Life in the country

I love a good, successful weekend... they don't always turn out how we want and on rare occasion they go better than we hope...this weekend was the rare weekend.

I ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY LOVE LIVING IN THE COUNTRY!

On Friday, Lili was sick the entire day with a fever and really tired but by Saturday morning she was up and ready to go....yeah, I thought I'd spend another day holding her (which I love but the sunshine felt great)
The kids and I all went out early and finished the garden while Scott worked on the sprinklers....with Davo, Mei and Lili still in PJ's - in PJ's until 2 or 3 - who cares...we don't have any neighbors :)
After the garden was finished we raked and raked (and the older 3 took turns riding the lawn mower to smooth it all out) the backyard and then Scott sprinkled seed. It was fun to sit back and listen to the sprinklers clicking and feel the sunshine on my face knowing that the seeds would soon sprout.
The boys built a fire to cook foil dinners and smores...the kids played with the chickens (love that I now have a spot to lock my kids in without them being able to escape...kidding of course). Scott and the boys went around the subdivision collecting large rocks with the tractor. Davis discovered that the lawn mower is probably cooler than a four wheeler (hopefully, he'll keep thinking that for a while) and he loved taking the girls on rides. Scott told Davis his legs would be too short for the clutch and not strong enough...I told Scott to not tell Davis he can't do something - cause he'll prove you wrong and he did.
Church was great. We are driving to Hollister this summer to meet because our stake building is being renovated....so 25 minutes in the car vs. 5 minutes. The kids fought way less this week than they did last week on the long drive...ahh...maybe the grounding worked last week :)
Lili gets her tonsils out tomorrow morning. The 3 that have had theirs already removed think we are awful to let this happen. Scott gave her a blessing tonight...it was special and she was cute during it...she would answer when he would say things...like, "please help Lili to not be scared" her reply, "I am scared"...she is our little sunshine and we are so grateful to be able to raise her (and the others too)

I know I've committed to this before but I'm really going to try this time. Sunday, we had a great Relief Society lesson and this is where I decided it is important for me to journal here...so, I'm giving it another go. I'm going to start with current photos and work back and I'm going to try to do this on Sunday. So, Grandma's if you want to catch up on our last year you'll have to scroll back but I'm missing a lot of months due to a lack of camera.

Dr. Scott

Lili had her 5 year well child check up yesterday. We love our doctor. She has taken care of us since we moved to TF...from Reese's surgeries, to Davis' crazy delivery and issues after being born and our two adoptions and health issues we've dealt with regarding the girls (Mckenzie has not seen her much)...Anyway, she is moving in September and I'm sad to see her go. She has been a good friend to me and lots of help - a great counselor! We will miss her.
We are going to have surgery on Lili's cheek (I think locally this time) but Dr. Scott told me first priority needs to be a tonsillectomy...yuck!!! I hate tonsillectomies (but think my kids hate them more). So, Scott called a friend of his who is an ENT and she is going to do the surgery on Monday for us so we can have her fully recovered by summer break and so she can have her plastics done on her cheek. She is running a low fever today so hopefully, she'll be feeling better by Monday so she can have them removed...she had her kindergarten immunizations yesterday so she may be fevering from those.

Happy Birthday, Lili!

Wow...how can it be? Lili is 5 and she is telling everyone she sees....she is so proud!
We woke Lili up early (our tradition) before everyone left for the day to open presents. She was so excited to get "Tangled" stuff and has enjoyed her little puppy in her purse, bike basket, horn and stuff.
I let Meili play hookie from school today (she and Lili did wake up with a head cold and were pretty tired all day...so, I can make myself feel nice but really she was not feeling well). We watched Tangled and ate popcorn (Lili loves popcorn). After we picked up the kids we went to Artic Circle for kids meals and playing. Then we went to Buhl for a Stake Medallion Night...Mckenzie received her YW Award on Sunday...and this was a little extra way to congratulate the girls in our stake for getting this award. Cake and candles followed and then bed. We did let Meili blow out the candles after...I'll post a picture from her bday where Lili blew out her candles at her party...Meili is still holding a grudge.
Anyway, fun day. So grateful for little Miss Lili. She is definitely a wonderful gift from Heavenly Father!

