Feb Mar April 09

Dear Friends and Family,

The most notable event of our 2009 February was having cousins Emma and Carly over for a few days while their Mom and Dad, Freeman’s brother Bryce and wife Teresa visited Freeman’s parents in exotic India! The lack of photos to document the event attests to the busy times that ensued J. An excerpt from my journal with some great Emma quotes: “I was telling a story about a talking raisin. Yes, I know, that’s where my first error was, but Emma is used to intellectual stimulation, and I was all out of stories. Anyhow, I finished what I thought was a pretty cute and clever little story…….the ending found the raisin in Emma’s raisin bran one morning. She wrinkled her nose and said decidedly, “I care about sleeping. And the rain. I don’t care about talking raisins.” Guess I can’t really blame her…..We started Aladdin just now. Emma curled up on a chair, snuggled into her blanket, and looked at me with a demure smile. “Michelle I love you. My tummy is cold. Could you get me some warm chocolate chips?” Can’t have my girl having a cold tummy!! Chocolate cures anything, smart girl.”

On February 21st our ward joined the rest of the stake in putting on an evening of roadshow performances, and Activities Committee was in charge of making it happen. It was a “24 hour Roadshow”, meaning no rehersals, learning music, or building sets before 7 pm the night before the performance. Our show was based on the movie “The Music Man.” Lots of hours were spent writing an original script and writing music and words (with lots of helpers), finding costumes, planning sets. It was a lot of work, I was grateful the Bishopric called someone else to co-chair the activity with me, yea Sharon! I was amazed by several people who put in countless hours to help, even though they had no calling related to the production. Bless them! February 21st all the wards presented their production at the stake center. It was a lot of fun, it’s great to see a production take a life of its own as people put their talents into it. Good times. We won the award for most comical.

In March I took a last minute trip to Utah for a few days with some free air miles. My good friend Laura Buchanan and husband hosted me while I was there and it was so fun to see her beautiful new little 5 month old angel, Natalie. I enjoyed a trip to the temple with my Dad and visiting my brother Stephen and his wife, Tanya. Anslie came with me and jumped into my Dad’s arms the first time she saw him. After being with him for several hours she started calling him "dada."

In early April my mom came to visit her grandchildren….oh and Freeman and I, too! She is so good at making children feel loved and adored. Tyler was wrapped around her little finger from the first minute. She came in from the airport and Tyler immediately gave her a tour of his toy collection…that lasted an hour! She listened with the upmost attention, and he would have continued his lecture had we not stopped him for dinner.

Happy Birthday, B&T!

Hurray for Conference! We had cinnamon rolls, out of the oven just as the choir started to sing. Little Tyler was excited to see the “gramphet” – what he calls the prophet, a combination of Grandpa and Prophet. Later, we taught him that the prophet’s name is “President Monson.” He thanked Heavenly Father in his prayer at dinner for the “Gramphet, President Monster.” Bryce, Teresa, Emma and Carly joined us for the Saturday second session and dinner afterwards. B&T both had birthdays that week, so we had a mini party for them. We loved enjoyed Conference with family!

The next Sunday was Easter. We woke and had strawberry crepes. At sacrament meeting I sang “Come Follow Me” with Allysa Phair. Uncle Crismon gave a beautiful talk about our separation from God, and how the atonement repairs that separation. After church we had the Uncle Crismon and Aunt Vivienne with Julia and Emily, Vivienne and Brett and their two children, and Bryce and Teresa and family for dinner. What outstanding people we are related to. What a blessing to fill our home with such people on Easter.

On April 15^th we attended a Tax Day Tea Party, rallies organized for people who wanted to show their disdain for the spending the government has been passing. Freeman printed signs for us, including signs for Ty and Anslie that said “Get your hands out of my Piggy bank.” And “I didn’t read the bill either.” There were 1000ish people at Pioneer Square, with several speakers. Bryce and Teresa met us there. Tyler and Emma sat on their father’s shoulders, held hands and cheered with the crowds, exhiliarated and passionate about….whatever those people are passionate about J It felt good to get up and be active politically, even in a small way.

In April, we made the trip to the Woodburn Tulip farm with Teresa and kids. 40 acres of tulips, it was spectacular! Tyler was enamored by the old farming equipment and tractors that were on display for the kids to play on …. and he thought the flowers were OK, too J It was a hot day, Teresa and I laughed that we were dressed like true Oregonians, expecting rain even though the forecast said otherwise. We spent several hours there, admiring flowers, climbing on tractors, riding on the old make shift trolley, fashioned from old metal barrels. I kept the strollers and baby while the others rode, and I had to laugh as they jostled by….. let’s just say it didn’t look like a smooth ride :)

At the end of April we enjoyed having Freeman’s friend, Frank Lindthorst, and family stay for five days. Frank and wife Cara were so great to let Tyler tag alone all over the house, and even play their Wii! They have two boys, a 3-year-old and 1-year-old, and Tyler had decided by the end of the week that this was his new adoptive family. The house was terribly quiet when they left, and Tyler asked the next morning where all his friends had gone.

Freeman continues to run at full speed, juggling full-time work and full-time school. He finishes his semester in the middle of June and then has a few months off for summer time! Hurray! He’ll have one more year of school before he finishes his MBA. He spoke in church 2 weeks ago about missionary work, giving a beautiful tribute to Mom and Dad Linton.