This Week @ the Ricks' Home

Gavin has been working on counting by sevens. He was having a difficult time and getting frustrated. So, this week, I took math outside. I drew a hopscotch board using the mulitples of seven.

As we hopped we said each number, counting by sevens, both forward and backward. We had a great time and Gavin was learning without frustration.


We had some very hot days this week. Point Mallard isn't open yet or I would have SO been there! Instead, I ran to the store down the street and bought a small pool. We put it at the end of the slide on the playset and made our own waterslide. I sat on the bench swing watching them. It is directly infront of the slide, putting me in the splash zone. The little kids laughed so hard when I got splashed. Gavin and Jordan played outside until 7pm! Jordan could not wait to wake up the next morning to go outside and play again.


Wednesday I got a phone call from my mom. She totally acted like it was a huge emergency. She explained my aunt had an armoire that she was getting rid of and my mom new I wanted one for the dining room. She was already on her way to my place in her friend's truck.
This thing is huge! I had no idea how we (my mom, her too older friends, and me) were going to get it out of the truck and into my house. Luckily, just as we were trying to figure it out, our neighbor across the street brought over a dolly. We thanked him over and over.

The armoire is very fancy. It looks like we could step through it to visit Narnia. The coloring is the same as our kitchen cabinets, so I think it goes well enough. It is big and new and my brain isn't used to it yet. I think, "oh, yeah," every time I notice it. Haha.

My sweet husband took me out on a date. We ate at Five Guys, my favorite burger place!! It's the fresh jalapenos and the cajin fries that make it the best. Then, went to see Source Code. Interesting movie, but we both figured things out pretty quickly.

John was super dad as he fixed the flat tire on Gavin's bike and repositioned Jordan's training wheels and seat. They had the best time riding all over the neighborhood. Later, he played Uno with Jordan, her rules, of course. I love watching him be a daddy!

I survived my talk on Sunday with only a few mistakes. When I read it aloud to John on Saturday to time the length, I was so tongue tied. It messed with my confidence, making me even more nervous. I was nervous enough being the last speaker. It was up to me to fill any time left after the first two speakers. I was hoping the speaker before me would take extra time, but no such luck. When a member of the Bishopric leaned over and told me to only take 15 minutes and end on the hour I was a little relieved.

In my talk I referenced an article I read in the Ensign years ago. For me, it came right when I needed it most. Knowing many of my friends and family are at the stage with lots of little ones, I thought I'd share the link.
Two Toddlers Underfoot.
The last phrase has always stuck with me. "When your children are in your arms, they are no longer underfoot." I actually typed up this quote, printed it out, and hung it above my desk for years.

The whole premise of my talk was taken from this quote from Elder Bednar's talk during the BYU Women's Confrence in April.

“I believe many, if not all, of the most satisfying and memorable accomplishments in our homes, in the Church, in our jobs and professions, and in our communities will be the product of this important spiritual pattern—of simple and small things,” Elder Bednar said. “Brothers and sisters, we should find great comfort in the fact that ordinary people who faithfully, diligently, and consistently do simple things that are right before God will bring forth extraordinary results.”

In my mind, it clicked. Mothers do simple and small things like family prayer, FHE, family scripture study, taking time to hold and listen and talk to our children, and just living the gospel everyday. It just made sense. As ordinary mothers who faithfully, diligently, and consistently do simple things that are right before God, we will bring forth extraordinary results in our families.

Thanks for checking in on the Ricks family. Have a great week!