Our stay was 2 weeks and pretty slow and relaxing. I helped Mom to start her Family Memories/Cookbook, which was the one thing she really wanted help with. She's been wanting me to help her work on it for a few years at least. But it seems that every time I go to Medford, it never gets started. We didn't get it finished while I was there, by any means. But at least we started it.
We did a lot of sitting around, playing with kids, reading, watching movies, making food and eating treats. That's how our Busy Season Trips to Medford usually go. We just hang out together, without any major plans. Mom went to the store early on and bought some little crafts and coloring books and toys for the girls to play with, and they were pretty occupied with those, especially Brooke. Diane, Mom and I had a little girls morning one day while Houston watched the babies for us. We went to Ashland for breakfast and a quick stop to Paddington Station, a fun, quirky little shop where I bought my favorite music notes pajama pants. And this time, I bought the shirt that goes with them! I also went to see quite a few movies while I was there. Daniel and I rarely go out to the movies anymore; it's so expensive, and there are usually not any movies out that we are interested in seeing. So it was quite a change to see 3 movies in a 2-week period: Dad and I had a little date and went to see Kung Fu Panda 3; Mom and I met some of her friends to see a Christian film, Risen (which we really liked, surprisingly); and Julie and I took all the kids (- Camille) to see Zootopia.
Julie and the boys came on the Sunday before we left, so we had a few days with them. I was really glad they made the trouble to come out while we were there. It was nice to see Julie and the boys, and Brooke LOVES her cousins and really had a ball playing with them.
It was a fun visit, and I'm glad we went. Every time I go to Medford, I always wish that I was actually living there. And then when I have to leave, I dread having to come back home to California. It's quite sad, I wish I didn't feel that way. Plus, it's always a bit difficult getting back into real life. It took me a week or so to decompress from my trip and get back into our normal routine. And even so, we hibernated for several days and didn't go anywhere.
Well, it's been a couple of weeks and we're fully back now. Brooke has been coughing this week, so we have been hibernating again, trying to keep it all to ourselves. It's strange that she's the only one that's gotten sick -- knock on wood! Today was Easter Sunday, so this week was taken up with many Easter things. We dyed eggs for Family Home Evening on Monday night and did our hunt on Friday afternoon. The Ward Easter Egg Hunt was yesterday morning, and that's always fun. And then we went to Aunt Liz and Uncle Bob's for a couple of hours for a barbeque and to see the cousins (David and Kira's kids were there this week). Brooke and Camille had a blast with them. They love being with their family!
Last night was the General Women's Broadcast, and it was much needed. I've been in a bit of a spiritual slump this month, and I think it was just what I needed to break out of it. The main theme of it all was service, and it really made me think critically of my behavior lately. And of course, with Easter today, the talks in Sacrament meeting were wonderful, about the Savior, the Atonement and the Resurrection. I went to church alone today (Daniel stayed home with the kids because Brooke is still coughing ... and because I was kind of busy playing organ and piano today), so I was actually able to listen to the talks today, which was wonderful!
I have a testimony of Jesus Christ, and know that He lives and loves me. I'm in awe of what He did for me and for all mankind, and sometimes have to just stop and think about the wonderful miracle that it was -- the Atonement and the Resurrection. Because of what He did, I can live in such joy and peace, now and through eternity! It's amazing -- the kind of perspective the Gospel can give! It's wonderful to know that there's more after this life and that we can all be together again!
We're looking forward to General Conference next weekend!
The girls have been so funny and cute lately, I wish I could remember all the funny things they do and say! Brooke has been all caught up with Easter this week, and just would not stop talking about it! And she's been really into painting lately, asks to paint every day. Camille has been cutting teeth a bunch lately -- she's got 4 on top and almost 3 on bottom. She's been taking a longer nap, too, ever since we got back from Medford, which is good. We've really been enjoying going on walks around the neighborhood lately. The weather is perfect this time of year -- it's warm, but not too much yet, and there's often a nice breeze. We've been going out almost every day.
*Brooke was asked to be a Reverent Child last week at church before Sacrament meeting. She did such a good job and was so cute up there!*
*Bad hair day, much? Can't even tame it. We gave her a little haircut a few weeks ago, but ... it only helped a little. And Dadda, working in the background.*
*Our little daredevil. She's always climbing on stuff. But then she always has bruises on her head and face from falling off of things, falling into things, falling over... Silly child.*
*May the Force be with you!*
*Little Cousins playing together*
*Owen wearing Gramma's glasses. He's a cute little fellow!*
*Bathing all three kids at once is not for the faint of heart. You can see all of them crying a the same time. :)*
*Brooke loved having Gramma and Grampa read to her. She asked one of them every night to read her a story.*
*On the airplane waiting to go to Medford!*
*We stuck all 3 kids in the back of Aunt Schpuckie's car. It was quite the tight squeeze*
