Fun and Games!

It's been a fun week here!  Monday was the usual school day for the kids and laundry day for me. 

Tuesday was a normal school day again - Lori was going to come over, but she had forgotten a scheduling conflict so I just had to wait until Friday....  In the evening, we had the sister missionaries over for dinner.  One of the sisters grew up in San Jose too and even graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School like I did.  She had been in Alum Rock ward for awhile and knew people that I grew up with.  It was kinda crazy! 

Wednesday I met up with the sister over cub scouts in the stake and she helped me to figure out what I need to be doing and starting to get stuff figured out for cub scouts.  In the evening, Aaron had cub scouts, but Eileen didn't have YW since they had cancelled for spring break. 

Thursday was the kids last full day of school before spring break - they were excited!  In the evening, I let Anna come with me to the weekly volleyball at the church - even though it was late - because she had just a half day the next day.  She did such a good job and we both had a great time! 

Friday, the kids were done with school after lunch, so after school, we headed home to get things ready for dinner - I hit the grocery store with Anna and Evie and David, then we got the chicken salad ready and the house cleaned up!  The Tolberts came with Jaqui Robinson - the kids had a blast playing together and the Adults had a great time playing Ticked to Ride.  It is so fun having them close again!!! 

Saturday was busy.  Dan and Anna have both been spending a lot of time running together - they go on a run together most days.  Dan spent a lot of time cleaning out the garage and getting it ready for the van!  The sister missionaries came over to help us build book shelves - they were awesome - but were a bit overwhelmed, having never done anything like that before!  The weather was beautiful and the kids all wanted to go jump on the trampoline in the sprinklers and had a great time.  Anna wasn't there - she went with Dan to get some good running shoes. 

Sunday was wonderful - the Daylight Savings time change threw David for a bit of a loop as far as sleeping - but otherwise he did a good job.  Church was great and the lessons were wonderful!  We had been going to the Hendrickson's for dinner - but they came down with a stomach bug and had to cancel. :(  We still had a yummy dinner and a nice chat with Grandma and Grandpa Jones.  Then Eileen and Anna and Aaron and Dan played Killer Bunnies.  Now for a week of Spring Break!  

San Diego and Texas

This week was a bit busy - Dan left really early Monday morning to go to San Diego with Sandi and Jon for a conference.  We kept their dog Griz here with us while they were away.  Other than that Monday was the usual school and laundry and such.  David slept really well, but since I was folding laundry and helping a sick Evie, I didn't get to enjoy much of it. 

Wednesday was a normal-ish day, until I tried a shortcut to getting to the middle school and got stuck in the mud....  Thankfully a kind person stopped to help - but I felt like a total idiot...  Thankfully the girls had cell phones and so I was able to communicate with them to let them know why I wasn't there to pick them up when they got out.  And to add injury to insult - I was stuck in mud right next to a fire ant nest and ended up with ant stings all over me....   After, we headed to the ward February Feast for pizza and celebration.  The kids mostly had a fun time and we got to enjoy getting to know people in the ward a bit better. 

Dan was supposed to get in Wednesday evening, but weather delays forced their plane down to Austin, so they didn't get in until 3 AM - so between lack of sleep and our both having a bit of a cold, we were a bit tired the next day. 

Friday, I met Dan for lunch, and we had a nice time together, but on the way home I realized I'd forgotten a meeting with a gal from church about cub scouts...  But I remembered to pick up the pinewood derby cars!  :)  In the evening, we got together with a couple from our ward for dinner and dessert and games after.  It was a really fun evening! 

Saturday, Dan and Anna went early to run a 5K together down in Allen.  They had a great time together.  She got 9th in her age group and Dan got 12th. 

After, David was supposed to be napping, but wouldn't sleep so Dan tried taking him for a walk - He and Evie and James went on a walk and had a fun time together.  Weather was perfect for being outside! 

Sunday was wonderful!  In the morning, Anna was reading scriptures to David.  The kids decided to fast for Grandma Penny.  It was really sweet and they did a great job fasting!  Aaron and Anna even fasted for both meals!  Church was wonderful and we had a nice evening together.  

Happy Together!

We've been busy this week

Monday the kids were off school - we had a fun day hanging out together at home.  I had an insane day trying to get everything ready for the blue and gold. 

Tuesday was the big night.  The blue and gold.  I think everything went pretty well since it was my first attempt at being a cubmaster.  But everyone seemed to have fun and we had a great turn out even though it was pouring rain down the whole night!  Things seemed to work out well and everyone seemed to have a good time. 

Wednesday, Eileen had her young women's night and had a good time, but otherwise, Wednesday was normal. 

