It was a beautiful Saturday so we headed out on a family bike ride on the nearby Soos Creek Trail. We had a great time riding for miles in the cool crisp air after a warm, sunny day. We look forward to many more bike outing this year.
My brother, Jeff, and my parents came into town. We headed to the waterfront for an afternoon of fun. We all enjoyed the Maritime Museam. We also taste-tested several clam chowders in a cook-off. And the kids got to make wooden boats and float them. It was a gorgeous Seattle day.
Paige is still high-centered on her tummy at 7 1/2 months, but she can scoot backwards a little bit. She is finally sitting up pretty well, and she did actually roll over today. I'm pretty sure she'll eventually do all of these things and even walk, but for now we'll just enjoy how sweet and immobile she is.
I guess I've been listening to a little too much Super Why.
I've also been making baby food for Paige. It's really easy to do, especially with my new Vitamix. Paige has tried all sorts of fruits and vegetables because it's so easy to puree them whenever we're eating them. I've also been keeping more on hand now that I make smoothies so often. I made carrots, peas, and prunes in large quantities and froze them in ice cube trays. Then I just pop them out and store them in a freezer ziplock. It turns out to be about a quarter of the price of canned baby food and it's really easy to do.
Tyson's earned his Bear Rank in scouting. It's exciting to see him excel and enjoy scouting. We're proud of you Tyson.
Today Kate gave her first talk in primary, on baptism. We have opening exercises in the chapel so it was up at the podium with the microphone. At first when I told her about the talk she said "no, I think I'll just give a prayer or something." (which I can only imagine what she would come up with to say. I'm sure she wouldn't want help since she knows well how to pray). Then I told her that in our family we get a candy bar for giving talks. After that she was all for it. We practiced a few times. The first time, instead of repeating what I said, she just finished the sentance. But she got it after that and she did it all. It was very cute. And amazingly enough she was so proud of herself that hasn't even remembered about the candy bar...yet!
Instruction in the Home
"The final desire of the Prophet Joseph Smith was to build a community of spiritual Saints. This begins in the home. The most important instruction our children will ever receive will be that which parents give to them in their own home, if parents diligently teach their children the way our Father in Heaven would like them to follow. One instruction our leaders have given us is to hold regular family home evenings where we can meet together weekly, learn gospel principles, and build family unity. Here we can counsel together, read the scriptures, pray together, and play together. Our greatest goal is to become an eternal family. We build a community of Saints one family at a time."
L. Tom Perry
Friday night we took my parents and brother, Jeff, to the Artwalk and their school. Tyson was in a recorder performance. Their class played for 25 minutes. Towards the end I noticed that he was doing a duet with another boy in his class. Before they played his music teacher said that Tyson was one of the few kids that has been playing the recorder for two years (because he is in a 3/4 split class) and that last year he wasn't really into it, but she was surprised this year that he was really good and would make a good band player. They played 'Morning Song' and 'The Lion Sleeps'. 
It was fun to walk around and see all of the kids' art. The school looked great. My family was very impressed. There are a lot of dedicated volunteers and teachers helping to make it happen. It was a nice evening. I'm sure the kids' favorite part was tapping grandpa's wallet for endless rootbeer floats and cookies.
These beautiful stawberries cut into hearts are what I came down to for breakfast on Mother's Day, along with French Toast, bacon, and a smoothie. It was a wonderful treat. Thanks kids (and Rick), I sure felt loved. Kate gave me a cute card from her preschool and Bradley gave me some sweet messages with candy from school. Tyson had been sick and missed three days of school so he hadn't made anything. Instead he gave me the gift of service. He willingly set the whole dining room table for dinner. It looked beautiful, thanks!
For dinner we had my parents, Jeff, and the Hatch's over. It was nice to spend Mother's Day with my Mom. Thanks for being such a wonderful example Mom. And thank you to Rick's mom for raising a great son, Happy Mother's Day.
I ran into Value Village the other day and saw a whole rack of cute jeans that were about my size. I don't usually shop for clothes for myself there, but I have been wanting new jeans for a long time so I figured, why not. It looked like someone had pulled a bunch from the rack, tried them on, and left a stack behind. One pair was my favorite, but I decided I might as well try them all. The pair I liked the best were the only ones that fit. I bought them and then decided I should check online for fun to see how much they were worth since I wasn't familiar with the brand. This is what I found, a used pair on a resale website.
This afternoon Tyson was frantically looking for the neighbor's mail key (he's been taking in their mail for 2 weeks). It had been in the van this morning. I told Tyson to take it from Kate and put it away. When we got home from baseball the neighbors had arrived home from their cruise so we started looking in the van for the key. Kate said she had put it in her pocket and lost it at the ballfield. The last thing I wanted to do was take four kids in the pouring rain to look for the lost key. After about ten minutes of agony we found the key right where it was supposed to be. So, Tyson forgot, and Kate fabricated a story. Not her first....
Paige, my sweet baby, that I have endearingly nicknamed "Pudgy Paige", threw her first fit last night (at 6 1/2 months). She was playing with a paper towel. I wanted to walk away to do something and thought I'd better not leave it in her hands because she'd probably eat it and choke on it. She totally started balling..... Here we go!
Today Kate decided she wanted to drive so I told her she would have to be 16. As she got dressed and did her hair I kept telling her she was getting older (6, 8, 10 etc). It worked great she giggled and giggled while usually she has a hard time getting dressed in something I choose. And at Costco she was telling all the 'sample ladies' that she was 16.
Kate: "Do I have to sit in a carseat?"
Mom: "Of course."
Kate: "How will I get a car?"
Mom: "You'll have to get a job to earn money, and then buy a car."
Kate: "No, I have a better idea, Dad can ride in the van with you, and I'll drive the car."
I'm sure her entitlement attitude will not be changing in the next 13 years. I just want her to stay the cute little girl she is right now, in the little pigtails she put in herself tonight.
Earlier this week the boys told her she could be in Sydney's family if she married Logan. Her eyes lit up!
Kate: "Mom, I'm going to ask Logan to marry me, and then I'm going to kiss him!"
Kate: (a few hours later, lying on the couch looking forlorn) "Mom, I want to ask Logan to marry me, but I think he's going to say no."
She did sound three today though as she pointed out the gatorade at Costco and said "let's get some alligator mom."
