apologies go a long way

Friday morning I wanted Grant to model these spider man glasses that I found in my backpack. I bought them for him at the Jenny Lou's toy store.

Olivia wanted to model her wavy hair. She slept in her braids Thursday night.

And Caitlin reported to me that Mary "elbowed her with her butt and didn't say sorry."

Apologies go along way with Caitlin. Friday she was excited to play with cousin Mylee. Mary said "I thought you were mad at Mylee. " Caitlin replied "well, she said sorry for saying she hated me..." Strong feelings are easily expressed and easily forgiven among four year-olds.

Saturday the girls modeled the bracelets they made at Grandma's stake primary activity.

Grant was happy about being included in the games.

And Kyle thought the ice cream sandwiches were worth modeling too. It's been a long time.

In the evening back to Wal-mart and Little Caesar's pizza for dinner.

smelling the basil

Thursday morning Kyle and Mary helped Grandpa put Miracle Grow on the garden. Grandpa and Grandma lay carpet with holes over the plants to keep the weeds down and the soil moist. The worms love it.

Sam and Ben left early to meet at the church. It was the first day of the youth Super Activity. They had breakfast together then got on a bus to drive to Manti for the pageant.

I took the other children to a playgroup with Bekah and cousin Mylee. We passed these flowers on our walk.

William ate his first corn dog for lunch.

In the evening we were back in the yard. The kids helped Grandma and Grandpa set up these frames for the peas.

Grandma walked with us to Arctic Circle. They have the best french fries...so good to be back to fry sauce.

Olivia met a friend in the indoor playground. I heard her ask her where she lives. The kids expect every child they meet to live on the compound. I'm grateful that Olivia makes friends so easily.

Mary was falling asleep walking on the way home. It was the first day she didn't nap. Everyone was asleep by 10p.m....a jet lag breakthrough.

strawberry mountain

Monday Grant was standing in Grandma's kitchen doorway admiring the mountains. "That's strawberry mountain and that one's chocolate mountain," he said.

In the morning, I made everyone clean the basement, just to prove that it was possible. I feel blessed to have this time to spend here with the Grandparents. We are even more comfortable than I imagined.

Everyone waited for Grandpa to bring home our new van ...looks just like the one we always buy. Sometimes it's nice to have my options limited....which white fifteen passenger vehicle should we buy this time? I have been grateful to have Grandpa's help with this purchase.

Our maiden voyage ... to Wal-mart. Each child had his or her own agenda. We spent an awful lot on socks and underwear, then to complete every one's joy we had our first dinner back at Burger King, where the kids made disgusting concoctions at the all you can drink soda bar. Why I say eating out is really part of the entertainment budget.

It didn't take long for Sam to become fascinated with the sprinkler. Tuesday warmed up a bit and the kids played under the billowy clouds. Why is the sky so big here?

In the evening a storm was coming in. I was enjoying the cloud formations...how they changed from moment to moment and from corner to corner of the sky.

I left the blinds opened in my basement bedroom to watch the lightening in the sky. What time must that have been? The kids are on a crazy jet-lagged schedule. Long naps in the afternoon, waking up revved up until almost midnight, then lights back on and playful voices in the early morning hours. I am afraid to fall asleep before then...I hate to be up all night alone, so in some ways I didn't mind their four o'clock company.

Wednesday we had the dollar theatre experience...the worst movie I've ever seen, Furry Vengeance, but the popcorn was good. At home we ran to the kitchen door...more wind and a cold rain. Lunch and more long naps.

In the evening, we went to my favorite place, Smith's grocery store. Reminds me of college. I love all the sweets in the bakery...the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, the loft cookies decorated as per season, the cheap boxes of slightly stale doughnuts. The kids always run to pick out their dream birthday cake. This one even has Smith's Chinese, although it goes by a different name....maybe it always did. That's on my must do list...I hope they have that greasy lemon chicken that always makes me feel a bit sick. The combination of savory, sweet, saucy and fried is just too hard to resist.

cousin comfort

What becomes the inevitable foreign service life reality? Summer in the in-laws' basement.


Saturday evening, Utah time, we arrived like zombies, appreciated the airport reception of family from both sides, loaded up luggage and children in a variety of vehicles, ate our traditional homecoming meal at the Del Taco with the becoming a bit too small for the all of us play area, and headed home to the see if we really could fit in the basement for a month and a half.


Saturday evening I was too tired to be skeptical, and too tired to be optimistic, as I mechanically moved through the twelve or so suitcases to sort out what clothes and toys were needed for our time there and what could stay tucked away in the storage closet, that pleased me greatly to make use of. I have never felt more relieved to see empty, welcoming dresser drawers, light at the end of my tunnel of fear of clutter.


I was tempted to climb in bed before seven, but the sound of the phone ringing and Rob's voice revived me, and after that Sam convinced me to take him to Wal-mart, since I had forgotten his church clothing. Wal-mart means we have re-entered.


Sunday morning was our first visit to Grandma and Grandpa's ward. We talked to the leaders about Ben, who has just entered young mens and will need to be ordained as a deacon. The boys learned of a Super Activity this week that involved twelve-year olds too..more about that later, and Grant screamed "I want more bread!" during the sacrament, maybe it was because we have been too late too often and he doesn't get the point, or maybe it was the good American bread that prompted the outburst. I ran from the room with William and Mary too. When the water arrived in the foyer, Grant looked at it stubbornly and demanded more bread. That prompted the earnest deacon to go back in and get more bread, which I tried to refuse, but Grant went tearing after the deacon. I was secretly relieved when Mary found a stray piece on the floor, preventing Grant's attempt to chase the deacon in to the chapel.


Sunday afternoon we all slept. In the evening the cousins came for dinner. Grandpa served us his should be prize winning lettuce from his garden, among other things.

I started to feel human again, and even optimistic. Maybe it was the clean air and comfort of family.

I love these meals together in Grandpa and Grandma's carport.

goodbye house

goodbye chinese man
goodbye house

goodbye friends

goodbye zhang ayi

the embassy coaster came to load us up and all our luggage too

this was just the beginning of the blur

grant said goodbye thomas when we got off the tram

then I was too busy to take pictures

rob walked with us to customs

then we said goodbye to him too