you mess with me, you mess with the "familia"

i remember reading a little kid's t-shirt with that saying on it. only it said family instead of familia. i know its hard to watch your kids feelings be hurt--no matter how old they are. what better back up in life could there be than this family to love and support you? you are all soo good and cute with each other. i love that my kids are each others best friends and their cousins are right there too. brooke, i know what your problem is--you keep praying for patience. the thing with that is, God then gives you all these "story problems" so you can practice patience. what you need to do is pray and explain that for now you have all the patience you think you can handle.
the visit to utah with all the sisters was great. it was so good of shelli and brian to request the visit and get us all together. the beecher reunion was so fun. madeline is a beautiful sweet little baby. we had so much fun all of us visiting and catching up on things. brian was very patient with all the women as were bill and kevin. indie's blessing was beautiful and so is she in spite of her anorexic tendencies. she is a beecher--no doubt she will start to enjoy food like we do and then she will look like our not so little tristen. jess you are such a sweet patient little mom. i am impressed with all of you. alicia, your girls are so fun and beautiful like their mom, cousins and aunts. monica, you are so good with your kids and your students. i enjoyed eves dropping on your singing lessons--laughing and having fun with your students, but still encouraging their best efforts. now chelsea, are you really old enough to join the ranks? you will be the best step-mom ever. and that makes joani---a g'ma. all right!! that's a good thing!! it's the funnest job i've ever had. there really is nothing as fun, challenging and diverse as being a good mom and homemaker and there has never been a greater need in the world than now for good strong families. but the pay off is you get to be a g'ma--all the fun and not as much responsibility. did i tell you the other day vim was over and pitching a fit because i told him he had to finish his sandwich or no cookie. then i had this great thot--i am not responsible for this child's vitamin content. a cookie will not make or break his over all physical well-being--"here wil have a cookie, for that matter have two." "hey, c-bear and kaia, can you hardly wait to have g'ma come to your house for a visit? just think, cookies and musicals non-stop." i cannot be much worse than your dad.
darla, how dare they be mean to my cole. he is the cutest boy ever!!! i miss my little richmond babies!!! this is going to be a great summer. good thing i have the almost free flights!!! thanks geoffy george!!!
anyway, vent all you want, whatever it takes to keep you all encouraged and "going on in so great a cause."
last night we had our 4th and final bonfire for a while anyway. it was so fun, with hotdogs and marshmelloes once again. i was cutting out blackberries and one came back at me. it hit be on the forehead. i didn't pay much attention, but a little later felt something wet. i was so pretty! i was bleeding down my forehead, into my eyebrow and all the crowsfeet around my eye. they are a wicked plant and they are going to be destroyed. better to take my frustrations out on them. adam never did get it as to why i didn't just bulldoze all the blackberry off this place. there is something about hard work that clears my head and makes me happy.
way to go my little boo. everyone loved my new haircut. you're good. WA needs you!!!
love to all, aunt Le Anne