talent show

We were very brave this year and did the MacArthur talent show! The girls, along with 3 great friends performed "I Won't Grow Up!" from Peter Pan and were great performers. I was proud of them.

Here they are all dolled up (curlers and make-up, what more could a little girl want??).

Nora, Faith, Taylor, Emily, Sage and Diana

one more

Just had to share one more of this man.

laughing

Nelson was super grumpy when he woke up from a WAY too short nap on Sunday afternoon. He didn't want snuggles, bottles, love or any of the regular stuff. No, he wanted Nora to flip play dishes out of a play frying pan! Of course!

I find baby chortles irresistible.

new stuff

We have a few new "things" hereabouts that make me smile.

#1 - Emily's drawers were BARE BARE BARE since she pretty much misses the had-me-down's, Diana being a slow grower. So she and I hit the clearance rack at Old Navy and found some very cute shirts and leggings. Emily kept gravitating toward the (in my opinion) hideous graphic t's of horses, but I told her we were only shopping clearance (thinking it would keep us safe from horses). Lo and behold she pulled this beauty from the rack! Yep, those are sparkles in the horses mane - she LOEVES it! I'm just grateful it was $3.

#2 - Keeping with the livestock theme, Isaac chose this fantastic cow watch from the treasure box at pre-school for finishing his reading chart.

#3 - Sarah and I found this too good to be true doll house at Epic and wow has it been fun! As a bonus, Isaac got to tighten ALL the screws - very manly.

#4 - Epic also supplied a headboard and footboard for Nora whose bed always looked ungrounded without something at the head and foot. She loves it.

 #5 - Finally, meet Diana's cello! She is extremely excited. I told her it is not uncommon to name your instrument so she is thinking up names. I like Auburn. We'll see. My mom is going to lend us her cello too so Diana can "teach" me as she learns.

monsoon

We had a really lovely monsoon the other day and with nowhere to go and nothing to do we decided to play. Sarah especially loved it.

After playing in clothes for a bit she decided swimming suits were more the order of the day.

Only Isaac is manly enough to pull off Hello Kitty boots.

Yep, LOVE monsoons. We would take more (hint hint weather man).

sleepy

This picture has nothing to do with my story - it's just cute.

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday an alarm goes off at 12:25 to remind us to go outside for Isaac's pre-school bus. When it went off today I went outside and sat in the chair to wait so I could peel Isaac away from Martha Speaks when it showed up. I fell asleep! I don't think I slept very long, but when I woke up the bus was patiently waiting. I felt a little sheepish. Sigh - we have had a couple rough night's sleep. Two nights ago our new neighbors were out on their back patio smoking and talking until after midnight. I've told them before that we can hear them very clearly but they seem to think they are just fine until 2 or 3 in the morning! Then last night was choir. Brandon had me take the rehearsal twice (eek 200 plus great singers and I inevitably make a stupid mistake or say the wrong thing - stress). I'm grateful for their kindness and patience and I'm truly happy to help, but it is stressful and takes a while to settle down to sleep after a busy rehearsal. To top it off, Nelson needed a bottle at 4am. Ah the life of a mommy.

rolling with rolls

We had a fine McKay party last night to celebrate Aunt Joan's b-day. Much delicious food was spread and shared and requests for recipes went out. Here is the one I need to share. I got this recipe from a ward cookbook from our Cambridge, MA years. It is from 2 wards so I don't even know the girl who submitted it (her name is Heather Shull), but these are my go-to tasty rolls. They are not only delicious, but easy, non-temperamental, perfect for funeral luncheons, pot-lucks, dinner, and they are super yummy cut in 2, buttered and toasted under the broiler for breakfast. I make these for car trips as well because they stay good and soft for 2-3 days.

BROWN OATMEAL ROLLS

2 cups boiling water
1 cup rolled oats (not quick - yuck)
1/3 cup water
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 TBS yeast
5 cups white flour
3 TBS oil
2 tsp salt
Pour the boiling water over the oatmeal and let sit until it's not scalding hot anymore (so you don't kill your yeast). Add brown sugar, the additional 1/3 cup water, yeast, flour, oil and salt. Mix until a smooth elastic dough forms and place in an oiled bowl, cover with saran wrap and let double in size. Punch down and roll out dough on a lightly floured surface until about an inch thick. Cut into rounds with a biscuit cutter and place rolls on a greased coolie sheet (it should make 24-30 rolls). Let rolls rise once again and bake for 12-15 minutes at 425 degrees.

simple thanks

Ryan called at lunch today (as he usually does) and asked what was up. I gave a brief report of the morning and mentioned I had cleaned the bathrooms. He said, "Thanks" and we were off on another topic. I am struck how a simple word of gratitude from someone I love for something I do routinely as part opf my "job" made me feel so good and loved. I am so greatful for a husband who values what I do and thanks me for it.

How much easier is it to trudge on in our work, whatever our responsibilities are, if we feel valued, loved, and thanked.

I need to express gratitude more often to those I love.