Bullet points

•look at us, we were babies! I thought we were old but nope. I was 30 and Rob 28.

•Ethan, although my favorite boy ever and he charms and delights me, is a bit spoiled. This year, 2016, I made some teach Ethan to be independent goals. The first item on the list was learn to iron his own clothes. Week one went okay. He was shocked and not too excited but cooperative. Week two found him a little less excited about the endeavor and he got called back to the ironing board twice BUT when he was passing the sacrament I noticed that he was the best pressed boy of the bunch. He told me that no one notices if you iron your clothes or not.  I told him that was only partly true, if you do iron your clothes nobody notices, if you do not everyone notices and thinks that you are slovenly.  There are many jobs like that, if you do them noone notices if you don't they notice the lack. 

• he also had to plunge a toilet, unload the dishwasher, take out the trash, and carry a bunch of stuff. Besides the toilet none of that was new stuff. The toilet about killed him.

•Grace is busy! But things are coming to an end. She is practicing many times a week for cats. The performance is at the end of the month. She's also practicing a lot for ballroom and the competition is coming up soon. Then she will be done...

• a busy Grace is a happy Grace so we need to figure out something.

• Sawyer came over today. 

• Hannah got her ca permit on Monday.

• last night 3 David's came over for dinner. They are in town from ft worth. I really enjoyed visiting with David Duke. And the other Davids.

• Ethan went running today. He has try outs for the school soccer team in a couple of weeks. He's got great feet but his stamina needs work so I am really glad he's working on it. 

• we swapped mutual nights and meet on Tuesday now. It kind of throws me off but we will adjust. 

• The last season of Downton Abbey started. I am thrilled that Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes are getting married! So sweet. I miss watching with Darlaina and Jodie.

• I went shopping with my Christmas gift card today. I got some fun stuff at Kohls so that was awesome!

Meetings and cookies and stuff

The report I got was that the vegan cookies were good. So yay! Maybe I'll bake for the vegans again. 

Hannah finished drivers training today. She received some bad news at the end of the training, it turns out that 10 days after you move into the state of California your out-of-state permit expires. She has to go to the DMV and take the written test and get a California permit and begin her six-month waiting period anew. This is a bummer for her. She will be able to get her drivers license in July, one month before her 17th birthday. I am very happy that next year she will be able to drive herself and Ethan to seminary and to school!! 

Cats is coming up soon, did I already say that Hannah quit? We were not very happy that she did although I do see where there were many challenges for her, and many disappointments with the production. Grace on the other hand has been loving it and today she got fitted for her costume!

Yesterday I went to a girls camp meeting. I am very excited for camp, it's done a little differently here than I am used to but there are many good ways to do things and I think it will be wonderful.

Grace spent the whole day at Catherine's house yesterday. She had a great time!

Today I had a APYW followed by our first stake youth committee meeting for planning trek. Again things are done differently but I think it's all good. I am looking forward to getting to know the youth in our stake and the other leaders. Everybody has been super welcoming and kind to me.

Jenna asked me yesterday if I still had her baby book.  Of course I do, the conversation prompted me to go look through it. Looking at all the cute little baby Jenna pictures prompted me to look through everyone else's baby books as well. And then I made this darling collage reminding me how cute each of them were when they were tiny. 

Now we are approaching Grace's 11th birthday, she is our caboose, and I can hardly believe where all the time has gone

Weird things

This morning when we were leaving for drivers Ed we went into the garage and opened the garage door. As we walked to the car the back hatch of the car opened (on its own) and the two doors got each other stuck. It was so surprising. 

As soon as we got that taken care of we backed out of the driveway and Hannah's hot tea (herbal) cup flew off the dash and onto her lap burning her. I said Han quick take off your pants and she did but ouch!!! Her legs were red, fortunately not blistered. She ran back in and changed and then we went. It was a most trying morning.

Grace and I ran some errands and played some games, then Catherine came over to play. 

