Feb. 2020- Week 4- RS Activity, My Family to Dinner, JA Biztown, Spirit Week, Park, New Roof, Dan Ax Throwing,

Saturday I got out of the house early for a Stake Relief Society Activity.  I rode with Brynn and Swa (Sibber was out of town).  We ended up getting there 30 minutes early and thought we were funny comparing ourselves to the menfolk getting to their sporting events an hour before it starts and showing an empty venue.  They served a yummy lunch and I sat and talked with Amy Hamblin a lot.  I got home and got Anna ready to go bowling with her dance company "sister," Kate.  I spent the afternoon at the old house cleaning with friends who were nice enough to come help!  Rachael Alexander cleaned my fridge and Sarah Moulton cleaned the kitchen cabinets.  I spent most of my time doing the master and hall bathrooms.  Amy Hamblin and Nicole Boes also came to help!  We got so much done I was SO thankful!!  We ate dinner out that night and we all slept very well! 

The RS Activity was about the 200th anniversary of the Restoration.

Sunday morning McKenna had a YW meeting at Becky's house and I went to ward choir while Ben babysat.  We were a little late for church and we did a conversation heart activity for singing time.  After we got home and had our smoothie and snacks, I laid down on the bench seat in the kitchen and dozed off.  Around 4:30 my family came over for dinner.  We had pasta salad and gave them a tour of the house.  Alice loved played with my mom.  We played Cover your Assets and then I cleaned the kitchen and a bit of the laundry room.  As we were about to go to bed we heard a thud upstairs and when we checked to see if Ben had fallen out of his bed and he seemed dead asleep.  I had a hard time sleeping that night.  

Monday I drove the kids to school and then went to the Gateway for McKenna's 5th grade JA Biztown field trip.  I worked at the KSL studio with Maren Hilbig and I loved checking on McKenna as she was the CEO of RC Willey.  She was stressed at the beginning and thought the day was too short (which it was) but she had fun and loved selling and buying products.

I parked at in the carline, ate lunch and napped.  Jonathan babysat all day while Dan worked at the old house doing yard work in the back and painting and patching.  When we got home the three middle kids jumped on the tramp while I did more cleaning and laundry.  Adam dropped off the white bed and Holley Searle brought dinner.  Dan and I met with Cari at the old house.  After kids were in bed, Dan and I organized our clothes a bit and set out our pantry food.  

Tuesday I had a fairly normal morning routine and had to meet the contractor at the old house to talk about the roof.  I folded more laundry.  Anna and Desi played after school.  Brittana also came over to help McKenna babysit while I picked up and be and went with Bethany to music.  Alice cried a lot that evening after dinner unless her songs were playing on the echo dot.  After kids were in bed McKenna worked on a book report and I blogged.  I also took these pictures of Alice for the Nelson News since she'll be turning TWO in March.  

Wednesday was "dress your future self" as part of Spirit Week, and McKenna dressed as a mom with a messy bun and carried two babies (one attached to her leg). :)  Amy Hamblin came over to plan primary music stuff and I gave her a tour of the house.  I also cleaned the laundry room floor and half bath by the garage.  We had our busy afternoon running around.  We matched paint for our front door at the old house and Anna's had music with Ms. Geri working on her composition.  Dan and McKenna went to the youth activity that night at the Roots Tech convention and it was so so crowded so it wasn't much fun.  Late that night, Dan's parents got home from their trip to Panama.

Thursday was crazy hair day at school.  We put a cup under Anna's pony tail and Ben thought his spikes looked like bowling pins, so we added a "bowling ball" which was an M&M stuck on with Kayro syrup.  McKenna dressed "classy" that day.  The kids loved seeing Grandma and Grandpa in the morning and Alice didn't hesitate to snuggle Grandpa.  I got to observe the last 15 minutes in Bethany's dance class.  After school, Anna went to music and McKenna had piano, but I took the other kids to Hatch Park play with Adam and Mia since the weather was lovely.  Ben did some woodchip art.  We also saw Bethany's friend Arlee there.

Dan met us at the park and I headed home to make dinner.  I worked on Blurb that night and talked with Grandma and had popcorn.  

Friday was crazy sock day/school spirit day.  We also got a new roof on the old house which ended up being covered by insurance thanks to some hail damage--a HUGE blessing!! I did some rearranging and unpacking for more towels and blankets.  That afternoon I attended maturation with McKenna.  It went well because she said she already knew everything we talked about and she said she liked the "girl talk" and didn't want it to end.  I really appreciate that the teacher (Kora's mom) focused on building the girls' self esteem and self worth.  We had normal afternoon of homework and playing outside. 

That night, Dan redeemed a Christmas present from me which was night out with his high school fellas for dinner and ax throwing!  They had a blast!  McKenna went to Lia's and the rest of us watched Toy Story 4 with Grandma.  

Saturday was Leap Day, Feb. 29th!  Ben had rehearsal and McKenna babysat while Dan and I went to the old house around 10:45.  He painted the laundry room cabinets while I cleaned the basement bathroom and did other paint touch-ups.  We ordered Sweeto Burrito for lunch and McKenna continued to babysit at home.  We finally left and went home around 4:30pm!  Dan's mom worked hard on continuing to pack her office.  We had Zupa's for dinner and Mia came over while we did baths. We watched some Pixar shorts before bed.

