Time with my girls...

Today we went to Pebbles to work on projects for a few hours... something we haven't done together in quite a while. The girls scrapbooked and I sorted through family pictures as I try to piece together our first 15 years of married life. Kelsie was working at the counter but popped in every now and then to say hi.
-Brenda

Cabin Time

We headed up last night to the Huish's cabin for a good time with friends. Yummy food, games and of course plenty of talking... I realized last night that no matter what happens to the economy, that we are all in this together and that sharing simple times with loved ones is what brings me joy. Listening to the news, it easy to think that everything is doom and gloom, but there is still an awful lot of good floating around, we just have to look for it and add to it :)
-Brenda

Larry & Brenda, Carl & Jan, Art & Kathy Jo, Brad & Debbie

Aleen, Jan & Darene, Brad, Rick & Paul, Beth, Vern & Richard,
Sann & Todd

Hope

It felt like spring today... all 48 degrees of it! Beautiful blue skies, melting snow and the grass is beginning to peek out. Just the thought of spring around the corner makes our hearts skip a beat! Have you noticed it's finally getting lighter at night??? It's been a wonderfully long, white winter with plenty of sledding fun and good water to fill up our lakes for summer. Now we are looking forward to living outside... backyard summer movies, bike rides, BBQ's, camping & fishing, playing at the lake, barefeet and laying on the cool grass. It can't come soon enough!
-Brenda

Piano Again?

Every Tuesday Abby asks the same question... we can count on it like clockwork. 'Do I have to go to piano?' Every week our answer is the same, ' Yes!' By the look on her face, we know we have given her the wrong answer. 'Fine!' she grumpily says and trudges off to Sister Thorne's house down the street. Is her 13 year old brain thinking that one day we will give up and say no... and suddenly her Tuesdays will become her favorite day of the week instead of the dreaded piano day? She is too good to give up so young, though she promises that she would continue to teach herself (unlike her sisters). To mix it up, she likes to download music off the internet from groups like Cold Play or A Fine Frenzy and practice. Sometimes Kelsie joins in the singing and it's extra fun :)
-Brenda

Kelsie's Home

Larry & I went to the airport to pick up Kelsie tonight. We missed her singing and dancing around the house. As she was coming down the escalator, we could see her eyes tearing up and as we gave her hugs she said, I miss my Josh. A HUGE thank you to Josh & his family for taking such good care of her. She had a wonderful time in Michigan and really liked getting to know your family. We are looking forward to your March visit :)
-Brenda

Cleaning Out

Sick day. I don't usually use them. But it was President's Day and Abby was home. It was a listening to music / jammie kind of day. Whenever my head would clear Abby & I would go through boxes and bags of stuff... mostly unfinished projects, old magazines, self help books, clothes that I had yet to repair that are now too small for the girls, etc . (All those unfinished projects that say 'loser' every time you look at them.) I cleared out the laundry room and the computer / photograph / project room in one gigantic swoop! I finished dozens of projects in one day simply by boxing them up for the thrift store. I am FREE! Some of these projects I have been meaning to do for years, but realistically am I going to do them? Not in this life time and hopefully not the next. Nothing felt better to do. The basic projects I have left to work on are: Organizing 28 years of photos, family history and Kelsie's graduation quilt.

Larry came home from St. George and we watched Transporter 2. We now believe that Frank can take on Jack, James & Jason at the same time :)
-Brenda

Big Boy Helper

I wonder if we squash a child's innate desire to be helpful by thinking we have to do things better & faster. Unfortunately, I think we as parents do this. I think women often do it to their husbands. Maybe it's the blessing of the second time around with a grandchild that we see the joy of life more clearly and appreciate all the little things more. We aren't so quick to get things done because the bulk of child care doesn't rest on our shoulders. Sadly, hindsight is often the best teacher...

Today after church, Larry, Paul & Ash and Amy went down to St. George to rearrange the front counter and get the electrical all working before Monday morning. They have more stuff to do for the store tomorrow and should be home by dinner. Kelsie is still gone to Michigan (Hi!) and Linds, Abs and I just had a quiet day hanging out together. I am getting a pesky cold that I hope will be gone in a couple of days. It's just enough to make you feel funky in the head. Linds made homemade chicken soup and chocolate chip cookies... Ransom & Katie dropped by with Conrad and had some soup... Conrad is sick for the very first time in his 15 month life and is miserable. Friends Garth & Marci dropped by for a visit with whole wheat bread that was out of this world yummy!
-Brenda

Conrad is becoming such a big helper!