Migrating West

Sunset in Payson, Utah.

The Utah Exodus is what my bishop calls July in Dallas. The congregation evaporates and a few sparse bodies dot the chapel pews. We left too! No reason to stay in Dallas in August. Huh uh.

First, we spent a week at Dad’s house in Payson. Dad and Susan planned a big Hatch family get-together the Sunday after we arrived. It was so fun to see cousins I haven’t seen in years, married and with kids. Breckan and her new husband, Stacey, Katie and Dallas, Matt and Haley, and most of Jenny’s children. Susan made 8 homemade lasagnes for the event. A lot of work! It was wonderful to reconnect with everyone. Dad and Susan were so amazing to do so much for us. I really enjoyed talking with each of them and just getting to know them more.

That weekend we went camping. Freeman flew in for the event. Uncle Stephen took Tyler out on the lake for 4 hours! fishing, and Tyler couldn’t get enough. Ty loves spending time with his uncles. I threw up that night, so camping ended a little early.

Ty enjoyed a date with Grandpa building a catapult, and Anslie enjoyed a date with grandpa creating jewelry from pop beads (pretty sure she enjoyed that more than grandpa did ;). We swam and watched movies. It was fun to spend an afternoon with Freeman’s cousin Emily at BYU. What a tremendous girl!! I just didn’t want to have to stop talking and say goodbye! We had creamery ice cream and wandered the bookstore.

I spent a day with my dearest college friend and mission companion Laura. Again, didn’t want to drive away or say goodbye! She is so much fun and so faith filled. The same day I spent a couple hours with my Grandma Hatch. She is more faded each time I see her, but can still make me a laugh. I loved looking in her eyes and connecting again.

We spent the next 10 days at my Moms. One of our very favorite days was spent at Pioneer Village at This is the Place Heritage Park. We went the day before Pioneer Day to avoid the crowds. The village has a train that transports you to the attractions. We saw an authentic farmhouse of Brigham Young’s, had homemade donuts, enjoyed the petting zoo and riding ponies, loved playing water games with the boys in pioneer clothing, tried pioneer candy, panned for gold, traded it in at the bank for MORE candy, and watched some absolutely incredible Native American dancers. I mean amazing. 18 month old Tucker was mesmorized for an hour by their performance. My sister Denise came with us and kept me sane!!

This IS the place!

Ans at Brigham Young's PINK house, it was pink back in the day too!

My Ty.


Panning for Gold.


Water games!





Tucker lovin on a goat.


This is what 6 hours of Pioneer Village does to ya.


Denise and I also enjoyed a long dinner …. we’re talking 3+ hrs…. at Kneaders one night. That’s good stuff, the food and the company.

We also enjoyed the Pioneer Day festival at Bountiful park, totally geared to young children and inexpensive. The kids played on bounce houses, sat in a real teepee, and enjoyed the rides. That night we watched Bountiful’s Pioneer parade, complete with a full 2000 young men dressed like stripling warriors! Pretty cool! And only in Utah, my friends.

We spent a day on temple square, touring the sights while Freeman was with us. The flowers were spectacular!

Lunch at Lion House Pantry.
Tuck just curled up and gave up.

We also spent a morning touring Bountiful. I showed the kids the house where I grew up, my favorite ice cream place, and we took pictures at the temple where we were married. Ah,Nielson's Frozen Custard.
Bountiful Temple where this family began!

On Pioneer Day we played in the stream near Mom’s house and made butter and pioneer taffy from scratch. The taffy was delicious but turned out too runny. Boo. Street players.
Making butter.
At Grandma's "pond".

We spent the next few days with Mom at her house. She retired at the end of the school year (Woo hoo!! Way to go!) and had lots of stuff from school that needed sorting and cleaning. Her pain has been high, and she couldn’t tackle the piles. It was good timing.

Next we were off to my brother Stephen’s house. He and wife Tanya recently bought a fantastic house in Saratoga Springs. We loved on their little guy Trevor, affectionately called “bubba nugget”, and the kids loved playing with 3 year old Zach. We all enjoyed the zoo, threw Steve and Dad a birthday party, and threw Mom a retirement party. We had SO much fun with them. Sweetest family in the world. We are so lucky that you are family!
Happy Birthday, Steven and Dad!


Matching toes with Aunt Tanya!


Mom's Retirement Party! Congrats!


And then it really was time to go home. So hard to go back to real life!

Just for fun, because there aren't enough pictures in this post.


