Carpool, a Date, and a Loved One

The girls were really excited to start a carpool a couple days a week with some friends. Apparently Brita and her friend Katherine had decided it would be a good idea and then they got their parents on board with the idea. It was a good idea! It's convenient and it saves gas. Brita was super way super excited about it and I asked Leah if a carpool with Katherine and her little sister would interest her as well. Her response? "Yeah, sure. I'd like to do a carpool with them because I'd like to see what their car looks like." Brita is thrilled to be able to spend some extra time with her cute little friend and the morning routine happens like magic on carpool days!

This afternoon the girls and I were watching Pollyanna together. I love that movie. I also love living with a little Pollyanna. At one point in the show, although it doesn't show it graphically, you know that Pollyanna gets hit by a car. Leah immediately piped up and said, "Oh, that's my favorite part of the movie right there." Brita could not have been more appalled. Those are the moments when I wish our family was doing a reality show with cameras rolling to capture those unexpected gems. But we don't need a reality show because we've got a blog where we get to record gem after gem.

Jared and I splurged and went on a date this weekend--something we don't do often enough. We find that a babysitter can nearly double the cost of the date. Everything is about figures in our house--the monetary kind. Anyway, we had fun and we felt like kids again. Thai food (maybe the food wasn't a childhood flashback) mini golf, bumper boats, slick-track race cars, and cheesecake at the Olive Garden. We realized that we work really hard to plan fun activities for the kids, but it was a whole new flavor to participate in those kid-type activities without the kids in tow.

My Uncle Phil passed away this week and his funeral was Saturday. Distance stinks at times when family rallies. I would have loved to have been there. My parents said the funeral was beautiful and uplifting. That comes as no surprise to me given the kind of person my Uncle Phil was. He always carried himself with dignity and he was respected because of his example and the way he lived his life. Family has always been a priority for Uncle Phil and Aunt Nelda. I know that because they showed up to every single event our family ever invited them to--baby blessings, court of honors, family home evenings. Sitting around the table at a wedding reception with Uncle Phil and Aunt Nelda has always been a treat. Their presence has always been comforting and peaceful feeling. I'm grateful to have had the blessing of Uncle Phil and Aunt Nelda as examples in my life. Aunt Nelda is a rock, solid and sure in her testimony. I love her and I pray for her. And I'm grateful that memories of my Uncle Phil won't ever go away.