Science Fair Project

Now that the wedding is over, and our ski trip, and Christmas and family visiting and etc etc, it is finally time to focus on the 5th grade science fair. 

I actually thought this was due last week while we were skiing and I was ok with Owen just getting a zero score on it. He'd still be admitted to junior high, so I don't care. I didn't know the due date cause I haven't read anything in the parent packet book that they sent home in November with all the details, cause I resent the whole thing. But when I texted his teacher telling her we hadn't started and I had a wedding so I wasn't going to do it, she said it was actually due this week and that's fine that we didn't work on it over the break as long as he was ready on Thursday for the science faith. Ugh, ok I guess we get to do this. So that meant that today was crunch time. We worked on it right after school until now - just finished at 10:30pm. We cranked it out and it's done, and I hate the science fair. I don't feel burning hate, just annoyance. It is stupid, but I hope that the one kid in the 5th grade who might have their college trajectory altered by this stupid collective effort gets where their science passion leads them. So, as we made out plan last night, Owen said he needed a poster, so I went to buy a poster at Dollar Tree at 2:30, then went to boulder for an hour, and then picked him up from school. The plan was for me to pick him up after safety patrol and we'd go to Waterford, so the "research" and then have the data he needed. 

We each kicked the hard psi ball 5 times and we measured it with me walking and using my feet at a "foot". Then we let some air out with the inflation needle, until it felt softer, then we each did it 5 times again...

More air out until it was really flat, then we each did our last 5 kicks. Very scientific, I know. That's what this 5th grader came up with. 

I kept track of how long in "feet" each kick was, and Owen's job was to retrieve the ball. He got in his steps. So we each kicked a soccer ball 15 times, 5 times with high psi, 5 times with nice regular psi, then we let more air out of the ball and kicked it with low psi. We didn't measure the psi specifically at all, cause I don't care.

The internet helped with the hypothesis. I did all the typing up and bs-ing of words for the introduction, research, methods and procedures, materials used and conclusion. The one thing that was not bs'd was the date from our research at Waterford, where Owen and I went to kick the soccer ball. We were going to kick smaller balls (miracle balls) to gather more data, but it was cold so I said let's just do the soccer ball and call it good. Got our numbers, went home, uploaded the pics we just took, sent those to Walgreens, took Owen to activity days. After he got back from that, we gathered the stuff and that's when we saw in the packet about all of this that I have not read from until today, that he needed a trifold, not a poster, so then I went to Walmart to buy that. $2.99. Katharine came with me, and I bought her conversation hearts and a cupcake purse. If I take K with me, I usually end up buying her stuff. That's the trade off if I have to take a toddler. Got home, typed stuff up, printed it out, taped it on, done. I'm glad it is complete, and it's due Thursday, not tomorrow! Look at us being done early, woo. I feel confident that he won't be advancing like darn Lily did in 2020 and made me do even more work after it was supposed to be over. I remember learning from Hyrum's science fair in 2014 that we had to be sure to word the hypothesis correctly. Ai helped with that. Lily asked why I was helping Owen, she did hers on her own. I told her I was confident that Hailee's mom helped them a lot. Hence the advancing. Wesley's project in 2016 was more my style. He did it himself, good job. Sophi in 2023 and Natalie in 2024 - I don't remember helping any of them, so that is good. Abi's must have been very low key cause it didn't even make the blog! Ok. WELL, next item of business - Peter's birthday tomorrow. I told him I didn't want to do a party, but then he and his friend Lucy made invitations yesterday, so I guess this is happening....

I texted his friend's mom's to see if kids are available tomorrow after school, and they are, so we'll be doing something from 4-6 tomorrow. Peter's sweet. He and Natalie were trying to make a pinata too. I told them I'll go buy one. I saw them at Winco on my midnight run last week. I'm going to do another one of those right now at 12:20am. Gotta love that Winco is open 24 hours! Abi is taking the car tomorrow, so this is my chance. 

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for the elementary boys. 

I took the traditional pic on the stairs, but didn't walk them to the bus. I would have if they asked, but they didn't, so I just stayed with Katharine. We didn't do any back to school shopping, but hope to do that soon. They're good on backpacks and clothes, but they could use some new shoes. It's cute that Peter still wants to wear the cowboy boots from Wesley everywhere. Tonight I made dinner around 4 (potato salad) and put it in the fridge, then I went on a ride to the ruins. I was back at 6 and then I set the table (!!!) and we had a sit down dinner. It's been a while since we did that. I was pleased to see the kids eating a healthy dinner - some spring greens with the potato salad on top and a drizzle of a vegetarian dressing. 

