Stepping Into the Past

Sophie gave a living history museum presentation on Helen Keller yesterday. Her class has been working on it for weeks. She had to have two artifacts to share (a tiny water pump and a Braille sample that she made out of glue and glitter), which were obtained a while ago. I knew that she'd been reading the books about Helen Keller that we have in our home library and that she'd written a short essay about her. And I knew the project was due yesterday. What I didn't know until Tuesday night was that she had to have a costume and have her presentation memorized. It appears that Sophie also forgot those two details. 

Tuesday evening and night included weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth over a presentation script that hadn't been written yet. And Sophie was stressed too. She finally finished writing it after 11pm and I sent her to bed. She didn't have it memorized, but maybe she could at least read through it several times before the appointed hour.

I had suggested a few different costume options, but none were up to snuff. Then, after I was tucked into bed, an image of a box in the basement came to mind. When I got up yesterday morning I ran downstairs and excavated the box of vintage clothes I inherited from my Grandma Miriam. Sure enough, there was a dress that looked perfect. Sophie agreed and happily put it on. We added a ribbon in her hair called her costume complete.

The reason she needed the presentation memorized was so she could make eye contact during her delivery. I had an idea. We enlarged her one and a half page script until it covered six and a half pages double spaced. Then, at Sophie's suggestion, we taped them together so that we had one loooong piece of paper. When she gave the presentation I stood behind her laptop screen and held the script just above the camera, out of sight of everyone except her. Then I slowly pulled the paper up as she read. I was essentially a human teleprompter.

Sophie was the first person to present during her time slot. She did a great job and her teacher gushed enthusiastically over how wonderful she thought it was. Sophie was thrilled and I was glad it was done. We talked afterward about some things that could have been done differently, like not waiting until the night before to write your script or tell mom that you need a period costume.

Before she got out of the dress, Topher asked if they could "have a ball." Sophie obliged.

Quarantine Week Eleven: The Pictures

Grand Travelers

We've just finished a wonderful visit with my parents and Grandma. Over the last week and a half I took almost no pictures. This morning, just before they left, I gathered the kids for pictures.

 

 

Thanks for visiting! We love you!

The Hill

On the first day of our adventure last week we drove to Palmyra, New York.

We met Bryan's grandma, Aunt Lorna, Uncle Paul, sister Melinda, brother-in-law Jake, nephews Nathan and Sam, and niece Emma at the visitor's center for the Hill Cumorah. Topher and I were taking a break in a quiet room nearby when this picture was taken.

Next we hiked a very, very steep hill to see the monument of the Angel Moroni and the gold plates. I wore Topher in the Bjorn and was thankful I didn't pass out.

Then we drove over to the Sacred Grove. It was beautiful. And Topher yelled nearly the entire time we were there.

Afterward, we claimed the awesome seats that Paul and Lorna had saved for us for the Hill Cumorah Pageant that night. We met some of the cast members before the show started.

Then we shared picnic dinners and ran and played and unintentionally lost a few children and then quickly found them again and got out as much energy as possible before the show started.

It was a long, hot day, but it was really fun. We loved getting to see our family!

Grandma Great

We had a quick adventure to upstate New York last week. The highlight was getting to see some of Bryan's family. Bryan's Grandma trekked out from Utah and was able to meet Topher for the first time. It was wonderful.

Family Time

We've loved having family in town during the last week. Here are a few of the highlights:

A Baptism and a Blessing

This weekend two very special events took place. On Saturday morning Phoebe was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bryan performed the ordinance, the Grandmas gave the prayers (Nana Cris the opening and Nana Shari the closing), and the Grandpas gave the talks (Grandpa Marc the Baptism talk and Papa Ron the Holy Ghost talk), Uncle Jordan made cookies, Aunt Leah did Phoebe's hair so it wouldn't float up in the water, I led the music, and Peter (yes, Peter) accompanied the opening and closing songs on the piano. Grandma Bonnie even came out of travel retirement to support Phoebe. True to her name, Phoebe radiated light. It was a lovely day.

Then on Sunday morning, during Sacrament Meeting, Topher received his baby blessing. Bryan gave the blessing with Papa Ron, Grandpa Marc, Uncle Jordan, and our Bishop in the circle. Peter held the microphone. Topher was blessed with a keen mind and with righteousness, among other things. During the blessing Topher was wrapped in an afghan that was made by his Great-Great-Great Aunt Bettie. She made the afghan for Peter's baby blessing and all five children have been wrapped in it for each of their blessings. Bettie passed away this year, it was poignant to have this reminder of her.

Thank you to the family that traveled to be with us for this weekend and for those that were here in spirit. I'm so happy that Phoebe chose to be baptized, that Topher was blessed, and that Bryan was (and is) worthy and able to perform both.

I love my family.

Pictures With Grandparents

 

Proud Proprietors of the Extended Stay Hotel

After spending February and much of March with us, my Grandma Bonnie is heading home tomorrow.

My parents flew out last week to visit and to fly back home with her. Their original flight was supposed to leave on Tuesday morning. We had a special Family Home Evening recital for the kids to play the piano and sing for them the night before the departure.

Then, at nearly eleven o'clock that night, my parents walked into the kitchen where I was having a snack before climbing into bed. They told me that the flight had been canceled due to the impending storm and was rescheduled for early Thursday morning. After some discussion, Bryan said he'd drive them to the airport the day of the flight so they could return the rental car.

So on Tuesday morning we adventured to the airport an hour and a half away. They returned the car and Sophie and I picked them up and came home, with a detour to Ikea thrown in for fun. We had a few flakes that day and prepared for the big snow the next day.

I am happy to report that my parents were able to experience their first snow days. And bonus: the power stayed on!

