Abi is BYU Bound

Some exciting new today!... Abi got accepted to BYU!! 

Yay Abi!! Good job! She put all her eggs in one basket so we're grateful that it worked out for her! She's all grown up and ready to launch - 18 years old, graduating in May, a mission call, now college plans are in place (she'll probably defer to Spring term 2028). Exciting things happening. 

The kids had a day off from school for President's Day Weekend. Corey and I stayed up late last night reading, but he still got up around 7:30 this morning for top rope. We went to Ft Union. The red 5.10d that I finally sent on Tuesday was gone, so yay I sent it just in time! I was avoiding that area until the end cause I didn't want to try it again, and then saw that the whole wall is new, so we'll go check those out next time. 

Today with the kids home, I cleaned in the side room a lot as we rearranged things to make room for the banquet  tables: sweeping, mopping, vacuuming the rug and under the couch cushions. I have it set up some for dinner. Owen was a good helper. He went to the church with me to get some folding chairs. I went to the DI for some goblets to make flower arrangement like these, then Costco for food.

I didn't end up making the flower arrangements this evening. I don't think I'll have time to do it in the morning, so we'll save that for next year. Mel is making maracuja/passion fruit cake, Bella is bringing brownies, and Hyrum and Wes are bringing a dessert. I requested Tres Leches, but that's when I thought they'd be here today. They are still up in Idaho and are going to come down in the morning, so we'll see. They might just run by the store for a box of chocolates or something. Corey and I went to the Draper Aubergine for date night then back home for him to work more. I have beans soaking to cook tomorrow night before Wesely's homecoming on Sunday. We're inviting people over, but I didn't get any desserts at Costco for it. It wasn't in the budget. We're going to have a taco bar with chili, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, olives, cheese, salsa... I forgot tortilla chips, I'm not cooking beef or chicken. Lily will serve up a few loaves of sourdough. That will be good. Maybe I'll ask Abi to make cookies, or we just serve clementines next to a jar of raisins and walnuts. 

Headstands & Late Night Reading

Tonight the little boys and I practiced headstands in my room. Daniel's got down the slow controlled raise to headstand.

Peter gets impatient and swings his legs to try and get it with momentum. 

It's fun. I want to learn a press handstand and the splits as soon as possible. I need a coach. Maybe the boys and I can join a tumbling class. 

Today I went to Walmart for a few things for Family dinner on Saturday. For the past month I've been trying to decide when to have it - I'd prefer Sunday, but that won't work cause we'll have people over after Wesley's homecoming. I thought maybe Monday/President's Day, but Hyrum and Wesley will have left already, or we might go skiing. So, Valentine's Day it is. I texted out an invite to the kids on Saturday Feb 7. It will be this Saturday at 2. 

Pretty K today - I ordered her some sparkly clip on earrings, fun!

Hmm, do K's eyes look a little crossed? I shall be watching.

Ok, now it is past midnight (12:45am). Corey's in bed, and I just thought I'd write for a moment, cause no one has school tomorrow so I can sleep in. Corey's got a heavy load on his shoulders and it's hard and stressful and frustrating and scary. Around 10:30, after I got the kids ready for bed (teeth brushed), he said he wanted to work a little bit more and asked me to read something to him as he worked that could distract his mind from his worries. He's been reading Shackleton on Sundays, and I asked if he wanted me to continue where he was at in that? He didn't say yay or nay, I looked over a few other books - Pres Oak's biography? And then I saw it - 1776. "That's the one." (- Napoleon Dynamite) I had just read a few pages of 1776 to the kids a few weeks ago on a night when Corey was working late. I was sure that the story about the Battle of Brooklyn and Kips Bay were gonna hit the spot. I read to him for 90 minutes, from page 182 (starting at the III) to 219. There's too much there to recap, so go read it. All of these phrases from page 182 started us off and really resonated with Corey - "the situation faced by Washington and the army was critical." "They were now hemmed in at Brooklyn" "Brooklyn was a trap ready to spring" "...he did not comprehend how perilous his position was." Page 184 - Washington's men were much "distressed" haha that's putting it mildly! "Yet for all the miseries it wrought, the storm was greatly to Washington's advantage." Sometimes our problems are helping us (like the freezing temperatures before the victory at the Delaware helped freeze the ground and thus aided them in transporting the cannon they needed for victory.) Corey also liked hearing how they made stupid mistakes, like not securing the Jamaican Pass (bottom on page 193). Page 193 "For Washington, almost nothing went as planned." We know how the Revolutionary War ends, so we see Washington as victorious and a hero, but when he was living through that, he did not know the ending! It had to have been so nerve wracking and stressful!!! Oh, this at the top of page 185 "With the situation as grim as it could be, no one was more conspicuous in his calm presence of mind that Washington, making is rounds on horseback in the rain. They must be 'cool but determined,' he had told the men before the battle, when spirits were high. Now, in the face of catastrophe, he was demonstrating what he meant by his own example. Whatever anger or torment or despair he felt, he kept to himself." 

