Category: Ensign

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today, of course, we went to church. During Sacrament Lydia got a time out for misbehaving. Abe took this during her time out:

No wonder threatening time out isn't effective.
No wonder threatening time out isn’t effective.

Then we came home.

Lydia played on the couch before I headed straight back to church to wait for my temple recommend interview.
Lydia played on the couch before I headed straight back to church to wait for my temple recommend interview. 

Abe and I took turns going back to church to wait an hour each for our recommend interviews. There was a long line today, but Abe and I both came away independently impressed by the cheerful attitude of one young, newlywed couple who were waiting in line with us. Everybody else (including me) was inclined to grumble a little about how long certain interviews were taking (the one that got me going took 45 minutes, and there were six other people in line in front of me), but this one couple was nothing but smiles and cheerfulness. When Abe came home he said, “Honey, I met the coolest couple today!”

“Let me guess,” I said. “Was the wife Columbian? Do they ballroom dance? Did they meet at BYU?”

“How did you know?” he exclaimed.

I explained that they were waiting in line while I was there, too. I spent the whole drive back contemplating how I could be more cheerful like them. I’m grateful for the influence of inspiring, good people.

Then we came home and got home taught. It’s also my mom’s birthday today, so after our home teachers left we called my mom to wish her happy birthday. Happy birthday, Mother Dear!

Abe took the girls on a walk to visit his home teachees, and I stayed home and cooked dinner.

At the Copinga's house. The girls played on their swing set.
At the Copinga’s house. The girls played on their swing set. They both kept saying, “Higher! Higher!!!”
Lydia rested on their bench.
Lydia rested on their bench.

We had Jessica Felix and her daughter, Harley, over for dinner tonight. Speaking of the influence of good people, her example inspired us to no end. She was so cheerful as she told us her story. She’s been through unimaginable hardships, and right now Abe and I gathered that she is the current victim of terrible racial profiling–but she didn’t complain at all. Instead, she just cheerfully talked about her determination to press forward and make life better for her and her kids. She was baptized last Saturday and has this incredible enthusiasm for the gospel. By the time she left, Abe and I were in awe.

After she left, we cleaned, put the girls down, and called my mom again to check up on how her birthday concluded. It was a full, great Sunday.

Love you, Mom! Happy birthday!!!

Ode to Isabella

Abe and I have a lot to give thanks for today. He had a fantastic day at work and I had a wonderful day at home. Well, actually, I spent a lot of the time at yoga because Abe’s cousin is now on the babysitting market, and she charges the same rate as my gym childcare. Lydia has begged me to let Isabella babysit her, and even though I was initially hesitant because Isabella is slightly on the young side, I finally relented.

When I got home from yoga, not only was Mary peacefully napping, but Lydia and Isabella were happily chatting away in Lydia’s clean room. That’s right. Isabella and Lydia cleaned while I was at yoga. Isabella found her way to my heart strings today. I should have snapped more photos of Lydia hugging Isabella, which she did spontaneously and with great affection multiple times, but I was just too busy trying to do laundry and deep clean the house. Isabella hung out with us for the rest of the day, and when Mary got up, we all went to the pool for a little bit.

Then we came back home and ate dinner. Abe took the girls to buy a present for Sophia’s birthday party tomorrow, and I stayed home and “cleaned.” (I actually spent most of the time eating banana bread.)

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We held FHE when Abe and the girls returned. I gave a little lesson on the flag and then we drew pictures of the flag on Sophia’s wrapping paper.

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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.