Sunday

We had stake conference today. It was really good. President Crawley spoke and then we had a broadcast from Salt Lake. I really enjoyed the talks and seeing friends from the stake. 

Tonight we shared dinner with the missionaries. The kids worked on homework. 

It was a quiet day, and a nice day. 

Hannah and Sawyer went to Midway to the ice castles. Laynah is a very good instagrammer and it was fun to see their adventures.

Clayton is sick. He sent me this picture tonight. It said “Jenna won’t let us in the bed”. Poor boys. 

I don’t blame her though, neither does Clayton. She can’t get sick.

 It reminded me of the beginning of throwup fest 2002. We were in Ohio for Christmas and Rob got so sick. It was awful. Ethan was 6 months old and slept with us and I eventually took him and we went to sleep in the cave. Nana was left to take care of R. I really didn’t want that little baby to get sick. 

He didn’t but the rest of us did. That was our worst illness. Everyone puking, everyone with diarrhea. Sierra fainted going to the bathroom. When it was my turn I couldn’t even move. R brought E to me and helped us nurse, then he’d take him away until he was hungry again. It was a nightmare, but I digress. Luckily Clayton doesn’t seem that bad off.

Yesterday was another soccer game and we won!! Finally. We’ve had a few losses or ties in a row so it was great to win one. Also the 2nd half was a nail biter. Our team scored one in the first half. After half time AV scored on a PK. Then it was neck to neck. The boys played well but we weren’t sure what would happen. Eventually we go a PK but Jordan missed...and there were only 3 minutes left in the game. We were dying! Finally at literally the last minute Angel sank one in from the middle of the field! It was so exciting!! Ethan played well and almost had a goal himself. It’s been a very fun season. I’ll be sad to see it end.

After the game we went to the Crawley’s. First we met with the wedding decorator and went over stuff with her. I am excited about how the planning is going. I think it’s going to be very beautiful and that it’ll be just what Sawyer and Hannah want. 

After we went out to dinner and had a good visit. Tami and I have had lots of lunches together but this was my first casual social time with Brian. We all had a good time, we had lots to talk about and dinner was good.

After that we all went to another ward members home where we met with 2 other couples and did some service. We were there until almost midnight and had a great time working together and talking together. Having a friend to share your burden is such a blessing. I am grateful for brothers and sisters in the gospel. 

Today we slept in a little, then did some cleaning, and some shopping. When we were done I went to a baby shower for Kayla Sweeney. It was really nice. She got some darling gifts and it was very fun to visit with friends .

Years ago I babysat a little girl named Rachel. We watched her for about 3 years and the little girls were good friends. She and her mom were at the shower and it was super fun to see them! 

Linda told me her husband was now a trans woman. Surprise. 

They are still happily married and she said things are going well for them. So that’s that I guess. I didn’t see that coming and was kind of at a loss for words, but certainly I wish the best for them.  Rachel is all grown up and married and it was nice to give her a big hug and see her. She was little when we last saw each other but she remembered us well.

Tonight we went to the dog haus for dinner and to Target. Now it’s Star Trek and later bedtime:)

marches on

another sunny soccer game

the days fly by.  I work most days.  Rob works everyday.  Kids go to school.  We wake up early, makes lunches and do laundry.  After school there is soccer practice and VEX and errands to run.

Tuesday nights we have choir and mutual.  The routine of our lives marks the time and I am grateful for so many good and worthwhile things to do.

This week we also had an awards ceremony one evening.  Grace is on the principals honor roll, which means a 4.0.  She is always on it but this time wanted to go to the ceremony and get the certificate.  These two kids (Ethan and Grace) are diligent students and always score high marks. They have been blessed with keen intellects and they work hard.  That's a good combination.  

most disagreeable picture taker

Yesterday Tami and I got together and did wedding stuff.  They have a beautiful backyard and I think the reception is going to be really pretty. We had a good visit.  Not only do I like Sawyer a lot I also like his family.

I finally got a new counselor.  Lynlee.  She is Dani's age and has two cute little kids.  She's never served in YW but is excited.  We met yesterday and got to know each other a little and had an orientation meeting.  I think she's going to be great.

someone should straighten up their stuff

The evenings have a rhythm too.  One that is more hygge.  We often end the day snuggled up in our big bed, animals and Grace. Ethan sometimes on the big gray chair.  We read scriptures together and pray.  Grace tells us about the animals she wants. We have shows we watch or sometimes we read.  Last night we facetimed with Hannah, and Sawyer with some of Hannah's roommates popping in and out of the screen or calling out from another part of the room.  

I often spend my days feeing grateful and blessed.

most nights

some nights

Sunday

I had the spiritual thought in ward council this morning. On lds.org there is a new window you can click on that takes you to all of President Nelson’s conference talks since he was called as an apostle. I browsed the titles and picked one that captured my interest. It was very good. At the end of the talk he shared a favorite verse of Camilla Kimball’s. It really touched me and now it’s a favorite of mine as well. So that was what I shared. If we build our foundation on Christ it doesn’t matter what life throws at you, or what problems you face you can withstand it with Christ.