I also liked how, after the retreat from Brooklyn, some papers were calling the people to repent. From the Massachusetts Spy - the defeat on Long Island and consequent distress were "loud speaking testimonies of the displeasure and anger of Almighty God against a sinful people." ~

We have thought God was for us, and had given many and signal instances of his power and mercy in our favor, and had greatly frowned upon and disappointed our enemies; and verily it has been so. But have we repented and given him the glory? Verily no. His hand seems to be turned and stretched out against us - and strong is his hand. 

Give God the glory, give him thanks, turn to him and trust Him. I also liked reading that the Hessian's were singing hymns before the attack at Kips Bay, page 211 "the Hessians, unaccustomed to this water business and fearful of being fired on when packed so closely, began singing hymns, while the redcoats responded in their own fashion 'by damning themselves and the enemy indiscriminately with wonderful fervency.'" (tsk tsk!) 

The statement of the night was the quote by Henry Knox at the beginning of chapter six, page 201: 

"We want great men who, when fortune frowns, will not be discouraged." - Henry Knox

Like Shackleton taught through his example, we have to be optimistic, despite the challenging circumstances we may find ourselves in from time to time (or almost constantly, as in the case of Washington and Shakleton!) We will pray for the strength to endure more and overcome through Christ, our Lord. 

Anthony's Fine Arts & Antiques

I've been thinking about art all day. This morning, I went downtown to Anthony's Fine Arts & Antiques, as part of a surprise b-day gathering for one of our good friends Amy. It is one of her favorite places. She thought she and her husband were just going down there for fun, but then she saw that all of her kids were the and a big group of friends. So it was fun to surprise her and I was amazed at that gallery! It was incredible. As we were waiting for Amy, the curator there, Micah Christensen, told us about a Normal Rockwell painting that was behind us. I think he said it's worth 2.5 million, but this says it auctioned for $50k in 1990, so maybe it's not that much. After Amy arrived, we asked Micah to tell her about it too, which he did, then he offered to show us a few more of fun items they have and he ended up giving us a little tour. (You can view the collection here.) He showed us a 16th Century Spanish Vargueño Cabinet with Limoges Enamel Drawer Fronts, price $160,000, wow! 

Next we went to some Utah LDS items. He showed us a stitching of the Nauvoo Temple made by Ann Eckford. She was only 11 when she did that, but he said the quality of stitching such straight lines was especially extraordinary. That inspired me too - it doesn't matter how young or old we are, we can create works of beauty that will be enjoyed and treasured by others! Next he showed us a painting by Albert Bierstadt called Little Cottonwood Canyon! "That's the area that we are all from!" I told him. 

Yeah, I want to paint nature - flowers and landscapes. Our neighbors first visited this gallery like 5 years ago when their friend, Brad Teare, had an exhibit. This is one of his paintings - Grand Monument. 

Next we went upstairs. There was a painting titled "Light" by Gabriel Cornelius von Max was purchased from Alex Trebek's art collection. Micah said Trebek was religious and this painting was in his bedroom. 

The last thing he showed us was walnut paneling from a French Master Bedroom, all put in place to make a very ornate living space. The walnut alone was $700K, and the carving in the wood made it even more unique and rare. He said Brandon Sanderson considered it briefly for an underground room (secret lair!) he's making, but decided it was too dark.

