March 2021- Week 4- Lots of Play Dates, FWF At the Park, Spring Break, Swimming in Layton, Raya, Puzzle

 Monday was a normal morning with an epic tantrum when I had to turn off Alice's show to drive carpool.  After homework, I took McKenna fabric shopping to buy fabric for a YW pillow case sewing activity.  I babysat Emmy and Cooper and Rai in the late afternoon.  After dinner we watched "Relative Race." 

Tuesday I took the van to Burt Bros for a safety and emissions check so I could renew my registration. Once it was done, Alice played outside on the trampoline and the big kids joined for a few once they got home from school.  McKenna got back a book project (diorama) which was a scene from the one of the books from the Selection Series.  After homework I had my story writing class.  Bethany had a Zoom dance performance and Anna played at the Johnson's.  After dinner, we actually had some down time where the girls played nicely and I was able to work more on my next story for my class.  

Wednesday I volunteered in Bethany's class.  Afterwards, she had a Mt. Rushmore activity and brought this cute thing home.  The big kids had piano and played outside.  I'm always so thankful when the weather becomes Spring-like!  After dinner and baths, I worked on one of the puzzles we got for Christmas.  

Thursday was a free dress day for the kids.  Here's a picture of Alice showing them she knows how to do Ben's Lego infinity cube.  Dan worked in Murray. After helping with homework, I tried to work on my Relief Society talk and had my call with Jonathan.  Ben brought home a homemade oven he made in school.  Anna also had a Zoom dance performance.  We all kind of ate dinner separately since Ben had rehearsal and our schedules were all over the place.  I took McKenna to YW and set up my sewing machine for her to use for the pillow cases.  I worked more on the puzzle, worked on Blurb, and Dan and I made some Spring Break plans. 

Friday I helped the kids with homework in the morning and put together a grocery order.  After lunch, Bethany played at Mia's house, Lia played here, and Ben played at Henry Alexander's.  Anna played at the Johnson's.  I worked on the puzzle and blogged a little.  Dan and Ben went to a soccer game for Jagger West.  That evening, Dan and I went on a date to Firehouse Subs and he thought it was so cool he could fill his drink without touching the machine by using an app.  Then we picked up groceries.  After kids were in bed, McKenna and Ben watched the 6th Harry Potter since Ben had recently finished the book.  It's always nice to see them getting a long!  Dan and I watched two comedy specials on Netflix.  

Saturday I listened to my book while walking on the treadmill.  Dan worked on the downstairs half bathroom and I took Ben and Lia to Backstage.  I worked one some weeding in the yard and listened more to my book.  Ben went to Grant Enquist's BD party at Farmington station.  Anna went to Emi Atkin's house.   McKenna fed the little girls lunch.  After a nap, I took the girls to Hogan park for McKenna to play with Zoe Molino and her cousins who were in town from CA.  It was an FWF meeting (Fashion With Friends).  After dinner, I did some cleaning and Dan worked more on the bathroom.  Alice was up late and I blogged some more.  

Sunday Anna had developed a cold, so we had at home church which is always harder for me than in person.  The kids have a harder time listening at home and I often lose my temper.  I hate losing my temper!  Grandfather came out with a new message about Easter.  I did a Primary lesson with the kids then we had our Zoom meetings.  I had my usual quite afternoon with "Don't Miss This" and my conference call.  Alice and I took a nap together too (two weeks in a row of Sunday naps pictured below).  After dinner we went on a walk and stopped to talk with the Wests, the McKinley's form the 6th ward, and Katie and Jake Brown.  We watched Relative Race after dinner.  

Monday was the first day of Spring Break!  The kids were surprisingly on board with doing some chores!  We cleaned the basement mostly.  After lunch, Ben and Anna went to the Alexander's.  Tanner Johnson came over.  I helped McKenna set things up in her new bathroom.  We ate dinner in the car that evening while driving up to the Layton Surf and Swim to swim with my parents.  There are waves that turned on every 20 mins.  Afterwards, we had candy and hot chocolate.  After kids were in bed, Dan and I watched "Murder Among the Mormons."  

