First of all, thanks to Ruth for that stellar Mother's day video! How true it is! So, so great. Thanks to all of you mothers who are so inspiring to me - you just keep at it, day after day, year after year. Amazing, wonderful women. Thank you so, so much!
Yes, there is life in Smithfield. Sorry to have been so absent for the last while. We are just doing our stuff - taking care of moms and babies, building and planting grow boxes, watching birds, making quilts and organizing our house (still!). It's all good. We will have more to write about next week when Thomas is here. And the week after that when Becca and Darin are here.
And we do officially have callings in the Smithfield 20th ward. It will be delightful to be back in Primary. We are looking forward to it, actually. A lot!
This last week I attended three births, all on the same day. Actually, all within just over 4 1/2 hours! It was a little crazy! I don't suppose it will ever happen like that again. The first birth occurred at 2:35 in the morning and while the mom was in the shower, I got called to the 2nd birth, which occurred 4 minutes after I arrived, at 3:33. I had that mom in the bathroom when I got a call at 4:44 that the last mom was in labor - which happened at 6:46. I still can't believe that I got to all three and all was well at every one. Three little baby boys in the same night. Such a blessing. Now they are done. Just checking on them now, making sure all continues to go well.
Getting those babies here allowed us to go to American Fork to help Lauren find her garden spot under all those weeds! Dad and I had a blast weeding with Wesley, who hadn't been feeling very well. But he perked up and helped us get those weeds out! Then we went to the famed butterfly exhibit at Thanksgiving Point and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly there. Fun times!
Glad to hear that things are shaping up in all the gardens. If the rain stops long enough this week, we will try to get some more things planted. Our potatoes are popping up, and the onions and raspberries are currently thriving. We hope to make the rounds soon and come see all of you and your lovely gardens of plants and children and other things! Love you all!
Oh, and Addy, I think the cookbook idea is terrific! I'll be sending some recipes along right away...
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Hart Happenings
Hello all!
It is so good to be home!
The cruise was wonderful! The Caribbean is everything the calendars make it look like. The weather was sublime! The boys are missing the all-you-can-eat soft-serve ice cream, the pool, rock climbing, and mini-golf that was at their fingertips everyday.
But it was so fun to come home and see the trees in bloom and get back to soccer, digging in the garden/yard, and all the other things that make up our every days.
We've had some major shuffling in Primary with new teachers, pianist, and a new first counselor, so that has made things interesting for the past week or so.
Rain is falling all around today and while Alex and I took a walk with our umbrellas the boys opted to stay home and make fortune cookies which were actually delicious. They even tried a chocolate version! But the fortunes inside were totally the best part. Like: "I cannot help you for I am just a cookie," or "what is brown and sticky? You'll never know," or "If you think I'm going to sum up your whole life on this little piece of paper, you're crazy," or "This is 30 calories. Think about it." So clever! They make me laugh all the time!
Our summer garden class starts tomorrow. It should be so fun! We have lots of plans!
We've been hearing our share of the sniffles around here. Trying to decide if it's spring allergies or a cold. Hmmmm.
Well, I have to go get things gathered up for a presidency meeting. Congrats to mom and dad on their new callings! 6-year old primary class is where it's at!
It is so good to be home!
The cruise was wonderful! The Caribbean is everything the calendars make it look like. The weather was sublime! The boys are missing the all-you-can-eat soft-serve ice cream, the pool, rock climbing, and mini-golf that was at their fingertips everyday.
But it was so fun to come home and see the trees in bloom and get back to soccer, digging in the garden/yard, and all the other things that make up our every days.
We've had some major shuffling in Primary with new teachers, pianist, and a new first counselor, so that has made things interesting for the past week or so.
Rain is falling all around today and while Alex and I took a walk with our umbrellas the boys opted to stay home and make fortune cookies which were actually delicious. They even tried a chocolate version! But the fortunes inside were totally the best part. Like: "I cannot help you for I am just a cookie," or "what is brown and sticky? You'll never know," or "If you think I'm going to sum up your whole life on this little piece of paper, you're crazy," or "This is 30 calories. Think about it." So clever! They make me laugh all the time!
Our summer garden class starts tomorrow. It should be so fun! We have lots of plans!
We've been hearing our share of the sniffles around here. Trying to decide if it's spring allergies or a cold. Hmmmm.
Well, I have to go get things gathered up for a presidency meeting. Congrats to mom and dad on their new callings! 6-year old primary class is where it's at!
Sunday, May 12, 2019
Nilsson News
Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful women! You all inspire me and are such incredible examples!