Saw this cute picture of Hannah and Kenz this morning. They are such cute girls, I’m glad they’ve been roommates!

Today Hannah got her temple recommend! She’s going to get her own endowment next month at the Provo City Center Temple. I’m so proud of her and looking forward to all the wonderful things coming up:)


A little chess game after dinner.

“Thirteen”

Grace’s Birthday is today!!! Our last baby is now a teenager! What?! So it’s exciting and unbelievable at the same time. 13 years went fast! Grace is spunky and headstrong and opinionated. She is very very smart. We think she might have a photographic memory. She is very musical and great at math. She loves animals and to be silly. She loves technology, is an awesome swimmer, but hates to hike or play sports. She makes a lot of slime, sings in the choir, is on the robotics team and the science Olympiad team and student council and in honors band. Grace has a weekly babysitting job and is quite responsible. She likes to play games, do puzzles and watch Netflix. We love our little caboose and are so grateful she is in our family.
Last month Grace really really really wanted/needed/longed for a kitten. She missed Steve soooooo much and her life was incomplete. She didn’t want a birthday present or party or anything if she could just get a Christmas kitten while she was going to be home for 3 weeks to “train” it. So we got Matilda. 

This morning we surprised her with a birthday bag. It was filled with little gifts. A couple new tee shirts, some Swedish fish, some hand sanitizers and a cute pair of ear rings. She also got to invite some friends over to hang out. Not a party but something fun to make the day special. We went to michaels and she chose some slime supplies, then we went to coldstone and got an ice cream cake. 

In the afternoon Truc-mai, Rylynn and Aubrey came over. 

The girls played with the birds, played games and I heard a lot of laughing so I think it was a nice day for her. 

The rest of the week

72 degrees

Wednesday soccer: warm and sunny. Sister Alius, Ethan’s seminary teacher, came to watch. We had a nice time visiting together and watching the boys.

45 and raining

On Friday we watched in the rain and wind and it was cold out.  The boys didn't have a great week.  Game one was a tie, game two a loss. Lest you think we are light weights, sometimes 45 degrees out is quite nice.  Sweatshirt weather but fine.  When the wind is howling and the rain is falling it's a different story.

Ivan

In other weekly happenings on Thursday I subbed Dan's class and he left fun stuff for us to do.  We made circuits with light bulbs and switches and the kids had to build different kinds.  Then we got to play with a vandegraaff generator.  Super fun.

Yesterday I subbed for seminary and then for 4th grade.  I also subbed on Tuesday, PE.

We had a nice activity on Tuesday night for YW.  We watched the press conference from our new prophet and the girls wrote down their inspirations and feelings.  Then we made stuff for the Valentines dance for the ward that we are in charge of planning.

Here's a little story about how much Ethan likes soccer.  Every day they have practice for 2 hours.  Tuesday he came home from practice and Bro Pincock called him and asked him to bring a soccer ball to church.  The boys also watched the press conference and then they played an hour and a half of soccer.  Ethan said it was the best activity in a long time and he was delighted to play.

Rob's been sick this week.  He seems on the mend now.

Tilly

Keep on the covenant path

President Thomas S Monson passed away last week. He was very old and frail so it was no surprise. He was beloved to all the members of the church so we are sad to lose him.

Today the church announced the new first presidency. The new prophet is Russell M Nelson. Dallin Oakes and Henry B Eyring are his counselors. I was surprised that Elder Uchtdorf was not in the first presidency any more. He is greatly loved by all. However the Lord has a plan and I have full confidence in Him. I am sure Elder Uchtdorf is delighted to serve where ever and how ever he is needed. 

What a wonderful blessing we have to be led by the hand of the Lord. How grateful I am for a living prophet. I am anxious to stay on the covenant path. 

Yesterday I got back Ethan’s quilt. I have saved his shirts since he was 3 and on his first soccer team. Mom and I sewed them together. I didn’t want to tie it though. I really wanted to have it quilted so I took it to Nikki and she did a beautiful job.

I gave it to Ethan and he really liked it. I was so excited that he thought it was neat. He even instagrammed it.❤️

Yesterday we didn’t have school. Grace had a friend over. She also worked with her birds. Ethan had soccer practice. Sierra went home. She had a long visit and I really enjoyed having her here. I was quite sad that she had to leave.

We’ve been making some wedding progress. We ordered the girl’s bridesmaid dresses yesterday. I am gathering addresses for invites. I’m looking forward to the big day!

Grace’s dress below. I think it’s so pretty.

Jenna had a sonogram yesterday. I thought this was the funniest picture with baby A kicking baby B’s face. I am very excited for the little girls arrival! I did feel bad though because I put it on fb thinking the whole world already knew and then J said she had it announced it there yet.