Tuesday Ben and I finished the Temple Square puzzle we had been working on.  Desi came over to play.  I had the last of my story writing class (for this session).  Afterwards, I took McKenna and Alice to the store to get a few decor items for McKenna's new bathroom.  Sadly, Alice threw quite the tantrum that neither McKenna or I ever want to shop with her again.  After dinner (all things from the freezer), we took the kids to the movie theater to watch the new Disney movie, "Raya."  

Wednesday the kids had piano in the morning and Zoe Martineau came to play with Anna while I did yard work from 1:30-5.  Dan took down Christmas lights and visited an estate sale across the street.  After dinner, McKenna helped with baths while I attended a virtual meeting for Backstage.  I worked on Blurb that night.  

Videos:

Alice “reading,” Ben slow mo, Girls singing after baths, Alice weird eating thing, Drink filling App at Firehouse Subs, Ben magic tricks, Layton Surf and Swim, Puzzle with Ben, Deer in our yard

March 2021- Week 3- SWAT Situation on the Bridge, St. Patrick's Day, 1 Year since Earthquake, Basement Half Bath, Play Dates, Ward Conference,

 Monday was a pretty normal day with laundry, carpool, and making phone calls and texts.  I also worked on my personal history story and tried to play with Alice more than normal.  

Tuesday I worked on Blurb in the basement while Alice watched "Power Rangers."  I had my Zoom story class and had a much better connection because I used Dan's computer.  Dan played catch with Ben outside for a bit.  Ben had rehearsal and I went to a drive through sock donation/cupcake pick up for the Relief Society's birthday.  We came home and played Bingo via Zoom also with RS sisters.  After kids were in bed, I worked on pictures collages.  

Wednesday was St. Patrick's Day.  It was a normal morning until I went to pick up the kids from school.  After I got McKenna and approached the bridge to get to south campus, we could see lots of emergency flashing lights and a few cop cars passing us.  We got stopped in the line up of cars trying to cross the bridge and then got asked to turn around.  This meant I would have to get on I-215 to get to the South Campus.  Definitely the LONG way around.  We were pretty sure we saw police with their guns drawn before we turned around, so we were a little nervous.  We came to find out later it was a SWAT stand off with a guy who was not cooperating with police.  He was originally being pulled over because he had things obscuring his rear windshield, but then he led police on a chase and was driving erratically.  His car broke down at the top of the bridge and he got out and was shouting and saying lots of nonsensical things.  He was even waving around a metal rod/pipe and threatened to blow up his truck.  He eventually fled on foot and the police were able to catch him and take him into custody.  I felt so sad for him because he clearly had some mental health issues.  I'm so thankful it ended peacefully and that no one was hurt! The school had to call a distance learning day for the PM kids and of course we got home later than normal. Here are some pictures from KSL Chopper 5.   

We had a normal afternoon of homework and piano lessons.  The kids played outside before dinner.  For dinner that night, I was a "fun mom" and made pasta with green sauce and made our fruit into a rainbow!  After baths and kids were in bed, I collaged more pictures.  

Thursday marked 1 year since we were woken up by a 5.7 magnitude earthquake!  I put up Easter decorations and we had green french toast (green bread from Parson's Bakery) just like Grandpa Webster made for us the day of the earthquake a year ago.  I helped Ben with his book report, called Jonathan, and Bethany, Anna, and McKenna had music, dance, and aerial silks.  Ben also had rehearsal.  After dinner, Dan took Anna to help the Pena family move.  Alice was up late because she napped and I collaged pictures.  