After the gallery, we went to Gourmandise for lunch. I'm grateful for so many wonderful ladies and friends who influence me and have blessed my family in so many ways!

Very grateful for our little corner of heaven here in Granite. Melodie came here to watch Katharine for me while I was gone. Katharine peed on the floor. Mel was a champ to clean it all up. 

Mel painted a waterbottle for a friend and K sat close by and painted with her.

It was good to go out with friends today cause I've been in a bit of a slump, feeling a lack of desire and yeah, just in a funk. Abi trying to apply for passport cause she lost her old one, but I haven't been helpful to her as she's trying to figure it out. Sorry Abi, in a funk. Corey's been working a lot lately, trying to make up for so much time off over Christmas and skiing and the wedding. 

Yesterday there seemed to be a good window to go on a ride, and I felt like I should go cause, per the weather forecast, and cause I might not be able to go again until Friday (sleet tomorrow and Thurs) but I didn't feel like going. I took O&D to the church for activity days yesterday (they went to the firestation) and after dropping them off, I drove up the canyon for a short hike from the Lisa parking lot, up to the ruins and down techy. It was icy, which made me feel ok about not having gone on a ride. One good thing about sticking around home was that yesterday I finished blogging November, yay go go me. Katharine's friend Scarlett came over to play yesterday at 1:30 too, they are cute little friends. Last night the kids were being cute and silly tonight - I think they grew shorter??

Little people with little legs.

Corey and I did a late session top rope last night. Good news - I did this red 5.10d and I finally got it!

I was very proud of myself for that (details here). I was surprised I got it! It was good to get a win at the end of the day. 

Valentine Boxes and Cards

For FHE tonight we did a 2 for 1 again by having the kids make their Valentine cards as our activity. We already do so much for the kids, I sometimes resent trying to do even more on Monday nights, but I'm impressed with how committed Corey is to FHE. It's a good thing. So today they made their valentines and got to eat some of the leftover candy, thus activity and dessert both checked off, yay. Peter showing his heart valentines. 

Natalie taking over the gluing of candy onto the hearts~ 

...and Abi wearing an angel halo headband. Owen was talking about his box and trying to get ideas of what to do to so it would be a winning box. I could hear the competetiveness in his voice, ugh. I was very very grateful when Natalie saved the day once again and took over helping the boys. She cranked them all out yesterday, and did very high quality too! A milkjug frog prince for Owen - 

Mario World for Daniel, wow!

...and Perry the Platypus for Peter. 

We'll read scriptures in a bit after Corey gets home. He's working a bit late tonight but ok with that since I had FHE taken care of. Owen finished his cards, so he's practicing trumpet now. 

Abi just took K to the store to buy a few more treats. I bought a pack of 84 treats on Saturday at Costco, and I apparently snuck too many of them over the past 3 days so we needed a few more to be able have candy for all of the kids in Owen Daniel and Peter's classes. Abi is so helpful to go get that. She also took the kids to the park and made dinner tonight after they got back. Sigh, I'm going to miss all of her help when she leaves on her mission. She's a life saver.

I was a bit numb this morning, as I'm fighting feelings of regret over how we missed our health insurance payment in October AND all the notices they supposedly sent us in the mail after that. So dumb. I haven't been consumed with worry, but it's there in the back of my head trying to fight it's way forward, and I'm trying to stand in front of it and not let it get by. Things will work out. I went over to my parents house and did the dishes and swept as I felt numb. So I wasn't super helpful, but I was able to share with my dad what happened. That helped me feel better. Then as I was leaving, I thought I'd go to the Select Health Offices in Murray and see if talking to a person in person would help. I said I wanted to speak with someone about getting our insurance re-instated. Then I waited with K for 30 minutes. We played catch with a nail buffer I had in my purse while we waited. 

K was a perfect little angel.

