2 Busy Weeks

Well - it's been a couple weeks - last Sunday, I was so tired that I just went to bed early.  And as to the reason I've been so tired, I had a doctors appointment on Sunday - my ultra sound - Baby boy Jones is coming in June of this year!  The picture auto adjusted itself this way and I can't figure out how to fix it.  

These last couple of weeks have been filled with the normal stuff - laundry, school, homework, piano.  All sorts of fun stuff.  On Valentine's Day, it was Stake Temple night, so Dan took Eileen to the temple to do baptisms and then they came home and Eileen babysat so Dan and I could go do a session at the temple in the evening.  We also had our traditional heart shaped biscuits for breakfast.  James' preschool group also had a fun little Valentine's Day party.  We had lots of fun games and lots of junk food!  

On Friday, Dan took me out on our Valentine's Day Date - we went out to dinner, then went to watch some of the youth at a local high school doing the play "Anne Frank."  They did a really great job and we had a great time.  

This Tuesday, James had his preschool field trip to the fire station.  It was a great field trip - the fire fighters were really awesome and friendly and great with the kids.  The kids all seemed to have a great time.  After we ran around the park for a bit and let the kids get tired out!  After, James and I had lunch and then took a nap!

On Thursday, was the cub scouts Blue and Gold.  We had a great time and Aaron made and decorated a Star Wars cake.  Dan watched him and helped with some instructions, but Aaron did all the work and Aaron won "coolest looking Star-Wars cake" He was very excited - and so were most of the other kids when they saw the dry ice smoke coming out of the cake :)  We left the fun evening with 2 kids crying - James because he wanted cake and Eileen because of a light saber war gone wrong....

Friday morning Dan dropped the kids off at school and then packed and headed to the airport.  He's out of town for the week.

Saturday morning was flute lessons, piano lessons and then lunch, a quick trip to the park, then back home for dinner and a movie.

Sunday's are wonderful - but have been especially busy lately.  With ward choir, and stake choir and the Parables fireside practices, and church, I end my day happy but exhausted!  Now I'm ready for bed....

Back to Normal

It's been a fun and busy week.  Monday was the usual crazyness.  Laundry, School, Grocery Shopping, Family Home Evening, School work, etc.  James and I spent a fun morning crocheting together.  I taught him how to do a basic chain and he went to town!  He spent all afternoon making "snakes" and being very impressed with how long he could make them.  After Dan got home, we had dinner, then headed to Cold Stone for Family Home Evening.  We got some ice cream and had fun together before heading home to bed.

Tuesday was preschool for James, then after preschool, James and I stopped at Hobby Lobby to get yarn for the baby stocking and baby blanket.  He helped me choose them out and I carefully tried to guide and dissuade him from things that didn't match.... :)  Then we headed home for lunch.  We got James' test results from Quest (though not if he got into the school or not) and he did well - scored High on verbal which is no surprise.  After school the kids got down to the usual business of piano practicing and homework.  In the evening, I had institute which was wonderful - as always.  

Wednesday was late start for the kids, so I dropped them off at school, then headed home to wait for Becca to come.  We had fun crocheting and chatting as usual.  James was so excited for them to come so he could see baby Laura and show Becca his crocheting.  After school was the usual for the kids and then I had to leave early for choir to attend the chorale leadership meeting.  I drove with Christina since she has to be there early for the meeting too.  We had a really great chat in the car.  I always enjoy car rides with her because they almost always lead to a thought provoking and intelligent discussion.  Choir was great as usual and we had a great time.  Christina was called to be the principal director and will take over after this season is over.  Joel has been amazing - but I am also looking forward to the future under Christina's direction.  

Thursday was preschool again for James.  Chasity joined the group this week and so far, all seems to be going well.  After picking up the kids from school, I left them in Eileen's charge so I could go back for some parent/teacher meetings.  I chatted with Evie and Aaron's teachers.  They are doing well.  Evie is so social and still has a hard time remembering that class time is not chatting time, but she's getting better.  Aaron is getting better at being more social which is good, and communicating with his teacher.  Now I need them to turn in the homework they complete.  After, I got back home, I took the kids to the church parking lot to run around and play for a bit.  In the evening, I had a jazz practice with Kent for Friday. It's so fun having him back home from his mission and ready to do Jazz again!  

Friday morning - bright and early, the kids wanted me to come with them to Muffins with Mom, so we headed to school early to eat muffins and have some fun before school started.  It was fun to go with them and fun to chat with some of the other moms.  Then I headed back home so Dan could go to work.  After school, the kids had fun playing and then when Dan got home, we had dinner and left Eileen to babysit while Dan and I went to the night of Love Songs that Kent had set up and that I was singing at.  It was a fun night.  Then we headed home to do dishes and drink a milkshake.  :)  

Saturday mornings are always a bit crazy busy.  Eileen had flute lessons, the kids had piano lessons, then Dwayne came over for a little birthday celebration - except Tayanna had had a little bit of an allergic reaction, so only Dwayne came instead of the whole family, but we still had fun chatting with him and eating the Chicken Salad that was his birthday present.  :)  Then he and Dan went together to pick up the newest addition to our crazy music room - an organ.  It's got some issues and is looking like it might need some repairs, but the kids have been having fun playing on it non-stop since.  It's fun - but I'm hoping the excitement wanes a bit after a few days....  In the evening, Dan and I just took it easy after a long and crazy day.  Dan had also spent time helping a sister in the ward move and was exhausted by the time the day was over.  Eileen and I played a little bit of Maple Story during her hour up, but I was pretty ready to go to bed too.  

