Peggy and Janie

Two of my dad's cousins are in town.  Peggy contacted me a week ago to see if we could get together.  I invited them over to my house.  I wanted to show them our new kitchen.  They had been to my house years ago, so I was excited to have them come.  I invited them to have lunch with me here.  I have been really excited about this, but also terrified.  I want to impress them, but I am not good at being a grown-up.  A few days ago I talked to Becky and asked for her advice on what to make.  Becky is really, really good at hosting things.  I wanted to serve something I was capable of making, but also I wanted it to be grown up.  I didn't want to serve grilled cheese or spaghetti.  I also have had no extra time lately, so I didn't know how I was going to pull this off.  If my dad was here it would be no big deal, but my dad is on a tour right now.  I know he is disappointed to miss his cousins.  He sure loves them!  Anyway, Becky gave me some good ideas and good recipes. Yesterday she called me again and gave me another idea.  She said to order three large salads from Zupas.  Brilliant!  That is what I ended up doing.  I got three Nuts About Berries salads.  I forgot to ask to add chicken and was really worried about that.  I forgot Janie was a vegetarian, so that worked out well!  Anyway, I put the salads together in a bowl, the breads from Zupas in one of Maysen's dishes and the treats on the plate Rachel gave me from Japan.  I picked up some brownie bites from Harmons and some cake bites from Sweet Tooth Fairy.  Anyways, it worked out well. I had a great time with Peggy and Janie.  I am so glad they took the time out of their vacation to see me. They are so nice.  It is funny because they both have awesome houses. Peggy lives in a castle for crying out loud!  Despite the fact that they live in awesome houses, they were so complementary of my little house. They told me over and over again how nice it is.  They are so sweet.  I love being around them.

Allison took Stockton and Josh to diving today.  It was my turn to drive, but they are having a diving party and Allison didn't want me to wait the entire time.  She ended up waiting for them and taking them to Hang Time.  I took Maysen to her statistics class and then Mike and I went to Provo to pick up the boys.  We got back pretty late.  I'm exhausted!  Today was a long, fun day!  

I'm a Cowboy!

Mike took Preston to his baseball game today.  I wasn't able to go.  Man I wish I could have been there!  It was great weather and it sounded like Preston had a blast.  He is playing machine pitch, but has been having a hard time hitting the ball.  Today he hit four fouls!  He yelled at Mike and said, "Dad!  I got four fouls in a row!"  He was so proud. He also hit the ball and scored for the first time this season.  Mike got a picture of Preston at home.

In the outfield Preston played second base.  I wonder if his coaches told him to guard second because Mike said he marched around the base the entire time, regardless if there was someone on the base. Sometimes he even swung his hat in the air and chanted, "I'm a cowboy!  Yeehaw!"  Haha!  I love that boy!

Preston scoring!

I had Young Womens' tonight.  We took the girls to the temple.  We had a lot of girls this time.  I think 17.  We didn't get a picture of all of them though.  Sister Lyon came over and gave me some names for the girls to do.  I left them home.  I do things like that.

Maysen, Severine, Senora, Riley, Sephora, Melissa, Paige, Emily, Zoe

I have two Olivia's now.  It was (little) Olivia's first time at the temple....her dad calls her Larry.  I will call her Larry here so my story is not confusing.  Anyway, Olivia and Larry are best friends.  Olivia turned 12 in February and had been to the temple before.  She was baptized first.  Then she waited, wrapped in a towel and soaking wet as she watched Larry get baptized.  She had the biggest grin on her face. It was completely adorable.  I wish I could have taken a picture, but they frown on you taking pictures inside the temple.

Emily, Olivia & Larry

 Emily & Ebony ~ sisters!

Mike and I took Jorja and Preston to sign up for swim team.  They were not happy about it.  I really want Preston to do it again.  I want him to become a stronger swimmer, especially with the pool in our backyard. I know there is no way I can get him to do it without Jorja.  She is tired of swim team and did not want to do it again.  I wish one of her friends would do it, then she would love it!  We did see Audrey at sign ups. Yay!  Although Audrey is two years younger than Jorja, so she probably won't be grouped with her.  This year they are at least at the same time though.  I signed up Preston for swim and dive.  We'll see how that goes.  Stockton is going to do diving again, but he will probably only go once a week.  He'll still be going to Mike at Cottonwood.  I wanted him to take there because they have platforms. I wish they liked swimming as much as I like watching them swim!

Now here are my final pictures from our spring break trip.  We had such a great time.  I'm so glad my dad was willing to come.  I'm thankful that Peggy made us feel right at home.  I'm amazed at all the time Peggy, Sally and Jane spent with us.  Jane and Chris changed their vacation plans when they found out my dad was coming.  They drove up from San Diego to see him.  Talk about feeling wanted!  We will have to bring him back again.

Stockton, Maysen, Preston

 Jorja, Maysen, Preston

I like this carving on the window.  The estate of nonordinary reality.

