Friday, August 8, 2014

Happy Birthday to Molly

who is 5 years old today!

We had a little celebration this morning for Molly.  She opened the rest of her gifts from us and we had donuts for breakfast.

 

Molly is finally up!

 It's a purse!

 Calico Critters!

 I told Molly that because it was her birthday she could decide who said all the prayers today.  She decided she wanted to say them all herself, so she did.  Emmy was extra nice to Molly today.  They watched part of Snow White and then played with Molly's Calico Critters.  They also played ball and after grandpa fixed the tire on the ranger Emmy and Grandpa took Molly for a ride.

While James was in town getting the tire fixed he stopped at the computer store and got me a new cord for my computer.  Thank goodness.  I was beginning to have withdrawals!

Anna asked James today if he would help her to learn to play the guitar.  I loved watching them.

Anna taking note at her guitar lesson.

Anna also finished the Princess puzzle today.

I forgot to mention that the other day when James was riding the Razr he said a bobcat ran in front of him and he saw a bunch of turkey's, about nine or ten.  James loves the out of doors almost as much as Alex and grandpa.

I made enchiladas for dinner and after dinner we had ice cream to continue Molly's birthday celebration!

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Molly got ready for our trip into town this morning by taking a bath.

 Molly and her "Barbies".  

She had to wash all of their hair too.

I found out that Molly likes apples.  She wanted some M&M's and I told her she needed to eat an apple first.  I sliced it in several wedges and she ate them all and wanted more.  

We had lunch at Pizza Hut.  We all ordered the buffet.  Afterwards we went to Walmart to get some things for Molly's birthday tomorrow.  We got donuts for breakfast, some princess balloons and an Olaf balloon.  The Olaf balloon made Molly happy.  She kept calling him her boyfriend.

Molly's boyfriend.

He makes her smile.

Since we couldn't ride the Razr today we had to find some other things to do.  

 We colored.

 Emmy gave Molly a piggyback ride.

Speaking of piggies:

  Molly and I took a nap.

I didn't take a picture so this one will have to do.

 The girls played with the Barbie's and the new Barbie clothes that grandmother Lambson made for them.

 Anna is the official Barbie hairdresser.

Grandpa James surprised us today by coming home from the valley.  We were all happy to see him.  I was sad that he forgot the cord to my computer because I haven't been able to use it since Monday.

 

I was excited to see that the official announcement for the open house of the Phoenix temple has been announced.

The open house will begin in October of this year.

 Tonight was Molly's dinner.  We had burgers, hot dogs, and at her request, macaroni and cheese.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

"In the Garden of Gethsemane, in utter loneliness, the Savior suffered the most intense agony, bleeding from every pore.  In total submission before His Father, He atoned for our sins and also took upon Him our illnesses and afflictions in order to know how to succor us." (see Alma 7:11-13)

- Elder Carlos H. Amado

 This morning's sunrise.

It was Rhode's cinnamon rolls for breakfast this morning and I must say they were a big hit.  

Molly and Emmy played nicely together for awhile at least, this morning.  They went with me on the Razr to mail a letter and to pick up the mail. Emmy got to do some of the driving.

Emmy loves to drive the Razr!

  We left Anna doing the Disney Princess puzzle.

 James took a break from watching his military documentary to play the guitar.  He is really quite good. He shared with me how when he's an adult he wants to travel around the world and take pictures and maybe write some stories. 

Emmy had either a ball in her hands or was playing with James's old walker which she now claims as hers, while she was here.

  Molly loves the walker too but she has to get permission from Emmy to use it.  Molly and I watched Sleeping Beauty and Molly fell asleep. 

James went on quite a long Razr ride up towards the Village.  When he returned Anna, Emmy and Molly went for a ride but had to come back early because of a flat tire.  The consensus is that the tire was probably flattened on the road where James went because it is filled with rocks and ruts.  

Today was the day I made Anna's dinner idea which was homemade chicken noodle soup.  As soon as I was finished I had to leave for a 5:30 class presidency meeting and then Mutual.  I gave a lesson on the importance of unity in our class presidency meeting.  For Mutual we had a Remember Camp celebration and then we wrote thank you notes to all who helped with camp.  Ruth and Diana made smores for everyone. 

