Happy Birthday Mom!



Mom, I hope you have a special day. All 10 of us children have been incredibly blessed because of you. We were blessed to have a mom that is a gospel scholar. With you serving a mission in Mexico, teaching 20+ years of Seminary, and just plain daily gospel study, I knew I could always turn to you with gospel questions--and get an answer.

You've had many successes in your life. One being your book, The White Dove.

Most importantly you've raised an amazing family (I am biased, but if we were from Texas telling the truth isn't bragging.) All of your five sons have served as faithful missionaries--the last one currently in Italy. With you receiving your Bachelors and then supporting Dad through a Masters and a PhD program, you set the example for us, your five daughters, to support each of our husbands either through a Masters or PhD program, Doctorate program, or law school.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Spring has sprung

Spring sprung, and now it has spranged (if you can use that word-age). It still is technically spring, but most of the tree blossoms have turned into leaves and the un-wanted gnats seem to multiply daily.

While spring was in full bloom, here are some pictures of the springy Robertson kids








I made these dresses for the girls. I think they will look better on the next year. The waist falls on them weird. Next year they should still be long enough, and have an empire waist look.





Poor Haley and Cal had some sort of rash on their faces

My yummy baby!



He is standing up a lot now! Not on his own, but leaning on things. (Pardon the dirty clothes. He has just eaten yummy animal crackers and they tend to make a mess!)

Sweet Aeropostale Coupon! $10 off $10 purchase or more!

Get $10 off a $10 purchase or more, this weekend!

http://hip2save.com/2010/04/aeropostale-hot-10-off-10-coupon.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+hip2save+%28Hip2Save%29

Clark just asked me if I work for the whole house. I told him yes and said that I do lots of things: laundry, bathrooms, make meals (....just to name a few). Then Clark stated: "When I am a teenager I am going to clean Sam's house so I can get a $100 bill." Glad he's thinking about a future business! He is doing his regular Monday job of emptying garbages. Maybe that's what got him thinking.


Image from: http://www.greaterhudson.org/Empart/Planning/Page10564/p28_mop___broom.gif

Plant a garden; learn first aid; And don't forget some money!

Last year when I was in the hospital, and my mom and dad were here helping with Cal, I got a great idea: ask my dad to plant a garden for us! Since we are renting we can't till out a garden spot, but we have flower beds on the front and both sides of the house. I grew up having to help in the HUGE garden every year and wanted to continue that tradition with my kids. Lee didn't really grow up with a garden, but was willing to try it out. I think he's hooked for life. We enjoyed seeing the plants grow last summer. Better yet, we loved eating the fresh tomatoes--all the way into October--and enjoyed the summer squash and zucchini. It was great having our own pumpkins too come Halloween. Thanks dad!

A few weeks ago we bought some seeds and tomato plants. Lee couldn't wait and started that afternoon planting, finishing up early evening. I am glad Lee is excited about the whole gardening bit. I wanted him to head it up...especially when we have a bigger one and the kids will have weeding/harvesting jobs during the summer.






Cal said: Mom look. This is how I work!




Along with being self-sufficient, we went through our 72-hour kits on Monday. It had been a year since we'd gone through them (about a week before my hospital vacation), so they needed updating. The girls are no longer in diapers, they kids needed bigger clothes, and we've added Elden. It was very fun and the kids enjoyed the food that we are rotating out. I have a few more things I need to buy for them and they'll be all done. I have been trying to do some food storage every month and I realized that I really should have our 72 hour kits taken care of first. I'll continue food storage again next month.

Here is a great link on emergency kits, click here.

This is was our opening song for Family Home Evening:

Be Prepared (Sing to Tune of Yankee Doodle)

Verse 1:
Our prophet's told us to prepare
For famine and disaster.
If we obey, our family will
Live happy ever after.

Chorus:
"Be prepared," our prophet said.
Store your wheat and honey.
Plant a garden; learn first aid;
And don't forget some money!

Verse 2:
When Father Noah built an ark,
The people laughed and shouted.
But when the rain began to pour,
Those people never doubted.

Chorus: Repeat

Verse 3:
We have been warned in latter days
There will be floods and earthquakes.
So put your house in order and
Prepare before the dam breaks!

