Thanksgiving

This week we headed out to Idaho for Thanksgiving.  Tuesday morning, we packed up and headed out east!  Weather and roads were good and we got in that evening and stopped by Gene and Ann's house for a bit before heading to the air bnb for the night.  

Wednesday, I headed out early to go pick up Eileen.  I got to her place around 1, and we packed her stuff into the car, then headed back to Meridian.  We stopped for a quick dinner at Chick-fil-a and got back in time for me to put David to bed.  While I was driving and getting Eileen, Dan and the kids had fun with Grandma and Grandpa.  They had fun at the park playing together.  

Thursday was full of cooking and eating yummy food!  John and Melissa and their kids were there and Sarah and Rob and their family were there and it was wonderful!  It was so fun getting to see them and hang out and play games with them all!  

Friday, we were still eating and recovering.  Dan and most of the kids went ice skating and had a blast.  David especially was in 7th heaven and was so proud of himself when he was able to go with out the skating helper thingy by the end!  Everyone came home sore and tired and blistered up, but they had fun!  

Eileen and Ann and I went out shopping.  Ann wanted to take Eileen out shopping for her birthday and I wanted to see if I could grab something I had forgotten.  I really hadn't packed socks or anything for ice skating, and didn't want to be in pain with blisters, so I was happy to spend the afternoon with Eileen and Ann!  

Saturday morning, we got Eileen on a bus back to Rexburg, and then we packed up and cleaned up and headed back to Oregon.  The trip went quickly, at least in part because I slept a large chunk of the way (I had not slept well on this bed!)  We got back in plenty of time to eat dinner and get kids to bed, then Anna, Aaron, Evelyn and I went to open polo!  After, I headed down to Sandi's to pick up Koopa and bring him home!  

Sunday we had a special Sacrament meeting where people could bear testimony of a hymn, then we would all sing one verse of the hymn.  It was wonderful!!  The spirit was there and it was beautiful!  I'm so grateful for sacred music!  The ward choir also performed and did a wonderful job!  

After, we had stake choir practice for the Christmas concert, then in the evening, Encore practice!  Lots of amazing music!  

That was all the wonderful parts of this week - family, food and fun!!  Unfortunatly, there were other parts that were less wonderful.  On Monday, my dad went in for a procecdure to try to figure out what was causing the burning in his chest.  They found several 98% blockages and admitted him to the hospital and scheduled him for multiple bypass open heart surgery.  As usual my mom didn't want to ask for help, but we felt that it would be a good idea, so we got me a ticket and I headed out on a midnight flight to Texas on Sunday night to help my mom with getting him home from the hospital and helping out with thing around the house.  

And Endings and Family and Friends

We've had a busy week.  My first full week as a lifeguard and it went great.  I'm certainly busier now, but I've been enjoying the work and enjoying the people I work with.  

Tuesday was a super fun eveing!  Sandi and I went out for my birthday!  She took me to a beginner West Coast Swing class!  Then we grabbed some quick food at a bar that was doing Karaoke, so we each sang a song.  Then we headed out to a socal dance.  James was DJing and I got to meet a bunch of Sandi's dance friends and dance and had a blast.  Everyone was super nice and patient with my limited ability.  Plus even when I wasn't dancing, it was a lot of fun to watch!  

Anna has been working hard with her friend to finish up a cosplay outfit that the two of them planned and executed on their own.  I'm amazed at how well it turned out!!  

The Fall Band concerts were this week.  Anna was helping out with the Concert Band, so all three kids were in the Wednesday night concert, then Anna also played with the wind ensemble on Thursday.  They all did an amzing job and I'm so glad that they have the opportunity for this amazing musical experience!  

Friday night was the Water Polo End of Year Banquet.  I spent most of Thurday evening working on the slide show for the banquet.  I think they enjoyed it - and I think the parents did too.  It was a lot of fun and I was actually able to hand out all the metro and letter awards this year!   James has been drooling over Anna's new snuggly ever since.  :)

After the banquet, Dan and I went out to meet with some of James and Sandi's friends for a farewell party for James who is heading out of town for a couple months to be with his brother who is sick.  It was fun since I had met the friends when I went out dancing with Sandi and Dan had met them playing games with them.  We had fun playing Dominion and getting trounced by James.  

Saturday, Eileen had a craft fair that she went to, she had been working hard to get things ready for the fair, but she was very disappointed with the number of sales she had.  :(   

The Boys had fun doing some yard work and raking up leaves.  David mostly just wanted to jump in them and Aaron was mostly just trying to be helpful - James fell somewhere in between :)  But they got a lot of work done and had fun enjoying the nice weather!  