Then a guys with a "SALES" name badge showed up to talk to me, and I thought "drat". It went about as I expected after seeing "sales". I'm not here for sales. Can I talk to a manager or the CEO? Is there seriously nothing anyone can do? Nope, nope, "it's past the grace period", can't be re-instated. He said even the marketplace can't do anything "that far back". Ugh, so dumb. I feel so frustrated about the lack of communication from Select Health BEFORE they terminated the health insurance for a family of 12 (it was Corey and I and HWALSNODPK), and I'm so mad by their seeming "tied hands" now that it's terminated and we're past the "grace period". So so so stupid. They have their proof that they told us - a digital list of notification letters they sent through the mail. We did not get any of them. It also showed that our new insurance cards were sent in December, and we did get those. That only made me feel/think that everything was on track though. We had no knowledge of our October payment not going though, nor any of notifications supposedly sent Oct 14, Nov 14, and Dec 14 that our coverage was in jeopardy. The first I was aware of it was this past Thursday. None of that mattered. He can't do anything. He did give me a quote for a short term plan that we can use through December that doesn't cover anything for $750 bucks a month. Boo. Came home, K played Starfall while I called the DWS line and was on hold for a while, to update address and do SNAP interview. Then I gave Nicole a call. She took a trip to Ohio last week, and on her way back, 8 hours from home, her van broke down. So she's spend 3 nights in a hotel, the place it was towed to was closed until today. She's rented a uhaul with her stuff and is going to drive that back home and come back for her van next week if they aren't able to get it fixed by tomorrow morning. Everyone is struggling with something. Life is a game of choose your crisis. I also had a meeting yesterday with ladies in our ward discussing some challenges ladies are having. One sister is on her way back after attending a grandson's funeral in Idaho - her 18 yo grandson died by suicide. Another sister's grandbaby was recently stillborn with Gastroschisis, a congenital defect where a baby is born with intestines outside the body through a hole in the abdominal wall. I have also been thinking of the story of the WW2 widow who buried her 4 children - a story I read with the kids a year ago that's been on my mind again recently. Katharine climbed into bed with me this morning, and I thought of that lady. Here I was with my little girl, safe and warm and alive in my arms. "Every ordinary day seems magical". My life is very very good and blessed. Things will work out. 

Brief sum up of the weekend - Yesterday I was going to blog, but instead I took a long nap, and then Corey put on a movie, so we just finished watching "David" by Angel Studios. Girls said "cringe" quite a few times, and I admit it was a bit much, with the singing and the typical variety of characters - buff big brother, fat brother, annoying tired ugly brother, etc etc. I ate cookies that we had leftover from Abi's mission call opening. The kids ate some leftover taco bar dishes with all the fixin's for dinner that the Hansen's gifted us. Small blessings, I'm thankful for to God for providing for us. 

On Saturday Corey went climbing with our neighbor Zeb, who is a young man that is Joseph's age, and while they were doing that, I got in an early ride to the ruins. I left at 8:45 am when it was 41 degrees! It was 47 when I got back. That's kinda crazy. It has been so warm. In the nice spring like weather on Saturday, Abi took kids to the park. She's so nice to do that. Daniel waiting for them to be done?

Corey and I were going to do top rope Saturday night after a re-do date night (since we didn't go out last night with the ward youth fundraiser activity). We drove up to Park City to go eat at Sammy's Bistro (only took 10 months to finally go there with Corey! I got the teriyaki salmon sandwich again and sweet potato fries, yum). Before Sammy's we first went to pick up his Medicline Pillow that we left at the Summit Watch after our ski trip last month. They said they'd hold it for 30 days, which means today. (See, Select Health! We don't miss deadlines when we freaking know about them!) The wait for Sammy's bistro was longer than expected (said 10min but it ended up being 30) but it was worth it. So we didn't make it to Momentum in time to do toprope, so we just bouldered until our hands were spent. Aaaand, I did 4 V3s! Two I'd never gotten before on the South Slab, a white V3 (below) and then a black V3. 

Also the OG Purple V3, I was able to do it about half way though the bouldering session, then one more time at the end, yay.

Abi's Mission Call

Abi opened her mission call tonight! You can watch it here, or scroll down to the end of this post to see where.

This pic below was when her eyes saw where she was going -

And here she is after reading it outloud to all of us -

In the video link above you can see cute Grandpa Wride who showed the emotions that were in her parents and grandparents' hearts - very full with gratitude and amazed at life passing by. Little Abi is going on a mission? Also remembering when we were opening our mission calls. Very exciting!

