Busy

It’s actually quiet in the classroom right now...for the first time in over a week. A teacher had to have her appendix out and I am in her class every day until she’s back. We are anticipating that will be the 3rd week of  February. It’s a 5th grade class that is kind of awful. They are noisy and low and it’s been hard and I can’t wait to be done. 

Right now though, this minute, while I sit exactly next to Steven and remind him every 8 seconds to get to work, and while I field questions from the rest of the class and read the notes that are slipped to me saying “Billy moved seats” or “Felicia is holding a pen” I have a minute of quite and time to catch up.

Plus also I have been sick, just the stuffy nose & cough & cold but the combo is no bueno.

For mutual this week we learned about being the Saviors hands by serving others and turning our face towards him by following his commandments and reading and praying and being like him. Then we gave each other facials and manicures and ate chocolate. These girls are a bright spot. We are dwindling in numbers though, so I worry about the girls we don’t see very often, and worry about the ones that come (are we meeting their needs) and praying for move ins! 

We are nearing the end of this soccer season. We won yesterday and we continue to enjoy the games. It’s been great. 


Other than that we have wedding planning going on, I think I found a dress I like. We have a robotics competition this weekend, we clean the house (always always) and count down to twins and wedding and summer and Hannah’s endowment, and spring break, and Ethan’s court of honor, and warm weather. We are blessed with lots of great things to look forward to and lots of good things to be busy with right now.

Also we’ve been enjoying nature. Yesterday Grace and I stopped on the road and watched this beautiful hawk. Eventually he flew off but we got pretty close. And yesterday was also the super blood blue moon. It looked really neat. Orangey from the eclipse and kind of biggish.

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