Thursday, I went visiting teaching.  I got to visit both sisters.  It was fun getting to know them both a bit better.  Missy couldn't go last minute, so I went anyway and had a nice time! 

Friday was our Ward Temple Night - we went and did a session - Eileen watched the kids and my mom came up to help out with David for a bit.  After, we went for ice cream with some of the others from the ward - it was so nice!  Eileen did a great job! 

Saturday was a normal busy day full of cleaning and playing.  Dan did his home teaching in the evening and we all had a good time together! 

Sunday before church - we finally got to start with ward choir!  I'm so happy - I've missed singing!  In the evening, Sandi came up - Jon had gone down to San Diego early, so Sandi came up and stayed the night here so she could get a ride early with Dan down to the airport and to leave Griz here with us. 

Fun and Flour

This has been a mostly easy going week.  Monday was the usual - laundry and grocery shopping and school work and such.  We are trying to get David on a sleep schedule, but it's been hard going.  He doesn't ever want to go to sleep....  I finally gave up nursing - I'm now pumping bottles for him.  He was hurting me too much and he wouldn't sit still to eat and I was afraid my milk supply would dry up if he kept it up.  It turned out to be a good thing since his first tooth popped through this week!  Thursday he finally got it and his second one isn't going to be far behind. 

Valentine's Day was Wednesday.  We had a fun heart shaped biscuit breakfast in the morning before school and the kids got some cute little chocolate filled hearts.  In the evening was the usual Wednesday night stuff.  Anna and Evie had activity days and Aaron had cub scouts - I subbed in his cub scout den and had fun with the boys.  Eileen had a mutual activity that included dancing and loud music and Eileen absolutely hated it.... 

Evelyn had a big school project this week about the planet Saturn and she had her presentation this week and got 100%!!  She did an awesome job and she was so cute practicing for it!  She did a great job!

Friday the kids had no school, so we had some fun riding bikes and taking walks and jumping on the trampoline and playing games. 

Eileen said she would watch David and the other kids so that Dan and I could go on a date for Valentine's Day, so on Saturday, Dan and I left the kids and went out to dinner.  Eileen did a great job - but David got really fussy at the end of the night and was screaming inconsolably and Eileen couldn't handle it.  She doesn't like loud noises....  We were on our way home by then anyway - but it was a good test to see how well it would work - so it looks like we still need a David baby sitter for temple trips and longer dates. 

Church today was great!!  I subbed in James' primary class today which was lots of fun - I had David with me and the girls in the class all just adored him!  I was supposed to speak in Sacrament meeting, but they had a high council speaker come, so I got moved to next week.  But all the talks were wonderful! 

The older kids got some time up since there is no school tomorrow, so we played Carcassonne and Dan won, but it was a pretty close game all around.  Then Anna and Aaron went to bed and Eileen stayed up and helped me make some cookies for the blue and gold this week - we all ended up with flour all over us (it started with the usual amounts that you get from using lots of flour, but ended with Eileen putting a big hand print on Dan's shoulder and a big flour-y group hug and Dan making sure our black shirts were really covered.) 

Movin' On Up

We had a fun week here.  James was sick for the first couple days of the week and was home from school Monday - Wednesday.  By Thursday he was ready to go back to school - mostly because I'm a mean mommy and I won't just let him play video games and watch movies all day just because he's sick.  He did spend a good chunk of the day on Tuesday taking a nap, but otherwise - he wasn't really acting sick, just coughing and running a fever.  Thankfully he is feeling much better now, though he still coughs once in a while.  David on the other hand, now has the cold.  Mostly just a bit of congestion and coughing - he had a fever, but it's mostly gone now - the problem is that when he doesn't feel well, he doesn't sleep well, which means mommy doesn't sleep well either.  Thankfully Daddy is sweet and awesome and helps out to let mommy get some extra sleep to make up for it.  

David found the stairs this week - and began trying to climb them - so we got gates set up to keep him from climbing and falling.  And don't worry - I was keeping a close eye on him - he didn't actually get up on the stair - he just got the one leg and couldn't get any further before going back down, but it was enough to give us warning to get gates up!

Monday was laundry day.  James went out for Ice cream with Grandpa in the afternoon.  He had a blast and came home with some fun birthday presents - that he hasn't wanted to let go of since he got them.  

On Wednesday, in the evening, I went to the church with Aaron for cub scouts, and then after, I stayed with Eileen for Young Women's to teach the beehives how to crochet.  They are cute girls and we had a fun time, and they did a great job!  After, I met with the former pack master to learn a bit more about cub scouts and scout book.  I still feel a bit like I don't know what I'm doing, but I feel like I know where to start. 