 This dragon above the window is pretty cool too.

What wonderful memories!

ATM

There were so many different people in our house today.  We got gas lines put in the right place for our range.  I'm looking forward to cooking on a gas stove again.  I didn't think I would like it when we put them in our house in Georgia.  Turns out I loved them.  Might as well get them back.

The cabinet guy came and measured today as well.  Lots of different people doing different stuff that I'm sure is important.  Just glad I don't have to keep it straight!

I escaped the madness and went to lunch with Heather.  Heather my cousin, not Heather my friend.  Heather and I are going to try to get together at least once a month.  I love it that she has moved closer!  We went to Canella's and it was delicious!  Heather had a hysterectomy the end of March.  She looks fabulous.  She says she feels great as well. Yay! I got a text from Heather while I was on vacation.  It said, "My genetic results came in...I have a mutation on the ATM gene, which significantly increases your risk of breast cancer.  I met with the breast surgeon today, my mastectomy is scheduled for May 30th."  Wow.  Kris must have had this gene.  Crazy that she got sick at the same age as her sisters when she didn't have the BRAC1 gene.  Heather and I have often talked about how she must have had something else.  It was too much of a coincidence that she got sick the same age.  I remember my mom found out she had cancer one year and one week after Sue died.  Kris found out she had cancer one year and one week after my mom died.  I am so glad Heather is getting the surgeries done.  I had my surgeries done six and a have years ago and have not regretted doing this for one second of my life.  Such a relief.  Heather and I talked a lot about how excited she is to do this.  I reminded her several times that the mastectomy is going to be a lot harder and hurt a lot more than the hysterectomy.  Her surgeon told her the same thing.  Heather came to see her two weeks after her surgery.  Seriously I am so glad I did this and I am so glad that Heather is able to do it as well.  Especially since her insurance started covering preventative mastectomies this year. How's that for timing?

I will end this post with a few more pictures.  Most of these are in the tv/pool room upstairs.  Look at this fancy tv the kids are watching Sponge Bob on.

Stockton & Jorja

 These next carvings are over the bar area

 I like this picture of my dad playing pool

 The stairs in Peggy's house are so fun

 The view from the top balcony

 Cute guest house

 Beautiful floors.  I think this on is in the front entryway.

Pool Poncho

Mike spent most of the day trying to get the pool ready for Summer. Although it was raining really hard, so he did everything wearing a poncho.  I spent most of the day doing laundry.  I'm pretty sure it is going to be impossible to do laundry during the week.

Here are some more pictures from our trip.  Peggy's house is so amazing.  Although I am disappointed that I don't have more pictures of people.  I guess it is easier to take pictures of things.  I don't have to worry about them getting annoyed with me.  Haha!  Although my kids get plenty annoyed at me for taking their picture and I don't let that bother me at all!

Peggy's front door

 Carving above the door

 The front door from the inside

 Look at those peacocks!

 The carvings all around her house are so beautiful!

Peggy has these beautiful murals all around the ceiling in their front room.  There is a poem that goes around it.  She had them painted on canvas.  It's hard to tell in the pictures how pretty they are.  In between each canvas is a wood carving.  Wow.

Here is the table with Matt's favorite chair.

Cheyenne

Preston had a baseball game today.  He didn't want to go until he found out we were bringing the drinks.  He was so excited about that! It was pretty cold today.  The boy in front of Preston got the 3rd out in the first inning.  Preston then went to the outfield.  When it was their turn to bat again he hurried in and got all ready.  He was at the plate before the other team was even in the outfield.  Everyone got in position, Preston was still ready.  So excited to bat.  Then they called the game.  It was cold and had started raining.  Preston was disappointed and confused.  He said, "They tell me to get ready to bat, then they tell me not to bat and to go in the field.  Then they tell me to bat again, then they tell me not to bat and to go home."  I guess that is a little confusing.

Peggy got a new dog last week.  They kids were so excited about it.  And by kids I mean Jorja and Preston.  In no way do I mean Stockton. Stockton was indifferent about it.  Which is a lot better than how he usually feels about dogs.  Stockton and I are on the same wavelength when it comes to dogs.

Cheyenne and Preston

 Jorja, Cheyenne, Preston

 Cheyenne conquered the Porge!

The Barn

Peggy's barn is not really a barn.  Once there were horses there...a lot of them...but not now.  Now it is another guest house, I think, and a place for some really cool cars.  Although the pictures I took of the cars are kind of blurry, but you can get the idea.

The barn

 Parking meter ~ don't worry, it's just a decoration.

 Remote control car track

 Terry's summer car

 I think it's from the 20's, but I'm not sure

 Peggy said they drove this car a lot when the twins were little.

 Just stairs, but they're pretty

 Fun statues scattered around the yard

I had to get a close up of this one because

the little boy is trying to catch a frog!