Monday-I can't seem to get an exercise schedule while traveling, but jumped rope with my sis-in-law Shannon on the shady side of the house before the kids awoke. We collected the EFY cousins, bought some pretty great can't-get-in-China snacks and drove to the BYU Marriott Center via the MTC. Teared up and waved as we passed Chase at the MTC. Checked in to EFY and collected the t-shirt, wristband, lanyard, backpack and room key. They are staying in the nice new Heritage Hall dorms. The boys, Boston and Brigham, were giddy. Brigham's two pals from AZ, Sam and Peter, were also there. Chase wrote during his pday time as we were dropping them off..."Tell Brig to worry more about the Spirit than the girls." Good advice, Chase. Letters from both missionaries today. I've always loved Mondays, but now they are over the top when we get the missionary letters x 2. We went to lunch, before dropping off the kids, at 180 tacos-the worker described it as food truck food in a bigger space. Also stopped by Riverwoods for a minute and then back to get the kids. Now while we were running over to Provo, the little girls and their cousins went to see a dog who just had 16, yes 16 puppies. Visiting them along with making up dances took up their day until 4:15 P.M.. They are loving running around with a pack of kids this summer. Impromptu visit to orange leaf yogurt and we walked in to see Holli and her six little ones happily eating yogurt. Their smiles lit up the place. We took our yogurt to go as we were meeting some of our friends from China that moved back to Provo in December, the Palmers. They have the cutest little cottage like house in Provo. Erica went with us and directed us to Lincoln Beach for some boating on Utah lake. The water was warm as we wake surfed (or tried to), tubed, ate subway sandwiches and watched Kindell wakeboard in the sunset. Such a nice visit, thanks Palmers! (The man eating mosquitos escorted us back to the freeway, inside and outside of the car.)Grateful for all the friends we have made in China. Talked to Brigham on the way home. He said it was an OK day and he had chicken and mashed potatoes for dinner. Their counselor's name is Shelton. Back to Taylor's house for prayers and story time with Cory for the kiddos.
Tuesday: Kids are having so much fun they hardly know I'm here. I had to look Sophie in the eyes and say, "Hey, remember me? I am your mother." They had fun at cross-fit kids with their cousins. Aunt Kelly reported that the boys are doing good at EFY. Brooke is doing more school, I ran errands and got a package mailed off to Chase, some family pics in a small album, mints and a tie. Lunch at cafe rio with girls. Outlet mall with Brynn and Brooke--apple pie caramel apple, chocolate covered frozen cheesecake on a stick and an ice cream cone. YUM! Beautiful sunset-pink, purple and orange.
Wednesday-a half-hearted run (missing my running friends) on a nice trail in Highland. Shannon rallied the troops (about six cousins) for a "power hour" or approximately 16 minutes of weed pulling. After that I vacuumed our car. When I came inside it was super quiet and all the kids were reading books on the couch. I drove Brooke and walked her in to find a cubby to study in the library. Sophie and I then had a quick date--Rumbi and Michaels. She and Brynn were complaining of sore legs from cross fit yesterday. The rest of the afternoon was spent swimming at the Burr's pool with 17 kids. Shannon made Dutch baby pancakes with marion berry syrup, strawberries and whipped cream for dinner. They were a hit. More playing outside for the kids and packing for me. Couldn't figure out why my things weren't fitting in our bags. I remembered that Todd took four bags home to China, the contents of which are now in piles on the floor here. S.O.S.! In China news, our favorite restaurant, Simply Life opened up in Seaworld, a fifteen minute walk from our house. Missing Todd.
