Dairy Queen after Bradley's Choir Concert

Bradley joined the school choir this year and has been really loving it!  I had no idea he enjoyed singing as much as he does!  He got to sing at the Kaysville Tabernacle on Saturday the 26th and so we all went over there after Erika's basketball game to watch.  They did a great job.  Bradley was bummed that she took out a couple of the songs and one of them was the one with his solo.  He will have a few other concerts and we will still get the chance to hear him, but it was a little disappointing for me as well!  Great concert though!  Fun experience to be in that awesome building.  We had to make a Dairy Queen run to celebrate his hard work :).  

Dairy Queen has been our celebration spot for at least 10 years.  Not counting the ones as a youth with my own family, and I have very few pictures of us enjoying our time there together.  It's always so much fun and everyone gets along so well.  Probably one of the pulls that keeps us coming back :).  Ice cream does that to you I guess.  So this time, since I'd failed to get any pictures of Bradley in his concert (I know, duh, even had the camera with me the whole time), I thought it would be fun to capture the celebration instead :). 

The eyebrows.... all of them.

I love this :).

Sorry, Charity, you weren't looking at the camera in any of the three shots of us- I picked this one because it had the most looking at the camera :).

This was seriously SECONDS after that first one.

Good times.  I really love this cute family of mine.    

Erika's Birthday and Party

ERIKA'S BIRTHDAY
Erika woke at about 2:00am on her birthday with a tummy ache!  I was so sad for her, but couldn't help but be the first one to wish her a happy birthday :).  I think she was just anxious for her birthday because she slept the rest of the night next to me and felt fine in the morning.

She was so cute that morning, just really bright and happy :).  She saw her adorable sign made by yours truly :).  She got to have crepes for breakfast and then off to school!  I tried to talk her into staying home and playing with me all day, but she wouldn't.  So I spent most of the day making her cake.  Nate spent it running around getting things for me and his venison project.  Erika got to hand out her treats to her class.  Then when she got home she and I worked on her Legos that Grandpa Hatch had given her the night before.  He had come over after Charity's play because he wasn't able to come to the party the day of.  Once Charity and Kelly got home, we went swimming!  We had so much fun!  Kelly and Erika kind of buddied up and played together most of the time.  Erika was so happy she was tall enough to go on the slide on her own.  Nate ran around with Jack and Noah a lot of the time, in the shallow end, playing tag or something.  Molly and I made about a thousand rounds in the lazy river :).  She sure got comfortable with the water quickly!  That was fun for both of us.  She also got to play with Charity and Bradley.  Charity, Bradley and Luke spent a lot of time playing basketball.  Unfortunately the diving board pools were being used for the swim teams.  So much fun though!  I hope Erika enjoyed it.  After that we raced home to eat pizza, get dressed and looking "nice enough" for the Ward Pie Night and let Erika open a few presents.  We just couldn't decide between the Pie Night and Erika's party so we crammed both into one evening!  

After Pie Night we came home and she blew out her candles and got to open the rest of her presents.  

We ate her "cake" and then went to bed!  It was a full day!  I think she enjoyed it though.  Grandma Ruthie and Grandpa Russ sent her a really cute card with a little bracelet attached.  That was pretty thoughtful considering they are in the hospital with Grandpa's heart surgery.  Grandma Hatch wasn't feeling well that day so she came by the next day to spoil her.  Erika was very loved and spoiled rotten- I'd say the birthday was a success :).  11-10-16

Things Remember Week of 11-27-16

KAYSVILLE LIGHT PARADE
This year's light parade was a hit!  Everyone had all their snow stuff on and seemed to stay pretty warm minus Molly who I screwed up and forgot her mittens (ugh!).  She got pretty grumpy by the end.  The kids walked up the street while we were waiting for it to start (almost an hour late!) to get donuts and hot chocolate.  They played with the Maughans.  We all love this tradition!  The actual parade is so short, I'm not sure we're really there for IT, but it was a lot of fun as well.  They threw candy in the slush and the kids were hesitant to pick it up, which was funny, but ah, tradition.  This year they also gave out these adorable puppy and kitty stuffed animals!  And these are NICE stuffed animals to be handing out during a wet parade!  I was impressed :).  There's still something inside of me that wants a stuffed animal when they're being handed out for free like that :), like for myself... luckily I had some self-control.  But it was fun to see my kids get them :).  Bradley got two and gave one to Jack and one to Kelly, then Kelly turned around and gave hers to Kate!  Nate walked Molly right up to them and got her one, that was super cute.  So way cool!!  I LOVED the little note Kate left on our doorstep that night for Kelly, thanking her... so adorable!!  Made Kelly feel awesome.  It was just a really fun night.  I got to talk to Emily to top it off :).  Good times.  We're changing our tree decorating tradition of doing it the first FHE after Thanksgiving and postponing it a week just so that we can accommodate the parade :).  Works out good this year with Thanksgiving being so early.  Anyway- bring on Christmas! 11-28-16