I had to document Anna's unicorn drawing.  So so cute!  

Feb. Part 2 Videos:

McKenna JA Biztown, Bethany Dance, playing at the new house.

Feb. '20- Week 2- McKenna Spelling Bee, Anna Ice Cream Date, Anna Fiesta and Dance, Ben and McKenna Valentine's, Date with Dan

Saturday we had french toast up at Midway and talked at the table for a while.  Then cleaned up and the girls played outside some.  We stopped for ice cream on the way out of town.  When we got home, the kids were playing the Switch with Jonathan.  Then Dan took some loads from our garage up to the new house.  McKenna went to Lia's to play and Anna and Bethany went to Desi's.  I took Alice to run some errands then chill for a bit.  After baths and dinner, I made cupcakes and cookies for Webster dinner dessert the next day.  Dan also got a haircut that night and we packed office stuff.  

Sunday I attended ward choir.  Jonathan came to church with us and we played a Chutes and Ladders game in Primary singing time.  After church we watched Book of Mormon videos and Relative Race.  We celebrated February BDs at Webster family dinner.  

Monday we hurried and got ready for the day to make it to school in time to watch McKenna in the school Spelling Bee.  She unfortunately got out on round two with the word "geometry."  (Her first word was "breakfast.")  It was funny by the end Alice was calling out random letters like "o" and "p" and I was worried they would ask us to leave because of cheating. ;)  McKenna was pretty bummed about getting out so soon, so I took her to get hot chocolate and we just sat and talked in the car for a bit till she felt better.  We were so proud of her none the less! That afternoon while Bethany was at preschool and Alice napped I listened to my book and folded laundry.  After school I ran some errands and the kids were good!  After dinner Dan and I took Anna on an overdue ice cream date.  Once everyone was in bed Dan worked more in the garage and I collaged phone pictures.   

Tuesday I exercised.  After breakfast I made phone calls and went through the coat closet.  We got another roof bid and after school while Ben had rehearsal I snuggled Anna.  I attended music with Bethany and after dinner I purchased tickets for Ben's "Annie" play.  Alice had a hard evening and cried a lot while Dan was at church meetings.  

Wednesday Alice was hard again and was so sad about not having her binkie and blanket.  We had gotten her into some bad habits by giving it to her too often when she's out of her crib, so I was trying to break that habit.  We sat in her room with them for a while and when it came time to put them away, she still screamed!  Once she calmed down, I cut tissue paper for a Valentine's craft for McKenna's class.  I drove kids all over... After dinner, I had to pick McKenna up that evening and thankfuly Jake brought Anna home from dance.  We did baths and showers and Dan had late church meetings.  

Thursday I exercised and babysat, Charlie, Clara, Ellie, and Hazel at Brynn's house while Brynn want to watch Katie's lip sync.  Brynn later babysat my two girls while I went to Anna's Mexican Fiesta. I taught to class how to make tissue paper flowers and I helped run their store where they spent their pesos.  Right after school Bethany went to Rachael Pugsley's BD party and I went with Anna to music.  Then we went straight to her care center Dance Company performance.  Holley brought her home because Dan and I both had a regional trainings for church.  I rode with Amy Hamblin and had a good talk about the move. For the primary training, they focused on ministering and teaching the doctrine.  McKenna babysat and when we got home Dan didn't feel so well.  Once again, I had a VERY full day but was so thankful the timing of everything worked out.  

Friday was Valentine's Day! I got the kids ready by myself while Dan rested.  Thankfully, when we got up, he felt much better.  He met with Harrison Bartschi and had lunch with Steven Day, then he was able to be home while I volunteered in McKenna and Ben's classes.  In McKenna's class we made chocolate kiss roses.  In Ben's class we did Valentine's Day Mad Libs.  We packed some more that afternoon and McKenna had a fun girl party at Lyla's house.  Jonathan babysat while Dan and I went to dinner at Firehouse and then to see "Knives Out" which was one of the best movies we've seen in a long time!  When we got home Dan played some video games with Jonathan and I did a grocery order.   

Feb. Part 1 Videos:

Sledding in yard, McKenna Spelling Bee, Ben duet with Marilee, Anna Fiesta/Macarena, Alice funny faces and “Mom watch!”, Alice “Rocks!” in Moab, Hiking in Moab, Alice playing with Grandma Kelly

Feb. 2020- Week 3- Moab Trip, Moving!, Bethany Pirate Day, Anna Dance Dress Rehearsal and Team Pictures

Saturday after breakfast Dan and Ben went to help Dan's parents take some loads of boxes to their storage unit.  Then they moved more of our stuff.  Jonathan came to help too.  I did laundry and dishes and went WalMart, DI, JoAnna's, and then got Keva and Great Harvest bread for lunch (funny faces from Alice and a bitmoji from Ben).  The girls also packed the fairy garden.  For dinner, we had our fancy Valentine's Day meal (pasta salad, PDQ, and chocolate covered strawberries).  We went around the table and said what we loved about each other.  Lyla Lefler came over to help McKenna babysit while Dan and I went to the adult session of Stake Conference.  Afterwards, we went for ice cream with the Pugsleys and Moultons. 

