A Night Out

A night I want to remember for its details.

We can feel spring: the itch to get out of the house. When Jayce came to buy bread today, he admired my amaryllis, the ones we tried to get rid of. They were so thick, littering the driveway with their long blades, when we moved in. I gave a few to Melody, whose favorite they are, and some back to Ron, who had first planted them for the old owners of this house. I transplanted some, and now they bloom pretty. Jayce said the neighborhood was so fragrant as he drove up. I've never thought of using that word to describe this neighborhood.

We are lucky that mosquitoes haven't started biting yet (did I just curse myself?).

I needed to get out of the house today. So did the kids. Patrick had a very short engagement at 8:00 to play music in a Baroque ensemble downtown at UNT on the Square.  So, let's run around on the square, as we call it. We had a short Family Home Evening, where Simon and I led a discussion about how every soul on this earth lived with Heavenly Father before we came here. I felt a peaceful witness from the Spirit even in reading a bit about this truth. I enjoyed hearing the thoughts of each of the kids. Kyle imagined heaven to be a room with narrow hallways, while Taylor said it was just darkness. Simon said it looks like the world we live in.

Into the van and downtown we went. After dropping Patrick off, we parallel parked, and mezzo soprano Grace pulled in right behind, making two gold vans in a row. We brought Patrick the music he had left in the trunk. Some of us stood still among the musicians all in black, waiting to go in. Others of us jiggled around like popcorn. I heard Grace call me a "soccer mom," which is funny because I don't think of myself that way, and none of the kids even plays soccer.

Simon and Kyle sat up front. They are pretty used to concerts, but I worried because they were so touchy tonight. A wise man, remarked Kyle later, told them to keep an eye on every one to make sure they were quiet. "And we did." Taylor waved to Patrick for quite a while. They were quiet. Grace sang Lagrime mie, and the guys played theorbo, lute, and Baroque guitar. It really was pretty.

Patrick's colleagues joked about us having four kids, but it was nice joking.

The kids ran around on the courthouse steps, and we ate the strawberries I had packed in my purse. I could smell yummy yummy French fries from a restaurant. Patrick stayed downtown to grab some food with his friends. At 9:30, the kids remembered that they are each other's best friends, dressed in matching boxer shorts and Springdale Music Studio t-shirts, and ate cinnamon-sugar butter tortillas. We read scriptures, and now they are all in bed.

"God's in his Heaven; all's right with the world." Just for tonight.

Texas Bluebonnets

On an incredibly sunny late afternoon heading home from my friend's hair salon, we stopped at this field of bluebonnets behind some historic homes. This is the only group picture of the kids where Kyle's serious face finally broke into a giggle. Here's a good time to share some recent things each of these guys has said or done.


Taylor joined our discussion about a kid in our ward who got paid $200 if he didn't eat treats for a year. Taylor said he would be able to do this. He said, "If Dad makes cookies, I just won't eat my dinner. Then I won't be allowed to have cookies."

Kyle was having a rough day during conference on Saturday. I let him lay with his head on my lap and take a nap. He mentioned later that he likes taking naps. He really does enjoy simple quiet things.

I heard Josie recently telling one of her brothers, "Keep your promise." I took joy that she was encouraging them in the right.

To avoid the arguing that comes with chore requirements, I told Simon he would be fully in charge of the dishes this week and could do them however and whenever he saw fit (instead of me telling him when, but as long as if I needed a dish, he would wash it immediately). He still didn't get them totally done, but he much more desired to be responsible for them when he was more autonomous.

Camping Out

Although the house we rent is lacking in several areas, we really do have a good backyard. Kyle has enjoyed climbing trees for a long time. And now he and Simon have discovered they can get in these little trees in the backyard and hang out.

We have been planning on going camping for at least ten years! Patrick's mom gave us a family-sized tent for Christmas. We finally camped. We made a fire in the backyard "fire pit." It was so fun.

We roasted hot dogs and s'mores and then slept comforably in our big tent. Patrick attached some binoculars to a mic stand and we could see the moon closer-up. What a fun night! And in the morning, we cooked bacon and eggs on the fire/coals and biscuits too in my Dutch oven. All in the easiness of our own backyard! This may become a conference weekend tradition.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Our hearts are filled with the joy of the season because of Christ and all of you, our friends and family.

We did lots of things that made the holidays special.

We waited for St. Nick, or Sinterklaas, on the evening of December 5th. This is a nod to my Dutch and German heritage and my former roommate, Carolyn, who introduced me to this special way of celebrating. We've always discussed Santa as a character portraying the spirit of giving. Stories are a huge part of our family culture, and Santa stories fit right into that. The kids especially enjoy St. Nickolas though, because they know he was a real man. As they've gotten older, there's never been a disappointed moment of discovery, but they've learned they can participate in this same spirit of giving. The wonderment will live on!

Josie's ballet group did a recital at a retirement home. Her teacher has been wonderful with the students. This group of girls (and boy, not pictured) is really special. The inclusive and joyful experience translated beautifully to a service-oriented recital.

