Spa Day by Aubrey

My 4 1/2 year old niece Perry and her mom, Becky, had this conversation the night before Mother's Day. 

Perry: Mother's Day is about giving food.  Like breakfast in bed.

Becky: Oh, I don't want breakfast in bed.  I want to sleep in!

Perry: .......So you hate Mother's Day?

My Spa day started a little rough.  On Saturday night at 11:30, Aubrey was insistent that I  log her into the computer right away.  I was tired.  Electronics were put away for the night, but then she pleaded, "I haaaavvvee to.  It's for  your Mother's Day present."  

So I put in the password and finished getting ready for bed.  All mothers know you can't be too stern with your child when they are working on a Mother's Day gift for you, even if you really just want them to start heading to bed.  

At midnight, I walked back through the den, and she was still on the computer.  I mentioned it was time for her to turn off the computer and head to bed.  She was miffed and insisted that she must finish up right then.  I tried to hold firm and be kind at the same time.  She was working on a good cause....but still.....I must admit Becky and Perry's conversation ran through my head.

At 12:38 a.m., I was lying in bed in our pitch black room.  I had my blanket over my head so as not disturb Brian while I browsed through my phone. Aubrey slipped into the room and whispered in my ear.  "Mom, I need you to fill out this spa survey."  I about jumped through the roof out of fright.   Mother's Day or not there was no more nice mom for me.  I growled,  "Aubrey, Go To Bed Now."   "But Mom....."  "I will fill it out tomorrow.  I just want you to go to bed right now."

12:38 a.m.  Happy Mother's Day to me.

Aubrey held the actual Spa Day after church, and it was relaxing, adorable, amazing and fun.  

She changed into this fancy outfit to escort me to my room.  She has on Brinley's heels and the back, center of her skirt has a  hair tie to make the front fit tighter on her legs.  We were both giggling at that hack.  She was very professional and had me sit down at her desk.  I had a glass of cold water waiting, and I filled out my information sheet.

The ambiance of the room was wonderful.  She really went all out in preparing.  She had fancy lights on the floor.  She also had soft music playing and a diffuser with essential oils creating a calming smell.  She even moved my yellow tulips into the room.  So cute and thoughtful....she may be an event planner one day.

After I filled out my questionnaire, she excused herself to go "get Aubrey" who would be doing the actual massage.  She made a mad dash for the closet a few feet away, and we both started giggling again.  She came out in a new outfit, read through my questionnaire, and proceeded with my treatments.

She gave me a manicure, a relaxing full body massage, and an eyebrow treatment.  Thanks my sweet girl.  Happy Mother's Day to me!!!

Mother's Day

My Mother's Day was great.  Brian and the kids took good care of me, and I felt loved and appreciated.  Brian and I were able to go on a date on Saturday night.  We ordered take out at Salt Grass and headed to a park to have a little picnic.  However, all of the eating areas were still closed, so we at in the car.  I really enjoyed just visiting alone together.

Here are the cards the kiddos made for me and the beautiful tulips Bri brought me.  I love them.  They are so bright and pretty, and they just make me feel hopeful and happy.  He also made a delicious dinner of flank steak, potatoes, green beans and rolls.  Delicious!

Brinley wrote me a sweet letter telling me what she appreciated about our friendship.  She mentioned she especially realized how much she thought about me when she left for BYU.  She wanted to call me all the time to share the smallest or most inconsequential thing with me....just because she was used to doing that.  I am going to miss my girl so much when she leaves for 18 months in July.  I am really grateful missionaries are allowed to call home weekly now. 

Parker gave me a card with a coupon to take me out to ice cream two times.  I will definitely take him up on that offer.  Probably today!

Tanner gave me a card and two Hershey bars with little Reeses Pieces in the bar.  Oh ya!  My family knows I love chocolate.

Aubrey gave me a sweet card listing some of the attributes she appreciates about me.  (kind, loving, service oriented, caring, etc.)  She also gave me a coupon for a spa day treatment in her room.  I will blog more about our spa day tomorrow.

I shamelessly ordered and picked up a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake from Baskin and Robbins.  Mother's Day just seemed like a good excuse to have a yummy cake we could all enjoy.  

Here is the tile I made for Joyce.  We all discussed attributes she emulates, and I used three of them on her tile.  I hope she knows how much we love and miss her.

We gave my mom this cute puzzle of the kids.  And best of all, for the first time in a million days, I was able to visit with my mom face to face.  Britney stopped by as well.  Happy Mother's Day Mom.  I  hope we didn't bring in any germs.

Britney Bird, Laurel Vore, Erin Gwilliam

Because it was Mother's Day, the family indulged me with a quick family photo after home church.  I love these five so much.

Parker (17), Me, Brian, Aubrey (13), Brinley (19) & Tanner (15)  Worth noting, I mentioned to Aubrey I liked her skirt and asked were she got it.  She replied "Your closet!"  She clipped the waist with a large paper clip.  The shirt and shoes are mine as well.  

We were also able to end our evening with a Gwilliam Zoom get together and then games with Chris, Ang, Charity and Lauron.  It was a great day.

On the big screen from left to right: Andrew, Sarah, Ruby, Jeff and Caroline.  You can see the individual families in the tiny boxes up on top.

