Kick Ball With The Kids

Today we had regional stake conference, so Autumn & I got to church an hour early so we could save seats for Mom & Dad & the crew.  Luckily we got there early enough to get the nice padded seats.  Since it was regional, it was a broadcast from SLC.  There were 3 speakers and my favorite one was Elder Eyring.  He told a story about how he was visiting a friend in Europe and they walked into what looked like a charming little shop.  As soon as he walked in, he turned around and walked right back out b/c there were pornographic posters all over the walls.  He said he prayed for days to have those horrible images removed from his mind.  As he was praying, the thought came to him from Heavenly Father that he had been shielded and protected from such worldly things, and there was a reason those images weren’t removed immediately.  It wasn’t that Heavenly Father wanted him to remember those images.  Elder Eyring had the impression come to him that he needed to appreciate that protection he had been given his whole life so he could teach is family about always having the protection of the Holy Ghost.  After that, the images left his mind.  I’m not doing his story justice, but it was incredibly powerful. 

Since it was a 2 hour meeting, the kids played the iPad for the last 1/2 of it.  Mom went out in the foyer w/ Jackson b/c he was getting restless and wanted to run around.  He ended up falling asleep in Mom’s arms and she was in 7th heaven.

We had to get a picture of the two older cousins together in their nice church clothes.

They’re too old now to be “Kissin’ (on the lips) Cousins”, but they can be kiss on the cheeks cousins.  SO CUTE!

A few people commented how cute Autumn & I looked in our matching purple outfits.  I didn’t plan it that way, it was just what clothes were clean.  But we did look pretty in purple and had to get our Mama/Daughter pic.

The other day when we were sitting at the table eating some Jelly Belly’s, Nick mentioned that they had the nasty Harry Potter jelly beans at his work.  I told him to get some for me please, and he brought some home last night.  So, today I brought them over to Mom & Dad’s house after church so we could try them.  Lexie & I got brave and tried some.  The grass one and earwax ones weren’t too horrible.  Vomit & booger were bad, but the one that almost made me throw up was the sausage one.  NASTY!!!!

Just look at their faces!  Lexie was super brave and tried the most.  LOL!

After we had tacos for dinner, Mom & Lexie & I sat at the kitchen table and worked on some stuff that Autumn’s teacher sent home w/ Mom.  Mom’s been going to her class once a week for an hour to help out, but this was too much stuff to do in one hour, so she brought it home.  It was fun to sit and do that together.

The weather was PERFECT outside and I didn’t want to stay cooped up inside watching TV like we usually do, so I talked everyone into coming outside to play kickball…even Mom!  I had to get a picture to document it, b/c it was a miracle she was willing to come outside, let alone participate.  We let Autumn & Andrew be team captains and pick their teams.  We played in Mr. Jim’s front yard b/c he had trees that worked out perfectly for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd base.

Jon is doubled over in laughter b/c Mom was waiting him for to leave base so she could tag him out.  We were having so much fun and laughing so hard.  It was such a WONDERFUL memory making activity.  I love my family so much.

After a while, everyone was done playing that.  So, we went out in the front yard and the kids ran around.  Such a cute picture of Mom & Nick & Emma.

Jon & I threw a frisbee back and forth, and Andrew & Papa threw one back and forth.  Autumn chased Jackson around and made sure he was being safe.  She’s going to make such an incredible older sister someday.  It felt great to be outside and active and enjoying the sunshine.

We finally came in so Lexie & Jon & the boys could get their stuff together to head home.  The kids said they wanted a snack so Mom put some cereal in a container and they gathered around it like horses to a trough.  LOL!

Autumn & I stayed and watched TV w/ Mom & Dad for a while, and then we left to go visiting teaching at 6:00.  I love it when Autumn comes w/ me.  After that was over, we came home & watch Once Upon A Time.  We flipped over to Downton Abbey between commercials.  Autumn LOVES the blanket that Mom got me for Christmas, and she likes to curl up in it on the floor.  It was a great way to spend a Sunday, and I’m sad that the weekends go by way too fast.