Church today was wonderful - we had a wonderful ward conference with great talks from our Bishop and members of the Stake Presidency.  Plus we got to sing with the ward choir.  Classes were also great and even the kids seemed to have a great time.  After, we headed home for lunch and some fun together, followed by Dan going home teaching, then a yummy dinner together.  After getting the younger kids to bed, Eileen decided she wanted to paint my finger and toe nails - so I officially have pretty fingers and toes.  :)  

Long Week

Monday morning, bright and early, Dan dropped the kids off at school, then headed home to pack and head out on a trip for work.  I spent the day playing with James and getting laundry done.  In the evening, the kids and I did a little family home evening lesson about being kind to others.  Then I sent the younger kids to bed and Eileen and I watched Bob Ross painting and folded some laundry.

Tuesday, I took the kids to school and then James had preschool and Becca came over to crochet with me.  Then I picked up James from preschool and we headed home for lunch and more crocheting and James showing off, then picking up the kids from school, followed by a busy afternoon of piano practicing and homework.  In the evening, Eileen babysat for me so I could go to Institute.  Class was wonderful.  It always amazes me how much I learn about scriptures I have read many times before!

Wednesday was late start day for the kids and last day of school for the week.  James got to go out for his birthday treat with Great Grandpa in the morning and had a wonderful time - he was so excited!   After school, we headed home to get the stuff done that needed to be done.  Then one of the wonderful sisters from our ward who used to teach Evie's primary class babysat the kids for me so I could go to choir.  She is just the sweetest lady and the kids love her.  I headed to choir and had a great time singing and seeing friends again.

Thursday, the kids were off school and spent most of the morning just playing and enjoying the beautiful weather.  Aaron had an orthodontist appointment and got braces put on - our first kid to get braces.  He got brackets on the front two teeth with the promise of more to come when the teeth grow in a bit more.  He was pretty excited about them.  The kids spent the afternoon getting piano done and doing a little bit of cleaning.

Friday, I told the kids we could go somewhere if they got stuff cleaned up.  They managed to get it done by lunchtime, so we ate a quick lunch, then headed to the Wings Over the Rockies museum.  The kids enjoyed it - especially once they found the kids area, though at first they were a little disappointed by the fact that some of the displays were different than the last time we were there.  All in all - they had a fun time and it wasn't too tiring for me.  Then in the evening, the littles went to bed while Eileen and Anna and I mostly just relaxed until bed time.

Saturday, we mostly spent the day excitedly waiting for daddy to come home.  We had flute lessons and piano lessons in the morning, then lunch and then I rested while the kids played - I wasn't feeling too great.  Dan managed to get home just in time for family scriptures study and prayers and to send the kids off to bed.  Then he went to an early bed time while I prepared my lesson.  In preparing for my lessons, I found a book on our bookshelves that I had wanted to read for awhile and that was especially appropriate to the lesson topic.  'Reflections of a Scientist" was a wonderful read and prompted lots of food for thought.  

Sunday morning we had church bright and early.  Getting out of the house got a little stressful this week - I think next week we need to get the kids started a bit earlier.  Church was wonderful!  After church we went home for lunch, followed by choir, then home again for a bit before heading back to a quick practice for the Stake Fireside this spring.  I really need to shake this cold and get my singing voice back!  We had a sweet sister that Dan home teaches over for dinner, then his companion (one of the young men) joined us after for a little lesson and scripture study and prayers.  It was a wonderful evening with wonderful people!  

Birthday Boy

On Monday, James turned 5 years old.  I can't believe my baby boy is already 5!  He wanted a Captain America cake, so Dan decorated it like the Captain's shield.  He was so excited.  He was talking about it all day and was so excited to blow out his candles that he blew them out as soon as they were lit and I couldn't get a picture fast enough!  He was so excited to open his presents.  And then he wanted his birthday to last all week.  The next thing he got excited about was getting to go for ice cream with Great Grandpa Francone.  I'm so glad we get to live near enough that my kids have had the chance to get to know him!  

Tuesday, preschool was here at our house.  We had fun talking about our senses and learning letters.  But I was rather exhausted by the end.  The rest of the day was the usual Tuesday, homework, piano practicing, institute in the evening.

Wednesday James and I dropped the kids off at school, then headed back home so James could get dressed before we headed to run a couple little errands - he wasn't very happy about having to run errands - and even less happy when I wouldn't buy him stuff everywhere we stopped.  But I did pick up Eileen's book that she ordered from Barnes and Noble (Klingon Dictionary) and then spent another stop searching in vain for a 1" metal buckle....  In the evening, I went to Eileen's New Beginnings activity for young women's.  Dan went to young men's and the rest of the kids kinda just ran amok at the church building.

Thursday we had preschool again.  We went on a walk and used our 5 senses and had fun making Umbrellas for our letter U.  Thankfully it's just one week and next week it's somewhere else!  Dan had to work late that night and Aaron had cub scouts.  I took him and stayed long enough to watch him get his award and advance to a Bear.  He's getting so big so fast.