Personal Progress

Grandma helping Mckenzie cut out her pattern for her last Personal Progress goal (taken on their trip on the 1st of May).

Mckenzie received her YW Medallion on Sunday, May 15th. She finished her skirt Saturday night and wore it on Sunday. I'll post pictures of the skirt later - it is really cute.

Here are some of her projects - she read the Book of Mormon twice, made a skirt, created a very large cookbook, created a job resume and went through the process of applying for a job, tutored, and I can't remember the last big project... She read the Book of Mormon for Faith (I believe) prior to Virtue being added to the list of values and Virtue requires you to read the book.

She chose the silver medallion and is now working on Personal Progress again so she can receive the gold medallion. It is so pretty.

Here is the LDS Young Women's motto...she received a bracelet with most of this engraved on it from the Filer stake...

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him.
We will "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things,
and in all places" (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live
the Young Women values, which are:
Faith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice and Accountability
Good Works
Integrity and
Virtue.
We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values,
we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants,
receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

Happy 40th Scott

Who says accountants are boring? I'm a bit embarrassed to post these photos of posters. A few of the employees at Scott's office had these up in the conference room to tease him about his birthday and turning 40. ...it worked, he was embarrassed.

I can't believe Scott is forty. It really seems like 40 is how old my parents are...they were only 42 and 43 when Scott and I got married...wow.

Anyway, Happy Birthday Scott. We all love and appreciate all of the many wonderful things you do for us!

I've also included a picture with us and our friends the Ridenours. This picture needs some explanation... first, Darla said to look serious...so, I'm looking serious but my serious and their serious are different obviously. :) A month or so ago we had Stake Conference. This a meeting where lots of different wards or congregations meet together for one large meeting. On Saturday night we have an adult's meeting. Well, it was a great meeting and it had a very nice musical number. This picture is depicting the musical number..."If you could hie to Kolob" (here is a link to the song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADX-He30_PA
)

Anyway, this group of 4 or 5 went to the stand to perform. They had the most interesting instruments...but, they sounded beautiful. They would each come in at different times during the song...the very last guy to come in brought out a straw looking almost recorder looking instruments (like Scott is holding)...it was hard to not focus on this odd, tiny, looking instrument....anyway, it was very beautiful. Just something that we get a good chuckle out of and so Darla and Fredrick made instruments to resemble these for Scott's bday (and they gave him some golf balls.).

Jog-a-thon/Dance-a-thon

Meili ran 23 laps...2.3 miles
Davis ran 29 laps...2.9 miles
Reese ran 29 laps...2.9 miles
and Mckenzie's dance team taught dance all day long to all of the jr./high school peers.
They all had a great time. We loved how they had it set up so different grades would cheer on runners. It was an invigorating day for all...a day when they all came home really tired.

Father's and Son's

The boys and Scott went to the South Hills (Cottonwood) with the men and boys from our ward for the annual father's and son's camp out. This is something the boys look forward to each year. They try to go around the time that the priesthood was restored for our days (a great website that explains this much better than I do...
http://mormon.org/restoration/#god-restored-christs-church-through-joseph-smith
) This year they were able to do it on the same weekend.

Why camping and the celebration of the priesthood being restored together...??? They go and have a great time together ...bonding...(this year they 4 wheeled, shot guns, at good food, hiked, and hung out)...but the real reason is for the meeting around the campfire at night when a leader speaks about the priesthood. They enjoy doing this and I'm glad they do.

I invited all the women and girls from our ward to my house for dinner and a movie. We had a great time...not a huge turnout but large enough. I made pizza dough and they brought toppings and the girls each made their own pizza. We did not get to the movie but the girls did paint nails while the moms visited.