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Milkbarn: A Love Story (Construction, Cakes and Family)

Love
Valentine's Day
I do.
I love this man.
He proposed almost 15 years ago. 
How does it seem to feel like so long ago and yesterday all at the same time?

Okay! On with the weekend and some thoughts.
Part-ay
We had a party last night and invited our dear friends over.
Heart shaped pizzas and all.

Love bug

Chester mixing dry ingredients
I bought this really pretty bundt pan from Williams Sonoma.
So a cake was in order!



The batter was delicious.
Obviously we all had to test it to make sure!
I'm not a cake maker
(we are definite cookie eaters and donut purveyors)
 but I think bundts 
could become a thing at the Milkbarn.
Hint Hint:Send me a recipe!


This photo is proof. 
(Proof that we might be able to eat an entire cake in a day 
and a half.)
It was pretty good! 
Recipes courtesy of Martha.

Voila!
Then we watched my absolute favorite Charlie Brown movie. 
At one point my Lucy says,"why are they camping in the wilderness with no adults?"
That is the genius of Charlie Brown. 
No lame adults!
wwah wwah wwah wwah wwaaah

We also did chores over the weekend.
This must be documented as Henry is quite "allergic" to them but somehow musters the stamina to do the dishes.

Some of us decide to be shirtless when it gets to be 60 degrees.
This week was incredibly nice outside.
Kind of off topic here but check that back out!
My favorite craft with the kids is valentine making.

3rd grade Valentine class project
Passing out valentines to classmates.

My mind has been on relationships these past few weeks and how much I cherish the following people in my life. 
Because of them I have been shaped and loved into the person I am.  I am still becoming the person I want to be. 
And what I know about my siblings is we are really good at loving each other no matter what.
I LOVE my brothers and sisters.
 Knowing that families are forever became very real for all of us.


Kurt, Marcie, Lisa, Leslie, Jennifer, Marty

my beautiful sisters

Back in Hawaii all together was beautiful.



The beaches I grew up going to.

Noone makes me smile bigger or laugh more than my brothers. 
I always feel rejuvenated when I am with them. I can't explain it. It might go back to me being a little girl and running around the room in circles. One would trip me and then one would make me laugh by doing headstands to wipe away my tears. This would go on and on!
p.s. They don't trip me anymore

Recreating a high school photo for Leslie. We look like total tourists! who cares!
My Dud(this is an inside joke...not an insult!

Makapu'u Beach
My FAVORITE beach growing up.

Little Mom with her children.
Posing ala Megan. 





Waikiki at night. Super fun.

The Moana Hotel. 
Seriously gorgeous.

Cruised around Diamond Head with La'a in his cherry VW bug!
I love old cars.

The Banyon lit up at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

Alapati
The reason why we gathered.
My nephew. My sister Lisa's son.
He passed away.
We came together and honored him and laughed(I mean, 250 people laughing about his antics as a kid was amazing) and cried as we shared stories about his young life.
It was real. It was beautiful. It was filled with aloha.
Things in Hawaii are just different.
It is still apart of me.
 The power of the atonement was palpable for me.
And knowing we can all be together forever through the power of the priesthood through temple ordinances is evermore meaningful.

It says"Son, Brother, Grandson, Nephew, Cousin, Friend, Artist, Skater, Comedian.

Me and Kellie. Al's sister, my niece.  Love this woman.
 I helped Lisa name her!

Kellie, La'a, Lisa
Lisa spoke about choosing love in life at the service.
I have been thinking of that non stop.
It was good to be as a family again. Choosing to love one another.
Choosing to see all the good.
Life is too short to look for the faults in others that so easily beset us.
Not one of us is perfect.
Choose to look for the good.



Speaking about what is not so perfect...
I'm falling more in love with my less than perfect Milkbarn.

Holes in the yard for the septic work.

The all powerful canyon winds and their destruction. Our poor trampoline.

Siding. 
Git er done.

New garage door. And how about those outdoor lights, huh??
Who knew an outdoor light could give us a lift and a smile when we pull up to this work in progress!

the Apartment.
The in law is coming along.
We will live in it very Very soon.
Pinch me, a clean space to live in!
Countertop
Chose a linoleum kitchen countertop. It looks great!
Soon...soon! 
So instead of seeing what is annoying, inconvenient and just down right dirty, gross and unbeleivable.
I choose to love it all.
I do.

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