birthdays

This morning was my first Sunday in my new calling. I enjoyed the Primary, although I am a little overwhelmed at the prospect of learning everyone’s names. I also am not quite sure how to make myself most useful, but I’m sure that that will become clear in time.

We left church soon after Sacrament meeting (our last meeting) because Mary was inconsolable. We came home, ate, took naps, and then had a family council. Abe loves to plan for the week, and he really wanted to plan as a family. This is what it looked like:

IMG_8326 IMG_8327A little hectic.

We Skyped right afterward with Clark and Swathi. The sound on my iPad broke last week, so Skyping is a lot more complicated now. Nevertheless, it was great to chat with Clark and Swathi. We love them so much.

Then we headed to the Miners’ for birthday celebrations.

Playing badminton outside.
Playing badminton outside.

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Katie played while holding Mary. Impressive.
Katie played while holding Mary. Impressive.
Abe discussing how much he loves his job and why.
Abe discussing how much he loves his job and why.

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Frankie.
Frankie.
Waiting for the birthday festivities to begin.
Waiting for the birthday festivities to begin.
We moved Lydia under the counter so she could see the action.
We moved Lydia under the counter so she could see the action.
We celebrated Clint's birthday. He and Heather live in Phoenix but were in town. It was great getting to know them better!
We celebrated Clint’s birthday. He and Heather live in Phoenix but were in town. It was great getting to know them better!
Charlie and Henry trying to blow out the trick candles once and for all.
Charlie and Henry trying to blow out the trick candles once and for all.
It was Steve's birthday, too. Henry helped blow out the candles.
It was Steve’s birthday, too. Henry helped blow out the candles.
Mary clapped.
Mary clapped.
Steve with nieces and nephews.
Steve with nieces and nephews.
Siblings.
Siblings.
Steve with his parents. The cutest picture of the day, I think.
Steve with his parents. The cutest picture of the day, I think.
Examining seed pods afterward.
Examining seed pods afterward.
And throwing them.
And throwing them.
This is a picture Abe took yesterday after the market (that I forgot to post).
This is a picture Abe took yesterday after the market (that I forgot to post).

Yoga, Market, Baptism, Wedding.

Today was another 5:15 am day. I have an unlimited Bikram yoga pass for a month AND today is the last Saturday that my studio offers a 6 am class. There was no way I could miss it! After that, I came home, showered, scarfed down one of Abe’s fabulous pancakes, and took the girls to the market. (I had to wake Abe at 5:30 to help me find his car keys, and so he needed a nap.)

Lydia pushing Mary to the market.
Lydia pushing Mary to the market. Mom, can you see the stickers you sent them on their dresses?
Lydia and Mary each got to pick a rock for a quarter.
Lydia and Mary each got to pick a rock for a quarter.
The sweet, kind men at the rock stand let the girls have some rocks for free, too.
The sweet, kind men at the rock stand let the girls have some rocks for free, too.
Watching the trapeze.
Watching the trapeze.
Lydia swinging at the playground.
Lydia swinging at the playground.
We ran into Nathan and Hannah (and Gregory) at the market! Not pictured: We also ran into Karin and Jay.
We ran into Nathan and Hannah (and Gregory) at the market! Not pictured: We also ran into Karin and Jay.

After the market, we came home and rested for a minute. I had to play the piano for a baptism at 12:30, so it was a quick rest. Abe was really sweet and gave me a shin massage because yesterday’s 10,000 steps gave me shin splints. Pathetic, I know. With the greatest reluctance, I cut the massage off and headed over to the baptism.

The baptism was absolutely wonderful. I sat down with Jessica Felix (who got baptized) afterward, and she told me her amazing conversion story. She kept referring to how wonderful “that Mormon book” is and even quoted passages to me–spontaneously, with great enthusiasm. She was incredibly inspiring. I’m so glad she’s part of our ward family now.

After I got home from the baptism, I discovered the girls eating a big lunch.
After I got home from the baptism, I discovered the girls eating a big lunch.
Abe set this out for me. Sweet man.
Abe set this out for me. Sweet man.

Then it was errands and a wedding. Abe’s cousin got married today, and since we couldn’t make it to the sealing this morning, we headed up to their reception in Midway tonight. Midway is so beautiful. For a minute, I thought maybe we should move there…and then I thought about how cold it is (it’s up in the mountains) and how Abe would have to commute through a canyon everyday. No thanks. But as the setting for a reception (it was at Susie’s aunt’s house), it was perfect.

Lydia painted Isabella some pictures a couple days ago and put them in an envelope. She was so happy to give Isabella the pictures today when we carpooled en route to the wedding.
Lydia painted Isabella some pictures a couple days ago and put them in an envelope. She was so happy to give Isabella the pictures today when we carpooled en route to the wedding.
Watching Isabella open her pictures.
Watching Isabella open her pictures.
On the way to Midway.
On the way to Midway.
So Pretty.
So Pretty.
Walking to the reception.
Walking to the reception.

 

Isabella and Lydia on the bench while the rest of us went through the line.
Isabella and Lydia on the bench while the rest of us went through the line.

Susie made these darling flower garlands.

Susie made these darling flower garlands.
In the line.
In the line.
Dessert table.
Dessert table.
I'd never had dippin' dots before. They're cold! And tasty.
I’d never had dippin’ dots before. They’re cold! And tasty.
The house had a beautiful, Martha Stewart worthy garden.
The house had a beautiful, Martha Stewart-worthy garden.
This was the biggest, most healthy looking rhubarb plant I have ever seen.
This was the biggest, most healthy looking rhubarb plant I have ever seen.

 

Pretty cake.
Pretty cake.
Eating their dippin' dots.
Eating their dippin’ dots.

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Under the mistletoe.
Under the mistletoe. 

 

The gorgeous couple.
The gorgeous couple.

 

Sadie is one week apart from Mary, and you can kind of see a resemblance, I think. Her mother and Abe are cousins.
Sadie is one week apart from Mary, and you can kind of see a resemblance, I think. Her mother and Abe are cousins.

Since the reception only had desserts, Abe and I took the girls straight to Whole Foods afterward and filled up. Lydia kept running around saying, “I’m so healthy! Who’s a healthy girl??? Me!!! I am!!! I’m so healthy!!”

At whole Foods.
At whole Foods.

We also discovered that Mary looooooves pepperoni pizza. Since we were so late, Whole Foods sold us a leftover pizza for a discounted price. We didn’t break it open until the car ride home, and Mary went totally nuts. She can’t even say three syllable words yet, but in the middle of the ride she said, “pah-pah-roh-nee” and pointed vigorously at the pizza box. She ended up eating an entire slice by herself.

I comforted myself about the late hour on the way home by thinking, “Oh, well. If we’re fifteen minutes late to church tomorrow, no big deal.” And then I remembered that I have a calling now that requires me to get to church on time. Sorry to say it, but darn. Guess I’ll get to bed ASAP so the morning isn’t quite so painful.