Happy Birthday Abi!

Happy Birthday to Hermana Wride!! Aww, I remember this little baby... Abi at 2 days old ~

Now that baby is starting her last year as a teenager, how did that happen?? I didn't send her a package or anything, sorry Abi! Living international makes it a little trickier for a mom like me that is not on top of it. I told her I'll put some $ in her account though, and she can buy herself something. I'm not sure there are a lot of places to shop there on the Missionary Training campus, so maybe she'll save it for Panama. She leaves for Panama next Wednesday, Sept 9. Exciting!

Katharine slept in Peter's bed with him last night. Here they were before I woke him up. His feet were at her stomach. I helped turn him out of the bed so he wouldn't kick her. 

I told Daniel and Peter to both whisper. Peter got dressed then said he had a tummy ache, so I told him to go back to bed. I was down getting Daniel's reading minutes logged and initalling his planner, and I could hear P&K talking. I guess when he went to lay back down, it woke her up. They came down for breakfast. I asked how he was feeling, he said it still didn't feel very good. I baked a loaf of bread and enjoyed my beans and banana peppers for breakfast, while Corey went to the rec center to bike and swim. I'm hoping to go on a ride later. I haven't been riding this week cause our bikes have been in the shop since Saturday. I have trumpet this afternoon, so I can't do my 3pm ride, but I'm hoping to go after that. I'm at Burt Bros right now getting Corey's oil changed before I drive to American Fork to get my bike. Corey's bike was making noises so he wanted to take it in. He asked if I needed mine to go in for anything. I didn't have any complains, other than that my dropper post doesn't stick. Corey said they couldn't fix it, so I maybe they didn't do anything with mine? I don't know if they did other stuff, but my bike is done so I'm going to go get that as soon as the oil change is done. 

Peter and I worked in a scholastic 2nd grade book today. I'd love to homeschool him. He said it was fun to homeschool today, and he's thinking about it if he wants to, cause he knows he'd miss a lot of fun things at school. Maybe I could sweeten the deal with a Thanksgiving Point membership. Although I usually don't have a car, so maybe that wouldn't work. He and Katharine working on coloring pages. 

This evening Owen has a trumpet lesson. Nicole's kids are crashing here tonight before they head up to Idaho for school. They've been driving across the country from Maine, a trip Nicole has done many times. Corey, Lily and Wes are going to Sacrament tonight. Well, to Elko tonight, Sacramento tomorrow. Lily's going out there for a ACT class that will be tomorrow, Saturday, and Monday. Corey said it felt like the right thing to do, to take her out there. It won't be too crazy of a weekend to be a single parent, cause there are no soccer games cause of the Labor Day Weekend. Though I had hoped Corey and Wes could help us help out my sister J this weekend, but maybe I can still do it with the littles somehow. 

K, I'm going to catch up on the blog while I wait for the car, since I haven't recorded much the past two weeks yet. I'll maybe check back in later. 

Later - Corey and Lily left around 4:30 for Elko, the same time I left for trumpet. Owen is doing awesome at trumpet. He is doing jazz band, concert band, and he practiced for like 40 minutes before his lesson, and I was so impressed at his lesson, she was asking him about different songs, and I write down what to do in his lesson book but I have not been following up with him at all, but he is doing it on his own and was very prepared. His teacher was impressed with how well he's doing and so was I cause it is all him!

Wesley was a good host to Nicole's kids. He got the basement ready for them to stay in and moved his stuff out. He made pizza for everyone too, doing "date night" tonight, and then they watched some Spiderman TV series episodes. I got back and since everyone was in such capable hands, I left for a ride at 6:30 and enjoyed my time in the mountains. Wesley got a major sun burn one week ago when he was up in Bear Lake with Ethan and Bella and friends. He decided to not put on sunblock, cause he saw a meme that it causes cancer, and then he spent a full day out boating. He is still in pain on his shoulders. His whole back is peeling, and I've been coating him with aloe for the past 4 days, today we did lotion. He's going to wear sunblock next time. 

Stayed Up Late

Another school week is over. Corey's still working (6:15pm) so I'm not sure what date night will look like tonight. The kids are cooking a Costco pizza, and I'm just going to blog until he's on his way. Earlier today I was thinking it would be fun for us both to go explore around the other side of the creek of Techy that I did on Wednesday, but it might rain. He also might be working late enough that it won't give us much time before sunset, so maybe we'll reschedule that picnic idea. I'd love to take the kids up there if there was a safe bridge to cross, but so far it's just been me trying to balance as I walk across fallen logs. 

