The Z starts School

She was so ready.  And Max was pretty excited too.  

Way way back in July

We went to good ole' Manassa for Grandad's 90th birthday party.  We drove on the 4th of July and it went better than we expected.  The kids did great and we even stopped and played in a reservoir on the way.  It is always so great to see all the family, though this time was different without Grandma Barbara.  We gathered at Mark and Nancy's and played and ate. We also went to the cabin.  The kids smashed coins on the train track and played the day away at the beautiful mountain ranch. Dodgeball, lightening, cousins galore, it was just a good time.  

   

Way back in July

Zannah, Max, my mom and I flew to Charlotte's for a week.  We were planning on being there for the arrival of Julia and almost missed it.  The day before we were to fly out, she was still not here, so we extended a couple days and met her the night before we left. Sweet, beautiful Julia, she made me so excited to meet Metta.  Charlotte had her all natural, what a stinking tough woman.  We had a great time picking raspberries, swimming, and sweating it out in that Michigan humidity. And the kids played and fought and played some more.

Good times at the Organ

My latest calling in church is playing the organ. Our ward was very desperate when they issued the calling. Nonetheless I have enjoyed it as I get to sit up at the front and stare at people (one of my most favorite pastimes). But, I'm afraid more times than naught, I have been the recipient of many a stare. Here are a few organ stories:

*During the silence of the Sacrament being passed, Zannah decides to share some very important information with me from the pew: "MOM! I want to be a witch for Halloween!" I give her the shush sign and nod my head yes, hoping that will pacify her. "MOM!!! I really want to be a witch for Halloween, not an M&M!" I give her the thumbs up. "MOM!! I don't want to be an M&M, ok? I really, really want to be a witch!" The ward, including myself got it Z-meister.

*During prelude one Sunday, Max escapes from Marcus's grip. He just wants to tell me something and to sit with me on the bench, but not before he steps on every possible foot pedal he can.

*Today, I was feeling pretty smug after the Sacrament hymn as I had just finished the last verse with very few blunders. I even ended the notes right on cue with the chorister. Then there was silence. Too much silence. I look up and they are still breaking the bread and I am getting stares from the bread-breakers and the bishopric. So I clumsily start to play another verse of the hymn, but in my haste I play on the "Great" keys instead of the "Swell" keys, which was set really loud for the opening hymn of "Joy to the World". I barely get the first measure played when I notice they are now done breaking the bread. But, I am not too quick on my feet, or hands I should say, to end the song in any decent fashion. So I just play a really loud, boisterous Sacrament hymn solo with many mistakes mixed in because my sweaty hands are sliding all over the place. No staring for me today, I kept my head down.

Metta Miracle

Exactly one year ago my brothers were all at our house for Thanksgiving.  Marcus, Phillip, Lex, and Justin gave me a Priesthood blessing asking that my body would accept the medications I was about to start taking and eventually accept the embryo that would later be transferred.  That was the first of several blessings I recieved up until Metta was in my arms.  Looking back, I can easily recall the power I felt then.  It is pretty amazing that I am surrounded by worthy Priesthood holders and it is equally amazing that this little gal came to us.  And I can't leave out the fact that Swisser-pants gave me the first shot in the rump the following day and Ange-babe cheered us on.  Amazing sisters-in-law too.    

Ain't That the Truth

Marcus's contribution to our grateful tree we made for Family Home Evening.

Baby Eli

Mid-October we went to Pullman for baby Eli's baby blessing.  He is such an easy-going, happy baby.  And I'm not just saying that.  If you know Phillip and Ange-babe, you know they are happy and amiable and all that is good in the world.  Well, baby Eli is a perfect mix of them.  I couldn't get over how smiley he was.  And I'm not sure I ever heard him cry.