Dressed up for church at Grandma's.


The baby boy.

July Family Reunion Time

This is how we do it in Texas.







Family reunion time! Most of Freeman’s siblings and their families gathered at Mom and Dad Lintons for a major party. That’s the only way the Lintons do parties. Major.

The first day we played at a nearby lake, with boats and waterskis. The kids were in heaven. That afternoon Mom and Dad arranged for a portable pizza oven to come to their house and bake pizzas for us. So fun!

The next day was a county fair at the farm. Mom and Dad own a small ranchette an hour north of their home. Freeman’s brother Isaac and his family live there. They had face painting, fishing, haystack hunting, snow cone making, a chicken rodeo (!) and a pie eating contest.
Grandma the prize lady.

Wowzers! For the chicken rodeo, all the kids lined up and we let all the chickens loose. The kids scrambled to catch chickens and toss them back in the pen. It was mayhem!! Kids laughing, kids crying, chickens crying, wings flapping, the whole bit.


Look out you poor chickens.


Get it, Ty!


Now the men take a stab at it.


Go Dad!






Tyler won the pie eating contest. That’s my boy.

Other highlights included a service project at the farm, lots of cousin play time, family pictures, birthday parties, fourth of july parade, bbq and fireworks, and lots of eating yummy food. Mom and Dad are masters at creating memorable events.




Alas, all good things must come to an end. If that wasn’t enough stimulation, three days later we got on a plane!....

June

Oh what a fun few weeks June was. The summer heat was already pressing upon us. Instead of getting out in the afternoon, we've been hopping on our bikes immediately upon waking to catch the cool of the morning. We come back hungry and ready to settle into a routine.

A few fun moments of the last two weeks include a movie at a real movie theater!, having the missionaries over for dinner, LOTS of swimming, and several visits to the local assisted living center.

In January I started a Power of Moms learning circle. If you're unfamiliar with learning circles or Power of Moms, click this to check it out. I and 6-8 women get together once a month to discuss an essay on motherhood that we've read. The attendance has waxed and waned, but I've really enjoyed spending time with other moms to talk about our most important work. This month there were only five of us who attended. Thanks Jaimee, Emma, Jenny and Audrey. It felt good to laugh and feel the spirit together.

We spend Father's Day afternoon home, with cinnamon rolls for lunch! Tyler wrote and illustrated a book for his Dad called "Peter Dragon and his Daddy" based on bedtime stories Freeman makes up about Peter the dragon. We printed it through Walgreens, and he was thrilled to gift it to his Dad. Anslie made Freeman a big tub of chocolate chip cookie dough. We spent the evening at Mom and Dad Linton's.Father's Day Table.

A couple Anslie quotes:
- I showed the kids a basil plant and explained it can be used to make pesto. They wanted me to explain what pesto was, so I did, several times. Anslie’s face suddenly brightened and she exclaimed, “Oh YEAH!! Like when you say ‘pesto-chango’!”
- Tyler went with Daddy, which upset Anslie. I told her that she got to stay home and play with girls, but Tyler was going to have to do work with Dad at the farm. She stopped whimpering and smiled. “So…..I get to play with the girls. And I don’t have to work! Great! Pink and cheese, pink and cheese, pink and cheese, I love pink and cheese.” She cracks me up.

Tyler and Anslie who?


I do love this delightful stage of food art at every meal.

June 5, 2012

June 5, 2012

One of my many weaknesses is my desire to live in a “planning,” not “living” world. Planning is so freeing because you can imagine everything happening so perfectly. You have complete control. “Living” your plans is fraught with changes, rain, burnt toast, and tantruming children. And though I say I like to plan, in the past even that has been frustrating to the perfectionist within me because I obsess over too many tiny details, waste too much time, and find myself in a frenzy after hours of drilling too deep into one idea and researching every scrap of information or creative idea on the internet in that vein. Exhausting.

Sometimes I let all the voices on the internet and in my life fill my head with so many ideas that I forget to consult me, who does have some experience with herself and this family. And to consult Him, who knows all.

For the last couple weeks I’ve been working on a summer plan for me and the kids. I can’t say every moment of my planning was effective, or that I didn’t *start* to obsess about things that didn’t matter. But I did try to tune into what I feel my family needs, and let that direct the fleshing out of the plans.