Rob has a staff meeting tomorrow. He usually brings in treats. There is a vegan lady who doesn't get to enjoy them so tonight I made 2 batches of chocolate chip cookies and a 3rd that was vegan. 

I don't know how they taste but they look good.

Rain

Hannah started driving school. It's from 8-3:45 for four days. Then behind the wheel, then she's ready to get a license (legally). Driving with her has been challenging but she is getting much better and I think she will be ready soon. It's a real milestone, being a driver. She's getting all growed up.

Yesterday I had a presidency meeting. I like the sisters I get to work with. It's interesting how different each stake is.

Today Beth and I went out to lunch. We had a fun time talking:)

It's been raining a lot, which is awesome. I am ready for the kids to go back to school. There is a lot of time wasting going on, a lot more messy build up and more than a few squabbles. 

Disney

Last night Tori and Rob came over for dinner. He was in CA on a layover and she was down in Pasadena helping her mom move  so lucky us we got to see them. It is always so great to get together and spend the evening visiting and catching up. Rob and I both had a wonderful time and were so glad they came.

You would think it was back to school for the kids today but nope we have another week of vacation. Today the girls and I went to Disneyland.

We had a great drive down. It took a little under an hour and a half, which is a record. We got a great parking spot and the the crowds were light (in the morning).

We always have such a fun time. The great thing about going monthly is we can take our time and see lots of different things each time.

We rode all our favorite rides and loved the new upgrades to space mountain, it's now hyper space mountain with a Death Star, tie fighters, and a battle raging around you.

It was still Christmas at Disney so that was great! We looked at shops, met princesses and enjoyed the perfect weather.

Originally we planned to stay and watch fantasmic, we haven't seen it yet. But Grace and I got sore feet from the dumb rain boots we wore (no rain came btw) so we decided to save that for next time and left at 7:15.

The only bad part was the drive home. It took an extra 4 hours because the traffic was literally at a stand still on the 5. When we got home we learned about the accident/ police chase/ gun fight and apprehension of a most wanted criminal that led to our very tedious drive home.

It was a really good day, until the drive. And while driving we learned of two young men we know (not well but we knew who they were and knew their sisters) died on the road while driving back to Provo for school. 

And we thought about our dear friend/Bishop Mike who is having surgery tomorrow.

And all that lead to a lot of time to remember that we miss Maryland and how great it was to live there. And Hannah was sad.

Now we are all home, safe, and tucked in bed. I am grateful for such blessings in my life. 

Clayton

I have one son by birth but three that I claim. Today is Clayton's birthday! We sure love this guy. He is the perfect match for Jenna. He's smart and gregarious and faithful. He's got a good vision for his life and I am sure he will have a lot of successes. He is kind and funny. I think he will be an excellent dad (someday). Happy Birthday Clayton!

2016

We took down our Christmas decor!!! Idk why but I love that day each year. It feels fresh and clean. I love to put up all the Christmas and I love the cozy month, and then I love it down. I would say that's weird but I know a lot of moms who feel the same way. 

We finished our de-Christmas-ification just in time for the boys to root Ohio State to victory in the fiesta bowl.

Then we took a New Years hike.

Rob and I went on a date the included stopping at Walmart for a humidifier for Hannah. She's been having bloody noses at night for several nights. Hopefully this will help.

And so begins a New Year. I have some hopes for the year. 

1. That the children will make friends. This has been the slowest make new friends move for all of us. We have friendly acquaintances but no real friends.

2. To be a 100% visiting teacher

3. To go to the temple monthly.

4. To sub enough days to pay for Ireland.

5. To read the scriptures well each day. 

(Shouldn't still be on my list but it's so easy to miss days!)

6. To lose 50 lbs.

7. To take the family camping twice. (Or more)

8. To be a really good counselor.

9. To figure out a way for Rob and I have to have a getaway trip (see #1)

10. To go to the dentist 2x