End of February

I’ve been subbing seminary. Ethan’s class. It’s really fun and I love that it forces me to spend a couple hours a day in the scriptures. It’s early though and that’s hard. I get up at 4:45, which no one loves. When I feel tired I remind myself that it’s a privilege to be healthy and strong enough to serve. I am sure Cheryl would much rather be getting up each morning and teaching than going to chemo and being sick. 

Rob also sacrifices when I get asked to sub. He is a lighter sleeper than I am so I’m sure he hears me getting ready. Also on the days I sub, which is every day lately, he has to get Lu up and out the door. He’s been a trooper. 

One silver lining to working a lot (for $ outside the home) is he has been so helpful at home. There is nothing more attractive than a man doing dishes or vacuuming:)

We had our new beginnings last night and it went well. Grace gave a little talk, as well as several other girls. It was simple but sweet and I think our incoming girls felt excitement and welcomed. 

I’m doing a week long sub job in a 5th grade class this week. They are good so it’s been a pretty nice week so far. Today was awesome because we had PE, library and computer lab!

Homeward bound

After a long drive  home and a visit that was too short we made it home.

The kids both had good weekends with their friends and were safe and well taken care of.

Rob and I had a pleasant drive, just long. We read to each other, listened to music, napped (me), drank 5 hr energy (both of us), stopped to walk the dog and had lots of time to talk.

Last trip pic. We were enjoying Sierra’s trip pictures and stories.

Provo City Center

Hannah went to the temple today. It was a wonderful experience. When you raise a child you hope one day that this will happens. That they will grow up to love the Lord and want to covenant with Him and serve him. Hannah does. She is a wonderful young woman who always strives to do what’s right. It was so special for me to sit by her side and be with her today in the house of the Lord.


We had many family members come and our like-family friends the Blacks.  I hope Hannah always knows how many people love her and always remembers this special day.

Three Years Old!

This boy turned 3 last week and today we had a party!! 

We went to nicklemania and played games!

Then came home for pizza and cake and presents!

Awful picture of me but a very fun party!

Girls day

I’m going to skip the stressful parts:

Like slippery roads, and having to get four new tires😩

And just talk about the great stuff!

We went to SLC to get Hannah’s dress. She tried it in and was so beautiful!

We also had a super fun baby shower for Jenna and the baby girls!!

We had yummy food!

The cutest guests:)

And got beautiful gifts. 

It was so fun to see some many friends and loved ones!

Also: I got to be the mystery reader at Tatum’s class, which was super exciting. She was surprised:)

Dino Expo

We had lots of girl stuff to do on Friday but we were not the only ones who had fun. Grandpa, Greg and Marshall went to the Dino Expo. The report was it was awesome! From Moe.

It was awesome and overpriced. From Rob:) 

After they met Ryan and Spencer for burgers. They also shoveled a lot of snow.

Road Trip

Tuesday the Mia Maids and Laurels met at the Mintey’s for “adulting”. Each month we are learning a different skill to prepare the girls for life. This month was car maintenance. Pat did a great job teaching us. He was very patient. When we were done Karen had hot chocolate and cookies waiting for us. We had a fun night. 

I taught school that day. Only day this week. Monday was presidents day, Tuesday I worked. Wednesday is flex day for Ethan so I almost never work Wednesday’s. Today we are driving to Utah. I did get to teach seminary though so I was still busy. I also get to teach next week. 

Yesterday Ethan texted me “do you remember that place we used to go with the plastic food?”

Then we reminisced fondly about the Ft Worth museum of science and history. We used to go every week and play while Hannah was at museum school. It was awesome, we both loved it. Living in Texas was a very sweet chapter in our lives. We had 3 babies born there, 2 girls graduate from high school, made lots of friends, and had lots of great experiences. We loved Fort Worth and all the family friendly things to do there. 

Now we are headed up to Utah. Hannah’s going to the temple on Saturday. Jenna is flying in and we are having a baby shower. Anna came so we will get to see her. It’s going to be great!

We sure have a lot of stuff for 2 people and one small dog. Ethan has an AP Calc test on Saturday so he couldn’t come, he’s staying at the Harvey’s. Grace didn’t want to drive for a quick weekend so since Ethan was staying we let her stay also. She’s at Rylin’s and Aubrey’s.

