Mindy's Wedding

Cousin Melinda and Adam got married in the Los Angeles Temple Saturday morning. We had planned to go, but Jeff came home from California sick, and having not seen him for two weeks, I didn't have the heart to leave him home alone.

So Amy went with Grandma S. and Aunt Joy and represented our family. She enjoyed the temple grounds while helping watch James, Brendan, Jessica, Samantha, and Tyler during the sealing ceremony.

Los Angeles is a beautiful old temple right in the middle of the city.

The flowers were in full bloom.

Aren't they gorgeous?

I wish I could have been there... and here with Jeff at the same time.

Congratulations, Mindy and Adam! I hope you have a WONDERFUL eternity together!

Who is this Masked Man?

When we went out to do yard work Saturday I told Jeff he should wear a mask, since he was not only sick, but is allergic to olive pollen. (Oh, yes. He IS a man. He would have to be on his deathbed to "not work," even when he's sick.) Anyway, this isn't exactly what I meant...


He wore his "dust mask" the whole time he pruned the olive trees and the sago palm. (I know we're a little late in the season. It should have been done BEFORE the trees were full of pollen. Better late than never, I always say.) Now I can mow the lawn without being "thwacked" in the face by low-hanging branches.

Here's Maddie in the "jungle" in the alley from the NINE garbage cans we filled with olive branches and sago palm fronds.

Graduation!

Last week we received David and Loretta's graduation announcement. I must confess, it brought tears to my eyes. I am so proud of both of them. It hasn't been easy, and not many people thought they would do it, but they have celebrated their TWELFTH wedding anniversary AND completed college. As you can see from the announcement, they didn't do it in a small way either! Congratulations David! Congratulations Loretta! I hope you are as proud of yourselves as we are at this house!


(Thanks to Allyson for constructing fifty of these cool handmade announcements!) (And for those of you who don't know- "Summa Cum Laude" indicates STRAIGHT A's all four years through a rigorous program!!) (I know pride is a sin, but I'm the mama...it can't be helped!)

Skinny Susan

After Susan has a baby, she ends up skinnier than before she got pregnant! She is now wearing clothes we haven't seen for a long time. Maddie thought these striped pants were so cute she insisted Susan try on a vest out of the pirate costume stash because it matched! We thought Susan looked surprisingly good in this outfit!

The Three Musketeers

I love these three girls so much! Life would be so much less fun if our (GOOD) surprise baby had been raised "alone" in the family. What a blessing it is to have Julie and Ally close by and here so often. They spent the night Friday and I always enjoy listening to the three girls play. Like the other kids before them, they have such wonderful imaginations. Julie and Ally come over Tuesdays and Thursdays after school, and I'm so glad they like to be here and feel comfortable enough to just "veg-out" or flop on the couch or floor to do homework. They are also good sports about helping with chores on Saturday mornings or whenever I ask. Ally loves to help me cook and will end up being quite a good little chef someday I think. Julie never complains, no matter what I ask her to help with. And Maddie is a willing helper also.

I feel incredibly lucky and blessed to have so much of my immediate family close by. Only six more days till Amy gets home and then everyone will be living in Boulder City for the summer. I know it can't last forever, but for as long as it does, I'm going to enjoy it and be grateful!

Don't You Wish He Was Your Hometeacher?

Jeff has made bread to take to his home teaching families for the past two months. He used to buy Marie Callendar pies and deliver them, but he's been on a health kick lately and decided wheat bread was better. Not only does he bake the bread, he grinds the wheat himself so the flour is fresh! Last month it was Woodbury Wheat Bread. This month he made whole wheat hot roll mix and then used it to bake French bread. Does that look yummy, or what? I asked him if he was taking a message too. He said, "Of course. "Man does not live by bread alone.' But you can come pretty close with this." (Actually he didn't say that, but I thought he should have!)

Solemn Assembly

We just finished watching the two sessions of General Conference today and it was really a moving experience. The first order of business was a "solemn assembly" where we had the opportunity to sustain the new First Presidency and the Quorum of the 12 Apostles by quorums and groups. It was really great be able to stand when Elder Uchtdorf asked all members of the Relief Society to show their support by the raised hand. I thought of all my sisters around the world who were doing the same thing and I was very touched. Then Maddie got to stand when they called for the sustaining by the Young Women. I only remember one other solemn assembly -13 years ago when we sustained President Hinckley. What a wonderful thing to be able to show our support and know that all over the world people are doing the same. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to personally confirm my testimony that President Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of God on the earth and that he is the chosen leader of Jesus Christ's church on the earth today. What a wonderful opportunity! Now I just have to make sure my actions support my words!