Friday I had a doctors appointment in the morning, we got to hear the baby's heart beat and talked about setting an induction date.  Then James and I headed home and I got to packing up for the evening.  After picking up the kids from school, I finished packing, got some of the piano and such going and done, had a talk with Aaron about making friends at school and trying hard to include kids who don't feel like they are included, then I left Eileen in charge until Dan got home from work, and Anna and I headed down to Colorado Springs for all-state choir.  We stopped and shared a yummy dinner at Cafe Rio, then finished driving to our hotel for the night.  We got checked in and got ready for bed and went to bed early in expectation of an early morning.  I couldn't sleep after 3:30 though.  So with only 4 1/2 hours of sleep Anna and I got up at 6:30, got dressed and ready, had breakfast then headed to the school where all-state practice was held.  I was chaperoning the trip and spend my day getting to listed to the choir practice and keeping an eye on 8 girls.  They were great kids and it was a lot of fun to listen to the choir.  Here are the girls in their t-shirts just before heading over to the hotel for the concert.  Everything went really well and the girls had a great time.  Enough so that Aaron wants to try for it next year.  After the concert and getting all the girls connected with their parents, we met up with Dan and the rest of the kids and headed home.  We made a Wendy's stop for dinner on the way and then hurried home to get the kids to bed.  After scriptures and prayers, we put the kids to bed, then I headed back out to do the grocery shopping for next week.  Dan leaves town early on Monday, so I wanted to get it done before he left and before the Sabbath.

Church was great.  We got new counselors in the bishopric.  I got to teach Sunday school and we had a wonderful lesson during 3rd hour on Visiting Teaching.  After lunch, I got to take a nap while Dan played nuclear Risk with the kids. Eileen thought it was great.  She liked it so much, that was what she wanted to play after the younger kids went to bed.  And Dan creamed us both.  Which made him very happy.  :)

Crazy

This Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day - so the kids were home from school.  We had talked about maybe going somewhere on their day off - but the weather was bad and the roads were bad and Aaron had a doctor's appointment - so we ended up staying at home - which I was fine with - but the kids were very unhappy about it.  To the point the Eileen spent most of the morning crying in her room.  We had a nice little family home evening lesson that night, followed by shopping and laundry for the week.

Tuesday the kids were back to school.  In the evening was institute class for me.  James had preschool in the morning and had fun as usual.  Becca came over and we had fun as usual - she showed me a pattern that she has been working on and we had fun crocheting and chatting.  Dan left town in the morning for work.

Wednesday was late start - so James and I got the kids off to school, then headed home for a easy and mostly slow day.  Eileen had youth activities Wednesday night.

Thursday we had a preschool field trip at the National Wildlife Refuge.  James had a great time looking around, making a raccoon puppet and seeing the beautiful outdoors.  The day was really nice and the kids all seemed to have a good time.

Thursday evening, I had to go to the school for the CalWood meeting for Anna.  (they said it was mandatory, but I really wish I'd grabbed the packed and went back home.)  Thursday night, Aaron had cub scouts, so Eileen watched the kids during drop off and pick up - but pick up took longer than expected because I was mistaken about the end time.  

Friday was the usual.  School, piano practicing and so forth.  In the evening Eileen and I played together for a bit waiting for Dan to get home.  

Saturday was the usual flute lessons, piano lessons and such.  In the evening, I had call backs for the solo auditions.  Once again, I struggled to make my voice work the way I wanted it to and I left the auditions not feeling very confident....  but oh well - I guess it just wasn't my year... again....

Sunday was wonderful as always.  Church was great, choir practice was great and our afternoon was great.  

Back to Normal

The week has been mostly getting back into routines.  The kids were in school during the day.  Monday included grocery shopping and laundry.  The kids are getting back into regular piano practicing.  Now that James is taking lessons, he is SO excited about his lessons and practicing.  It's so cute!

Tuesday, James had preschool and Becca came over to hang out.  She worked on belts for her doll and I worked on the suitcase.  And we chatted and had fun!  James was excited that Baby Laura and her mom were visiting when I picked him up from preschool - he is so cute and sweet trying to help take care of her!  Evie and I have been doing after school worksheets at home to work on telling time - she was struggling with it at school - but go figure - a bit of regular practice with me helping her and she's getting MUCH better very quickly.  After school, Dan and Eileen headed to the temple to do some baptisms, then when they got back, we celebrated Aaron's birthday!  I can't believe this sweet boy is 9!  He wanted to make his own birthday dinner of Mac & Cheese, and he wanted sprinkle cupcakes decorated like fish bowls.  He got some awesome stuff from family members and from Mom and Dad, he got a ripboard.  So we headed to the church to have a little fun using it and playing together.  It's become a big hit - Anna, Aaron and Evie especially have been having fun trying to figure out how to use it.

Wednesday was mutual for Dan and Eileen (who went ice skating) and Anna had activity days.  Eileen I think had fun (despite the picture) but was rather cold by the end.  :)

Thursday James had preschool again and while he was at preschool, I went to Costco and got my allergy shot, then got back just in time to pick up James.  As usual there was piano and homework after school.  In the evening after dinner, Eileen babysat so Dan and I could head to the temple for the evening - it was a great night!

Friday the kids had the usual after school stuff, then after a yummy dinner, we headed to our friends house for a game night that ended up just being a chatting and laughing together night.

Saturday was a bit crazy in the morning, then calmed down in the afternoon.  Eileen had flute lessons, the kids had piano lessons and Grandpa took Aaron to the Stock Show for his birthday.  After all that things got a bit more quiet.  I had my audition for Lamb of God in the afternoon - it didn't go like i had hoped it would - I had phlegm on my vocal chords that I just couldn't clear off and so my voice didn't do everything I wanted it to.  But I guess that's life.  After I got back, Dan took the two older girls to Barnes and Noble to use the gift cards that they got for Christmas.  Then we took it easy for the rest of the evening.

Church was great - though the day had a somewhat inauspicious start.  I stopped James from tackling his sister for the Cheerios and sent him to his room when he wouldn't calm down, at which point he started yelling "I HATE YOU" over and over again, so I left him to cool off for a bit...  Sacrament meeting was great, Sunday school went well I think.  Apparently all guys in my class then went to priesthood and told him all about my lesson... sorta.  After church, we had choir and then lunch followed by some time working on a puzzle and then a bit of a nap for mom while Dan kept busy with Home Teaching and a priesthood preview meeting before we finally got to wind down and play a game with Eileen before Dan and Eileen went to bed and I came to blog.  :)  Now it's my turn to go to bed!

