10 Years?

Celia wanted an epic party. She realized and told me she is a decade year old now. That made me twinge a little. She wanted to go to a place for her birthday and also have it at home. She wanted a Shopkin and My Little Pony theme. My mom made a  yummy icecream cake with a MLP on top! Celia is so fun and great. I was happy to make her dreams come true. It was a fun day. We sent cupcakes in for school and walked in the pouring rain together to bring them to class. I ended up buying her an umbrella(bright pink, she didn't think we needed mine) so that doesn't happen again to us.

She gets out of school early on Fridays and Spencer had the day off school. Went went to Costa Vida with my friend Patty. Celia got to see first hand what she usual misses, which is mom gabbing with her friend way past the time when we finish our food. Patty had a gift for her and a ring pop for Spence and that helped them to endure.  My car was in the shop so Laurie picked up Spence and I to go get my van after we did yoga. Rah rah got to come and celebrate with Celia and the party was a big hit. I was proud of Celia for inviting one of her friends that she didn't used to get along with. It is important to try and heal relationships and let things go. All are happier for it. It is nice to not have a nemesis anymore either.:) I'm grateful for all or sweet children Brian and I have. It does makes things busy and demanding, but so worthwhile.

Family, Peace, and Autism.

When making a choice, I've found it is the one that gives me the most peace that is the correct one. Some answers take longer than others to receive or decide, but going with what beings peace even when it is hard has worked for me. I really wanted to go to Idaho to drop off Emmy, but alas I decided to stay and let Joseph go and see Idaho and visit his cousins in Utah. Joseph earned it by no missing assignments at school for a few months. I'm so glad my folks are in town. They have helped me and been company as Brian took Emmy off to her second semester of her Freshman at BYUI. She is more ready this time and I think she will adjust well to college life again.

I found a Groupon for a geyser near Napa, California. I thought that sounded something Spencer and Celia's speed as far as recreation and entertainment. My folks packed a picnic and we headed there. We had gorgeous detours and saw beautiful sites. A hotel my folks had stayed at for a few "None of your business trips" back in the day was impressive. It was warm out and the trees were nice for shade. We saw lakes rivers and streams, animal life, and the car worked great. It was lovely family time together. I feel so blessed to live in beautiful California. I think everyone wanted to go to the bay area in the morning. It took an hour longer to get there than returning. The difference in traffic made us so happy and grateful to have no traffic on the way back. April is Autism awareness month, but I felt joy knowing we can do things that are within these kiddos comfort range and still have a lovely time.

My folks came to church with us today. I was thinking on how to keep the spirit with me and not get too distracted by things in life that are superficial. The talk I heard today was all about the Holy Ghost. It was an answer to my prayers and a reminder. Spencer and I didn't stay long at church, but it was quality rather than quantity. We had car ride and had a great time having lunch outside at my folks, enjoying the hammock and playing games. Spencer smiled and stood up when he was ready to head back home.  I'm grateful for the home and the peace we are blessed with right now, and my heart and prayers go out to those affected in the Japan an Ecuador earthquakes in the past few days. May they be freed if they are trapped, and comforted if they are distressed.

Joe's B-day

Joseph is growing up. He schedule parties with friends,, attends church dance and goes off to scout trips and EFY weeks without parents. He prizes his height and loves to tell me how much taller he is than me. He loves to play games with the family and hang out with the cousins. He love blue BYUI hoodies and enjoyed getting new shoes. He loves to hug on me still tells me he loves me. I'm grateful for this young teen. He is my best cooking helper and he has recently started being nice to his younger sister, Celia. Joseph had a party at Rah Rah's. Philinea, Jeremiah, and Willow were there too. We had ribs and Grandma's ice cream cake. Joseph enjoyed his box full of one dollar bills and getting money for his birthday.

 I had my Mom's help embroidering his name on his new towels and he got a lot of star wars paraphernalia and the movie. He is prepared also with gear for his backpacking trip in June. So far raising a boy in high school is different than raising a girl. I'm hoping the expectation of finishing his Eagle scout award before driving will motivate him to do his best with his time for scouts. I help a lot of young boys progress in cub scouts, why is it harder with your own boy? Joseph has a field trip to San Francisco for art soon and he went golfing with the Varsity scouts. How fun to be a youth trying new thing and seeing great sights. So grateful for my boy and that he is Fifteen!

Easter 2016

After returning from our little vacation, it was a rush to get in Easter mode. I even bought eggs that were boiled and colored already.:) On Saturday, we went to our ward Donut Social/Easter egg hunt. They had the hunts separated by age. Good thing we had already had an egg hunt with Merlene in our back yard for the big kids because they were too old to hunt at the church function. The Easter Bunny came and they had a little photo booth. I got to hold a few babies. I forget how little they are. Our new cousins are in our ward now, moved here from Albuquerque and they have the cutest 5 month old twins, a boy and a girl. Celia wanted to hold one and really enjoyed that. I think Celia had a blast at the party. She said to me" Were you watching me be awesome"? She is such a fun character in our family. We went for family ride on Saturday and found a Pizza hut with a sit down area. Those are hard to find, but the family sure enjoyed it. Emmy will be going back to school soon, so we have to get in all the time we can with her and all of us as a family. It is heavenly when all of them are getting on well and we are enjoying each other's company. Church was great on Sunday. Emmy and I taught my Primary class and Brian taught in Priesthood. We had a yummy steak dinner at home with our new cousins and my folks. Family makes it better. Melanie brought amazingly yummy homemade rolls an my mom make a ice cream cake that was very delicious. Our BBQ is on it's last leg, but all was yummy. We were pleased to see RahRah who brought Easter to us too. We are so loved. I'm grateful we have our health and strength to celebrate our Savior's resurrection with family and food.