We had another successful game night tonight. Three weeks in a row - go us! First was 5000, last week was Pictionary, and tonight we played Spoons.
We were going to go climbing (the kids only have a few more days to go, we're freezing their accounts because none of them are using it) but then decided going out there would make us too late getting to bed, so we decided on Spoons. (Then we let them finish watching Walter Mitty from last week, so now they we're late to bed cause of that!) Spoons was easy enough to understand and the kids liked it. I'm not sure if we got the rules right, but good enough for our first go around, we'll fine tune it next time. Peter tried his best to be brave even though his eyes were brimming with tears a few times when he didn't get a spoon, but he held it together! But on the following round, I pushed a spoon to him before I grabbed one for myself, and I got an S. The older kids joined me in sacrificing our spoons if he looked sad. He's a cute kid. Melodie has been such an angel to have home. She took the girls to violin today and so I had some free time I wasn't planning on and I cleaned in the basement! The basement is my nemesis. I've been avoiding it the past few months, so winter coats and ski stuff were still all around but I took a bite out of the mess today. Hyrum, who has set up his bed and area downstairs, noticed my work and was appreciative, so that was nice. Corey will be glad next time we go down to get our bikes that we don't have to walk over legos or steer them around toys. I made a path for us to the basement door. We've been keeping both of our bikes in the basement since Corey's got stolen out of our garage last spring. We took a ride up the canyon this morning - the snow was all gone, yay, and the trees that were blocking the trail were all sawed and moved out of the path. We were able to make it all the way to the ruins. Thank you to whoever does that and cleared the path for us!Monday, May 13, 2024
Sunday, May 12, 2024
Mother's Day 2024
Saturday night I posted my first "story" ever to facebook.
That was an appropriate mother's day picture, I thought. They are the blessings that make me a happy mother. It's a lot of work, but it's the best. Today was a lovely sabbath day. I had a lazy morning. Corey made french toast with french break for breakfast for everyone. The lesson at church was on President Holland's talk "Motions of a Hidden Fire" - talked about how it was like the Aurora Borealis that was in Utah Friday night. I didn't see it, Mel was sad she didn't know about it. But what a beautiful analogy - this fire in the sky that is there even though sometimes we can't see it - that's like prayer. The power of God all around us, if we can just get away from the distractions of life to tune into it. Pretty amazing. Mel was pretty sad she didn't know about it, and they thought it might still be going on last night - she wanted to go see it last night, but stayed up late pressing flowers (I think from Ethan's friend Truman's wedding yesterday?)Mel came with Corey and I and she thought it was fun to listen to us talk. We visited there for a bit - Joseph called to let us know that he got a flat tire. A wedge thing that people use to keep their trailers still on a sloped driveway fell off of a truck and he ran over it and it gave him a flat and totally dented his tire rim. Could have been so much worse! Joseph was one hour into his 5 hour drive. He changed the tire in his white shirt and tie.
Joseph would have gone up there with her this past week, but he stayed to pick up her ring which was done on Friday. Picked that up and he was itching to get up there, but he stuck around for mother's day and gave me a nice gift by doing a ton of yard work on Saturday. He's a good kid.
That is Doug. We had a nice time out on their new deck. Lily taking a selfie (Mel captured that)
K eating cake leftover from Nancy's birthday. The rest of the kids playing games -
Like that "make an animal sound and guess who did it" game.
It was fun, then home and now I'm jotting this all down. It's been a good day. I could have gone for a little more time at home, but that's ok. Life is good. I'm so grateful to be a mother and that I've been given 13 babies! And I love the wonderful adults they are growing up to be. It's so wonderful to see and be a part of.
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Teddy Bear Service
Today I took advantage of having Melodie and Hyrum home. They left this evening, but it was nice to wake up and have Mel already awake and doing the dishes. She's an angel. She was the mom today while I ran errands, aka went to Costco (we were out of bread) and I did a quick drop by the DI too to thrift for some biking shoes. My blue Nike's have given their souls (literally) for my biking. The soles were shreaded, so I found some used shoes for $6 bucks! Sweet. Then Costco, then home where Peter and Katharine were playing outside and Mel made them a picnic and she was practicing piano. Corey and I took a quick ride up the canyon with Katharine. She fell asleep before we got to the parking lot, so we turned around and were going to go again, but Corey decided to stay. So I drove up to the parking lot, took the trail up just past avalanche hill, which was covered with snow from Sunday and Monday, but there was enough of a bike path that I was able to get up the hill, then a little bit more until it was too slushy and covered, so I came back home. We did a 3pm ride cause I couldn't do an evening ride, because of a service project going on at the church. We made cute teddy bears for Dolls of Hope - look at all these cute bears!
Lisa has spent a month plus embrodering the faces, Nancy has done the sewing the bear patterns - Tonight we cut them out, flipped and stuffed them, then sewed up their legs. A few had to be unstitched if they didn't meet quality control for plump enough ears and arms. And so much wonderful visiting with all my sisters in Zion, they are the best.Monday, May 6, 2024
FHE - Pictionary
We had another game night tonight with the kids. Tonight we played Pictionary.
So that was fun. A few other items. Cute picture of Katharine playing with a spy glasses thing that folds up, she opened it up over and over again this morning at breakfast and would say "Hello?" using it as a flip phone. So cute and funny. Her sweet little voice kills me, it is so cute.