Tyse and Lindsey showing one of their little chickens.  I love this picture!

La and Tanner

The Vores surprised us at the front door.  We were so happy to see them.  They watched the end of our Gwilliam Zoom and then we visited and played games.

Check out Parker's Carona hair.  Also, they quit holding hands pretty quickly once they realized the Gwilliam fam (still on Zoom) might think they were dating or something.

Bryn, Charity and Parker

Happy Mother's Day!

Poison Fun

I was thinking back to the past few years when we have set New Year's goals together as a family.  Aubrey has consistently written down "family game night" or "family movie night."  She really wanted to have one scheduled regularly.  With full time school, athletics, callings, work, household chores, seminary, YM/YW activities etc., it just was not realistic.  We could have (should have?) made it worked.  I would write her contribution down knowing it was not going to happen.  The weekdays were too full and on the weekends the older kids wanted to be with friends.

However, a big blessing with the slower pace of sheltering in place, is the time we are spending together as a family.  I love it.  Even as the restrictions are being lifted and the kids are getting together with friends, we still have plenty of time to be together.  

We are watching shows together.  I should say mostly together.  Not everyone joins in every time.  This week a couple of Iron Man movies, Captain America, Survivor and The Chosen.  We have played group games with the Chris Vores the past two weekends.  (Fish Bowl-a charades game, Secret Hitler, Apples to Apples)  We have also gone out to the side yard where we have our basketball goal and played Poison a few times. (View instructions here.)  

Poison has been a super fun family activity...even though I stink and get out first every time.  (I am by far the least athletic person in our family, and I used to consider myself fairly athletic.  It's the worst.)

I love watching the kids play competitively together.  Sometimes things have gotten heated, but playing together as a family gives everyone the opportunity to practice lots of life skills such as anger management (ha!), patience, compromise, and learning to let go.

A little about Poison....if the person shooting makes the shot, everyone has to freeze.  The person who made the shot then can throw or roll the ball at someone.  If they hit them, the frozen person loses a life. 

There is some running involved.  If you are the next shooter, you can only let the ball bounce three times before you catch it.  If you don't get there in time, you lose a life.  It's challenging though because you don't want to be too close to the shooter.  If they make it, you are an easy target.  It makes for a fun group game.

Once Parker was out, he was messing around on the back of Brian's truck.  He did a press handstand!  I was impressed.  The first time it was perfect.  

The next time he flipped over backwards into the bed of the truck.  Yikes.  I wish I would have taken pictures of the action but my normal reaction to danger is to cringe and cover my face.  Don't worry.  He was fine.  

I'm so grateful for the family time this world wide pandemic has given us.  I'm glad for Aubrey too.  Her positive family resolution suggestions are finally coming true.

Family History

A few weeks ago for home church, I spoke on Family History.  Traditional Family History is not something I feel very comfortable doing.  I have never really indexed.  Only with the helpful hints in the sidebar have I been able to attach important documents to my ancestor's pages on Family Search.  I do know family history is important though, and I've been trying to better.  

Anyway, back to my talk.  I shared a couple of stories from our ancestors.  I didn't realize my Grandmother, Nell Fanning, was named after her grandmother Nellie Beeston.  Making that connection on paper made me feel more connected to my grandmother's mother and grandmother.  It also made me think about my girl, Aubrey Joyce, who is named after her kind and talented grandmother, Joyce Gwilliam.  

A little more about Nellie.  Her father William was a choir director in Fillmore, Utah.  When the SLC temple was dedicated, his choir was asked to join in singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  It is kind of fun to imagine some of our family's love for music being passed down from my great, great, great, grandfather Beeston.  

Earlier this week, I shared a story about Seymour Brunson during our family scripture study.  He was my fourth great grandfather on my mother's side.  He was a body guard to the prophet Joseph Smith.  After protecting the prophet Joseph for several days in a row, Seymour was desperate to go home, clean up and put on new clothes.  He thought he had slipped away from the mob undetected.  He hadn't been home long when there was a pounding on the door.  

Seymour was able to go unnoticed by tying a kitchen towel over the top of his head.  He sat down in the rocking chair in the corner, pulled a quilt up to his chin and began to quietly moan. When his wife welcomed the angry mob in to search the house for him, she asked that they please not disturb Granny who had an awful toothache all day.  When the mob left, he put his shoes on backward as he walked in the snow back to guard the prophet.  He didn't want the mob to have any hints by following his footprints.

Another interesting family tidbit: Seymour is mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants 124:132.   The doctrine of baptism for the dead was introduced by the prophet Joseph Smith at his funeral.  

Family history reminds me of a song I learned in Primary many years ago.

1. 1. Fam’ly history—I am doing it,

   My fam’ly history.

   And the love I feel when I’m doing it

   Is very sweet to me.

   I learn stories of my progenitors;

   I write their history.

   I keep records of my loved ones

   On my own fam’ly tree.

2. 2. Fam’ly living now and the ones who’ve died

   Can all be sealed to me,

   And someday I’ll meet ev’ry one of them,

   I’m sure as I can be.

   Oh what joy we’ll have when they say to me,

   “We’re all a family.

   I am yours and you are mine now,

   Through all eternity.”

Words and music: Jeanne P. Lawler, b. 1924. © 1982 IRI; revised