Creative Costuming

I couldn't figure out why they were insistently knocking on the bathroom door. I didn't hear any sounds of pain or anger. They didn't say anything. They just kept knocking. When I opened the door, I saw why.

Nighttime Mode

"Mom, let's take a picture." - Topher, delaying bedtime and still being adorable.

Driving, Driving, Driving

On Friday evening we drove back down to Maryland. In fact, we've driven to Maryland three times in the last week. The first time was for my nephew's baptism. The second time was that same day after we'd gone home to retrieve a forgotten driver's license, then turned around and gone down to stay the night in a hotel. We got up on Monday morning and drove another hour into Maryland to drop Cooper and Phoebe off at For the Strength of Youth (FSY), a week-long church camp. They both had an amazing week. Our third drive down was on Friday night so we could pick them up bright and early on Saturday morning.

We crossed the Susquehanna each time we went down and came home.

After we picked them up we drove a little bit further to visit the National Zoo in Washington D.C. We got to see the Temple from the freeway!

We had to be back home by 6 o'clock, so we didn't stay for very long. And this is one of the only pictures I took. It was still a fun adventure though!

Out Among Nature

Today's adventure included both a hike and some creek time (no picture proof) with friends AND a visit to a local zoo with other friends. We've been outside almost all day!

This zoo just got red pandas and we caught a few glimpses of one of them. Sophie was thrilled!

The kids spent time pretending to be wolves in this den.

They all got to feed goats. Everyone still has all their fingers.

We're packing a lot of fun into this summer!

The Value of a Dollar

We've already started back-to-school shopping. I took Cooper and Phoebe last week. Yesterday Topher and Sophie had a turn. For the last two years we've set a budget, then let them decide how to spend it. I insist that they go through their clothes at home first and get rid of anything that doesn't fit anymore. They also have to make a list of the items they think they'll need, like a new backpack or additional shirts. Last year I took them out one-on-one to shop. This summer has been so packed with activities that we had to double up. I think it's interesting that both girls bought something, then decided they'd rather use that money elsewhere and asked to return the item. They're learning the power of making and sticking to a budget.

This is Sophie's favorite thing that she's picked out with this year's budget. It's really cute on her!

And don't worry. As soon as I finished taking this picture I went and stopped Topher from climbing up the side of the cart.

Geronimo!

We were invited to a pool party that was thrown by the Primary of our old congregation. Actually, I was the one who picked the date and got it on the calendar, but then I had to hand the planning over to someone else. I was happy that the Primary of our new congregation was included.

I spent most of the party watching kids to make sure they were safe, so I took very few pictures. Sophie had a grand time with her friends that came. Topher also loved it. He spent most of the party swimming around the deep end and jumping off the rocks.

This is one of the only pictures I took. It was right at the end when most of the kids had already gone and I was trying to get him out of the pool.

I have to ask him not to land on his head on a pretty regular basis. I guess he liked the freedom to ignore me in this situation.

Back In the Water

We met friends last Friday morning and splashed around in a creek. I think playing in creeks might be the unofficial theme of our summer, we've never done it this often before. It has certainly helped us deal with the many hot days we've had.

A Step On the Path

My nephew Legend was baptized yesterday and we were able to attend! 

Sophie sang a musical number and I was asked to give a talk on the Holy Ghost. Legend's grandma on his mom's side gave a talk on baptism first and had visual aids of a path with footsteps she'd prepared. When she finished her prepared remarks she whispered to me that there were a few footstep cutouts left if I wanted to use them. I incorporated them into what I had prepared and we suddenly looked like we were really well coordinated. I was so happy I could participate in Legend's special day.

On a related note, yesterday I learned that I've been saying the word persevere wrong my entire life. I spelled it on the board the way I have been saying it: perservere. Whoops.

Legend, we love you and we're so happy you chose to be baptized!

The Bells

After many years of wanting them and borrowing some from a friend for Primary on Sunday, I finally bought my own set of educational handbells. Topher and Sophie are really enjoying them. Topher spent time this week sitting at the piano, ringing a bell, and finding the corresponding keys. He was pretty excited to discover how many Cs were on the keyboard.

Tasty and Patriotic

For Independence Day this year I tried to follow the great example of my friend Elise. She makes a flag cake every year as part of their celebration. I modified it a little and made a giant sugar cookie cake.

It was so well received it disappeared soon after it was cut.

Thanks for the inspiration, Elise!

Soporific

Topher: (while driving home from the library yesterday) Mom, sometimes I go deaf. And sometimes, I go blind.

Me: (glancing at Phoebe in the passenger seat only to discover she's just as confused by his statement as I am) Oh? Does this happen at specific times?

Topher: Yes.

Me: When?

Topher: I never hear the end of Moon Song or Mockingbird.

For context, those are his favorite bedtime songs. Based on what he said, I guess they're pretty effective.

Feeling Mischievous

Cooper, Peter, and I have been watching the Marvel movies and TV shows with Phoebe. We finished the second season of Loki tonight. Peter kindly lent her some costume pieces and she was overjoyed.

She's a fan of Marvel, can you tell?

Forever Friends

We just got home from a bowling/dinner hangout with dear friends from college. These are some of our "cousin friends" who we don't see often, but who we love and reconnect with right away.