This morning I worked on getting health insurance from 9-1 and that was when I took a break and when Abi got the notification that her call was here. She stewed about it for a bit wondering when to open it. Tonight we had a church activity from 5:30 - 8:30, so tonight won't work... No, that's not a problem! We'll just do it after. Easy. She wasn't sure... how about tomorrow? No, that is the Sweethearts dance at school so that wouldn't work. And Sunday is the Superbowl (who cares) but maybe people wouldn't come cause of that, so Monday? But if she was going to wait until Monday, might as well wait until Tuesday when her friend Tara gets back from vacation. I was putting joking pressure on her to just open it right now, but Corey's calm advice convinced her to do it tonight. So yay, that was great. I ran to Costco for some cookies to share after her call opening. Then the girls went over to the church to get things ready for the Silent Auction and Dinner. Abi Sophi and Natalie were all serving food there tonight, so they wore the "waitress" outfit of white shirt with black pants. Lily made some sourdough to auction off and also offered some free babysitting to the highest bidder. I don't know what Abi Sophi or Natalie auctioned. Corey stayed home to work, so I took Mel as my dinner date. I wasn't hungry, but ate everything they put before me. The dinner was a salad, then garlic bread, then two pasta, marinara and alfredo, over penne pasta and linguini. Abi done serving, so she came to our table to eat her dinner. Abi was glad that her mission call got her mind distracted from the anxiety she gets from performing. These two have fun together. 

Mel really liked the balsamic vinaigrette that was served with the salad. She was putting it on everything (salad, garlic bread, pasta) and Abi joked for her to put it on her ice cream, and she did. 

Lily was a cook in the kitchen - we saw her briefly when she came out to have some dessert. 

The youth, including Abi, Sophi, and Natalie, each played music for some background music. Abi did a Bolling song, Sophi played Minuet 1, Natalie did Gavotte.

I looked over all the items up to auction, but only did a $20 bid on a sewing machine for Sophi. Then she said she actually didn't want it that much, so we were ok when we were out bid. Mel bid on a used microwave and won it for $15 bucks, yay! I bought a Book of Mormon Chiasmus book for our collection. I brought Owen Daniel Peter and Katharine all over with me. The kids had fun in the primary room doing activities (they had free babysitting) and I was very impressed with all the youth and their leaders did for this activity. It was a super cute night. Good job leaders and youth! I didn't help clean up after it was done. I went home with Abi, Sophi and Katharine, and left Mel to gather up the rest of the kids. I had texted family earlier, and my parent's had just pulled up when we got home from the church. Grandparents and cousins, most of the youth and leaders, the bishop and Abi's school friends all came over to our house for Abi's call opening. We had a full house!

Wes and Hyrum called after to tell Abi congratulations. We were gathered for scriptures, but family gospel conversations were postponed cause we were talking to them. They  missed the lifestream, they are in Reno for some construction competition with BYUI. Wes said he misses not talking to us every week on p-day, so we're gonna just start doing family calls for fun, but on Sunday. We kept talking, and the kids on our end eventually started to give in to their tired-ness.

Hyrum and Wes wanted to get in on the family snuggle time, but they only had each other, haha.

So, for the reveal - Abi has been called to serve in the:

Panama Panama City Mission!

She begins the Missionary Training on July 29. She will be here for Park City! Fun! We will all be learning a lot about Panama for these next few months. Here is a brief history of the Church in Panama. After visitor left, Christian introduced Abi to the song Panama by Van Halen, so that can be her new theme song. Something fun, another neighbor texted us a song that she heard a song and to her it sounded like it was saying "Abi Wride" in the chorus - Right Next To You by Layup. The chorus says "I'll be right, I'll be right next to you!" but our family will sing "Abi Wride! Abi Wride next to you!" haha. Congratulations Abi! We are so excited for you!

My First Loaf of Sourdough

I would like to present my very first loaf of sourdough, fresh out of the oven at 9:45 am this morning. 

Didn't I do a good job?!?! That is a pretty loaf. Lily was proud and said it looked "SO GOOD!" I promptly started another loaf of dough by myself and I cooked that one tonight. It turned out good, not as pretty though. For the second loaf I cut a heart into the top, but not deep enough I think. So that's been fun! And I'm proud of myself. I also learned how to feed the starter. The only con of having fresh bread is that I want to eat it. So I just need to time it so it is coming out of the oven when everyone is here so they can eat it and I don't eat too much myself. 