In our defense we have winter stuff, Temple bags, fishing stuff, shower games and gift, birthday gift for Marshall, dog stuff and extra pillows and a blanket. 

Long weekend

This past weekend Dani threw a bachelorette party for Hannah. Hannah and Kenz, Emma, and Sawyer drove down to Utah.

The girls, Dani, and also two of H’s new sisters in law were the party. They did Aerial aerobics, played some fun games and had a great time. Hannah thought it was really fun. Dani is an awesome party planner!

Luckily Kenz and Laynah instagrammed it:)

Today is presidents day so we didn’t have school. Ethan went to the park with Matthew and Hank Jan and the 3 boys played soccer. 

Grace and I did some shopping.

In the evening we went to the movies to see “Black Panther”. I really liked it, so did E. R did not. 

the big day is here: science olympiad edition

Yesterday the hover craft was still having issues.  Rob and Grace stayed up until 1am working on it.  I went to bed.  I am not a stay up forever the night before something is due kind of person.  Sleep is important to me and I plan my time accordingly.  Grace "plans" differently than I do and her dad was nice enough to offer a helping hand.  (He is a night owl so that helps)

This morning we got up early (6am) for a Saturday and headed out for the competition.  It was a much bigger deal than I realized.  There were tons of teams there and the whole campus looked like a camp ground with easy ups, snacks, camp chairs, blankets, frisbees and what not everywhere.  There were also tons of kids headed this way and that to their various events.  For the most part the adults couldn't really watch so we sat and heard reports and waited. It was a fun...and kind of a long day at the same time.


The hover craft didn't work.  After the event she changed the fan and then it did work so that stunk...big time.


Now we are home for about an hour putting away stuff.  We'll head back for awards and learn how we did soon.

Update: the team did really well. They placed 4th out of 26 teams and are going on to state!

Bullets

• The birds have been “rehearsing”. 
• Grace has stuff after school every day and projects all over the house.
• I am proud of her hard work.
•  Valentine’s Day was the week. 
• Rob brought me beautiful roses.
• Ethan was sick several days this week. Sadly it is my week to drive to seminary so I still got to get up early.

• Sierra is coming home from Korea tomorrow. She’s had a great time.
• Jenna and the twins continue to do well.
• We had a stake youth activity this week so I didn’t have to plan anything.
• Worked.
• It’s cold outside.
• Pool heater got fixed! Yay!
• Another shooting, this time in FL. It was really awful. 
• Bad stuff happens all the time. You can’t even be shocked but you still are so sad.
• Ethan went to watch his school play the first CIF game, we won so there will be more:)
• Went out to dinner tonight, the lady across from us was dressed so horribly, there are no words and it was so distracting to me. Street women wear more modest clothes.
• Tomorrow is the science Olympiad and the hover craft is down. It’s been two stressful days for Grace trying to fix it. I don’t know what will happen.

Weekend and Monday - because time goes too fast

We had a good weekend. We did a lot of cleaning up, which was very needed. The kids don’t love it but I do. We have had a bathroom issue for ever. “No one” makes a mess in the bathroom and everyone blames someone else but the messes keep appearing so this weekend we divided the kids. They each have their own that they must use and can not use the other. They also are responsible for keeping their own bathroom shiny and spotless. 

Grace has a lot of projects in the works. One thing she was assigned was to do a project involving something she saw at Shakespeareance. They could write a paper, perform a monologue or skit, draw a picture. Whatever they wanted. Grace built a set for Romeo and Juliette and is having her birds do a scene (with human voices of course). She filming it, making a movie poster and bringing in the set and popcorn. I’m pretty sure she’ll get an A

This next weekend is the science Olympiad. This is hover craft design model A. The new one is faster and lighter. We perpetually have projects all around the house. Which is good I guess.

Hannah and Kenz going to church. So cute! I will never stop being grateful for the technology that lets us keep in touch across the miles.

Clayna are getting ready for the girls arrival. Here is the daddy to be modeling their new stroller.

Sierra is having a lot of fun in Korea. It’s very fun to see her adventures. It looks very beautiful there.

Today is Marshall’s 3rd Birthday! We are having a party next weekend when we are in Utah. What a big, smart, cute,  boy! He is very excited to be 3❤️

I worked at the middle school today. We had Joe and April over for dinner and FHE again tonight and that was pretty fun. 

The weather has taken a turn back to cold winter.