Week of March 31, 2014

In New Hampshire

Of course it's a smile!

Family Home Evening - Preparing for conference. A new idea for listening with small kids.

They had selected a few words like: love, missionary, serve, Jesus, and had bowls of treats by the pictures of those words. When Pres. Monson said the word, they had a treat from that bowl.

They caught on quite fast and would pick up the words he said.

I loved the video chats we had this week with everyone. I knew the little ones would change, but I was also surprised at how much Noelle & Marri are looking so much older - such beautiful young women. And Josh's voice is deeper! My, my, everyone is growing up so much.

Zander and Caleb - They were the first family and I took this picture. I didn't think of taking the whole family until I talked with the next family. 

Ben's favorite snack - a pepper from the fridge

It was kind of warm and Tesha wanted a trip to the park to play. Grandma stayed in the car with little Leah. Here is Ben.

 Tesha, Zach, and Grandpa

 A visit to the river - Zach and Joe

 Ben, Tesha, Zach, and Joe

David, Alaina, Matthew, Amanda, Robert

 Cecily, Marri, Jetta, Sophie, Scott

Cambria, Taylor, Tom holding Gabe, Mel, Max

Spencer wearing his eyepatch to help his eye get better, but where did the mustache come from?

Today's technology

Marion in the back with his boys - Issac, Steven, Jared with the mustache now, and Spencer

John came home, so he joined the group, but Steven didn't come back

Daniel and Ellen - It was so good to meet and talk to Daniel. 

Ben holding little Leah - He loves her so much

Leah's first bath!

So cute and clean!

Daddy time!

They have a wonderful children's museum here and the first Friday night of every month the admission is only $1 per person.

Zach and Ben with dinosaur bones

I remember this from San Francisco Exploratorium. This one stands up and they push on one side and then can see it on the other side.

Here's my handprint!

I loved the display about the mills. The Cocheco River was right outside and the big textile mill still standing, of course used for something else like offices or apartments. 

It made me think of my Grandma Eleanor Laycock Edgington

Who is having the most fun with the train? Ben, Joe, or Zach?

The river and mill just across the sidewalk

More family - Back-Paul, Lacey, Nikki, Elise
Front - Audrey holding Levi, Sammi, Chloe

Back - John, Danny, Kirsten, Stacey
Grown-up Maren, Sam, Timmy

My Mike

Thank you all for a wonderful week. I loved our visit with Joe & Family. We had such a wonderful time. I so needed the time with all of you to see and visit. Thank you so much for filling my family well. I am ready to go back to our mission. I have missed it. 

Conference was amazing. It is too hard to pick a talk or even a thought, but here is one or two (I didn't put quote marks because it might not be exact):

True righteousness can change the world. and You will find safety in the winds that blow and you will feel the rock like strength in the Savior - Elder Holland 

It is after morning conference - loved it all, but Pres. Uchdorf, Elder Bednar, and Pres. Monson
I bear witness to the truthfulness of Christ and that he is my rock and can be yours also. It will carry us through ALL the whirlwinds of life.

I love you all more than you can know. Grandchildren, there were a lot of messages to you at this conference, also listen to the Priesthood session, for you are a "choice" generation.
They must have grandkids like mind, or they wouldn't have said that:)