Trip To Wisconsin

I recently returned from a wonderful week in Wisconsin where I met our newest granddaughter, Audrey Elizabeth Mackrory.  She is child number four in the Mackrory family.

The whole family picked me up at the airport on Sunday evening.  When we got to the house, there were welcome notes posted throughout the house and even suckers for me taped to the door knob.

Nathan, Jacob, and Brielle

And even some chocolates on my bed.  

Welcome to the world, Audrey Elizabeth!

Sister time

This picture is a bit blurry, but it shows Audrey's favorite position.  When you lay her down, she always turns on her side.  

It was so fun to be in the Mackrory home and see how their day to day life is.  Brielle reads a chapter from the bible every night.  She already read the whole Book of Mormon.  She will be baptized in November.  Nathan also reads from the children's versions of the scriptures.  

Jakie  and I hung out together a lot while the others were at school.  He is such a fun little boy  Here he is playing  his "guitar." (rubber bands around a shoe box.)  

He heard a guitar in the kid's music I played for him, so ran to get his "guitar" to play along and dance.  So cute!

We took Audrey to the doctor for a weight check.  She mostly wanted to eat!

Brielle and I made the treats for Family home evening on Monday. 

Family Home Evening

I think this picture of Family Home Evening belongs in the Ensign.  The children are so engaged.  It was so fun to be there and witness it.  

Even Audrey was sort of alert!

Wisconsin had a terrible storm/storms in July.  Actually five tornadoes touched down in the area.  Many were without power or Internet for days.  Luckily, Kristen's family was fine with minimal damage.  Cute story:  the storm hit around midnight.  It hit with fury and awoke everyone.  Nathan, who was sleeping on the top bunk woke up scared.  He kneeled up and was saying a prayer for protection when he heard his little brother below him get out of bed.  He said he changed his mind about praying and ran for his parents room.  They huddled in the basement for a little while until it passed.  Their power came back on the next afternoon, but many were without power for days.

Nathan's soccer practice.

Running right through the soccer practice field is a train track.  A train came through during practice.  The little boys were SO excited.  I didn't get a picture then, so I asked after practice to show me what he did when he saw the train.  YEP,  That's what he did.  

I got to go two days to the school and read to the children in the library.  I did Brielle's 2nd grade class on Tuesday.  I taught them the Alligator Stroll from Sandra Boynton's new book.  It was so fun, but we forgot to take pictures.  We took this one after Brielle got home:

  On Thursday, I did Nathan's 1st grade class.  I read "Enemy Pie."  It was so fun.  So fun.  

Nathan showed me his locker . . .

. . . and desk.  

Remembering heaven.  

The updated Mackrory family.  

Kristen and baby Audrey.  (Yes, Kristen's eyes really are that blue.)