Corey and I went climbing this morning at 6:30. We were able to go early but also late (6:30 vs. 6am) cause Abi was home for B day and she got the boys off to school. Well, not Daniel. Today he stayed home. He said he had a sore throat. I think they are taking advantage of me. Lily also said she didn't feel great, so I went and picked her up at 1, but mostly I said ok to getting her so I could go get an ice cream for myself at the Macey's by Skyline. I already used the coupon at the 94th Macey's this week. I also told myself that, if I went to get Lily, I could go by the mall on the way home and get shoes. The exact same kind I just returned on Monday night (Adidas Handball Spezial in Night Indigo, Pale blue, and Cloud White), cause I'm pretty sure the "store" I bought them from online was a scam. This morning I spent some time trying to figure out what is going on. It's been two weeks since I ordered and no update on their delivery. I emailed their only contact email yesterday and it came back as non deliverable. Their "Faherty Carmel dot com" website has disappeared as well - "No longer exists". So I've disputed the charge with the credit union as a "non receipt of goods" so hopefully that will be refunded. I looked for other places online that had the shoes for a good price, but couldn't find anything, so I decided to just go pay mall prices and know what I'm getting and get it now. After getting back from that, it was the regular after school day of little boys going to play with friends and girls making themselves some food. 

Around 4:30 I called Abi to come upstairs to discuss a text she had sent me. She sent a text at 12:30 saying she had a $1384.93 bill from IHC that is due Feb 24th. That was for her well visit last month. Umm, yeah, that's supposed to be 100% covered. So we called IHC so we could get it figured out, the guy who took our call at IHC said it was declined and said to call our insurance. So I called insurance, and that was when I learned that we no longer have health insurance. I was told that our coverage ended October 31st for non payment. What? What?!?! How??? How can they just terminate our insurance? And us not be notified or aware of this?!?!? They said they sent us letters. I check the mail, we have not received anything. They said they sent me emails as well, I see nothing there either, what in the world, for real???? They terminated our insurance, we can't reinstate it, it's too late, AND the open enrollment period for the marketplace is now past! And ALL THIS was on my radar in December, and I called our broker to make sure we were good to go, cause I wanted to avoid this exact situation we now find ourselves in! Ugh... but here we are. It's February, open enrollment has passed, and we do not have health insurance. I asked about what options they have for us, and we can get a short term plan for $700 a month that doesn't cover anything (well visits, immunizations, etc), but will help us if something major happens. I am mad at myself, I'm mad at Select Health, and I'm also not very pleased that Corey's employer doesn't offer health insurance. (He's self employed) Ok, I'm going to try and be strong. I need to be the person I hope I would be in a situation like this. I will submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. This sucks, I'm going to try not to cry anymore about it, I will try and face this challenge with optimism.

"In my ninety-plus years, I have learned a secret. I have learned that when good men and good women face challenges with optimism, things will always work out! Truly, things always work out! Despite how difficult circumstances may look at the moment, those who have faith and move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out."

And yay I learned how to make sourdough. :)

Mel's Pancakes

I slept in until 6:15 cause I stayed up until midnight blogging (finished October, yay). Corey left early for work when he took carpool. I checked in on each teenage daughter ALSN before they headed off to school, then at 8am checked on O&D as well. Peter was coughing yesterday quite a bit, and so today he stayed home with my blessing. Owen was making pancakes for his siblings, and Mel took over after he left for school. She made Peter a dinosaur pancake and a shark pancake! Nice shark!

Mel made Katharine a princess pancake and a unicorn one. Just another morning with the magic of Mel. Oh, she also taught Peter some songs on the piano - the Knuckle Song, Mary had a little lamb, and Hot Cross Buns. She taught Katharine how to play and sing Hot Cross Buns too! With the kids in Melodie's care, I was able to go on an "early" ride to the ruins. I had to go at the beginning of the day when it was cold enough for the trail snow to be hard. It was a little slick/slushy at the top, as the sunlight was shining on the trail up there. I guess I might need to leave home when it's 40 degrees. It was 45 when I started at 11:30, 50 when I got back home. The high today was 52! Feels like we're already in spring but we skipped most of the winter part. 