Friday, I went down to meet my mom and sister for brunch - or as I like to call it breakfast.  :P  It was a fun outing!  After school, Eileen and I ran the library books back - yey for on time returns!  :)  Then in the evening, the older kids had fun playing games for their hour up. 

Saturday started with me sleeping in while Dan took David so I could recover from a long night.  We had a fun time playing board games and going for a walk together.  In the evening, Dan took me out for some Ice Cream before we headed to bed.  It was nice to get out for a bit together. 

Today was wonderful.  Once again David had kept me up most of the night, so in the morning, Dan took over so I could sleep.  Dan and Eileen had talks to give in Sacrament meeting today - they both did a great job!  I'm sure the rest of the lessons were wonderful, but I spent most of them either nursing David or walking the halls with him, so I didn't get to hear them much, but I did just happen to be out in the hall way in time to talk to the primary president so I could ask her a couple questions that I had!  Tonight, we had some fun doing Sudoku puzzles together, then Eileen played Settlers of Catan with us before bed.  I'm ready for bed now, but David is not.... 

February Feasting!

Monday morning, Dan took the van to get it fixed up to pass inspections so that we could get it registered in Texas.  It ended up taking him all day to get it done, so I had to get the kids to and from school with just the mini.  Dropping them off wasn't a problem, since Eileen and Anna start later and I can leave them at home with David while I drop off the younger ones and then take the girls with David after.  Picking up was harder - I ended up calling my mom to see if she could come and watch the younger ones while I went to pick up the older ones from school.  Monday was also laundry day and grocery shopping.  David came with me and hung out making cute faces at everyone in the store.  He was so cute just chilling in the cart - but it made me a bit nervous...  

Tuesday morning after getting the kids to school, I went visiting teaching.  It was fun getting to know my companion and the sweet sister I get to visit teach!  Now I just gotta get the other sister to answer my calls.  :)  In the evening, we got the kids to bed, then I headed down with a bunch of others from the ward to help clean the temple.  It was such a neat experience - we worked from 10 to about 11:30 then headed home - tired but happy.  It was so neat to be able to serve that way and we carpooled, so I got to know some people in the ward a bit better too! 

The next morning, I was exhausted!  Dan was sweet and got the kids all to school so I could sleep in some.  In the evening, Aaron had cub scouts.  I went with him - I'm trying to get a better understanding of how cub scouts works since I'm now a pack master!  After, Dan and the kids met us at the church for New Beginnings.  I can't believe Anna will be joining Young Women's this year.  I can't believe how fast they are growing up. 

Thursday was the first day of February - I'm not sure where January went...  most of the day was pretty normal, school and such.  Our ward is doing what they call February Feast month - they are challenging us to read the scriptures every day this month.  We are challenging the kids to do personal scripture reading every day instead of just counting our family reading for the challenge.  I made a family chart for us (mostly so that we would have one pinned to the fridge that wouldn't get lost) It's been so awesome to watch the kids read and put star stickers on the chart and watch the charts fill up!  Even James has been getting in on it - I sit down with him and we alternate verses - his reading is improving so much!  This picture was so cute of Evie and James reading together! 

Thursday evening, I went and played volleyball again - it's been fun to play and get a bit of exercise and have fun, and get to know some more people in the area! 

Friday, the Relief Society presidency came to visit in the morning to get to know a new sister a bit more.  We got on the topic of family history and pulled out our apps to find if we were related - and sure enough - I was related to both of them distantly!  It was fun!  :)  After, I fed David, then headed down to Allen.  I dropped off Anna's glasses to get fixed, then met up with Dan for lunch.  We had some yummy Japanese food, then hit Costco for some more chicken and diapers.  Then I ran by Walmart for a couple things and got home in time to feed David and put everything away before I got the kids from school.  In the evening, we just had fun together! 

Saturday, we had some friends coming over in the evening for dinner and games, so we spent the morning doing a bit of clean up - getting the front couple rooms straightened up and the boxes all cleared out of the main rooms.  Dan took the kids for a walk and they had a fun time.  In the evening, we had Chicken Tiki Masala for dinner, then played Puerto Rico.  Dan and I got smashed - we need to play more and work on our strategies for next time....  The kids all seemed to have a great time playing together too. 

This morning, we took it easy and had a nice morning, We are trying to get the kids doing Faith in God and Personal Progress stuff in the mornings.  Dan and Eileen and I all got called to speak.  Dan and Eileen next week and me the week after.  I got together with some of the other pack leaders to plan the Blue and Gold for this month.  I'm now starting to feel a bit more like I know what's going on - though I still need to figure out Scoutbook....  Then church in the afternoon.  It was a wonderful day - the testimonies were beautiful and the lessons were wonderful.   After church, we had coffee cake and scrambled eggs for dinner before reading scriptures and putting the kids to bed. 

