Week of 1-6-19

FIRST SUNDAY

This was our first Sunday of the year, first Sunday with the new two hour schedule, first Sunday of no Sharing time, and Molly's first Sunday in Primary!  It was pretty great!  I must say!  I 100% support these changes :).  And Molly did great!  She really loved singing Sunbeam and I Am A Child of God.  It's fun to sit there and watch her the whole time.  She squirmed around in her big chair like she was trying to give her teacher and I a heart attack.  But I think the best part was when I heard her say, "I LOVE this place!"  Barbara loved it too :).  So adorable.  It was our first Sunday doing our Come Follow Me Family Study time, and I have to admit I was a little frustrated because EVERYTHING had to happen right after church.  The Kelly was helping with sacrament for other people, the older boys were doing fast offerings, and Charity had to have a Presidency meeting... it felt like everything was conspiring against me.  I realize that's silly now and that they were doing important things, but we have such a short little window with Nate home right after church that it's hard to not be irritated when we don't get to use it for our family!  It will all work out in the end.  We did get to finally sit down and study and overall I think it went well.  We had an hour together before Nate had to go to work.  I wish we'd had more time.  Everyone was getting into it.  The rest of Sunday was kind of a bust.  I forget how much Sunday there is to keep Holy when we have 9:00 church.  Gets really hard especially in the winter.  We need to come up with some new reverent ideas.  I got a bunch of indexing done which was nice!  It's been a while since I made time for that.  I need to do it more often.  1-6-19

FHE
We had to have FHE late this week, waiting til after Luke's performance, Kelly's Lax meeting, and of course the Jazz game :).  But it was a nice lesson.  Charity talked about the Come Follow Me lesson and we talked about how with God all things are possible.  I love that reminder.  We played "What if" for Kelly's activity, and postponed our treat which set a few people off.  But we learned that it's okay to have expectations that are not met and to be okay with it.  Hopefully that sank in a little, I was really disappointed with some of their responses.  1-7-19

MOLLY
When Molly and I were coming in from reading with Erika's class, I was snuggling up to her and she was being really cuddly, it was super cute and I said, "Did you know Mommy loves you?!" And she said, "yes".  Then I asked her, "Do you love Mommy?" and quickly, she pulls her fingers out of her mouth, leans forward to see the ground and almost yells, "DON'T STEP ON HACKS, MOM!!" HA!!  Yep, she loves me :).  1-8-19

LUNCH WITH EMILY
We finally got to go to lunch!  It was kind of a spur of the moment idea, but we made it!  We went to Chik-fil-a and it was so nice that the littles actually let us talk and weren't too much trouble :).  We had a great time!  1-8-19

CUB COMMITTEE
We had a really annoying cub committee meeting Tuesday night.  Might be because it was late at night, but I HATED IT!!  It made me so frustrated the entire time!  For more reasons than one.  I was super irritated.  The next morning, the frustration was lingering and some other things I had had said to me in another conversation during the day Tuesday, kind of ate at me all morning.  Luckily I was able to get ahold of my feelings and really turned things around after.  It was cool to witness the change after I prayed for help and talked to Heavenly Father about my concerns.  I have recommitted myself to my faith!  And my calling.  Good stuff.  1-8-19

SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL
So this was Luke's big week!  He had performances Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday night and one in the afternoon on Wednesday as well.  He was a little nervous on Monday, I could tell, going early and such, but after that, he even said, it was easier and he was less nervous.  We got to go see it on Wednesday with the whole family.  I was so sad that it didn't work to go to any other performances, but it was great to be able to sit and watch the whole thing- Molly even sat there the whole time.  Luke did such a great job! He was a jungle citizen and had some lines.  I was so impressed with his acting!  I wondered how he would do now that he's older, but he really got into it and made it a lot of fun.  They all did a great job!  It was a lot of fun to watch!  I was glad they changed up the backdrop and costumes from the year before, didn't even feel like a rerun.  But lots of fun! I am glad Luke had that opportunity!  1-9-19

TEMPLE THURSDAY :)
Nate and I finally got to go to the temple again!  It's been over a month!  I was super anxious to go and hear the new changes.  But I had also just been wanting to go because it had been a while.  I was a little nervous after hearing the opinions of a few ladies at church, but I just LOVE THE TEMPLE!!  It's so amazing!  I love the new revelation that is coming to us daily and the changes and the progress that I feel we are making as a Church.  I love it!  I loved the changes at the temple, I loved thinking about how I can change and what I can do to fit this new way of thinking.  I loved talking with Nate about it in the Celestial room.  Wish I could say more.  1-10-19