When I got back, Peter and Katharine were playing in my room. Peter worked on paper air planes from a Usborne book he got for his birthday. Katharine was playing with the graduation tassels that I have hanging up on a little board. Peter was talking to her or teasing her about something, and I laughed when I heard her protest "Stop! I'm trying to focus here!" hahaha

I plugged away at the blog and guess what - I have finished January! I did pretty good staying mostly caught up on that last month, and had one more post to do today. Woo go me. One last "go me" that I'll brag about - I made my first sourdough dough tonight! I'll be cooking it in the morning. Yay. I think Lily was glad that I was finally ready to learn. I'm excited! It wasn't hard, I just haven't had the mental capacity to do one more thing, but maybe since I'm catching up on the blog, I'm feeling like I can do it now. At 9:30 pm, ASNK just went to the store for something, 10pm now and Corey just got home. Time for scriptures.

Temple Tuesday

It's Temple Tuesday. I went to the Jordan River 5am initiatories, Corey went to the Draper 7am session. The Jordan River looked very pretty with the moon behind ~

Then after the temple I went to Millcreek to Boulder, then sit in the sauna, and I was back to help get kids out the door at 8. I set an alarm to remind me to help Peter dress like a dalmatian for the 101st day of school. We were in a bit of a rush trying to get that done in 20 minutes, so I didn't get a pic, but Abi got this after he got home. 

And here are some photos that his teacher shared. Peter is a sweet boy. "101 days of school!"

Peter is a sweet boy. 

When he got home, he was excited to show me this new game, and we played it together. 

Only he couldn't find the blue cards, so we just used face cards. When K saw me drawing on Peter, she wanted to be a dalmatian too. I did her with markers and not as much black electrical tape.

Then she wanted to play starfall, so I let her do that while I cleaned up and got dressed. And this little girl has had an issue the past few days where she is too into the game to listen to her body, until it's too late and she stars to run to the bathroom but pees herself, so she did that today for the 3rd time so far this week! I was tired after an early morning, so I layed down around 1 and K came and found me and took a nap with me at 2. I woke up and snuck away, and a bit later she woke up but I didn't know where she had gone. Around 5 we all looked together and found that she had gone to Abi's bed. Abi said "Aww, I feel so loved!" 

K slept from like 2 until 5:30! The laundry room still clean, today I paid rent and utilities, yay, and then Abi took all the kids to the park while I made curried potatoes and cauliflower for dinner, which was a hit. They were still gone after dinner was done and ready, so I blogged a bit and made progress on October! I am so close to being done.

During scriptures tonight, Corey shared a thought about how at temple you receive a little bit at a time. That is how it is with the project Corey is working on too. We trust that God is leading Corey on, here a little and there a little. I shared a thought about how there are these glass bowls in different areas of the temple. Pretty open vessels. Maybe they represent how we should be - how we should have open hearts that are ready to receive. They are not full, but are open and ready to receive what God will give. Christian shared how in the scriptures we are given different commandments when it comes to our crosses - we are commanded to "take up" our cross, and "to bear" our cross. Pondering what differences are implied there? And now it's late, I didn't want to stop working until the last post was finished so I persevered and I just finished October right before midnight, yaaaay. Next goal: finish November before this week is over! There are only 4 posts left to do for Nov. December I'll give myself the rest of Feb to finish maybe cause I'm missing most of the month.

