The End

Sometimes the best part of the day is when it has been put to rest.  Some times, after a somewhat stinky day, I try to stay up a little longer, in an attempt to allow more time for the day to become awesome. Nine times out of ten, this proves to be a poor strategy.  It typically results in a crankier, more tired, munchy, frustrated me.  What I should do is rush to bed to get a head start on tomorrow, because the sun will come out, tomorrow. Today was actually just fine.  I just liked catching all of my littles asleep (except for Preston who was just pretending to be asleep) in their cozy beds.  I love seeing my loved ones resting peacefully.

Annie and Owen share a room.  They have pushed their single beds together and Annie is frequently crossing the line to snuggle.

Simon still likes to sleep on a pillow case that was given to him by his Aunt JoAn as a baptism present when he turned eight.  He turns ten in 4 months.

Calvin sleeping next to his scriptures. He is a faithful, self motivated scripture reader. I love it.

Preston is faking that he is asleep.  What a punk.  Go to bed!

Owen begged to get these, which have no nutritional value.  But he did spell his name with them.  That has to be worth the empty calories!

When Dad Is Not Home

I am not home most of the day.  So when I get home the question is, "how was your day?".  I get to hear about something that happened at school or some complaint about one of their siblings.  But what I do not get are the everyday humorous things that my children think, say and do.  This is the privilege of Lindsey Joy.  What I have grown accustomed to is reviewing my wife's phone for photos she took throughout the day to capture these idiosyncrasies.  It teaches me about each of my children a bit more, increases my appreciation and love for my wife, and gives me something to then talk with the kids about around the dinner table and at bedtime.  Today's funnies from the mouth and actions of babes:

  

Owen the robot.  He made a wand out of foil that got larger and became a knife and now it is a full fledged sword.

 

When nobody is looking, Annie and Owen slide down the banisters on the switch back stair in the house.  I would have too at that age.

 

Calvin thoroughly enjoying his "real" bubble gum sent to the kids by their Aunt Crystal and Uncle Troy who recently visited.

To another topic, tonight Calvin and Preston prepared Family Home Evening.  Cavin's portion was on making righteous choices that lead us toward heaven and bad choices that lead us to the Devil.  Very straight forward, cut and dry, just as cal likes his food - no spice or sweet, just good meat.

 

Good on the left and bad on the right.  

 

Preston taught us about manners.  One of those we reviewed is setting the table.  Mom often asks the kids to do this and rarely is it done, or when done, not done well.  Owen was proud as punch to set the table by himself tonight for dessert.

 

Annie wrote a song and a testimony - both of which were performed this evening.  Preston's lesson taught us to have manners for those who sing or put themselves out there and take a risk publicly.

 

That is how good dessert was - a tres leches cake from a good friend in the ward, Silvia Stevensen.

 

Cal learning from the best.

 

Simon learning from the rest.

Mother's Day - USA

I have a mother who is amazing.  She is hilarious, smart, hard working, service oriented, a faithful confidant, and my biggest cheerleader.  How I miss my mother while I am here in Scotland!  Though Utah isn't close to Arizona, I still could easily fantasize about hoping into my car at any old time and driving to see my parents. But my imagination seems to struggle to visualize hoping onto a last minute flight to AZ.  There are no direct flights to Tucson. It's also slightly cost-prohibative.  Thank heaven for Skype! I was able to Skype my mom today, and was lucky enough to have four sister missionaries over, who were able to Skype their mothers on this special day as well.  

Me with my five favorite kids in the world.  Ryan is taking the picture.  I love being a mom.

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. -Tenneva Jordan

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love. -Mildred B. Vermont

A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after. -Peter De Vries

Four Baptisms!

My family were lucky enough to witness four lovely people, all dressed in white, being baptized today. They are now official members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Yippeee! It reminded me of my own baptism (27 years ago!) and the baptisms of my three older children.  What a blessing that we can join God's church on earth, that we can follow the example of Jesus Christ, that our sins can be completely forgiven and that we can be made entirely clean.  It was a truly joyous occasion.  Annie Joy, who is not yet 8, talks frequently about when she will be old enough to be baptized.  The other day, while in an argument, she said "I am not even going to respond to that because I am getting ready to be baptized." Made me think, how often do I say to myself "I should not respond, or I should help more, or should not judge, or should pray more often because I have been baptized."  Many from the congregation came tonight to support the new converts.  I volunteered to make a simple dessert for after: lemon bundt with whipped cream and strawberries. Three lovely young women, who are investigating the church, even came to the baptism to help me dish up.  I have a testimony that any special occasion can be made even more special by delicious food. To learn more about baptism, be cool and check out the following link:

http://www.lds.org/topics/baptism?lang=eng

Lemon, strawberries and whipped cream. Mighty tasty.

May Day

Friday, fun day.  Owen at the farm, haircuts and and tin foil crafts. Annie had a playdate. Calvin had basketball practice.  Preston turned in his paper.  Simon ate a peanut butter, honey and banana sandwich.  It was a pleasant day.

Owen and some pigs.

Calvin: Can I get some tin foil? I want to make a craft.

Mom: Sure. What do you want to make?

Calvin: A gun.

Mom: How very American of you.

Either Ryan is reenacting our ape heritage and he's grooming Owen, trying to find some tasty bugs to eat, or he's giving Owen a haircut.  It's too close to call.

Due Tomorrow

A paper.  Assigned weeks ago.  Forgotten. Until the night before it's due.  Preston Smith: Guilty.  Punishment: Cramming  a few weeks work into one long, painful night.  Paper Assignment: Voluntary Euthanasia.  Not fun.  Ten points to my own parents who acted out this exact scene with me, about twenty years ago.  I feel your pain.  And you were right, I should have started my assignment sooner, and it would have turned out a lot better if I had.

I am the one that writes my own story, I'll decide the person I'll be.

Snorkler

The Museum of Scotland (free!) is so massive that we have been several times, and I am still finding new rooms and exhibits.  Today Owen and I went with some of his nursery school friends and their mums to a little pre-school class that the museum holds. You have to arrive early to get on the list, but it was worth it.  The museum lady told a viking saga, sang many songs (actions included) with the kids, and even had a little coloring craft as well.  Good times. With so many things to see and do, I think it will only take another 10 years before I feel like I really have a handle on Edinburgh.

So there is a room in the Scottish Museum with scuba gear.  Happy Owen.

Owen with friends Connor and Aaron, bot of which have lovely Scottish accents.

I met with Calvin's teacher to go over some internet safety curriculum they are planning to cover. (It has become very clear to me that Utah values and Edinburgh values don't match all the time, and I wanted to make sure that I agreed with what he will be taught.  I'm glad I came, and I do agree.) Anyways, I liked the smack down welcome sign at the front of his classroom. "Welcome."