The plan we made yesterday was: dinner at 6, FHE at 7, leaving for FHE at 6:45 - we went to Waterford and played soccer. We invited Ethan and Bella to join us. They are staying with Wayne for a few days. They joined us and invited some of Ethan's friends from the DR to come. I thought soccer would be an easy activity that everyone would like, but they weren't into soccer. So we had a game of kids vs. parents, and then when they showed up we visited and had some ice cream sandwiches. Katharine guarding the sandwiches until I gave the OK - 

When I gave the green light, they all ate them, and I bought too much and so they each had three and most of them felt sick afterwards. 

So better to have too many than too little? Maybe not, next time I'll just have two boxes, not three. 

So they weren't interested in soccer, but Corey talked to them about climbing and they thought that that sounded fun, so we took them to the Temple Quarry first to walk around there and learn some of the history of the area, and then we went to Momentum. I'm glad that they wanted to do that, cause that got us another month of membership. Corey was wanting to cancel, but then we renewed for another month after they expressed interest in it. 

A butterfly update - I found lots of eggs last week. I gave half of them away, but of the ones I kept, I was worried they were duds - but then when I checked this morning I had 13 that had hatched, fun!

I have some big ones and at various caterpillar stages and should have a few of them change to chrysalides this week. I didn't keep any of the eggs I found in July, cause we were busy at reunions, but I've kept some since we got back from Park City. It's fun, I'm not going crazy, but have been keeping track of the eggs I found. The first ones I found were on July 10 (16 eggs). Here's how many I found on each day: 

• July 10 - 16
• July 11 - 1
• July 13 - 3
• July 14 - 8
• July 15 - 3
• July 16 - 4 before we left for Bear Lake (cause Owen saw a monarch flying around the plants by the AC - Terry came over while we were gone and found 31!)
• July 23 - 1 egg
• July 25 - 1
• July 26 - 7 
• Then park City
• Aug 2 - back from PC, found 21 eggs and 2 babies
• Aug 4 - 4
• Aug 8 - 1
• Aug 10 - 18 eggs
• Aug 14 - 30 eggs 
• Aug 16 - 3 eggs, gave 16 eggs 4 babies 3 big to Alisha
• Aug 18 - one baby
• Aug 19 - 1 baby

I'll put those numbers here for now to compile stats later, if I feel like it. 

One other note about current events, today I was listening to a podcast about Epstein called "The Palm Beach Predator". I came across it on Saturday when I was doing some googling about his ranch. I didn't know he had a ranch. There are 5 parts on ABC on YouTube that are the same clips and people interviewed. Horrible things that people do to other people. I pray for healing for all of the survivors. I did use to think it was weird that one person accused him and then lots of people jump in and do the same, but now I understand why that happened. It's really horrible that Epstein and Maxwell could do that to people and feel invincible because of their money, and that the victims would feel so powerless also because of Epstein's money. And that so many powerful friends and businesses would be on Epstein's side because of his money. I think money and seeking safety from money is the mark of the beast - the only other time the 666 number is mentioned in the Bible is in 1 Kings 10:14 where it notes Solomon received 666 talents of gold. I think that's what John the Revelator was pointing to when he used that number in the Book of Revelation 13:8. So yeah, that's going on in the world today, and I think it's horrible Trump is not being transparent about the files. My 2 cents.

Highlights of 2024

I am in the Atlanta Georgia Airport right now. We have a long layover (still 2+ hours before we board) on our trip back home after spending the holidays in Florida. Since I have free time (kids are all on screens) I thought I'd finish up this highlights of 2024 post. I began this post a few weeks ago and started by looking at our 2023 highlights from last year. When I saw our family photo taken in September 2023, I immediately thought "Shoot, we didn't get family pictures taken!!" but then my brain looked through some files and remembered "Oh duh, yes we did! We had two weddings!" 

Ethan and Bella's wedding in March above, and Joseph and Eliza's wedding in June below.

