The first day of Spring

On Sunday, church was cancelled.  All Utah members, 8 and older, were supposed to attend a rebroadcast of the Provo Tabernacle Temple dedication.  We decided that we did not want to take shifts, as the adults in our home, to attend a broadcast so after a lazy morning at home, we went downtown to Temple Square and did a little church history tour of our own.

It was a very beautiful day, the first day of spring.  There is nothing better than 70 degrees, bright sunshine and well behaved children.

While in the visitor center, we were looking at a world map and Ross asked the boys if they could find Lithuania.  While they were all pointing trying to pin point the exact location, a very kind woman walked up to us and said she could help them find Lithuania.  She was from Lithuania.  After a very quick conversation and the sharing of pictures we figured out that though she attended the Russian speaking branch in Vilnius, Lithuania, she knew Elder Petersen.  I had Ross take a very unflattering picture of the two of us (it was not intended to be as such) and we parted ways.

The day ended with a walk around the Daybreak Lake to burn off the excess energy of three young boys and some crazy double overtime basketball games.

I'd say it was a pretty great day.

He's home! He's home! He's home!

Last week, on Thursday, March 3 my long lost little brother returned from his two year mission in Lithuania.  It was a pretty nerve wracking week - I had some stress induced stomach problems; Wyatt had double ear infections and missed two days of school; Elliott had some sort of virus with a 101.4 degree fever.  Inspite of all our personal challenges though, that kid still came home.

And it was glorious.

Seeing him.  Giving him a hug.  Reintroducing him to the kids.  Pretty cool.

Two years is such a long time.  I realize that in the grand scheme of life, two years is a very small percentage, but it was worth it.  My brother is so tall and handsome and smart and grown-up.  He is of course, the same goofy dorky kid we all love, but he is so much more than that, too.

















Yesterday, Quinn and I got to spend a couple hours in the afternoon with Uncle Willie.  As soon as he came in our house, he went straight to the fridge and the pantry - just like always.  He wandered around our house, upstairs and into the basement.  He smiled and giggled and tried to talk to Quinn.

We went to Deseret Book.  The woman helping him thought I was his mom.  He's home, I guess.  Everyone thinks I'm his mom.

We went to lunch at Cubby's and I answered all his questions about family and America and food trucks.  He likes food trucks - well, he likes kebab stands, so pretty much the same thing.

Then, we went to Target, and he pushed Captain Quinn around in the cart and we looked at all the toys.

We came back to my house, and he read books to his former best friend, who is starting to warm up to the whole idea of Uncle Willie.  He went with me to get the big boys from school, checked out the pantry one more time when we got back, and then he headed home.

He is a good boy and one of my best friends.  I am so happy he is home.