Friday I woke up with a really stiff neck.  McKenna had a student council meeting.  After lunch Ben's friend Caleb, as well as Rachel Pugsley, came to play.  Bethany also had a play date at Arlee's new house.  I texted with Emily and then Aliza came to play with McKenna.  I love it when we can have a play date for every kid in one day!  Dan took down the Christmas lights and I collaged pictures (mostly Hawaii which was taking forever because there were so many pictures of course!).  Dan and I went on a date that night to Chili's and then to pick up groceries.  After kids were in bed, we had a friends game night but only Scott and Kylee Nelson were able to come.  We talked a lot and played 4 rounds of Skyjo.  

Saturday McKenna went to Open Silks and there was so much rain I felt like I almost hydroplaned a couple times on the drive there and the drive home.  Scary and not fun!  Dan helped the youth collect food for the food drive.  Ben also had a rehearsal at Backstage.  After lunch, I picked up Mickelle at Burt Brothers while her car was in the shop.  Dan and McKenna went to Home Depot to get a new bathroom vanity and faucet for the half bathroom in the basement.  McKenna went to Winegar's to hang out with Katie and Whitney for the evening and Dan worked on his talk for Ward Conference.  We had a conference call with my family that night.  Both Anna and Alice had a hard time falling asleep that night.  Dan got a hair cut.  

Sunday was our Ward Conference.  Dan spoke about our experience net fishing at Hukilau beach and Pres. Farnes spoke about being a "second mile" disciple.  I did Primary with the kids when we got home and we had our Zoom calls taught by the stake leaders.  I watched "Don't Miss This" video and Alice napped on me.  I had my usual family conference call and worked on my personal history story.  We found out that Alice could climb and reach pretty high in our bathroom cupboard shelf and got the melatonin again!  So we moved it a second time and have not let her seen where it is!  After dinner, Dan and I played Skyjo with Ben.  We tidied up the basement and put the three girls to bed.  After that, we had the "birds and the bees" talk with Ben because earlier in the day he had asked what chastity is?  His mind was definitely blown, but he handled it well!

March 2021- Week 2- Grandma Pat's 80th, Raya at Adam's, Cabin with Pugleys and Moultons,

Monday was a normal day.  In the evening our family, my parents, and Mickelle visited my Grandma Pat for her 80th BD.  Even though she was fully vaccinated, we were not so we all stayed masked.  We brought some cookies and mini cupcakes and she showed us 4 beautiful flower arrangements she received that day.   Since the pandemic started one year ago, I have only seen her in person 3 times.  It was so great to be with her! 

Tuesday I started a new session of personal history story writing with Sarah Moulton, and unfortunately I had a bad connection and no one could really hear me.  Alice found where we kept the melatonin and accidentally took 2 with out us knowing, though she told me after the fact.  Around 4pm she couldn't keep her eyes open and she took an hour nap.  We promptly moved the bottle to a location she doesn't know about.  Doh!  After dinner, Ben had rehearsal and the girls played "dance studio."  I had a little Zoom meeting with the stake RS sisters to discuss my talk for the upcoming stake RS conference.  Later that night, Dan picked up Adam from the airport.   

Wednesday I volunteered in Bethany's class and the kids had piano after school.  McKenna and Ben also had an in-person Harry Potter club where they did a Chamber of Secrets escape room.  They had treats and did lots of crafts.  After dinner and bed time I worked on prepping another primary singing time video. 

Thursday was a normal morning and Dan and I went on a lunch date to Tony Burger.  I called Jonathan then Anna and Bethany had their activities.  Ben also had rehearsal, and Dan, Bethany, and Anna went to Adam's house to watch the new Disney movie "Raya" with a couple cousins.  McKenna had Young Women's.  After kids were in bed, Dan and I FaceTimed Emily McDonough to chat about Hawaii since they would be taking a trip there soon.  I also recorded my primary singing time video.  

*Other pictures: Bethany's cute selfie, Ben and Dan with matching UA hoodies, and Ben folding our blanket like an origami baby Yoda.  

