Feb. '18- Week 2- Olympics, Spelling Bee, U Bball, Braces Off, Valentine's Day, Jazz Game

Thursday after taking Anna to music I cleaned out and vacuumed the van.  McKenna and Ben had early out due to Parent/Teacher conferences.  McKenna also had rehearsal and Ben had music.  We had a chill evening where Ben worked on his Valentine's and we watched the Olympics.

Friday Bethany woke up with some pretty awesome bed head. We went to ladies lunch.  Ben and Anna went to play at the Alexander's.  That night we watched the Olympics opening ceremony and Skyped with my mom in FL.  Bethany had some fun with stickers while we watched.

Saturday morning Dan's stomach wasn't feeling too well so he stayed home with the kids while I went to the temple, then I went to get groceries.  Dan was feeling better in the afternoon so he went to help some neighbors install an attic air vent.  We gave the boys haircuts and then Mickelle came over to babysit while Dan and I went on a double date with the Alexander's to dinner and a Utah b-ball game.

Sunday was YW New Beginnings where we sang Peace in Christ.  We had Adam and Mickelle over for dinner that evening and watched more Olympics.

Monday my stomach didn't feel so good and I was pretty slow moving.  Dan went with McKenna and Ben to school to watch them participate in their school Spelling Bee.  They both did great!
McKenna spelled "bombastic" correctly in round one, but then got out in round two and misspelled the word "multiplicity."  Pretty sure she was competing against 5th and maybe even 6th graders too.

Ben's words started out with three letter words.  He made it to the 6th round but got out on the word "pesky."

After Anna's gymnastics she and Bethany played under the card table in a fort.  The kids worked on their Valentines, then after dinner the kids had a Nerf Gun fight, we had FHE, then Mickelle babysat while Dan and I went and visited Kaitlyn Pack (and husband, Riley, and Mama) to see Kaitlyn's new baby girl!

Tuesday morning McKenna got her braces off!!

She was brave even though it was painful and had nasty tastes.  And now she looks like a teenager!

Later, I went for another doctor's appointment and was at 2cm and 70%.  We also had our furnace serviced because it wasn't heating consistently.  That evening Dan had a free ticket to see the new Star Wars again in theaters, so he took Ben on a date.

Wednesday was Valentine's Day.  I watched Will and Desi Alexander for a bit in the morning.  The kids enjoyed going through all their Valentine's when they got home from school.  While I was making our fancy dinner, Dan and took a little snooze.  Anna needed it because she was coming down with a cold.

 After dinner, Dan took McKenna on a date to the Jazz game.  McKenna won two tickets (in the nose-bleed section) by writing an essay about what makes her a good student.

Feb. '18- Week 1- Bethany Sick, Stake Conference, Webster Fam. January BDs, McKenna Sick, Be There

Thursday I went with Anna to music.  After lunch Anna went to play at Paisley's house.  Bethany was still adjusting to her big girl bed.  She was taking good naps during the day still, but that meant at night she was having a bit of a difficult time falling asleep quickly.  Thankfully, she wouldn't cry or scream.  She would just play quietly.  Also grateful that she did not disturb McKenna sleeping on the top bunk.  It was fun to watch her in the monitor and hear her thump against the door every once in a while.  (Notice the blanket on her head in the picture on the right.)

We've also found her on the floor, sleeping in front of the door several times.  This is pretty much just like all our other children have transitioned.  

Friday was Groundhog Day.  I worked on our grocery order in the morning then took Anna and Bethany to Swa's house while I volunteered in McKenna's art class.  Bethany LOVED playing with baby Hazel!  We also found out that we had a broken spring on our garage door.   That's expensive.  Bummer!   After school, Dan went with the youth in the ward to do baptisms at the temple.  I made our traditional "dirt cups" for dessert that night.  After dinner, McKenna went to a movie night at the Roth's.  Unfortunately, also after dinner, Bethany started throwing up. :( It was a rough night for Bethany and mom and dad.  

Saturday Dan helped with a youth DI drive.  We went through kids' school papers and cleaned off counters.  The weather was nice enough after lunch that Dan took the kids biking at the church parking lot while I went and got groceries.  

This was Bethany early Saturday morning.  She had dry heaved so much (nothing left in her little body to throw up) that she popped a blood vessel in her eye.  Still managed some half smiles.  

I went to the adult session of stake conference that evening while Dan stayed home with recovering Bethany and the other kids.  The Cowley's spoke about agency and I loved the reminder that it's not my job to control my kids, but to love and teach them.  There were two "youth" speakers that spoke about learning how to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost and the youth theme for 2018 of "Learn of Me."  Charlie Hall then gave a wonderful talk sharing many personal experiences and how they shaped his life.  Dan's dad spoke last about prophets and showed little videos of what some of the prophets were most well known for.  He then shared some personal experiences about our new prophet, Grandfather!  

Sunday morning Dan went to the Priesthood leadership session of Stake Conference.  

Here's another belly comparison shot.  6, 7, and 8 months pregnant!  All look about the same to me.  

After Stake Conference, we celebrated January BDs at Webster family dinner (and watched some of the Super Bowl).  Ben loved his heely things from the Stewarts and of course was so excited about a new LEGO set!  

 Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for spoiling him!  Another cute picture from the night was the "Fashion Cookies" designing their very own logo.  So cute! 

Bethany singing "Where is My Hairbrush?" from Veggie Tales.  

Monday Anna had gymnastics and we ran an errand to get some dance clothes for McKenna's play.  Bethany seemed to finally get her appetite back that evening.  Unfortunately in the middle of the night, it was McKenna's turn to start throwing up!  Super unfortunately, her first time did NOT make it in the toilet.  Another rough night of sleep for us three.  

Tuesday McKenna stayed home from school.  At gymnastics, Ben found out that he advanced to a yellow level in Ninja zone!  After dinner, McKenna spiked a fever, but thankfully, meds helped bring it down.  

A funny thing Bethany said that day... She kept telling me, "Mom, bye.  Me charge."  Meaning, she wanted me to leave so she could be in charge.  Funny girl! 

Wednesday McKenna stayed home again from school.  Dan stayed home in the morning so I could go to a doctor's appointment.  I had my first cervical check: only dilated to a 1cm and 70% effaced.  I went with Anna to a preschool "Be There" activity.  They talked about eating healthy.  

Then we all went to McKenna and Ben's parent/teacher conferences.  They both had great reviews from their teachers!  Dan went hiking to Donut Falls with the priests and McKenna and Ben went to their neighborhood art class.  

Bethany showing me some tricks! :)