It is beginning to feel like spring...finally! The last couple of weeks have actually felt more like winter. We had several days where the low was 25 degrees with a wind chill that made it more like 15 degrees. We had snow. It was rather miserable actually. Even my tulips and daffodils were drooped to the ground and my bleeding heart plant completely keeled over. But now, the sun has decided to show it's beautiful face and there is promise of warmth in our future!
Yesterday, I took Eliza and Millie to Grandma and Grandpa's house to play and they did not want to leave. Their yard is looking quite lovely and you should all go for a visit! The bluebirds and hummingbirds are delightful to watch! In the meantime, I took Addy to her National Clogging competition at Lagoon and she did very well with her team dances receiving first. She also made the advanced team for next season which she is very excited about. She is preparing for her piano guild next week which is a pretty rigorous event. She has to play 11 memorized pieces for a judge along with scales, arpeggios, sight reading and the whole bit.
Emerson has been involved with a group called Grit League. It is similar to a Spartan race where they have obstacles set up and the the kids have to run around the course as many times as they can within a certain amount of time. It has been really fun and each week it is at a different park or location. This last one, he had to run up and down sand dunes. Thankfully there hasn't been any mud.
Eliza is preparing for her final headstand competition in gymnastics. She is constantly on the go whether it's jumping on the tramp, swinging upside down on the swings or climbing trees, she can't sit still!
Henry is our best farmhand. He is always reminding me that we need to go check on the donkeys, especially Penny who is due any day. He pushes the wheel barrow around while I scoop things into it. He also really likes to help water things with the hose, including any siblings who may be standing around. He's a good helper!
Millie has to be doing everything that all the big kids are doing and she is in the phase of "I do it myself." She has resolved to going barefoot everywhere and I'm doing my best to try to keep her clothes on because she isn't too fond of those either!
Garrett has been good about submitting to my project lists that are ever increasing in size. There's always something to work on around here but it is so fun. I'm envious of the Manning's sprinkler system. I sometimes feel like that is all I do around here, weed and haul hoses. I guess it could be worse and I wouldn't have a yard to do that in at all. Always something to be grateful for!
Sorry to go on for so long but I have one last thing to mention. Addy and I are working on our Personal Progress together and trying to finish it before the end of the year. For one of our projects we would like to compile a Belliston Family Cookbook! We would like you to gather and submit your favorite, tried and true recipes that you would like to have included. You can send them as an email or take a picture and text it to me. We will type them all up and include some pictures where possible and then give each of you a copy! So be thinking and Addy and I will send you an email with a few more details. Thank so much and have a beautiful day!
It is beginning to feel like spring...finally! The last couple of weeks have actually felt more like winter. We had several days where the low was 25 degrees with a wind chill that made it more like 15 degrees. We had snow. It was rather miserable actually. Even my tulips and daffodils were drooped to the ground and my bleeding heart plant completely keeled over. But now, the sun has decided to show it's beautiful face and there is promise of warmth in our future!
Yesterday, I took Eliza and Millie to Grandma and Grandpa's house to play and they did not want to leave. Their yard is looking quite lovely and you should all go for a visit! The bluebirds and hummingbirds are delightful to watch! In the meantime, I took Addy to her National Clogging competition at Lagoon and she did very well with her team dances receiving first. She also made the advanced team for next season which she is very excited about. She is preparing for her piano guild next week which is a pretty rigorous event. She has to play 11 memorized pieces for a judge along with scales, arpeggios, sight reading and the whole bit.
Emerson has been involved with a group called Grit League. It is similar to a Spartan race where they have obstacles set up and the the kids have to run around the course as many times as they can within a certain amount of time. It has been really fun and each week it is at a different park or location. This last one, he had to run up and down sand dunes. Thankfully there hasn't been any mud.
Eliza is preparing for her final headstand competition in gymnastics. She is constantly on the go whether it's jumping on the tramp, swinging upside down on the swings or climbing trees, she can't sit still!
Henry is our best farmhand. He is always reminding me that we need to go check on the donkeys, especially Penny who is due any day. He pushes the wheel barrow around while I scoop things into it. He also really likes to help water things with the hose, including any siblings who may be standing around. He's a good helper!
Millie has to be doing everything that all the big kids are doing and she is in the phase of "I do it myself." She has resolved to going barefoot everywhere and I'm doing my best to try to keep her clothes on because she isn't too fond of those either!
Garrett has been good about submitting to my project lists that are ever increasing in size. There's always something to work on around here but it is so fun. I'm envious of the Manning's sprinkler system. I sometimes feel like that is all I do around here, weed and haul hoses. I guess it could be worse and I wouldn't have a yard to do that in at all. Always something to be grateful for!