Dr. Topher

We got a book from the library a few weeks ago called Stop and Smell the Cookies. It's about a little boy who has trouble controlling his impulses. By the end of the book he's learned to smell the pretend cookies, blow out imaginary candles, and count to one hundred by tens. By being mindful he's better able to control himself.

Topher has used this calming method a few times since we read the book. It's quite effective. In fact, this week Phoebe was upset about something and this is what I heard Topher say.

Topher: Phoebe, would you like to smell the cookies with me? (inhales) Now blow out the candles. (exhales) And count to one hundred. Ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety, one hundred. There, do you feel better now?

Phoebe: A little, actually.

All the Details

Phoebe spent a week creating paper dolls. They're darling! She's slowly making another creation to go with the doll, but that one is bigger and it's taking longer. She's taken over the table on several afternoons so she can spread out and get to work.

Close to His Heart

Topher: Take my picture!

Me: Are these your favorite things?

Topher: Yes!

Not Quite the Von Trapps, But Close

Sophie, Phoebe, Topher, and I sang "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon" at the library talent show tonight. We didn't even know about the event until last night when my friend, the children's librarian, sent out an email to the members of the Ukulele Orchestra asking for additional participants. Sophie agreed to sing and I signed her up to perform, "In My Own Little Corner." This morning I learned that only seven people were registered to participate. I texted a friend and she signed up her kids. Then I convinced the kids to sing with me and we added this song.

It made my heart so happy that they sang with me. Topher was the most enthusiastic and said, "I can't believe I get to sing on a real live stage." It wasn't exactly a proper stage, but it was pretty cool. And Cooper and Peter were good sports to come be in the audience.

I'm thankful that my friend thought to grab her phone and take this picture.

Everything Old Is New Again

Well, I officially have a calling in my new ward. I'm the Primary president. Again. I was shocked to be asked. My actual response was, "Oh you're kidding." I did say yes after that.

When the ward split and I was released from that role I was so sad. I had served for only five months and it usually lasts for three years. My dad's theory was that I needed to learn what a functional Primary looked like. This was before I was asked to be the Primary president in this new congregation.

When I served before I knew all the people but I didn't know the role. Now I have a better idea of the role, but I only know a few of the people.

It will be a new adventure. And kind of an old one.

Reading the Recipe

Sophie found a recipe for monkey bread last week and really, really wanted to make it. She reminded me on a daily basis to buy the biscuits the recipe called for. I finally remembered. She followed the recipe and made the bread all by herself. The kids all reported that the bread was delicious.

Well done, Sophie!

We the People

Happy Independence Day! We celebrated by attending a pancake breakfast and pickleball tournament with our old congregation. All the families that were moved out of the ward were invited and most of us showed up. We didn't play pickleball, but Sophie and Phoebe were in the 3-legged race. Topher was in the race for the younger kids, but I didn't get a picture of that one.

Topher, Sophie, and Cooper took part in the doughnut eating contest. Sophie won for the younger group! Her prize was a $5 gift card. Cooper came close to winning and also close to throwing up.

Peter, Phoebe, and I spent the whole time (I think we were there nearly three hours) talking with friends. Topher ran around with all the kids and played so hard that he wore a hole in his sock. That's what happens when you take your shoes off but leave your socks on.

We came home and had some quiet time. Sophie and I got a fun dinner ready and we ate pretty late. We had a thunderstorm just as the sun was setting, so the only fireworks we got were the ones Topher drew on the deck while we cooked.

The best part of the holiday came near the end of dinner. Bryan has been in London for work since early Monday morning and he came home tonight! Managing the kids without him is not the same kind of difficult it was when they were little, but I was still extremely happy to have him walk in the house tonight.

Put Another Candle On?

It's been two years since I had to give up gluten and twenty-five years since I (mostly) stopped eating refined sugar. This is the first year I've tried to find a cake I could eat for my birthday that met both dietary needs. It turns out keto friendly cakes are quite small. It tasted okay though.

Can you see the candle Bryan put on my cake? Instead of forty-four candles, he found an exclamation point candle. I thought it was pretty funny.

A Different Kind of Bling

I actually set up my birthday gift last night. I cut two pieces of wood and then Sophie came out to the garage to see what the loud noise that had woken her up was.

Oops.

But those two cuts I made were very nice.

High On A Mountain Top

Cooper spent last week camping and hiking in the Poconos with the Young Men in our Stake, including those that were moved to a different Stake in June. He came home on Friday night with a terrible sunburn and lots of amazing stories. He loved it. He's not loving the recovery, but the trip itself was fantastic.

The base camp was at Promised Land State Park. They all arrived in time for dinner. Cooper's group spent the first full day kayaking. Days two and three were spent hiking 24 miles (split between the two days) on what's known as The Devil's Path. He said he wouldn't have made it if he hadn't had trekking poles. The final day was spent on a lake and Cooper got to go tubing for the first time. I suspect that's when he acquired the sunburn.

He bore his testimony on Sunday about what he learned during his week away. He said that the first day they hiked he didn't drink enough water or eat enough food beforehand and the hike was really hard. Learning from that experience, on the second day of the hike he made sure he was well fed and hydrated. That hike, thought it was longer, was much easier for him. He then compared that to the spiritual nutrition available to us. When we read our scriptures and listen to the prophet and say our prayers, we feed our spirits. That helps us better handle the hard things we all face. I really appreciated the parable that he pulled from his adventure.

And we're glad to have him home.