A Day in the Life...

Copper counted down her birthday for weeks.  I completely  understand.  The week before, she had her birthday date with grandma.  She LOVES this tradition and looks forward to their dinner and shopping date.  This year she picked Paradise Bakery, a favorite.  For her gifts she picked out a new outfit and a 100 piece hair kit.  We know it's 100 pieces not just from the packaging but because she's counted it numerous times.  AND... I saw her walking the halls of church with it.  Geez... some people's kids and the stuff they bring to church... Copper LOVES her grandma sometimes more than she loves me.  We're very grateful for my mom and everything she does for us.  She's a hard working, life loving gem who made Copper feel like a queen on their date, and every day.  The night before her birthday the twins gave Copper their present early.  Her two superhero (batgirl and hulk) sisters were pretty excited ...

My aunt Barbara died two weeks ago.  During my childhood and adolescence, our families did most everything together- holidays, get-togethers, outings.  She taught us a lot about life, love, service, and the world outside of Lehi.  The list of what we did together is astronomical but some highlights are: The zoo every year, Tracy Aviary, Wheeler Farm, and This Is the Place Monument Cheering from the stands (or her kitchen) for U Football teams Decorating and arranging her classroom (she was a high school English teacher) for the coming year.  Shandee and I spent many summers helping her with calendars and arranging books and things.  It was awesome. A few trips to their cabin at Bear Lake Riding in the Lincoln Town Car... at the time it seemed like a big deal... Watching the Lehi Miniature Parade with her in front of grandma's house Going to the Lehi Round-Up Rodeo together Back to school shopping at the Park City Outlets, followed by lunch Decorating ...

Sometimes at night I make the kids run laps before we come inside...  We got a kitty and I just love it.  I call it Kitty and the kids named it Boots but mostly call it nothing at all.  Tim loves it too and who'd ever thought.  He's the cutest little thing- literally little- about six weeks old about maybe five inches high but growing.  Tim commented he must have been meant for our family- he's just perfect- and I agree!  See?  They clean up nicely on the Sabbath... These two... best friends most of the time...  Friends come over rarely for the twins because 1) I'm lazy and their friends live further than next door... it takes some effort... 2) I forget they need them because they have each other.  But when friends do come over... it's a good time! Dakota falls asleep almost anywhere... Summer dinners outside are the best...  Our kitty thinks so too...  Tim's the best.  He built these sh...