Thursday-Packed in the morning and had a girls' afternoon. We call it a girls' day, but really that's all we have left, so it's girls' day all day everyday, until Saturday when we pick Brigham up from EFY. (Poor guy in a car full of girls-dynamics have certainly changed!) We have a good time and there's always a treat involved. At one point we were in our awesome rental car stopped at a light. I was teaching them how to lead music to a pop song. Pretty soon we had all sorts of arms waving and heads bopping to the beat. Brooke turned up the music and the guy next to us started playing some air drums out his open window towards us while smiling at us. We laughed at ourselves all the way home. Anyone else want to join our band? Sophie carries her new book with her wherever we go. She wants to sit in the cart and read. Shannon and I met Candy, Holli and Heather at the temple and then out for dinner at Wild Zucchini.I've been online friends with Lila Teller, a fabric designer, for 7 years and I finally met her waiting in line at the restaurant. Cory, Tyler & Shannon then set up an outdoor movie for the kids who watched on blankets in the yard while eating popcorn.
Friday: 6:30 AM call with Todd. He will call me back when he wakes up. Getting a package ready for UPS to deliver to Chase at the MTC. I'll miss not being right here close to have next day and same day delivery. Shannon dropped that off with some donuts and Grandma and Grandpa Hansen sent him a box of popcorn made fresh in the movie theater machine in their living room. That's sure been a hit with the grand kids. They always send visitors off with a ziploc bag or two of popcorn. Thanks to everyone who sends things to my missionaries. I know they appreciate your efforts and kindness. Today we packed up the mess upstairs. Packing for a two month vacation takes some logistics and when I add in what we are taking back to China it gets a bit hairy. The little girls went to yoga with their cousins. Brooke and I ran errands and Brigham is living it up at youth conference. I'm sure he will sleep a good part of the ride to AZ tomorrow. We had a nice walk around temple square. One of the missionaries there was a trainer to a Swedish girl Ally knew from Malmo, AND, she served part of her mission in Mesa near Val Vista and McKellips. Small world. Next we were talking to a cashier who lived in China and the lady next to us said she lived in Hong Kong for 18 years and is now in Singapore. She knows quite a few people that we know. So many connections! Dinner at red iguana, chick fil a and sbarro. Candy and Jerry and Carsons came over to tell us goodbye and Cory packed all of our things in the car and topper. He also made pancakes at 11 PM and then had story time with the five cousins. It's been fun here in Utah! And good eating...we all gained a few LBs. this week for sure. Todd had a busy morning exercising with Shane (and Jeff?)...biked up a mountain, swam laps in the pool and then lunch at the new Simply Life. Sure miss him but he's getting a lot of work done while we are apart.
Saturday: Going to pick up Brigham at 6:15AM today. Breakfast at Provo Bakery, a quick stop at Costco in St. George, lunch in Henderson NV, bathroom break in Wickenburg and to get new church pants and shirt for Brig in Peoria. Pretty drive with a bit of construction. Brooke was our DJ/movie girl and I listened to an audiobook. She also worked on some of her videos. I can't wait to see what she has in the works. Love the Joshua tree sections of the drive on that route. Today while driving was the first time I was ok with being back in China. It took a month and probably has to do with Todd being there, but I was hoping a desire to go back came at some point before it was time to head back.
Mom had dinner waiting for our arrival. Went to the mall for a little while and then to bed. Congrats to Tommy on his baptism today. It's nice to be home for a bit.
Sunday: Thanks to Sears and Turners for feeding Todd lunch and dinner today in China. My brother Brigham is speaking in church today so Mom & Dad and my family went to his ward first, and then we went to our ward in Mesa to hear Spencer Duncan's farewell and Michael Costello's homecoming. All did a nice job and we love to see our friends in our home ward. Todd called and got to speak to all of the kids-sure miss him on Father's Day. He's off to another work week already. Lucky to be here to spend Father's Day with my dear ole dad! My Mom has it all fancied up downstairs, ready for the celebration. Cousins should be here in a bit. Great celebration, everyone gone now, watching TV with my parents.
Happy Father's Day!
Love from Utah/Nevada/Arizona, & China via Todd,
Taylors
No comments:
Post a Comment