The Burrs In Our Saddles

For Memorial Day weekend, we went to the Ranch. We picked up 40 spruce trees about a month ago and needed to get them planted. My in-laws, who spend summers between their ranch and cabin, came up as well. It was good to see them--we hadn't seen them since they came up to see the clogging performance in March. We didn't leave until mid-afternoon on Sunday because The Father had emergencies all Sunday morning. He didn't eat breakfast or anything before he went to take care of all the boarding animals. Anyway, we arrived at the Ranch about 4pm. Usually it takes about an hour to get there, but hauling all those stinking trees with a max speed of like 55 was really slow. The Father and his dad spent the next 4 hours digging holes, placing trees, and filling in holes. Fun for them. My mother-in-law and I spent about the same amount of time inside the house vacuuming up dead bugs (my brother-in-law let off a bug bomb and there were a whole lotta dead bugs) and getting pla...

We had a lip sync/talent show ward activity last weekend. The Primary presidency, which I have the joy to be a part of, was assigned a lip sync. We all donned our cardboard costumes for "Kiss The Girl" from The Little Mermaid and made complete fools of ourselves. At least we can laugh at ourselves. M1 played a short piece on the piano and M2 played the violin. Both were scared out of their skirts, and asked me to play with them. They both did amazingly and neither one really needed me to be there. But it sure felt good that they knew I'd be right there if they wanted/needed support. I hope that doesn't ever change.

Today is M3's birthday. Unlike all my other friends, I don't really do Odes To My Children on their special day. However, she did get the Birthday song about a zillion times today, the neighbors came over to help us sing and eat cupcakes, and she got some very cute gifts from her grandparents. She's a joy and a pain. She's snuggly, kissy, and naughty all wrapped up in one. She points and grunts and makes the most hilarious faces. You don't doubt what she wants even though she doesn't actually say anything. She writes on everything with anything. She keeps us all on our toes. She loves candy and chips, and the marshmallows from Lucky Charms, but not many other things. You never know where you are going to find her or what she will have in her hands. She's dirty at the end of every day, no matter how many times she gets washed. I love her to death.

I don't have a title for this post. Mostly because I'm sad. I was just looking at all of my blogs I check on a regular basis, and went to one that I'm so glad was found. The Father's niece, Morgan. She decided that she didn't want contact with the family a long time ago, and it has made lots of people very very sad. My sister-in-law found her blog, and I, being the dummy posted a reply to one of her blogs. Now she knows we've found her. We just want to be a part (in a very stand-offish, just want to know she's ok kind of way) of her life. Even though obviously she wants absolutely nothing to do with us. She made her blog invite only. And none of us are invited. Morgan, if you happen to read this, please invite us to be able to participate in your life (in a very stand-offish, just want to know you're ok kind of way). We miss you. And now, I'm crying.