Family Update

I haven't written one of these for a while. I know I spoke with some of you today, but here's an update on everything else that didn't get mentioned.

IGERT Conference

Rob is currently in Arlington, Virginia for an IGERT conference of some sort. He'll have to tell me what it was all about when he gets back. It's the first that anyone at UC has attended (because it's the first year UC has had the IGERT program), so I'm not sure anyone really knew what to expect. But I'm sure he'll be enjoying his few days "off."

Mother's Day

This morning for Mother's Day, since he had to leave early, Rob cleaned the entire house, did all the dishes, the laundry, and made breakfast for everyone. He's amazing. And he still had time to pack all his stuff and get the kids ready to get out the door. He then threatened the kids to be nice to me for the next 3 days (and tried to convince Miciah to be nice to me the rest of her life, just cause she loves me). We'll see if it works. I've cut way back on things I've decided to care about for the next few days, and I hope that will help. For instance, who cares that the couch cushions are all over the floor? The kids aren't hurting each other and they're actually laughing and getting along. Life is good.

And though Miciah did get stage fright when she was standing in front of a room full of women, she did tell Rob and me earlier today that I have taught her that Jesus loves her. Rob asked what else I've taught her about Jesus and she repeated that He loves her. I told Rob that was the most important thing to know and remember, so that's okay.

St. Louis Trip

We took a trip to St. Louis to see LHT's second child blessed. It was really nice to see the old neighborhood (which I almost didn't recognize, it was so different and the trees were twice as tall) and old friends. The H's are still just as lovable as always. B looked good, considering his open-heart surgery 2 weeks before us arriving there. He was really tired and it aged him quite a bit, but I made him promise he would recover well so that next time we saw him he'd be back to his old self. :) I'm sure that's what everyone wants. S is still wonder woman and takes everything with a smile. They are good people. ... I didn't know that B's schooling was so similar to what Rob's doing. B had some good advice for Rob and Rob is excited to talk to him more when he is well enough to talk to for longer. B sat and talked with Rob for about 15 minutes and it about wore him out.

I did see SN, the only one of the N's I saw. He's doing wood working now for a living and living with his parents. He looked excellent. Much leaner than I remember him being (I remember him being much bigger than B, but I doubt he's bigger now) and he looked really happy, too.

Trips and Craziness

We left for St. Louis Friday and came back Sunday. A trip like we used to make to Grandpa T's house. A long drive for a short trip, but doable. It brought back some fun family memories and made me realize why Mom and Dad threatened us until we went to sleep. By Wednesday I had the house back in order and the routine down. Then Rob re-informed me that I was supposed to go see B (Rob's aunt from Utah) at C's house on Thursday. I had forgotten all about that. So Thursday afternoon we drove up there (I hadn't unpacked the kids' bag, so I just took the same bag of clean clothes) and enjoyed seeing B and C, and came back Friday afternoon. Because the weekend has been chaotic, but I didn't have anything I could cut out (or I would have). I was in charge of food for a friend's baby shower, the kids were expected at a birthday party, and there was a stake training meeting for YM/YW. Oh well. It was nice when the day was over at least.

Okay, Miciah's whining at my arm and I need to go take care of her. And Elijah, who I can hear thumping around upstairs (I haven't heard screaming yet, so I assume he's having fun and that the house is probably by now absolutely trashed (another thing I've decided not to care about for 2 more days)).

We love you all.

Tamra and family