4 May 2008

May 4, 2008
Dear Elder Sean,
Well, it's officially May so you can start milking the month with all your birthday "wishes" i.e., you don't need to do the dishes since it's your birthday month, etc.

We'll be thinking of you all day on Tuesday. Can't believe you're out of your teens...Now you can say, "back when I was a teenager." We'll put up the banner on the fireplace and sing to you. Hope you can hear us. You should be able to hear Nikki. Lately she's been singing so loudly in church. I don't know what tune it is, but she tries to hit any of the notes that are held out longer than one beat. She's so funny. She told me today she knows all the answers in Primary, she's just afraid to raise her hand and say anything. I now play the piano in Primary every first Sunday. I guess I'm job sharing with 2 other sisters. I always enjoy playing in there. It's fun.

We got to go to the temple twice this week-once with Corey Campbell on Tuesday and then again with Tyler Yorgason on Saturday. It's great going to the temple with someone who's going through for the first time because you think about it through a first-timers' eyes.

The only mission call I heard of this past week was Nils Peterson. Don't know if you know him. He's in Uncle Bill's ward and is best friends with Corey Campbell. Anyway, he's going to Italy. Also JJ Bears (the son of Diane Bears who works in the ER with dad) is going to Bulgaria.

I had a guest speaker here at the house this past Wednesday for my Material Girls mtg. The house was packed and the speaker was wonderful. She's a true quilt-a-holic and fabric-aholic. She brought tons of quilts to show and tell. They were all amazing. We put a slide show of the quilts shown on our blog so we can look at them over and over again whenever we want to.

Tomorrow night we're having about 60 people here for a Cinco de Mayo party, aka a send-off party for Mike and Dawn Wright in our ward. they're leaving for their mission to Southeastern Africa in 2 weeks, so we're having everyone who's ever been in the bishopric with dad and their families here. Mike used to be the Executive Secretary in the bishopric. I'm making the biggest vat of Mexican Rice that I've ever made and 3 trays of layered bean dip. Everyone is supposed to bring a Mexican dish to share. We're having it out in the backyard and it's been beautiful weather lately, so it should be great. I noticed that we're having the same exact weather that you are right now. I have your weather report on the desktop on my widgets so I always know what time it is in Cordoba and what the 7-day forecast is. So if you ever need a weather update, just ask.

The ward is doing well. So many people have their homes on the market, but still nothing is moving. The Jensen's are building a home across the street from the High School, so they are moving for sure this summer. The Erickson's are putting their house on the market, the Yorgason's have their house listed, and many more. But unless the market changes, which they don't expect it to this year, looks like most people will be sticking around.

Dad had most the week off this past week and he got a lot of yard work done. Even got some things planted in the garden. Kirk checks in every so often and sounds like he's enjoying his new semester. He had 2 dates this weekend, so it sounds like he's back in the swing of things. He always hangs out at Mary's place a lot. Mary loves to cook, has 8 roommates and is in the same math class as Kirk, so he has many reasons to be there.

Kristina has her High School Musical play this week, so she's very busy with dress rehearsals, etc. I can't wait to see it. They're selling a DVD of it, so you'll be able to see it when you get home. She's decided for sure that she's going to the Middle School next year and she wants to play tennis. Alex has played with her a bit and she loves it. Alex played well all season, winning most his matches, but at Districts he couldn't seem to play well and he was not happy with himself. He did beat the guy who won the whole thing though. Leah is doing well. She loves going to Activity Day and is working hard with me on her Learning Technics exercises which we have to do 5 days a week for an hour. They're basically training both sides of her brain to work together so they're pretty bazaar and interesting things we have to do including juggling which she is getting pretty good at. The best way to describe Nikki is that sometimes she's on the planet Earth and sometimes she's not. It keeps us on our toes.

I'm going to an auction dinner this week for the Komen breast cancer foundation. The Material Girls made another quilt this year to be auctioned off, so I'm going to the dinner with some of the "Girls". It's a beautiful quilt, so we're hoping it brings in lots of money.

So it sounds like you are doing well. It was great to hear that Fernando and Wilky got ordained. And how is Hermana Alfaro doing? Have the Gonzalez's been given callings yet? Nikki still remembers their little children in her prayers. Our family has really bonded with them whether they know it or not.

Did Hma. Paez get my letter? I never heard anything. Tell her hello for me.

I'm so excited to talk with you this Sunday. Dad doesn't have any meetings, (and he says hello) so we should be able to call you in the late afternoon your time. Let me know if there's a better time, otherwise we'll plan on that.

Have a great Birthday week!!!!
Love you,
momxoxoxooxoxox