I stayed up late last night, so I struggled getting going most of the day. I wasn't fully functional until it was past lunch time. That is a good reminder to myself to not do that to my body or brain again. I stayed up cause I was watching this video "The Story of Reckless Ben" with tidbits of his growing up and stuff. He's "the most Ohioan Ohioan to ever Ohio" (1:14) haha. I started watching that as I shaped some dough for breakfast. I had been thinking about him cause of a video Corey shared for scriptures last night, a new Reckless Ben one that was posted yesterday about a human trafficking ring. It had 3.8 million views last night when we saw it, and it's at 9.9 million now at 6pm! After watching it we were all kinda in awe with our jaws dropped and I might want to join his Patreon so we can see the  next part of the documentary. Wow, that man is fearless taking on people that are rich, wicked, and able to silence judges, law enforcement, and news outlets yikes! Or finding other ways to ruin their lives. So after that I stayed up too late watching the story about Ben's upbringing and stuff (I liked it, I'm impressed). When I was done with that video, I visited with Lily until 1. She was working on posters for Senior Sunrise and seemed like she still had more work to do. 

Aaaand she had to be at Skyline at 5:45 am for that! I went to bed, she worked on it until 2. She was supposed to wake up at 5, leave at 5:30, and she sent me a text at 2am before she went to sleep asking me to help be sure she was up at 5. Well I did not see that text cause I did not wake up myself until after 6, so she missed her alarm and woke up in a panic at 6:15 and then just grabbed the posters and sprinted out the door just wearing the clothes she slept in. No make up or changing her clothes, nothing. Then Corey and SNO and carpool left at 7:15. I got Daniel and Peter up at 8, they left around 8:30, and Katharine slept until 9:30. I got her breakfast, let her watch Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and some Bluey while I had my GBOM salad and Berry and Seed dessert. I was tired, read a little bit, but mostly rested on the couch next to her until Owen got home at 1. D&P got home at 2, they had a swim party with the neighborhood at 3, I paid Natalie $3 to take them there, and also bribed her with brownies. Yeah I've been struggling to get going all day. Trying to catch up a bit on the blog while I wait for Corey now. 

Yesterday was pretty good. Katharine played with a neighbor Becca from 10-2, I read and worked on a disciple binder for myself. 

Inspiration behind this is this quote: "Brothers and sisters, now is the time for you and for me to prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority." So, if my discipleship to Jesus Christ is my highest priority, what does that look like? What am I doing? One thing I think that means is that I'm studying about Jesus every day and thinking of ways I can apply what I learn about him to my life, in ways that I act and things I do. So I read a few Liahona articles, I'm keeping track of what I read, I'm going to try and read an article or General Conference talk every day, and try to apply to my life what I learn. Yesterday I left for the rec center at 4 and did some kettlebell stuff with 20 Minute Marriage ~ for my 1st round I used a 26 lbs kettlebell, 2nd round 35 woo. Also a round of LeoMoves stuff. 

Plus kettlebell halos w/17lbs 10 each side, and bottoms up presses from this Trevor's instinct video. I was able to do the right arm easily enough, 3sets of 10 each time, but my left arm was really hard! Had to do 1or 2 at a time and rest until got to 10, then 10 more halos each side. Ended with 60 bear crawls. I still like Zuzka, and there are lots of other great fit people on youtube that are in my feed. After that workout, I hurried home so we could take Daniel to soccer practice. Lily took him while I got dinner ready, then they ate while I left at 6:45 for a ride. Went to the ruins and did techy on the descent, 11.48 in 1 hour 32 min. I was straight into the wind on the road for the first 3 miles, it was slow and hard. I left the ruins at sunset, 8:06, and was able to see ok on the trail ride down. Today I just did a little hike around the creek near the 1st bridge. It is my spot to go to when I don't have a lot of time. I love the creek. It's my happy place. 

I call this rock below "Chief" cause it's huge, and I think of Jesus being the Chief Cornerstone. Jesus is my rock.

Corey's almost here, 7:30 now. We're just going to go to Aubergine. It's late for dinner and I'm not too hungry (had a bit of fresh sourdough) so I think I'll just get some nice cream tonight. :)

Get Up

It's Tuesday - time for the temple and errands. I went at 5 for initiatories at Jordan River, and I took Corey's car, cause I'd be back before he left for the temple, which has usually been 6:15, and I was back by then, but he had already left! And he took the van that the kids use. So then I was like "Well I guess they get to have Corey's car for the day..." Lily Sophi Natalie and Owen all left at 6:45. They get up on their own too and all leave right at the agreed time. I'm way impressed. They make it super easy. Daniel and Peter need a little more help getting out the door. They will lounge around in bed for 20-30 minutes if I'll let them. I have to stay in there and rub their backs and say "Stretch your body, wake yourself up. Get up. Get up. Hey, it's time to get up! Come on, it's time to get out of bed" etc for 20 minutes. 

