I love taking a photo every year on Mother's Day.  It has been incredible to see the growth in these babies.  They are finally starting to get useful and can actually do some chores.  My goal is to have them completely running the whole house in 10 years and I can spend my day reading books and taking naps. 

My first chocolate cake from scratch.  Not the last.

Celebrating with some of my favorite mamas.

 Daisy was the student of week and she put together this poster.  She wanted to add 5 more pictures of Ike making weird faces but I told her she could only use photos that she was in. 

NERD!

We enjoyed the Rhododendron garden at Hendricks Park for FHE.  We are really trying to absorb the joy of all our favorite spots in Eugene.  It was a gorgeous night.

 Brandon casually mentioned that he would be giving a speech at the Romance Language banquet.  I figured that I would go for the free food.  When we got there I had no idea how incredible his talk would be.  He had his advisors in tears.  I was so proud and inspired by all he had to say.  One thing that stuck out to me was something like this: In a world that believes that the loudest voice wins the argument it is even more important that we stop and take the time to listen and recognize the value of listening.  He talked about the truth that the more we learn the more we are humbled to realize how much we have yet to learn. 
I hang out with this guy every single day but I was impressed.  He has clearly made the jump from belonging with the students to belonging with the professionals.
Ike was also clearly impressed.

 I thought that after all those days without kids I would be all recharged to be an awesome mom.  It worked the opposite.  They came in like a freight train.  They were exhausted, filled with candy and emotional from having to say goodbye to all their grandparents.  They had a great time on their trip and Brandon had spent a week caring for them as well as driving back and forth from Utah.
I thought I had accomplished a pretty tough feat in running that race, but when I saw Brandon I realized that he had run his own marathon.
I don't have any of the photos but I know they spent the wedding dancing their hearts out.  They went to the Treehouse Museum and Rocky had 3 birthday cakes.  They even went to the Union Station to see the trains, and look for ghosts in true Howard fashion.  Since they came home every day Ike asks when he can go back.

 We have been enjoying the weather and the kids love to climb, jump, run, and swing on anything they can find.

 Some people complain about doing yard work but the day we borrowed a lawn mower to take care of our own place was a triumph in Rigby history.

 Ike couldn't get enough.

We saw some cute friends in Oz Jr.

Snuggle Babies

Walk and Bike to School Day

Brandon's Barber Shop

This was just moments before the beard was gone.  Several people asked if Brandon shaved as a Mother's Day gift.  I'm not sure if it was but I wasn't going to complain.  He looks great with his beard but it is always fun to see his face after months of hair.

 I couldn't help but laugh at this motley group out weeding.  Ike was wearing a Batman suit with pink boots and Rosy looked lovely in her hat and dress.

Birthday Party!!