"No good mugging story"

Aaron always says he has only one regret from his mission.  And that was that he had no good mugging story.  "Everyone else got mugged and I got nothin'."   I count it as a blessing that Luke and I had " no good mugging story" to tell from our trip.

We had an amazing experience in "Maula Maula City," as Jonah calls it.  I'm just waiting for a CD of pictures from one of the amazing women we served with.  Then I will write a detailed and exciting narrative that includes, but not limited to, a horseback ride up an active volcano, fainting dead away from heat exhaustion and Lucas eating calamari.  We could not have asked for a better trip, better people to work with or more beautiful weather in Guatemala.

It's officially spring break and Lucas went off to Arizona on Monday with his cousin Jack to play with their grandparents.  This exciting adventure has included, but is not limited to, a jeep ride in the mountains, a sunrise hot air balloon ride, hiking to vulture nests and nights filled with competitive Rook.  Now the four of them are traveling to Utah today for General Conference.

Aaron left early this morning with his brother Brant and brother in law Mark to drive down to Utah as well to attend the priesthood session.  It will be a wonderful trip because Aaron's brother Channing will be there as well with one of his sweet daughters, Julia. 

We've always talked about Lucas going to conference for his very first priesthood session and it worked out even better than I could have imagined.  He gets to attend with his father, cousin Jack, Uncle Brant, Uncle Mark, Uncle Channing, Grandpa and Papa.  What a wonderful group of stalwart men.  This boy could not have better examples of righteous priesthood holders.

While the men are gone to Utah, Jonah and I are taking off for Spokane today to visit Emmett.  He's the new little addition to our friends the Dittos.  I'm gonna have to keep reminding myself I am there to help and work not just cuddle with the new baby.  That one is going to be difficult.  :)

I better make the most of this weekend because serious potty training begins Monday.  Can you tell I've been putting it off?

Have a wonderful weekend listening to the true words of our prophets.

Adios!

Lucas and I are off on an 8-day humanitarian trip to Guatemala tomorrow morning with my mother, aunt, uncle and 20 complete strangers.  Can't believe we're actually going.  Aaron and Jonah are left to man the fort.  (Aaron is so supportive of my crazy ideas.)

Clothes for perfect 70 degree sunny weather :) : check
Tums, Imodium & Pepto-bismal: check
50 spf sunscreen for our Oregon skin & bug spray: check
Priesthood blessings: check
Fingers crossed we don't get mugged and left on the side of the road: check

I have four half finished posts (a Jonah quote one, two completed house projects, and a book review) that just will have to wait until I get back. 

Plus we'll have a ton o' pictures of our Guatemala adventure!

Wish us gringos luck.

Is it just me, or is he weird?

Yesterday I took Jonah and our nephew, Paxton, on a walk.  (A dog stopping to smell/pee on e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. and two boys running opposite directions does not make for a leisurely stroll.) 

After two blocks, we turned around to come home.  Jonah lagged behind as usual, but he kept stopping and kneeling down.

I finally walked back to put a little fire into him when I realized he was whispering something to himself.  Was he praying? 

No. The kid had his head bowed and was chanting, "Inner peace...inner peace...inner peace."

Ok.  Either he's embracing the dyanic soul of a true Portlander....or he watched Kung Fu Panda 2 the day before.

Either way...a meditating 3 year old is weird.

Sometimes the truth...is the truth

Seconds after Lucas walked in the door yesterday from school he asked, "Are we having someone over
for dinner?"

"Yep, the missionaries are coming to eat."

"I knew it.  It smells better than your regular cooking."

There's a deacon in the house

I had wanted last weekend to be this special, thoughtful experience when Lucas turned twelve and received the priesthood. The weekend did not go as planned.

First of all, there was a mix up with Samantha's baptism the week earlier and the Williams grandparents had to choose who they loved better. :)  (I am kidding, Mom!!!) We decided to let Samantha have the Williams grandparents for her special day.  Lucas understood and knew they would have been there if they could.  They got to be in sacrament meeting when he was sustained and that was the next best thing.

Second, the temple ended being closed that week so we couldn't have a family baptism trip.

Third, Sunday morning Jonah got sick and we ended up in the ER for 3 hours.  (He is fine. It was the weirdest thing.)  So we couldn't do the ordination at 12:30pm before our 1o'clock church. 

Fourth, since we had to change the ordination to after church, Lucas didn't get to pass the sacrament while the whole family was there.

And fifth, due to the time change, Uncle Brant couldn't stand in the circle because he had a class to teach in his own ward.

But, I've learned from years of experience, life never goes exactly as you hoped. We make the best of it and "love it."