We didn't get individual shots, so I'll be sure to do that sometime in 2025, but a big family photo with coordinated colors take a lot of work, and that counts. Wow, we're at the end of 2024. This whole year is such a blur now... I'm glad that I do these recaps for myself. It's nice to take time to look back and remember that yes it was busy, but it was great. We did a lot of wonderful things together! Sometimes in the day to day rush of life, I think and feel like there's no time for anything - it's just carpool and lessons and dishes and dinner. OR we're busy with skiing, wedding trips or traveling (like right now) and Corey and I are both so busy and interrupted that we go a week without having a one on one conversation. Life takes 100% no matter your work or how many kids you have. My advice - write it down. Record it for yourself and for your family, cause soon it will be over and you won't remember what happened to your time. If you keep some highlights for yourself, I think you'll be impressed with all that you do. I'm glad I've still been able to mostly keep up with blogging here, even thought lots of it is mundane info. I like to have details to trigger memories for me and the kids (Hyrum and I were just talking about the stuffed animals that he and the older kids had in Costa Rica and he couldn't remember the name of his Webkinz gecko, but I found it on the blog - Ben!) But big or small stuff, it's the brick and mortar of your life story. Kids, I hope you are reading this - write in your journals! Today is NOT your final destination, but it could be a pivotal part of it! So write it down or you'll forget what happened on your journey. Ok, I'll get off my soapbox. As for our journey this year, yeah, two weddings, one missionary, lots of birthdays, and a few dozen more wonderful memories ~

January - Ethan proposed to Bella, Skiing at Sundance, Joseph is 24, Peter is 5, Skiing at Brian Head, Wes to the temple, Abi gets her drivers license, Wesley starts home MTC and then flies to Mexico to finish his training

February - Skiing at Nordic Valley, Sundance, Anniversary dinner, 25 years, Bridal Shower for Bella

March - Wedding dinner, Ethan & Bella est 2024, wedding photos, Ethan is 22, Abi in New York

April - Four Corners, Total Solar Eclipse in Texas, Stop by Lubbock, Melodie Junior Recital, Peter can ride a bike, Joseph proposed to Eliza, Waterford, Joseph BYU Graduate, Owen and Daniel spring soccer, I'm 48

May - Natalie won 2nd in a state debate competition, The Wride House: World Premier, Owen trumpet recital, Daniel First Grade Program, Skyline Super Reunion, Natalie Young American Award, Katharine is 2

June - Hangin' with Hibberts, FSY and Oakcrest, little kid hike, Happy bday Corey, Lily is 15, Wes is 19, K got stitches, Joseph & Eliza est 2024,

July - 4th of July Carnival, Pineview (pre-drama), Natalie is 11, Wedding photos, Wride Reunion in Park City, Provo River, Jordanelle

August - Joseph starts Medical School, Hyrum is 21, First Day of School, 30th High School Reunion, 

September - Sibling sleepover, Abi is 17, Sophi is 13, Hyrum to Idaho, Daniel is 8, Ice blocking, hiking, I love fall

October - Hike the Y, Daniel is baptized, Desolation Lake Ride, Halloween

November - Katharine loves dresses, Pipeline, Tea Party, Blues Concert, Thanksgiving, Biking in St. George (Pilot Transmission)

December - Tiny returns, Family Gatherings and Concerts, Mel is 24, Christmas in Florida

It's been a full year with many blessings. We look forward to the ways God will guide us along this new year, to help us learn and grow... er... thrive in 2025!! (haha, yeah, ya gotta make it rhyme!) :) 

Happy New Year!

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)

Highlights of 2023

It's time to say goodbye to 2023! It's been a wonderful year. One of the highlights was being able to get family pictures taken. 

We hadn't had nice pictures taken since 2020, which was the last time we had everyone home (thanks to covid). But Katharine wasn't born yet in those, so we didn't have a picture of everyone yet. Plus from 2020 - 2022, Melodie Ethan and Hyrum were all gone on missions. I was really hoping that we'd be able to get photos taken after Hyrum got home from his mission, but I wasn't sure if Wesley would be gone already on his. I knew there was a possibility that Hyrum's and Wesley's missions would overlap, so these photos are a tender mercy for which I am very grateful. 

We had everyone here for one weekend, after Hyrum got home and we had to wait until Joseph got back from a trip to Guatemala, and we also had to fit it in before Hyrum left for school in Idaho. So it worked out perfectly, phew!

So that was one of the highlights of the past year for our family, and here are a few dozen more! ~

January - New Year's Day at Brighton, Joseph turns 23, Night at Snowbasin, Peter turns 4, Quick trip to St. George, Wes's hockey senior night

February - Wes' first hockey goal! 24 Years, Anniversary day trip, Skiing at Alta, Sophi likes Basketball, Wes is good at henna, we love bouldering

March - Ethan is 21, Spring break trip to DC, Monticello, Busch Gardens (two times), Jamestown, Yorktown...