As you can see from the sign he made, Peter sleeps on the Spider-Bed (cute). Peter was like "ugh, do I have to go to school??" Peter, it is only the SECOND DAY. Yes, you need to go. They do eventually get out of bed, and I continue to stay by them and tell them what to do. To each of them "Change your clothes. Put your pajamas in your drawer. Get your socks. Brush your hair. Ok, let's go downstairs" and then we get them bread or some fruit for breakfast and I sign their planners and put ice in Peter's water bottle and then they are ready to go. On a good day they'll leave by 8:30, on a not as good day they don't leave until 8:35 and then I tell Peter to run up the street, or I get to help him hustle up the street. Katharine is usually up by that time. 

I spent most of my spare time today reading. I finished "A Land Unknown: Hell's Dominion" which I ordered on Aug 4 and it arrived the 14th. I started reading it Friday as Corey and I drove to Jump for our date. Today Corey went to the temple too, and he also doesn't take carpool on Tuesdays, so that is the day I have a car. With said car, Katharine and I went to visit my parents for fun, I picked some morning glory from their lawn. Then we went to Costco, so I guess it was good I had the van instead of Corey's car. I had AC and room for all the food. And since I'm nice I fill up the car with gas. 

Today was Abi's p-day and it was so great to talk with her for the first time since she got to Mexico, yay! She is struggling with the language, but that is to be expected, so we told her she's right on track! Perfect! Yes, this is exactly how you should be feeling right now!  

Tonight Wayne came to pick up a kid at 5:30 to go to Hale Theater with him. There was a bit of back and forth as to who's turn it is to go. I need to keep better track so that it's fair. But we're pretty sure Peter has only been once, so I let him go. 

Such a fun tradition, I'm grateful Wayne makes time for his grandkids like this! I want to do stuff like that with my grandchildren.

Sophi made dinner tonight. I sat for dinner and then took off for a hike at 7pm. I just drove up to Lisa to explore. 2.25 miles, 1 hour 17 min. I cleaned up (organized rocks and logs) at the fort that whoever is/was making at Hogum Fork.

Big logs on left, regular hiking sticks on right. 

I got across the creek 4 times in new places! A little stressful cause I kept hiking up at one point, not sure if I'd find a place to cross, but I made it and didn't get my shoes wet and didn't get eaten by a cougar or any wild animal.

Corey said the BYU by Brother Kearon from today was really good. Elder Kearon talked about peace, rest, and slowing down. I think everyone in the world needs that message. I went on a hike tonight and it wasn't on the BYU Speeches podcast yet, and I didn't want to use my battery to have it on youtube, so I'm going to listen to it tomorrow. 

First Day of School

Today is the first day of our academic year schedule, as Daniel and Peter have joined their older siblings at school. Happy first day! Peter walked and Daniel rode his bike to the bus stop. I rode up with Katharine in the trailer. Daniel hid his bike behind a bush and they got in line.

The bus was there right on schedule at 8:42. BYE!

And then I biked with Katharine over to the school so we could take a picture of them entering the school on "the red carpet". I found Peter standing in his class line and him come stand on the carpet for a pic. I assumed that when his class entered the building, it would be too busy with parents and children for me to see him, and I was correct. 

I walked around to find Daniel but he wasn't there. He went into the school for breakfast. So then K and I started to get ready to go back home, when we saw her friend Scarlett. I invited her to come over to play and that worked for her mom so yay, Kat has a friend today!

They are a cute little duo.

So, with this beginning of the school year, these past few weeks I have looked things over and have planned out for my new schedule to be for me to give my mornings to my children, and then when they get home from school, that's when I take my break for exercise. So after Lily got home today, I took a ride. It was quite warm (low 90s) but it was great, the sky was so blue! It was beautiful. 

I biked to the ruins. I got across the creek tonight in the place by the ruins where I've been trying to make some piles of rocks for me to hop over across. 

Today I finally made it and cheered for myself at my victory, and I didn't fall in and get my shoes wet. It helps a little bit that the creek water is low as we approach the end of summer weather. Sigh, I love the canyon though. It's my happy place.