So despite all the didn't go right, Lucas' ordination to the priesthood and blessing were special and personally touching.  I am so proud of our son who studied this out in his mind and heart and decided this is what he wanted.  I am proud he is worthy and willing to serve the Lord in this beginning capacity.  He is a wonderful young man.

I think the 3 birthday "parties" helped Lucas with the changes in the weekend. On Wednesday, his actual birthday, we had a little family party with presents, Cincinnati chili, a trip to the yogurt shop and decorations galore.

Jonah gave him a big rubber ball, plus all the hugs....

...kisses he wanted.

Friday, he had a few friends and cousins over for pizza, another trip to his favorite yogurt shop, Nerf sword fights galore and video games.  

Saturday we had all the family here and my parents came from Spokane.  We had cake and ice cream and even more presents.

I tried my hand at a checkerboard cake.  Not as pretty as it could have been, but yummy.

Nana & Papa had fun times with all the grandkids and our resident Batman.  I have never seen two people more loved by their grandchildren!

Lucas is great and tonight has his first YM/YW activity.  Deep breath. 

My baby is so grown up.

Great to be Eight

Grandma & Grandpa Williams flew out for our 3rd weekend of visitors.  They couldn't have come for a better reason.  Our sweet niece, Samantha was baptized!  On Friday we all went to Sweet Tomatoes for dinner, since that is her favorite restaurant.  Who would have thought a salad place would be an 8 year old's favorite dining establishment?!  I think the bag of cookies you get on your birthday has something to do with it.

For her birthday gift, Samantha and I are going to a have Girls Day Out, complete with pedicure, movie and lunch.  I hope to make it a tradition with her and her sister Allison. (As long as they still want to hang out with me :)

Saturday and her baptism couldn't have been nicer. 

We get to play with these cousins all the time now and we all love it!

Two brothers.  Getting older (someone turns freaking 40 this year!) but still good looking.  :)

Jonah could NOT hold still for the life of him and Aaron wrangled him out in the hall for most of the service. 

Yes. That is real, glorious sunshine coming through the windows in February.  I broke out my actual sunglasses to celebrate.

Couldn't be a sweeter daddy and daughter. 

Afterward we all came over to our house for pizza & a Williams night of reminiscing.   Batman stopped by for his usual visit  .

I'll give a nickle to whomever can spot Jonah.

Thanks for coming Grandma & Grandpa!  We love ya!

"DitWill 2012"

Julia & Logan and Brood came down from Spokane last weekend. One last getaway before Baby #5 makes his arrival at the beginning of March.   It didn't really count as official "DitWill" vacation since kids were involved, but we didn't tell them that and now the children think we include actually them.  :)

Such an adorable couple.

Saturday was a beautiful day and so we rode the MAX downtown and had lunch at the Portland food carts.  (Different pod than the weekend before.)

We took our goodies (Greek gyros, sushi, hot dogs, and a goat cheese-arugula-pickled apple-sandwich) across the street to play with the pigeons.

What could be more fun than chasing pigeons around in circles?  Apparently not much because we were there for over an hour.

Not-a-very-good view of the street of food carts.  But yummy.

Walking back to the train that would take us back to the 'burbs.

Our boy, who turns 12 in two days.  Amazing.

JB l.o.v.e.d. the train and couldn't stop talking about it for hours.

The rest of the time we played, ate, watched movies, went out to dinner, stayed up WAY too late, slept in, took a mommy-only trip to Ikea, and hung out.  So great.  You couldn't ask for better, sweeter friends!

Jonah and I are driving up to Spokane for Conference weekend while Lucas and Aaron are in Utah, so I can "help" when the new baby comes.  Basically, it will be me cuddling up on the couch with the new little one while Julia wrangles the other four.

Just kidding....a little bit.

Start of something great

We had dear Seattle friends come visit us last weekend.  It's the beginning of our winter full of weekend visitors.  For the next 5 weeks we are so lucky to have family and friends come play!

The Anderton's are first and they are awesome.  They are doers, thinkers and talkers.  Great people to hang out with.

Cher gave me a tutorial on Instagram. Just one more way to keep in touch and tell people about the minutia of of our lives.

Satruday we ate lunch at a food cart pod on N. Mississippi.  We had never ventured out them before and it was SO worth it.  We had gourmet burgers, tofu rice bowls, kimchi burittos, & roasted pork sandwiches. All divine.

Love the colors of this cart.

We also took the OHSU tram up the mountain.  Few of the kids were unsure of the height but we all survived.  The other passengers put up with all the squealing and cowering quite patiently.

Two of my favorite boys.

Jonah has always really loved John. They wrestle, they play and they enjoy each other.

The weekend was way too short but we LOVED it!  

Thanks for coming dear friends!