Birthday Boy!

Monday was just our usual run of the mill day - laundry, grocery shopping and school.  David is so helpful!

Tuesday was James' birthday - he was so excited about it and reminded us all day that it was his birthday.  He wanted a Hulk cake and a Captain America cake, so Anna and I worked hard to make him Hulk cupcakes and Captain America cupcakes - he loved them - though Anna's Captain America shield came out much better than my Hulk....  He was so excited about his presents and had a great time opening them and playing with them.  The hard part was getting him to go to bed....  

David figured out how to clap this week and he spent that entire next day clapping for everything - he was so excited by his new skill - it was so cute.  Evie and James really love to help take care of David - and while sometimes, it's a bit scary - it's also really cute.  David also finally started crawling this week - Thursday he finally started moving forward and by Friday, he was starting to be able to chase down what he wanted - though slowly.  He's still moving slowly thank goodness- and it's really cute. 

Wednesday was the usual school day for the kids - Aaron had an early cub scouts activity so they could do some hiking around the local park - then Dan picked him up from that and I took Anna and Evie to the church for Activity Days - while there, I talked to the primary presidency member over Cub Scouts and some of the Den leaders.  I'm still trying to wrap my head around this calling!! 

Thursday was a normal school day for the kids and David and I.  In the evening, I headed to the church to play volleyball with a bunch of people from the ward and the area.  It was a lot of fun - I'm out of shape and not very good, but it was still a lot of fun! 

Friday the kids were out of school for Teacher Inservice.  Grandma came over with Wicket to help out and hang out with the kids.  Then in the afternoon, I took the kids to the nearest library to get a library card.  The library is small, but the people are nice and they all managed to find something to read.  Even me.  :)  After, we had a quick leftover dinner with Daddy, then Dan and I headed down to the temple for Stake Temple night - we dropped David off with Sandi and Jon on the way, then went to do a session.  It was wonderful!!  It was strange being in the Dallas temple again instead of Denver, but it was so nice to be in the temple!

Saturday we kept good and busy, we got some cleaning up done around the house, we got some more unpacking done, we went to the park and then in the evening, we headed down to Sandi and Jon's for dinner and a movie.  We all had yummy pizzas, then the kids went up to watch a movie and the grown ups (and Eileen and sometimes Anna) played games down stairs.  It was a fun night. 

Evie was so sweet - she made cute papers for each family member with their name on it and a bunch of kind things about them - it was so cute and so thoughtful of her!!  I have the greatest kids! 

Sunday was nice!  We had a mostly relaxing morning - Dan made biscuits for us for a yummy breakfast, and we played games and I tried to lean a bit more about scouting....  David has been having a blast sticking his tongue out - it's the cutest thing and he does it all the time - I managed to get this adorable picture of him - now that he's crawling - he is also getting stuck places - so I snapped a picture, then got him out :)  Church was wonderful - David snuggled up to me and fell asleep during Sacrament meeting and was good but wiggly the rest of the time.  We had a great ward conference this week. 

New Callings!

On Monday, the kids had no school for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  They had a fun day off and we did some organizing and cleaning up.  Sandi came over for a bit with Taz and Kai and they all had a blast running amok :)  

Tuesday it was back to school and normal days.  David had gotten rather clingy and wants to be able to be climbing on me and holding on to me at all times, but doesn't really want to hold still....  it's sweet, but exhausting.  When Dan got home, he took David with him out to run an errand and ran me a hot bath!  It was fun getting to just relax for a bit and it was fun having a bath again.  

Wednesday was a usual school day - the kids mostly seem to be liking school - and in the evening was cub scouts for Aaron and young women's for Eileen.  I got asked by her adviser to help Eileen teach crochet for a young women's activity.  I think it's going to be fun!  

Thursday evening was a Relief Society activity, we were painting a picture together - this was how mine came out - I'm kinda excited about it - though I was not terribly happy with the cheap brushes - I think I would have liked how it came out better if I had used some better brushes.  It was lots of fun though, and I got to know some more people in the ward!  

Friday after getting the kids off for school and getting a little nap in with David, I headed down to Plano to meet my mom and Sister for lunch. We ate at La Madeline and had a great time together!

Saturday morning, we got up early to head to the church to help clean.  Then after, we headed out for donuts along with some others from the ward.  In the afternoon, Grandma and Grandpa came to take Aaron out for a birthday ice cream and had fun together.  Aaron came home with a fancy remote controlled car.

