Saturday

Today was such a fun day.  It's been awhile since we've had weekend that's wasn't planned.

James decided he wanted to go on a bike ride but since it took a few hours for him to get ready his bike ride turned into a family bike ride.  Thank you James for letting us tag along with you.  I really needed to get outside and slow down.

James and Gwenevere took off and away they went.  Everett and Grace road with me.  I loved hearing them sing as we rode.  They loved pointing out water and ducks and buildings a we rode.

that's James and Gwenevere biking.  

We finished up our ride around 12:30 and headed  back home to pack a lunch and go again.

This time we met friends in Covington to pick up manure for the garden.  

we arrived just a tad bit early so James took us to Wendy's to get milkshakes while we waited.  YUMMY

While we where loading our cars we found a garter snake.  He was a very calm snake and let the kids play with him while we finished loading the manure.  

When we arrived back home Grace took off her shoes immediately and then continued helping outsided feeding chickens and gathering eggs.   barefeet must be good for the soul.

watching Gwenevere help James spread manure over the garden made me so happy that we can hobby farm.  Spring is such a wonderful time.

 As soon as we got home Everett's first desire was to take a bath.  Mostly because he LOVES baths and secondly because he's not a fan of manure.  LOL

After helping out around the house the kids all watched a new movie "Kiki's Delivery Service"  while I ran a few errands and made dinner.  we played with the gerbils, bunnies, and chicks.  Then took baths and read books before fall asleep.  

Grace with a baby bunny 2 weeks old

Gwenevere and Papa reading the hobbit.  

Crab dinner

tonight we are having Crab for dinner.

I over hear Everett's conversation to himself after looking at the crab cooking in the pot of water.

"That was AMAZING.  I saw the crab two times."

Snake boot (warning: this post has TMI)

Everett was with James and I as we where cleaning our room. 

James in a discussed voice said "ew there's a condom wrapper in my shoe"

Everett replied in his best Toy Story voice  "There's a snake in my Boot."

Derby Day

The Elder's Quorum put on a pinewood derby  race.  

James was very excited. 

Gwenevere was just as excited.  James let her pick the design.

One saturday morning James woke up and said he was going to go work on the car.  My car needed new spark plugs.  With excitement I said thank you!  He then clarified he was going to work on his pinewood derby car.  We both laughed.  I think his car turned out lovely.  

He did fix my car a few days later and it's a good thing he waited because my starter went out and he ended up doing both repairs at the same time.  

James ended up getting 3rd place and the girls where so proud.  

We celebrated with Little Ceaser pizza 

Girl Scout Cookies

Did I mention the girls are doing Girl Scouts this year?  

It's been great for Grace

and Gwenevere loves it too.

This was our first time for the girls to sell girl scout cookies.  They made a little movie.  Went to Papa's work and collected orders.  Sold cookies at Lowes, Fred Meyer, and Albertsons.  And did a fantastic job.  

Great Wolf Lodge

 A few friends invited us to go to Great Wolf Lodge this year.  We weren't going to go since we went last year.  But after being sick for most of January and February.  We needed a diversion from the very wet winter we where having.  

I'm glad we went.  

Hanging with my sister in the temple

Thursday morning I got a text from my sister Laura.  She was in town for business and had a few hours Friday morning.  She invited me to go to the temple.  Since I have this unofficial goal to attend the temple once a month I was super stoked. There was just one little hiccup.

Remember a few weeks ago I wrote about my temple recommend interview.  We'll I had been trying since then to get a stake interview but it wasn't working.  Finally I was able to schedule an interview for March 5,  (that's tomorrow).

Here I had the perfect oppurtunity to attend the temple.  James would be home to watch the kids and I could go to the temple.  If only I had an active recommend.  My recommend had been expired for 2 days and I was already missing the blessing.  Determined to try my hardest I texted the stake scheduler and explained my situation.  Then I loaded my kids in the car and drove to my religion class.

The class subject was Christ's baptism.  We read Matthew 3:15 "for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness" and discussed what it meant to fulfil all righteousness.  We talked about fulfilling callings and doing the Lord's will even when it's inconvient.

I totally spaced the text that I sent out earlier as the day went on.  We went to the zoo with friends then went grocery shopping.  Around 4pm I got a call from the stake scheduler.  Two of the presidency were out of town and the one works nights but could take he dinner with him and stop by the stake center to interview be real quick before he went to work.  So excited for this oppurtunity I called James.  He was able to get off work aboit early so I could go to the interview.

When I reached the stake center that evening I had a strong impression to tell the stake presidency how he was an example of fulfilling all righteousness.

I went in to be interviewed and was visiting with the guy before the interview,  when he showered me and my family with praises and blessing.  It was truly a humbling experience where I felt my Savior's love for me.

Because of this mans righteous desires to do the Lord's will I recieved my temple recommend, felt my Savior's love for me and witnessed the sacrifice he made to fulfill all righteousness.  

I failed to tell him my impressions and left the meeting not wanting to take up more of his time.

As I was driving home I got another call from the stake scheduler.  He said there was a slight problem with my recommend.

Apparently my bishopric put James'recommend number on my new recommend.  Hehehehe

The scheduler said he could active my recommend for the weekend but I'd need to get a new one onSunday.

Friday morning I woke up.  Hugged James goodbye and headed to the temple excited to see Laura.

We visited for an hour and then went for a session.  The morning was perfect.  And all things worked out for the good.  

I can't end this post without pointing out how incredibly supportive James is throughout everything.  He came home early from work, took them out on a daddy date,  then the next day took are of the and got them to their cookie sales.  He stayed with us while we sold cookies and helped Grace have courage to talk to people as we sold cookies.  James is the best.  He fulfills all righteousness and is a great example to me.  

Zoo day

After my institute class we decided to forget school and go to the zoo.  It was a good idea.  We invited the Day family to join us.  It felt like we had the zoo to ourselves. 

new statue at the entrance