Chris Birthday - We actually had Chris around for his birthday this year since his NASA Robot Mining competition didn't happen this week. (The whole competition went virtual this year due to the Government Furlow / shut down at the beginning of the year... but it didn't really affect the MS State team since they didn't get registered in time anyway) ANYWAY it was fun to be with him on his actual day! We did breakfast in bed.
And I told him he needed to be home during the middle of the day to watch Freddy and Max so I could help volunteer for something in Gwen's class. I lied. (Gwen was really convincing of this story too). Instead when he came home I had some presents wrapped for him (some snacks to eat, a cold beverage) and a bow on his golf clubs and told him that I didn't have to volunteer and now that his schedule was wide open he could go golfing!
The kids helped me make strawberry shortcake and Gwen and max were very helpful licking the beaters. I'm so thankful for Chris. I'm so thankful that Heavenly Father had it in His plan for Chris' body to win the two fights with cancer and stay on Earth with us to raise our kids together. I love him so much and appreciate the calm, loving, steady, funny, hard working, musical way he lives his life.
Also in May we tried to get in some last playdates with our good friends. Freddy's friend, Addie has been a frequent playmate with our regular Thursday day swaps. Putting water in the sandbox Chris and I built is a favorite past time. We took Addie to our last Homestead Nature Kids Co-Op. We built fairy boats out of sticks, leaves, vines and mud then floated them out on the lake. Also, we had to say goodbye to our neighbors and adopted family Trevor and Rebecca! They moved back to Utah this month. Crazy thing is... they're renting a basement apartment from my sister Sarah and her husband for the next year or so! HA! I'm so glad we'll get to see them in Utah. Sheesh we're going to miss these friends our home and yard.
Also in May we had final winding down of another school year. Alec received a couple of cool awards in his grade and the kids and I really enjoyed going to this end of the year concert in band. Chris had some other obligation for work in another city (Vicksburg or Jackson, can't remember which) 3 hours away and didn't make it in time to hear Alec but he arrived in enough time to sit with Alec through the other bands concerts. Alec has learned so much this year with the saxophone! I'm so proud of him!
Other cute random moments in May - One Sunday, I sent the kids to research a story from our family history and choose an activity to do all together that relates to their story. Freddy and I read the Boca Chica Beach book about my Grandma Hardy that Tiffany and I wrote and illustrated and then we played with kinetic sand all together. I can't remember what the other kids did, darn it. But I know that despite the grumbling at the beginning of this idea, they all really enjoyed themselves and it was fun to hear us all share family history stories.
I tried to stop by a lady that I ministered to but ended up just dropping off a note and gift on her back porch via her request. She had puppies back there and I was really impressed with Max's and Freddy's bravery. Max tried to copy Freddy by crouching down to pet the puppies and they just LOVED jumping up to lick his face.
Two really fun moments in May with church friends were going to the temple with Emily and Ryan and making boxes for succulents with my YW. Emily worked with me in the primary presidency when she first started coming back to church as a YSA. Submitting her name was very clearly revelation from the Lord and the funny thing was that I knew the name was right but I had the name attached to a different face. When she got called and sustained she was sitting behind me and I didn't want to embarrass her by turning around so when she came up to me after sacrament meeting and sweetly said, "So I guess I'll just go with you?" I had no idea what she meant, but my social manners had me respond, "sure!" It wasn't for a few minutes that I put two and two together. Anyway, she was a LIFE SAVER in the primary presidency. She is so cheerful and ready to help and I really really enjoyed working with her. I loved watching her courtship with Ryan Picard unfold (it even started in our backyard at a Pioneer Day party) and I was so honored to be among the very very few asked to be in the sealing room with them when they were sealed. I even got to be her official escort. It was a little bit of a crazy Saturday and going up to the temple is really an all day commitment and with all we had to do to get ready to move and finish the house it was a sacrifice. Also I had just gotten the official diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes the day before and was dealing with some high and low blood sugars and even had a scary few hours of finding blood in my urine on Friday night. We weren't sure as we woke up Saturday morning if we'd be driving to the temple all day or headed to the hospital...but we REALLY wanted to be there for Emily and Ryan and were blessed to go. I didn't realize we were the only ones invited besides the Branch President and his wife and Ryan's parents and I had a good conversation with Ryan's parents (who both have diabetes) afterward and got some helpful information. The blood in the urine went away and I've decided to believe it was related to a very small kidney stone that scratched a little in its passing.
One of my favorite last activities with my YM (I got released in the end of May?) was making our boxes for the succulents. Amy and I had fun teaching the girls how to use power tools. I really really really love these YW and my two good friends as their leaders. Janelle and Amy were a joy to work with and brought so much to the table. My YW - Katie, Elizabeth, McKenzie, Sarah, Audrey and Shelbi are such insightful, fun, responsible girls.
Also in May was Gwen's Dance Recital. Her and I love getting to dress her up and spend extra time together at the practice and performances. She had three dances this year: a tap dance (with a cute umbrella) to Singing in the Rain, a ballet dance to a fun instrumental song, and a 'hip hop' dance to a country-ish christian song, 'unstoppable' or something like that. She's really enjoyed these dances and stresses a little before the recitals about knowing and remembering everything (she's kind of a perfectionist) and she did wonderful! We went out to eat as a family to celebrate afterward - buffalo wild wings ... so the kids can play games on the little screen station things they bring to the table.
And finally, some Max pictures just because he's so cute. He recently discovered how to work the spray bottle I use to do the boys hair in the mornings. He only has figured out how to pull the trigger when its facing his own face though! Its so funny to watch him do it, knowing whats going to happen and yet still wiggle with shock a little when the water hits his face. Funny kid.
