This is by far the most patriotic I have ever felt for the 4th. It's so great to celebrate being citizens of this great country. We have so much more appreciation than ever before. Even something as simple as seeing the flag warms my heart.
I need DeAnna to send some pictures of the fireworks and pool party. These are of Lauren and Rissie with their cousins, Keira and Garrett, doing finger paints with Aunt Betsy at Grandma and Papa Lee's.
Garrett used himself as a canvas.
Okay, I have literally less than five minutes to cover a months worth of our unblogged lives. We have LOVED being home and are finally starting to feel settled - if that's possible. We have barely had time to breath being here and there with both of our families. It's wonderful. Everyday I am thankful for something new about being home. We miss GDL but we LOVE being home more. I have missed seeing everyone's blog so once we get home from Bear Lake I'll have to update myself on all of your lives. Until then - enjoy your summer!
Lindsay, I am so glad you found us. I'll catch you soon.
Sunday was the last day in our ward. I hugged my friends and shed a few tears knowing that I would probably never see them again.
(Jon wasn't nearly as sad, he has had a rough time in the bishopric not being able to communicate.)Yesterday, we spent our last play date with our good friends at "Old McDonalds", as Lauren calls it. Then as we said good-bye I gave my friend a copy of the BoM. I've never done that before and I'll admit I was pretty nervous, though I don't think she knew. Some one wise once said that if you
haven't been nervous in a while, it's time to expand and leave your comfort zone. Having said that, I need to be a little more nervous a little more often! :) I don't know if she will read it or if she will think of my faith again once I am gone, but I feel better anyway.
Here are a couple of Funnies from Lauren:I was preparing a recipe Jon's mom gave me when Lauren walked into the kitchen and exclaimed, "Mmmm, it smells like Grandma Jenkins!" small pause, "She smells pretty yummy!"THEN, while we sitting down to eat it Lauren giggles and says, "MOM, my nose freaked out cuz of my pop!"
Anna - Rissie - Lauren...Anna's picture refused to turn. Maybe this is just fun for us but we thought we would post it anyway to show how different and similar they are.
My screen shows two rows of three pictures...sorry if they went scewampous on yours. Trying to make this work right just frustrates me.
Dilemma
We are down to 16 days until we fly home and we are SOOO excited. Lauren talks about it everyday - ALL day. It's great packing up knowing that our adventures in Mexico are drawing to an end and the great USA is so close we can almost taste it. Speaking of "taste" - I am having a terrible dilemma
in that I am now deciding it's time to go easy on the sweets and think about getting back into my cuter clothes - BUT I have a pantry full of yummy treats. A pantry that I am trying to empty in two weeks. I hate the idea of wasting food - ESPECIALLY desserts. Most are treats brought and collected from home like: Stawberry shortcake, Chocolate PB bars, Rice Crispy Treats, Swedish Fish, Flan, Blueberry
muffins, tapioca pudding, LOTS of cookies, you get the idea. I've been rationing them and purposefully neglecting them so I wouldn't get lectured at my doctor visits. Now it's me against me. What's a girl to do?
Throw her away
Lauren told me the other day that we should throw Rissie away. WHAT? Where did this come from? They play so well together. So, wanting Jon to be part of this conversation, I said, "Okay. Go ask your dad and make sure it's okay with him." When she realized I wasn't protesting, she stopped to analyze her
proposal. I also reminded her that if Rissie's in the garbage she can't go with us to Utah. A look of concern came across her face and she said, "But I'll miss her." By the end of the conversation she decided that she loved Rissie and didn't want her thrown away. She has everyday since reminded me that she loves her sister and wants her to come to Utah.
I put makeup on yesterday. It was kind of nice. I think I might do that again today. Jon shouldn't have to dig into long term in order to remember what I "really" look like. :)
Fortunately, we don't always need to revert to long term memory or there is a good chance Lauren would be our only child. I am happy to forget those beginning months of sickness, that final month of can't and don't want to budge, certainly the don't push yet - the epidural isn't in, or the two and half weeks of toughening the baby feeders! I had a break through this morning, I didn't wince in agony when she latched on. That's about the time I smiled and decided that TODAY was going to be a good day. Not that I've been living BAD days - but it's sure great to move past those painful days. Lucky for me, I have three beautiful little girls that keep a smile on my face - most of the time.
