Lilly

Lilly Evans came to stay with our family for three months. She arrived on May 4 and left us on July 30. It was an incredible three months. I had a built-in best friend. We painted nails. We watched ridiculous movies. We ate a lot of cookie dough. We laughed. We cried. And we learned a lot about each other. 




I know it was a hard three months for Lilly. 

I know she was away from her family and best friend. I know living with another family is really hard. And I know that the kids you love and think are adorable (because you only babysit them every other weekend) turn into little punks and push all of your buttons and make you swear never to get married and have children of your own. But she survived. She triumphed. I watched her grow and stretch and do things she didn't want to or expect to. She dominated public transportation. She spent five days traveling alone through Switzerland. She told me to get a grip when I needed it most. She had a busy summer. 

I'm so glad I convinced her to come. We are all better for it. We love you, Lilly. 

Things I want to remember about our past three months with Lilly: 

We called her Lilly, Lill, Lilly-bo-billy, and much more. 

Every minute of every day, our kids wanted to know where Lilly was and what she was doing. They peeked under dressing rooms at H&M, they tried to open the bathroom door when she was showering, the repeatedly walked in on her using the bathroom. They invaded her room constantly, turning on and off her fans and lights, playing with her shoes, eating all of her crackers and rolling around on her bed. They walked around the house saying, Lill! Where are you? 

I shared shotgun with her when we all drove in the car. 

We played in the backyard, kicking soccer balls, eating popsicles and splashing in our pool. 

We made and ate homemade pizza. 

She enabled me to take long, consistent runs. 

She made bedtime routines a breeze. 

She played a lot of Chutes & Ladders and a lot of games made up by Otto. 

She took care of Otto, Aksel and Ingrid so Ben and I could escape at a moment's notice to the movies, on a walk, to a friend's house, out to dinner, or run errands. 

We went to Smatch for Kinder eggs. 

She cut up nectarines for Ingrid. 

We taught her how to ride the bus. 

We provided her with her very first Big Mac!

Ingrid preferring her over Ben during Sunday School. 

Elder Brockbank. 

Going downtown to eat gromperes, walk around and show her the Luxembourg. 

Sharing the gospel with Sabina. 

A dinner and movie date with the Andrews. 

Helping me pick up and drop Otto off at school. 

Celebrating the 4th of July with a BBQ at the Howarths and then saving the day with a party of our own in the backyard. 

Sunday dinners with the missionaries. 

Our trip to Belgium. 

She fell out of the shower and then trying to pretend like it didn't happen. 

She endured three (three!!) long weekends of taking care of my munchkins so Ben and I could get away to Switzerland, Germany, and Italy. 

We went to Parc Merl to jump on the trampolines. 

We went to Castle Park. 

We went  to a BBQ at the Mullins. 

We went  to the Farm Park. 

She hid with Otto behind a closet door to surprise me. 

She helped Otto read. 

We went to Kocklescheuer, playing at the park, seeing the animals, walking in the woods, and rolling down grassy hills. 

Hanging out at the White's. 

Running in the mornings with Megan. 

Going to the Pirateship Park and then into the City Centre for gelato. 

Walking in on Ben going poop. 

Giving her a taste of Indian food. 

Going to Park Merveilleux. 

Going to Bambësch Woods. 

Going to the Airplane Park. 

Going to the butterfly gardens in Grevenmacher. 

Going swimming, swimming, and more swimming. 

Going down the waterslide a million times. 

Going to Zig Zag. 

Going to the bakery every Friday. 

Comforting Aksel when he was hurt. 

Going grocery shopping. 

Going to the Jardin de Circulation. 

Eating chocolate bars and stroopwafels. 

Eating Norwegian Waffles. 

Otto calling Lilly "Ingrid's Mom". 

Listening to Girl on Fire on repeat (per Aksel's request). 

Celebrating her 19th birthday with my kids and then taking her on a birthday date to Beef Bar, Zara and the Utopolis Movie theater. 

Otto picked out nail polish and socks; Aksel picked out underwear as gifts.

Going shopping at La Belle Etoile. 

Hugging. 

Going to Fort Thüngen. 

Crying. 

Singing to the Frozen soundtrack in the car. 

Countless hours playing at the park across the street. 

Otto loved riding on her back, playing games with her, eating her muffins, playing Rescue Bots with her, riding the bus with her, going to the park across the street with her, riding his bike with her running next to him, and getting picked up from school by her. 

Aksel loved climbing up on her to touch the ceiling, sitting on her shoulders, riding zip lines with her, eating her crackers and pretzels, watching Tangled with her and having her set up his train tracks. 

Ingrid loved eating whatever she was eating, being held by her, getting her hair done by her, slapping her face, and getting read to by Lilly. 

Everyone needs a Lilly in their life. Someone to come stay with them and make every second of their day better and happier. It was pretty magical to have someone show up from our life before Luxembourg and connect the dots between Utah and here. It was so nice to have a best friend to eat meals with, take care of kids with, jog with, and talk with. 

Best 88 days ever.