Summer slippage

Hello All,

This is the "mother Bear" of this establishment speaking. It will be brief tonight cause I got a paper cut on my finger and it's a real pain.

We are glad to be home once again after a very busy month for all. It was wonderful to get to go to Steven's and Meredith's home and help out with our newest member of the family. Gabriella is a sweet little thing and her new grandma and grandpa are head over heels for her.

It was fun to cook old favorites for Steven and sit and visit with my favorite daughter-in-law! I was so proud of Meredith as she learns all about and loves her new baby. She turned to me more than once and just grinned- "she is addictive" she would say and I told her to hold her all she wanted. We are so happy that she is gaining and doing so well even though she has her days and nights mixed up still. It was a real joy for me to see my child holding his.

So, I jumped from Denver, to making cookies for Redfish. My box of cookies were beckoned almost as soon as I was! But I was too tired Sunday night but by Mon. Morning decided I needed to go. So we started baking and packed the car so tight with stuff and kids that I told them all not to sneeze lest the trunk and doors would pop open. It was great to see everyone and lay by the lake. (As opposed to laying all night in the tent on a flat air mattress Yeowich!!)
But Rach got lots of great pictures and Stacey won the nerd award for skimming for guppies in her dog hat.! Emma puttered around and loved bossing Boone around. Neil worked on a super sunburn and sudoku and then rode the mighty innertube under the watchful eye of Wes the driver and Roger ever the sentinel. Hey wasn't he there when I used to ski off the tube? Stacey got a long ride also with Uncle Wes and came back grinning. What a great birthday party that Breya and Dax put on for Alivia and we were so lucky to get invited! It was even more fun when MOM and DAD got there and then Stephanie and Rick and fam. Some highlights for me....
Star gazing with Debra and Phillip Thurs evening. Standing on the beach the first night and yaking it up with Debra. Having Diane take out my splinter on my foot...Doing crafts with the kids all being silly and creative. Watching Dad on his bike...always young. Walking with Mom up to camp together. Seeing Wes on his boys motorbike...always young. Cooking with Debra-rolling lots of spring rolls and being amazed at all the food and preparation she goes through. Walking with Blaine and Nick down to the lake and seeing what great pals they are. Smelling Jenny's clean hair and remembering caring enough to wash mine when I was young. Standing on the side of the lake at dusk with Stephanie and remembering swimming in that cold water and loving it. Looking at the flat lake and remembering younger bodies with stronger legs and arms and seeing the ghosts of "redfish" past waterskiing across the wake, back and forth. Remember that Dad?

I so enjoyed looking at the new DVD's Wes and Debra made for us and feeling very grateful to be part of this bunch. It was great standing with Wes and Debra and Stephanie and Blaine and mom and dad and laughing so hard at ourselves and well, anyone else that wasn't there....Thanks for all your hard work so we could have these wonderful memories.
And then Sunday morning seeing all the churchy ones that made me proud too.
Hey and as a side note...thanks to all of you that made us feel welcome to come. Sometimes, I feel a bit like the island of mis-fit toys. Thanks for always making me feel so loved in spite of our warts.

So, we came home on Sunday and headed to SL for meetings. I think everyone that has been in the woods for a bit ought to go to a nice hotel and let them cook and clean for you! Wow, what a contrast. This was a bitter sweet time. The Inn at Temple Square where we have been staying for the past 22 years will close this fall. Ah, progress.

We ate at the Roof on Tues. and I dined in the Lion house. Came home a size larger and ready for some down time. So I guess that means with my head down in the washer....cause that is where I will be for some time to come. That sounds a bit like a country song....la, la.
So then to add to the drama-I had a call on my cell Thurs from Alicia that Brian had been driving her to work and had just dropped her off and then was hit in the intersection there.
He is fine but the Neon will never be the same. We are deciding if that is bad or good. Say a prayer for the words TOTALLED! We are so grateful that Brian is ok. In that instant as Alicia was telling me, I realized how much we love that boy and not just because he loves our daughter, but because of all he is. There is a much more entertaining report on Alicia's blog Mathias-life.blogspot.com. Check it out.

The Bishop and I remarked today at what a crazy summer this has been. I also heard myself remark that maybe things will settle down when school starts! Ha, who am I kidding.
Well, my poor finger has had it for tonight.

Love Mom, Alane Sis and aunty and grammar