SATURDAY
Lots of fun today.  Charity had an honor choir rehearsal.  Everyone had their basketball games.  Jack had a fun party for his friend Colby at Classic!  I have to say- I really hate dropping him off there.  We've had good luck with it in the past and he always has a good time, but it's nerve-racking for me.  I was glad I had met Colby's mom at Birthday tables a week ago though.  She's really nice.  It was a nice day.  Felt like we were just kind of lazy.  After each thing everyone would come home and veg.  Good times.  1-12-19

First Week of the Year

FIRST DAY OF THE YEAR
Our New Year's day was pretty relaxed.  I actually really loved it because everyone seemed happy.  We kept saying we needed to do something special and fun, but none of us could think of anything.  Then the Jazz game started and nothing gets in the way of Jazz games :).  So we watched that and called it good!  I hope this is a sign that this year can be a nice, calm, peaceful, relaxing year :).  I know I'm dreaming, but I can dream.  1-1-19

FIRST DAY BACK TO SCHOOL
I thought it was cute how Jack was surprised that he was still going to have Mrs. Burns as his teacher.  I think he thought he was going to go back to a new teacher at the new year.  Cute how happy he was when he found out he was still in Mrs. Burns' class :). 
Everyone was pretty quiet that first day back.  Kelly and Charity seemed pretty pumped for school although I know they were sort of dreading it.  Luke and Brad were the opposite- it felt like I was driving them to their death... or a cemetery or something... super quiet, really solemn feeling in the car.  I felt so bad making them go!  But they survived.  The younger three were thrilled to go back and seemed really cheerful and ready for the day.  Kinda funny.  I missed having them all home all day!  Molly and I were a little lost without them all.  We had an unofficial playgroup with Emily and Jonah.  That was nice.  I wish we'd had more time.  It was a normal evening- everyone went to mutual- welcomed in the new Beehives and Deacons- we forgot Noah's basketball practice, just a usual Wednesday evening :).  1-2-19

BECKY'S WRIST
We took Becky to her doctor appointment where she found out her wrist actually looked better and probably won't need surgery!  That was a relief!  Felt like an answer to all our prayers.  1-3-19

BIRTHDAY TABLES WITH NOAH
We brought our Little Caesar's Pizza and (new idea) box of donuts for Noah's birthday table.  It was nice to sit and chat with him- he is actually kind of talkative at lunch, so it's fun to eat with him.  We got to see Jack and Erika and give them a donut as well :).  So that was fun too.  1-4-19

DATE WITH NATE
We finally got to go out- we went to Texas Roadhouse, found out how long the wait is and went over and window shopped the mall.  It was a really nice evening.  I love that we are able to spend that time together.  We sat in the car and talked about the upcoming year and activities... pretty exciting!  1-4-19

DRESS REHEARSAL
Luke had his mandatory dress rehearsal for his play and so he was gone most of the day.  He had to miss everyone's basketball games including his own, which we tried so hard to get him to!  He walked in when there were like 4.8 seconds left :).  Kind of a bummer, but he handled it well.  He was pretty wasted most of the day, sat around doing basically nothing and kept falling asleep.  Poor guy.  We're excited to see his play next week!  1-5-19

FIRST GAMES OF THE SEASON
Everyone had their first games of the season-- oh how I love basketball season!!  It's so fun!!  I really could sit and watch my kids play basketball all day long!  And we do :).  Erika was first- she did awesome!  It was fun to watch her team improve and get the hang of things through the game.  She scored a couple points for her team, but really dominated on steals, assists, and awesome defense!  She really kept them from getting close to the hoop!  It was a lot of fun to watch! 
Brad and Luke's game was next, Luke didn't get to play.  But they have an awesome team as well!  Brad was great- we loved watching him!  He made quite a few shots!  Nate did a great job of coaching as well.  It was really fun to watch this year!  And a relief to be completely honest- last year I got really stressed at their games for some reason. 
Noah's had been moved to the evening and was at Burton Elementary.  But Noah played great!  It was frustrating that his coach was ONLY coaching him through most of the game, he really had a lot to say and correct, which was hard for Noah, but didn't stop him from making a few shots and playing really hard!  He can jump SO HIGH!  It was so impressive!  They didn't win, but I think he's got a good team and they'll have some fun this season.  Hopefully his real coach is less annoying... we'll see.  1-5-19

Christmas Day!!

CHRISTMAS DAY!
We had an interesting Christmas this year!  We had told the kids that they could get up at 5:00am and open stockings and Santa gifts before Nate had to go to work.  So that was the plan.  But somehow they all slept in!  It was so weird when Nate woke me up at 6:00 and told me the time and that everyone was still asleep!  He needed to leave for work, so he left, but I just laid there enjoying the fact that I didn't need to get up yet!  It was awesome!  I had gotten to sleep earlier because I had wrapped so much previously, going to bed at 1:30 was pretty remarkable.  Then not having to get up til 7:00-ish was amazing!  At about 6:30 Kelly came in asking if she could wake everyone up, but I talked her into just coming in and laying down and talking with me.  It was so nice!  I loved it!  Eventually everyone woke up and came downstairs.  We did stockings.