Back to School

The kids didn't start school until Tuesday, so we spent our last day of the holiday having some fun. First, I went and helped out Jen for a bit - her little girl was in the hospital and I offered to sit with her daughter for a bit so she could go home and shower and do what she needed to do.  She took me up on it, and I spent about an hour sitting and watching TV while she slept and contacting nurses if an alarm went off.  We had Dwayne and Nicole over for lunch and had a great time chatting and eating.  Then after, we took the kids to Skate City - the kids had coupons from the school and we had a fun time together.  This is most of the kids and Dan doing the Cha-Cha Slide.  James was so funny!  

This is Aaron just before we left hanging out in the arcade area.  He actually spent less time here than usual - and more time skating!

Evie was having some issues and so I took her out of school on Tuesday to take her to the doctors.  The doctor prescribed lotion and anti-itch creams and warm baths (which made Evie's day.)   Then she and I headed to Wal-mart for the things she needed, then to pick up James from preschool, then we headed home and got to have lunch with Daddy before he took her back to school for the last hour and a half.  But she's doing much better now, so it's all worth it.

Wednesday was a usual late start day for the school kids and a take it easy day for James and I.  After school the kids did their piano practicing and such, then the snow started and the temperature dropped and the roads got ugly and all the church activities for the night were cancelled.  The snow kept coming and the roads got worse and school was cancelled the next day!  Dan called the elders to see if they had anywhere to go for dinner, they didn't so they came over and had home made potato soup and rolls for dinner with us and gave us a lesson before heading back out into the cold weather.

Thursday was our snow day!  Dan and the kids stayed home and we spent the morning doing some clean up and the afternoon playing games and relaxing together.  Snow days are lots of fun - the only downside is that the kids are a bit crazy the next day from being stuck inside all day the day before.  We had the other set of elders over for dinner - Dan made sushi and we had salad and it was a fun and great dinner.  Then we got another great lesson before sending them on their way.

Friday morning, Dan worked from home and let me sleep in, then headed to work after lunch.  James and I had fun doing puzzles all afternoon.  He did a 100 piece puzzle almost entirely by himself.  I just encouraged him and suggested parts to work on.  He did the finding of pieces and putting them in place.  I was amazed - he is really getting good at puzzles!  Then we picked up the kids from school and headed home for the usual.  We had a fun night playing games together and went to bed a bit late.
Which made Saturday morning a bit rough.  Dan went to clean the church with the young men and I took the kids to Eileen's flute lesson and then home for piano lessons.  James started piano lessons this week and he is SO excited!  He has little rings to show him which is his 4th finger and a funky scrunchi to show him which is his right hand.  He is so excited to get to be like his older siblings and he feels so special with his fancy reminders!  After piano lessons and lunch, we headed over to Doug's to visit and see Mark and Julia and pick up the trampoline.  Eileen and Julia spent some time checking out Eileen's viola and then everyone headed to the indoor pool that is part of Doug's apartment complex.  The kids mostly had a great time - until it was time to get out and they realized that they had gotten all the towels wet and didn't have any dry ones.... The shallow end was shallow enough for James to stand in it and even to jump in and land on his feet just fine - so he had a BLAST getting to play in the pool that was a good size for him.

Eileen hit a big milestone this week - but I won't embarrass her by going into details, but I'm glad she felt safe to come to me and we could talk about it and I'm grateful for good books that helped us be prepared for this.

Sunday was wonderful - I'm sore from a work out last night - but it was nice to be able to get a work out in before collapsing.  Church was wonderful.  The testimonies were wonderful - listening to the girls complain about being hungry on fast Sunday, not so much, but at least they made the choice to fast anyway.  After church, we had some lunch (most of us anyway) and did some napping and played some games together and Dan helped James build his monster truck Christmas present and then he headed to a church meeting, then came home in time for dinner and after we did scriptures and prayers before sending Dan and Eileen off to a youth fireside about the new theme this year.  I let the kids look at pictures on my computer for a bit before sending them to bed.  After they got back, we spent some time chatting with Dan's parents and some time chatting with my mom and sister trying to plan this summer a bit.

And A Happy New Year

We have had a fun week here.  Monday was spent playing and cleaning up and playing some more.  Then we did some laundry and grocery shopping.  But mostly we took it easy.  

Early Tuesday morning, I had a doctor's appointment.  I went in for another check up on the baby and got to hear the heart beat again, then Dan, Eileen, Dad and I went to the temple together.  I got to watch my dad do baptisms for the dead with his oldest granddaughter and hear him get teary part way through.  It was such a special moment!  After we stopped for lunch at Qudoba together.  Most of the rest of the day was spent playing and being together.  Dan went into work for a bit, but mostly we just enjoyed our last day with Grandpa and Grandma.  This is what our play room has mostly looked like this week.  Despite numerous efforts to try to convince the kids to clean it up....  In the afternoon, we left Eileen to babysit and my parents and Dan and I went to see Rogue One at the theater.  I'd forgotten just how busy the theaters can be right after Christmas when all the kids are out of school, but we still had a great time and the movie was great!

Wednesday morning, my parent headed home to Texas and the kids played and had fun while I tried (unsuccessfully) to convince them that they should clean up so we could go to skate city this week.  They didn't, but they had fun.  I also spent a little time getting a couple errands run.  

