Every way the wind blows

 

Elinor had a good week. We left Katharine last week not looking quite as happy as her special sibling, but things picked up. After another 4 am wake-up call to make a 7 am flight, a first Uber experience all by herself, and a little disorientation because I had gotten the address of her destination wrong when I ordered her driver, Katharine arrived at Princeton at time for lunch.

Word spread quickly that the girl from Utah had arrived, and this group of predominantly Catholic girls began peppering her with questions. Katharine kept her cool and held her own; by the end of the week they were all fast friends, crying and hugging at the thought of never seeing each other again. Until they could all get social media.

Meanwhile, Elinor went to a viola lesson. (Lia was so impressed with Elinor's triceps muscle during her "Little Doggy Scrub-Scrub exercise she snapped a clandestine pic to send to Elinor's many admirers. Justin restrained himself from sending a selfie snap of his own iron-forged horseshoe, more because the picture couldn't do it justice than from an effort not to top his seven year old.)

Saturday evening Gwyn and Elinor were invited to jump on a shaving cream covered trampoline with the neighbor's granddaughter who was visiting. Gabriel responded to the exclusion in classic little brother style: plotting to sabotage the fun. Here he is heading out with a syringe style water gun to try to soak his sisters. Everyone returned happy.

Gwyn and Lia provided prelude for Sacrament meeting today. Gwyn's violin teacher says her bel canto (singing tone) must be a family trait since Julia had it as well. Justin and his Italian opera serenades to Collings family infants as soon as they see the light of day gets to the credit for that. It was lovely.

The heroic Elise Hahl picked Katharine up from Princeton and took her back to her mother's palatial home near Philadelphia for Katharine to lie low until her Founding Forward/Bill of Rights sponsored Debate and Leadership camp begins on Monday. After heady, philosophical discussions at Princeton followed by a weekend living like the rich and famous, we think Katharine might have to have a little detox from being feted and fawned over when she gets home. But perhaps the humidity and absence of air conditioning will do something to bring her down to earth next week. 

In news not pictorially documented, two apple trees that have sponged off the Collings homestead for more than a decade were unceremoniously ripped out by the roots on Wednesday to make way for bigger and better things. What? our millions of readers may inquire. Time will tell, and just a little time at that.

Friday Gwyn made a second attempt at a Greatest Showman viewing birthday party. Trying to be accommodating and also preserve their sanity, Lia and Justin planned an early hiking date so as to be back before sundown and even set up the entire outdoor theater circus before leaving. Wouldn't you know it: the moment they got off the mountain, the State's fasting and prayers for rain were finally answered in Utah County. They hurried home as safely as possible to find all the equipment covered ingeniously by Abdiel with blankets and a tent (he couldn't find the tarp) and Elinor, Gwyn, and Gwyn's friend Camilla sitting on the couch outside in the rain. This is what we get when we try to have fun.

Saturday we put our house in order. It was a tall task since many of the recent birthdays have requested a "day off cleaning," and our best cleaner, Katharine, has been galavanting about the country for the last many weeks. By 4 pm we called it quits and rewarded ourselves by cashing in on the BOGO Great Harvest bread sweets coupons we got at the Freedom Festival run. 

Funny things:

During Sacrament meeting Gabriel was bumped by Abdiel while drawing his picture. He flew into a rage and took a pen slash down the arm of Abdiel's light suit. There was understandably hard feelings over this and Lia hurried to sit between them. Gabriel sat sullenly not drawing anything but finally did ask to draw again during the closing song. Lia whispered that he was not allowed to draw. He cried like there was no tomorrow. He cried as everyone filed out of the chapel. He cried near a sleeping Miriam and a Justin holding her. Justin suddenly remembered he had agreed to teach Gabriel's class, but given the circumstances, sent Lia to do it. Gabriel was inconsolable and would not accompany. Justin eventually persuaded Gabriel to go to his Sunbeams class, but Gabriel was still howling. Lia quickly asked the other teacher if she could carry on the activity of asking each Sunbeam how they had received all things with thankfulness that week while she escorted the sobbing Gabriel from the room to explain to Justin what on earth was going on. Justin was shocked and horrified to hear that Gabriel had written on Abdiel's suit, but Gabriel burst out with much more vehemence than Justin had shock: "And then she told me I couldn't draw! Ever again! Which basically means she wants me to DIE!!!" and lay down in another flood of tears. The duration of the punishment was more effectively communicated, and Gabriel came to class.

Gwyn has some flexibility exercises she is supposed to do for her fingers as part of her violin practice. They're hard. The second day after her lesson, when Lia suggested she do her flexibility exercises now, Gwyn answered, "Oh, but Mommy, the flexibility exercises are much to hard on the ego-system."

Also Gwyn, on Sunday, when it was determined there would not be time for the customary Constitution class we've tried to incorporate so that our children will know better how We the People ought to govern themselves, lamented a little. Abdiel said, "That's okay. I don't really like the Constitution that much." To which Gwyn haughtily replied as she got up to leave the table, "Well what would you prefer, Sir? A monarchy?!"

Speaking of Gwyn, we forgot to record (and since she won't keep her journal, we must record here) that Justin had a Zoom meeting with Elder Gong right on Gwyn's birthday, and since Elder Gong had met Gwyn after she sang in the General Conference Children's Choir, he very graciously sang Happy Birthday to her at the end of the meeting and wished her many happy returns of the day. That kind of girl, that kind of thoughtful servant of the Lord.