Corey takes carpool MWThF, Tuesdays we both go to the temple (me usually at 5am) and Corey stays home from work that day so I have a car to run any errands or take care of appointments. Daniel and Owen both have soccer, O on Tuesday nights, Daniel on Thursday, and Owen also has trumpet on Thursdays. Wednesday is YW. Another part of our new schedule per Corey's request: sit down dinners. Thanks to Lily for helping that happen tonight.

I've planned for the girls to each take a night to help me out: L - Monday Mexican, Sophi Tues Asian, Natalie Thursday Potato Bar or leftovers, I do Wednesday, and they also have a younger brother help them out with setting the table: Peter Monday, Daniel Tues (before soccer) and Owen Thursday. So those are a few ideal goals for now, we'll figure out the other days later. Baby steps. Wednesday is YW so that's an early dinner night and I'm taking that one. We asked the kids about school and Natalie was making really silly expressions as she reacted to everyone's tales of their day.

They are funny. 

Only 7 kids around the table, such a small group. Monday is FHE (though I'm going to try to persuade Corey to move that to Sundays). Tonight we had a paper airplane contest. Corey showing a video on the side room tv for people to follow. 

Ready to launch. 

Corey made a few targets with the hockey goals. Daniel's planes did the best. 

No prize other than bragging rights. And while they were making their planes, I was cleaning up the kitchen and trying to do laundry. I say trying, cause both of our machines are having issued. The washing machine does not for it's life want to spin the clothes. It will be unbalance and do a "Ub" code, then sometimes if the code doesn't stop it, it will start a rinse and spin cycle again. Sometimes a load of wash will still be going after 2 hours and not be finished cause it's not spinning and just keeps rinsing and trying again. So that was what it was doing tonight when I was washing, thus I tried but am probably going to just pause it until morning. If I do catch it when it is unbalance (sign for that is a big thunderous rattling from the laundry room) then I'll come up, hit power to turn it off, then turn it on, put it on spin cycle, reach in and try to balance it out again, start, it will say "21" minutes, and at minute 18, I'll know if it's still unbalance. Then I have to go stop it again, rebalance it, and try the spin cycle again. Other methods are to hang all the clothes in our shower or out our bedroom deck until morning. It's almost making me want to cry, the constant interruption to any task I'm doing to go stop it so doesn't start the rinse cycle again. Frustrating to be trying to clean the clothes but not be able to clean the clothes. I feel like I'm damned and unable to progress/move forward with life. I really need to wash towels, but it can't handle towels. It doesn't like it if the kids loads have jeans or hoodies. The boys always have jeans, and the girls and jeans and hoodies, so yeah, it's been a struggle for the past few months. I need to dry some clothes too, but I can't leave the dryer on at night, cause it doesn't turn off. So I either need to wait until morning or set an alarm for an hour to turn it off. When it does it's "3C" code, it will just go all night. When it used to do 3C, it did room temp air, so it took several hours for the clothes to dry. Right now a good thing is that it is blowing heat for the first hour. What I've been doing lately is opening the door (that's the only way to turn it off) and leaving the door open when I power it on, then I'll select the cycle, press start, and then it will blink "dc" for "hey dummy the door needs to be closed" and then I close it, and it still flashes "dc" but then I press "start" and it will be "on" with heat until the time of the cycle ends, then it flashes 3C as it continues to spin and blow neutral air. I was texting Corey about getting new machines today, cause these machines are driving me crazy and this needs to stop. I can't go on like this.

But the first day of school routine was good. I have alarms set for different things. Every evening after dinner, I will also be chopping veggies and making Corey's breakfast in prep for when he has carpool mornings. We don't even need to do carpool - Lily could just take Owen and Natalie when she and Sophi leave, but Corey said we should contribute to the good of the neighborhood, so that's ok. It will be good for him to be able to get out the door and start his work day early and come home early for dinner. AND we'll do scriptures earlier and go to bed earlier too! I know we could do that of our own free will, but it helps to have an obligation to make sure we don't get lazy about it. 10 pm is the new bedtime goal, but it's past that cause I'm trying to help the washer spin. I'm going to go power it off now though and go to bed, I'll try to finish a few loads again tomorrow. 

Sunrise

I had such a lovely perfect morning today. I went up the canyon to Lisa at 6:15 am, walked to the ruins with a backpack with a blanket and scriptures, sat on a rock, listened to the creek, read the good word of God, considered the lilies (well, a little wildflower growing out of a crack in the boulder), stared at the sky, watched the sunlight kiss the tree tops then slowly descend down the branches, closed my eyes and breathed and just soaked it all up for over an hour. 