Another weakness of mine is overinvolvement. However, in the last year, the Lord has sent me several walls. Walls so high that they are impossible to climb, with 20 feet of barbed wire on the top. Making it literally impossible for me to keep going at the rate I’ve been going. Sometimes that’s what it takes. I have made drastic cuts in my commitments. Its been humbling. Embarrassing. Disappointing. Relieving.

Our summer plans are simple. Very very simple. I just want to remember how good it feels to tune out the noise, and listen to what I know my family needs. And how simple joy requires lots of space to happen. At least that’s how it seems to work in my life.

Today we woke and immediately hopped on our bikes. The bike ride happened at 7:45 am because the temperature was 75 degrees, which became 95 in a few short hours. An aside -- I got a bike last week!!! We also got a trailer for Tucker.
I never learned how to ride a bike until Freeman spent an entire DAY in our early marriage teaching me. That was 5 years ago, and I didn’t know if I’d be able to stay up. But I did. We rode to a pond in Lantana, and ate our cream of wheat in Tupperware containers.

Lantana is a funny place. It is clean, safe, and beautiful. But people don’t do things like eat a Tupperware full of cream of wheat on a bench by the pond that was meant to beautify a neighborhood, but never really intended for someone to nature adventure around it. Oh well. I like to nature adventure, and I’m getting used to feeling like I do most things differently than the rest of Lantana.

The kids were in heaven. We mooed at the cows in the pasture behind the pond, and tromped around like we owned the place. Biking home, we passed several homes being built. One was having its foundation poured. One was being framed. And another was being bricked out by a band of workers. We parked between the foundation and bricked home and the kids watched the homes come together, one tiny piece at a time. We were there for 10 minutes. We were in no hurry. Then home to scriptures, “fun list” (chores for the day), and free time.

We were headed for the pool when we got a call from a friend, and had to run an errand for my calling.

After that we packed up and went to swim. Lantana really does have lovely pools. Our favorite has a beach entry, is small, and at its deepest is only 4 feet deep. A delightful family visiting from California armed us with waterguns and challenged us to a fight. We were a little rowdy. Tucker toddled around the beach entry, thrilled. He kept bending over and exclaiming "Laler!" (water) and then planting his face in the water and slurping it up. Gross. None of my "Yucky, Tucker, yucky" chidding stopped him. He probably drank half a gallon over 2 hours. We ate an entire pound of pretzels, and large tupperware of watermelon. We only left when we began to drag. We showered, combed our hair, clipped our nails. We had chips and guacamole for dinner, did our big 5 for nighttime, and read a few books. That wonderful heaviness that only comes after lots of physical exertion settled over us, and an hour before bedtime, not one of us could rise from the couch.

I nagged and spoke sharply several times today. I felt whole-body exhausted after swimming and showers. My rice cooker broke and ruined my planned dinner. Two friends from the ward walked through my lovely home that looks like a bomb went off in it. Anslie tantrumed more times that I can count.

But. It was a perfect day. What more could I ask.

It feels so good to feel grateful. I have wasted too much time not allowing gratitude to lift me. Sometimes life seems too hard, to ugly, and I think joy can't possibly exist. That's a lie. Joy is always possible because gratitude is always possible.

May 29, 2012

I title this photo Ode to Oregon.

We had REAL blackberries off the vine this week. In Oregon blackberries are weeds. We picked them by the bucketful and made blackberry cobbler weekly all season long. I didn’t know any berry could survive the piercing sun in Texas. We had to pay $3/lb, but we found them, and they tasted even better than they look. Nature’s treats really are so much better than a twinkie.

Cousins at the berry patch.

Mmmmm, those berries are good!!

Freeman is coaching Tyler’s basketball team every Friday night (that’s a story in and of itself that will make you cry laughing. Not the Freeman coaching part, but 4-6 year olds trying to dribble and miss their feet, and launch a ball 8 feet in the air to a basket. Nothing close to basketball.) This leaves Anslie and I home alone for some girl fun! Last week she was cracking me up. I told her I was going to pamper her and paint her nails. Please note that she is only four. I got her some ice water. “Mom, did you know water is the ice’s blood?” Duly noted. I told her that I was going to give her a foot rub. She smiled. “Ok, Mom. But I’m a girl, so I need chocolate.” Where does she get this? Later, I’m complimenting her. “Anslie, you are a smart girl.” “Yah. That’s because I have really great hair.” Also duly noted, a discussion on the difference between good hair and intelligence is in order. Then as we pick a color for her toes, “Mom, while you paint my nails, can we just chat?” This one is all girl!!!

