Special Visitors

Both sets of grandparents showed their love and dedication by traveling across the country to attend Elora's baptism. It was a rare privilege to enjoy all four of them at the same time. The only problem: it was tiring to keep saying "the grandmas and grandpas" to the kids, so once I joked that it would be easier to just say "the old people". I hope no offense was taken! We sure did love having all those old people around!

Fun with the Grandparents

We posed outside the mall after playing at "The Fun Forest"

This is one to treasure for always. Elora and her patriarchs--firm roots of righteous heritage from which she can branch out and reach up to heaven.

We went glow-bowling! On the way home one of the girls asked why the grandmas and grandpas didn't bowl. We went down the list: Grandma Smith said Grandpa Smith shouldn't bowl, her hip was hurting, Grandpa Ericksen had an injured finger, and Grandma Ericksen had expensive fingernails. But we still had lots of fun! Vivian won the game, by the way. We used the kid ramp and gutter bumpers (which improved my score quite a bit), but it's still impressive!

Vivian gives her champion shove while Grandma and her expensive fingernails look on.

More Glow-Bowling

The Long-Anticipated Day Arrives!

Maybe the little sisters thought this was our "family tree"?

Elora in White

This morning at about 4:00 I had to wake up to change Levi and give him a milky appetizer. His cries that interrupted my sleep were unwelcome at first, but once I was awake and had the bottle made I enjoyed the cute little "Eeeee, eeee" sounds he makes and how he reaches like a deprived addict for his bottle. As I delivered it, I noticed a tell-tale smell and was disappointed to realize that I would have to change him, too, but once I got him out of his crib and unsnapped, I enjoyed watching him in a complete state of bliss, all relaxed with his knees pulled in and his feet curled up the way I imagine he was in my womb. I love taking care of Levi!

While I was thus occupied, Daniel walked past me on his way to the bathroom and right after that Vivian walked up, knelt by me, and gave Levi and me a silly grin. Where did that come from? Why was she awake? My mothering style is not to worry about these questions, content with the knowledge that she'll go back to sleep soon. But it did feel funny to have two family members make their appearance at this hour as I changed a diaper. Unfortunately, after all that I was wide awake. I tried my usual method of lying in bed and counting with the rhythm of my breathing to 100--I tried it twice. Then I gave up and decided to go work on the blog. So I've been reading Email, catching up on the latest movements of my favorite political analyst, Glenn Beck, and transferring and editing photos for the blog. I don't have time to post all the photos I edited right now because I want to squeeze in a jog before everyone wakes up, but I can't resist posting just this one scrumptiously cute close-up of my favorite boy. I've said it before--when I look at pictures of women my age who are famous, glamorous, thin, divorced, self-centered, etc., I pity them because they'll never have what I have.

Vivian and Levi Around the House