It was glorious.

I wish I could stay up here all day, or live in a little cabin by the creek and wake up with all this majestic loveliness of nature outside my window every morning. I'll take what I can get, and so grateful I had it today. Sigh <3

Good day of rest at home. I love church, love our neighborhood and our wonderful neighbors. It's fun to be with Corey and enjoy having him and all the kids at home. Corey and I both spent time reading the new NDE book I got, A Land Unknown, and spent time talking about hell. It sounds like hell and we don't want to end up there. I feel sorry for people that do, I wish they had made better choices in their lives. It's been good conversation info between Corey and I and the kids too. They're funny and we have a good time laughing together. Hyrum has been staying at Wayne's house, but comes by here now and then, usually on Sundays. H saying goodbye before he heads back to Wayne's.  

Corey about to work with Lily on her college applications. She's up on deck!

9:45 pm, I've got Corey's breakfast packed for tomorrow morning when he takes carpool. I have a little notepad check list to help me make sure I get everything: 

COREY BREAKFAST

- [ ] English cheddar

- [ ] Chopped peppers

- [x] Dried fruit

- [x] Tomatoes

- [x] Frozen berries

- [x] Frozen mangos

- [x] Egg

- [x] Avocado

- [x] Chia seeds

- [x] Chopped Cauliflower

- [x] Olive oil

- [x] Kimchi 

- [x] Sardines

- [x] Chopped carrots

- [x] Orange

- [x] Yogurt

- [x] Granola

- [x] Greens to steam

- [x] Chopped onion

- [x] Banana

- [x] Beans

- [x] Parmesan 

- [x] Almonds

- [x] Lemon

- [x] Cashews

- [x] Chopped celery

- [x] Chopped mushrooms

I don't put all of that every time but I'll check it off to move it if I'm not going to add it that morning, as usually happens with the "greens to steam". Wishing I could make it up in the mountains again tomorrow morning... I might be able to. The only thing right now is that each morning the sunrise gets later. I need to make it back home by 7 so Corey can take his car for carpool. Or if he wants to go to the gym before carpool and I need to take the van, then I need to get back by 6:45 cause that is what time Lily likes to leave. I think I could go tomorrow, but I probably need to focus on getting Daniel and Peter up for their first day of school instead. Maybe the next day? Hmm, it's going to be progressively harder as the sun continues toward it's winter solstice. 

Jump

Last night Corey and I did something that I was really excited for. We went to JUMP by Limitless Flight to try out Virtual reality base jumping. 

I heard about this sometime this past year. It looked cool and sounded fun. Jump is a VR skydiving center in Bluffdale. We have a friend, Terry, who did it and said it was awesome. I recently saw a promo code on instagram for 35 percent off (Heros35, you can see if it still works). With that code, and with us choosing a not too high in demand time, the price of this was $61.75 each instead of the regular price of $94.99. I just looked at their website, and now regular price is $119! Yikes. But for $62 bucks, I was like let's do it. I was also thinking about doing this with Abi before she left, but then when her schedule was booked with other activities and last to dos that she wanted to fit in, I figured she didn't have time for it. But, since it was on my brain, I logged on and reserved two spots for Corey and I (with my sourdough $). Our "flight time" was 4:30. I told Corey several times that we needed to leave home at 4. Traffic was weird so we arrived a few minutes late. I called cause I didn't want us to be canceled as no shows or anything. Arrived, no one else was there. They told us we'd be jumping Notch Peak and showed us the mountain and our flight (little 3D model with lasers). We went into the hanger, and it kinda felt like Disneyland how they were trying to make it feel real and feel like a real hanger. We got suited up. I tried to make mine tight, we buckled up, zipped up, and then we were ready to go. 

They told us we would be doing three flights - first from a plane to Notch Peak, then from Notch Peak to the base, then we'd be taken back up to the peak for one more flight. There were several places we could choose to land. They said that these wingsuit are actual wing suits that they just made a few modifications to use them for their system. They said that the force of wind on your body when flying is 200 pounds, and they've made it in this simulation to be lighter than that so that people can actually do it. They were kinda throwing a lot of information at us, like how to turn, which I don't remember what it was but I remember it was opposite of what was instinctual/natural, like to turn left you have to put your right arm down and left arm up? Something weird like that. Also you have to lift your head up to fly evenly/flat, but if you look down you will go down. I understood that part fine, and it was about to be important but not in a good way. We got into the flight deck, they help us put on our VR lenses, and now we're in a hanger. I could see the VR world I was now in if I stood up straight and looked straight into the lenses and held still, so I was like "yeah I can see..." but that was about to be a problem, cause in a minute I was not going to be able to hold my body up straight. 