Saturday afternoon - Dan, Aaron and I went to Parkrose to play polo - we had fun and there was a great turnout.  Full court, 6 on 6 and subs!  Plus Thea was there - they haven't been around for awhile so it was awesome to see them again!  

Saturday evening, Anna and Evelyn had an Encore social that they went to.  Aaron and I went to Open Polo.  

This weekend was also Stake Confrence.  Dan and I went to the evening adult session Saturday (so I was late to open polo) Then the older kids went to the youth session this morning.  Finally, the general session today.  I was directing the music and the choir.  The choir did amazingly well and it was wonderful!  The messages and music and everything were wonderful!   Plus it was so awesome to hear my arrangement performed!   

After, we headed home to finish getting things ready for our early Thanksgiving dinner.  Since we will be in Idaho for Thanksgiving, we still wanted to get together with Lisa and Sandi, and tonight was the day that worked best for everyone.  It was so great to get together and eat yummy food and talk and play games.  We played Hues and Cues.  Steven gave a set of clues that netted him 8 points - I think that's the best we've ever gotten!  

New Beginnings

So Monday morning, James headed for Outdoor school.  All the 6th graders get to have a week of school outside with cabins and learning and fun.  James had been a bix anxious the day before, but Monday morning, he got to meet one of the leaders at drop off and we knew right away that James would have a blast.  We missed having him around, but he was so excited and when he came back he told us all about the amazing time he had learning and playing and making friends.  He especially said how he missed his leaders! 

Tuesday, I started my new job.  The only jobs I've had in a long time are coaching jobs, so this was a big day.   I'm only working a few hours a day for 4 days a week.  I'm lifeguarding at THPRD.  Yes it's mostly a teenagers job, but they need some people during the school day to lifeguard the lap swim and the adult swim team Barracudas.  It's something to do and it's been fun so far!  Scanning a pool isn't really much different than scanning the playground to keep tabs on my kids.  Dan insisted on taking this "first day" picture of me on my way out.  :) 

Wednesday and Thurday were much the same - work and school and family and friends.  Now that the High School season is over, I'm back to playing with the Masters team again which has been nice.  Now that I'm working for THPRD, the whole family has access to free lap swim and open swim at the pools, So one night while I was at masters, Dan and Aaron came too and did laps for a bit.  Aaron was highly impressed with Dan's ability to move both backward and sideways while trying to flutter kick.  Dan and Aaron had fun together and Aaron was glad to get out and get some exercise.  

On Friday, the kids were off school for Vetrans' Day.  David and Evelyn went to one of Sister Shum's music camps and had a fun time with friends. 

In the evening, Dan and I headed down to Salem area to watch Seth in his High School Play.  They did Peter and the Starcatchers.  They all did an amazing job and we had a lot of fun.  Plus after, they let the audience come and take pictures on the set with cast members.  It was a lot of fun, plus Dan and I enjoyed a yummy dinner before the show!  

Saturday the older kids had a youth service project.  They did yard work for some people in the ward.  Then in the afternoon, we went to a wonderful baptism at the church.  I played piano for the musical number, and it was a really sweet experience.  After, Anna, Aaron, Dan and I headed out to Parkrose to play polo.  It's been fun having him come, and while he can't swim, he plays a decent shallow goalie.  The kids also really like getting to play with him.  Then back home for dinner and family time.  In the evening, I took Aaron and Evelyn to open polo and we had a blast.  There were a lot of Mountainside kids there too.  

Today has been crazy, but amazing!  We had church which included a youth musical number which I directed and Anna accompanied.  The talks were amazing!  Primary went well, and after lunch at home, I played with James and David for a bit.  Then we had ward and stake choir.  They sound amazing and it's been so fun to direct them!  After dinner, Anna and Evelyn and I headed to Encore practice, then I came home after the family part to play games with Sandi and James.  

Halloween and Playoffs

 On Monday, we carved pumpkins.  Dan could only find these white ones, but it turns out they are easier to carve, so the kids had fun carving their pumpkins and putting them out on the doorstep.  Evie and Aaron both got some help from their little guinea pig buddies.

On Tuesday, I met up with Emily and Sara for lunch and chatting.  It is always wonderful to get together with these amazing ladies!  We had a wonderful time talking about life and faith and family.  

James and Evelyn went out trick or treating with friends, Aaron stayed at the house to pass out candy, and Anna, David, Dan and I went out trick or treating around the neighborhood.  Then Anna and Aaron and I left for water polo.  We mostly just had a fun time playing games.  Anna brought the mermaid fins and we played around and swam around and had a fun night.  

