Yay!  This week, we can finally say that it looks like Summer might be just around the corner!!   We've had a little less rain and a little more sun 😊 . . . and I think the two youngest members of our tribe would agree - 

  Angella took Ben to the park and told him not to get his hair wet 😂

 

Sayre celebrated his last day of school.

 We stayed busy this past week - I taught Primary on Sunday, and on Monday, we spent some time with Shannon.  We got a text from her nurse on Friday, and she thought Shannon had an infection; she was coughing, lethargic, and a little more confused than usual.  We stopped by after Church today to check on her, and she seemed to be feeling well, but was very quiet.  We are going to go back on Tuesday to take her some new pajamas.  I had a lot of schoolwork for my Humanities class that I wanted to get done before the weekend, so I stayed busy analyzing films, literature, and music.  I also had to watch the movie "Invictus."  I had not seen it before and I really enjoyed it - such good lessons in it about the effects of positive leadership. (it is about Nelson Mandela and stars Morgan Freeman, and Matt Damon) If you are interested, you can rent it on Prime for $3.    

 Thursday, Dad and I had to see if Hollie had learned to make Blizzards yet.  She has, and they were soooo gooood!!!  I can't remember the last time I had one, and it was nice that they have a small size, so I didn't feel like I was being too naughty 😁.  I think it was a manager that we talked to, but he said they LOVE Hollie, her work ethic and maturity (plus she is just so cute!)  We'll be back, Hollie - can't analyze those Blizzards quite enough 💯.

 I PROMISE, I am not a stalker, but sometimes I do wonder where you are, so I go to Find Me, just to make sure you are not in a hospital or at the morgue, and I don't know about it.  This week, I noticed that Blythe was working at Hinkley Pool.  I had to call Kim and commiserate about the many times we took the kids to Hinkley Pool when they were little.  It brought back such fun memories.

THEN

NOW

I may or may not have done some complaining this week about our very wet first week in June 😀

 However, the rain has just turned everything from our lawns, fields, and pastures into this beautiful green.  On the way to see Hollie the other night, we saw this incredible rainbow. Yesterday, on our way home from Denver, we were enjoying the scenery, and all of a sudden, Pikes Peak was there, just standing above everything.  I think too often we don't appreciate the beauty of where we live. 

 *Eilis got a promotion and is now a shift manager at Canes

•  *Paul is at Lake Powell with his church group

 *Kate, Jonathan, and Sayre are Phoenix-bound in July for an Allen Family Reunion

 *Cory and Adam are revamping their theatre room, building risers, and laying new carpet.

*Dad gave a great talk in Sacrament Meeting today about the Temple

*I got to have lunch with Emma this week.  We invaded Kneaders and had some delicious food.  Thanks Emma!  

  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO DAD AND I, AND TO KIM AND CHRIS

 Dad and I celebrated with a morning session at the Temple. Our good friends, the Ashs, happened to be there at the same time so we went out to lunch together.  We couldn't check into our hotel until 3:00 so we did some shoe shopping at the Park Meadows Mall (yes, Chris, the Mall). We weren't successful in finding the shoes I wanted, but had fun walking around and people watching.  Friday night, we went to dinner at Maggiano's, and I had the best steak ever!   I had been fighting a sinus headache all week, so food wasn't very appealing, but when we got there and looked at the menu, the steak sounded good, and I wasn't disappointed.  

Sammi was babysitting Sendai for us, and when she got to the house after work and tried to coax Sendai into the house, she wouldn't come.  Then Sammi said, every time she went outside, Sendai would run to the dog house (Kev's Place) and hide.  She has never stepped foot in Kev's Place before, so maybe she was rebelling because we were gone.  Poor Sammi!  It was hilarious, and of course, it could only happen to her😂. 

Also, thank you to Eilis, who stopped by and gave Sendai dinner on her way to work ❤

Yesterday, before heading back to the Springs, we went to Ikea and spent a couple of hours walking the store.  I always come home from there re-energized to declutter, organize, fix up, and finish the things around the house that we have ignored for the last 10 years 😁.

It was a great weekend and we had a wonderful time!

 Kim and Chris are celebrating their anniversary in Portugal this week.  

 

I am happy they had a chance to get away after a busy year of work for both of them.  I can't wait to hear about their adventure. 

 

  50 years ago, Dad and I were married and sealed in the Oakland Temple.  I think about how young we were and about how much we didn't know.  I think about the experiences we have had in these last 50 years, how much we have learned, and grown.  This week in my Book of Mormon class we discussed the following quote by President Oaks, "We are not judged on what we have done, but on what we have become".  I am so grateful for the Savior, and His Atonement which makes up the difference in all of my failings, and sees the good despite them.  We are so blessed!