Thursday morning, the kids had piano lessons and after they stayed for lunch and playing so Evie could have a play date with her friend Rose.  Then in the afternoon, back to me suggesting that they clean and them ignoring me.  

Friday I met Dan for lunch, we went and tried out a new Mexican place that was really good.  Then Dan went back to work for another hour or so before heading home to play with us!  He also ran some errands (including getting more oranges from Costco so we can have our orange smoothies every day.) :)   Friday night, Dan went to bed early (he's been a bit under the weather) and Eileen and Anna and I stayed up and did a pretend it's new years night up.  We stayed up late and did a puzzle and drank sparkling cider and started watching a movie, but then had internet issues, so we switched to an audio book. 

Saturday got down to the business of getting the house cleaned up.  The kids are hoping to get to go to Skate City on Monday and we spent some time helping the kids get their rooms clean and organized after Christmas.  We have had issues with Evie and James stealing candy from siblings and from parents - especially with the Christmas candy lying about, so we had a long talk about that and about having to make reparations.  

Sunday was wonderful.  We have church at 9 am this year.  Dan gave a talk today - and both the Sacrament meeting talks were wonderful.  I got new students in my Sunday School class with the new year which is always exciting.  Relief Society was wonderful - we have a new theme this year about walking with Christ and a wonderful discussion on it during class.  Then the best part of early church is that we had lots of time after for naps, and playing games together having fun together.  In the evening, Eileen played some games with us while Anna bounced around.  

Merry Christmas

The kids have been out of school all week and I've spent the week mustering up the energy to finish the Christmas Shopping.  Poor Eileen spent a large chunk of the week babysitting so that I could get stuff done.  Aside from my Christmas Shopping on Monday, we also tried to get laundry done and got the grocery shopping done.  

Tuesday I did a bit more shopping - the problem is that the places that I needed to go were across town and so while there wasn't much to buy, I had to do a decent amount of driving to get there.  By Tuesday I was mostly done.  Which was good - because I was almost out of time.   Wednesday morning, Eileen and I took off and headed up to Laramie to visit with Steve and Claire's family and to teach them crochet.  I had a really great time hanging out and teaching them and playing with them.  We spent the day having fun together and crocheting and then we stayed the night so we could have more fun on the next day.  

Thursday we spent the morning crocheting and teaching and learning, then after lunch and a little bit more instruction on reading patterns, Eileen and I headed back home in time for dinner and bedtime.  

Friday was mostly spent cleaning house and getting ready for the weekend.  I had to get the spare bedroom ready and then my parents arrived in the evening.  

Saturday my parents were kind enough to watch the kids for a bit while Dan and I got the last of the Christmas shopping done and got the food shopping for Christmas dinner done.  We also spent the afternoon getting food ready for that night and Christmas night.  Then in the evening, we headed to Frank and Tina's for the Christmas Eve party and Bagna Caulda.  We had a great night hanging out with family and friends and eating yummy (but not very healthy) food.  We got home from the party, read scriptures, said prayers, hung the last advent calendar ornament and let the kids open their Christmas Eve present.  Then we sent them to bed to finish getting stuff ready.  Amazingly, we were done and ready to head to bed by 10:30 - we think it was probably a record time for getting things done on Christmas Eve.  

This morning, the kids woke up bright and thankfully-not-too early.  We were up and going by about 8:00 and the kids opened their stockings, then paused for breakfast.  Then we did the presents from Grandma and Grandpa Jones, from each other, from mom and dad and from Grandma and Grandpa Cox.  Then we paused to get ready for church.  Then we headed to church for a wonderful Christmas Program and chatting with friends before heading back home.  After, we ate a quick lunch of muffins (using my Christmas present of silicone muffin pans, then opened the presents from Grandma Penny.  Then the kids got down to the serious business of playing with their toys and the adults got down to the serious business of getting things ready for the party.  Then in the evening, family came over to eat and celebrate and exchange presents.  We had a wonderful evening, which was not too late since there was apparently a Bronco's game tonight which my uncles HAD to watch.  :)  

This is James in his Bumble bathrobe and his Bumble sucker and his favorite new stuffed animal.  

This is Eileen decked out in her full nerd gear Christmas gifts.  Star Trek uniform and earrings.

And finally a cute Anna opening her stocking.

All in all - it was a wonderful Christmas, full of love and giving and throughtfulness and most importantly - Christ.  It's so wonderful having Christmas on the Sabbath!

And More Music

Well the week started off mostly normal - Laundry and grocery shopping.  Kids at school and homework, piano practice and such at home.  Becca came over in the morning to crochet with me and we had a fun time together!  Then we invited her and Jeremiah to come back for dinner.  We had another fun dinner of French Toast and fruit and had a great time together.  

Tuesday, Evie woke up early having thrown up, so she stayed home from school.  The other kids went to school, and Evie rested.  We cancelled preschool so the other kids wouldn't get sick and Evie and James and I just took it easy.  She was feeling better by the next day though.  

Wednesday was late start and then after dropping the kids off, James and I had a mostly easy day until they got back.  In the evening, Dan and Eileen had mutual, I had a quick interview to finish getting my reccomend renewed and Aaron had cub scouts.  Choir is out until the end of January.  

Thursday we had a Preschool Christmas party, we did lots of fun Christmas crafts and ate fun yummy snacks and had a good time.  After picking the kids up from their last day of school until after the holidays, we had a fun afternoon playing together.  Dan came home early from work while preschool was going on and went and slept most of the afternoon - he wasn't feeling so good, but was feeling better after.  In the evening, some of Dan's friends from work came over to play games with us.  We played a couple new games that they brought and let Eileen play too - one was very space/nerd themed and she loved it - and it was a fun game to play too :)  Then we sent her to bed and played a game of Dominion.  