She hooked me up, Corey and I can "see" each other, we are in a plane, and the plane opens up, there's wind, and they say to jump. I wasn't scared to jump and jumped like they told me no problem, but then whatever I was hooked up to pulled at my neck and pushed my VR lenses down, so I could not see. I had to fly in between some floating flag markers or whatever, but I could not steer myself and I could not see, everything was blurry. It was a bit stressful, I somehow made it to where the makers were and got in between them, or maybe the computer just did it for me even though I wasn't steering right? and then my "parachute" opens, I grab my hand thingy's for my parachute, and we both land at the peak. K, that did not work. She asked how I was doing, I said I couldn't see, she tried to help me adjust my VR glasses, pull them tighter, I wish I had been able to pull everything tighter, like my leg buckles and stuff, but I guess it was go time and so I didn't ask about adjusting anything else. I didn't think they'd pause it to undo me to tighten things. It was a little better, so I said it was better, then it was time for our second jump. One cute thing here was that as we were at the edge, they had little graphics of loose rocks falling off the cliff where our toes were touching. Then it was time to jump, so I jump. This time, once again, whatever I was hooked up to pulled at my neck and pushed my head and lenses down. I could not see, but she telling me in a very lecturing way that I had to look up "You need to look up! You need to look up!!!" and so help me I WAS TRYING to look up, but the suit thing was pulling at the back of my neck and head like I was a kitten being carried by the skin on my neck, and so I wasn't steering or caring at all what my arms were doing, I was just trying with all my might to get my head up. It was like I was hanging in a weighted vest hooked to a wall and told to push the wall behind me and make it move. I tried, it wasn't going to move, but I was pushing with all my might. From what I could see I was going down and doing a total nose dive off the cliff, down down but somehow it stopped and then I was approaching the landing. It was stressful. I don't think I actually got it up, I probably did fall to my death, but the actual cliff divers that they had get the 3D flight footage for this flight, they didn't crash and die, so there's no footage of a crash. They survived. Also I guess that part was realistic, cause if you are in an actual wing suit flying through the air at 100 mph, you can't pause it to reach over and adjust your goggles. You just have to cope. Anyway, that sucked again, parachute opens, you can't see the hand things you're supposed to grab with the lenses on, but somehow I got it, flight 2 was over, ugh ok one more. Same experience, and I'm like get me out of this thing. It ended, good riddance, we get un suited, get our phones back, and are ushered into a waiting area. It was pretty short. Each flight was 60-90 seconds, so maybe 10 minutes total to do the flights with the hook up, rests in between, and unhooking. 

Here's a video of our flights. I should have Corey share his experience. I just send him a message to send that to me. I think he enjoyed it more than I did. 

He said he's always wished he could fly in a wing suit, and this might have cured him of that wish. We could spend $20 each to have our flights sent to us, but I'm fine to just have that recording I did. ALSO, these are not accurate. I was not calmly smiling during my jump. I was gritting my teeth and probably looked super frustrated and panicked, cause I was. We'll check out paragliding, cause I want to fly.

They have a 4.8 star review rating on Google with 1,178 reviews. I'm going to go leave a 2 or 3 star review. I mean I guess it was ok, but I felt rushed. Maybe it would have been nice if after that first one, if we had stopped pretending we were on a mountain peak and they helped me re-adjust things for real so my suit would fit better and not mess up the helmet. We did not see any other people enter the building or leave while we were there waiting for our video to load. Maybe they could have slowed things down and made sure we were having a good experience during it. I think my suit was too big AND all my buckles were not tight enough, and that's why everything shifted when I was being hung up by the suit. Ok wait, this lady makes it sound like it's supposed to be big so it can curve when were flying. Ok, well ANYWAY, I'm glad we didn't paid full price. We went and got a dessert from Paris Baguette after that, in Abi's honor. Came home, I was still bugged by the overall experience, and so went up the mountains to cleanse my mental palate. 7:10 pm hike from Lisa down to Coalpit Gulch, up Techy and back to car, 2.84 miles, 1 hour 18 min.

The moon and Venus looked amazing when I was headed home.

I finished listening to Steven Sharp Nelson on Follow Him podcast, talking about the Psalms. It was so good. I love his enthusiasm for life. The kids have been playing with the Keva blocks this weekend and having fun. Playing in the front room yesterday as we were leaving for our date. 

