The funny fix-it man aka how many bodies fit in that little room?

This funny fix-it man got down on the laundry room floor the other day

so I was super helpful and ran for my little camera. 

That brought out the fix-it man's animations. 

Back to the reason he got down on the floor in the first place though.

You see, the washer died with a full load of water still inside.

Zac came and helped. 

Then Rascal wanted to see what was so interesting. 

It was like a game of "how many bodies fit in that little room?"

After we got the water drained, 

the fix-it man found the problem and fixed the washer lickety split! 

He's the bomb!!

Thank you Heaven! We love tender mercies!

A gift to everyone she meets - a real peach, and squeeky...

Writer, Clara Kramer, said 

"There are people who are simply gifts to everyone they meet."

Don't you love that! It's so true! 

One of those exact gifts, one of those people, is my friend Vickie. 

Whenever I describe her to people 

I tell them if she ever had to have open heart surgery 

I'm certain they'd find 3 hearts in her! 

She is full of love and goodness, 

kindness and empathy, 

patience beyond measure and generosity to a fault. 

I know because I've been the recipient of her kindness, 

her listening ear, 

her understanding hearts (do you see what I did there) 

and her generosity.

This week she was terribly sick with a stomach flu. 

I didn't even know until the next day 

when I found out she was feeling better 

but one of her 7 foster children needed picked up from school 

because they were sick. 

I didn't have a car to go get her 

so I just ran over to Vickie's house and watched the little ones 

while she drove to the school to pick up her girl. 

It was nothing. 

In fact it was a blessing because I got to hold her 6 month old baby 

while she was gone and that was heaven. ;)

The next day, lo and behold, Vickie thinks she needs to thank me. 

She never needs to thank me. 

She's such a joy and blessing in my life that she is gift enough. 

She gave us this fancy dancy little gizmo vacuum.

I tried and tried to refuse but Vickie is also very determined. ;)

She has one just like it and is crazy about it! 

Calls it a fantastic marvel and says it's the best feeling 

when it's vacuuming 

because it's like getting two chores done at once! 

We decided the gizmo is a girl 

and because she makes everything squeeky clean 

we shall call her Squeeky. 

Rascal was freaked out by her in the beginning 

but now he just leaves whatever room she's in. 

Zac thought she needed googly eyes. 

She's a peach I tell ya...

but nothing compared to the peach that is our Vickie!

<3

San Fran with honors...

Zac needed to take an honors class for one of his scholarships. 

The honors class that was highly recommended to him 

came complete with a field trip to San Francisco!

The class was called "The Beat Goes On" 

and the field trip was over spring break. 

Zac was awesome to send pictures each day!

Here are some of my favorites. =D

The Class Description says "From On the Road to the Summer of Love to Woodstock with several stops in between, this class explores the events, trends and personalities that illuminate this explosive time in America. Central to the class is a “field trip” to San Francisco where the students explore many of its neighborhoods that are on the forefront during these decades of change—places like North Beach, Berkeley and Haight-Ashbury. The class will also examine what of this revolution in thought and action has endured, as well as what has not, into Twenty-first Century America."

I believe one of the objectives of honors classes is 

to acquaint students with diversity of thoughts and actions. 

Some of the class experiences were a little too diverse 

for Zac's liking but he's an optimistic guy 

and found lots of things to love. 

This picture's for you, Hunter. <3

Zac found Alcatraz's audio tour quite interesting.

This is one of the two professors (taking a 360 photo) who led the field trip. Thanks men!

A memorable experience for sure.

Fryday...

At work this week, Debbie told us about their young womens french fry activity. 

The leaders got fries from several places, 

 the girls put on blindfolds

and they had a taste test to see which fries they liked best 

and guess where the fries were from.

When I told the fam about Debbie's activity they wanted to have a go at it!

Can you tell where these fries are from just by looking at them???

The choices are...

Burger Bar

5 Guys

Red Robin

In & Out

Craft Burger

It's pretty hard to go wrong

when you're making something with potatoes - yum!

The twigs think we should do this again

 but

with chocolate.

Let's do it!  

;)

(Left to right - the fries are from Craft Burger, Burger Bar, 5 Guys, In & Out, Red Robin)

The dudes digs...

Our boy twigs have shared a bedroom forever. 

That bedroom has looked like this for the last 15 years

with "fishers of men" decor.

When Zac finished his mission 

and Hunter left on his mission 

it felt like time to get a new mattress and update the room.

This is the finished product.

For sure the picture had to have Rascal and his ball in it.

His ball is everywhere!

Love that dog!

Zac picked the colors, bought the paint and taped the room. 

He and Ashley did most of the painting. 

Sheila helped me at the hardware store 

as I was trying to copy this pinterest photo which took a little thinking.

This awesome Home Depot employee was super patient and accommodating 

to cut my one 6' section of black pipe into 9 smaller pieces. 

THAT seriously took some patience. 

Thanks Home Depot man!!

I didn't get a finished pic of the curtain rod - oops

but here's a look at the shelves with the pipe braces. 

Zac has lots of reminders

 of his 2 years 

with the beloved people of the Carolinas.

President and Sister Alexander gave him this picture of their hands 

"holding fast to the word of God" 

as a going home gift

and the Mr. and I made this mission pillow for him.

<3

Hunter LOVES baseball caps!!!

If he were a collector he'd have a baseball cap collection. 

Come to think of it, maybe he already does have a baseball cap collection!

;)

Sure love our dudes 

and their new digs.

A Night in Mumbai...

This weekend our girlie's High School had a dance. 

The theme was A Night in Mumbai 

which instantly made me think of 

the cute song at the end of Mirror Mirror, 

called I Believe in Love. 

The I Believe finale to Mirrror Mirror

Makes you want to dance doesn't it

and ya gotta love those dwarves!

Back to the girlie and her friends. 

She and her date made each other's corsage and boutineer 

the night before the dance 

and he was pretty proud of his creation. 

Nice job guys!

One of the girls wasn't able to make it for games and photos 

so we missed her in the group pictures 

but her date was a delightful photo bomber. 

 ;)

Once again, I find myself filled to the top with gratitude

 for the twig's great friends. 

Kind, funny, smart, on the ball kids 

who give me lots of hope for the future. 

<3

Awesome in the mountains...

Our snow has been awesome in the mountains this winter

and that has made for some great skiing!

The twigs can't get enough!

Our girlie's friend (below) joined her for his first time ever skiing.

He picked it right up!

No one pulled any starfish frisbees and a great time was had by all.

=D

Snail mail...

Do you love snail mail? 

My beautiful blue-eyed mother 

used to send us snail mail. 

It could be anything she'd come across 

like a joke from the Readers Digest or an article about Veterans. 

She was so fun! 

When Zac was on his mission 

sharing the message of Jesus, in the Carolinas, 

I thought he might enjoy a little snail mail each week.

You know, a neat picture with an encouraging scripture or quote

on a postcard. 

Zac kept the postcards he especially liked 

and taped them to the wall in his mission apartments. 

He called it his "wall of inspiration". 

How fun is that! 

His "wall of inspiration" got pretty big.

I saved the postcards on the computer that I made for Zac

and have been sending one each week 

to our New Hampshire missionary, Hunter.

After receiving a few postcards, 

Hunter wrote back and asked if it wasn't too much trouble, 

could I please send a postcard to his companion each week too. 

I love that man's kind heart. 

Once a month I make all the postcards

 so they're ready to send out 

each week. 

Snail mail and missionaries...

my favorite!