Sorry to go on for so long but I have one last thing to mention. Addy and I are working on our Personal Progress together and trying to finish it before the end of the year. For one of our projects we would like to compile a Belliston Family Cookbook! We would like you to gather and submit your favorite, tried and true recipes that you would like to have included. You can send them as an email or take a picture and text it to me. We will type them all up and include some pictures where possible and then give each of you a copy! So be thinking and Addy and I will send you an email with a few more details. Thank so much and have a beautiful day!
Monday, May 6, 2019
Flake Fun
Life has been great the last couple of weeks in the Flake household. The weather is warming up and we are starting to plant/transplant our garden. So far we have onions, carrots, broccoli, potatoes, garlic, tomatoes, watermelon and beans. Isn't spring a great time of year?
Things with the pregnancy are going well. The babies are really active and I am still adjusting to random kicks and punches throughout the day. It is fun that they are strong enough that Scott can feel them as well.
I can't think of any other significant updates but I hope that you all have a great week!
Things with the pregnancy are going well. The babies are really active and I am still adjusting to random kicks and punches throughout the day. It is fun that they are strong enough that Scott can feel them as well.
I can't think of any other significant updates but I hope that you all have a great week!
Sunday, May 5, 2019
Manning Madness!
Well we are all sniffling around here. Allergies hit hard. It is snowing cotton and the grasses are in bloom so Nick and I are pretty pathetic and the boys have colds so there's that. But things are good. Nick worked really hard to put in a sprinkler system in our flower beds and garden. As much as I would love to be watering and weeding all day that just isn't going to happen so we will make sure the watering happens anyway! Friday night Wesley and Nick went on a Father and sons campout with the ward which was super cute and Wesley loved it! Wesley has been really trying to be like his dad. He called his bike a scooter and he rides up and says "guess who's home!" Because I always say that when Nick gets home. Then he says to me, "Come see what I have at work." And he has set up a bowling alley in the driveway. Wesley has started asking some pretty thought provoking questions lately and he thinks a lot about everything. He also is challenging his parents a lot in his three year oldness so if you have wisdom to share that would be great!
Chet is a little monkey and is climbing into everything. He was in the dishwasher the other day. He gets multiple bonks a day and just smiles though it all. He is soooo cute!
Nick and I are trying to figure out our callings and parenting and sometimes doing things together just the two of us. Life is good!
Chet is a little monkey and is climbing into everything. He was in the dishwasher the other day. He gets multiple bonks a day and just smiles though it all. He is soooo cute!
Nick and I are trying to figure out our callings and parenting and sometimes doing things together just the two of us. Life is good!
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Hart Happenings
It was a great week up north here. Some of our regular activities interspersed with some not-regular activities kept things interesting. We were very glad to have Alex return from his trip to New York on Monday. He hired an intern to help him build his brokering business and we got to meet all 6 feet 6 inches of him this week! His name is Adam and he is very nice.
The kids did some great reports on Asia for our geography class with the Nilsson kiddos. If you ever want an idyllic place to escape to, investigate Bhutan.
Peter has a canker sore.
Alex has a canker sore.
Jack and Peter both played soccer games on Saturday. I was the referee for Peter's game which I was really nervous about but ended up not being so bad.
We had an Easter celebration with our ward and our favorite friend who flies helicopters flew over and dropped 1,000 candy-filled eggs in the field. It was EPIC!
The boys and I drove down to Smithfield on Wednesday while Alex and his intern took off to Boise. We went down to see the Butterfly Biosphere and Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point, which was amazing. I don't think I will ever forget the river of blue hyacinths that was planted in a little grove of trees. It was stunning and smelled exactly what I think heaven will smell like! It was really neat to see the garden filled with life-sized statues of various stories of Christ. We went with Dad and Lauren and her adorable boys. The kids were such good sports while the adults drooled over the gorgeous landscaping. The Manning hosted us all for dinner, which was delicious, per any time we have dined at their house. On the way home we stopped briefly at Joe and Lori's happy house which made all of us happy. It was great to see them and we felt lucky that we caught them right after they got back from a family bike ride. They have a really cute family of quail living in their yard and it was great to see "Joy's art room". I had a great time chatting with dad on the drive to and from. He is good company!
Peter has been saving his money for a really long time and was able to purchase a fog machine this week. The boys have had a blast putting on shows for us and filling up various rooms in our house with so much fog that you can't see anything! It has set the fire alarm off a few times which freaks us all out.
Alex's grandma died last night and it was really sweet to think about her and about our beliefs of life and death in context of Easter Sunday. We feel really blessed that we will be able to attend her funeral right before we leave for our cruise. A tender mercy, indeed.
Thinking of all of you.......
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