Window Replacements, Conference & Nature

This morning we woke up and had Texas waffles for breakfast.  Mom & Dad are having the windows in the house replaced b/c a bunch of them lost their seals.  The work crew started yesterday, and started up again early this morning.  It is BRUTAL what they do to the house.  I know they are improving it, but in a way it feels like they’re destroying it.  When they take out the frame, all of the wood and mortar are exposed, and the bricks on the outside even move a little bit!  But, they’re very skilled at what they’re doing and it looks great when the new windows are in.

When they took one of the frames out, they found pieces of snake skin that had been shed!  Mom was creeped out at the thought that a snake crawling around, and Autumn thought it was cool and wanted to hold it.

At 11:00, we went in Mom & Dad’s room to watch conference since the window guys were working in the living room.  Mom was so cute and had printed off a conference packet to keep Autumn entertained and listening.  She set her up w/ an improvised desk at the end of the bed.  Autumn insisted on wearing her helmet b/c I told her after conference we could go on a walk.  I don’t think she realized conference is 2 hours long.  LOL!

I love it that Mom & Dad had DVR so we could pause conference, like when the window guys said they were done for today.  We paused conference and took a break and made salads for lunch and then went back to conference after lunch.  Autumn was so good about being quiet and reverent so we could listen.  She kept pretending to read this story and she would even turn it around and show us the pictures like her teacher does.  I am proud of myself b/c I stayed awake for all of the talks, and I didn’t even doze off. 

Mom & I also made 2 dozen deviled eggs for Dad to take to the potluck dinner tonight before priesthood session.  The talks were SO GOOD and my favorites were:

Elder Holland: Laborers In the Vineyard

Elder Scott:  How to Obtain Revelation & Inspiration for Your Personal Life

President Uchtdorf: Stop it.

President Monson: Where Did We Come From?  Why Are We Here? Where Are We Going?

Elder Andersen: What Thinks Christ of Me?

After  both sessions were over, Autumn & I went on a walk b/c Autumn had been waiting all day.  I took my nice camera so I could get more pictures of the pretty flowers around the neighborhood.  I can’t get enough of these bluebonnets!

I also can’t get enough of these pretty red poppies.

I especially like the buds before they bloom b/c of the cool asterisk shape on top.  It’s crazy to think that such a big flower w/ so many petals is contained in this one little bud.  There are buds all over in this flowerbed, so I can’t wait to see how many poppies bloom over the next few weeks.

On our way back home, I noticed our neighbors had these amazing peach colored roses in their backyard.  There aren’t really fences in the yards, so we walked back there to look at them.  They were so fragrant!

This rose bud is fascinating b/c you can see all of the different layers of petals contained in this one bud.  I don’t know how people can look at the beauty and miracles of nature and not believe in a Heavenly Father.

I don’t know what type of flowers these are (if you know, please leave me a note in the comments b/c I’d love to know) but their bright purple petals & interesting centers caught my eye.

After our walk, we went back to the house and just hung out w/ Mom and watched TV.  Dad & Nick had gone to the priesthood session together and I said we should live it up and have a Girl’s Night Out, but none of us were really in the mood.  We did nachos for dinner and just vegged out.  Autumn & I finally came home at 9:00 so I could get her to bed and get rested for conference tomorrow.  It’s such a huge spiritual feast and I am soaking it all up and loving it!