Homecoming with Friends

The Homecoming dance was last Saturday evening. Peter didn't want to take a date, but he did want to go with a group of friends. They didn't have their plans sorted until just before the dance. As far as I'm aware there were no fancy dinners beforehand, everybody just showed up at the dance.

Cooper had expressed interest in going, definitely by himself. We got him a ticket with the rule that he needed to have a group to go with. Up until an hour before the dance, he didn't have one. He finally agreed to hang out with Peter's friends and they both got ready. 

They had fun, but nobody did much dancing. Cooper found a friend from church who had made a similar last minute choice to go, so he had a group of people separate from Peter.

I was totally out of commission with a migraine, so Bryan did all the driving and picture taking. I don't think they intended to match each other, they just wanted to both be a little more casual. You can always tell when Bryan is the photographer because the camera is eye level with Peter.

Batball

"Mom! Let's make up a new sport!" -Topher, on a beautiful autumn afternoon

Proof of Seniority

Peter had his senior pictures taken yesterday.

Hair prep was rough.

Walk Along

I spent a few hours at the elementary school one day last week and attended Sophie and Topher's school wide fitness walk. They rotated with their classes through nine different stations and participated in exercises like jumping rope, hula-hooping (or huli-hooping if you're Topher), and stretching. They were both pleased that I was there and proved it by hugging me and waving at me throughout the morning. I love that I could be there to support them.

Mind the Gap

Topher has been wiggling his front tooth for a few weeks. It was so loose one day last week that his teacher sent him home from school with a special tooth box to stick under his pillow. He wiggled and pulled on it throughout the afternoon, but it just wasn't ready. That evening he brushed his teeth and the tooth came out!

Marry Me a Little

Topher came home from school last week and told us that he's getting married. He pinky promised that he would marry a girl in his class named Charlotte. But don't worry, it won't be until he's a grown up.

Yesterday he was really troubled over something. I asked what was wrong and he said he didn't know if he should marry Charlotte or Madison or Fiona, or if he should just marry all of them.

I told him he has many years before he needs to make the decision. But when he does, just marry one girl.

Modern Day Revelation

I loved the talks from General Conference last weekend. My favorites were:

Sir, We Would Like to See Jesus by Elder Robert M. Daines
God Knows and Loves You by Elder Alan T. Phillips
Seeing God’s Family through the Overview Lens by Sister Tamara W. Runia
Brothers and Sisters in Christ by Elder Ulisses Soares
Love Is Spoken Here by Elder Gerrit W. Gong
We Are His Children by Elder Christophe G. Giraud-Carrier
Think Celestial! by President Russell M. Nelson

I had originally thought the overall theme of the conference was Christ and covenants, and I still think that's true. But looking at these talks that I took so many notes on and had so many insights during, I see an important pattern. These are about love, choosing love and kindness over judgement. I'm going to find ways to better feel God's love, and then do my best to share that love with others.

If you participated in General Conference, what messages did you hear?

Unfinished

Phoebe had her first art club meeting this week. In order to join she had to draw and submit a self-portrait. She finished it at school and didn't take a picture, so I didn't see how it turned out. But I did find this one that she started and rejected as not good enough. 

This surpasses anything I could draw, by a significant amount. Even though it was rejected and is unfinished, I think it's beautiful.

Crazy Fast

"Mom, this is you. See how fast you're running? And this is me. See how fast I'M running?!" -Topher, who clearly understands that more legs equal greater speed.

Let It Be

Between the first two Saturday sessions of General Conference we all went outside to do yardwork. Bryan manned the edger, Peter ran the lawnmower, and the rest of us attacked the weeds. Our big goal was to remove the small trees that had grown in the shade of our giant pine tree. It took us a bit to get there as we gathered sticks and pulled weeds in other parts of the yard. We finally began work under the tree. We'd been pulling weeds for about five minutes when Sophie announced that she'd found something.

Yeah, that's poison ivy. I'm impressed that she recognized it right away. Our work in the yard was cut short and everyone that had worked under the tree had to go leave their shoes and clothes in the garage and then go shower, just in case we'd come in contact with it.

We'll leave the removal to a professional.