Chorus: Repeat

Verse 4:
Please do not procrastinate.
Excuses have no muscle.
You'll never find a better time
Than NOW! So better hustle.
Chorus: Repeat

From: Family Home Evening Resource Book, Family Activities, Emergency Supplies, 322

It will be a nice feeling to have the emergency kits completely done. Now we'll just have to set up a test run of grabbing everything and getting out the door!

Nephew Nathan Visits

Our nephew visited us a couple of weeks ago in good ol' Missouri. After about a 1600 mile or so trip he arrived on a Thursday evening. We were very flattered that he would come and see us!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with Nathan. He and Lee went to the driving range, they and the boys visited a museum, we all visited the USO, and one night we had a fire. It was a relaxing weekend for Lee and I. Hopefully it was somewhat for Nathan...in spite of the crying spurts, runny noses, and the normal organized chaos that is ever present in our home.







Thought I'd throw in a picture of Cal the Sunday Nathan was here


The kids loved the train yard Nathan built for them


And conned him into playing tag





He also gave our kids this book, which the boys really enjoy.

When Clark saw Nathan drive away he exclaimed in a disappointed voice: "Oh man!" Thanks Nathan for the great visit! We loved having you here.

Easter

Happy belated Easter Everyone!

We enjoyed visiting with the Bunkers for Easter. We made great travel time too. We left at 4:05 am (5 minutes late). I am not good at waking up early...but if there is a trip involved, I am all over getting up early and getting out the door. What is even more funny, Clark loves getting up "in the middle of the night" and going on trips too. I woke him up at 3:45 am and told him it was time to go to Paul's. With a slight smile on his face and sleepy speech, he said: "Yeah!" Then when we got in the van he exclaimed: "This is SO exciting!" We told the Bunkers to expect us about noon. We got there at 11:47 am. Not bad!

The first day and a half we relaxed, went to the park, hit story time, and Deb and I went on a big, fun shopping trip! Friday night we had a fun double date with Matt and Deb. We drove around looking at houses, and yep you guessed it, went to Walmart!!! Hey, where else are you going to get ice cream close to 11pm?

Saturday we enjoyed General Conference. During General Conference our Prophet and Apostles speak to us, as well as other church leaders. We watched via the internet. You can watch or read the English addresses here: www.lds.org. If I counted right, conference is available in 101 languages! What a blessing it is to listen to the Prophet of God, Thomas S. Monson and receive pertinent messages and counsel for us in our day. God has not left us to grapple alone in this life!

During the first of four sessions the kids colored eggs. I happily found out that pink egg dye comes out of fabric!





Clark caught some sort of something. Saturday afternoon he didn't feel well.


But Clark perked up in time for Easter baskets and an egg hunt!


The Bunkers hide their kids' baskets throughout the house and they have to find them. Deb hid Paul's in the best place ever! I think we'll pick up the tradition.






Time for the egg hunt!









Hyrum and Elden enjoyed playing with the eggs. Hyrum was a term baby, born just a couple days before Elden's actual due date.







After the Priesthood Session Matt treated all of us to ice cream from the Four Queens. Thanks Matt! I enjoyed the chocolate, chocolate chip cookie dough mix. We also watched a fun episode from Mission Impossible, Season 1.

Easter Sunday brought wonderful talks from our church leaders about our Savior and his resurrection, among other great topics. Later we had a scrumptious ham dinner from the none other Chef dEb. Thanks for a great time Bunkers!

On our travels home we stopped and saw one of Lee's BYU roommates, Alex. We did a couple things with him and his wife Sarah back at BYU too after we were married. They even came and helped us clean our apartment when we moved out of Wymount and gave us some goodies for the road trip to Nevada. We enjoyed visiting with them and meeting their daughters. What a great family! Seeing Lee and Alex visiting together reminded me of joyous reunion that Alma and the sons of Mosiah had in The Book of Mormon.


We arrived home at 3am...just in time for Lee to get 2 hours of sleep before work!

Easter is a holiday I definitely want some spiritual family traditions. We haven't set any yet. We have one year to get on it though!