Friday morning I ran a bunch of errands to get groceries, make copies for the singing time video and deliver them, and to pick up some books from Brynn's house for McKenna to borrow.  My mom also stopped by with a bunch of food they can't eat anymore since they're starting the Keto diet.  There was so much food and I felt very grateful!  After lunch, we packed for one night to go to the Pugsley's cabin above Kamas.  It was so fun to hang out, snack, talk, and the kids had a great time playing together.  Ben, McKenna and Kirk also played the game of Life.  The Moulton's arrived around 7pm and we had a late dinner.  The kids were in bed by 10pm and the grown-ups stayed up talking until 1am.  Oops!  SO tired the next day. :) 

Saturday we woke up around 8am.  Dan and I were in charge of breakfast, so we got going on the bacon, fruit, and pancakes.  After clean up, we got dressed in our snow gear and went outside to play.  Then we went for a walk/hike along the road.  It was so snowy and beautiful!  The kids decided to have a competition, boys vs. girls, making a commercial video.  They were pretty cute.  We had lunch, then cleaned up, packed up, and left by 3.  Ben and Anna helped their primary classes deliver fliers for the statewide food drive.  After dinner, we watched an episode of "Relative Race."  We went to bed early that night thanks to Daylight Savings.  

Sunday we were a little late for church, but it was our first Sunday back to SINGING!  I was so excited but when I started singing Alice told me to stop.  :)  Guess she wasn't ready for it.  For home primary, we watched my singing time video.  The kids watched "Moana" during our Zoom calls.  After lunch I watched "Don't Miss This" and we had our family conference call.  I was so tired from staying up too late at the cabin!  We went for a walk after dinner and after kids were in bed we cleaned up the kitchen.

March 2021- Week 1- Alice's 3rd BD, Jensen's Baby, Deep Clean Kitchen Chairs, March BDs at Dave and Laurie's.

(The kids coloring together was from Sunday the 28th.) 

Monday was a normal day of school, homework, and laundry.  Alice came running and crying into my bathroom and told me she was running on the couch and fell and hit her cheek on one of the end tables.  Poor thing... but I hope she learned her lesson to not run on the couch.  Also, Bethany found a new favorite place to eat lunch- on the floor in the sunshine. :)  After dinner we watched another "Relative Race."

 

Tuesday was a normal morning.  After lunch the kids played outside for a bit.  After homework I took Alice and Ben for their doctor check-ups.  

Alice Age 3 Stats

Height: 36.7in (4.7in increase in 1 year) 45th% 

Weight: 30lbs (5.5lb increase in 1 year) 45th%

Ben Age 10 Stats

Height: 53.2in (2.5in increase in 1 year) 28th% 

Weight: 63lbs (8lb increase in 1 year) 25th%

I dropped off McKenna's Jr. High registration papers and Bethany and Ben had dance and High School Musical rehearsal.  Dan had bishop stuff and we decorated for Alice's birthday! 

Wednesday was Alice's 3rd birthday!  Her Golden birthday turning 3 on the 3rd!  We let her open presents before the kids left for school.  Here she is trying to hold up three fingers.  We gave her a Daniel Tiger book, some starbursts, and some Frozen fruit snacks. Ben also gave her something from his Valentine's bag that was a little toy he noticed she liked to play with.  Such a thoughtful big brother! 

I made an effort to give Alice as much attention as possible while the kids were at school, so I didn't exercise or shower. :)  We snuggled, read books, and played games!  Once kids were home from school, we got Keva Juice and Great Harvest bread for lunch.  Dan brought home another present for her- a new balance bike from Costco!  After piano, McKenna went to Lia's, and Grace and Max Whitchurch came here to play.  It was such a nice day we were outside a lot jumping on the tramp.  I chatted with Cody Johnson's sister who was babysitting Tanner, Cooper, and Emmy. After Max and Grace went home, Tanner, Anna, and Bethany set up a little stand to sell their band "jewelry."  

