My Mommy is HOME!

I have a BIG post to compose later, but for now just wanted to say that my mom is home from the hospital, finally!

We had a lovely stake conference this weekend, and made some delicious apple cider out at the ranch yesterday with the primary kids.

Rich took us out for treats at the new Western Drug soda fountain, where we sat on saddled stools at a marble counter and ate ice cream (the kids), vanilla coke (me), and a root beer float (Rich).

We baked delicious pumpkin dump, cleaned the great room, and watched "Hoodwinked" (again) last night while Rich went to the adult session of Stake Conference ( we decided to take turns this year because we both needed some quiet time--he went to the adult session, I went to the family session).

It was raining this morning when I drove over to Bozeman, a little cooler than it has been (did I mention that summer finally showed up in September? It's been really annoying to have 80-degree weather in September when I am ready for 58-and-partly-cloudy) and touches of fall are showing up all over the canyon...I LOVE IT!!

Our meeting today was beautiful--absolute poetry, focusing on the Theology of the Family, that the family is not just a nice idea or a good lifstyle choice, but that Family IS the gospel, the great plan of happiness (or, as Boyd K, Packer taught in 1995, "The Great Plan of Happiness is the plan for a happy family"). President Heap (our stake president who is also a career CES worker and a GENIUS teacher) spoke, then two seniors in high school spoke about what they have learned in their families, then a mother, then our area authority spoke about extended families & teaching children in a way they understand. It was all just lovely.

Now we've had a little nap, the kids are playing Cookin' Mama on the wii and I am going to go sew some more and try out my cool new square ruler while watching (how appropos) History channel shows about free masons. Don't be jealous.

Go Bozeman Stake!

There is a great story about our stake in the Ensign this month. Don't get me started about how much we love President Heap... here's the link.

Here is a quote I like because the seven simple things are very important to our family:
Counsel from their stake president also helped the Tuckers. President David Heap asked stake members to do “seven small and simple things”: (1) Read the scriptures personally every day; (2) read the scriptures at least five days a week as a family; (3) have personal prayer every morning and night; (4) have family prayer every morning and night; (5) attend church every Sunday as a family; (6) hold family home evening every Monday night; and (7) attend the temple every month.

It has taken us five years to get a handle on the seven simple things, and we still have to make great effort to do them, but we strive because the blessings ROCK.

My Mommy is Sick

My mom was admitted to the hopital yesterday with hemolytic anemia. She got a blood transfusion and stayed overnight in the ICU at American Fork hospital. After poking around on the internet I disovered that it is not uncommon for lymphoma patients or RA patients to get this illness, and someone would have caught it much sooner if she had still been in Washington with her oncologists following up. They will stabilize her, give her more dang corticosteroids, perhaps a new diet, perhaps a spleenectomy. I am sure that chemotherapy was hard on her whole body, and I am sure that even a small virus can send her body into all kinds of trouble with RA. I'm sad I am not there and hope everything goes okay today (my grandparents came to visit her for 2 weeks and arrived on Tuesday, so that will be comforting for her). Dang it.

Death of a Salesman

We are not sales people at this house. I don't like sales people because I live by the theory that people know what they need and they know where to get it, and if they don't, they'll ASK for help. Also, we're in a recession and everyone is broke. And this is why I hate school fundraisers. This is Addie's third year at her school and it's the first time I have even bothered with the fall fundraiser. Maybe because I am more active in PTO this year or something--I dunno. But we need your help... Would you consider buying your holiday gift wrapping supplies

(and hey, maybe even a gift or two--chocolates or candles, anyone?)

from these two little darlings?

If so, please follow THIS link, click on "Out of town Family & Friends", then enter our school number (117997) and either girl's seller ID# (R168275F for Addie & R168285E for Heidi). Shop as you usually do online and your order will be delivered to you in a few weeks. I know that this stuff can be a bit of a racket, but I wanted to at least TRY this year, and maybe every other year or something. So if you can swing it, please make a purchase to help our school and to help our girls get their "points"...you can shop until 9/28 (also, if you don't want to pay shipping and you think you'll be seeing us before the holidays, you can order directly from the girls and we will deliver).

Here's what I'm ordering (and I must say, I've bought the gift wrap before and it IS really nice...). I'm sure you can find something you'll like and use. THANKS!

No News is Good News

I have nothing to say, except it's about time 4 me 2 take James 2 preschool, then come home and clean his room like crazy. I will also rotate laundry and do some work down in Santa's little workshop. Life is good.

I was called to be a Relief Society teacher yesterday, which will be fun. Teaching is a fun calling for me, so I am glad. The Presidency callings can be draining just because--at least for me--your stewardship is on your mind 24/7. I never feel like I do enough in those callings, but teaching? Just gotta keep the spirit and study and hope for the best. I can do that!

K, my little man and I are heading out. Have a great day, people.

