The Lainharts

Saturday, March 21, 2009

You're never fully dressed without a smile!

Happy Birthday Ana!

My little Analee turned 5 years old on the 19th. I can't believe it!

She woke up and asked me if I was happy she was five now or if I was sad that she was growing up to fast. She is growing up too fast.

Luke's 100th day of school was this week. He wrote his name with 100 popcorn kernels and glued them to a peice of yellow paper. He also made this rediculous hat. He makes it look so cute though, doesn't he? Happy 100 day, Luke!

Reflections on Mazapan

Last week I had the privilege of celebrating my Grandfather's life. He was 98 years old when he passed away. He lived his entire life for other people.

He met his beautiful wife, Rula, while he and she were both serving missions for the church.

They lived in Mexico. He worked as a supervisor to the supervisors that built all the church buildings down there.

He pioneered irrigation in the beautiful apple orchard they grew together. Their orchard was the only one in the area that was always neatly mowed and weeded. Each of their posterity was given a tree with a "bracelet" on it that had their name etched into it.

We used to go visit Grandpa & Grandma in Mexico quite often. When we did we'd always drive into Casas Grandes hit the grocery store and load up on chiclets, vanilla, and mazapan. Mazapan was always my favorite, although, tasting it again more recently, I think they smell better than they taste. It's basically like peanuts crushed into powder with sugar added. They smell SO good! On the way home we'd buy freshly made corn tortillas and sit in the back of Grandpa's white pick up (often with hitch hikers) and eat them all the way home (never forgetting the salt shaker).

Grandpa built his house using remnants from the old McClellan homestead. It was yellow with red trim. Grandma always had beautiful flowers planted in the boxed that ran all along the front of the house. In the yard they had pinon (pine nut), pecan, and walnut trees. At the entrance to the driveway was a cattle guard. We used to unwind metal hangers and put a paper cup on the end and go fishing for frogs down the pit between the bars of the cattle guard. Before driving over the cattle guard we'd always honk the car horn to make sure the monkey could jump down from swinging on the bars before we ran over his fingers. :)

I'm really going to miss the old place and the old people that lived in it, but I can't help but be thankful for the gospel and the knowledge that Grandpa and his "beautiful Senorita" are together again and hopefully they're saving a place for all of us. There is nothing more beautiful or comforting than knowing that you can be with your family forever...even after death. It's hard to lose the people you love, but really, it should be a celebration. They are back in Heavenly Father's care with no more ailments and, in Grandpa's case, with the Senorita he loves and their little boy.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Giggle Girl

My little Ana is SO ticklish! All you have to do is pretend to start tickling her and she is rolling on the floor. Just F.My.I (for my information) don't tickle her with a mouth full of banana bread. You're bound to wind up completely spattered in it.