Sunday was fun - it's been kinda nice relaxing in the mornings.  We listen to conference talks, and maybe do some indexing and have fun together.  Church was wonderful - Dan and I got new callings - he is teaching the 12 year old Sunday School class and I am the cub scout pack master.  It's going to be an adventure for me - I have no experience with cub scouts - but I think it will be lots of fun!  Eileen also got a new calling - she is the new second councilor in her beehive class presidency.

Unpacking is Hard with a baby....

And that title mostly sums up my week  :)  So Monday, bright and early, we took the kids to their new schools to get them registered and settled.  Then Dan headed to work, and I headed to the house to meet my mom who had gone over to make sure someone was there to meet the movers when they arrived - it was a good thing she did since it took longer than expected to get the younger kids set up since one of Evelyn's shot records was missing - thankfully we were able to get it sent over and get her settled in before too long.  The movers spent most of the morning getting stuff moved in and into the early afternoon.  By the time they were done, mom and I sat down to a late lunch and opened a couple boxes before getting out to pick up kids from school.  Dan came home a bit early and we got things settled enough to have dinner at our house and try and get things settled to sleep there.  Our first dinner in our new home - Mac and Cheese.  I'd managed to get a few stools made - and the rest of us just stood around the counter.  :)

On Tuesday, Sandi and Kai came over in the morning to help, we got more done in the kitchen and some stuff done in the library.  We enjoyed lunch together and had a good time.  Then I picked the kids up from school and came home.  Sandi brought us a lasagne, but we had already promised the kids Enchiladas for dinner, so we made those and saved the lasagne for the next night where Aaron luckily wanted that for his birthday dinner. 

Wednesday the Sister missionaries came over to help unpack - they helped us get the library straightened out and as done as possible with not enough shelves.  My mom also came to help out.  David really doesn't like being left alone right now - or even put down, so it can be hard to get much done during the day.  In the evening, Anna and Evie had activity days, Aaron had cub scouts, and Eileen had mutual, so we had an early dinner and birthday with Aaron with lasagna and chocolate cupcakes and then headed over to the church. 

Thursday was more of the same - I got a phone call from Eileen's teacher about a sarcastic comment she had made and a bit of an attitude that she had demonstrated.  So we talked after school about no being rude even if you are bored.  She is struggling with feeling like she is not challenged.  She wants to learn - but is ahead of most of her classmates in most subjects.  The younger kids all really seem to be enjoying school though!  Our bedroom furniture and mattress came today - we finally have a real bedroom again.  And a real bed - the guest mattress is a bit soft for my preferences. 

Friday, Sandi came over again - she finished building the kitchen chairs for us - so we now have a table and chairs to eat at instead of having to eat at the counter.  The kids had a half day, so I picked them up and came back and the kids got to play with Kai while Sandi and I worked.  Then James came in with a bleeding finger and pressure on the bleeding wasn't helping as much as it should have.  Our medical insurance hasn't started yet, so I really didn't want to have to take him to a doctor, so Sandi took him down to her brother in law who is a vet and then Dan brought him home - thankfully the bleeding stopped - though it took a lot of pressure and a lot of bandaids and a lot of telling James to stop playing with it before it stopped. 

Saturday was a fun day, we had the Hendrickson's come over - we had hamburgers and guac and chips and such for a yummy lunch and Dan and Rendell built the trampoline and Katie and I cleaned and chatted and the kids played and had fun together.  Then in the evening, we had a easy left over dinner and got some work done around the house.  Then we tried to go to bed - but David wasn't cooperating - he wasn't feeling well, so he didn't sleep well - so neither did I... 

Church was wonderful - though we are still trying to figure out this schedule, it's very odd being at church so late!  Dan and I were extended callings and we will get officially called and set apart next week.  After church, we headed home and had dinner and then it was about time to put the kids to bed.   Aaron has been so excited about getting his hour up now that he is 10 years old.  We played Clue with the older kids tonight since tomorrow is a holiday.  Now we are just hoping that David will go to sleep....

Texas Here We Come!!

Monday was our last day of packing.  We got as much done as we could plus had some last minute visits with friends.  We had to visit Dwayne and Nicole one last time and Aaron's friend Michael came over to visit for a bit.  Then we got things packed up and ready for the drive to Texas, then Tuesday morning, the kids and I headed on the road.  The trip went well - the kids were awesome - they always are - they didn't fight and were so great and so helpful.  David only got really fussy at the end - he did well the rest of the trip.  We got in late and got the kids to bed.  Dan spent Tuesday getting the last of the packing done, then on Wednesday, he made sure the truck got packed up before heading out to Texas.  The kids and I went up to the house to let the younger kids get to see it and check it out.  Then on Thursday, we headed back up to get the internet up.

