More About Teach in Texas

Yesterday while we were having our FHE on Ireland, my phone buzzed. New text message. Now first let me confess that I don't have a smartphone. The little tiny pic that showed up on my screen was nearly impossible to see! So I ignored it and rejoined our festivities.

A short while later, another text showed up from an unknown area code. It said, "We love your sweet daughter. She's coming for dinner tomorrow. We are going to eat Pei Wei and can't wait." By this point I was a little creeped out. So I responded, "Which daughter? I have eight." After the third text said, "Wow!!! Well you're a lucky mom and an amazing mom too! XX." I felt like I should probably know who I was talking to so I asked straight out. "Who is this?"


At that she declared her name and that she was a member of a particular ward in Texas. And that ward happens to also have another member I knew very well, my missionary daughter, Teach! This sweet sister kindly sent me some cute pics, one is even a video, and kind words I so needed to hear yesterday.

She promised to give my girl a hug from me. Oh how I miss her!

It was pretty much a year ago today that we dropped her at the MTC.

I have more from Teach to share with you tomorrow. Even though she was nervous to move, she is loving her new area. And apparently she loves the food from Pei Wei too. Who knew!?

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day

I was thinking today how last St. Patrick's Day was Teach's farewell for her mission. It's hard to believe a whole year has gone by, but in some ways it seems like forever! We had a big party last year if you remember and the only reference to St. Patrick's Day was the fact that Princess made over a hundred shamrock-shaped sugar cookies. This year we decided to celebrate it in a little more traditional way.

I put Prima Donna in charge of Family Home Evening and our lesson on Ireland because I knew she would do a fantastic job and I wasn't disappointed. My sweetie came home early to cook us a traditional Irish meal. No, we didn't do corned beef and cabbage. We tried that once and it was so disgusting we couldn't even eat it! I think we must have cooked it wrong, because I ate corned beef as a child and I always liked it just fine. We do love cabbage and that was included on tonight's menu. He also put together an Irish hash with potatoes, pork, peppers, onions, and cheese. It was delicious! He made Irish Soda Bread, something we have had before that the kids always enjoy. Except for Prima Donna. She kept picking out the raisins, so she was banned from taking a second slice. Crafty and I made a pistachio salad which is not traditionally Irish, but it was tasty. To top it all off, my sweetie got out the food coloring and turned the Sprite Zero into a lovely shade of green.

After dinner and homework, we gathered for Family Home Evening. We started with scriptures and then we let Prima Donna teach her lesson. The kids had so much fun playing Irish Games, searching for the rainbow, and learning about Ireland. She taught us about the flag and we wrote on shamrocks that we added to a gratitude jar. There was also a cute rainbow chain with a pot of gold on the end. She spoiled us with Irish Soda Cookies which were similar to the bread but a little sweeter and with a slightly different texture.

The kids love learning about different cultures and especially their traditions and foods. Sport is working on an International Activity scout patch that requires us to do 4 different countries so that gives us a good excuse. I will let you know which ones we choose.

It's crazy for me to think that people all over the world read my blog, but if any of you live in Ireland and would send us some pics or other fun traditions we can try, that would be amazing!

Or if you live some other awesome place, we would love to choose your country to study next. Let me know!

Guest Blog: My Junior Prom by Princess

Yesterday was my junior prom. I have gone to a couple of school dances but never something so big or fancy. I was fortunate enough to be asked by one of my good friends who somehow got named Prince (thanks to Prima Donna). He asked me way back on Valentine's day and by February 15 I had already purchased my dress online. I felt like Cinderella with her fairy godmother as my mom typed in the shipping information. I was just waiting for all my dreams to come true.

So you already heard about our day activity to see Les Mis which was super fun but it did have one downside. I had purposely left my Saturday open so I had nothing to do! I was too excited to be productive and too nervous to do anything too crazy. So I spent most of the day talking to my mom and working on my tumbling on the tramp. 

Finally it was time to get ready. Drama Queen curled my hair and everyone wanted to help me get ready (that's why my family is so cool). Prince showed up and we had the typical exchange of flowers (meaning my mom pinned on his boutineer so no one got hurt) and my dad took some pictures. 

We eventually made it out of the swarm of children and headed to Jaden's (Prince's friend) house. We were the first ones there so we sat in the car and just talked for a few minutes. The other couple showed up, but there was still no sign of Jaden. It was pretty awkward. Then Jaden's dad came out and decided to start taking pictures anyway. 

Eventually everyone showed up and Jaden's parents fed us an amazing dinner. I mean it, as a cook myself sometimes I am a little judgmental, but that stuff was good! I was a little nervous when I first realized our group would consist only of marching band kids. You all know I'm a dancer and last time I hung out with the band group I felt totally out of place. This time was different. 

Apparently my Prince had told these guys a lot about me (only mildly creepy) and they were all super sweet. I felt like a part of the group 100% of the time and that was a huge blessing.

We eventually made it to the dance and it was super fun. I saw so many of my friends and, I don't know, there's just something about being in a puffy dress that just makes you want to hug everyone.... The music was pretty good too which was a good thing. 

After the dance we headed back to Jaden's house and watched The Princess Bride. When we first started the movie we were all laughing and joking, but by the end I think everyone was just trying to keep their eyes open. Prince took me home just after 1:00 AM and I was glad he was the one driving. It must have been all the front handsprings that morning because I was just totally out there. 

I got home and my mom, Drama Queen, and Prima Donna were all up waiting up to hear about the big dance. We stayed up for another hour and a half talking and giggling about the most important night of my high school life. You know, the one where all my dreams really did come true.

No Hiding This One

I've been sitting her just waiting for Princess to get home from Prom. I was thinking to put up some pics and tell you all about it, but she promised that if I wait until tomorrow, she will write the post for me! Can't give up that!

Scout got an email from her new softball coach yesterday and the boys have baseball tryouts next Saturday. My sweetie and the boys planted beets and peas, lettuce and cabbage today. My life is about to get infinitely more busy and I have a stupid splint on my hand!! Even simple things like washing dishes and folding laundry are hard. But the worst thing is having to snatch my hand away from one of the kids trying to hold it. It just makes me feel so bad. And they don't mean to hurt me either. We just don't think. But even a casual touch or the fact that it is an inch or so longer than normal makes it easy to bump against something or catch it in the steering wheel when I drive.

I had no idea how many times a day I shake my hands, either to dry them off or toss something in the garbage can, but shaking it hurts too. OK, that's enough whining. But just look how silly this new wrap looks! Ridiculous, I know! There's no hiding this one.

Even random people at the store ask me what I did to my finger. I think I need to tell them something much more interesting than playing basketball.

Anybody got any ideas?