April 2021- Week 4- Ben's Show and Lost a Tooth, Bethany Let's Play Music Virtual Recital, Mulching, Bro Gathering, April BD Dessert, Dan Grandfather Presentation,

 Thursday was a normal morning and I got dinner going in the crock pot.  Alice had more success potty training and pooped in the potty!  I went to music with Bethany and McKenna had silks.  After dinner both McKenna and Ben had church activities.  McKenna's was an activity she planned.  They did yoga and frozen yogurt!  She did a little lesson before about mindfulness.  I weeded the gully a little bit while Dan had some youth from the ward come help mulch the top level of the yard.  They did it so fast!  We also got a virtual ticket to watch Russell and Kate's school play.  It felt like a super busy day!  Phew!  

Friday Dan and I went for a walk then after breakfast I took McKenna to school for her student council meeting and I waited in the car.  Anna had a make-up piano lesson and I worked on a grocery order.  After lunch, Ben also had a student council meeting and Anna's friend Aspen came to play and Bethany went to Adam's to play with Mia.  I took McKenna and Alice to the store to get a BD present for Grace and for Alice to pick out a potty training prize.  She chose a Raya doll!  We had Bethany's virtual Let's Play Music Recital and she did great!  She played Tinga Layo and Caterpillar Cousins.  Ben lost a tooth with the help of Dan (while on a work call) and had another HSM show.  McKenna babysat while Dan and I went on a date.  After dinner, I took McKenna to see Ben's show again.  They had a cast party that night outside with pizza and an ice cream cake from Cold Stone thanks to the Molino family.  

Saturday I was awake from 4-5am but I still got up around 7:30 to run 2 miles outside.  It felt good to be outside instead of on a treadmill.  After breakfast, Dan borrowed Adam's truck to get one more load of mulch.  McKenna also had silks and I finished weeding the gully.  Ben also went to Backstage with McKenna for an audition clinic.  We finished mulching by lunch.  (Alice even helped with her tiny little shovel.)  Ben had a matinee show and McKenna went to Grace Eckman's BD party.  We also set up the back patio cushions and furniture.  My parents and Mickelle went to Ben's show so they brought him home and hung out for a bit.  (The picture of my dad reminds me of the actor Michael Caine, so I did a side by side comparison. :))  Adam and Mia also went!  The Johnsons also used the trailer for a load of mulch for their yard.  Ben ate and I touched up his make-up for him to go to his second show.  We had pizza dinner then I went to Backstage for closing night!  The girls hung out in the basement and watched Raya while Dan hosted all his brother's for a guys night upstairs watching the Jazz game.  This was David's birthday wish/present!  After Ben and I got home, Alice was up late, so I snuggled her and read to her in my room till all the boys left.  I fell asleep as well.  It was another very busy day!  My body hurt, but my heart was happy! 

Sunday we were late for church so we had to sit in the gym.  We had home primary and then I started making cookies for that evening when we would host the Webster fam for April BDs.  I watched the Relief Society lesson and attended my personal history story writing class.  After my family conference call, I tried to nap.  I was feeling stressed about everyone coming over because I wasn't sure if the weather would hold out for having the dessert night outside.  It was pretty cool and cloudy, but it worked out!  All the adults went through the signed puzzles from Grandfather.  Alice asked if she could sleep in her underwear that night and we gave it a shot!  At bed time, I took out my contacts and I felt like I had an eyelash in my eye but I could not see it or anything in my eye!  It hurt so bad and wasn't getting better that I thought maybe I ripped my cornea.  Eventually we googled it and Dan told me to pull my top eyelashes out so my bottom lashes could sweep anything out from the eyelid and it totally worked!  

Monday Alice woke up dry!  We had no school since it was a snow make-up day. After breakfast, the girls played with play doh and I talked with Ben about a possible audition song.  We had rain and snow off and on all day so it made it a perfect day to clean the house.  I put away Easter decorations and we cleaned up the basement.  I also had time to work on my talk.  After dinner, Dan and I tag team vacuumed the basement then we watched Relative Race.  At bedtime, we read Aunt Marjorie's "Pudding on the Moon" to the kids and had them watch the video of Grandmother singing it.  Alice was up late that night and was quite sad.  That made it tricky for Dan and I to get things done that we needed to.  

Tuesday Alice woke up dry again!  We had a normal day.  I worked on writing our part of the Nelson News.  McKenna helped me make dinner, then she babysat while Dan and I went to Ben's baseball game.  Dan and I had Nielsen's sandwiches for dinner and they were delicious!  Dan played catch more with Ben when we got home.  The girls played Legos. Once kids were in bed I worked on my talk and Dan worked on his presentation.  *Alice wet the bed that night but didn't wake up to it.  

