Waterford Game

We went to Waterford tonight for a family soccer game. It was fun. I had the kids pose for a silhouette photo before we left, in honor of our memories here last year when we came to play outside and escape the quarantine feeling of being home all day. 

Left to right is SOWPADNLH. We sent this photo to JME via our facebook messenger group, we were missing them tonight!

Last year, it really was such a huge blessing to have everyone home for a whole month together. We've only got a few more days with Hyrum before he leaves us too. He and Joseph are leaving on April 26 to go out to Pennsylvania to sell pest control with Moxie. We're going to try and have a few more nights like this before he flies the nest. Tonight we had a good family soccer game. Our first match was kids vs Parents. Corey and I won. The two of us against 9 kids! Just kidding... it was more like the two of us vs. HWAS. Natalie didn't want to play, and Owen defected to our team.

Lily didn't play much, she volunteered for sweet Peter duty. Peter is the cutest.

Then we had a game of THS vs. CWAO and I think Corey's team won that match. It was fun. My knee got hit a few times, but it was no unbearable pain, so I was thankful. We look forward to many family nights of fun this year and many years into the future.

Other than that, our morning was full of soccer - Sophi at 9, Lily at 10:30. Lily went to Sophi's game cause I had written on the calendar that her game was at noon, but luckily Corey caught my mistake, so I went to get her and got her there on time. Then I came home, Corey did too, and he took me to Burt Bros to pick up the van, which I dropped off last night when my "check engine" light came on, on my way back from my vaccine shot. So that was done early, and he dropped me off to pick that up, then he dropped off stuff at the DI for me that H and I had loaded into his car. We're doing a good job getting the basement cleared out yet again, a never ending project. 

Music practice and chores from 12-3:30, and then at 3:30 Corey took ALSN to Hale Center Theater for the play Daddy Long Legs. I'm sure he took pictures, I'll try to get them. To keep ODP from noticing that they might be missing out on something, I put their bikes in the van and took them over to the school. We went on Owen's kindergarten playground today.

Spider man Daniel crawling up the spider web!

Owen doing laps through a puddle.

Peter admiring their work.

And then he joins in. 

He's not tall enough yet to feel comfortable sitting on the seat, so he straddles the bar and toddles with the bike between his legs. He is starting to stride a little, it's cute.

They were having a great time until Owen fell - his wet tires slipped on the blue playground floor. Then we went over to the big park for a bit. It was super cute watching Owen help Peter by catching him as he went down the slide, or putting him on the teeter totter, it was precious. And then Owen noticed that he had scraped his knee and was bleeding. So he cried to go home, D and P didn't want to but eventually came. I gave them baths and got dinner ready. Also, I mentioned Wednesday that I was preg, but it looked like I might not be cause I had been spotting a lot. Well today it was more than spotting, so I'm definitely not, so I might have miscarried again. So I think I've had 3 miscarriages now: 1 in Costa Rica at 10 weeks, #2 this past December at 8 weeks, and the one today at 6.5 weeks. Of course there's also the chance that the preg test was inaccurate. Anyway, I'm handling it fine. After my December miscarriage (and the $600 in bills to pay for the 3 ultrasounds they had me do) I've decided that if we do get pregnant again, I'm not going to tell anyone at all (except Corey and Nicole) and we'll wait to make sure it's viable at a 16 week ultrasound before we say anything. That's my current plan. I'm still ok with 12 kids. I still feel like God told me that he'd like us to have 14, so we'll just let that all play out however the good Lord wants it to play out. So there's my tmi about that. Corey and the girls were home at 6:30 from the theater, we ate, then went to Waterford for the rest of the night. 

Brief history of our family fun at Waterford: our first time having a family activity at the field there was a year ago when we were trying to find a good place to see the full moon. Then we went again the next day cause it was so fun. It has been a favorite family place since. Last spring, with the quarantine, it was always free. I've been checking on it the past few weeks as it's been warming up, and there have been games and stuff going on, but it looked free tonight, so we were happy to go put it to good use. 

Hibberts at Waterford

Tonight we planned a Hibbert get together. We thought we'd gather for some outside games - and as  happens with life, only my little brother Neil was able to make it, but we'll take what we can get! We met up at Waterford and had fun playing a good game of soccer. It was fun. Mikey wins for MVP I think - he is really good. Owen also did AWESOME. He was half the size of everyone playing, but he was fearless! He was playing defense, and he'd head straight toward the offense (which was usually Hyrum) and would take them on and he usually stopped their attack. Go Owen! Then we played ultimate frisbee. Joseph and Corey are INSANE at that. Corey'd throw it freaking far, and Joseph  was able to jump so high and catch all of his throws! It was fun. I'm not as good at Ultimate, but our team strategy was short throws, and we did good passing to every team player a few times, ha, and scored a few points too. Then it was getting dark, so we paused for silhouette pictures! Neil took a pic of our family - this was the first time Corey and I joined in the pic! 