That night for dinner we invited my parents and Mickelle over to celebrate Alice.  She also got a FaceTime call from Grandma and Grandpa in Hawaii.  I made mac and cheese from scratch and peas and grapes.  After dinner, Alice opened more presents and her cards from great grandparents.  Mickelle gave her a Moana coloring thing and a Moana purse.  My parents gave her a castle and dolls from Frozen that lock up into a carrying box.  

The only real treat she had requested was Starburst, so that's what we did, along with some rice crispy treats a neighbor brought over.  We're so blessed to have Alice in our family!  She brings us so much joy and also learning as we practice negotiating with a toddler.  Some other funny things about her: she loves to wrap up an ice pack in a dish towel and call it a present.  She's not even close to being potty trained and loves to boss around the "Alexa" telling her what songs to play.  

After kids were in bed, Dan and I visited Jordan and Lindsey Jensen's new baby girl, Amelia.  She was so cute!  

Thursday I had a dentist appointment for them to reattach my upper permanent retainer.  Alice was babysat by Rachael Alexander.  Afterwards, I ran an errand to Smith's.  I chatted with the Hamblins when I got home since they came to borrow Dan's church keys.  After helping kids with homework, I called Jonathan.  Dan came home in time to drive Anna to dance and McKenna to Aerial Silks.  Bethany and I did her Zoom Let's Play Music.  We watched Tanner for a bit after school since his aunt was gone for the afternoon.  For dinner, we had Hawaiian macadamia nut pancakes.  Ben had Backstage and McKenna had YW.  Alice got some MORE birthday present from Dan's parents, which we opened over FaceTime, and the three girls played with them till bed time.  A magna doodle, some wooden puzzles, and a bubble blowing lawn mower.  I worked on a grocery order while Dan watched a James Bond movie.  This was also her last night with a binkie!  

Friday I woke up with a really tight neck muscle, but I still exercised.  Ben had a student council meeting.  Ellie came to play to give her something to do while Swa was recovering from foot surgery.  Later, we met Brynn at Deer Hollow park. We also took Desi and Henry with us.  We had beautiful weather that day!  Dan and I went on a date that evening to the Ti Amo pizza place then picked up groceries and made some returns.  This was Alice's first official night with NO binkie!  Thankfully, she was so exhausted she went to sleep quite easily while I rocked her in my arms.  Dan and I watched "Eddie the Eagle" that night.  

Saturday McKenna went to open silks at Backstage.  After breakfast, I decided to do some deep cleaning in the kitchen.  I cleaned the sink, counters, and then started wiping the chairs.  We have so many chairs!  I also took the magic eraser to the bench seating in the corner.  I listened to my book a lot.  Mickelle was having her car worked on at Burt Brothers, so she came and hung out here for a bit while she waited for it to be done.  The kids even played restaurant with her.  After lunch, I used a brown marker to do some touch-ups on the chairs.  The kids played at the Johnson's and McKenna went to Lyla's.  Ben got a hair cut.  That evening we watched Henry and William Alexander while their family went to Charley's play.  We had pizza and watched "The One and Only Ivan."  We cleaned up the basement before bed and Alice only cried a little going to bed with no binkie.  After kids were in bed, I finally used my new spinwave mop to clean all the floors!  It worked so great and was definitely easier than my steam mop!  I also vacuumed some and Dan got a haircut.  It was a very productive day!  

Sunday was fast Sunday and we were on time for church!  We did home primary and then our Zoom lessons.  I listened to "Don't Miss This" and my family conference call.  Then we went to Dave and Laurie's for dessert and March birthdays.  Alice got one more present which was a Moana Heart of Te Fiti necklace and she was in heaven!  It was nice enough we could be outside and be more Covid safe.  We had dinner afterwards when we got home.  

Videos:

Alice Marshmallow “ladies”, Alice’s Bd, Ben magic card trick.