Promalama Ding Dang

Prom is so nervewracking - you can just see the date's hands shaking and you want to make him comfortable, so you all stand on the steps and watch as your daughter greets him and tries to pin a flower on his lapel! Madison went with good friend Jordan D. to Prom and they came home at 5 a.m. from Afterprom. I spent all week in hand to hand combat with the dress, hemming each little ruffle and taking each panel apart, then making sleeves after the jacket didn't look good. Our 39$ Ross special turned out to be a lot of work!
Jordan and Madison met the other couples at a clubhouse nearby for more pictures, and then went to dinner at Bistro Bethel Downtown.
Inspired my Jim Carrey's "Yes Man" movie, when the understaffed volunteers asked if I could help at the Afterprom party at Funland, I said "Work the 11:00 - 2:00 a.m. shift? Yes, absolutely!" It turned out to be really fun. I had food detail, and got to see the kids come back for more and more foot long subs. The best part of the evening was when my friend Lynn and Madison's drama teacher came over and said "Did you hear? Madison is Prom queen!" They hugged me and showed me the pictures from their cameras of Madison dancing with the king, Heyden, with a huge beaming smile on her face. I didn't think it would matter much, but I teared up, and I had a flashback to that little girl at nine - eleven who said how ugly she felt and how fat, and that I told her she was beautiful, which she was! Prom queen is definately no bench mark of success, but seeing her so happy in that photo made me think "She knows she's lovely", and what a great time!

Sunjay didn't bring a date, but came along with the group, and was well included.

The tierra is hers to keep, now on to Sunday morning, church, and naps for everyone.

Rhett and I get to take turns taking the kids to sports. This past week Livi and Becca both had 5:30 games in fields at the same park. I ran back and forth - watching for a few minutes until one child sat on the bench, then went back to the other child's game. I tried to yell loudly so at least they could look up and know that I was there. It was a good workout. I was on the way home thinking "I haven't done anything about dinner," and this picture stopped me in my tracks at home. Rhett was cooking stirfry in my "Domestic Diva" apron with a big smile. Well, I don't like to be overly gushy, but I am one lucky girl in so many ways. I don't even think I realize how good I have it sometimes.
And to have a guy that loves me and doesn't say anthing critical even when he could say a lot - even when my weight is fluctuating along with my hormones, or I spend too much money, or things are chaotic when he has had a hard day himself.


Conference time is also when we change out the survival food in our 72 hour emergency kits. I enjoyed watching Rhett lay out all the old food, most of which has expired and try each thing. The chocolate? Didn't age well. Didn't make a dent in the taste? Ritz bits with that processed cheese. Then he put everything in the pantry for the kids to "eat at your own risk, knowing that this is expired, but should be okay for you."
So I enjoyed watching him go through the food, and knowing that we will survive another six months until the next conference with the new food we put in the kits.

Spring Break - Day 2

Happy Easter from John Boy, Mary Ellen, Ma and Pa... wait - wrong family! Happy Easter from the newly decked out fam. Our choir pulled it together and sang three really good songs - even had a practice on conference weekend. Now we're on spring break - day one.
We wanted to go on a hike and chose Westmorland State Park, which has a great beach along the Potomac River called fossil beach. According to the brochure, lots of sharks died on the beach from a prehistoric sea, and it's easy to find shark teeth. Last time we were there, the park ranger gave us some teeth to "plant" so the kids would have a fun time. This time, we used the strainer and found three of our own. The weather was chilly and the wind blowing. That, mixed with sand and cold kids gave us about an hour of hiking. Madison fell in a mud bog, Cecily tripped and cut her gum, and Becca fell in the river. We really shouldn't do hikes - even .4 miles each way! Seriously, it was fun! We stripped off Becca's wet jeans and wrapped her up in a hoodie for the ride home. Garrett is hiking in the mountains all week with his friends. They are well equipped and it is snowing in the mountains. They had service to reach us with their cell phone to let us know that they have taken shelter and are doing well! Hope it stays that way! Tomorrow.... something less ambitious.




Today, a shark teeth finder....tomorrow, spaghetti.

Art & Cherry Blossoms

The cherry blossoms are in bloom. Rhett, Deanna, and I went up to walk around the tidal pool to see them. This is the best time of year to see D.C.

Saturday before Becca's baptism we trooped over to the high school for the District art show. Becca and Livi had one of their creations on display!

Livi's is a fantasy picture with a story she wrote about Africa to go with the picture.

Becca's Baptism

Becca's Baptism day was fantastic! She was very excited and running around the entire Saturday until the baptism at 5 p.m. Three children were baptized - longtime pals from nursery days Jonathan and Kelsey.
The button is from the Primary. It says "I'm the newest member of the Church."

Livi played the prelude...
Donned the "jumpsuits"

Guests from our extended family were Aunt Laura and Rhett's mother, Deanna.

We went home and had chocolate fondue. Becca was trying to be good all day, and then slipped up (of course- we all do) in the evening. Madison joked, "Well Becca, looks like your baptism is down the tubes. " Poor Becca started crying until we all sat on Madison and explained how sensitive an eight year old is after just being baptized! It was a great day, and Becca is a treasure to all of us!