Where's Waldo FHE

Corey and I didn't have a plan for FHE tonight, again. (Note to self: set an alarm for Friday and plan FHE on date night). Corey looked at some groupon coupons: Obstacle Ninja Warrior? Uptown Jungle? Kangaroo Zoo? Classic Skating ...in Orem. Ugh, none of those sounded good to me. How about games at home? How about service and we clean in the basement! Sophi said we should go to the mall, cause she wanted me to return my shoes for the right size. I ordered some red gazelles and they arrived yesterday, and I ordered size 7 but they feel like 8 or 9... they are just way too big. Then Corey said we could play Where's Waldo at the mall! It was an activity Corey participated in three years ago, he felt yes this is the activity and it will be fun. It was already 7:00 and the stores at the mall would be closing at 8. Not a lot of time, but Corey said "We're going! We need a head start so don't leave yet, LILY! SOPHI!" They hurried out together to go hide in plain sight at the mall. I got the rest of the kids ready, got my shoes to return, and we headed out soon. Corey wasn't ready yet, so I returned my shoes first: Journeys to return my Spezials (the ones I ordered online are still in transit) and then to Footlocker to see if they had a size 6 red gazelle. They didn't so I just returned them. While I was in Footlocker, ANODP went off to start looking for Corey, Lily, and Sophi. By this time it was 7:55 and stores were getting ready to close. Katharine and I soon joined the kids in walking around and looking for their father and sisters. One lap, no luck. I text Corey "Fashion Place, right?" I was pretty sure we clarified on Fashion Place, not Southtown. He didn't reply, but we kept walking around. On our second lap, the protests began: 

Daniel: "This is boring. This is dumb."
Peter: "My legs are tired. My tummy hurts."
Katharine: "Hold me."

Abi was doing great, I didn't hear complaints from her or Natalie & Owen, though Owen kept asking if he could have a Mammoth hat. When we first walked into the mall over by the food court, the first store on our left immediately caught Owen's eye and with a gasp and a "Woah...." and he walked right in.  

Owen had never seen so many sports hats!! I shared the photo with his college siblings. Joseph said that was where he had gone to get a football hat for Owen for Christmas, and we told him no cause "$39" or whatever obscene amount the hats cost in there was a rip off. We stand by that. But I'm sure Owen would have loved it. Wes said he liked the Mammoth jerseys. Looks like we still have hockey fans in our house. So, I'm done walking with Katharine. Abi takes her on her shoulders. The rest of the kids are done too. It is past 8. Everything is closed and most people are gone. Security guards were walking around, probably to make sure people clear out? Do we need to leave? There were still some people - employees going home perhaps? I'm not sure our crew fit that category of mall employees though. I texted Corey that I thought the kids were done. Then Natalie said she saw Sophi and ran ahead. The person she said was Sophi was walking with what looked like a broken ankle or a bad handicap. Natalie second guessed herself and stopped and didn't approach the person with full gusto or certainty, but followed and watched. Soon they were sure, yes it was her, and then they saw Lily too. They were all laughing and I was too - Sophi had me fooled. I hadn't seen Lily before she took off her disguise. But where was Corey? Then the girls start laughing, and I turn to see a strange character walking towards the exit...

Oh my goodness... is that my husband? He was walking in a very zesty style too... we were all laughing. Daniel cautiously approached the man. 

And he broke character, we found him. Everyone was laughing and smiling. Abi took her signature .5 photo of her old man.

Haha his hat still has the tag. Complaints of irritation and boredom and "this stupid activity" were gone. Corey Lily and Sophi started to take off parts of their costumes, but I had them put them back on and resume their character types for a photo. 

Oh my gosh so funny. We walk out to the cars to head home. 

These three went by Savers and did some very rushed disguise shopping before coming to the mall.! I'm impressed, they must have been super fast there!

The kids are excited for the next round of Where's Waldo.

Other things that we did today~ Abi stayed home a little sick, but she took carpool for us. The boys got up quietly which was nice of them, since Katharine slept with Daniel last night. 

She slept until around 10, Abi printed up coloring pages for Katharine, and K has a good collection on her bedroom wall. 

"It's just my collection!" - Ariel

She especially likes the ones that her big sisters color for her. Current favorite is Barbie colored to be Elena of Avalor.

The kids have been on a coloring kick since Friday. Corey and I were going to go on a ride together early, but then he got a late start to his work day and so we didn't leave until 2. By then it was 48 degrees and the trail was all good except for at the very top, where the trail is on the north side of the canyon, it was a little slushy/slick. But we made it to the ruins in 1:05, that's a decent time. I made rice for dinner, Abi cooked chicken and vegetables, then it was FHE. Owen is watching a football highlight with Corey right now, but I'm heading to bed cause I'm going to the temple early in the morning.