CUTE
Jack insists that he's not cute :).  Every time I tell him otherwise he says, "I not cute!" or "Boys not cute!"  He's funny :).

I've been taking advantage of Jack's ego lately.  He knows he's super strong and talks about his big muscles all the time, so I preface any favors I need him to do with, "Hey Jack, do you think your big muscles could do _________?" or "Are your muscles big enough to do _______?" or "Could you and your big muscles do ______?"  It's funny how quickly he will do something knowing it's because of his big muscles :).  He picked up a box with his hands and foot and then got it up on top of his head before taking it out to the recycle bin.  Looked like he was showing off :).  Made Luke and I laugh :).  This whole muscles thing was really effective on Bradley too, when he was Jack's age, so I'm glad I remembered it and was able to pull it out of my back pocket :).  For some reason this wasn't a big thing for Luke and Noah.  11-30-16

Ya know what you do with your hands after you get powder or sand on them, when you wipe them off on each other to get it off- well, that's Molly's new thing :).  After EVERY THING she does!  It's adorable!  It was really fun to see her doing it with the hand sanitizer at the hospital visiting Grandpa Russ today.  Made me laugh :).  12-1-16

GRANDMA RUTHIE
We were signed up to pick up Ruth today to take her to the hospital.  It's always good to see her and spend a little time together.  She sure has had to go out of her comfort zone with all this hospital business.  I hope she is relieved of that trial soon and able to get back to her normal routine.  It's gotta be hard to watch your best friend and sweetheart suffering and not have him to take care of you at the same time.  She's amazing though- she's stayed extremely positive through it all.  I just love her and hope she is going to come out okay.  We didn't really get to see Russ, he was sleeping the whole time we were there.  But it was a nice visit with Grandma.  We just keep praying for him to get better I guess!  12-1-16

DATE NIGHT
We FINALLY got a real date night!  Feels like it's been FOREVER!  I'm sure it hasn't, but still.  These mandatory overtime shifts every Friday evening are starting to take their toll.  So I was VERY happy to hear Nate had his Friday off and that we would be going on a date :).  Thanks to Charity we were able to go out.  Nate planned a really nice evening.  We went to Brio in City Creek- a really nice Italian restaurant with really delicious food!  I LOVED it.  I especially loved the atmosphere.  After that we shopped around a little, then walked over to Temple Square.  I LOVED Temple Square this year!  It triggered so many memories from when we were dating.  It's funny that those triggers go back to then when we've been back to temple square almost every year since then.  And it's not like it's changed a whole lot :).  I love how they decorate with the nativities and all the luminarias.  The bubble lights are a favorite and of course all the beautiful trees.  We made a stop over at "our spot" and reminisced a little.  It was really fun.  I just LOVE temple square!  Can't get enough of the place!  We decided to do our traditional train ride down there next Monday with the kids.  Getting it in early this year :).  I think we've gone after Christmas the last couple years.  It's one of my favorite traditions, but after asking the kids- I think I'm the only one :).  So after temple square we went to see Fantastic Beasts.  I liked the movie, but I was having serious issues with my legs and my itchy scalp.  Sounds disgusting.  But I was basically restless and couldn't get comfortable.  Then I dozed off a couple times too.  I was kind of a drag I guess, but Nate loved it!  I'm glad he got to see it, he's been wanting to.  It was such a nice break and relaxing time.  I'm so grateful for Nate and the love he constantly shows me.  I don't know what I'd do without him.  I just love him.  12-2-16

