A Touch of Home

Dear Tanner,

Do you remember this picture you drew? The one that got left in the art room after you graduated high school, for two years? It's found a home. The frame was repurposed, and blends beautifully. I love it! Thanks for making the house more a home!

Love,

Mom

Cooper's Clarinet

He plays daily in class, practices every day at home, and is good!

'member Miller

Second virus of the school year...

with a nasty 103 temperature!

With All Our Love

Dear Tanner and Hunter,

It was enjoyable speaking with you tonight, and seeing your cute faces. I miss you! I'm excited for your trips home! Come quickly!  And Hunter, you WILL get on the plane. You guys make me laugh with your stories. My favorite was probably Hunter's ten minute date. Sit, eat a hamburger with me, good bye. Good stuff. We'll continue to pray for your job situation, Tanner.

Cooper and Porter went to a stake dance last night. Those two are hysterical. Porter decided to wear his "happy" shorts, and Cooper jumped on the bandwagon and joined him in the fun. There was a lot of plaid walking out the front door. Your father told Cooper to work the girl crowd like the Sandlot team catcher Hamilton "Ham" Porter worked the lady crowds at the city swimming pool. "Well, hello ladies!" They came home with some good stories. While they were at the dance, some kid they didn't know gave them and a million other invites to his birthday party. Cooper definitely wants in on that kind of party action in June. He was dreaming of mountains of presents and college tuition when he went to bed. This dance they had dance cards and stickers that were exchanged after each dance you danced. If you filled up the card (8-12) you were put in the drawing for prizes: Kindle! Tickets to Six Flags! Video Games! Ridiculous! Apparently they had an anonymous donor, and the leaders thought it would be fun to encourage more dancing. No winners at this house though. Dad was asked to go to represent the young men leadership, so he drove. Otherwise, we would have stayed longer at the football game we were given free tickets to for Tarleton State vs. Texas A&m Kingsville. We enjoyed seeing the school's traditions that were new to us. They drum a drum continuously from Wednesday night through kick-off 24-7. The drum is actually a 50 gallon metal barrel. Supposedly the drumming "wards off evil spirits" other schools might be bringing into town. It was a chilly day, and we were all freezing and were happy to leave early. But between tickets to the game and a free tailgate BBQ for new faculty, it was worth the drive.

We began the morning by going over to the Acton Nature Center. They were looking for volunteers to work their Monarch butterfly tagging project. Due to a cold front that had moved in, and the chilly weather...we saw ONE butterfly! And it was an imitation! And the poor thing was found by everybody! It will be lucky if it survived the day, but it did not get a sticker. Breyer carried it in the net for a while, until we saw a toad the size of a large dinner plate, and a three foot long snake skin. Then she and I went and waited in the van. The best part of the morning, besides watching your father and brothers enjoy their hike, was having someone talk to Cooper about doing his Eagle scout project for the center. He's very excited to help them there.

Friday evening I took Miller and Sawyer to the golf course near the subdivision as they wanted to putt for free on their green. But, as they had just saturated the area with insecticide, we opted to pay $4 for a bucket of balls, and they used their drivers to hit. They were able to collect a bucket or two on balls that could be picked up fairly close, as no one else was there. Then, the pro golfer on site brought them out another bucket for fun. He was a golfer with UNLV when they were ranked #2, and decided he would like to live somewhere else besides Vegas, and took a chance in Granbury. He's very nice, and young, and after hearing Hunter's golf story, is excited to meet him as well. He commented quite a few times on how good your brothers are.

Thursday evening I took Miller and visited the community cub scout pack. It's a very nice, quiet, well run pack. The folks seem very down to earth. We'll definitely be going back.

Wednesday the carpet was installed. Everyone goes in there to lie down and smell new carpet smells. Cooper practices his clarinet in there, with the doors closed, of course. Sawyer lays in there to read. Dad enjoys unpacking all his books, even if they're just sitting on the ground for now.

Monday evening the boys had their weekly golf lesson, which is where I went. And the rest went to watch the high school homecoming parade. Porter had to ride on the basketball team float, wearing black. We kept asking him if that means he made the team, but he doesn't know. They haven't even had try outs yet, but other kids have been cut. Cooper and Breyer enjoyed collecting the candy that was thrown.