Today was the first day of school for Addy, Rowan and Ruby.  Addy is a 5th grader, Rowan a 2nd grader, and Ruby starts kindergarten.

I love that Ruby and Addy match!

 Ruby insisted on riding the bus to school.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

"We cannot do the difficult things we have been asked to do without help.  Help comes through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the guidance of the Holy Ghost, and the helping hands of others."

-Sister Linda K. Burton

 Elk moving across our yard.

Jared has a problem with his eye.  It's called an orbital pseudo tumor.  As I understand it, the doctors aren't sure what to do about it.  Right now he is on steroids.  Sometimes it causes him to have double vision.  

Before leaving to go back to El Paso Jared took the kids to the pit and the swing on the Razr.

James, Anna, and Emmy were all drivers this year.

Molly likes to ride shotgun but I guess it was James's turn.

Before Jared left for home I made Pawhuska (the Pioneer Woman's hometown) Cheesesteaks for lunch.  He took one for the road.

This afternoon the kids all went to the Boy Scout village.  Anna wanted to clean out one of the A-frames and use it just to "hang out" in.  When I texted grandpa to tell him his comment was: "That rat infest place?"  The kids were back within the hour.  I guess Anna picked up some debris to through it out and a rat jumped down and ran away.  Needless to say this place is no longer very desirable.

No, this isn't a rat.  It's a chinchilla named Roxy who just so happens to love Alexander.

 We had chocolate eclairs for a snack today.  Molly licked all the

chocolate off of hers and then asked me if I wanted it.

I didn't.

Before closing I want to post some more picture from our FHE on Sunday evening.  These are some pictures that Kim sent me.  If I wasn't so lazy I would go back and post them on Sunday.  Oh well.

Happy, worried and asleep.

Molly striking a pose with a look of

mischief in her eyes.

  Cousins James and Ben

got to spend a little time catching up.

 The Three Amigos

I wonder where Sheri learned this trick.

Yes, that's Adam in the background.

Oh yes, now I remember, it's a grandpa trick.

Anna really enjoyed Lola and her uncle Brian.

These two boys are very talented.

 

Monday, August 4, 2014

"Sadly enough, my young friends, it is a characteristic of our age le gods, that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much, comfortable gods, smooth gods who not only don't rock the boat but don't even row it, gods who pat us on the head, make us giggle, then tell us to run along and pick marigolds."

-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

 Nice view!

Here are a couple of pictures from last night's FHE that I missed:

 Babies and girls love Brian.

 Nice smile Sheri!

Nice group picture.  Thanks Kim!

Sheri, Jared and I had a plan to meet at the plan this morning.  Sheri wanted to take Anna shopping and I wanted to take Molly shopping for her birthday.  Sheri, Anna, Emmy and Addy went clothes shopping while Molly, Ruby and I headed for the Disney Store.  Jared and James could do what they wanted with no girls to worry about.

 Anna and Sheri love clothes and shoes!

 Molly in her Sleeping Beauty dress and shoes.

Sheri got her the Sleeping Beauty doll.

No trip to the mall is complete without

going to the play area.  

After shopping Jared took his kids to a place you can't go to in El Paso, Chino Bandido's:

Molly and Ruby are best buddies!

I had lunch at In n Out Burger and took a couple of burgers to James and Adam before I left for Vernon.  Jared left and we met at the cabin.  He stopped at Burger House and I stopped at Safeway and Walmart to get groceries.  I asked the kids what their favorite foods were.  These are the answers I got: James - seafood, but we settled on ribs.  Anna, homemade chicken noodle soup.  She says her mom even makes homemade noodles.  I told her I would fix homemade soup but the noodles would be store bought.  Emmy loves pizza and Molly said macaroni and cheese.  

There was no rain in Vernon today but we had some beautiful clouds.  Of course the first thing everybody wanted to do was go on a Razr ride.  I let them ride while I put the groceries away.  Jared said they saw a herd of elk.  It was a beautiful evening.  I introduced them to Master Chef and told them it was one of Evan's favorite shows.