We had puffy pancake for breakfast.  Then we all just played games and watched movies for the rest of the day!  Counting down the minutes til Nate would get home!  Near the end there, the last two or three hours, Erika was asking Kelly for her official count down about every five minutes!  It was nuts!  But I have to say that everyone did really well!  They were all happy for the most part!  I really couldn't be happier with how the day went!  And we learned how to play ticket to ride!  So that was exciting.  We also worked on our 2018 ornaments!  Which didn't take NEAR as long as I had planned!  haha!!  But we did good!  Some people even took naps!
Nate got home around 3:00, then he had to finish up and wrap a few gifts, so did Charity, and THEN we were able to sit around the tree and open gifts!!  Lots of fun!  Everyone was good and spoiled this year!  We did the Santa gifts first,

Brad was so nice to consent to painting with Molly.  He probably won't admit it, but he had a really good time :).  So did Molly.  

Patiently waiting...

As much as I liked NOT cramming the living room with Christmas this year, and celebrating downstairs and such... it was a little too crowded.  Next year, we move the ottoman, no table for gingerbread houses, and possibly pull the couch out a little away from the tree more.  Just some thoughts for next year.  But I do so love not having the living room PACKED ALL SEASON!

She loves the tags on gifts... pretty cute.

Molly got a little dog carrier with a dalmation doggie with a leash and collar!  It's super cute!  Erika and I were surprised to see this because we had picked out the same thing for Molly- had to get ours out from under the tree!

Jack got "building stuff".  He loved these and I hope I never forget how cute he looked that evening with his little safety goggles and gloves on while he was sawing everything in the house... loved it!

Erika had full on guessed what her gift was, and basically knew all day :).  I think she was still pretty excited when she opened it though.  Pogo Stick!!

Still keeping it suspenseful.  For the past few years Noah has asked for a metal detector... Santa finally delivered :).

Was he surprised? I think so!  Marble Rollercoaster- I loved his face when he opened this- I wish I'd caught it on camera.

Brad got a new phone!

So did Kelly :).

Charity got Jazz tickets!  And a super cute shirt!  

then the homemade family ones,

Charity had Molly, she made her some lip gloss.

Noah had Jack, he made him a little fishing game.

wow that looks awkward.

Kelly had Erika, she made her "Open when..." letters with little charms with each one... so cute!! 

Erika had Noah, she made him a science kit with all the materials.

I had Luke and I slaved over his weighted blanket!  It was SO HARD TO MAKE!!  But I was pretty pleased with his reaction.  He's used it everyday since too!

Nate had Brad... very creative!

I think we'd all like to keep the picture of Nate walking through Walmart with the camera around his neck like a tourist, ingrained in our minds forever... hahaha!

Molly had Kelly.  This was a fun one to watch.  Molly made Kelly a package of yellow :).  We found everything yellow that we could in the store and put it in a homemade pillowcase.  Kelly loved it and we all loved watching Molly give her each item... so cute!

Jack had Charity.  Pretty sweet picture of JAZZ and one of Jack for cuteness.

We never have pictures of me opening my homemade gift, but Luke had me and he made me the coolest cake stand I've ever seen!  It's so cool!!  Thanks, Luke!

Brad had Nate.  He made him 30 flies!  I seriously thought Nate was going to cry when he opened this, and Nate is not a crier!  Super touching!

and then it was anything goes.

Brad saw these at the dollar store and knew Jack needed them :).

I was SO EXCITED to give Luke his Stack the States game!  This was a highlight of my Christmas this year.  Unfortunately there were little photo bombers in the way when he first opened it, but that's okay... he seemed to think it was pretty cool :).  Fun stuff.

 It's fun that the kids still like to go youngest to oldest and follow it through to the end!  I got a ton of gifts this year, so did Nate :).  So we were opening past the kids, which was new!  It was a fun Christmas.  After presents Nate whipped up some Creamed Eggs on Toast, so that we could carry out that tradition!  So nice of him even though he was probably exhausted.  Luke and I worked on his marble roller coaster a little, we set up the Echo Dots, my mom and Simon came for a little while, then Nate pulled out a birthday cake!  He always remembers!  I don't know how he does, but he does!  It was a yummy ice cream cake and since I've let Keto slip (understatement of the century) a little, I ate some- it was delicious!  Such a fun birthday/Christmas!

We turned on the Jazz game.  Then Nate had to leave around 9:00 for his night shift.  Poor guy.  Fun day!  Ready to be done though :).  12-25-18