Bottles, Flowers, Temples

Seen on the way back from our unsuccessful attempt to watch my sister's boyfriend's rocket launch at Wallop's Island (it did launch the next day, we watched online).  We had to stop and take a photo of these art-trees.  We knew that Jennilyn would love them.  There was no info in the info box...

 I accompanied the Young Women on a hike during mutual Wednesday night.  We saw a dozen Blue Herons, several deer, and this nice field of blue flowers.

We went to the temple Friday night.  It has been something we have had to make a concerted effort to include in our weekly plans, or else other tasks and appointments take up all of our time.  The tulips were beautiful, so we self-photoed to include the flowers (rather than the spires of the temple, which we usually emphasize).

 Better photo of us (but fewer flowers).

Most fun photo to take (Jenni didn't know I was still holding the camera).

Cliff-climbing Sam!

Sam went Rappelling (two "p"s, two "l"s) with his Scout troop last week.  He had fun, had tension, had some painful moments banging into rocks and hanging from ropes.  What more could you possibly ask from a camp out?

He said he hurt his hand, but still was able to do the belay.

A bird giving Sam an eye-view.

Celebrating Stewart!

Our oldest son Stewart is named after his Great-grandfather, John Stewart Landbeck Senior.

.

He was awarded the rank of Eagle for a project he did at the library in Aberdeen, MD, designing and constructing a display space for artwork.

He decided, entirely on his own, to start wrestling in High School (in part because he knew his Grandpa Ken had wrestled).  His teammates cheered him on, calling him, "Stewie!"

Stewart loved going to the temple in preparation for his mission in Montana

He has served there almost two years, working as a District and Zone Leader, a trainer, and now as an online Assistant to the President.

He will be returning to Maryland on Friday, May 17th, just a few days after Mother's Day.

 It was fun skyping with him at Christmastime.

We are grateful he can go to the Billings Montana Temple on occasion.

His whole family is looking forward to him returning in just five weeks.  I suspect he will be stunned at how big Sam and Roxie Jane have grown in his absence.

We are grateful for missionary service.

The Road Less Travelled? Nah, Let's Go on the Road Less Existant

 In our hikes, Jennilyn and I saw that through the trees at the dead end of one street was a development.  Just there, right through woods.  Early in the day a few weekends ago (maybe because we are busy people with lots to do the rest of the day, maybe because we are trying to avoid getting yelled at for trespassing), we pushed through.

Here we are on the other side.  It was maybe two minutes to navigate the bushes.

OPB

(Other People's Babies)

Roxie Jane is our youngest.  So she has not been surrounded with younger siblings to experience and learn the ways of baby-wrangling.

It was funny to me the trepidatious look she gave me when I asked her to hold onto Jimmy, a baby at church.

 The thing you have to know about Jimmy is that he is just the most ridiculously happy baby in the whole world.  I mean ever.  Look at that grin; he *never* stops smiling!

Or moving.

I am grateful for the great big family we all are, and the chances we have to love, serve, and enjoy one another.

Yay Spring!

 I was struck going to church a few weeks ago that all my girls have green coats.  Oh wait, it was St. Patrick's Day!  Jenni got Sam a green tie so he could join the party.

This was Sam being awesome and joining the party for a Regional Youth Dance that asked attendees to wear a Disney Costume.  He is wearing his Great-Grandpa Landbeck's kimono, and is Chang, the training/soldier dude that Donny Osmond sang the songs for in "Mulan". Hysterically, a Young Woman from our ward came as Mulan.  Sam reports they did dance together at least once.

 An East Coast Tradition.  On the first day of Spring, a local dessertery named "Rita's" gives out free small Italian Ice Desserts.  It was Wednesday, and I was bushed after Mutual, but Suzanna very nicely gave them rides.  Happiness!

And something I sincerely hope does NOT become a Spring Tradition, six inches of snow on the last Monday in March!  Kids enjoyed the snow day from school, but are all grumbly about having to make it up this week with a shortened Spring Vacation.

Roxie Jane at That Jumping Place

I can't believe I drafted this and then never finished it.  Roxie Jane got invited to a birthday party at a local joint.  It's basically a warehouse that's filled with those inflatable bouncy play-things.

Called "That Jumping Place".  Go figure.

It was interesting being with Roxie Jane in a group dynamic where the group was her peers, and not her family.  In family settings, Roxie Jane is always one of the youngest people in the room.  I think she models the more mature and adult people she sees.  She likes to read, and pursues alone/quiet time.

But when she's hanging out with a dozen pre-teen girls, she is just a squealy as any 11-year old I've ever met.

Or heard.