Had a phone call with Wes. All his older siblings joined in plus Corey and I. It's nice to gather, even if it is just virtually.Yesterday was a really nice day of rest too. It snowed, but that's not unexpected in Utah during the spring. I guess once we get into May, people are a little more irritated by it, but s'allright. I was glad we got a bike ride in on Saturday, since it will probably be a week before this is all dried up. Yesterday we stayed at home and I took a long nap and I cleaned up throw up from yesterday that I didn't know about. The kids had mentioned it and Abi sent me a pic over her phone to let me know there was a mess in the front room by the ottoman, but I didn't see it and so only got to it today. The kids watched Prince of Egypt, Peter said it's going to give him nightmares (killing the babies part). The girls all loved watching Young Victoria. I watched it for a few minutes, I liked it, made me want to learn more about Victoria and Albert. Abi made dinner and macaroons, we read scriptures earlier than usual, cousin Sam opened his mission call - he's going to Peru! And then on Sunday night I stayed up late blogging, buuut... I got distracted a bit with facebook and a post in my feed of mom's commenting on comments shared in this Instagram post of the Church referring to Camille Johnson's talk at BYU Women's Conference. Seems like people are quick to be stirred up to contention. Ugh I'd hate to be a public figure and have people always giving their negative opinions on things I say. I'd probably crumble, I'm not built for war. I'm happy to be here safe in our little village while Corey goes to war and goes hunting everyday. I'm also content to be a lurker and one that very rarely makes comments over fb or instagram anymore. I did a few times years ago and it didn't go well, so I retreated mostly. But blogging is a way I enjoy sharing my thoughts and feelings for my kids to read in their future lives as they grow into adults. I'll probably post something about that IG post later on my spiritual blog, which I'd like to use more. I have mostly been putting pen to paper with spiritual things, but I do try to write up when I make the time. It was a good day, things are going well. Goodnight
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Weekend Activities
Corey made the kids french toast this morning, and after K ate, I took her up to change her diaper and then she threw up her breakfast. Luckily, I was holding her, and I've got some wicked fast mother reflexes and I protected all the carpet and caught it on her, myself, and a rice bag that I was holding. Into the tub she went. I rinsed off our clothes and the rice bag, but the rice bag can't go into the laundry. It might be ruined now, but I put it outside to dry, we'll see. If it's ruined I have two others. I use those almost every night to either prop myself up if I lay on my side or behind my neck and sometimes up my spine if I lay on my back. I like it better than pillows. So, with K sick, we made a change of plans for the day. Abi and Lily had to take the bus to GMS, which was sad for them, but we needed both cars. Hyrum has been our soccer helper the past few weekends, but today he was in St. George with Mel.
They had fun going on a hike and stuff. We were going to have everyone (SNODPK) go to soccer and the trumpet recital, so that plan was changed. I had Sophi stay home gets to be our babysitter again, like yesterday. K went down for a nap, S stayed with her, and I took NODP to a Primary Activity which was so cute. They made little cars and talked about driving on the covenant path. They had a little drive through movie at the end when I was there to pick them up. It was really cute to see.
Corey left at 11:15 and picked up Owen for his 12 o'clock game. I was at the church 20 min later to get NDP. Showing me their cars.After the 1st half of his game was over, I took Owen and we went with N&P to his trumpet recital. He changed his clothes in the car and warmed up on the drive over. We were just a little later than she asked (12:50 instead of 12:45) but he was able to tune fine. Cheeks are still pink from working hard at his game!
Playing Ode to Joy - video here.
He is a very good little trumpeter. Abi and I have tried to play the trumpet and neither of us know how he is able to make a sound on that thing. It's impressive. Quick photo with other students in Kyra's studio.
Friday, May 3, 2024
Bike, Lunch, & Debate
Today was a full day - Corey and I left for Provo at 12 to take Joseph and Eliza out to lunch at 1. We were all late and were sitting down at 1:20. BYU's Women's Conference was going on and we were surprised but grateful that it wasn't busy. We enjoyed a nice meal. It was a "congrats on graduating and getting engaged" date with them. We decided to take him to the Skyroom in Provo cause that is where Melodie works -
AND cause today was the last day that the Skyroom will be open. Mel brought us our food and we enjoyed the meal very much and had a nice visit. Ethan and Bella went out to eat there yesterday to say their goodbye to the Skyroom .Joseph and Eliza will be going to The Ohio State for Medical school in August right after our Wride reunion at Park City this summer. I brought Joseph his ski boots cause he's going to sell them. He's been trying to figure out how to make ends meet until then (and that will continue to be the story for the next decade plus I'm sure) Joseph is thinking he might try painting house numbers on curbs? Or maybe will be able to work for my parents or Eliza's uncle up in Idaho. Exciting decisions and years ahead for these two! We finished off with some dessert - a strawberry cheesecake thing, interesting looking!
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Kat's Turn
Look at Cute Katharine! This cute pic was tonight after her 3rd (4th?) bath for the day.
Natalie did her hair and let me know that she likes it when K's hair is more whispy. I guess we can do that. K is wearing boots that Wes sent back from Texas with Mark! He found them at a thrift store and got them for Peter but they are a bit too small for Peter. We'll try to get K to wear them enough to get use out of them, or we'll save them for Wesley's kids to wear. They are super cute with a Texas flag on them! Aww, cute. I was glad that K seemed to be well today, cause the morning started off a bit rough. She threw up in her bed at 5:30 am. I'm glad that I had moved out of her bed around 2 and I was spared. It wasn't much of a mess... she hadn't eaten much dinner, just a clementine. Still, she did NOT like not being in control of herself!This involuntary reaction, boo! She threw up again in the tub and seemed to be trying to keep it down and not let it out. It was sad, poor thing doesn't know what's going on.