Family for Now and Forever

Allerina is here--bless her sweet little soul. She is the best littlest sister around and I love how my boys love her. And why wouldn't they? She builds forts with them, cuddles with them on cue, loads up the double bob and pushes them to and from every neighborhood park. She even cleans up with them. I'm so thankful the babysitting cycle has swung this way, and can't wait for the day when it will swing back. Watching her little ones will be a blast some day.

And, a special thanks to Milly, who took my beloved boys for their first brother sleep over last night at her home. They just love her. I would be lying, however, if I wasn't relieved to hear that they missed me. Sweet Atrain began his sleepover begging Milly to stay at her house forever and ever. I'm glad that for some unknown reason he changed his mind the following day. I guess I must be doing something right.

I love family. I don't know what I would do without them. I guess I should start saying that I don't know what I will do without them. The husband and I are writing his personal statement for residencies right now. That day is coming. It's not too far in the future when we will pack up our little med school apartment and part for some undetermined destination. It makes me sad, but the thought also thrills me. I am getting old, you know. At the end of this month, to be more precise. It will feel nice to be nearer to a real job and a home of our own. But not nearly as nice as it feels to be near to family.

Family Home Evening

Every now and then our little family gets together for a family night. You would think that every night was family night, seeing as how we spend most every evening together. But family home evenings are different. We plan, and play and try to teach each other a few things. Last night I had a few items on our FHE agenda, but just to humor myself, asked the boys "who would like to teach the lesson," thinking the husband would step up. But, instead, if was Atrain who said, "I will!" and took the reins.

We gathered together in the living room, sang the opening song (with random kitchen utensils used to conduct--a tradition taken from my family), had an opening prayer, and then turned the time over to Atrain for his lesson. I handed him his "sacrament meeting" book, just in case he wanted a few visual props to help him teach. He opened the book, and the first page there is an illustration of a girl who has her hands askew on her lap, looking wiggly. The book then supposedly proceeds to discuss how we should act and what we should think about when taking the sacrament at church. We have read it a number of times, but it was enlightening and super entertaining to hear Atrain's take on the story.

Atrain began with a serious expression and somber tone, "And in church, when we has to go potty...(page turn)...we think of the sacrament...(pg t)...and the little boy saying the prayer...(pg t)...and the doggie who got hurt...(pg t)...and the girl said to the boy "it's ok, don't be sad"...(pg t)...and how Jesus loves us...(pg turn to the end that again, portrays the girl with her hands in her lap)...and that we still needs to go potty.

It was actually a super accurate appraisal of our time in sacrament meeting at church. It was desperately difficult to push back my giggles. And even though I let a few out, he read the book undaunted by my irreverence. I should let him teach the lesson more often. I love that little boy. We finished out the evening with a few rounds of "hot potato" (another Ike fam FHE favorite) and ice cream cones. I do love family night.