We enjoyed having the Wilstermans and the Gibbons family for dinner on Sunday. I love the sound of a full house on Sunday afternoon.

It is May, but it is summer in Texas. That means people are looking for homes to buy. We had 7 showings in 2 days last weekend. That also means lots and lots of swimming. Tucker was reintroduced to the pool this week. He toddled around the beach entry pool while I sat and talked with friends. “Laler! Laler. Laler.” He kept repeating, for water. Tyler and Anslie can’t swim, but truly think they can. This was a bad enough combination to induce me to sign up for swim lessons in June. Yo.

Memorial Day was nice. Freeman took the helm at breakfast, and made the best French toast I’ve ever had. With cinnamon and a hint of almond. And real maple syrup. Maybe they were the best I’ve ever had because I didn’t have to make them? No, they were really that good. We spent the day at the pool. Freeman’s cousin Corwin and wife Katie met us at the pool with their 4 kids. Our kids play great together and had so much fun. And we just love Corwin and Katie. They are such awesome parents, so down to earth, and just comfortable to be with. Tanner, Alana, Kenzie, Tyler, Anslie and Tucker.

Tonight was preschool graduation. They walked to music. They were presented a certificate and a hand shake. We watched a memory slide show of the year. I couldn’t help but think how fast its all going to go and then, one day it’ll be the real thing!

Mothers Day 2012

In honor of Mother’s Day, click here for my favorite thought on motherhood as of late.

I was tremendously spoiled. Saturday night the family picked up the house while I sat in bed and read for an hour. I slept in on Sunday until 7! And was greeted upon waking with a bagel breakfast and these full flowers. Freeman made strawberry crepes with hot filling and cold topping, and whipped cream piled high. Later, he and his brothers made a fajita dinner for the moms, and we once again all basked in the oasis of Mom and Dad’s back yard.Anslie parading as a princess in the back yard.Beautiful cousin Ashley.

Early May

May 12, 2012

I have so enjoyed teaching preschool this year. This week Tuesday’s theme was piggies. We made pigs in a blanket, watched the three little pigs in a “mudhole,” (brown blanket on floor surrounded by fake plants), and splattered our paper craft piggies with brown mud paint. They most enjoyed pretending to be piglets, with the volunteer runt crawling to me and instructing me to feed it with a bottle. Smile. Thursday we talked about mothers and made a little gift for them to bring to Mom on upcoming Mother’s Day. I interviewed them about their mothers and we pasted their answers to the gift. Some of my favorite answers:

When is your mother most beautiful?
When she smiles and is kind (Anslie’s answer, I repeat that this is real beauty everyday to her while I do her hair. Parenting victory moment.)

When is your mother funny?
My mother is never funny.

What does your Mommy do really well?
My mom is so good at doing dishes.

We held learning circle at my home on Wednesday. The ladies had some wonderful insights and inspired me to pull out an old parenting book that I’ve had forever but never really delved into. I think all mothers need to hear from, bounce ideas off of, and enjoy the company of other mothers who are in the same pursuits!

On Friday I did a session at the temple. It felt wonderful to be there. This was the spectacular sunset on Friday night, shot from my backyard.



Saturday we spent most of the day at our friends home. They were gracious hosts and fed us until we hurt (they are both professional chefs). That night Freeman and I stayed up late talking about connection and authenticity.

Tucker:

- Is walking!!! He has that wide, flatfooted gait that topples him every few steps.
- Surprised me by nodded his head in the affirmative, very dramatically, and saying emphatically, “UH HUH!!! UH HUH!!!” Has no idea what it means, what a little parrot! Watch what you say and do, Mama!
- Loves me more than anything in the world. When he sees me after nap or after walking out of any room lights up like a Christmas Tree and runs to bury his little blonde head in my knees.
- Also is in a delightful phase where he screeches a high pitched, piercing squak when he sees something he wants. It stops the show, where ever he is at the moment ;).

Anslie:
- Is a head taller than anyone in her primary class. Loves playing with friends. - Is very un-territorial, often sharing with others without being asked to do so. When cousin Ava came over yesterday and wanted to learn to ride a bike, Anslie willingly and quickly offered to let Ava use her bigger bike and Anslie take the cramped, smaller bike so Ava could enjoy riding.
- She’s had several moments lately when I ask her to do something that I know she doesn’t want to do, and she looks at me with this faith and says, “Ok Mommy, I will obey you.” Melt. Now I know how much Heavenly Father must love that.