Let's see if I can guess who is who... looks like we have, from left to right, by initials: DCOTw/KALNSWPHJM. Did yo get that? Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's how the line up was. Joseph and Mel came up on frontrunner, so everyone was is here except Ethan. That's a good representation! Then we did a few action shots - 

And then I took pictures of Neil's family. After I looked at our pictures and I laughed at Wesley in the picture above - like how did he do that?!? "You just jump and stiffen up." I took a video of him, and one by one his siblings came next to him -

Everyone else wanted a try too. 

It was so funny! Ok, EVERYONE!!! One - two, three... jump! Look they are standing in the air - 

Very fun. My nephews tried a few Super Mario brothers shots. We like taking silhouette pics at Waterford. It's a family tradition! It was good to be with family. I hope we're able to get together again before it snows!

Sunday Evening at Waterford

Some of the kids and Corey and I went to Waterford last night - It was pretty with the crescent moon - group photo!

We went out there again tonight after enjoying a lovely Sunday at home. My favorite part of our gospel study today was sharing some videos with the kids. We listened to the first 5 minutes of this Book of Mormon Central video. After that they were free to leave but I kept listening as I cleaned in the kitchen and I loved the end - how they explained how Christ is our Father, love it. And then we listened to more with the Teaching with Power video. Good stuff, it fills my cup.

This evening we went to Waterford for some outdoor family time. We left early enough that we could play before the sunset. I brought along Saints to read, but didn't get very much further, I was distracted by the fun.

We had kids rolling down the hill, fighting with sabers, kicking balls, and throwing frisbees. The hill was pretty steep for little Peter, good practice though.

Owen with a laser gun, Joseph reading.

Peter playing peek a boo with Wesley

We see you Peter!

Such a beautiful little boy.

More hill racing games

 Ethan was playing a bit rough and the toddlers came crying a few times...

But Daniel got some accidental light saber revenge.

Go easy on them Eth! They are just little people!

Sun going down...

Corey was attempting to climb a tree. Seems like such a simple thing to do. Joseph climbed up quick like a monkey. Corey said "This is how 40 year olds get hurt...."

He broke his belt when he tried to use it to pull himself up. Sun has set but the sky is still light - it's a good time for more sunset silhouette shots... Trying to gather the kids. Venus looks pretty and the waxing crescent moon!

Got all 12!

Strike a pose -

Oops Daniel got away...

Wes and Ethan in an epic battle.

The kids did some jump shots and cartwheel photos, but my phone camera is just blurry if there is motion. I also told the kids to take one of Corey and I kissing but that one didn't turn out great either...but it did lead into the topic of discussino for the night - we all sat on the hill and Corey told them how much fun it has been to have everyone home. We have one more week with Joseph before he heads out to California to sell pest control. Corey told stories of our courtship and first kiss, and of the blessings of marriage and family. It was great. These two weren't listening -

They were being super cute rolling down the hill.
It was a nice family evening.

Back at home for a few board games before bed...

Mel had made all the murder weapons to Clue since we lost them, and the kids played that.

Doesn't seem like a very appropriate Sunday game - with murder and plotting. I made a candy version of Clue several years ago, with all the Wride grandkids as the suspects, and they were accused of taking various desserts before they ate their dinner and they snuck and ate the treat in a room of the house, and I made a board of Corey's parent's house. I used some gummy erasers for the game pieces and made a few others with sculpy clay. I thought it was fun. Mel did a good job creating the weapons and people for this game. I'm glad the kids were able to play it not since the pieces have been missing for a long time - probably all lost in the lego mess. And I got to blog a little, yay, it was a good day.

Family Fun at Waterford

We had a fun day with the college kids. They all came up for church at our ward, and then lunch and dinner and games, and then ultimate frisbee at Waterford tonight. We have 14 in this photo here. 

You might wonder why this blog says we have 13 kids, when there are 14 kids in the photo. Well, Ethan just got married, so that adds one. BUT Wesley is also gone on a mission, so that takes it back to 13. So how do we have 14 still? Let's see if this pic helps solve that mystery...

It's not totally obvious, but there are two couples in that photo. Ethan holding Bella, and another couple in a dance dip move. From left to right, we've got Owen, Lily, Mel, Peter, Sophi, Abi, Daniel, Hyrum, Corey (he slipped into this one) Ethan holding Bella, Natalie, aaaaand Joseph and Eliza! Who is Eliza? Eliza is Joseph's fiancée!! We got this photo late last night - 

We knew that a proposal was in the works, and I also learned earlier that day (as Joseph called me for ideas... as of yesterday morning he was planning and was studying for finals, but then a desire to propose took over his thoughts) She knew it was coming but didn't think it would be last night, which is why he wanted to do it then. They already have their temple sealing scheduled - June 28 up in Meridian Idaho. So that is why they all came up to spend the day here, to celebrate and share the news with their siblings. I knew yesterday that they were coming up, so I did a Costco run before Natalie's concert started. I was able to feed a crowd today, thanks to ideas I got from Stephanie taking care of us in Texas. We had two bean dips for lunch after church (I came home after sacrament meeting with Peter, who is still sick with an upset stomach, and made those) and it was a hit -

(Peter is feeling better - making a Lego City for me to show Wesley) Peter playing legos. 

