post some after sifting through the thousands I have taken. I may or may not be posting more often too. No guarantees.