Wednesday I cleaned my room a bit.  After school, the big kids had piano and I cleaned my bathroom as well.  We did baths before dinner, and after we ate, my parents came to babysit while Dan and I went to Luke and Ashlee Johnson's Young Men/Young Women's activity where Dan gave his presentation about being related to Grandfather.  Afterwards, we went out for dessert with Luke and Ashlee, as well as Skoot and Ashley!  It was so fun to reminisce about Institute Council days.  It was also so fun to not be masked and not be worried about Covid!  

Thursday was a normal morning. After school and homework, the kids played outside and I chatted with Meghan. Anna and McKenna had their silks and dance class.  Ben worked on his adventure story and diorama.  The little girls played more outside and with playdoh.  Anna also had a primary activity and McKenna and Dan hiked Ensign Peak for the youth activity.  I also helped Ben practice his audition song.  After kids were in bed, Dan and I booked flights for a trip to Mexico in October after he's released as Bishop! 

Friday I went walking with Rachael.  McKenna got her 7th grade shots.  We picked up groceries and got Keva and Great Harvest for lunch.  The kids played with the water table some.  Ben went to Taggart's to play.  I attended an activity planning meeting for Legacy.  Ben had a baseball game that night. The girls enjoyed climbing on the fence. :)  After kids were in bed, we had the Johnsons, the Yeates, and the Alexanders over for a game night.  We played Double Ditto and Skyjo.  It was, once again, so nice to socialize without masks since so many of us were vaccinated!  

April 2021- Week 3- Webster Girls in Midway, Ben's HSM Show, Potty training

 Thursday Dan worked in his Murray office. I worked on a grocery order and my talk in the morning.  Alice played and watched shows.  I had my call with Jonathan that afternoon.  All 4 kids had extracurricular stuff.  Dan and McKenna had youth activities.  The younger girls also set up an "obstacle course" using pillows and cushions and ate their snack on it.  

Friday Alice came in the workout room during my morning run and made this little bed for her panda and kitten.  McKenna had a student council meeting.  I took all four older kids to the dentist and no one had a cavity!  McKenna babysat for lunch while Dan and I went on a lunch date to Cafe Rio.  Ben also had a student council meeting and Brinley came over to hang out with McKenna.  Anna went to Aspen's house.  Lara and Brynn picked me up for our Webster girls' sleep over in Midway!  We got there around 5pm.  We talked, opened up a gift from Grandfather which was Aunt Marjorie's new children's book "Pudding on the Moon," then we went to dinner at a steak house.  Lara's meal came out with a hot stone so you could cook your meat to your liking.  After dinner, we went back to the house and played a game called Letter Jam.  We had a great time playing with baby William and Luna too! <3 That night was also Ben's opening night for his play High School Musical Jr. at Backstage.  Dan took Bethany while McKenna babysat the A-Team. 

Saturday I slept in till 9 then talked to Dan.  Once everyone as awake, we went to a cute local bakery and got breakfast. We ate it at home while watching Sheri Dew's BYU Women's Conference Talk.  We painted nails and then went to a long walk.  We stopped by the grey house and visited Aunt Marjorie to thank her for her book!  We played another quick round of Letter Jam and then I drove home with Laurie and Emma so I could be home in time to do Ben's make-up for his next show.  Dan took the kids to Mantua for the day to check on the house.  Cousin Katie went with them so McKenna had a buddy. :)  Dan and Ben enjoyed driving the Sibbi for maintenance purposes.  

That night, I took McKenna and Anna.  It was such a cute show with no major mess ups!

Sunday was a special day because we got to watch the live stream of Whitney, Katie, and Russell all giving talks in Sacrament meeting!  McKenna made cookies that afternoon and then we went for a walk to deliver some cookies to neighbors.  Ben also solved his Rubik's cube!  He'd been working on it and watching lots of YouTube videos to figure it out and memorize the algorithms.  He was motivated by his cousin Eli who could solve one.  That night, Alice came in our room twice and ended up sleeping in our rocking chair.  

Monday I officially started potty training Alice!  We bought her some Moana underwear and she was excited!  After lunch she did ask for a diaper again, but I distracted her and she kept them on.  McKenna had a little migraine episode with blurry vision and a headache.  After dinner we watched Relative Race.