And Stephani also taught me how she cuts watermelon - They call it "watermelon straws" - so smart! 

Then we played "Compatability" Wride edition - that Corey made like 10 years ago. That was fun. Corey and I won. Mel and Hyrum were on a team cause they were husband and wife in their lego family many times, haha it was funny hearing Hyrum remember his complaints about Mel, his lego wife, being upset that her lego husband Hyrum was spending so much time at Sword camp that they weren't ready to fly into space, stuff like that, it was funny... And Ethan was filming stuff so Bella played with Wayne, but then Natalie swapped in for Bella, and Joseph and Eliza were on a team too.

Then Corey and I got hamburgers, bean burgers, and salmon burgers ready for dinner. I felt like I was prepping food a lot today, but it's good. Abi made and frosted sugar cookies. Then around 7:30 we went to Waterford. We didn't have much time as I had planned (I was thinking 6-6:30) but it was good. Sunset was at 8:14. Corey and the kids had an intense game of Ultimate... 

...while I tried to keep the littles out of harms way. Katharine is ready to play catch. 

Peter and I tried to hit the ball around with tennis rackets. 

We took the silhouette photos after the sun went down, then back home for scriptures and Mel shared some music videos she made with a guy in her song writing class, it was funny! Her siblings saw a side of her that they'd never seen before. 

It was so fun having all the kids here today! Life is passing away like a dream. I'm excited to see the rest of it unfold, and I'm really glad we still have little ones at home to raise. Having these older ones be in college and married has rocked Corey's world a little. He's thinking "where has the time gone? I was JUST there myself..." but I think that will happen for me when the kids are all in school all day, or when Katharine graduates high school and this child rearing phase is really over. It feels like it's all I've known for so long, so that will be strange when that happens for me, but right now I'm glad to still be in the middle of it. One of my biking songs is "The Middle" and my birthday is in a week, so I really am about in the middle (I plan to live to 100+) Life is so good, it was a day of many blessings and having my cup full. I'm so grateful for gospel living. Our sincere efforts to follow Jesus Christ in all things gets all the credit for creating this happy life for us. (BeReal from church today)

Hooray Monday

Peter had his usual "I'm grumpy" wake up this morning, and then he was cute and playing with Owen.

Playing with blocks and clapping for himself.

Owen made a temple with the blocks, hooray! Good job Owen!

I was happy to actually have a little bit if time to sit at the computer today - I spent most of my morning blogging, up until lunch time, then practiced violin with the girls before we had our lessons at 4, we had to wear masks to our lesson, cause Covid is on the rise, yay.

Corey worked late today. I texted and offered to pick him up since it was really hot outside. On our drive home, Father David called Corey to ask for help - He and Iveth and Diego are having a hard time applying to rent a house together. I got home and found a few rentals on the KSL classifieds and we called a few to see if there would be a problem renting to them. Corey talked with one lady and explained their situation - A nice latino family and a Catholic priest are hoping to find a house they can rent together and hold daily mass in.... Corey was being the middle man translating between Spanish and English, and took a picture of them to send to the property manager at one of the rental homes we were able to reach.

She said they looked nice. And they are nice. Hopefully they'll be able to find something that will work for them, although we are sad that they are moving away and that they I and D don't want to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ or the Book of Mormon or Joseph Smith. We haven't asked Father David any direct questions yet, but have shared some things. If they move I guess we might not be able to, darn we missed our chance! So Corey went over there with Abi around 9:30 and talked for an hour, I was outside with Peter and he started to walk up the street in the direction he had seen Corey and Abi go. But didn't see where they went, so he just kept walking and I followed him to see where his curiosity took him. The pitter patter of his feet in the street was totes adorbs.

Today the church announced that some temples will be opening to Phase 2 next week, which will include the live endowment ordinance, which is what Eth and Mel need. So yay, we might be able to go with Ethan to the temple! Maybe we can drive up there during our Park City vacay next week? I suggested to Corey that maybe we could drive out to Billings Montana for them to receive their endowment, since that is one that is opening. Oh wait, Star Valley would be closer, just under 4 hours! But then Corey said it's only for members residing within the temple district. Darn. Hopefully some of them here in Utah open up before Eth leaves next month. He and Mel are missionaries

A few notes from yesterday - Ethan came home to visit for his first Sunday of online MTC. We did the regular Sunday stuff: sacrament, scriptures, and a nice meal. In the evening we all went to Waterford to play soccer together.

Then back home for a few games of Spikeball until Corey took Ethan back to his grandparents. Corey, Mel, Eth, and Wes playing...

Peter, Daniel, and Owen back on the slide and trampoline.

A pretty summer rose I took a pic of before we headed out to Waterford. I love these roses.