Looks different

On Saturday we were working in the yard and a young girl - maybe 16 or 17 slowed her car down in front of the house and was leaning over her friend and looking at the house. I walked over to see what they needed. Turned out it was the granddaughter who lived there with her grandma, the previous owner. "Looks so different!" She said.

I like to look back and see the progress we've made and I agree with her, it surely does look like a different house.

My husband is truly a genius! Now that the porch is mostly done, time to tackle the flower beds.

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Dumb formatting!!! I spent way too much time trying to get the formatting right on the next post. Apparently this is the best I'm going to get.

The Lake House

Oh what a fun vacation we had last week! Scott's brother Cody was getting married to his sweet Hayley in the Sacramento Temple so the family gathered from Oregon and Utah to celebrate. Scott, Maddy, Mom, and I left on Tuesday morning. Maddy was fairly content with her nacho cheese chips and her "Spongebob Squarepants". She did have a fever the whole day and so was remarkably good considering she didn't feel good. We drove as far as the Peppermill In Reno. We were upgraded to the Imperial Suite. Fancy! We relaxed, spent the night, and waited for the next group of Bishop's to join us on Wednesday evening. Scott's dad, sister Amy and her two kids Caroman and Anna joined us Wednesday evening for a little fun in the in-room jacuzzi. I went a little overboard with the bubbles (I swear it was just a drop or two of shampoo!).
The next morning we checked out of our hotel but had several hours before we could be at the rental house in California. We found a bowling alley to bide our time. Maddy's first time bowling - she beat grandpa and Anna the first game! Not too shabby.

After a few games and then lunch at the buffet, we piled back into the cars and headed to the house that we rented on Lake of the Pines in Auburn, California. What a beautiful place.

We were met by Scott's sister Melinda, her husband Marcus and their kids Eli, Isaac and Zoe. They pulled in after a drive from Oregon and the cousins got to playing immediately. After a short while, the other brother Jeff, his wife Chantiel and daughter Khloe arrived. Maddy was in heaven! We were out on the back porch when they arrived and before Khloe could take a step out the back door, Maddy was in her face saying "Hi Khloe! Hi Khloe!"

The kids spent a lot of time playing darts and watching movies with grandpa in the house. The grown ups talked and read books and relaxed.

Although the weather wasn't the best, we still found the strength to go out and play on the lake.

Saturday morning came bright and early and we headed the hour to Sacramento to the temple. Cody and Hayley were sealed for eternity. The sealer performing the ceremony reminded us that it is the little things in a marriage that mean the most. He quoted a song by Kitty Kallen

Blow me a kiss from across the room

Say I look nice when I'm not

Touch my hair as you pass my chair

Little things mean a lot.

He also said that we should return to the temple often because we would always leave with a bit of the dust of heaven on our brow.

Maddy and I had a bit of a disagreement at the temple. She wanted to run in the rain and put her hands in the water fountain while we waited for the bride and groom. I preferred to stay dry.

After the ceremony, we had been invited by Hayley's family to a barbeque. What a lovely family they are. Again, the weather was not cooperating but we made due and were no worse for it.


Later that evening was the reception and then the weekend was basically over!

It was a wonderful week with Scott's family - especially nice since Jeff and Chan were finding a new home in Washington prior to joining us on this trip. The drive home was long and painful but we made it and all things are back to normal (well, except for the laundry room - it's a bit of a mess!)

Wedding Bells

Congratulations Cody and Hayley!

We are heading to bed after a week of Wedding celebration in Sacramento! The long drive home begins bright and early in the morning. More stories to come.