We didn’t have group Family Nite on Monday. We are having our Leprechaun Olympics on Monday the 16th. I am very excited about that! It will be fun to see the kids be so competitive with one another- especially the guys! Blake gave a nice lesson that he learned in class (he has a religion class every other day) about “feed my sheep” and how that has everything to do with loving and caring about one another. I can tell he listens in class!
Here is a photo of grimy, hard-working Michael. He is doing de-construction in his job. Lately he has been working with a different crew and his crew foreman is more exacting than his last one. So he comes home more exhausted than he is used to. So he unwound in front of one of his video games before showering. He was even too tired to shower when he first got home one day this week! Well, more than one really but who’s counting.
Wednesday was especially busy for me and Raymond. Raymond took some time off from work and we went to the peach orchard. It is part of the welfare project in our church. Our ward is in charge of pruning, thinning, and picking fruit off of 80 trees. So does every other congregation (they picked one million pounds of fruit from our orchard alone!) We watched a pruning video that has been posted up on the internet by the orchard and then we showed up and they gave us tools and we went at it! It was intimidating at first but we received some instruction and it wasn’t too bad.
We would have to stand back a bit sometimes in order to see what needed to be done next.
We worked for about 1 ½ hours and then had to head back. Andy and Haylee were coming over. Andy needed some help with a loan file and for us to watch baby for a bit as he went to take an application up here in North Ogden. She had a great time with the videos. I know I should not have let her get into them. We really need to get some toys for her. We did bring out a plastic measuring cup which entertained her for awhile.
She was tired though. I snuggled her for some time on the couch. She did not used to like cuddling. Andy wanted her to be at least somewhat of a cuddly baby so he began swaddling her and then holding her for a bit. She would eventually stop squirming and enjoy it—probably more just tolerate it in the beginning! So now she will cuddle without being swaddled. It is very nice (Rylie always loved to cuddle but Parker never did).
I had to go, so Blake took over the cuddling job to keep the sleepy girl happy.
Wednesday nights are what is called “Mutual” (long story as to the name). It is our youth group and we do different things. One Wed. we meet and do some sort of service. Well, it was pruning the peach orchard! (Our welfare system is set up so that those that need help can get food assistance and not be a drain on the federal government) So I took some of the girls that are in my group (14 to 16 year olds) down there. We pruned til we couldn’t see well enough anymore (for about 2 hours). I knew I was going to be sore the next day and I was right. A lot of these females were not very strong (including the women!) and they could not use the loppers to get the thicker branches. I was amazed! Blake told me the next day that they had labeled me “the beast” since I was cutting large branches that they could not. I am so surprised how thick branches can grow in just one season! Well, this “beast” was really sore the next day!!! It reminds me of how much I don’t use a lot of my muscles on a regular basis!
Our day still was not over after I got home though. Ashley and Andy asked us to babysit for a bit. They had been invited to a short surprise party at a friends! So we arrived at 8:00 and watched them for a little over an hour. The party really was short (just down the street). The husband (who it was for) wanted to get in the last of the Jazz game! I guess I am not married to the only basketball fanatic (the party was for him)! We had a ball- they are so cute and fun! At the end, Parker showed us how he is an elephant. He has these strips of paper as a trunk, tusks and tail. He has Ashley tape them onto him. His little mind is so creative and always working! He gave some to us to take home. Ash asked us to take a photo of Raymond with them on and send it to her email. She said that Parker want to get email. Ash will sit at the computer and he wants to know what she’s doing. She tells him she is check her email. He gets on after that and says to her that he wants to check his “female”! So the next morning Raymond dons his elephant strips and I snap some shots. If you look close, you should be able to see the tail!
He got those photos and said, “Awww- Grampa wore them at home!” in a sweet little voice! Too cute!!!
Andy’s appointment went well and he is happy about that!
On Thursday, Blake had to have his photo taken for Prom Royalty at school. Turns out that he and one other boy were the only ones not in a full tux with a vest and cravat. He was in his tux but had on a regular tie and no vest. They did not specify a dress code and in last year’s yearbook they boys were dressed like him. Oh well! I thought he looked very nice! He asked Rachel to escort him during the prom assembley which is on the 18th. It is early in the morning so she can make it with her work schedule. The girls generally have their dad escort them or an older brother. The boys do not usually have their moms do that! Rach is excited to do that!
On Friday, Blake also auditioned for what is called “Solo and Ensemble” which is a competition with students from other high schools. He tried out for a solo. The junior boys mainly do it for the practice it affords them before trying out for Chamber Quire (I think it is going to be stiff competition for Chamber Quire this year. Even though Blake was in it last year does not guarantee a spot for this year. The choir director brings in judges and they don’t know the kids so they are as impartial as possible). Blake thought he did well. The list is posted on Monday as to who made it. For this audition, is was just his choir director deciding who will go to S and E. Blake is also hoping that they will announce what the fall musical is going to be. He is hoping for Little Women since the music is beautiful, but I am thinking maybe not. I have no guesses though! His theater director Mr. Daniels did two Disney shows in a row so I don’t know if that is what he prefers. We shall see. Blake and a boy named Conner are the two best male actors in the company. Conner is better than Blake at acting. He is superb actually! He would like to go into that as a profession but knows there is no money in it for except for the lucky few. Fortunately for Blake, Conner and he are different enough that they do not compete for the same type of roles. Blake shines in comedy and Conner in more dramatic pieces. Who knows. There are a lot of girls who can sing and act so it is anyone’s guess.
Shae had over a few of her friends on Saturday. She usually goes to their houses. She expressed a desire to have our den become a place where she can take her friends and we are working on that. She says that everyone else has a basement where they can go to have to themselves. So that was nice.
I am happy to report that the last Women’s WSU basketball game was on Saturday night. He does not have to fly before the game like they do at the men’s game so he was only gone for a little while. We had invited Rachel and Danny over for dinner and to watch the Jazz game. Okay that part was for Danny’s benefit. And Raymond’s since it is more fun to watch the game with someone else who loves it too. Rach and Blake got to hang out which was fun for them. Shae had been invited to go to “Toads” which is an entertainment center. They played Laser Tag. There are lots of arcade games and food of course. It is not that far from here which is nice.
Raymond and Blake worked on taking down those broken branches in the back yard. Blake usually has things going on but not yesterday so that was ideal. It did not get completely finished but most of it. They could see that the neighbor who owns the tree has more branches on their property that need to be cut up. So they are going to go over the next time they work on it and offer to cut them up. We do not know them yet and R. figures that would be a good ice breaker!
The snow on our front lawn vanished completely this week. The back yard still has some but not too bad. Raymond is hoping that no more will stick. We want to aerate our lawn this spring so no snow sure helps! When I took this photo there was a volleyball sized patch toward the bottom of the picture and theat was it.
Oh, Raymond’s birthday card arrived safe and sound yesterday- thank you so much!
Soory if there are any typos, I was in a hurry!
Well, I guess that is it for this week. I have not forgotten to post the Cream of Mushroom Soup recipe. I need to find a quiet time to just write. Not enough hours in the day! Love to you both! Leslie
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