We need a playroom. Basement is currently a mess. Wes and I both had good intentions to attack it together, but have yet to do that. We still got time to get it done, I hope! Yesterday he was helping Corey do some work stuff. 

Later last night, Peter showing me his lego collection in the basement.

This morning I didn't go for a ride cause we had our first Saturday of soccer games. Katharine awake in my bedroom. She has a bed, but she's still a floater and has floated to our bedroom with Abi gone. 

Peter and Katharine waiting for me to get them breakfast. 

I passed that on to Corey and I took Owen to his 9am game. His team is Teal color and called Kraken. They kept the pressure on most of the game but it ended in a 1-1 tie. I took O home, then Lily took Daniel to his game while I went by RC Willey to look at washer and dryer sets. Cause I'm gonna cry if I have to keep doing laundry with my current machines. It's so frustrating. The couches at RC Willey looked very nice too - we need new side room couches soon. Those drive me crazy too - cushions slide out and it's so dirty. I guess I could try to clean it though. But doesn't this big gray set look nice?? 

Around 7:30 pm Corey and I went ride from trailhead to ruins and techy. Sunset was at 8:30 so that's why we drove there. I got it all today too! Esp proud that I got the 2nd bridge and Lisa rocks again. 6.78 miles, 1 hour 6 min, 2nd best for 3rd bridge to top! 12:58, pr is 12:30 on 10/23/25. Also 3rd best for 1st bridge to top at 35:04 (PR 33:41 11/17/23) and 2nd bridge to top 20:47 (PR 1-/23/25 at 19:41). Been a good weekend.

Goodbye Abi

We said goodbye to Abi this morning. She's off to the Mexico MTC for a few weeks and then to Panama in October if her visa comes. One last group pic at the airport.

Last night she said she's like for us to be in the cars around 6:20. I woke up around 5:15am. Lily and Sophi were already up getting ready for school. I went downstairs to see if Abi was awake. She was still in bed, but answered me when I called down the stairs. I told her to stay there while I took a pic of the "last sleepover" with Abi. 

Daniel and Peter joined Abi and Katharine on Tuesday night and loved the cool temps in the basement, so they joined them again last night. Lucky Abi to have 3 little friends sharing a bed with her, haha not really! She snuck away and got ready. Her bags were all packed from last night. Other kids got ready for school. We picked up DPK straight from the bed and carried them to the cars around 6:20. Teens will have another chance for a hug, but Abi got a few in the garage. 

Hyrum drove his car and dropped it off near Skyline, Lily followed him in the van, then picked him up. He drove the van with LSNO. Corey, Wes, Abi, DPK and I were in Corey's car. We got to the airport first to help Abi get checked in, but her luggage was in the van, so we didn't save any time. Mel and Christian slept over last night and followed in their car. Finally the van arrived with her luggage. Checking her baggage -

They had offered an early check in for baggage last night cause the flight this morning is overbooked. They said we could bring it between 6-9pm and they'd put it on an earlier flight and get it to Mexico. Corey took her luggage around 7:30 last night, but she stayed to visit with her siblings, and then he called us and said they wouldn't accept it without Abi and her passport, which we figured, so that didn't work. Corey said we could try to get it there for an 11pm flight, but instead of driving back out last night, we just figured we'd do it this morning. So now she runs a risk of the plane being full and her baggage arriving on a later flight/being a day behind her but she'll be ok.

\

Corey helping Abi check it in.

Then it was time to walk over to security. This is where we say goodbye!

Hugs and tears - 

It's always a tender moment. 

Last hugs were me and Corey, and he handed her a bag with some Paris Baguette treats in it (we weren't able to fit that "last" in last night) then we walked her over closer to the security check in walkway. 

Katharine is Abi's Peter, and Abi is Katharine's Wes. They are gonna miss each other. 

Corey came over and said bye again. We waved a few times as she walked away. 

Then Corey said "I guess I could have given her another hug..." and then he ran in to find her for one more embrazo, and the rest of us got ready to head to the cars. Katharine staring into the distance on the drive home, with her cute little fat lip from hitting it yesterday as she jumped on Abi's bed. In a daze and wondering what will life be like without her Abi??  

Haha she might just be tired. I was an early morning. Katharine has been sleeping with Abi at night for atleast two years. Most nights Kat is kind of a floater and she'll go sleep with different siblings or on our floor, but Abi's been her preferred bedmate and has definitely been a second mother to her. It's been so cute to see these two sisters love each other. We've been here before as a family, and we'll be here again. It's sad to say goodbye, but we know she'll be back home before we know it. Besides, Corey and I had it worse! We said goodbye for 3 1/2 years! This is just 18 months, easy peasy. 