Friday the kids were off school and we mostly just spent the day playing around the house and having fun together.  We were supposed to have a game night, but the DM was sick, so it got cancelled, so I spent the evening getting the necessary groceries for the cookie making weekend.  Then shortly after I got back home, the snow hit.  We got 4-5 inches and most of what we had going on for Saturday got cancelled.  

Saturday mostly ended up being a chill day.  Dan heard that Murdoch's had live Reindeer that you could go see, and we needed more chicken feed, so we headed down to let the kids see live reindeer.  They all thought it was pretty cool - though Aaron didn't wan't his picture taken.  

We also took the kids to the dollar store to do their shopping for each other.  They all had a great time this year picking out gifts for each other.  Even James got into it this year!  Then in the evening, we decorated cookies.  The kids had a blast as usual, we missed having Newell and Becky and their family, but we still had fun together.  

Sunday was great - Dan didn't have meetings so he got to stay and hang out with us before church.  Eileen gave her first Sacrament meeting talk today - she was REALLY nervous and didn't enjoy the experience at all - but she did a really good job anyway!  After some awesome lessons, we had ward choir practice - which was all of 4 people, including me and Eileen.  Then we headed home for a late lunch before Dan and Eileen headed out to go caroling with the youth.  They got back just in time for us all to pack up and head out.  Dan had to go to his company Christmas Party and the kids and I headed to Grandpa's for the Carol Sing and Scripture Reading.  It went well - Frankie also did a solo this year and his voice is really maturing and he is really becoming a great singer.  I got to sing "O Holy Night" again - I love singing that song!  Then after, the family gathered for a late dinner and fun and chatter before finally heading home for bed time!  Only one week until Christmas!

Christmas Music

So Monday was a survival day where I tried to get laundry done and tried to get some grocery shopping done and tried to do a little family home evening with the kids.  Dan being out of town is always a bit rough.  Anna had a doctors appointment after school, Eileen watched the other kids while I took her.  Then we had a fun time for Family Home Evening, the light the world idea for the day was to help the sick, so we made get well cards...  well what that really means with my kids is that they stamped a lot of random things on paper and punched decorative holes in that same paper and maybe wrote "get well" somewhere on it.  But it was cute and sweet and they had fun.  

Tuesday James had preschool in the morning, then in the afternoon, Anna had her all-state choir practice.  In the evening was the Relief Society Cookie Exchange.  Eileen wanted to make and bring her very own cookies - and she had a blast making them Monday night and bringing them on Tuesday.  The activity was a lot of fun and we had a good time together.  After, I dropped her and the other kids off at home and had her babysit so I could go to Institute.  Class was wonderful!  

Wednesday, the kids were so excited knowing that Dan would get home that day.  After school, Anna had a dentist appointment and then we got home in time to get dinner ready and eaten before Sister Cotrell came to babysit the little kids while everyone else was at all the events.  Me at choir, Dan got home just in time for Young Men, Eileen at Young Women, Anna at activity days, Aaron at cub scouts.  Choir practice ran late even on top of the extra half hour of time added for a tech rehearsal.  But it was wonderful!  

Thursday James had his preschool trip in the morning.  One of his little friends wasn't going to be able to make it because of a not happy baby sister, so I offered to pick her up and take her with us.  We all went to Hammond's Candy Factory and were lucky enough to get there on a day when they had some extra crafts and stuff for the kids to do because of the holidays.  The kids had a great time!  After school, Eileen had her teens for oceans meeting.  Plus Dan was home all day so we got to hang out with daddy.  Dan spent some of his day off building a back drop for a sister in our ward - he is such a good man!!!  I love how willing he is to help and serve others!  

Thursday night was our first concert of the season.  It went pretty well and it was a lot of fun.  Eileen came along with me - it's fun to have her want to come with me to these things!

Friday was a typical school day.  James and I had to run some errands in the morning, then after school, Anna had robotics and the rest of the kids had their piano and homework and such.  Then Dan picked Anna up a little early from Robotics to come home and have a quick dinner before I took her and Eileen to my concert.  They both enjoyed it, and Grandpa came too - so after we went with him back to his place to have hot cocoa and chat for a bit.  Then on the way home we made a little stop at Chili's for a dessert.  Yes it kept them out late - but it was a very fun night.

Saturday started out with the usual Flute lessons, then piano lessons followed by getting some cleaning done around the house.  We played a bit of maple story together, then in the evening, Dan took the kids to the ward Christmas party which was wonderful.  Eileen ditched her family early on to spend most of her time with a new girl in the ward.  I left about the same time to head to my final concert of the season.  The concert went well and was probably the best sung performance of the season.  It's always a little sad and a bit of a relief when the last concert is over.

Sunday was church.  I wore my cloak, so the kids spent most of Sacrament meeting snuggling up to me and stealing my cloak to use as a blanket.  But the meeting was wonderful!  The speakers were wonderful and there was a gorgeous musical number by a newer member of our ward on the violin.  After was class and relief society - another wonderful lesson!  After church, we had ward choir practice and then we headed home for our usual early dinner and family time.  Then in the evening, Eileen and I picked her friend up and headed to the Stake Christmas music fireside.  The fireside was wonderful with lots of good music and lots of good friends.

Here Comes Christmas!