Wednesday, the boys had their game against Forest Grove to determine which team would go to the playoffs.  The whole team came and we won!  That was the first game the boys had won since I've been coaching, so it was exciting for them.  It also meant that they would have a game in the playoffs on Friday!  In the evening, I still had practice with the girls, and we worked on passing and shooting.  

Thursday and Friday, David was off school for parent teacher confrences.  So he helped me with cleaning up and doing some grocery shopping.  Then Thursday evening, we had a team dinner before playoffs.  We had fun eating and playing card games.  Then after, I was still able to go to Masters Polo at THPRD!  

Thursday was also Eileen's 19th birthday!  She called Dan and I to open her presents with us, and she went out to lunch with Bianca!  Such cute girls!!  

Friday, the boys team played the number one ranked team in the state, and lost - but they played hard and they played well.  They have come so far this season!  

Saturday, the girls had their play off game.  They also lost, but played well.  We were missing Ally, so it was always going to be a very rough game.  But they played their hearts out.  I am so proud of these girls and the team they have built together and the way the encourage each other and work hard together.  After the girls game, I headed out to Parkrose to play masters for a bit, then heade back down to Newberg to watch a bit more before taking Anna home for dinner.  Then in the evening we went to Open Polo.  We had a blast - there was a huge turn out with a bunch of Mountainside kids there.  

Church today was wonderful.  We had a wonderful fast and testimony meeting.  One of the young men in the ward who David just loves is leaving soon for a mission and he spoke in testimony meeting today and mentioned that he was leaving soon and David just broke down crying about how much he was going to miss Ian.  Such a sweet boy and such a great young man setting a wonderful example for my kids!  

We had ward choir and stake choir.  So much beautiful music and so much fun singing!  Then in the evening, after dinner, we I went with the girls to Encore.  They had asked for family members to join the choir for a couple numbers, but we had to come practice with the choir and then memorize the music.  So I went to go practice with the kids and the other family members in the choir!  Had a nice time chatting with Eileen, though since it was mostly after dinner, and it was a bit noisy during the dinner clean up, it was a bit hard to hear her sometimes and we had to ask her to repeat herself.  

Fall activities winding down

We've had a busy week with both water polo and marching band coming to a close.  Evelyn had her marching band state comptition this weekend and Mountainside took 6th in the state!  She has loved doing marching band this year and had worked so hard!  

David always wants to stay and play after school unless it is actually raining - not drizzling or sprinkling, raining.  He loves to have me play with him and his friends - usually freeze tag, but on Tuesday he was content to lay down under the slide and read for a bit.  It was so cute!  He spread his coat out under him and got cozy! 

Tuesday, Anna and Aaron had their last league game (and last home game) so it was Senior Night.  It was such a sweet and sad experience all over.  These girls have been with me from the beginning and it's hard to see them go, but especially Anna - it's hard to imagine coaching with out her there.  Our boys lost, but played well.  Our girls won and played well.  

Wednesday, we did team pictures.  We had a ton of fun taking pictures, then got in a short work out.  

Thursday was our last game of the season for the girls.  The girls team went up to play Hillsboro again.  The girls struggled in the foggy outdoor pool and didn't really play their best, plus it was COLD!  Sarah sent me this great shot of her daughter Larkin and Anna after the game though! 

On Friday, the kids had no school.  David and Evelyn went to Sister Shum's music camp in the morning and then in the afternoon, we made and decorated cookies.  The kids all decorated some cookies, but David hung with me to the very end.  He's gotten pretty good at decorating too!  

Saturday, Evelyn was gone at band all day - and into the wee hours of the morning.  I picked her up from the school at 1 am.  Dan and Anna and Aaron and I all went to play at Parkrose.  It was so great to be able to play again!  I've missed them and missed getting to play with masters groups.  The open polo group is fun, but not the same.  

In the evening, we went to the harvest festival with our ward.  We all had a fun time.  We invited some friends to come and had fun hanging out with them.  One had grown up in France and we got some tips and suggestions for our trip with Anna next summer.  Fun, Food and too much sugar was had by all! 

After we went home and got kids to bed, Aaron and I went to Open Polo - because 1 1/2 hours is not enough polo!  :)  It was a fun night, but lots of newer less experienced kids there.  

Today was crazy busy.  The ward choir was singing, so we got to church early to practice.  They did a great job!  Primary was wonderful and the kids were great!  

After church, I headed home for some lunch, then headed down to Salem for the coaches meeting.  I had been dreading it, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it might be.  We are positioned better than I had feared and I didn't really have to deal with anyone since I got there a bit late and left as soon as we were done.  I left quickly so I could get back to Stake Choir rehearsal.  Asuka had started it for me since I knew I would be late, but we got some good work done and things are coming along well.  After a stressful day, it was so sweet to walk into the chapel and hear them singing!  Then we came home and chatted with Eileen during dinner and scriptures before heading to the Stake Fireside.  It was wonderful, but a bit longer than we expected - and the kids were tired and past bedtimes before it ended.  We came home and played games for a bit.  

