Let me tell you how this friendship came to be. One Sunday shortly after Rick was called as Bishop, we (myself and the 5 children)were sitting next to President and Sister Erickson. I assumed this was just coincidence, but have learned since that it was intentional on his part (more later). Eliza was on my right, and Pres. Erickson was on her right. She was being particularly difficult for me to handle, and I was reaching exasperation. Then, a note was thrust in front of her, from Pres. Erickson. He and Eliza began having a conversation via notes during Sacrament meeting. I was relieved, as it completely absorbed Eliza and she no longer felt the need to complain or act up. Eliza still has those notes tucked away in her memory box, and every Sunday since then that the Ericksons have attended our ward (which is not that often, they travel the mission quite a bit), Eliza has requested to sit with them. I have always let her, and the notes have continued. She has all of them saved in her box. He and his wife came to her baptism as well. When they stopped by tonight to say farewell to Eliza, and our family, I asked Pres. Erickson if he remembered how the friendship had begun, and told him how much it had meant to me that he had helped me out. He told me that he has been in leadership positions in the Church for a long time, and he has always said that when he had the chance, he would seek out the wife of a leader with small children and help her out. I was touched by his determination and dedication to follow through with that idea. It truly was a blessing for me that Sunday, and has continued to be a blessing for Eliza. She has felt so special and really cherishes the friendship she has made. Thank you, President Erickson.
Making rope in the Family Living Center
Playing pioneer games at Pioneer Pastimes, as well as many other favorites that we don't have photos of- the bakery, schoolhouse, hearing the Nauvoo Brass Band, etc. It was a fun day.
We rounded out the evening with a performance by BYU's Young Ambassadors, BYU's musical theater performing group. We love to catch the shows that BYU brings to Nauvoo for the summer. This year was the first year that we've been able to see the Young Ambassadors. They were so entertaining. Stay tuned for more about our trip to see Vocal Point in July and the Folk Dance team in August....
This year there were 5600 runners in the race. I thought this picture captured the mass of the crowd, with the Caterpillar World Headquarters as a backdrop.
And here comes Rick on the home stretch (in the white hat. Also this is not an endorsement for Budweiser). He finished with a personal best. He tells the kids he set a world record. It was the fastest he's ever run 4 miles anywhere in the world : ).
I think sometimes Rick thinks he annoys me with all the talk of running, and focus that he has given in the last year or so, but the truth is, I'm so happy for Rick. He has set some tough goals for himself, and I am so pleased with the lifestyle changes that he has made. So far he has lost 38 lbs, and he's not done yet. He's at a weight right now that he's not been at since our first couple years of marriage. He'll tell you he's doing it so that he doesn't die long before me. He says he's afraid of the trouble he'd get in on the other side when I join him if he did that. I guess I'll just take the good from that comment....
The release. Happy Birthday, Kevin. We love and miss you. You will never be forgotten.
And off they go.
Daniel and Eliza loved it, especially the bunk bed, until it came time to decide who got the top bunk....
Another shot of the fun little cabin.
Friday night we went over to the temple. It was so beautiful lit up for the night.
Saturday morning we supplemented the fruit and chocolate milk that I had brought from home with some goodies from the Nauvoo Mill and Bakery. So yummy. Most of the rest of the day it poured down rain. While Rick was in the temple with his keys to the van, I locked mine in the van, so the kids and I couldn't do the things in Old Nauvoo that we had planned on. We had fun anyway at the Temple Visitor's Center and Temple Arrival Center.
Dailie had her first dance recital in pointe shoes!! After many years in dance, one of her dancing dreams has come true. She can dance on pointe. She was in four numbers. The one above was with her first year pointe class.
This was her tap number. She looks WAY too grown up in this photo!!
This was a military number, done with her first year pointe class as well as the advanced pointe class. Lots of girlies on their tippy toes for this one.
