Ward Party

Corey's car has been at the service shop for a week today. We've been doing ok at managing life without it, even with 8 kids (ALSNODPK) and in December even! (not to boast about our hard trials, I'm sure the pioneers and winter war soldiers had it worse). But I'm still not loving it. We're very grateful to have Joseph and Eliza's car. I told them that I was sorry that Joseph had to miss 3 points on his test in October, which made him have to cancel their trip out here. Joseph decided it was in his best interest to stay and study before his retake. I joked that God just knew we'd need their car to survive, so God was looking out for us. Hence their cancelled trip and why we still have their Prius. One way that we are making it harder for us is by not letting Abi drive Eliza's car. So Abi is just using the van, which has more seats space, so we just have to work out those logistics when we make our plan of attack each day. Abi has been taking carpool on Tuesdays and then her and Abi have been a little late for school, but they are almost always tardy anyway, so I figured oh well. And they leave early for school on Friday, which is late start for Skyline, and that way they take carpool on Friday too. She also brings home carpool on Thursdays. Bonus is I have saved a little bit of personal time by not having to take carpool. But not having the car makes it about even with pros and cons. The one day I usually have the car is Wednesdays, cause that is when I take A&L to school cause A goes straight to Lyceum from school and gets a ride down there with a friend. Then I pick up Lily after school and sometimes pick up carpool. We'll be glad when our neighbors are back from their extended trip to Europe and we have 5 drivers for carpool again. So I plan my errands around Wednesdays or around after school. So Abi took today and then she and Lily go over to Wayne's house and make him breakfast. That's fun for them and him to have that time together. Here's a pic of me waking up Peter and Daniel this morning.  

They had a sleepover. That's cute. 

So (deep breath) I knew today was going to be a busy day. We were still trying to get some answers about Corey's car and it's location and what was going on. I drove to Tanner's to see if the car was in their garage. No one was at the reception, so I knocked on the "employees only" door. No one came, so I cracked it open, and there was Corey's car! YAY! I got my pop socket holder from it, so I could use it in Eliza's car. Jim told me the status of the transmission "It's locked, Blaine is working on it, so he's locked it and I can't see anything on the computer." Ok, we'll atleast I saw it and it's still alive. I left there and went straight to the school for Owen's IEP meeting, I don't even know what that means, but it was with his speech therapist at school. He's still working on his R sounds. Then I came home and worked on making funeral potatoes for 2 hours for the ward party. We didn't have enough people sign up, so some of us in the RS Presidency were picking up the slack just in case. I quadrupled my potatoes. I was home doing that and Corey left in Eliza's car to pick up Lily and take her to Blue's band. So: no van (Abi has GMS) and no Pilot (in the shop) and no Eliza's car means I to to walk to and home from the church 4 times this evening. 1st time to - walked over at 2:30 with NODPK to be there for the nativity practice. 

Katharine is a cute little lamb!

That went until 3:30

Aww they are so cute.

Kids learning their parts

Abi brought Lily home from school and then got Sophi and they came by with the van to pick up Natalie and Owen and they went to Holladay for a violin/trumpet concert rehearsal. Abi was able to take them there on her way to GMS, so I'm grateful that worked out. I stayed at the church with DPK after the nativity practice and they stayed and played in the nursery while I helped decorate tables for the party tonight. 

That set up started at 3:30. It was a beehive of activity! Many hands make light work and we were all done by 4:30. I was able to get a ride home from a neighbor. At home I got the potatoe casserole's cooking. I texted my friends to maybe get a ride back over, but they were all busy too and didn't reply, and kids were ready to get going so I was able to put my potatoe casserole's, hot out of the oven, into a costco cardboard box and then into the wagon. Then we (me and DPK) walked back over to the church. D pushed K in the stroller, I took the waggon with the potatoes and nativity costumes. Abi picked up SNO at 6 on her way home after GMS and they were glad to make it back in time for the 7pm dinner. 

They were back in time to enjoy dinner and then the Nativity program started. Super cute.

Katharine eating a cookie on the stage. Peter and Daniel were shepherds, Owen was a wiseman, and Natalie the narrator. After the nativity, the kids played games and had crafts to do. We adults cleaned up a little bit while the kids sat on Santa's lap. 

Peter was excited.

Katharine was indifferent.

Haha I don't know why she was wearing that blue scarf on her head. I guess she had wanted to play the Mary role. We kept cleaning up, and K found the left over cookies and some sprinkles!

She put sprinkles in her hot chocolate. So stinkin' cute.

We stayed until the very end and came home with left over potatoes, ham, cookies, and makings for a salad. And pine garlands and balloons! Abi drove the car with Peter while Natalie and Owen walked trailing the balloons. Daniel pulled the wagon for me. 

So that was our busy day. We survived. Tomorrow won't be too bad - Owen has a group lesson and Lily has a concert in Provo. Sunday's gonna be crazy, so I'll take it easy tomorrow in prep for that.