Red Head?

This week started out with all the normal busy.  School, Water Polo in the evenings, Band for Evelyn, Family and fun!  

James had no school on Thursday and Friday because of parent/teacher confrences.  He has been wanting to try dying his hair for awhile now, so Dan took him out to get hair dye and they had fun together turning James' hair red!  He is loving it and I think he looks even more like he's straight out of an anime show even more now than he did before!  

Thursday night, we had a Water Polo game against Lincoln high school.  It was as ugly as I had feared it would be, but the kids played well - they played hard and they played better than they have all year.  They did a great job, but still not enough to beat Lincoln.  

We've had some amazing weather this week - good enough for me to hang out with a friend and crochet on her back patio, good enough to have dinner outside on our table and of course, good enough to have fun playing outside after school with friends.  

The boys had fun playing Twister with Dad "forehead on green!"  

Saturday, the boys asked me to take them to their new favorite park.  They had fun climbing all over and playing and swinging and climbing.  They even ran into some school friends there!  It was a fun afternoon, with the rain just holding off long enough to get some fun in!   

After, Dan and I went out to the temple for a Relief Society sealing session, then out to dinner after with the Ballegeers.  Then after getting the younger kids to bed, Aaron and I headed out to Open Polo.  There were a lot of people there including some regulars who haven't been around for a few weeks, and some of my players!  So it was fun and ended too soon!!  

Today at church was the primary program.  It was wonderful.  The kids as always were adorable.  David especially just sang his heart out - and the love and joy just pours out of him!  He was making cute little hand signs and grining and hamming it up!  James did a great job in his last primary program ever.  I think he's rather glad he doesn't have to do that anymore :)  After, we had a little primary party with snacks and games and church movies!  Ward and Stake choir was a lot of fun.  They are such an amazing group and so fun to work with and so amazing to hear them bring my arrangements to life!!  

Right after choir was over, Eileen called and we chatted with her and did dinner and scriptures and prayers and games with her - we chatted with her until 9:30 pm!  Also - she sent her good luck to me so I could win Space Base. :) 

Amazing Kids

David started having some homework this month, and David went all gung-ho on it this week. He wanted to do as many as he possibly could - including spelling his name out with toothpicks.  :)

We've gotten plenty of rain this week, but also some beautiful days for being outside and walking and playing with friends.  David has especially loved seeing all the Halloween decorations that are going up! 

Tuesday, we had a water polo game against Sunset again.  The girls won in overtime.  They had been behind 6 points at the start of the 4th quarter, then brought it back to a tie by the end of the game.  The other coach and I decided since there was a time crunch to do a golden goal with a hard stop at 9 if no one had scored.  The girls went out hard and scored quickly.  It was felt so good to win after losing to them before.  They did a great job!  The boys lost again, but they played better.  Only one kid got rolled and it was for something he hadn't actually done.  

Friday, the kids had no school, so Dan took Aaron to get his drivers permit.  He passed the test and is now ready to start practicing driving!  (save me!)  

Saturday was a crazy busy day.  Evelyn had marching band competition all day - but they did a great job taking 1st in the Century Showcase!  Evie is amazing and she has worked so hard for this!  

Dan took the boys out to a fun new playground that they have been talking about and wanting to go back to ever since.  They had a blast doing "parcour" and climbing on everything and trying everything.  

 Anna and I headed down to Salem right after lunch for our Peter the Rock rehearsal and concert.  The concert went really well and we had a great time!  Don shared a new song with me between the rehearsal and the concert that he had written with more of Brads lyrics and with my voice in mind.  It's stunningly beautiful and has been stuck in my head ever since!  After, there was a cast party, but Anna and Leanne both wanted to get home not too late, so we headed right home after.  

Church today was wonderful - the talks were so good and the primary did a great job getting ready for the program next week!  After church was choir - the ward choir is awesome and it's so fun to work with them and we are getting Christams stuff ready!!  yey!  After ward choir was Stake Choir.  We had an amazing turn out!!  We didn't even have enough music for everyone!  It was amazing to work with so many wonderful talented people.  We worked through the music, including my new arrangement "Abide With Me" and everyone was so sweet and it sounded so wonderful.  I would have been happy to stay and chat with people for longer after, but we had to hurry out to go to get Aaron's patriarchial blessing.  It was amazing and so different from Anna and Evelyn's.  He's such an amazing kid and it was a wonderful experience!  

Sandi and James came over in the evening to play games - James trounced all of us.... twice....