I can't believe it's already December.  The kids went back to school on Monday and had a great time.  James and I took it easy together, reading books and cuddling.  We had the missionaries and Evie's primary teacher Sister Cotrell over for dinner.  We did yummy home-made pizzas - which Eileen of course didn't like, but I think everyone else liked it.  :)  

Tuesday was school for the big kids, preschool for James and I went home and napped until pick up time.  After school, there was no all state choir for Anna, so we all headed home and did the usual after school routine.  

Wednesday was late start school day, then James and I had fun at the house.  After school there was piano and homework and such, then in the evening, YM/YW, and Choir.  

Thursday was rather insane.  After taking James to preschool, I did some Christmas shopping for the kids, Then we got the kids from school and we kicked off the "Light The World" event with some service - we went and raked up our sweet neighbors yard.  The kids had fun working and playing and serving!  Then Dan came home early so we could go get a Christmas tree together before he left town.  

We headed to Home Depot as usual for our tree - picked out by Eileen - and grabbed it and took it home.  Dan got it set up while I got dinner ready, then after dinner, we decorated 

Bright and early on Friday, Dan headed to the airport to head to Florida while we stayed here to prepare for a cold front and snow coming in next week....  We mostly took Friday afternoon pretty easy and had a quick dinner out of the freezer.  Eileen and Anna and I had fun playing Maple Story together after the younger kids went to bed.  The Light the World suggestion for today was reading a story about an ancestor, so I went onto a blog my Grandpa created to record some of his and Aunt Joan's memories and I read some to them.  

Saturday started busy as usual - flute lessons for Eileen (and all the other kids were mad that they had to come too) Then piano lessons - Eileen is talking about maybe switching out piano for organ lessons.  Thankfully after that, stuff slowed down some.  We had lunch and the kids had fun running around outside and got some cleaning done around the house, and had a quick leftover dinner followed by bedtime for the younger kids and lesson prep for me.  For Light the World, the suggestion was to point out a virtue in someone else that they might now see, so we spent a few minutes before bedtime pointing out each others virtues.  I got a call in the evening from Uncle Frank saying that Tina had a heart attack but was doing better and would be coming home soon - it was scary - but it has been so sweet watching the kids pray for her ever morning and night during family prayers.  

Today was wonderful - mostly - Anna isn't feeling well :(  Church was wonderful though - my friend was able to make it for Sacrament Meeting.  The testimonies shared were wonderful.  The Relief Society lesson was wonderful and after church, we had a wonderful dinner together and had fun together.  We all got to sit down and watch the Christmas Devotional together - it was incredible!!  After we chatted with Dan for a little bit.  Today's Light the World suggestion was to resolve to pray every day in December - the kids pointed out to me that we already say prayers every day - so I challenged them to be a little better at remembering to say our personal prayers.  

Well now I just need to survive a couple more days before Dan gets home.... 

Happy Thanksgiving

This week was full of family fun and cooking and eating yummy food!  Monday and Tuesday the kids still had school, so it was a normal busy school day.  Piano practicing and reading and such, but no homework.  James didn't have preschool on Tuesday, so I took him with me to my doctor's appointment.  All is well - and James charmed the whole staff as usual.  I had blood drawn so I was a bit tired the rest of the day.

On Wednesday, Dan went to work in the morning, then came home in the afternoon and I took Eileen to a dentist appointment and then he took Eileen to the temple.  We spent some time getting the house cleaned up and nice looking.  Anna was a super kitchen helper - she helped with the spinach dip, she helped make the pumpkin chiffon pies and she helped make the rolls.

Thursday was the last of the cooking and taking it easy during the day.  Dan went and played in the ward Turkey Bowl in the morning, while the rest of us slept in, then in the evening we headed over to Stuart and Rebecca's for Thanksgiving.  Dinner was wonderful, company was wonderful.  You hear about other people dreading time with all the extended family during the holidays - but I love it - I love my immediate family and all our extended family on both sides and I love getting together with them!

Friday was spent cleaning up our Thursday messes, playing together and then in the evening, we had Jeremiah and Becca, Newell and Becky and their kids and Natasha and her boyfriend Eldon over for a leftover dessert night.  We all snacked and ate and helped finish off some of the desserts.  Then we played some games for a bit before people had to go home.

Saturday the weather was lovely and Dan was ambitious.  He started early on working outside to build a little covering for the bikes on the side of the house.  Then I did some grocery shopping while he took the kids to the park, then we did an early dinner of hot dogs around the campfire with s'mores for dessert and then we played a bit of Dungeons and Dragons with the kids.  Then the littles went to bed and the older kids watched a show and Dan and I ate a non-hot dog dinner.  Then we played a little Maple Story.  I am happy because I managed to get back on my old account and got my original characters back!

Today was wonderful.  Sacrament meeting was great - the talks were wonderful and the choir got to sing.  Sunday School was great - I love teaching my Sunday School class and I hope that they learn and feel the spirit.  Relief Society was also great - there was a great lesson on faith and testimony and then after the younger kids went home with Dan and Eileen and I went to choir.  After choir we had dinner, then played games together.  Eileen and Anna and Dan and I got to have our weekly scripture discussion - it is so neat getting to talk about the scriptures and the gospel with the girls!

Crazy Busy

This week was rather crazy - Mondays are always crazy - between laundry, grocery shopping, James and kids after school stuff - we run and run and run and then we collapse exhausted.  :)  We had a fun little FHE lesson from Evie this week - she loved getting to do the lesson.  :)

Tuesday James had preschool in the morning then after we had a fun afternoon reading together and snuggling.  Then after school, Anna had her first All-State practice - she will have them most Tuesdays until the performance.

Wednesdays are always a bit crazy.  Eileen had a doctor's appointment early on Wednesday morning for her regular well-child check up.  She is doing well and is growing healthy and strong!  Then the kids had school, James and I hung out together and then in the evening, we had our usual Choir/Young Men/Young Women/Cub Scouts filled evening.