Then word came that the Thursday flight would actually happen on Saturday morning. We haven't heard anything to the contrary so far, and it's not snowing, so I assume this flight is moving forward.

We have loved having these extra days with them. I know they're anxious to get back to their responsibilities, but we will miss having them here. Tonight at bedtime Sophie told Grandma Bonnie that she didn't want her to go home. I know the feeling.

A Finished Work

Last night, after the kids had gone to sleep, Bryan came into our room where I was exercising and, without speaking, handed me his phone. The message, which had just come from his mom, told us that Bryan's Grandpa Ned had finished his time on earth. He had been declining for some time, so we had been expecting this. His wonderful wife and all of his children were with him when he slipped peacefully from this life to the next.

Ned was the first person that I met in Bryan's family. When Bryan and I were just crossing the threshold from good friends to dating, Ned had come to pick Bryan up from BYU to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with them. I had stayed to work in my job as an RA, so I was there to walk Bryan to the car. I remember noticing how much Bryan looked like his Grandpa, so much so that I wondered if I was getting a glimpse into the future of what Bryan would look like. His Grandpa was warm and friendly to me in the few minutes we interacted. And he continued to be welcoming and kind and loving through the nearly seventeen years I was able to know him.

After hugging each other and shedding tears, Bryan and I discussed how and when we should tell the kids. We had told them a few days before that Grandpa wasn't doing well, and that he was probably in the final days of his life, so they had been prepared. We debated if this additional news would ruin their day, or if it would be worse to withhold the information until the afternoon.

This morning Bryan and I got all the kids up for school, but instead of telling them to get dressed, we brought them into our room and had everyone snuggle on our bed. And then we told them.

Phoebe, who feels everything strongly and deeply, cried the hardest. Sophie, our nurturer, put her arm around her sister and said, "It's okay Phoebe," and continued to soothe her until it was time to get ready for the day. Cooper climbed onto my lap and leaned into me while I held him. Peter, who has the most memories of Grandpa of all our kids, didn't visibly react much. Bryan asked how he felt and Peter said he was sad, and his voice caught just the tiniest bit.

On the last day of our trip to Utah this summer, we had an unexpected few hours before we needed to be at the airport. We decided to stop by Bryan's grandparents' house one last time. They were delighted by the extra visit and we gave lots of hugs. As we were about to leave, I felt very strongly that we needed a picture with Bryan and the kids and Grandma and Grandpa. I took several, and at least one person is making a face or closing their eyes in each one. But the fact that we have those pictures brings comfort to our hearts and may help Phoebe and Sophie remember their only Great-Grandpa that they got to meet in mortality.

I know that death is not the end, only a temporary separation. I am certain that Ned was joyously met on the other side of the veil and that he is happy to be free of the pains and aches that he had felt for so many years. Death is sad for those of us still here, because we will miss him while we continue our work on Earth. Despite that knowledge, we still grieve, and that's okay.

Whenever we left their house, Ned would hug us and whisper into our ears "Remember who loves ya." We do, and we always will.

Up the Mountain

On the second full day of our trip we woke up at Bryan's grandparents' house and went to sleep in a cabin in the mountains. In between those events we ate, and toured, and saw an old friend, and shopped, and marveled at the grandeur and wonder of the earth, and ate, and visited with family.

Sophie loved getting to know Uncle Paul better.

The kids spent the morning running around Grandma and Grandpa's magical backyard.

Grandma obliged us with a picture. Yes, the TV was on. No, Sophie didn't look at the camera for any of the pictures I took.

We had a list of restaurants we wanted to eat at while in Utah. In and Out was the first we checked off. And, completely without planning it, Bryan's parents, brother, and sister came to eat at the same location while we were there. Paul said he'd figured we would be there. He was right.

Then we made our traditional pilgrimage to BYU. The kids hung out with Cosmo the Cougar.

Oh look, we all hung out with him.

After the bookstore we walked over to the library to show the kids where my old office was. I worked there for three years during college and then for a year and a half after I graduated. Peter was four-months-old when I quit to stay at home full time.

Imagine my joy when I found my former supervisor, then coworker, and friend Kimberly walking up the stairs as I walked down. She was leaving for the day, so our timing was perfect. We had a lovely chat and, other than the four children standing next to us, it felt like no time had passed. Then we walked the rest of the way down to my old office and had a happy reunion with another friend who still works there as well. We also discovered that my picture is still on the wall in the office. The kids thought I was a celebrity.

After BYU we drove down to see the new Provo City Center Temple. It's beautiful.

While we were showing the kids some of the places we lived during our sojourn there, we drove by the original Provo Temple as well. It's also beautiful.

And that put us right next to the new addition to the MTC. It's huge! We were kind of shocked, but how wonderful that there are so many missionaries that these additions are needed.

After picking up supplies and dinner, we headed up the canyon to the cabin. Here are a few exterior shots to give you an idea of the size of the cabin.

Oh, and here's some of the view.

I climbed all the way up the stairs to the top floor to get this shot. I'm glad that Melody was there on the bottom level to give perspective for how tall that place was. I don't love heights, did you know?

More view. Also us.

Thanks to Melody for taking (and then sharing) the next six pictures, including a few interior shots.

Dallin and Paul enjoyed the view from the inside after Paul was the lucky person to discover a wasp nest outside. After being stung a few times, he put some space between himself and the insects. The owner came and sprayed, which killed some of them, but only some. We continued to find lone, sometimes disoriented wasps over the next few days.

This was the deck right outside the room in the above picture.

And this lovely panoramic shot is from Bryan.

It was really amazing to get to stay in such a beautiful place. Thanks to Bryan's parents for making that possible.