PEEPL DIVRV LIMUNAD

This weekend was an All-American, truly rejuvenating weekend.

The weather was slightly crisp, breezy, but sun-shiny and clear. There were garage-sales all over and there was a buzz of excitement in the air. I guess the combination of the changing of the seasons with football season. I don't know. But people around here are happy.

First of all, it was Bikes, Blues, and Barbeques time in nearby Fayetteville, which means that thousands of bikers were in town.

This is not a picture that I took. This is from the Bikes, Blues and BBQ's flickr page.

Swarms. Bone-rattling swarms. Every where you turned you could see a handful of leather-clad, bandana-draped, goatee-ed bikers. The rumble was pert-near constant. And this made me oh-so homesick in an almost comfortable, nostalgic and pleasant way. I missed my daddy. And along with him my mom, and sibs, and Utah in the fall. And the mountains. But mostly Dad (who is pictured clean-shaven below, which he usually is not when it's time for a big ride).

Saturday morning was a soccer game for Team Freedom. As always, the whole family attended. As always, Campbell spent the whole game trying to get out there and kick the "chocka baaah" and attain a "gooooo!" (goal). I had to run onto the field in the middle of the game several times to pull her out of the goal, where she loves to pop her head through the netting. And, as always, she was pretty safe in the goal where Team Freedom was trying to score, since most of the time they don't get anywhere near it. Our team is full of adorable girls, but for some reason the other teams of 4 year olds seem to "get it" where our girls just...don't. It's such a joy to watch, though.

Spencer and I had a moment of conflict at one game where in a jumble of 6 four-year-olds and 1 soccer ball, a girl on the opposing team fell and was mildly hurt. The ball was sort of sitting there next to the girl on the ground as mass confusion clouded the players minds. Our hands cupped our lips at the same time and just as I was about to yell, "stop and help her up!!" Spencer yelled, "Quit looking at her and get the ball!!!" We looked at eachother in disgust and after much debate finally decided that in sports, he has the "right of way", and I'll take the wheel with all other relationship advice and interpersonal interaction training.... and after that tangent, I'll just say the game was even more fun than usual on Saturday.

That's Cadence with the ball (a rare moment caught on camera!)

We got home from the game and wandered around a few of our neighborhood garage sales and got back just in time for the saturday session of General Conference to start (a twice-yearly opportunity for all the members of our church--or anyone for that matter-- to hear from the Prophet and apostles that are leading the church to day--amazing!). I was all excited to fold clothes and watch at the same time and so I became quite annoyed when Cadence and Spencer came in and announced that we, too would have a garage sale. I guess Cadence really wanted one, so Spencer allowed it. So we helped her set up some tables with stuff we were going to donate to Goodwill, and then we made some Chrystal Lite Lemonade (it's safe for Fructose-fussy tummies). Cadence made her own sign.

It said, "People Deserve Lemonade" (You can see it if you look closely, but the PEEPLE is backwards, and underneath "Divrv"). So true. She stood there and boldly made eye contact and smiled and waved at every passerby. She was so excited when somebody waved back, and it sort of broke my heart every time she said, "Mom, they saw me but they didn't wave."

Anyway, she made about $4 on the lemonade and we sold one thing from our pile of junk, and we packed up and went in. It was so fun to see her little enterprise in action. Last minute, though it was.

Thank goodness for DVR. Once the kids were in bed we got all caught up on conference.

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Saturday night we went and hung out with some of the very wonderful families (sans husbands, since it was priesthood session of the conference) and Sister Chandler said that she found Campbell out in the streets when she was coming to the front door at the Douglas's. But no poisons were ingested and only one Douglas' family toothbrush was used by Cam, (sorry Bryce), so all was well there!

And Sunday was a glorious day, wasn't it? Since conference doesn't start until 11:00 am for us, we got to have a slow morning, and then we joined some friends for brunch and let the kids play while we watched conference and cuddled babies. It was divine.

And then, after letting the kids wear themselves out completely with their friends, we took them home, put the babies down, got nice and cozy on the couch, and snuggled through the final session of the glorious conference. Especially wonderful--Cadence did not want to color, or paint or any other quiet activity while we watched conference. She wanted to watch with us. And so I held her in my arms and she fell asleep right there in my lap, and I got to snuggle with her and Spencer the entire time. Oh, what a treasure.

Wasn't conference fantastic?!? Oh, man. I just loved it. It seems I was able to actually hear and pay attention to so much more than I usually can. I think that's greatly due to DVR.

And all the while that all that was happening, I was in one of those totally irrational cranky, irritable, should-a-kept-my-mouth-shut kind of moods. Thank goodness my husband was able to keep it a little curbed for me, rather than stir it up. Because of him, I was able to enjoy a completely fulfilling weekend.

But who could be grumpy with these adorable faces following them around?