Tyler:
- Is suddenly HUGE. Everyone comments about how big he’s become.
- This last week we read scriptures one morning and decided that we wanted to try to be kinder to each other. With laser focus, Tyler flipped out of the somewhat grumpy and argumentative mood he’d been in for days and answered with love and patience for the ENTIRE day. This went on, without one exception, for three days. At the end of the third day, he said to me, “Mom, I have been kind for three whole days.” I pointed out to him how happy our home felt and asked if he could feel it. He said he could. I told him I was amazed the difference one person with a good attitude could make.

- Freeman put the kids to bed and while they were doing the routine, Tyler hit Anslie. Freeman rebuked him and they had a talk. Freeman walked in the room a few minutes later and found Tyler hitting Anslie again. He went to time out while we said family prayer. When Freeman retrieved him, he was apologetic, asked Anslie’s forgiveness. Freeman tucked them into bed and came downstairs. He went back up to check something and found Tyler standing in his doorway with a serious look on his face.

He said, “Dad, as I was praying I had a sad feeling. Because I didn’t only hit Anslie, I also told her that I am better than her and that she’s not special. I shouldn’t have said that.” He and Freeman talked about it for a few minutes and Tyler promised to apologize to her for this as well. Freeman waited outside the mostly closed door. Tyler was quiet for a bit and then said in a quiet voice to his sister through the darkness, “Anslie, I’m sorry I said I was better than you. I’m not better than you. We’re good in different ways.” He stopped. “Its Ok Tyler, I forgive you.” It was quiet for a minute or two. Then Tyler said, “Anslie, You’re my best friend, I never want to be without you.”

Oh, the humility of a child. And oh, that they may always be so good to each other. Is there anything that brings more joy to a mother heart?

May 15, 2013

Gentle reader (all three of you), I have a declaration to make about this blog. For some time I have been in a quandry as to how to narrate this blog and family journal. Do I pour out my dark days, celebrate the good ones, do both? Who am I speaking to? (Again, all three of you, but someday this will be my life's record. Kinda important.) So I have come to the conclusion that I am writing to celebrate life. I'll include the dark days if I want to. I won't if I don't. If this blog is too sunshiny for you, that's fine. Don't read it. There is so much to celebrate. I am going to celebrate it, FREELY, here.

April 2012

April has come and gone, and I can’t believe a third of this year has passed. We’ve had an eventful month. Easter was a lot of fun. The kids blew out eggs and decorated them. I made the kids each a fabric bag to be “church bags” full of things to do during sacrament meeting. They were simple but making them brought me a disproportionate amount of satisfaction. I can sew! Domestic endeavors always surprise me that way. I made lemon cream stuffed croissant French toast topped with strawberries for Easter breakfast. They were beautiful and indulgent, but the kids weren’t interested because they were new. Ha!

Easy does it, Ty!


As fattening as it looks.


Sunday bags.

The day before Easter we went to the farm and enjoyed an easter egg hunt and dinner. Isaac and Rachael borrowed goats from the neighbors and had baby chicks incubating. The kids were in heaven, as they always are when they are at the farm.

Next General Conference. We’ve been learning about the apostles and looking forward to Conference for a long time. I remember Dad always had a spread of delicious food on General Conference and acted like it was the biggest holiday of the year. I like to try to recreate some of that. We played games to keep the kids interested in what was being said. I hope it felt important to them. What a thrill and a joy it is to hear General Conference and listen to those words of peace and hope.

We also celebrated April birthdays, including Bryce and Teresa’s. I made Teresa a gluten and sugar free cake, and coconut almaretto ice cream that was also sugar free. We had Sunday dinner together at Moms. It was a stunning Texas spring day. I walked into the back yard and it took my breath away. The canopy of trees, green soft grass, children running barefoot with Grandma’s dress ups on, and all the aunts and uncles talking and chatting in the shade. We are lucky to have so much family and to have these opportunities for our children to make memories with them. Mom and Dad Linton are absolutely incredible at creating joyful gatherings.
Happy Birthday, Teresa!


Mom and Dad's beautiful back yard.


Cousin bliss.


Cousin Dovie on the swing.


Good things are simple.


I.am.handsome.

The next week Mom came to town for her spring break. It is always so fun to have Grandma Janet! We spent a lot of time home hanging out. Unfortunately, I was sick that week and we had several showings, so this trip may not have been her most entertaining visit to Texas, but she’s one of those that just appreciates being with you. Thanks mom!

