Love this one.

Val gave me a wonderful book called My Dear Sisters with quotes from Pres. Hinckley and beautiful pictures by various artists. I'm so thankful for the book, and I have already gone through it a couple times over. The one quote I love that gave me shivers is this one:

"E. T. Sullivan once wrote these interesting words: 'When god wants a great work done in the world or a great wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way. He doesn't stir up his earthquakes or send forth his thunderbolts. Instead, he has a helpless baby born, perhaps in a simple home and of some obscure mother. And then God puts the idea into the mother's heart, and she puts it into the baby's mind. And then God waits."

I got shivers again. I can't help but think of Val and the way she raised Eric to be the person he is today. She loved him, read to him, cared for him, taught him optimism and how to laugh, let him be himself, and influenced him for good. All the while, God waited. He waited for Eric to meet me. That's when his/our great work started. I'm a better person because of Eric. His temperament and learning was meant for me. He has pulled me through some tough times, and I'm grateful for him and all that he learned from his wonderful mother!

Ahhh. . . innocence.

Yesterday Abby and Will watched the movie "Benji." I went down to check on them and asked them how they liked the moved. They both said it was good, but that the "s" word was being used a lot.

I replied, "Oh, you mean the word 'stupid'?"

"No," was Abby's reply. "It starts with 'sh'!"

Can you imagine what word started going through my mind? I couldn't believe they would have THAT word on "Benji."

Abby said she did not want to tell me what the word was because it was a bad one. I assured her it was okay to tell me because I wanted to know what the word was for sure.

"Okay, Mom. They keep saying 'shut up.' It's not very nice!"

Then I just had to laugh and was, of course, very relieved it wasn't a four-letter word!

This little conversation reminded me of one I've heard many a time from Eric's childhood. Apparently one night at dinner Eric confessed he knew what the "f word" was. I can only imagine the look on Lynn and Val's faces. I'm sure they were curious to know what that word was according to their second child. Eric then went on to say the "f word" was "fart." So hilarious! I'm sure his parents were just as relieved as I was that their child(ren) were still so innocent and cute!

California Fun--Saturday

Saturday came with beautiful weather for Matt and Ananda. We headed up to the Los Angeles temple to be a part of their sealing and to take family pictures. Then it was off to lunch, choose a present, get the house clean for the reception, and party. The food was yummy, the backyard was magical (what a vision Ananda had), and the company was just right. I got to sit next to Karen Abbott. Love that lady! I also enjoyed the twinkling lights, the hot cocoa bar, stealing looks at Eric, and watching my children dance. By the time the night was over, I was ready to put on my stretchy pants, relax, and prepare to go home the next morning.

Thank you to Lynn and Val for yummy food, great company, and a comfy bed the entire week. We had a wonderful time!

California Fun--Friday

Friday brought more wedding preparations with Kathy putting together beautfiul centerpieces, a wonderful quilt for Matt and Ananda from Grandma Gigi and Aunt Mary Jean, lunch again at In 'n Out, and the rehearsal dinner where we got to meet Ananda's cute family and enjoy a wonderful Greek buffet. Mmmm. . . those beef skewers were delicious--not to mention the baklava. Yum!

California Fun--Thursday

Thursday brought us to California Adventure. Love that place. It's even less crowded than Disneyland and has the wonderful Soaring over California ride which we all loved. Abby enjoyed the raft ride (the detailed scenery reminded me of home in Auburn), Will enjoyed the bumper cars, and Ezra enjoyed getting his hands wet in the water area. The children got soaked, but anticipating they would want to get wet, I brought a change of clothes. All was good! Abby and I enjoyed meeting a mom my age with her little girl who was Abby's age from Calgary. I particularly loved the Under the Sea carousel with all of its bright colors and, of course, keeping an eye out for "Top 10" outfits. Let me just say there were a TON of them. Seriously, what do some people think?

California Fun--Wednesday

Wednesday brought us wedding preparations and time with Bri and Celia. Abby enjoyed visiting the nursery with Nana and Bapa and helped choose flowers for the backyard. We also took the children over to Linda Vista so they could play at Eric's former elementary school

California Fun--Tuesday

Tuesday we found ourselves at Disneyland. We were extra excited as this trip was Ezra's first. We had THE perfect day. Beautiful weather, short lines, happy children, and time with Nana, Bapa, and Chelsea. Will loved Indiana Jones (but hated Space Mountain), Abby loved Pirates, and Ezra's favorite ride was Winnie-the-Pooh. Evy enjoyed watching us all have a good time. What a trooper she was the entire trip!

When our tummies were empty and our legs were done, we took the monorail over to Downtown Disney where Will fell in love with the Lego store.

California Fun--Monday

Monday brought us In 'n Out and the tide pools at Dana Point. Very lovely and more colorful than the usual Crystal Cove tide pools we visit. The low tide was perfect--smack in the middle of the day and not at some crazy hour. The highlight had to have been when we discovered the enormous purple and orange starfish clinging to the sides of the rocks. Awesome!

After the tide pools, we drove up Hwy 1 and visited Newport Beach--our favorite beach to play at. It was funny to see the surfers in their long wetsuits and then my children in only their bathing suits frolicking in the COLD water. The sun was setting and the colors were magnificent. We were truly blessed.

California Fun--Sunday

Two Saturdays ago we were able to drive to So Cal for a little R and R and to see Matt and Ananda get married. I have to say the drive went very well. All the children were troopers, and Evy only cried a total of 10 minutes. The following day was Sunday, so we went to church and caught up with old friends. We enjoyed having Sunday dinner with the family. I think Will loved how all the aunts and uncles there took turns playing Legos with him. What a lucky guy! The highlight of the night had to have been meeting Celia for the first time. Such a darling little girl. I love the look of awe she seems to always have on her face. Bri and Mike are doing a wonderful job. Celia is a lucky girl! The lowlight of the night was finding out Will cut his hair when he should have been sleeping. That stinker! Right before the wedding and all. Eric gave him a buzz cut, and he actually looks really cute.