Coming out of Quarantine-- what's happening?

We are coming out of quarantine like…."Hello World--I am what I am." Lady shows this idea perfectly. And that’s pretty awesome!

Hopefully we have shed some of the pretense, and dropped some of the show and can really see each other.  Grace for ourselves and grace for others is what it’s all about. People are wonderful and messy and I’m here for all of it! 

We did the big car exchange.  Addison and Bre sold my old UMOZ Prius to Truman and they bought their first family van.  It's named after one of their college professors-- Van Tinkham.   They are all in for this #3 baby!

We love getting together on Sunday nights.  We call it Sunday circle.  All those who can come to dinner do.  IT's an open invitation every Sunday when we are in town.  The grand kids all love LAILA and Laila loves her dog Jet.

Last Sunday we had wax your nose hair night.  All those who were up for it participated.  Okay this looks crazy..and there was some pain involved, but all four admitted it was worth it.

We love having Elsie, Tayla and Lady around.  They are full of spunk, energy and curiosity.  Elsie can't talk yet but understands most everything.  She won't sleep anywhere but her own bed and is very opinionated about food and toys and what she will and won't do.  She's a smiler and seems so gentle and nice...but she has a temper.  Tayla is a perfect oldest child.  Very obedient and caring of her little sisters.  She wants to do every thing right.   Lady is so smart.  She's three and has a vocabulary of a much older kid.  She is always talking and going from one thing to the next with no down time inbetween.  

BIG NEWS:  Andrew shaved for the first time!  He had a few, weird scraggly, sparse hairs on his face so it was time to start.  Alex was a good sport and support and shaving creamed up his own face hair-- although he didn't shave it off.  Sophia was stunned.  

Alfie is playing soccer and we all love attending, cheering and watching him play.    We went to Alfie’s first soccer game on Tuesday night.  He likes it a lot and it helps that he’s on his cousin Leo’s team.  Alfie likes to stay away from the pack and he likes to get big kicks in.  His team is good and he even scored.  BUT we don’t play for the score we play for fun...SO Alfie’s team had 7 funs and the other team had zero.    IT was flashback time for me watching him… put some glasses on Aflie and it was like watching Addison all over again.   Poppy insists on wearing princess dresses and some disney slipper type Frozen boots that are a struggle to put on and a struggle to keep on and she hobbles when she walks in them but she LOVES them. We love how Poppy talks...she has a darling little lisp. We asked Poppy if she wanted to play soccer..she said, "I don't have the costume."

Life might seem upside down at times....but it's pretty great!

 

The world turned upside down.

We have had more sadness in America…..another unarmed Blackman killed by police. Actually 2 this week. One just a city away from where the Chauvin murder of George Floyd trial is happening. And one black man pepper sprayed by police- while both of his arms are extended outside his vehicle and then set free. What is happening?   The world feels upside down to many of us...add to that another mass shooting in America- which now when reported is commonplace and it feels nuts.  It really is sad. 

There is systemic racism and that it needs to be addressed - I always think that memes oversimplify the issue - they make it look like you will always be killed if you are black and will only be arrested if you are white.  We know that is not true - do you have a greater chance of being shot if black?  Yes - is getting rid of the police the answer - No.  Do our police need better training and pay so we can attract higher caliber individuals - yes.    Is the whole world upside down?  No - there are a majority of really good people trying to do good things.  Are we seeing things get worse before the second coming? Yes. 

Once I shared that meme. I had more thoughts— I know there are really awesome white and black police out there and I know there are really not so awesome white and black people out there. I know there’s also a lot of good happening in the world right now. I will continue to look for the good happening in the world and cry for the sad. The best we can do is work on loving and having compassion for everyone. That's what Jesus teaches.

Do we need the Savior more than ever - Yes 

Do we need more compassion and curiosity around all of this..YES

I heard this recently and it really resonated with me…”If you are an agent of division you are undermining the ministry of Christ.”    We need to listen to learn and grow and help to be the change.

April - Year of Awesome

 Our April awesome family activities got changed a little bit... 

We couldn't do the Ronald McDonald house because of covid..so hopefully later in the year. Instead, we decided to put together freezer meals for Wanee and Holly ( and Dale).    It was a great service project because the grandkids could totally help make and deliver these.  We took 8 -9x13 recipes and divided them in half, and then provided a sheet Wanee could post to remind her what's in her freezer and cooking instructions.  So grateful to Sandy for helping us know which recipes to use, because we wanted t make sure Wanee would like these.   Sophia and Andrew were so helpful.  

Wanee was THRILLED.  She has 16 dinners now in her freezer that she can thaw and cook. 

Our gathering for April was a family movie theatre rental to see the movie HOP- because it's Easter time.  The kids loved it-- it's about the Easter bunny from 2010-- the adults tolerated it, but it's always good to be together.  Add popcorn and treats on top of that and a theatre with only us, so the littles can run around and dance and be crazy if they want to be and it's a success.

We are talking about compassion and having more compassion for ourselves and others.  Our world seems upside down at times, especially with more shootings of unarmed black people by police.  Laila has been really affected by this once again...as we all should be.  It's important to reach out to our BIPOC brothers and sisters and tell them they matter.  To mourn with them and have compassion for all involved.  We also talk about having compassion for ourselves--to look at our thoughts and decide are they true, are they helpful, are they kind?    Try to be in the 2 out of 3 range scoring on all your thoughts.   I like teaching these concepts in bite-size chunks to my grands..and if my kids want to listen in as well, that's great!

What's up?

I'm going to have weekly Meema days Tuesday from 3-6.  I just started this week, and so far so good.  My plan is to pick up Monson's girls and then Alf and Poppy and play at a park, get a treat and return them home.  

We checked out the Centerville Park by the Centerville Cemetery today.  It was awesome!  Then courtesy ice cream cones and home to my house for chicken nuggets and to watch Raya and the Last Dragon.  

Elsie got her self dressed to go with me.

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 Truman broke up with Levi and is moving to his own place in SLC.  We have been helping him get into his new apartment.  We enjoyed L. being part of our group...but I'm not the one living with him.   So Tru is once again starting over and I'm glad he's doing it closer to home this time.  He is working as a personal assistant for Patricia who lives in East Millcreek in a big gated home.   He calls her "P" and he says it's going good.  

My one regret is our family picture from last September.  (Except last September that is what our family looked like.)  I have replaced L.'s face with Harry Styles on the big pic.  I can't believe we didn't have L on the end and Truman on the inside.  Oh well... live and learn. 

 v

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Laila is leaving again for North Carolina to be with Marcus Allred...her Marine.  They continue to talk engagement and marriage so we will see if she comes home engaged.  They seem VERY young to me.  But Laila is very determined when she has a plan.    We met Marcus' parents Sunday night, and it all went very well.  I teased Laila I was so excited to put on my gray wig and act like an old lady and she would not have it.  "Mom, you don't need to do that, you are already old. "  Marcus dad and step mom are 38 ad 31, so like Alex and Landon.  

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Landon and Alex are putting a pool in their backyard... hopefully by the end of the July we can be swimming there.  We are all excited about the possibility.  IT will be 20 x 40 and I can envision summer family parties in their back yard.

This picture popped up from 8 years ago... I can't believe how little Andrew and Sophia are.

We are having a baby!!

 Addison and Bre finally announced that we have our 8th grandkid showing up in September!  I couldn't be more thrilled!   They are vacationing in San Diego with their little fam and made a drone video to announce it all.