Jon's mom came to help right after my parents left. In fact, as my parents were being dropped off at the airport Jon's mom was being picked up. They even had a chance to say a brief hello. Jane was here for almost a week and was a great help as well. THANK YOU Jane! Marci, Jon's youngest sister, came all the way down for a day and half basically just to see her new little niece - of all the pictures being snapped I didn't get any with Marci on my camera (Jane or Marci, you'll have to send them to me.)
Grandma Jenkins
Eyes open
Grandma and Papa Lee with our girls
Where does it hurt?
3/14/05 Lauren's cough continues, and after her heartbreaking cries of, "I don't like my cough." I asked her where it hurt, thinking it could be either her throat or her chest. She said, "Right here." Then mouth wide open she pointed to her throat with her entire hand in her mouth and her finger at the back until she gagged.
2/19/08 This morning, we are eating breakfast when J interrupts the brief silence with a small basement burp. Without missing a beat, Lauren says, "What do you say, Daddy?" He excuses himself, then still in her motherly tone adds, "We don't fart at the table do we?"
Junk Food
9/16/08 Yesterday Lauren learned the difference between junk food and healthy food. So this morning, when she saw Rissie with a piece of candy, she said, "Mom, can I please have some junk food?"
2/9/08 Today Lauren asked me to redo her hair because it was "falling off!"
Cookie Dough
L: (in her sweetest voice) "Mom, can I have some cookie dough please?"
M: "Sure."
L: "Well," pause, "do you think you can get it from the fridge so I can like it?"
4/20/2008 So Lauren got some gum (not a fan) for being a good girl. Later, Jon asked her if she had swallowed it. She said, "No." Then he asked if she threw it away. She said, "No." So he asked her where it was, she told him it was in her throat.
L. and R. have been singing and dancing to their new piano that plays fun tunes. L. has been learning them and singing them around the house. A few days ago I overheard her sining, "Mary had a little sheep, little sheep, little sheep,...
Finding the Moon
Lauren shouts, "Grandma, there is the moon!" She started singing Twinkle Little Star, but in the mean time we had turned the corner and she soon discovered it was gone. So she tells Grandma, "We need to find another moon." 01/13/08
Kids are the best source of laughter
- I was getting dressed and L happened to be there and as I reached for my br_ she asked, "Mom, you put your b__bs on?"12/07
- R had gotten in trouble for something, then after some reflection L said matter of factly, "Well, she's learning."12/07
- L just told Jon to look at her stomach then lifted her arm, pulled down her sleeve, and showed him her armpit.12/07
Garrett used himself as a canvas.
Sunday was the last day in our ward. I hugged my friends and shed a few tears knowing that I would probably never see them again. (Jon wasn't nearly as sad, he has had a rough time in the bishopric not being able to communicate.)
haven't been nervous in a while, it's time to expand and leave your comfort zone. Having said that, I need to be a little more nervous a little more often! :) I don't know if she will read it or if she will think of my faith again once I am gone, but I feel better anyway.
Dilemma 
in that I am now deciding it's time to go easy on the sweets and think about getting back into my cuter clothes - BUT I have a pantry full of yummy treats. A pantry that I am trying to empty in two weeks. I hate the idea of wasting food - ESPECIALLY desserts. Most are treats brought and collected from home like: Stawberry shortcake, Chocolate PB bars, Rice Crispy Treats, Swedish Fish, Flan, Blueberry
muffins, tapioca pudding, LOTS of cookies, you get the idea. I've been rationing them and purposefully neglecting them so I wouldn't get lectured at my doctor visits. Now it's me against me. What's a girl to do?
proposal. I also reminded her that if Rissie's in the garbage she can't go with us to Utah. A look of concern came across her face and she said, "But I'll miss her." By the end of the conversation she decided that she loved Rissie and didn't want her thrown away. She has everyday since reminded me that she loves her sister and wants her to come to Utah.
