Band Sistahs

Tonight was the season home opener.

The football team lost, but Hey: There's always the band!

FOURTEEN

 Guess who woke up another year older this morning?... The only thing Roonie asked for (well, really, it was more like a polite suggestion) was cinnamon rolls for breakfast.

 She did NOT ask to wear a big dorky birthday button around the High School...

 She did not ask for a cute friend to sneak over before she got home from school, and set up her own personal birthday walk-of-fame with treats at every lamp post...

 She didn't even ask for a certain type of cake. (She got coconut)

We sure got lucky when we got HER...

Happy Birthday Fourteen-year-old!

I hope all her wishes come true!!

XO

Remembering

It's a good day for remembering.

I will never forget where I was on this day in 2001.

Today I'm thinking about and remembering family.

We attended a lovely funeral service yesterday in southern Connecticut for Dub's Uncle.

It was a perfect weather day, and so nice to connect with relatives we don't see very often. 

It leaves me remembering why I think so fondly of them, and feeling grateful to have my life touched by theirs.

Uncle Rich was a wonderful man.

Many paid tribute to his character and integrity.

Two of the things that I learned about him yesterday (that I love) are:

He always held his wife's hand when they went to bed at night, no matter the circumstance and even if they were being disagreeable.  Despite the mood, he felt it important to let his wife know of his undying devotion and love for her every single time they said good night.

-and-

During his adult life, he enjoyed Oreo cookies and milk EVERY SINGLE DAY.

At the luncheon following the services, his grandchildren passed around cookies and milk, and his wife toasted him.

Here's to YOU, Uncle Rich.

XO

Canobie Lake Day

My memory may not be all it's cracked up to be most of the time, but I do remember with clarity our family outing last year, when I spent more than an hour flat on my back recovering from  all the fun we were having.  This year, I was careful to take my fun in moderate doses.

In the spirit of taking up where older brothers left off, the girls were proud of their ability to covertly cover their dad's back with the family's catering stickers after lunch.

Mission accomplished.

 It was a PERFECT day.

Dynamic Duo

"Perhaps the greatest reason for missionary work is to give the world its chance to hear and accept the gospel."

-Spencer W. Kimball

Last week I connected with my dear friend Cynthia in Utah, who happens to know this other missionary (Elder Clarke) and his family really well--they're neighbors and attend church together.  She shared a letter that Elder Clarke had sent his parents about being assigned to serve with Yonder.  Here's a portion:

"So,... I recieved my new comp!! I don´t know if you guys remember me mentioning an Elder Whitcomb (picture is attached) a few weeks back?? My old zone leader from Boston, who´s friends with the Parsons family? Well, HE is my new companion. Am I the luckiest elder in the world or what?? Elder Whitcomb is going home October 4 - he currently has 23 months in the mission... I feel so blessed to be able to learn from him...  Elder Whitcomb is known by many as the best missionary in the whole mission. He previously shared a house with the assistants in the heart of the city, and is coming from one of the strongest wards in all of the country. The Lord has blessed me so greatly to have him as a companion - I´ve already learned so much! And I´m so excited to be able to learn all his tips and tricks. Pres. told us he was excited to send two good elders to this tough area - I know together, we can see miracles."

-Elder Clarke

These two are happy together!  And they're doing all they can to make sure their part of the world is given its chance.
SO... update on 9/11/2012:
Got a letter today and this is what it says:

"Mom!

  That´s not Elder Clarke on your blog!!!! (Thats Elder Nielsen...) Thats ok ;) "

I'm laughing.

What else can I do?!?

:)

project complete

Every little boy should have a tin can phone.

(He's now taking orders on the bus--25 cents per foot of string--the rest is free.  He might be eating a LOT of soup.  They're going like hot cakes.  He said he's going to donate the proceeds to charity.  This made me laugh, but I was impressed.  He picked the local food bank.  Who needs cell phones when you can have one of THESE classics?)

Just call with your order.

You might have to hold the line...

afternoon escape

 After school on Wednesday, Morning Boy and I escaped to the tree house to do some snacking while we planned a project.

He had some soup and I ate cake.

 In the middle of our escape, Mesquite came out with the phone, and insisted that I take the call.  I figured that since we were in the tree house, we could insist that she use the bucket to deliver the phone.

 She was a good sport.

Mr. Dub was a good sport, too.

He was the caller.