April - ...DC Mall, Mt. Vernon, Biking begins, Katharine can stand, Abi and Lily music school, My bday

May - Katharine can walk! Owen trumpet recital, Katharine turns 1 year old, Joseph took the MCAT! School's out

June - Corey and girls to Guatemala, waterford, hiking, Corey's birthday, Lily is 14, Wes is 18, My sister's wedding,

July - Natalie is 10, Owen turns 8, Hibberts at Bear Lake, JeNeal's passing, obituary, and funeral, Park City

August - Corey got Covid, Hyrum is 20, First day of school, Hyrum returns his mission to San Diego

September - Family pictures, Abi is 16, Sophi is 12, Owen is baptized, Daniel is 7, Wes' wisdom teeth out, Games at Waterford, Monarch chrysalides and lots of butterflies!

October - Fall colors, Lighting the Y (Katharine's famous), Cookout, Our pet Lucky, Halloween

November - Thanksgiving, Wesley's mission call, Mel to Arizona

December - Bouldering at Momentum, Mel is 23, Christmas, Trip to St. George, Gooseberry Mesa

It's been a full year with many blessings. We look forward to the ways we will learn, be challenged, and grow in 2024! Happy New Year!

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!

Sick Pic

We went to Waterford tonight. I was excited to get a group pic of the kids at home, which is currently kids #5 through #13. And speaking of Wes and Baby K, look at this great photo I got!

K flying high looking like a baby ballerina with the moon above her head. I immediately shared it on Wride Nataion, and Mel said "This photo is sick" - which currently in 2023 means very cool or excellent! We took a slow mo video and then got that still shot. After Wesley's first two tosses in the air, Abi and Lily and I were coaching him: "HIGHER!!!" and then voilà, my pic of the year. The kids all promptly told me to text it to them and it is now on their cell phone lockscreens. Here are two of my favorites of the kid group pic - Lily and Wes holding Katharine's hands - 

And everyone standing on their own two feet.

We got there with sunlight to spare. We set up on the hill, and right after I took this pic....

The sprinklers came on ON us! So we ran for the field, and were listening carefully for the sputters of the next system turning on. Thankfully it went westward next and did the parking strip. Enjoying time on the field. Kids played pass and catch with balls and frisbees.

Katharine liked the little yellow balls - she was holding all three of them and that was super cute. I missed getting a pic of it.

Today Katharine also got her daily fruit intake by finishing off one of my apples. 

I get off the skin, and then she takes it from there. Showing the two little teeth that she works with.

She's actually got four on top too. They all practically came in at the same time in April. I liked how she was eating the apple like a cob of corn.

An apple a day keeps my kids regular. The only other exciting thing I did today was go to Costco. I had to go to get frozen berries. Natalie used the last of my berries at home, so I had to go. One of my daily meals is a big bowl of berries with rice milk and sometimes topped with a spoonful of chocolate plant protein powder. Berries and apples, I eat fruit everyday, not doing great on vegetables. Oh well. I'm keeping my eye on the flats of peaches. They are at Costco but they are still too hard, but they should be nice and juicy soon!

Highlights of 2021

Happy New Year's Eve! Corey and some kids are out celebrating with friends, and I'm home with a cough with a few sick kids. But it's ok - it's giving me a chance to review this past year, and it's been great. Here's some of the highlights for our family in 2021 - vacations and trips, ski and bike outings, kids birthdays, and lots of other family fun:

Family trip to Moab in April 

January - Skiing on New Years Day, Joseph is 21, Peter is 2

February - Family ski trip to Jackson Hole... and Grand Targhee, 22 Years of wedded bliss, Anniversary feast

March - Skiing at Park City, Ethan turns 19, last ski day with kids, First family bike ride

April - Family trip to Moab, Waterford, Casual family pictures, J&H head to Philadelphia for the summer, My birthday

May - Daniel gets 10 stitches, Hyrum receives his mission call, Last day of school

June - Hyrum Graduates! Corey's birthday, Lily is 12, Natalie ballet performance, Wesley is 16, A&L at Zions National Park

July - 4th of July, Family Trip to Lake Tahoe, Natalie's 8th birthday and baptism, Elder Ethan Wride goes to the Dominican Republic, Owen is 6, Park City, mountain biking is my new most favorite thing ever!