The third weekend in March all of the Linton sisters and sisters-in-law gathered for a sister’s retreat. On Thursday morning we all had breakfast at Mom’s. Mom asked us to all study a chapter in the “Daughters in my Kingdom” Relief Society book. We all shared what we learned. IT was the best part of the weekend. That evening we stayed at a hotel downtown and attended Time Out for Women in Arlington, a conference of LDS speakers for women. Beautiful music, inspiring speakers, and good food! It was sad to say goodbye and have the weekend come to a close.

I taught preschool for a couple weeks this month. I teamed up with 3 other moms to do a co-op preschool twice a week, and we teach for 2 week intervals. They are such a good group of kids. It is so much fun to have them over and have an excuse to plan things to learn and do with them as a class. I’ve been so grateful to have this preschool which has saved us money and allowed Tyler and Anslie to be in homes of people who care about them. I’m so grateful to my cousin-in-law Katie who organized it and got it up and running.

I’m having to readjust my thinking here in Texas. The weather right now is STUNNING. I’m making plans for summer in my head, then realize that in the summer we will have to be inside all the time! NOW is the time to be out! So this week we tried a new park. It felt good to be out, though we all came home with red, swollen eyes. These Texas allergies are serious business!

Anslie at the farm.

This last weekend Freeman surprised me with an AWESOME date. He took me to a fantastic Italian restaurant (which of course, he got a deal on), and then to a concert. We heard “The Priests”, a trio of 3 Scottish Catholic priests who sing together. They sing mostly religious music like “Pie Jesu,” “Ave Maria,” and “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” I’ve been wanting to hear them live ever since he and I happened upon one of their televised performances. It was a relaxing, indulgent evening. I even wore heels and curled my hair. How bout that?

Sunday we joined with all the family in the area to celebrate Austin Stolle’s Eagle Scout award and attend his court of honor. I do so much love about the Lintons how they support each member of the family. There were easily 25+ family members at the meeting. I have a tender place in my heart for Austin. He is a boy with so much desire to do good. We are proud of him!

March 26

I loved this day. Mondays are nice because we don’t have to go anywhere. The kids came down at 4:30 and I couldn’t get back to sleep, so I got up and went running. It was a perfect 55 degrees, and the stars were out. It had been a long weekend of emotions, and I was knotted up about some things. But as I ran I thought them through and by the time I got home I felt like I had it figured out. I had time to read scriptures and shower before anyone woke up!

The day was spectacular. The sky was a throbbing brilliant blue and the sun piercing, but temps only got to 80 degrees. After breakfast the kids hauled the bucket out to the front yard to hand water our newly planted petunias. We finished up chores and then did reading on the front patio. Tyler wandered in and worked on Legos for awhile, Anslie and I made a fruit smoothie and sat outside and soaked it all up.

Even Tucker found a chair and a book that suited him!
Sweet Anslie enjoying a smoothie.


She helped me make bread, which I have perfected, if I do say so myself! So soft and satisfying! We kept finding ourselves drawn to outside. We filled little planter cups left over from the flowers with soil and then planted seeds I bought at the dollar store. They were so cheap they probably won’t grow, ha! But we had fun planting them. The kids worked hard!

In the afternoon everyone crashed and took a 2 hour nap. Glorious. I am reading Tyler the Little House on the Prarie. We read a chapter about Almanzo breaking his two calves. He loved it. As we were reading, it took us a few minutes notice that Tucker was holding on to Ty’s bed, then walking across to Anslie’s bed, and back again. Little Tuck walking!!

We had a strawberry, mango and chicken salad with homemade bread for dinner. For FHE we took a loaf of bread to our neighbors who we’ve wanted to get to know but never taken the time to visit.

After the visit Tucker was smelling of stinkies, so we stripped him down and put him in the tub. He is TERRIFIED of water and cried and cried. Before I knew what had happened, everyone had stripped down and joined him. This seemed to calm him to have friends in the water and by the end he was smiling.

For FHE Anslie conducted and Tyler gave the lesson. He told us stories about the apostles lives that he remembered from conference time 6 months ago. Stories I didn’t even remember. A happy parent moment....maybe they do retain some of the things that seem to fly right past them at the time??

At bedtime they were still wound pretty tight so I practiced my choir piece and Ty and Anslie danced and twirled around each other to the music, giggling with sheer delight while I played. I tucked them in and told them stories about Grandpa Hatch while they started to doze.

Life with children is so sweet.