Well, Thing 1 and Thing 2, stay safe! Know of our love for you,

Mom

No Pictures Worth A Few Words

It kills me not to have a camera! There are so many funny moments at the house that I would love to share with you! For instance, Miller's face when he saw this year's Halloween costumes; Breyer's face when she walked barefoot on the new carpet in the library; Dad's face when he saw me using his work computer; Porter's face when he smelled the pork chops; Cooper's face happily lost in painting throw away-bricks. You get the picture. Wait, you can't. But I'm trying.

We love you!

With All Our Love

Dear Tanner and Hunter,

We love you! We're thankful you were surrounded by friends and family this weekend. What a nice change. Love seeing my twin and family with my boys! Thanks for sharing all the pictures with us!

Friday I went into work with Dad. I hung all his pictures and plaques, and unpacked his bobble head collection. It was impressive. I haven't seen them all together as he's never had them unpacked. The ones his Marshall students gave him really increased his collection. Breyer did a good job watching Dad's computer. He was at a meeting, and then he took us home. We're glad to help, and don't have a problem being locked in an office for a few hours!

(So sorry your tickets didn't arrive...glad you could watch conference next door!)

Friday night Cooper got to play in the high school marching band at their football game. The middle school kids got fed dinner at the school first, and sat with the band during the game. He loved it, of course. Maybe they'll post some pictures on the website later this week.

(Isn't this temple beautiful?)

We had a little bit of an adventure ourselves, yesterday. We rented a moving truck and moved the explosive fracking pipe out of the backyard. We only had an hour to load it up, between the time when we could pick up the moving truck and the time when the recycling plant closed. Those pipes are heavy! It took four of us to lift each pipe. Joe, our neighbor, and the other party involved in the "let's collect some pipe to build us a fence" project came out and helped us They barely fit in the 26 foot truck, but we got all forty in the back in a timely manner, and Dad took them, along with the broken kennel and lawn mower that was left behind.

Can you believe he got over $700 for the pipe? Subtracting the $200 it cost for the truck and gas, and he made a bit of a profit. Of course, since I put my shorts in the washing machine with my camera still in the pocket, the profit is much less. Hence, the reason there are no pictures from me in the letter. We're in the market, and it might be a few days before I can get my hands on another one.

Dad has some interesting things to say about how they off loaded the pipe. The huge crane grabs the stuff right out of your truck, gets the chain swinging, and releases to throw it in a huge pile. He felt like an ant visiting the termite mound. His impression was he was going to have the pipe hit the truck instead of the pile. He was glad to leave!

We've seen you in some conference pictures! It was wonderful to hear about your weekend. Use it as a recharging station, and gear up for the weeks ahead before your Thanksgiving break!

(Matt, thank you SO much for taking care of my boys!)

We hunkered down this weekend to listen to conference at home.  It was especially quiet at home when everyone but Breyer and Miller went with Dad to priesthood. They were really looking forward to the "steak tip" BBQ. I sent homemade garlic rolls and a tossed salad. The rolls were a hit, the boys came home full of the good stuff and good food.

The boys spent most of today painting the bricks we found out in the backyard with different international and state flags, even a pirate flag made one brick. Pictures will have to be forthcoming, sorry! They want to use them in the planned fire pit for the back deck. I'm thinking I might do a planter instead.

(Your storm trooper comment made me laugh!)

Sawyer wanted to make homemade ice cream, so he's been filling and emptying ice cube trays all week so he'd have enough ice. Today was the day. It was a yummy vanilla. Porter made us crepes for lunch, and turnovers for dinner. Yum! Anything with whipped cream and fruit is delicious. We put meat and cheese in the turnovers.

That's the week in a few words...we love you two the most!

Mom

(This brought back a few Londrina memories!)

Tacos the Texan Way

In honor of National Taco Day, we stopped by the local favorite:

Fuzzy's Taco, this one in Granbury.

They add feta cheese, and a secret sauce involving ranch and garlic.

We'll definitely be back (and the vegetarian was my favorite!)

Happy Fall!

Nothing like a trip to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens to get you in the autumnal mood!

 

When You're a Princess...

"Everyday is a dress day, Mom."

Two 'Conductors'

 Dear Tanner and Hunter,

Just wanted to let you know how much we miss you both! Your quirky sense of humor is being added to by your younger brothers.

For family home evening this week, Miller was willing to be the maestro, using a golf club for a baton...

And Porter led the family proceedings in reggae costume...including the deep and raspy voice!