Christmas, Packing and New Year's Eve

Christmas Morning was fun!  The kids were great even though Christmas was a bit smaller than usual this year since Grandpa and Grandma Cox didn't come this year and kept their presents until we get there next week.  The kids opened up their stockings and had fun - then we paused to eat breakfast before going back to presents.  It is always so fun to see what they get for each other.  They can be so sweet and thoughtful.  James knew that I would have a bath tub in our new house, so he got me a rubber duckie.  :)  Evie was sweet and got me a pretty birdie decoration.  Their presents for each other were just as sweet!  After opening presents, we cleaned up and played and got our house ready for Christmas dinner with the family.  In the evening, everyone came over and we had a nice dinner together.

Most of the rest of the week was spent packing.  The kids were so good and helpful!  We worked hard and got most of it done and ready.

Friday afternoon, we needed a break, so we all headed over to Utah pool for some fun and swimming.  We all had a great time playing together and getting out of the house together.

Sunday was wonderful - I only got teary a couple times.  :)  We did one last musical number with the choir and had fun chatting with friends after church.  In the evening, Kay and Reggie came over to celebrate New Year's Eve.  We had a fun night playing games and chatting together.  I am so glad that we have gotten to know them!!

Almost Christmas!

We've been keeping busy this week - getting ready for Christmas.  I started out the week by going with my friend to get my hair cut.  I've been thinking about this for a long time - and finally just went for it.  She cut off 18 inches of hair.  So far, I'm really enjoying having it short!  It's also been fun to watch peoples shocked faces when they notice - though James didn't even notice it when I picked him up from school - Anna was the first one to say anything about it after school.  In the evening, Anna had her volleyball banquet and then we all had our Family Home Evening.

Tuesday,  in the evening, we had the Christmas Carol Sing along at Grandpa's.  I did a couple solos and we all had fun singing and being together.  

Wednesday evening, Aaron had an orthodontist appointment where he got his retainer and then Cub Scouts after. Dan and I mostly spent our evenings making cookies or with me working on the stockings or the doll clothes for my friend's daughter.  I spent a little time finishing up the Christmas shopping and we watched some fun movies with Eileen.  Dan tried to get her to watch Lord of the Rings - but despite seeming to enjoy it - she seemed determined to not be interested in it...  Any time I came back from running an errand, it was to this smiley face!  

Thursday, we took cookies to friends and neighbors and were mostly successful.  We got all the plates out - but some were left on doorsteps.  Dan and I realized that we were given some of the chattiest people in the ward to visit and home teach!  :)  But they are truly some of the sweetest most amazing people!  Thursday was also the kids last day of school - and a half day.  The kids had a ton of fun at their discovery class and James loved his fun short day.  After school, Eileen's friends Maddy and Melanie came over to play and crochet.  

Friday, Anna had a dentist appointment in the morning that took nearly two hours - for just a basic cleaning...  I need to remember to not schedule appointments around the holidays again....  In the afternoon, we let the kids each invite a few friends over to play again before we move.  The kids all seemed to have a good time.  We let them decorate cookies and then Dan pulled out the balloons and made balloon animals and swords and such.  

Saturday was a wonderful day!  We left Eileen in charge of most of the kids - dropped David off with Newell and Becky and headed up to the Fort Collins Temple for Kay and Reggie's sealing!  She was so cute and so excited and so beautiful!  It was so sweet to see them so excited about this beautiful ordinance!  So wonderful to know what it means to her and her family!  I got to help her out in the Brides room and it was just wonderful!!!  After, we picked up the kids and met up at Maggiano's for a luncheon - all the food was wonderful and the kids fairly well behaved.  It was a fun afternoon!  After, none of us was really hungry for dinner since lunch was late and filling, so we played at home and then put the kids to bed and watched Fantastic Beasts with Eileen.  

This morning was our Ward Christmas program.  It went a bit long - so the last number was cut off - but I figure we will use it for the musical number next week.  :)  The program was wonderful - all the talks and music was wonderful!  After, we went home since there was no full 3 hour block today.  We had an easy rest of the morning and afternoon, playing games and reading books and such.  Then we packed up and headed to Frank and Tina's for Bagna Cauda and singing and fun with family.  It was a wonderful evening.  After, we got home and read in Luke 2 for scripture time and said prayers before letting the kids open their Christmas Eve presents, then sending them to bed.

Now, it's the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature is stirring - not even daddy.  The stockings are stuffed to their brims, the gifts beneath the tree.  Now to bed to await the arrival of Christmas Morning! 

