Family Time – Page 50 – Letters from Home

Timothy’s Last Pinewood Derby

Timothy and Richard created a masterpiece for their last Pinewood Derby together.

Timothy won most of his races and received an award for the excellent styling of his car.

Richard gets one year off and then Mark will be in Cub Scouts. Just three more cars to go!

Easter Eggs in the Secret Garden

The kids had their first Easter egg hunt in the Secret Garden at my parents’ cabin on Saturday. The annual Easter egg hunt is something we have heard about with a twinge of pain because we have never had the opportunity to be there. Well, this year we were THERE. And we loved it. Almost all of the cousins were there from my side of the family. I loved watching the dads hiding the eggs almost as much as I enjoyed watching the kids finding them.

Daniel took the photos of the spring flowers emerging on the property. At our house the bulbs are beginning to bloom in our front yard and it was a happy surprise to find a row of crocuses in our new flower beds. We planted some tulips, but the the beds are full of more varieties of tulip leaves than we planted. The daffodils arrived just in time for Easter. I miss my Arizona irises which are probably blooming right now, but living in Utah was worth every sacrifice.

General Young Women Meeting Year 5

Paige and I got to go to the Conference Center tonight to see the General Young Women Meeting.

It was a powerful experience. Even the art in the halls and the smiling ushers were special to me. I was so grateful that Paige and I could have this opportunity. When all of those young women began to sing the opening hymn I couldn’t join them. I just tried to breathe and wipe the tears away as quickly as possible.

I watched the General YW President before and after the meeting, walking about and greeting people. This taught me a lot about her leadership style and her capacity to love. People can teach us even when they aren’t speaking to us. She was just a tiny speck from where we were sitting, but I could see how people reacted to her focused attention and how she maneuvered from shaking hands with apostles to hugging a little 12 year old girl. It is a skill to be able to greet so many people in a meaningful way.

I love General Conference season. When I am listening to the apostles and other leaders, gospel living seems well within reach. Their words inspire me to do better.

San Francisco

We like the Red and White Fleet. They have a good deal for a family our size and the boat ride is only an hour long, which is perfect for young kids.

The kids liked to hear the tour through headsets.

The boys wanted to tour the Liberty Ship in the background.

We enjoyed the self-guided tour through the Liberty Ship. The boys tried out the bunks. We climbed up and down ladders and down into the engine room.

It was a quick trip, but so much fun. There’s no place like San Francisco. For me, it holds memories of my grandparents and Aunt Kate who took me there a couple of times when I was a teenager. I like driving through Berkeley and seeing all of the pastel houses. I like the rolling hills. As I have been writing my grandmother’s history, I have learned quite a bit about the Bay Area. A piece of my history lives there.

We laughed so hard

When you visit Grandma, you’re sure to have a good time.

Grandpa sat with the liveliest group, moving now and then to a different room.

He liked the grandkids quite a bit.

Thank you, Caroline Ingalls and Marilla Cuthbert

Practicing different songs at the same time!

I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but I have never read the Little House books. I have read a few of them, but I missed the overall experience along the way. I’m trying to read them straight through.

These books inspire me to cook things with gravy and cornmeal. They also remind me to be a better housekeeper. Caroline Ingalls and Mrs. Wilder belong in the same category as Marilla Cuthbert for excellent housekeeping. This is what I needed for January reading, since the house has collected a little clutter over the past month. I’ve completed all kinds of extra little jobs, inspired by these stories.

The kids are also getting whipped into shape after Christmas time sloth. They’re coming home to job lists because the best kind of people know how to work. I never give my kids chores. I give them jobs. The choice of names conveys an important message.

They all approach their jobs differently, but an incentive is important for my boys. Our incentives always involve screen time: computer, t.v., or Wii. They must really want to watch something today, because I just found Daniel and Timothy practicing different songs on two different instruments in the same room. I’ll let them get away with it today because they are sharing so nicely.

Waiting for a Robert Lewis Stevenson

We’re sick here. Very ill. Viral.

Childhood illness is just not fair, especially at Christmas. The new sleds have only had a token number of runs.

I find it remarkable that a childhood full of illness was what sparked so much creativity in Robert Lewis Stevenson. His nurse evidently didn’t let him watch endless episodes of America’s Funniest Home Videos on Netflix like I’ve allowed my boys to view this week.

It’s funny to hear them laugh at something with croaking laughs. It’s not funny to hear them coughing violently all day.

Viruses are bad, very bad. If you’re healthy and you haven’t had your flu shot, you should do it today.

I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas

It’s been a tradition for the past 10 years to make Christmas movies for the grandparents. We’re thinking of them as we ham it up. Here’s the opening number for our 2012 Christmas video. We hope that you enjoy it.