Here is a little missionary compilation of goodbyes and returns - 

Goodbye to Joseph (June 2018) and home early with the covid worldwide shutdown March 2020.

Mel (Oct 2020) and return March 2022.

Ethan (Aug 2020) and return June 2022. 

Hyrum (Sept 2021) and return Aug 2023.

Wes (Jan 2024) and welcome home Dec 2025. 

After we got home, I saw that Abi had left some notes on our bed, I read them all, cause I can do what I want, and they were super sweet. I'll share here what she wrote to Corey and I, so it won't be lost in my box of physical notes and cards: "Mama y Papa - Hey Mom and Dad. I am terrifyed terrified? Sad to leave you guys and Katharine and everyone else, but mostly because I don't know what I'm doing whatsoever. I'm just hoping I do some good. Thank you for all you've invested in me financially and spiritually and educationally. I'm so thankful to have already some experience in Latin American and traveling solo. I'm gonna miss you guys the most. That moment in the temple today when we said a prayer together in the celestial room felt so personal and absolutely the most sacred experience I've had in the temple so far. I feel like I don't cry that often but I have a lot today and I've noticed it's almost always when someone is showing love or support toward me. I'm feeling all the feels. Te quiero mis padres. (heart) Hermana Wride"

Abi and I had talked about her giving Katharine a lego set (I have three that I bought in anticipation of school starting next week when it's just the two of us at home) and so I took the liberty of writing another note in Abi's behalf for her younger sister - I sent his pic to Abi, hoping it was ok for me to write this on her behalf:

"Mom got me this present for my birthday. I want you to open it! Take care of it while I'm gone and I'll play it with you when I come back! Love Hermana Wride" I put it on my bed with the notes she left for Mel and Christian, Ethan and Bella, and Wes and Hyrum (they get to be a couple).

I called to Peter and Katharine. I told them to clean one of their bedrooms, and then I had a surprise. They chose Katharine and Natalie's room cause it was less messy. They cleaned it up quick then followed me into my room. Peter read the note (most of it, he couldn't read my cursive).

Then they opened it, wow!!! 

They are excited.

And it kept them busy most of the day. I decided to give it to K now instead of Monday, so that Peter could help her build it (he'll be in school starting Monday). Ready to work on it in a clean area.

Having fun!

Showing me their progress after an hour - 

I took a short nap while they played, then spent the day doing dishes, cleaning the kitchen, and prepping dinner. Also on my new school schedule is to exercise in the afternoons after the kids get home. So I was ready for a ride when Lily got back at 3 and I was able to enjoy a lovely bike ride to the ruins. I listened to part 1 of Steven Sharp Nelson on Follow Him. It was really fun to listen to. I also loved his thoughts that creativity heals us, but it has to be creativity without concern of it being posted, graded, or sold. (Part 1 minute 37:22). I was enjoying my ride and really enjoying the smell in the canyon, it was amazing~ it's been a little damp the past few days, and I was glad to get in a ride before we got an absolute downpour tonight. Corey got home for dinner at 6, then I took Daniel to soccer practice at 6:15. The coach said to stay close by in case a thunderstorm started, and it did at 7. I entered soccer games into the calendar on my phone while I waited. The rain came pretty quickly, a total downpour. There was a river coming down our street. The place where Daniel had practice, the Aspen Meadows Park, was flooded within 10 minutes. Corey said the skies were mourning Abi's departure "Sandy is weeping violently without Abigail Wride".  

Lily and Sophi have been doing great getting up on their own, Lily said "well, it's only the second day of school..." haha, yeah I know, but I think they're doing great. We had scriptures early and now it's 10 and we're all heading to bed. Since we got up so early today, NOPK all  fell asleep during scriptures. After some discussion about Job, Lily shared with us that she was on live television today via Fox 13 at some school supplies fundraiser thing, Corey shared this screen shot with the college kids. 

Hyrum "She must be a pretty big deal!" haha. Before I went on my ride, I got potatoes ready for dinner tonight. LSN and I have decided to each take a M-Th dinner night, tonight was Natalie and we did a potato bar. She did a great job getting the rest of it ready while I was on my ride. I hope we are able to take life up a notch this next year. Things will be a little more chill with "only" 7 kids at home. I won't have a car most days, and that's ok. Corey's taking carpool everyday, and tonight, as is part of my new schedule, is to get his Dr Alex approved veggie breakfast ready as we clean up dinner. I have a lot of alarms on my phone to remember all these routine things we're trying to do.