Halloween 2017

traditional dinner in a pumpkin.  As per our tradition no one likes it very much.

I subbed yesterday and today.  Yesterday was a 5-6 combo class. Today a 3rd grade class. Both days were good.  Today was kind of fun because the whole school had a Halloween parade and everyone dressed up so it was super fun to see all the costumes!  I was super annoyed though because on the lesson plans the last hour said "Halloween party". Then there was nothing prepared.  One kid brought candy so we shared that and I ended up putting on Halloween dance music and the kids danced and talked but I thought it was really rotten of the teacher to be gone on Halloween, leave nothing and yet tell the kids there was a party.

Grace, MaKayla and Katelyn

I thought last year was our last to trick or treat but Grace really wanted to go again so we met up with the Jarvis' and walked their neighborhood.  It was fun and the 3 girls got tons of candy!

playing with filters

Me at school today during recess.  

Long drive home

Cedar City

Rachel’s cabin is nice! The view is unbelievable and it’s spacious and inviting. With 21 people here it doesn’t even feel crowded!

Our bedroom even has a fireplace in it!

The boys spent the day running around outside!

Glen lost his shoe in this muddy bog. They searched for it but no luck.

The girls went to town and shopped and enjoyed the cute little city!

The men did some sight seeing and watched football and then baseball.

Soda shop.



We went to the temple open house and it was very beautiful. Everyone loved it.




We each took a meal to prepare and everything has been amazing and yummy.

We’ve spent some time watching “stranger things” and lots of time chatting.

It’s been a great weekend!!

Trunk or treat fun!!

Temple day

Today is stake temple day. We left as soon as we got the kids off to school and enjoyed some time together at the temple.

We didn’t stay all day because this afternoon we left for Cedar City for the temple open house. The Evans have a cabin there that we are staying in.  We invited all the young women to come with us but eventually we only had 3 come who didn’t have a parent with them. Our whole presidency is going and the Laurel advisor. All together we have 20 people. I’m excited to spend the weekend together, excited to see the temple, looking forward to the beautiful scenery, and a little disappointed that so many girls bailed at the last minute. 

I drove first so now I am free to play with filters:)

twice the blessings, twice the fun! two miracles instead of one!!

Jenna and Clayton are expecting!!!

Jenna's pregnant!! I'm delighted.  I've been sitting on the good news and it's been bursting out waiting to be blurted.

Today was their first sonogram.  I was driving to meet Nellie when they facetimed.  I was super excited to hear how it was and learn the due date.  Jenna said I'm 12 weeks!! Yay!! Then Clayton showed me the picture and said here's the baby!! Yay again!!! And then Jenna lifted up another photo strip and said and here's another baby!!!  What!!  How AmAzIng!! is that!!  I had to pull over and I was shocked and thrilled and we cried happily together!  

Then I had to wait until she told all the family.  Slowly through out the day I got phone calls so we could rejoice again and again.  

We haven't had twins in the family since my grandmother had twin boys over 100 years ago.  

I wonder if it'll be boys or girls or one of each?!

I'm more an amazon prime gma than a pinterest one!

When Grace got home we went to the mall and got some gender neutral cute outfits to send off 2,335 miles to Ohio (too far!) We got two cute reindeer fuzzy suits.  Two first thanksgiving onesies.  Two cute gray sleepers, 4 white teeshirts with the cute little snaps on the front and a little lion and little giraffe!

Trunk or Treat and chili cook off!

Family

Grace and Willow, Ocean, Dandy and Sunny

I asked everyone to take a random picture of themselves and send it to me. It was fun to have them popping up through out the day.

Grace doesn't have a smart phone so I actually took hers. Her favorite thing is her animals so here she is with her flock. They are very pretty and cheerful birds.

Grace tried out for the science Olympiad yesterday.  Today she had robotics after school and choir.  Tonight she has lots of homework.

at the gym

The first picture Ethan send me was a baby photo.  Ha!
This afternoon he went to the doctor for his annual sports physical. He got cleared to play another year.  Then he and R went to the gym, then they are going to the tournament team soccer meeting.  Oh wait you might be thinking didn't soccer season just end?  Well yes.  And now school and tournament seasons are starting.

Hannah ushering for the devotional. 

Tuesdays are Hannah's longest day at school so I don't normally talk to her.  She also sent me a picture of her and Kenz studying for a science test.  Can't wait to see her in a couple of weeks!

Jenna and her baby Abe

Sierra and her Sophie.  

Dani making halloween costumes

The big girls are doing well.  It's always fun to hear from them.  

