Memorial Day Weekend (aka MELISSA came to visit!!)

every summer that it has been possible since kent and i graduated from college, melissa has come to stay with us. the tradition started with jenae too, but has turned out to be just melissa more often than not. i think it is true that serving someone makes you love them because my kids and melissa have a special bond to each other, and i feel a deep debt of gratitude and love for her too. and she and kent get along swimmingly so it is just good times all around! =o] 

the poor dear rode the train and the bus here after getting off work on friday. so the kids woke up with much anticipation on saturday morning and dutifully waited until 7:01 am to go wake her up! they all three stood knocking on the door and she said "now i wonder who that could be?" and they all looked up and me and smiled and then shouted "it's us aunt melissa!!!" as they opened the door and tackled her =o]

after a classic pancake breakfast they set to work on one of the projects for the weekend: a harry potter music video =o] although many tears were shed a various times over it throughout the weekend, overall i think they will be pleased with the end result when we get to see it in a couple weeks. 

melissa got to read grandmom's book that i made =o]

and of course play with seth! it didn't take long for him to warm up to her, despite the expressions on his face in these pictures. 

during quiet time we made bubble gum with a kit natalie received at christmas that we have been saving for a special occasion. 

caleb was the best at it 

aaaaaaaaaaand melissa was the worst lol i don't know what went wrong ha ha ha 

jenna enjoyed a piece when she woke up. it tastes good for less than 3 seconds and then it isn't worth chewing in my opinion, but the kids thought it was great! (notice the beaded necklace natalie made for me. melissa received a bracelet =o])

we did baths early- here is melissa brushing jenna's hair

and ordered pizza and watched a movie in honor of melissa's birthday! we finally decided after much debate on lilo and stitch via netflix, which we had never seen, and it was a hit!

after putting the little ones to bed, then we played games and of course read harry potter before putting the older kids to bed. 

melissa and i got to talk and just hang out both friday and saturday nights and it was fun as was to be expected. she helped me pick out some musicals to teach the kids about this summer on our musical mondays (which i am beyond excited about!!!!) and we laughed a lot about nothing and i showed her all the books i am working on (which i am also beyond excited and obsessed about lol) and we ate cookies and just enjoyed the time.

on sunday we took picutres before church- good times lol

and melissa got to experience the harsh reality of four children ages six and under in a sacrament meeting that goes 15 minutes over. wow. but sunday school and relief society were refreshing and uplifting so it made up for it. to me at least lol! i taught in relief society and had a blast- i seriously love teaching!!

on monday morning we put out our flag and it was quite the event for the kids =o] 

after another yummy breakfast of fruit and cinnamon rolls we did one of natalie's art lessons (architecture- she made a theater and caleb made a sky scraper) and just hung out enjoying the time together.  

then we had a barbecue lunch (melissa how could we forgot the pineapple for our burgers!?!?!!)

and then we sadly took her back to the amtrak station. but honestly it wasn't too sad because we will be seeing her and all the hansens in a couple weeks anyway. and until then we will enjoy the harry potter toys she let us borrow =o]

i posed this on fb that night: I feel so blessed to live in this land of freedom so I can create happy memories with my family. For FHE tonight we discussed how the purpose of laws and government are to protect the people and land of the country, and how soldiers sacrifice to be sure we are safe and free. And since I've got a patriotic streak a mile wide for ZION, I threw a plug in at the end for looking towards that day with hope and joy when there will finally be peace on earth for all people, and we can all sit down together as free brothers and sisters- united as one! May we make it to that day! 

for me, memorial day is about much more than honoring US veterans or loved ones who have passed away. i am grateful for their sacrifice! but i am also grateful for the noble men and women everywhere, in every age who have fought for freedom and the right to choose. those who LIVE it. now. today! i feel a kinship with them, and try to be one of them, because the fight continues on. i am grateful to live in america because this is my home. but america cannot last. look around us! a house divided against itself cannot stand! we are going the way of all the earth. so i will stand and fight against the tide with those who have gone before me to defend the just and holy principles of integrity and virtue, courage and faith until the Savior comes. i'll end with this music from les mis, because it is truly how i feel:

ENJOLRAS
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

COMBEFERRE
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Courfeyrac:
Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!

ALL
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

FEUILLY
Will you give all you can give
So that our banner may advance
Some will fall and some will live
Will you stand up and take your chance?
The blood of the martyrs
Will water the meadows of France!

ALL
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

(finale)

 FANTINE, VALJEAN AND EPONINE:
Take my hand
And lead me to salvation
Take my love
For love is everlasting
And remember
The truth that once was spoken:
To love another person is to see the face of God

ALL:
Do you hear the people sing?
Lost in the valley of the night
It is the music of a people who are climbing to the light
For the wretched of the earth
There is a flame that never dies
Even the darkest nights will end and the sun will rise

They will live again in freedom in the garden of the Lord
They will walk behind the ploughshare
They will put away the sword
The chain will be broken and all men will have their reward! 

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring when tomorrow comes! 
REPEAT

Aaaaah, aaaaah, aaaah, 
Tomorrow comes!