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.