Cookies!!!!

We've been keeping busy this week.  Even when there isn't any thing scheduled on the calendar, it always seems like there are errands to run and stuff to do.  This week was a busy one for Anna especially.  She had the State competition for her Robotics team on Saturday, so the week before was full of preparations for that.  Plus on Monday, she had the volleyball finals.  Her team didn't win their match, so they didn't get to go to the championship - but it was probably just as well since she probably couldn't have made it anyway.  

Tuesday was Band for Eileen and Robotics for Anna.  Otherwise it was a fairly normal day.  Wednesday morning, Dan went in to have a procedure to check out his esophagus after his choking ordeal - bright and early - so after dropping the kids off at school, I went to pick him up, then I watched a friends daughter for a bit - I also took David to the doctors - he had been fussy and not wanting to sleep, so I took him in and he had an ear infection.  So we grabbed his medicine and headed home for some lunch before dropping my friends daughter off and picking up the kids from school.  Wednesday evening was full of the usual church activities, but since I didn't have Choir, James and David and I just hung out at home while everyone else partied at the church!  

Thursday I went to Becca's - they had been out of town for our normal Tuesday day, so we moved to Thursday.  After getting the kids from school, Aaron had drum lessons and then in the evening, Evie had her music night at the school - she did great and had a blast - then we met up with the rest of the family at Dan's work for a little family party that they put on.  The kids had a blast playing with all the other kids and they had a bouncy house.  

Friday was busy - I went to visit my friend in the morning to chat and hang out and drop off some presents for her kids.  After school, Anna and Dan had robotics and then Dan came home to grab me and take me to the Company Christmas Party - we had a great time eating yummy food and chatting with great people.  Then we headed out to pick up Anna from Robotics and head home.  Then she had an early morning the next day. 

Saturday, Dan and Anna headed out bright and early for the State Robotics Competition.  Their team did well and got First in Robot Design - Strategy and Innovation.  Anna had fun - but she and Dan both came home tired.  Partly because they didn't get to go home - they left the competition and met up with the rest of us at the ward Christmas party.  The kids and I spent our morning doing their last flute and piano lessons here in Colorado - the kids will really miss their teachers - they have been great teachers and the kids just love them. 

In the evening, we all met up at the ward Christmas party - the kids got a picture with Santa and we got to enjoy a yummy dinner with a wonderful music and narration program.  

Church today was wonderful.  There were some wonderful talks and a beautiful musical number.  The Sunday School and Relief Society lessons were wonderful too.  After church, we had lunch then got started on making the cookies.  Then we went to choir and had a great practice - I feel like we are ready for the Christmas program next week!  After, we headed home and began the cookie decorating!!  Kay and Reggie came, Newell and Becky and family came and Becca and Jeremiah came with baby Laura.  It was such a fun evening!  We had a great time decorating and chatting and making yummy cookies!  

We finally got the kids to bed and then had a nice time chatting with Dan's parents - it's so neat to hear the amazing experiences that they have as they serve in the temple presidency.  We are officially in the countdown - one week until Christmas!!!! 

Holiday Crazies

This week has been kinda nuts.  Monday was laundry day, plus I went over to my friends house to help finish up sewing some dresses.  Then after school, Eileen had a dentist appointment.  Anna had volleyball practice after school and we had a little FHE in the evening.  Then in the evening, we did the grocery shopping and folding laundry before heading to bed.  

Tuesday morning, I headed over to Becca's house and we had fun making doll chairs to go with our desks.  They came out so cute!  After school, Eileen had band practice and Anna had a volleyball game.  We all needed to be out of the house for a bit for a final walk through before closing, so we went to the library for a bit then headed home for a quick dinner while Dan went to Anna's volleyball game - then we all met up at Skate City for some fun.  

Wednesday morning, I picked Aaron up from school to take him to an orthodontist appointment - he got his braces off and got a temporary retainer until his permanent one comes in in a couple weeks.  He's making a kinda funny face to show off his teeth, but here he is!  

We closed on our house Wednesday and hopefully we will be closing on our house in Texas next week!  It's kinda crazy that it's really happening!  After school, Anna had volleyball practice as usual and then in the evening, was mutual, cub scouts and choir - my last rehearsal with the Colorado Mormon Chorale.  

Thursday I was supposed to go to my friends house again, but she had to cancel, so I ran a couple errands.  After school, Eileen had band and Anna had volleyball, then Aaron had drum lessons and I had my Chorale Concert, and Anna had a school band concert.  Eileen came with me to my concert and Grandpa came too, so after we went to his place to chat and have some hot cocoa.  