August - Sister Melodie Wride arrives in Brazil, C&W in Guatemala, School starts, Hyrum turns 18, J&H Church History Tour

September - Abi is 14, Sophi is 10, Lots of Aquarium visits, Hyrum enters the MTC, Daniel is 5, Hyrum to San Diego

October - Family Bike Ride, Wesley's first hockey game, Suzuki Celebration, CTA&L trip to New York, Halloween

November - Thanksgiving

December - Melodie is 21, First ski day, Christmas

 

Kid group photo in April before Joseph and Hyrum left for Philly 

...and the most exciting news of 2021 that we shared with the kids on Christmas Eve is that they are getting a little sister in May! We are looking forward to meeting her in 2022! We are also excited for 2022 because Melodie will be returning from her mission in March, and Ethan will come home from his mission at the end of June. We are looking forward to all the memories we will make together in this new year!

Delightful Sabbath

This Sunday, Corey and I kinda had a plan! We didn't coordinate our plans, but since we both had planned something, it made for a very nice Sunday. It was Stake Conference, so it started off with us watching church over zoom. We could have gone in person, and in past days when I was a stronger woman, I might have made us all get up and get ready and then gone to church for those 2 hours with 8 kids in tow, but today, we stayed home and it is ok. The kids watched in their pajamas...

Or napped as they "listened"...

Just kidding, two year olds don't listen. So it was ok to just snuggle up with my Peter baby. Corey had told Daniel that he could have a ring pop after "church" and Daniel didn't nag, so he got a ring pop. Corey destroyed the one bag yesterday, but we had been gifted two. 

So no hard feelings after yesterday morning's face off. Corey and Daniel are still friends. 

Corey and the kids played pictionary after lunch. I was upstairs reading and slept a little too, but I could hear them all laughing. Later Abi said she wanted to have a fancy tea party, and I gave my blessing. She made a lemon cake, I opened the pantry so that they could get other goodies, and they all dressed up for their meal. Owen! Looking sharp!

Abi gave them a lesson in proper dining etiquette. 

"Hold up your pinky!"

A video as their fine dining event began.

And then the thing I had planned yesterday to do, with Abi's support, was to go to Waterford. The kids were just barely wrapping up their party, but we were losing sunlight, so I told them to hurry and let's go and we made it out. Corey and Wes stayed home. I think Corey was reading and writing a letter to our missionaries. We live in a beautiful area.

We didn't have any game going on, just monkey in the middle with the soccer ball, and we passed it around.

Natalie tried hitting the tennis ball, which didn't work that great, but that's ok. Owen and Daniel spent most of their time playing on the hill and collecting acorns.

The sunset was AMAZING...

and it just kept going and going. Usually it's bright and vibrant and then one glance later it's over, but this one lasted a long time and we all noticed it over and over again. Then I was like "Oh... duh!! A silhouette picture!!"

God was holding out the sunset for me to get a photo. Thanks Heavenly Father! Lily, Abi, Sophi, Peter, Natalie, Owen, and Daniel was wearing Abi's jacket. Back at home we played another round of pictionary. 

Teams were Wes and Lily, Abi/Sophi/Owen, and Me and Natalie with Daniel guessing too. 

Owen wanted to draw, so Abi and Sophi were playing at a disadvantage. But Corey thought it was so funny how Abi gave rapt attention to Owen's sketches. It was always funny to learn what the word was and see what he attempted to draw. 

It usually wasn't very close to reality, but I'm glad she tried. I'm sure Owen would have felt sad if she hadn't watched him and guessed. Although she could have subtly glanced over at Wes and Lily's drawings. It was also funny how Abi/Sophi/Owen, who were already at a disadvantage, kept rolling a 1 with the dice. We all felt like we were cursed, but I think they rolled 1 the most. Wes and Lily ended up winning. It was fun to play a game together. I have a ton of games, which I think I buy to recreate that part of my childhood - my siblings and I played a lot of board games. But we don't get them out hardly at all, so I'm glad we did it today and I think it would be a great if we did it atleast once a week. We'll try for that! Good job Corey for making it happen today. So today was successful I think for all of us  because we had a good time together and also Corey and I both had a little bit of personal time to read and rest. And now we're heading to bed. We are seriously doing so great and going to bed early, like we've been wrapping things up consistently around 9pm, and are usually all in bed by 10! It's pretty amazing. I think Wesley having early morning hockey and seminary and Lily having early morning jazz band helps us all be like "yeah, we have to get up early, so let's go to bed" and most of the battle is gone. Good stuff. It was a good day.