Over The Weekend

Well, it's Thursday and we have had a WONDERFUL visit with Cousin Brent and The Sweetie (Autumn), but we have absolutely no photos to show for it! They are heading back to Utah this morning. We've just been hangin' out doing our regular weekday routines while Brent and Autumn have been exploring Livingston on foot as they are training for a half-marathon next month at Mt. Rushmore. Their endurance is inspiring...Mayberrys are runners fo' sho'! (Have you guys read THIS book? Looks super interesting!) They did some lazy stuff with us, too, like floating the Yellowstone with Rich yesterday, Autumn & I went to Enrichment meeting (Slow Cooker night), taking naps, and watching Glee last night. It has been so fun, and we are so happy that Autumn is going to be our cousin forever!

Now, as promised way back on Sunday, here are our camping photos...

The girls woke up so early on Saturday, I had to get upand find them stuff to do so Rich and James could sleep in, so we got some snacks and painted with water colors and decorated for James' birthday. When he woke up, we gave him his pictures and some birthday pancakes.
Here we are getting ready for pancakes.

And from another angle

(you can see James' favorite "big rig" in the background)

Our camp neighbors invited James to explore their tractor trailer...

he was in hog heaven, pretending to drive "Mack" and talk on the cb radio.

Keep on Truckin'!

Addie and Daddy baked James a birthday cake in our new camping oven...

it turned out GREAT!

We let James open one gift in the morning...

it was a little Buzz Lightyear.

A view of our campsite from the big rig.

After breakfast and some games, we went into West Yellowstone (about 15 miles). Here's Addie posing with a Bison in West. Right before this photo, we had a sandwich picnic in the park. Right afterward, we went to see the IMAX "Alaska" movie. It was so fun!

At 4:30, we med Grandpa & Grandma Melin and Uncle Mike & Christina at Wild West Pizzeria (they had been in Yellowstone Park and were coming to see a play at the Playmill at 6pm). Daddy decorated James' cake at the pizzeria.

James got a super cool tool set from Grandma & Grandpa

"I LOOOOVE it!"

Christina made him a cool scarf

Mommy got him some fireman boots and some new jeans.

Heidi enjoyed the pizza!

Everyone loves the birthday boy!

We made his candles read "Happy Birthday" the way HE says it:

"Happy Dirbay!"

After dinner, we went back to camp where James played with his tools and wore his boots

And the girls had a tea party with Sprite in the tea set Addie bought with her allowance in West.

Sunday morning we had a quick cereal breakfast and headed out to church at Mack's Inn.

(notice we camped right by the Arizona Flag)

As we drove down the highway, we couldn't get Fiona (our gps navigator) to tell us where the church building was. However, when we came over the hill to the Mack's Inn turn off, we didn't need directions anymore! There were rows of cars a quarter mile long and lines and lines of people just walking toward the church, so we just parked and walked along to the building for sacrament meeting. The count the clerk in the hall gave us was 1, 960. Nearly 2,000 saints gathered on a holiday weekend to take the sacrament and it was quite a sight (I whispered to Rich, "Is there a Rainbow Bread truck outside? This should totally be B.Y.O.B!"). I thought to myself, if I were scared of Mormons, this would be a horrifiying sight...like ants coming in from the woods, and then just disappearing 90 minutes later. Amazing, and a lovely place to think:

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.

When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur

And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
***

Sunday night, Brent & Autumn joined us for s'mores, then came home with us on Monday...

But first we stopped at a "must-be-present-to-win" drawing for a new car at Ressler Motors (I was 1 of 200 finalists)

James waited patiently with me.

The girls were so excited...

but alas...I was 16th of 200, so I got a 12-pack of coke and a Tshirt.

Shucks!

But it was still a super fun day, a super fun weekend. I loved being with my hubs and kids for 3 days straight in such a beautiful setting!

A Very Merry Birthday

I have 22 photos to post, but I am out of time for now. Trust us, Satuday was a very fun day, and a wonderful third birthday for James......from start...

...to finish!

PS: We went to church today in Mack's Inn with 1,960 of our fellow saints. No joke. It took about 40 minutes to pass the sacrament! (Just imagine how many mormons are camping here and DIDN'T come to chuch!). I told Richit's just so crazy that 2,000 Mormons just crawled outta the woods for 90 minutes, and just as quickly disappeared back into the woods...it was pretty cool/freaky.

Photos, finally!

On Thursday Heidi got her kindergarten shots. She was fine all day, but woke up with a fever at 11pm and was kind of delirious and whiny for a couple of hours. This made us both tired on Friday (and put a kink in my camping prep--I tried to take her to school but she can't return until 24 hours after her fever breaks, even though they knew darn well it was a reaction to her MMR shot). So I had an extra helper all day, even while James was at preschool. When James got home, I let him open the package that came for him--a sweet little book from his great-grandparents! James opening his bday package
YAY! A new book about animals (he loves it!)

