The BIGGEST Cucumber We Ever Did See!

Grown by my ninety-something-year-old great Uncle Max.

Evidence of a Job Well Done

Robyn: Mom, I took a picture of my pile while you were in the shower so you could see it.

What DID we do before digital cameras?

Great Grandmas are Great!

Where is Pinky?

Here I am, here I am.

Farewell

Myles' parents have chosen to serve a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and have arrived in Panama.

Before leaving, they spoke to their Mission President who told them they had 2 options:
Option #1 live in the big city in a nice place and be able to speak English.
Option #2 live in the country in a much less modern place, should we say, and speak Spanish.

They chose #2, which wasn't a surprise to anyone who knows them. They are excited to teach people about the Gospel, give music lessons, teach English, and help the people find employment.

We enjoyed a wonderful weekend with them and a lot of family before they entered the Mission Training Center, where we enjoyed a picnic dinner with them one evening.

If you're interested in reading about their adventures, you can click on the "Notes from Panama" blog on my blog list on the right-hand side of my blog.

Rest Home

On the first day of preschool when Macy was building with blocks, she didn't make a house or a castle. She made a rest home. This is a place we visited with Grammy. At first, we didn't know the people and weren't quite sure what to do. But, before long, we felt right at home. I watched a woman who never said a word, start singing along with us to an old song she knew. I watched a nurse get teary eyed. I watched our girls "dance" with the "grandmas." Our girls started asking when we could go again.

Since reading Still Alice by Lisa Genova, I feel an even greater love for these people who have lived wonderful lives and are now prisoners to their aging bodies.

Macy put it well when she said, "Mom, that lady is SO old, but she used to be four someday just like me."

Fall Leaves and Swimming Suits

Before Myles' parents left on their mission, we got to show them our new favorite hiking spot. It was fun to have the leaves just beginning to change and still have it be warm enough for swimming suits!

We got to enjoy the same spot today with friends, and the colors were even more brilliant.

I don't like how it's getting darker earlier or waking up to a windshield needing be be scraped, but the sunny afternoons feel like such a gift, like summer not wanting to say goodbye quite yet.

Homecoming Parade

It was fun to celebrate with friends. Someone wasn't following one of the horses at the very beginning, so it was quite entertaining to watch performers either trying to dodge the mess or walking straight through oblivion.

Snowy

Macy was super excited to have her turn to bring her class pet home for the weekend. (There's a tarantular, too, as she calls it, but we haven't signed up for him, yet).

She had fun sharing him with her sisters and cousins.

I've decided that rabbits definitely need to be outside pets. They are cute, but oh so smelly and messy. This was a great way to have a test run.

Since I started writing this post, Snowy died. (Luckily, not at our house). I'm glad we got to have him before that happened. I guess he was pretty old.

Myles took the opportunity to have a good family discussion about life and death.

The new bunny is very cute. It'll be interesting to see what the kids decide to name him. I've heard some pretty creative suggestions.

Where a Kid Can be a Kid!

Macy would live at preschool if we let her. It really is a dream world. There are so many fun hands-on activities and wonderful teachers, I'd like to stay and play!

You would've thought we landed on the moon the day we saw one of her preschool friends at the grocery store. It's fun to see her learning and being so social and sensitive.

The other day, she told me, "One of my girls, you know, at preschool, is allergic to flour. It's SO sad. We had blueberry muffins, and she couldn't eat the blueberries! She's not even allergic to blueberries, just the flour, so she had to eat crackers with none flour. I'm so sad for her."

When we were going to have a different one of her friends from preschool over to play and have lunch, I asked her if she knew if he was allergic to anything. "Yeah, Mom. Germs, yep, he's allergic to germs."

Beware!

Petting Zoo

This Petting Zoo at the school carnival had nothing exotic: kittens, bunnies, chickens, a goat. But, it was sure worth the 2 tickets!

Sisters

One minute they're yelling at each other about who gets to sit where, the next they're giggling their heads off. I'm glad they have each other. I had fun with my brothers growing up, and didn't feel left out. Somehow, it's surprising to miss not having a sister more as an adult. I'm grateful for my cousins, friends and sis-in-laws who help fill that void. I hope these girls keep holding onto each other, regardless of what the future holds.

Sittin' Pretty

Carly was so proud to ride a horse all by herself at her school carnival. I was glad it was worth the wait.

Following in Aunt Emily's Footsteps

Robyn and Carly were both super excited to run a mile on the big track. Macy, Myles and I were excited to be cheerleaders.

Carly's inherited the fun Rockin' Red Robins Face.