Temple Thursday and kids memories with Rick

My red crepe myrtles decided to bloom!  Rick and I headed to the temple today and besides the crazy traffic, it was lovely.  We did the 3 o'clock session and not a huge turnout.  We got back and Blake's car was going off with the loud alarm and there was no one here to turn it off.  It was going like that for over an hour.  Poor neighbors.  Apparently, he had an OCD episode and thought he needed to wash his keys after work.  So that triggered the panic button and you could not turn it off with that set of keys since they were all messed up.  They now will not work to even turn on the car.  Thankfully Rick found the spare set and was able to turn it off.  Give me strength!

I liked Ellie's idea of asking for a favorite memory of Rick and I sent that in a message to Morgan.  She sent me a Marco Polo listing several of them.  A few were making an oil rig with her for her 7th grade project, making her prom dress, talking her down from her freak out in college chemistry and he helped her work through and understand the problems, teaching her to ski and ride a bike, drive a car (not always pleasant) drive a four-wheeler, coming home from Iraq and surprising her in the cafeteria, running with him when she comes home and they talk.  Helping her do research for the first time, crying at the epilogue during Les Miserable and she had never seen him cry.  "When I wrecked his car, he didn't get upset and just gave me a hug and patted my back.  It was so nice to not be yelled at because he really loved that car."

Lexi reported her favorite memories are when Rick ever had to run an errand he would always ask if anyone wanted to come.  She would go and often was the only one.  He would take the opportunity to talk and teach a life lesson.  Example his mission and sawdust.  Don't go on a mission for the wrong reasons.  It's like building a sawmill and just being there for the sawdust instead of the lumber.  He explained learning a language is cool, going to a different country, etc but that is not why you are there, that is just the sawdust.  Cool life lessons.  He would indulge her need for medical scenarios that she would then try and solve.  She looks back on those memories as learning a lot and also getting close to him.  (Lexi is a complete and utter daddy's girl and has been from day one!)

Blake's favorite memories are always involving going shooting with Rick.  He especially loves when he beats him which is quite often since he is a good shot.

Caden's are working on his pinewood derby cars with Rick.  They didn't usually win much but they sure looked cool.  Caden had a Batman car, green hornet, and transformers bumblebee.  No matter what I came up with he could make it happen.  (Blake's cars were Indian Jones, Harry Potter, and a world war I biplane) 

One of my favorite memories was when I was worried that Blake might have an allergic reaction in the night to some medicine.  He had been sent home from school for swelling and I was having a hard time relaxing during the night.  Rick got up and took his pillow and blanket and laid on the floor by Blake's bed to make sure but mainly to reassure me.