Heidi's cute self-portrait on her locker

(elem. kids have lockers here cuz there are copious amounts of winter gear!)

We picked up Addie from school an hour early and she was so excited to go camping!

Here we all are taking off...so fun!

How the road to Henry's Lake looked...

perfect day!

After we set up camp, we drove down the highway to get some fish-n-chips at Island Park Lodge.

The moonrise was AMAZING...we watched it from many angles, but this one is from our campsite.

After s'mores, I blogged and my peeps watched a movie.

What a great day!

"Shine on, shine on Harvest Moon!"

Goodnight, You Moonlight Ladies!

Three years ago today (click) I was in Labor. I looked like THIS. All our weekend company had gone home and it was just me, my family, and my mama hangin' out. I was contracting all day, steadily, every 10-15 minutes, but only just enough to make me tired and uncomfortable. I knew--I always knew--that I would have James on September 5th, so I just chilled. I remember my mom stayed up with me--I took a warm bath in Love Spell bubbles, listening to Katie Melua, while mom watched Leno. We went to hospital at midnight, but I had a dr. appt in the morning, so I went home to sleep in my own bed.

So tonight, I am up all alone again, this time in a tent trailer on the shore of Henry's Lake, listening to my four loves breathing, sleeping all around me as I type by candle light. How cool is it to have WiFi in the wilderness? LOVE IT! When we wake up, it will be Sweet Baby James' Third Birthday. We will have bday pancakes and swim in the lake and watch an IMAX movie in West Yellowstone and then have pizza and presents with the Melin Grandparents and Uncle Mike (who are meeting up with us in W.Y.). And I will be in awe of my little man, still smitten with his cuteness (and now smartness), and sad because he is growing up way to fast and looking at pictures like these makes my heart hurt a little. In a good way...so blessed...

I uploaded some pix of today to post, but thistiny laptop will not upload them to blogger, so I will do that later. Just try to imagine the perfect setting in which to sing James Taylor's "Sweet Baby James" and that's where we are--shiny lake, pines and aspens, and the most bright, enormous moonrise I have ever seen. I love the mountain west--I could never stay away from here, and I super love my family. I am so grateful to be a wife and mama.

PS: Also, Heidi cut herself some bangs today.
I'll post a photo when I stop crying...

just in time for her first school picture....

update: no pix yet, but HERE's a previous hair tragedy, and HERE is what Addie did to Heidi's precious golden toddler curls 4 years ago...SIGH...I guess today's shennanigans could be worse.

update: OK, it's after school and Heidi is playing Starfall and I just took these pix. It's not so bad. I am just so anti-bangs, but they'll grow...

Catch Up

Friday afternoon we drove to Helena and met Matt & Amie, Jake & Sam at the park for Matt's big Congratulations party. Amie prepared such a fun party! There were burgers & hot dogs with lots of great potluck side dishes, homemade root beer, yummy desserts, and super fun games--even a pinata! Amie looked so cute in her new apron! She is excited to join the society of hausfraus now that Matt has a new job!
Matt & his friend (already an officer) looking like COPS
(sans donuts and mustaches! HA!)

Rich took over the grill for Matt because, he said, our motto is

"Never Trust a Skinny Cook!"

***

We slept over Friday night (Heidi & Jake and James & Sam were inseparable) and had fun just hanging out until about 4pm. Laura and her kids came over and we had a quick girl date to a quaint little shopping area called Reeder's Alley. Amie wanted to show us a cute store called Cinnamon Toast, where I bought a vintage sewing basket that's ballet pink with decoupaged notions on the lid...so fun!

There's Addie walking down Matt's Street--the other kids are riding scooters behind her.

Rich & Matt stained the front deck and stairs and went gun shopping...

Here we are saying good bye (I am laughing at the kids) and you can see how nice the house is looking after all of the Postum's hard work.

THANKS for such a fun weekend, guys! We love you so much and are so excited for this next chapter in your lives.

(Your gratitude attitude will get you far in life--we love hanging out with you!)

***

Saturday night I folded some clothes and watched one of my favorite Scrubs episodes, "My Cabbage"--the final song in that episode (Fix You by Coldplay) always makes me sad and reminded me of Jill. *SNIFF*----But then in the morning I turned on "Music and the Spoken Word" and the MoTab performed a gorgeous arrangement of "For the Beauty of the Earth"--the one we sang in UA institute chorale--and later sang, "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," which I performed for regional solo & ensemble contest in high school (I only got like a 90% on that one, though--it was the year before I got the perfect score). Ahhh, musical memories. I am so thankful for music in my life. I am hoping with a tiny bit more free-time now I can do more music (and make more memories!).

***

Sweet Baby James, the almost-birthday boy, wants yogurt, so I shall oblige...love 2 all y'all!