Joy in my posterity

These two picked us up at the airport.

Becca got some jammies with monkey feet! We played "house" and made dinner.

What is this? I got to help Luka open his birthday present a few days early!

Big brother will help figure this thing out. I think Cooper will help Luka figure out lots of different things throughout their lives!

Just chillin.... love

Time was precious and each day too short as I was able to spend a long weekend in Utah. I enjoyed spending time with my daughters and grandchildren. I was also able to see my sisters and my dad. It was a special gift to have this time and I wasn't ready for it to end.

Post-Birthday Post

This morning at 3:00 am I heard a thunderous and panicked pattering of feet charge into the kids' bathroom. I then heard the ensuing opening and slamming of drawers and then.... well, poor Becca was sick! I got up to check on her. She had big tears running down her cheeks because she had barfed so hard. I sent her back to bed after a drink and some Maalox. She got up early and had a few little presents. She is trying to look brave here. She missed Seminary, but went to school. At 10:30 she called me to pick her up because she was still feeling pretty bad. I finished up a couple of things at work and spent the rest of the day at home with her. She felt better later on and we went to the Texas Roadhouse for her birthday dinner. Ashley and Allen came with us. We came home for birthday cake. She blew out all 15 candles!

About 8:00 as we were watching the election results we heard the "ding-dong" of the doorbell. There were balloons and girls! Some of the Young Women came to wish her a happy birthday!

What an darling group of girls, along with amazing Julie McLean, their fearless leader.

They decided to stay for some cake and ice cream. They are so hilarious! It was noisy and fun the whole time the girls were here.

I then gave the traditional serenade of Happy Birthday like Donald Duck. We all had a good laugh! I hope Becca had a really good birthday. She is an amazing young lady. I am so blessed to be her Mom.

Happy Birthday Becca!

for some birthday fun, I would like to share some of my favorite memories of Becca: This was a couple of years ago when we went to Snow Flake to meet Trudy's dad. Becca was using a blow torch!

One of my favorite things she does - play the guitar. I could listen to her all the time!

Adventurous!

Nothing like good friends!

She is a darling auntie!

An Actress!

First Road Show.

Her 14th birthday, last year. She wanted an ice cream cake.

Always able to capture the drama of the moment.

I could post a million pictures of this girl. Another favorite memory is of her as a 4-year-old putting blankets on her stick horses, feeding them, and bedding them down for the night. She was hilarious!

One day she was standing in her wading pool with all of her clothes on, and dunking herself. Katie asked her what she was doing. She said "I'm just practicing being baptized!"

Becca has always added a spark of originality to everything she does and every situation. That is what makes her so much fun to be with! I have loved watching her blossom the last couple of years as she has taken on much leadership in her Young Women's group. She has learned about service, faith, testimony and friends. Becca has become a favorite babysitter for some of the young families in our ward, and has a very special bond with some of those little kids.

And now she is turning 15 - that means she will be getting a learner's permit in a few months - so watch out world. Here comes BECCA! It has been amazing watching her embrace high school and seminary this year. How I love this girl. I am so lucky to be her mom!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BECCA!

What's under your bed?

We decided we needed a place to store some of our #10 cans of food storage. We purchased some cinder block stepping stones to raise up the guest bed far enough for the cans to fit underneath. It was interesting to lift up the mattress and see how the dust bunny colony was thriving under there. I quickly did away with them by wielding the vacuum. It was kind of funny, I found a pink pacifier under there, too. I think it belonged to Ava. But once it was all clean, the cans lined up beautifully. There is even room for a few more cans. I decided we needed to dress up this room a little, so I found this cute comforter set at Costco a couple of weeks ago for half off. Now all I need to finish it up is to get the dust ruffle. Just be careful when you walk around the bed. One can stub a toe on the cinder blocks!!!