Counting Cousins

Up until this last weekend, Anna couldn't count her cousins right. She would count with her fingers "Emily, Daniel, Michael, that's three and the twins is two. I have five!" "Nope" I would say. She would look at me puzzled and I would have to remind her about Aunt Meri's new baby, Tanner. Well, she doesn't forget him anymore. She adds him to her count in a sing-song kind-of way that is just so sweet.
We had a wonderful time with the Kirkwoods' last weekend. We got to see Dustin and Meri and meet Tanner. And Jake was back in town for the weekend. Jeff and Lesha came down for the weekend. Marji and Bill took us all out to dinner with on Friday. DJ was even there, although were at the restaurant where he worked, so he didn't get to have fun with us. They all came to Riley's football game to see him score the extra point on Saturday. That evening we added more family for a big birthday bash. All of the aunts, uncles and cousins showed up for a great time. We played a really fun game that Jake taught us called "Signs" where you sit in a circle and pass discrete little motions back and forth to eat other while trying not to get caught by the person in the middle. It gets pretty funny, as you can choose some crazy stuff to be your sign. Case in point, Dustin chose scratching his armpit. Can you even do that without getting caught? I think he just didn't want to get chosen! Sneaky way to not participate, Dustin. On Sunday, we drove up to Dustin's sisters house to participate in blessing Tanner. What a beautiful day! The sun was shining and we were all dressed up. So much family around us. I am one truly blessed individual.
On Saturday night Lesha and I got to go to a special women's conference at our church. One of the leaders talked about creating something, anything, with our talents. "The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before." President Uchtdorf goes on to say, "The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter." Some people don't recognize the untouchable things that we can create, only looking to the things that we can feel and see. But so many times it is the untouchable, unseen things that we have created in our lives that hold us up when our feet fall out from underneath us. I am glad for the relationship that I have with my family. But I know that it did not just appear out of nowhere. We have all put our fair share of creativity into it to keep it happy and loving and one of the most prized possessions in my life. Okay, sappy I know, but true. Love you all -P-

Make a Smilebox scrapbook