Friday I my friends car had a flat, so I gave her a ride to run an errand in the morning, then Bonnie came over so we could practice a song that I was going to be singing in Relief Society on Sunday.  then after school, Anna had volleyball and robotics and I had my last concert with the Chorale - I hardly managed to sing the last couple songs because I was crying....  sigh...  Uncle Frank came and Eileen came too, she got to see her friend who's mom is in the chorale too and had a great time.  

Saturday ended up being a rather long day - a little cutie wasn't feeling so good, so he was up half the night.  Dan took Anna to Robotics early, then went to help some one move, then went back to help with the Robotics team.  I took all the kids and dropped Eileen off at Flute lessons, then came back for Piano lessons.  Dan and Anna got home in time for dinner and bed time.  

Sunday morning came very early since David still wasn't sleeping well, but church was wonderful.  Some wonderful talks were given in Sacrament meeting along with a gorgeous musical number!  Gospel Doctrine lesson was about finding and creating Zion and was great!  I helped play piano in primary during 3rd hour (which I love to do) and then went back at the end to sing a musical number for the closing song.  After, we headed home for lunch and then back to church for ward choir, then home for dinner, and after, we went out caroling with some people in the ward.  It was a fun night, but David is still not feeling great.  :(  hopefully he gets feeling better soon.  Our friend Heather stopped by for a bit - it's so strange to think of all the changes that are going to happen with this move and all the people here that we will miss. 

Texas

Monday morning, I headed over to my friends house to help her with some sewing - I had a great time sewing and chatting with her!  Then I went to pick kids up from school.  Anna had volleyball after school, then in the evening, she and Dan had Robotics - they had it every night this week to get ready for the competition.  We did a quick FHE before they left and decorated our Christmas Tree! 

On Tuesday, Evie had a field trip, she was very excited about it and had a great time!  I went over to Becca's house and we had fun making peg boards and little push pins for the boards.  Then after school, Anna had volleyball and Eileen had band and then in the evening, Anna had robotics again.  Then in the evening, I had Institute class!

Wednesday was rather busy.  I went over to my friends house in the morning again to finish up the doll dresses we had started on Monday.  I got all but one doll dress done.  Then after getting the kids from school, we headed home.  Then I went to Anna's volleyball game (with Evie) and Dan picked up Tina from the light rail station.  Then after Anna's team won their game, I took her home and stopped in long enough to say hi, then head out to choir practice.  Dan and the kids had their usual busyness, so it was really nice that Tina could get there a bit early.  

Really early on Thursday, Eileen, David, Dan and I headed to the airport to fly to Texas.  We got in and my mom picked us up from the air port.  We had enough time to drop off our stuff, feed David and eat some lunch at In N Out burger before heading out to Anna to check out our house!  We got to spend some time looking around, then had the official walk through with the builder to check for any little fixes that needed to be made.  We love the house and are so excited!!  Then we headed back to my parents house for a yummy dinner of brisket sandwiches!   Here's David on his first air plane flight!  

The next day Dan went to meet with Jon and get some stuff done and plan.  Eileen and David and I mostly took it easy that morning.  Then at lunch, we met up with Sandi and Kai and Jon and Dan.  We had a nice lunch together, then headed home.  Dan finished up with Jon then joined us back at mom and dad's house.  We had some yummy Thai food for dinner, then headed to a nativity display in Allen where Sandi was singing with her ladies barbershop group.  It was a lot of fun - the nativity display was beautiful and it was a lot of fun getting to listen to Sandi sing!  We also got to see Taz and Kai and Some of Jon's family too!  Then we headed back to my parents house and Dan went to go pick up my Dad from the airport.  Eileen and I took a walk around my parents neighborhood to look at all the pretty Christmas lights.  

Saturday morning (really early again) we got on a plane to head back to Colorado.  We got back to the house in time to drop off Dan and then Eileen and I headed to the Relief Society activity - we had lots of fun eating breakfast and making hot coca ornaments and doing a cookie exchange.  Then we went home and rested and napped a bit, then watched Captain America before Tina came back with the kids.  Except Anna who was down at her Robotics competition in Grand Junction.  Her team did awesome - taking the championship trophy and getting to go to state in a couple weeks!  David has started rolling over from back to front now too.  Then in the evening, I had my first Christmas Concert of the season.  I took Eileen and it went really well!  After, we got dessert at Chili's and then headed home. 

Sunday was church - testimony meeting was wonderful - we truly are blessed to be in this ward!  After church was ward choir - we are getting ready for Christmas and it's been a lot of fun - I love Christmas music and our ward has so much talent!