SATURDAY
A full day!  We went to Erika's game in the morning- she rocked it!!  The girl is fearless!  I just LOVE watching her play.  Then Nate went to work and shortly after, I went to Elise Nielson's baptism.  It was fun to sit there with Barbara- love that woman!- and Elise looked beautiful!  It was a really neat day.  I'm so grateful for the opportunity to witness baptisms.  There's such an amazing Spirit that accompanies that ordinance.  It's so neat.  We ran over to the Gardens chapel after to set up the chairs for our practice the next day.  When I got home, the kids loaded up in the car and we made it to about 4 stores to pick out gifts for friends and get supplies for our homemade gifts for each other.  It didn't end up being quite as productive as I had wanted, nobody seemed ready to commit to anything (one of the downsides to going out early).  Then we headed home with our pizza and waited for Nate to come home with the mounting kit for the TV.  Then Nate spent a while installing that.  I wasn't sure if I'd like it, but I think I do!  Which is good since it was my idea :).  We needed more sitting room in our family room.  Plus, I think TV stands look junky- well ours did.  The urgency to do it now came when I realized that if we moved the TV up above the fireplace, we'd be able to move the loveseat from the living room down to make room for the Christmas tree!  Which I couldn't be happier about!!!  The family room feels roomier :) and more homey.  I like that a lot.  12-3-16

Sunday Night Journaling from the Kids

So this was a little different tonight- with journaling.  My hope was that I would point the kids in a direction of peace and harmony with each other.  You are supposed to write a letter to the family as if it is the last thing you will ever get to say to them.  It's a family night that Heidi did when we were little and I still have the letter I wrote.  I remember feeling a lot of love for everyone, so hopefully it did the same thing for these guys.  I loved reading their letters!

LUKE:
The last words I would tell my family would be Thank you guys for being a great family.  I'm sorry for the times I've ver been rood.  Think of me when ever you can.  Mom and Dad thanks for being such awsome parents.  Thanks for being such great siblings.  I love you guys so much.  I will miss you.  Thank you guys for always being there for me.  Thanks for helping me, being kind to me, listening to me, motavating me, and always thinking of me.

ERIKA:
I hope you gise will rember me.  I hope my mom will remember our date  Where you got to paint cool stuff.  I hope my Brother bradley remebrs when we would go fishing.  I hope my brother Luke will remembrs when we playd with monbolls.