Thursday James had preschool again - after dropping him off, I ran to Costco for some things we needed, then had just enough time to run home and grab Eileen's lunch (which she had forgotten again) and run it to the school before picking up James and heading home for lunch.  After school Eileen had her Teens for Oceans meeting - then in the evening, she had her first band concert!  She was awesome and even had a little solo!

Friday James and I took it easy - he cut up paper, played with play-doh and read (looked at) books.  Then after school, Anna had Robotics and the other kids had their usual homework and piano practicing.  After we got Anna and had dinner, Dan and I headed over to a friends house to play Pathfinder again.  We had a fun game night, but it's always fun when Dan and Jeremiah get together.

Saturday was just nuts.  Dan got up early to take Anna to a robotic competition - when they got there, there were no coaches there for her team, so Dan ended up staying and acting as coach and helping out until the actual coach got there.  Anna enjoyed it - but wasn't feeling very well, so she ended up coming home before the final results were announced.  While Dan was doing that with Anna, I was trying to get everything else done that we had expected to have two adults and two drivers for.  Thankfully Eileen's flute lessons were cancelled because that was the only impossible overlap.  The kids had a primary pancake breakfast in the morning.  The had tons of fun eating and decorating pancakes.  Then we got to watch a cute primary talent show.  After, I had Eileen watch the rest of the kids while I took Evie to pick out a birthday present for a birthday party later along with picking up my prescription refill.  We got home just as Sister Hendrickson was getting there for piano lessons.  Eileen went first and then got ready to go to a concert with Grandpa for her birthday.  She got to go see a band concert and found that her music teacher at school was one of the clarinetists with the band.  Then they went out for an early dinner before he brought her home - she really seemed to have a great time.  While she was doing that, and Anna was still at Robotics, and after piano lessons, Evie had a birthday party for her best friend at school, so I drove down to drop her off for a fun swim party, then drove back to pick her up 2 hours later.  We got back from picking her up a little after Dan and Anna got home and before Eileen got back.  We had a quick left over dinner.  Eileen got home during dinner and brought her leftovers home with her - she had had mussels and got most of the kids to try them and like them - she is such a cute girl! After a rather long and exhausting day, Dan made a quick grocery store run to get stuff for Sunday and then we tried to play a game of Lord of the Rings - but the game kicked our collective bottoms.  It's a cooperative game - but it didn't cooperate with us....

Sunday started out with church.  The Sacrament Meeting talks were wonderful.  My lesson was fun - I got to have the other class in with me and we had a good time talking about how to become spiritually self reliant and talking about scriptural examples of people who had questions and got answers.  Finally, during 3rd hour, we got to have a combined meeting with all the adults and YM/YW and then broke out into different family history classes.  After church, Eileen and I went to choir, then we got home and got to have dinner and fun with Dwayne and Nicole and kids.  Then we headed back to the church for Tithing settlement.  Then Dan ran out to do a bit of home teaching and came home in time to do our family scriptures and prayers before going with Eileen to the Youth fireside at the Bishop's house.  He dropped Eileen off to go run and help give a blessing before coming home and collapsing - and now it's my turn to go join him!

Life is good!

This past week has been wonderful in so many ways!  Monday was a pretty typical Monday, the kids had school, James and I took care of some errands, we did laundry and grocery shopping, the kids did homework and piano practicing.  

Tuesday, James had preschool and I had a doctors appointment, then after the appointment, I got to hang out with Becca.  After school was the usual kids stuff and family stuff, plus Anna had an orthodontist appointment which was a rough afternoon for her.  She had a hard time getting the new one in and totally broke down in the office.  Dan and I watched the election stuff happening most of the evening.  

Wednesday was late start for the school kids, and James and I took it easy at home.  After school was the usual plus a dentist appointment for Evie.  Then Young Mens/Young Womens, choir, cub scouts and activity days.  

Thursday was the big day!!  James had preschool in the morning, and then after school, we picked up the kids and Julie, then Julie watched the younger kids and Eileen, Dan and I went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead.  It has been a long time since we have done baptisms, and getting to do them with Eileen was such a special experience.  She was so excited and happy to be there that she wanted to write her feelings down and she wanted to go back again as soon as possible!  It was so neat to be there with her - to share the peace that can be found there and to spend time serving the Lord and our ancestors.  After this wonderful experience, Dan and I started talking about a way to get her to the temple every month.  The plan is to pick a day each month where one of us will drive her (and whatever of the beehives also want to come) to the temple after school for them to do baptisms.  Thursday was truly one of the most wonderful days of my life.  Especially with all the stress and anger and ugliness going on after the election - being able to escape to a true refuge from the storm and to be there with some of the people I love most was a wonderful thing!  

Friday James and I hung out while the older kids were at school, then after school, I dropped Eileen off with all the kids but Anna to take her to a doctor's appointment.  She has been really tired lately and we want to try to figure out why.  The poor girl had lots of blood drawn and came home exhausted.  We took it easy that night and she went to bed early.

Saturday was the usual busy - flute lessons, piano lessons, grocery shopping, cleaning the  house to get ready for Sunday, preparing lessons and all sorts of good things.

Sunday was fast Sunday, and it was wonderful - getting to listen to testimonies and wonderful lessons was awesome!  In the evening, we had a great time chatting with Grandma and Grandpa Jones and Grandpa Cox.  In the evening, Dan pulled out some boxes with old memorabilia looking for something and ended up looking through the stuff with Eileen and I looking on and laughing with him