Today Melissa Bradford, a favorite writer of mine, posted on her blog about alter clothes that are crocheted and placed on alters.  I loved her imagery and ideas about them.  It made me think of how families are connected one to another by love, and the sealing power of eternity.  It made me think about how much richer and more wonderful my life is because of the people in it.  My children & husband being on the top of the list, but also other family and friends.  It's a blessing to walk through mortality together.

4th grade and more 1st world problems

Today was a really fun day. I had a cute 4th grade class to teach. They were really good and the day went quickly. We made these super fun Frankensteins at the end of the day. 

I went to the gym after work and after getting the kids home and settled. It's been a weird journey. Some days at the gym go really well. I feel strong and actually kind of enjoy it. Other days I don't and am tired and things hurt. Today was one of the latter. I just kept going but it was torture. 

Grace was "teaching Z tricks". Mostly she was just feeding her cheese but I think both of them are pretty cute so that's fine.

I am very surprised that Hannah doesn't post more pictures. Thank goodness for Kenz! Idaho is cold already. Both girls are getting excellent grades. Hannah thinks she "needs" a car. I think she wants one and I am sure eventually she'll get one but in the meantime I am satisfied that she is fine.

Little known fact: Rob and I only had one car to share for almost 2 years when we first got married. We did fine...admittedly it was awesome to get a second but it was okay. 

Speaking of cars R traded the jeep today. We were looking to maybe sell it but he was open to trading too. So now we have s Subaru, which is kind of funny because Clayton just bought a Subaru a week or two ago.  

It'll be a good car for the kids to drive and it's blue book is actually quite a hit higher than the jeep so that is great.

Sunday

Driving to ward council this morning I noticed that the bison that have lived in the pasture not too far from the church as long as we have lived here were gone. Sad. I loved seeing them each week. They had babies that were really cute. I knew they were leaving, it was in the paper, but still I'll miss them.

Church was good. Lisa asked me to come to her Sunday school class and talk about a teacher who showed me love and how I show love to my students. I shared about my favorite leader, my Mia Maid advisor Kelly Larsen. Then I talked about how it's easy to love the youth I serve. They are funny and smart and great to be around. That's the easy part. The hard part, and it's this part that really shows a teacher's love, is talking to them about mistakes in their lives. Teaching them to follow the Savior. Saying the stuff that no one wants to hear but that makes all the difference. That's where the real love comes in.  

I FaceTimed with Clayna. Jenna made home made pasta for the first time yesterday. She got a new pasta attachment from

Nana, as well as some other awesome kitchen things last week and she is very excited about it. I sure do miss the Ohio contingent of the family. All of them. Sometimes our country is too big!
Chelsea posted this picture in her email this week. It hangs in the new MTC and I think it is beautiful. It just really spoke to me. This is Martha, who worried much. I love her and totally get her servants heart. The lesson here is choosing the better part. It's hard to chose between multiple good things, to know what is the best thing. I am grateful for our loving Savior who forgives and invites over and over. 

And in conclusion: this first world problem. Grace needs a new chrome book. She has had hers for a couple years and they just don't last that long. As she was trying to convince me of this "need" she said several of her keys don't work any more, including the space bar. So when she writes she has to cut and paste a space in between each word. That really does sound awful. After I finished laughing as her I agreed she needed something different. Luckily we had something available for her to use. 

And that was the weekend.

Temple day

First off I ❤️ this picture! So fallish! 

Saturday was a busy one. Rob had some ham radio thing to do this morning. Grace and I both had lab work to get. Unfortunately her phlebotomist was not very good:( After 3 tries in 2 different arms she gave up and called someone else. I got the someone else after Lu. 

Then we went grocery shopping. 

When everyone got home we did some cleaning up.

Rob and I went to the temple. It was a nice day there. Long because he serves there one shift a month. He likes me to come with him, which I also like but it's too long then. 

After we stopped for Chinese, which was yummy. 

Snow

Not here but in Idaho. Dani and the girls took a "girls trip" to visit Hannah. So fun! Jordyn is also there with Ryan and Spencer so it's a fun cousin fest! The boys aren't staying with Han and Kenz but all the girls are:)

They went to the "Oktuber" fest and had a taterly fun time! 
Meanwhile Ethan spent his Friday night volunteering at a school carnival. One of the ladies in our ward asked for youth volunteers. Ethan went. Preston went. Idk who else. They are good boys!

I subbed 6th grade. It was a good day. This particular school does a dance party first thing every Friday morning and that was an energetic and exciting way to start the day. The kids loved it. 

Grace had another doctor appt today. Her joints always hurt. He is sending her to both an orthopedist and a rheumatologist. Hopefully we will find out what's going on with her. Poor Lu:(