KELLY:
Sunday 11/20/16  Kelly Maynes  Journaling
What would be the last words I would want to say to my family?
I love you guys so much!  I want to aplogize for all those times I hurt your feelings or offended you in any way.  Those times I might've insulted you were meant to be jokes.  I have never wanted to hurt you guys in any way.  You are the biggest blessing I have been given!  I have realized how much you guys mean to me!  You are so priceless and I will always remember all the fun memories I've had with you!  Right now I've realized that all those little things we've faught about don't matter anymore.  As I've thought about all the things we've been through together I wish we would've spent less time arguing.  And I just want to tell you thank you!  Thanks for being there for me through thick and thin.  Dad I'm going to miss your amazing smile and all your funny jokes.  And the way you would wait for me, with that guilt giving face, to give you a kiss after prayers.  Mom, I'm really going to miss having you around to listen to my day.  I love the way you would give me a hug, it made me feel so safe and warm.  Charity I loved being able to talk to you about anything.  And I'm sorry for those times that I would get mad at you for stupid things.  I wish we could've gotten along a little bit better.  I remember the fun we'd have when we walked home from school.  We would just talk and laugh!  And when I was with you it made me feel like I could do anything!  It took me away from the world for a little bit.  Bradley, I am so sorry for everything I did wrong to you!  Brad I've always been jelous of how talented and amazing you are.  I don't know of any other kid who is as tough and sweet as you are.  I loved seeing you laugh and goof around!  Brad I loved the way you would smile at me! :)  And I'm really going to miss having you around to stick up for me!  You were always there for me to make me have a little bit more confidence to get me a little bit farther in life.  Luke I don't know what i am going to do without you!  And I just have one question for you, how did you always stay so positive and happy?  I remember coming home from a really hard day and you being the first person to make me smile.  Luke I always loved hearing your prayers!  They always gave me a pinch of hope.  Luke you had the brightest smile and you could always make me laugh  I really don't know how I'm going to be okay without coming home and seeing you smiling.  And I will always remember the fun bike ride we had to Wendy's.  I mean even then you were able to stay happy!  And I'm really going to miss that.  Noah, oh sweet little Noah I love you so much!  I think you were the one who kept my testimony strong.  I'm going to miss how either you or Charity in a hard time would immediately think to drop down on your knees and ask Heavenly Father for help.  And Noah, anyone who gets to spend time with you is so lucky!  I am going to miss you!  You re so much fun to be around.  How did you always have such a creative mind?  I wish I could've been more like you :).  Erika, I am going to miss every single little thing about you!  You have shaped me to be a better person and sister.  I love seeing you run over to be and giving me a big hug.  And Erika I wish we would've argued less.  I remember when you would drag me around the house to get me to do something.  Erika every guy is going to fall for your bright personality and sparkling smile.  I don't know if I could've lived without having you as a little sister.  And I loved playing lacrosse with you and making your fairy garden.  Jack, I loved your hugs!  They made me so happy!  And Jack I want to say that I am so sorry for teasing you!  But you were always so patient with me.  And I loved doing things with you!  You could always turn any activity into something fun!  I remember when you were born.  You were such an innocent little angel!  You always have carried the spirit with you wherever you were.  I could tell that you had a strong trelationship with HEavenly Father and it had an influence on me.  And Jack I absolutely will miss your cute little prayers!  You had more love in your little body than anyone.  And I am going to miss you Jack.  I remember the fun we would have outside!  or when we built a tent in your room.  But Jack you'll have to ask someone else to help you now.  But I want you to keep on laughing.  Molly, I loved that you looked like me :)  I remember how everyone would call you my little clone.  But Molly, grow up to be the best person you can! Have an influence on the world.  Molly I loved seeing all your cute little facial expressions.  And whenever I'd hold you I could feel so peaceful.
I want you all to know that I love you more than anything in th eworld!  you guys are my world.  And even though I won't be with you anymore.  I will be with you again.  Stay strong and make the world a better place for me :)

BRADLEY:
Dad I loved all the jokes you made.  And I love it when you would wake me up in the morning singing lovely wonderful songs.  I loved going out and playing basketball and going fishing with you.  I remember you would always be there to cheer me up or play with me even when you didn't really want to.  You would always take us out to dinner or when we went to a place to play an activity you would always team up with me or against.  I remember at dartside you made me the most important on the team because it was my b-day.  I remember you were the most popular parent when we went on school field trips.  I loved how you always had me as the star basketball player on our team and the most important one.  I loved all the smoked meats you did.  The pork, salmon, sausages, deer, fish, brisket, ribs and jerkey were so good.  Thx for teaching me to smoke foods.  Thanks for teaching me how to be an awesome fisherman.  Mom I loved how you could always have fun.  I loved how you teased me alot.  (the fun way).  I loved whenever you took me on feild trips you went and got me frosties.  I remember you would always drive me to the ponds whenever I didn't have someone to go with.  I remember you would always push me forward to the finish whenever I did a race.  I remember when you would always help me with my projects or assignments at school.  I remember that you were the best at making cakes.  You could make any sie of cake or desine out of cake and fondant.  I loved how everything was in order and fun.  I rmeember you would make any situation fun.  I remember you made the tastiest meals.  You could never mess up one of your meals.  You would always help me with any problems I had you are so smart and you are great at solving problems.  You are one of the most spiritual person I know.  Charity you are an awesome sister.  I loved that you would always fish and play basketball with me.  I remember you were such an amazing cook.  Though sometimes you thought you messed up in your cooking I thought it was fantastic.  I remember that you did the hoop shoot and won like 3rd place in the state.  You would always try to make me feel better or get better.  You would always get me out of trouble.  Kelly I remember that you have always been there to cheer me up.  I am so sorry about all the fights that we have gotten into.  Kelly you are such an awesome sister.  You are always there to play with me when I am in need of someone.  You are the best artist I know you can practically draw anything you see you're like a printer.  I am so sorry for being mean to you all these years you are awesome!!
Luke I love you so much.  YOu are so much fun to play with.  I sure love playing on your basketball team.  Remember that buzzer beater three where we wont the game It was awesome  I love going to boondocks with you because you're my good luck charm at all arcade games  I remember we would always play foosball and you would always win.  I loved how whatever condition we were in you were the cheerful one.  I love you were soo good at almost everything you tried.  You are so amazing!!!
Noah you are super awesome.  I sure love to play with you.  YOu are such an awesome artist.  I loved watching you draw it's entertaining.  I remember you were always super happy.  I loved how you were so amazing at basketball and fishing.  I loved taking you fishing with me because you would always make me catch even more fish.
Erika you are an awesome sister.  I loved watching your basketball games because....

