my girls are growing

i took my little lexi to get her drivers license on wednesday.

i remember so vividly holding her tiny, petite hand as she toddled/skipped to our car one winter night when she was 14 months and tashi was soon to be born. she saw the moon and said 'moo", so excited, and so proud of her little self.

later on wednesday she had a bishop's interview for her patriarchal blessing. she had made the arrangements for that without our even knowing about it.

now tashi is studying to take the test for her learner's permit, and we will have two kids driving.

lexi is starting a new job this week, and she an her best friend just bought tickets to go to japan at the end of march and attend the tokyo stake youth conference.

my girls are growing up.

they are beautiful and strong and smart. and they need me less and less.

sometimes our relationships feel strained & forced, and sometimes they flow naturally.

a quote from a great post on lexi's blog (click & scroll down to january 25th, & read the whole post. it's REALLY good) and it makes me REALLY happy

"I'm so thankful for the women around me that teach me the wonderfulness of womanhood. ....... They give me wonderful inspiration. My mom has done a good job in teaching me good skills for when I'm older. Arts of mother/womanhood that are being lost.

 

1. Quilting - my mom taught me the art of buying my own fabric that I liked, and making my own patterns, how to quilt the good way - hand or machine. Not the crappy, tied baby quilt style. Using antique patterns, fabrics, etc. Now I have color combinations and patterns popping up in my head all the time. The old form of quilting...*sigh of contentment*. Oh, and my mom taught me to sew on buttons, iron, and mend my own clothes."

this is a scripture cover that lexi recently whipped up on her own. she is still stitching the binding down (by hand). it makes me happy that she can do this, and WANTS to. you really should read the rest of her post. it's all so good.....chocolate, cooking, babies, marriage, it's all covered.  she also has great posts about presidents hinckley and monson, and a wonderful birthday tribute to tashi, from which i quote:

"Don't let your braces make you self conscious...you are one of the cooliest freshman in our school. Seriously! You don't do stupid things for attention, you obey all the rules, you don't try to act older than you are (this usually makes you look more immature...I could name a few freshmen...), you don't let people push you around, you get good grades, you're involved, you're punctual, you help everyone, but you never cheat and won't let other people cheat off you, you know how to have fun and laugh, you're cute, and unlike most of the freshmen, you're not going out with anyone haven't kissed (Yay VL!). Remember, I'll beat up the guy that kisses you before you're 16. You know I will. You look so cute in the Hollister tank top I bought you. Thanks for wearing it for your birthday pictures ♥"

and a fun quote from tashi's blog: "I was thinking about the world's busiest intersection today. (in Shibuya, Tokyo) It's pretty cool. Next to the Tokyu Hands book store. I remember when my mom took Lexi and I there once, and she bought me the 3 Frog & Toad books. She then took us to TGI Fridays for dinner. I think my dad met us there, too. That was a fun day."  

i can remember that day. she was 5 or 6 and so sweet. lex and tash had been modelling, and we went to buy a travel guide for our trip to new zealand. it was brock's birthday. it was a happy day for me too!

Comments

[Emily]

Geez, are you trying to get me to cry? Everyday, I realize how fast my kids are growing up. I can't believe Livia is 9! You raised some great kids and they are proof of the fact. I love them all to pieces! I really enjoyed bonding with them when I stayed at your house last year. I want to do it again, even if Fillmore wouldn't be as exotic as Japan. hee hee