Our Last Month of Heaven

We've been spending a lot of Mondays and Sundays together as Grandma and Grandpa Smyth's mission comes to a close.  We go on walks, do dishes and laundry, run errands together, and eat a lot.  Doing anything with them is more fun:)  The kids like to torment Grandpa, but in their tamer moments they blow bubbles and arm wrestle.

Grandma even has some major muscles which Porter was surprised to find out.

After attending their farewell talks in their sacrament meeting, we headed over to check out some new children's exhibits at the visitor's center while they finished church.  One of the things you can do now is have your family picture taken in front of a picture of the temple.

 I was extremely blessed to be able to go up to the temple to do some work and take an insider's tour with my parents.  This was one of the highlights of our entire time together.  It was kind of funny to be the daughter again-they went around introducing me to all the nice old people they work with.  We did some sealings and then sat in the celestial room for a while.  Then we walked around from top to bottom looking at all the artwork (much of which is new since the extended closing last fall), seeing all the secret compartments that hold headsets and such, and talking about how all the rooms use to be individual, bright colors.  Mom also showed me around the youth center where she has spent a good deal of her mission caring for children who have come with their parents to be sealed.  I just love this generous, faithful, loving couple!!

 During our last weekend together, we headed to the children's museum.  The big boys were very hesitant about finding anything they would like to do there, but two hours later, we were having a hard time pulling them away from the play store and bank, complete with fake money.  They all had a blast!

 Dad read me a story since Leo wouldn't hold still long enough to listen.  We thought this huge chair was pretty cool aside from the  fact that it makes you look like you've gained 200 pounds.

 Then we came home and had an outside bubble dance party for FHE.

It was hard to say good-bye.  Really hard.  Knowing what it's like to have them close by has made it even sadder living across the country from them.  But enough boo-hoo-ing!  I'm grateful to have had them as long as we did and I know a few kids and grandkids in the West that are super excited to see them again, so that makes me happy.