[Bradley didn't finish so I will add the rest of his when he does :).  Also, Noah's got misplaced.  I will see if I can get him to rewrite his.]

Things to Remember Week of 11-20-16

SHARING TIME
Ulgh.  First time teaching Sharing time in a very long time.  Kinda stunk it up.  Good thing I'll have more tries.  11-20-16

ANOTHER MONDAY IN THE BOOKS
Yep, it was Monday.  Got most of my cleaning done.  Picked up my first Christmas gift at Target- I love shopping online, even if I have to pick it up.  Had lunch at Mom's with Jack and Molly.  Made dinner- yummy Thai soup.  FHE- my Gratitude lesson.  Then the rest of the night I spent in the bathroom.  It was HORRIBLE!!!  All I could think was that I'd gotten my Mom's weird virus that took her 2 weeks and a round of antibiotics to get over.  Luckily I talked Nate into staying home for me on Tuesday, slept in, and spent the day on the rocking chair trying to rest up.  Hopefully it's really gone.  11-22-16

FHE
My lesson on Gratitude.  I shared my story about counting my blessings when I was in college.  We made a thankfulness turkey.  Then played Four Corners (I rocked Molly because I was starting to get sick).  Then we had Kelly's cheese cake and egg nog for the treat!  11-21-16

9:00 PM
I hope I get more used to our late night Presidency Meetings- I had no idea just how tired I can get that time of night.  It's definitely not my first choice.  I'm willing to make it work though.  11-22-16

FALL BREAK
I'm wishing I'd taken some pictures during the break!  I don't think I did.  Lame.  We didn't do a whole lot, but it was really nice and relaxing which is what we all needed if you ask me.
The kids played with friends a lot on Wednesday.  We had playgroup at the church and everyone enjoyed that, including me.  We did a puzzle and some games.  It's been fun to do a few puzzles with Luke lately- he really loves it.  Lots of fun.
Thursday was a little crazy, but ended up being a really good day.  Kelly and I worked on a few different projects.  Then made our Reese's Turkeys- they turned out super cute- I did get a picture of those- I think they could be a new tradition to replace our old Nutter Butter cookie ones :).  We'll see.  Then I made the rolls and stuffing and helped Charity make the yummy "Nutty Cereal Candy" or "Yummy Stuff" as I call it :) for dessert.  While Nate finished up the turkey (he worked on that all night Wednesday and all day Thursday- not an easy project!  But his Smoked Turkey is WELL worth it!!  SO delicious!  And he did the mashed potatoes and sausage and peppers stuff that goes inside the turkey.  We loaded it all in the car and hauled it all down to my Mom's for dinner!  We had a really yummy time.  I think the only thing that could have made it better would have been if we'd sat at a table so that our cute little place setting turkeys hadn't been a flop!  Otherwise, good times.  Everyone got all fed up and then we left :).
Friday we went to see Moana as a family.  That was SUCH a cute show!!  I think it's right up there with Tangled in my book.  I LOVED the music especially and how pretty Moana was without being super slender.  They stayed true to the culture- I love when they do that.  After Nate went to work Charity, Kelly and Bradley all went to the temple and did baptisms!  I was so proud of them!  I took Molly shopping while we waited for them.  It was really neat that they wanted to carry on the White Friday tradition even though Grandma Ruthie and Grandpa Russ couldn't be there.  Made me happy.  And the cute picture they took of themselves after made me happy too.
We had several sleepovers during the long weekend- that is Jack's new favorite thing- sleeping in his sibs rooms and keeping them up til all hours letting them wait on him hand and foot and cater to his every whim.  I need to have them write about our break and Thanksgiving!  I snagged a lot of really awesome deals this weekend as well!  It was nice to finally be able to take advantage of some of them.  11-25-16