Last night we had Joe (a new convert) join us for dinner and FHE. It was a pretty nice evening. 

Today I am subbing PE and tonight is mutual. Also tonight choir starts back up. Lots of good stuff:)

88 degrees

We had plans to go to San Deigo today to meet Arrow. When Sierra ended up having surgery yesterday I figured we’d put them off but when I got up this morning she was showered and ready to go. 

Sitting in a car and healing isn’t much harder than sitting on the couch so we kept our plans. 

Is this the most adorable boy or what? Photo from Sierra’s instagram. He is the sweetest little guy!

Anna looks great and said she felt good. Mom and Dad are there helping so we got a bonus visit with them too. 

We sat around and admired the littlest boy. I also played killer bunnies with Joneaux:) We has lunch together and time to chat.

Grandma and her 21st grandchild:). So cute!

We had a smooth drive down and back. A fun visit there and found all was well when we returned home. 

And it was warm and sunny!

Ovaries

Sierra and I drove down to Oxnard today for her appointment. We had planned to drive down, find a place to have lunch, eat, and then go to the doctor. As we got closer and closer to the office we realized we were just a couple miles from the ocean. Without any hesitation we drove right by all the restaurants and headed to the beach. 

We spent a lovely half hour enjoying the sunshine and the not even that cold water. It was a very frolicking fun time. Then we went to the appointment.

It turned out to be very fortunate that we did that because the doctor said Sierra needed surgery. Today. 

Her ovary was twisted and had the huge cyst. If it didn’t come out immediately it would kill the ovary...and possibly the whole uterus.


So we walked across the hall to the hospital and she just got finished. The doctor came out and said everything went well. 

After recovery time we will go home. And she will have to change her flight (again).

Poor Si.

Brrrr

We went to Ethan’s soccer game this afternoon. It got colder and colder as we watched. JV tied.  E played well. Then he stayed to 

shag balls for Varsity which also tied in a very exciting last minute evening up of the score. 

Now we are home defrosting.

Last day

Just kidding. We thought yesterday would be Sierra’s last day here. We invited Grandma Joyce over for dinner and watched a movie after the house had quieted down.  It was a nice Sunday.

Today I was to drive her to the airport but she felt sick in the night and it got worse throughout the day. By the time we should be going to the airport we were instead planning a trip to the ER. The worlds slowest ER. 

8 hours later we are still waiting. Luckily she got some pain meds and is feeling much better, not good but not dying. She has another cyst. 😥 What ever ends up happening with that will be especially unpleasant since she is no longer on our insurance and doesn’t have her own. So super sad and bummer day. 

I am very grateful for prayers and priesthood blessings and opioids so that at least she’s not writhing in pain while we wait.

Rob went home to the kids but first he brought us dinner to eat while we wait with every other flu infected person in the valley.

Update: made it home a little after 3, pain meds in hand and an appointment with the gynecologist set up for the morning.

Arrow Rhet

Weekending

While many of our friends and family are enduring sub 0 weather, here in So Cal we are having to wear sweatshirts with our shorts as it’s a chilly 70 degrees. LOL

Our last couple of days have been spent in game playing. Movie watching. (Sports movies have been the theme of the day with Rudy and Glory Road playing in our own living room) House cleaning. Science Olympiad prep. It’s been nice.

The new animals are settling in. Tilly has decided she is boss. Poor Z is just a minion to be put in her place.

Grace bought Ivan a fancy habitat and he is doing well.


Sierra and I went out for pedis this morning. Z also went to the spa. 

While we were out we learned that Anna had her baby! He came a few weeks early and is perfect and handsome!

Name TBD

Around here

Nightly scripture reading. We are finishing Luke and then going back to the BOM.

It’s a good time of day. Sometimes with discussion, some times with hurried or reluctant participants. 

Always with someone snuggled up with me:)

Soccer practice every day. Ethan is finally well and he is happy to be back at it. 

This picture is a xonehead flashback! Indoor wall ball was a lot of fun!

This is even a farther back flashback to soccer practice in our yard! He was a lot smaller but loved it even then!

This morning we went bowling. The winner got to choose where we went to lunch. No surprises but Ethan won. Big surprise I was only 6 points behind him and Sierra was way in the rear! We had fun though and did a lot of laughing:)

Yesterday we went to the movies and saw “Coco”. I loved it, it was a super sweet movie.

Last night we had a good bye party for the Sherwood’s at our home.  We had a lot of youth over and everyone brought treats. A movie was watched, kids talked, games were played. I sure am going to miss them. Audrey has been a wonderful counselor and friend. Paige is one of my favorite laurels. Brynn and Grace are great friends. 

It’s sad all around. I hope their new adventure is wonderful.

These two left for Idaho yesterday. Miss them already.