Simon was able to drum in the Evening of Christmas Joys, a community concert that our stake hosts annually. He did really well and enjoyed taking a bow this year.

Patrick and the boys played at our ward Christmas party. Taylor joined in, ringing the bell.

Kyle practiced willingly and we were so proud of his bass work.

 The primary kids sang, all dressed up, and were darling.

 We got some festive photos at the party. Here we are with the kids' honorary grandmother, Joy.

Patrick held a studio recital jointly with Lesley Lloyd and her piano students. Here he is with our friend Shiloh.

 We made treats and brought them around to some friends. The kids were a genuine help.

We traveled to Arkansas and visited with family.
Taylor really latched onto Kayla this visit. In general, he was a lot more outgoing than normal.

 Josie is getting to be closer in age and interest with her older girl cousins.

 We had soup night at the Kelsey's on Christmas Eve.

 Patrick's wearing his Christmas colors, and I'm wearing my Christmas blue!

 With a little help, our nephew Beck opened a book we gave him.

 We received so many game gifts. The kids wanted a picture of the final Quirkle board.

Thanksgiving 2016

We stayed in Texas for the holiday and began cooking the day before. All in all we probably spent 10 hours in the kitchen. The kids helped a bunch and it was nice to have a little break. I took the kids to Mardel during a kitchen break on Wednesday and they got to spend money they had earned- so fun!

I can't say that my first turkey roasting was a success: it was raw the first time around, and we ate the meal without it. I thought we had retrieved all the innards, but in the final picking meat off the bone we found we had cooked the plastic sack of gizzards in the turkey- oops- wrong kind of stuffing! Made delicious bone broth from the turkey though.

The gravy and rolls were amazing, and our pumpkin and apple pies provided many a breakfast and snack for a couple days following.

Beautiful and bright for whole berry sauce

I'm starting a puzzle tradition for cooking days. We've had these two since I was a kid.

For turkey brine

Pretending that Taylor needed a haircut even more than he did

Pumpkin rolls are the most fun to help with

I must always make pumpkin rolls. I will never forget Christmas Eve 2004, when my mom was making pumpkin rolls at the house on Gulley Rd. She asked me to set some rolls outside to rise more slowly in the cooler weather. I took a couple trays to the back porch and set them on the picnic table. Next thing we knew, Stormy, my parents' dog was foaming at the mouth and heaving. She had consumed a dozen raw rolls. Bria and I took her to the veterinary ER in Springdale and hung out in the lobby while she hung out in the back room regurgitating said rolls. The check-out sheet they gave me said she "delivered a loaf." The assessment: "dietary indiscretion and indulgence." That sounds a little like many of us around the holidays! Ha!

Not quite all the food.

Patrick's apple pies baking

Josie's table work: She appointed herself assistant decorator.

Just before eating with our friends Elizabeth Smith and Yiyi Gao

My yummy plate

Reading a thankful note

Throughout the year (but mostly November) we have a jar to put little notes of things we are thankful for. We encourage our guests to fill out some cards too, which we then pass around the table to read. A swelling of gratitude fills my heart as we reminisce about special and ordinary blessings.

This year's list, as written:

Well-marked roads at night
My home
Feathers and acorns in my purse
Juli!
Air conditioning
Family
Toys
My motorcycle
Getting through school
A husband that gladly pulls night duty with sick kids
My husband who loves me always
My children and the time I get to spend with them
Jesus Christ and growing in the knowledge of His gospel
My heritage
A house
The health I have
Technology
Getting to teach Spanish to my kids
Friends by the side
Parents
The church I've been brought to by the grace of God
My daughter and her children
King books
Bord games
Wonderful kind friends the kids have
So many friends (the Church people)
When the kids are too asleep to hear the package open
Food
Josephine
Simon
Kyle
Taylor
Games
Mom and Dad
Lazer
Reading books

 We spent the evening playing games and stuffing ourselves even more at our friends the Greens'.

I finished the weekend with an early morning temple trip with a couple friends. A great place to be!

Hoodie Family

Patrick took us all out tonight, and I had to giggle when I got in the van and saw that we were all wearing hoodies. I love my hoodie family!

House Full: Time Outside and Josie's Birthday

I'm grateful to have a house full of boys and a house full of girl. Josie turned ten, which means we've been parents for ten years. What a blessing! These photos are not in the order I'd like, but they show highlights of more of our autumn days, including lots of beautiful hours spent outside.

Length of Josie's hair on her tenth birthday

This represents well what Josie spends most of her time doing

Josie's birthday party was great fun. I felt thankful that my daughter has such joyful and kind friends. They did a fashion show, each wearing what she chose and writing her own description of outfit. They are innocent and enthusiastic.

Celebrating friend Solina's birthday at the ice rink

A downed branch made an enchanting play place for Soren and Taylor

Representing one of my favorite activities

Taylor wrote the joke he has with Big Daddy

Patrick insisted I go to Long Tall Sally's Pop Up Shop in Dallas. I teared up when surrounded by other tall women!

Sharing the ways of the library

A nice morning

Fanny pack at its best

Squinting in the southern winter sun

Happy Tenth Birthday!

Seriously!