Rain, Rain

We've been in a drought this summer. A Pennsylvania drought looks different than a California drought or a Utah drought. The grass is still mostly green, but it's not the vibrant green it usually is. We've had a few storms, but not as many as usual.

The storm we're having today feels like it's trying to make up for all the rain we've missed.

The youth activity for tonight was cancelled because roads are flooded.

I had to drive through the storm multiple times.

It felt biblical.

This picture doesn't do it justice.

Library Day

What Am I Missing?

Today we had a ukulele orchestra performance at a park.

I brought my music.

I brought my music stand.

I brought my folding chair.

Can you see where this is going?

Upon arrival, I discovered I had not brought my ukulele.

I think perhaps my brain still hasn't recovered from the stress and overwhelm of the schoolyear.

When I announced to the other members of the orchestra that I'd forgotten my instrument they had two reactions: several of them said they'd almost done the same thing and then they all insisted that I stay anyway to sing. 

I did, and Topher, who had come with me, sat on my lap and sang along too.

Peter: Week Two in Pictures

Serve Those Around You

The service activity on Saturday was a success! This is a combination of pictures from me and Phoebe. She was much more thorough in her recording of the event than I was.

Here's the food area:

And the service area, we added another service table after this was taken:

These were the dining tables, each associated with a different holiday or pair of holidays.

Here we have Memorial/Veteran's Day:

Day of the Dead, from a few angles:

Spring Equinox:

Thanksgiving:

Valentine's Day:

Christmas:

Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

These are the wall decorations, I'm sure you can tell which holiday each one goes with:

And the service projects themselves, starting with our wall of options:

The girls added some chalk art:

And here's the activity in full swing, plus a few finished ornaments to send to families who don't have any, the first done by Phoebe, the second by one of Topher's friends:

It was well attended and a lot of service was accomplished!

Creative Distractions

On Sunday I was the first adult to primary, but not the first person. The room already held several children. We have a two-deep leadership policy, which for me means, in part, not being the only adult in the room. While I waited for another grownup to come in, I leaned against the doorway and asked who wanted to draw a picture of a temple on the chalkboard. Several hands went up and I encouraged them to go for it.

This temple has a mustache instead of an Angel Moroni. I didn't realize this until one of the kids pointed it out during singing time. I thought it was a propeller.

Topher drew the temple on the right. He said he patterned it after the Washington D.C. temple.

The kids were all pleased with their art and none of them seemed to realize it was a diversionary tactic.

Photographic Evidence

"Topher, what's on your neck? Is that chocolate? How did you get chocolate on your neck?!"

Sometimes when you sneak chocolate chips out of the pantry, there's evidence.

All the Holidays

I'm in charge of a ward service activity tomorrow. We're calling it A Year of Service in a Day and have seven different service options for people to help with, each connected to a different holiday. Cooper and Topher went to help me set up and decorate this afternoon and we ended up staying until nearly 10pm. We did detour to Walmart and Costco in the middle, but still, that's way too long. They were both really helpful and very good sports.

I hope people show up tomorrow.

Peter: Week One in Pictures

For the Strength

Cooper and Phoebe had a fantastic experience at FSY last week! Sophie and I handled Monday drop-off (I drove, she socialized) for our kids and their friends and the other family made the drive to bring them home on Saturday. I took some pictures when we checked them in. As for the week itself, I didn't get many pictures, but the ones I got looked happy.

The hard part about FSY last week? Cooper and Phoebe said goodbye to Peter on Monday morning instead of Wednesday evening. There were big feelings.

Balancing Act

"Mom! Mom! Look! Quick! Look at the broom! Dad said it couldn't do this, but it can! Take a picture, quick!" -Topher, adamant that I document the balancing broom. I want to record this moment because it happened while he was doing his chores, without complaint. Now, that is something to remember.