Just yesterday, I sat through a Mother's Day sacrament meeting in which every speaker referenced Helaman's stripling warriors and their mothers' role in shaping these great heroes from the Book of Mormon.

And yet, a short 24 hours later, this was our "Family Home Evening"

 (The quotation marks are intentional.  I don't want anyone googling Family Home Evening to think this is a shining example).

Isn't there a verse somewhere in Alma that talks about mothers teaching their children the importance of aerosol whipped cream and BeeGee's karaoke?

No?

Dang.

Mother's Day 2012

Man, I love these kids!

This morning, the first reality of our imminent move hit us.

Some men from the Elder's Quorum came over to help Beatrice move out.  

She is moving in with another family from our ward until she leaves for the MTC in July.  She's done now with school and her exams, so she can concentrate on preparing for her mission to Greece.

I am sure great things are ahead for my sweet friend Beatrice!

After five days apart, I've got all my chicks back in the nest tonight.

Pepper, Adam, and Jess were away on their school trips this week.  Pep and Adam went to youth camps here in Germany, and Jess went to London.  They all came back tired and full of stories.

(Even with all the big kids home, Luke is apparently still full of himself.  Notice the "Peace Out" sign again...)

This afternoon after school, Luke was in the living room watching Arthur.  When I walked into the room, he very quickly, and not-very-slyly moved something behind the bookshelf and out of my sight, all the while watching me guiltily to see if I saw.

I saw.

This is what he was hiding:

So naughty on so many levels!

a) these are the strawberries I bought for strawberry shortcake

b) he was eating them in the living room (see the juice on the floor?)

c)  he was using a KNIFE!!

It's a good thing he's cute.

 This photo was brought to you by the new H&M store that opened across the street from Thai Tuesday.

This morning, our new washing machine was delivered.

 "NEW washing machine?" you ask.  "But aren't you moving in a mere six weeks?"

Yes.  Yes, we are.  

But when the repair man tells you that your old washer can't be fixed, and you are faced with carting a family of six's laundry to a skanky German laundromat for the last, stress-filled weeks before a major move, you go to the washing machine store and buy the least expensive model you can find.  

Luckily, my dreamy husband didn't even bat an eye.  

He knows when to tell me to suck it up and, more importantly, when not to.