Monkey Business

Last weekend, after Cassie, Jonny and the kids had left Saturday evening, I started picking up all the extra toys, etc. on the floor here in the living room and the dining area. I smiled remebering all the fun we had that evening playing with the kids and watching them play. Lost in my own thoughts and happy memores.

I thought I had picked up everything when I saw a monkey on the fireplace ledge between a couple of things...so I went over to pick it up and it started its hysterical laughing! Scared me SO MUCH! I had a small scream escape my lips before I could stop it and Dan just laughed!! No hugs to comfort my racing heart either...just laughter. Thankfully not as insane sounding as that crazy monkey!

Well, flash forward to tonight after the Hursts had left our house. I was picking up toys and walked over to the bag of toys by the bar stools and I threw some toys in ....guess what??? That ridiculous monkey started up again and I had to grab it to turn it off. It does not turn off easily either at times and this was one of those times. The battery box with the off and on switch was turned around so I could not get it in the right position to turn it off. And while I was working on it....it just kept up with that maniacal laughter.

I called Jonny right away to tell him what had happened and....he was laughing so hard he could hardly talk!!! And did I mention that Dan was also laughing....AGAIN? I am afraid that monkey may find itself on the trash truck very soon so it does not scare the living daylights out of me so much!!!!!

Oh and as a side note, remember how much it used to scare Hailey and Charlotte? Well, it does not scare Emmett at all!!! If Jonas liked it then I would end up being the only scaredy cat in the house! I am finding that to not be a very fun position to be in.

Even now, nearly 2 hours after the incident....my heart is still a little wimpy right behind my collar bones. I know my heart is not there but it just feels like it is. Guess once again, I am re-living things! Just had to share. If anyone out there is not laughing...thank you.

Strawberry Fields

Today we went to pick strawberries with Jonny, Cassie, Hailey and Emmett. When we left our houses the sky was mostly clear and there was sunshine to keep us warm. However, when we got to Fromberg Farm, it was mostly cloudy and very little sun shining through the clouds. I had a jacket we were able to put around Emmett for a while since he had fallen asleep on the way to the farm. He was pretty cute peeking out of the hoodie! When we goi to the strawberry fields, he was ready to pick strawberries and eat some dirt.

Hailey was getting cold so we wrapped the jacket around her after she had picked her fair share of strawberries. She taught Mimi how to look for the big ones and how to look all around them so I would know if they were ready to pick. When she was looking through the strawberry bushes I often heard "Holy Cow" when she came across an especially large one. It was so fun to hear her say that!

So much fun and Poppi was a great strawberry picker! He filled one whole bucket and then finished filling mine. I became busy holding Hailey. I think it made her feel warmer. And look at Cassie...isn't she darling in this picture?

Such a cute strawberry picker...she sure knows how to pose! And Jonny posed for his picture as well. I guess Hailey did not get her posing stances from her Dad.....

Oh, no! Mommy said do not eat the dirt. No more fun for Emmett.

Such a sad face and a heartbreaking cry to go along with it. Mommy falls for it everytime.

Overall, we had such a beautiful morning and fun day together. We are already ready to go again.

The strawberries were excellent!

Elder Chase Nelson

Yes, we have another missionary out now. Chase was asked to serve a Mini Mission here in the Mission area. He accepted, was ordained an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthool, and set apart as a Temoporary Full Time Missionary.
He is in Memorial Ward in Richmond Stake....not sure where that is but it is further away from us than Zach was on his mini mission to Pasadena.
We are so grateful to have him out serving the Lord and feel great about him choosing to do so. We miss him, but more than that, we love what he is doing with his life right now.
Please keep him in your prayers.