Sunday we had a productive morning with baths and working on clearing the kitchen counter and going through kids' school papers.  Dan went to leadership meetings for Stake Conference.  After lunch, McKenna had to be there early to sing in the YW choir.  Our session was from 2-4pm.  Jordan and Lindsey Jensen spoke and did an amazing job!  After dinner, my parents stopped by to say hi and Dan packed some of our food for our trip while I finished going through school papers.  

Monday we packed up and left by 10am to head to MOAB for a couple days.  This week was our kids' February break from school (we went to Disneyland last year).  We ate lunch in the car in Price.  I was able to finish listening to my book and finish listening to the Joseph Smith Podcast and catch up on Marco Polos.  The kids watched "The Croods" and "Charlotte's Web."  Our first stop was at Dead Horse Point.  It was awesome because there were only about 5 other people there!  

We checked into our hotel around 5pm then went to eat at a Mexican food place.  We also went swimming, but really just stayed in the hot tub because it was too cold outside.  Dan rubbed my shoulders cause I had a big head ache.  We watched some YouTube videos and put kids to bed as Dan and I planned the next day.

Tuesday we left by 10 to head to Arches National Park!  Our first stop was the visitor's center.  Then we headed to Balanced Rock and Double Arch.  I feel like we were pretty dressed just right for the weather and I'm so thankful it was sunny.  I kept telling the kids people come to this place from all over the world, so why don't we ask people where they're from?  We were going to play the "Where are you from?" game.  At first, McKenna and Ben seemed so embarrassed I would talk to strangers.  Then, they thought it was pretty cool to find out where they were from.  Our first people were from Colorado.  The next couple we asked were from Switzerland!!

The kids loved their voices echoing at Double Arch.  

After lunch in the car, we started our hike to Delicate Arch!  Along the way, we met people from NY, CA, MI, NJ, France, Poland, London, and Brasil!! It got warm enough I didn't need my coat the whole time.

It was amazing seeing Delicate Arch in person!  Amazingly, there were hardly any crowds at all!  Dan took the three big kids under the arch, while I stayed back with the two littles.  It was fun to take pictures of each other from a distance.  Bethany and Alice spent time making a "soup" in a while in a rock.

Alice finally napped on the way down and we stopped at the Petroglyphs.

We ate some snacks, then headed to the Sand Dune Arch.

I felt like I was surrounded my giant dinosaurs or something with how big those rocks were.  We headed back to the hotel and got the kids Wendy's for dinner.  Then McKenna babysat and Dan and I walked across the street to a Thai food restaurant and went on a date. :)  We went swimming again after dinner.

Wednesday Dan was up super early with Bishop stuff on his brain.  Poor guy can't take a vacation.  We packed up and had McDonald's for breakfast then we played on a bridge that crosses the Colorado River.  We threw rocks and enjoyed the view.

Next, we stopped by the visitor's center again, this time to buy souvenirs.  Then we headed to Canyonlands!  We hiked to the Mesa arch and met a 95 year old woman with her daughter!

We ate lunch in the car then headed home.  The kids watched "Secret Life of Pets 2" and we headed back home to Bountiful.  I drove to Spanish Fork and mostly listened to music.  The kids watched "Turbo."  When we got home we did laundry and had left overs for dinner and McKenna went to YW activity where they made blankets.  I had a bad head ache and Dan worked on packing.  That was our last night sleeping in our house. :(

Thursday was our last time eating breakfast at the house.  

Since we were still on break from school, McKenna and Lyla Lefler went to the temple.  Sarah Moulton was driving by and saw us loading a trailer so she took the three little girls so I could be more productive without them.  Bethany still had dance, so I took her and then got a car wash and vacuum.  Bethany also had "dress like a pirate day" at preschool and I took a picture of some of her art work.  

Later that afternoon Dan actually had to go into work for a bit and I tried to get the kids to do some homework but it was kind of rough.  Anna was also whiney about going to a dance event that evening but the pictures show she had a great time!  They rehearsed in costume and took team pictures!  

 

We ate pizza at the new house and then got beds set up and put kids to bed!  Then Dan and I headed back to the old house to do more packing.  By the time we got to bed that night, we were both exhausted but had a hard time sleeping in our new environment.  

Friday, Dan went to the temple and the back doctor.  I ate with kids, then showered and we went to the old house.  Anna played at Emi's ALL day and McKenna babysat.  I came back to feed kids lunch and Ben went to play at Caleb's house.  That afternoon we had help from the Paulson boys and things went very quickly.  Ben also had a Primary Activity.  I worked on organizing the basement toys (and Ben built an awesome "city") at the new house and Dan had help unloading and moving the piano and big heavy armoire.  Jonathan hung on for dear life on top of everything in the trailer as we took one load up the hill.  We ate tacos for dinner.  After kids were in bed, Dan and I went to the old house to make a final push to move everything from the house out to the garage.  Once again, we had a hard time falling asleep.