Tuesday I worked on pictures collages on my phone.  During the kids' homework, I was playing with Alice in the basement and she started pooping in her underwear, but I stopped her and she finished on the potty!  We also had a day of no pee accidents!  Ben had another show that night.  We also spent lots of time outside playing and chatting with Meghan.  After putting the kids to bed and while McKenna was showering, We heard a loud gurgling sound from the basement kitchen sink and half bath toilet.  We figured it was some sort of clog, so we turned the water off to that toilet.  

Wednesday I volunteered in Bethany's class then waited at North Campus for carpool.  I worked on my talk that afternoon and kids played outside.  Ben had baseball practice.  

April 2021- Week 2- Anna Immigration Day, Ben Baseball, Mulch, Desi's Baptism, Easter Dinner with my Parents, Blossoms at Capitol, Ugurt,

 Thursday I volunteered at Anna's 2nd Grade Immigration Activity.  I got to be one of the medical examiners in the Ellis Island simulation.  They even had a mini naturalization ceremony.  Then I got to stay and snuggle Anna at her desk while they watched "An American Tale." After lunch I called Jonathan and all the kids had their extra curricular stuff.  After dinner we played outside some and got to bed late.  McKenna had a Young Women Easter Egg Scripture hunt and Dan went on a hike with the YM.  

Friday McKenna had a student council meeting.  I took Ben shoe shopping since he needed some new tennis shoes for the play.  I also took McKenna to band orientation at South Davis Jr. High to meet the director, Mr. Earl.  He was very nice and personable!  Bethany went to play at Adam's.  Anna played with Desi and Mabel.  I got a hair cut and then went on a ministering visit to Amanda Koldewyn. We got dinner to go and went to Ben's baseball game.  Adam and Mia were nice enough to come to the game.  Ben also likes to edit pictures in funny ways.  After kids were in bed that night, I recorded my singing time video and worked on a grocery order.  

Saturday was a busy day!  Ben got a haircut and after breakfast I took McKenna and Ben to Backstage. McKenna had Silks and Ben had his headshots and tech rehearsal from 10-4pm.  The rest of us went to Desi Alexander's baptism.  Then I picked up McKenna and we went back to the Alexander's for lunch.  Anna stayed to play while the rest of us came home and I did yard work.  I weeded while Dan went to the dump and got mulch.  We worked outside from 1:30-5:30!  It was warm but not too warm, thankfully.  Also, the kids (Anna, Desi, Bethany, and Billy) seemed to think it was warm enough they got on their swim suits and sprayed each other with squirt bottles.  We had a pizza dinner at watched the live action "Aladdin" in the theater room.  Alice stayed up late since we found her napping earlier in the day.  I uploaded my singing time video to the ward blog.  

Sunday was fast Sunday and we watched my video for at home Primary.  The kids behavior was not great and I struggle so much with keeping my patience.  :(  We had our Zoom church classes, lunch, and I watched "Don't Miss This."  I had my family conference call, then we had a Zoom Nelson Family Conference recap call.  That evening, we had our belated Easter dinner with my parents since everyone's colds were feeling better.  Alice is so cute and always talks SO much to my parents when they come over.  We did an Easter egg activity telling the Easter story.  After kids were in bed I worked on my talk and Dan went on a visit.  This was also the first time since October that we felt pretty comfortable being around my parents without masks on since they are fully vaccinated and Dan and I were halfway vaccinated.   :)  It felt so great!  

Monday Bethany was finally able to go back to school since her cold had gotten better!  I did the usual laundry and some other cleaning since I would be hosting book club the next day.  Autumn and Amy came for an outdoor visit.  Dan and Ben went to watch Alexander Holdstock play baseball.  I ran to the store for a few dinner ingredients.  After dinner, we went to the state capitol building to see the cherry blossoms, then we got a treat at Ugurt.  Alice had a hard time going to bed again.  

Tuesday I worked more on cleaning.  Ben had rehearsal and Bethany had dance.  That night was book club for the book "Lovely War."  It was great to be with friends and we were still masked.  We had strong winds that night and Alice came in a 4am.  

Wednesday the kids had piano and my big accomplishment was that I made my first ever batch of peasant bread to go with some soup we would be having. That afternoon, Ben worked on learning to solve a 3X3 Rubik's Cube.  He also had rehearsal and Hallie came over to play with Bethany.

April 2021- Week 1- Spring Break- Ogden, General Conference, Easter, Kids Sick, Covid Vaccine, Chitty's BD

Thursday we woke up, packed and headed to the Aerospace Museum where we met the Stewarts & Adam and Mia there.  Our family had never been and we thought it was super cool! 

 

After that, we went to the Burger Bar for lunch.  It was really yummy and Dan shared a shake with the kids, spooning it in rather quickly at times.  :)  Then we drove past the Layton Temple site.  

We drove to Ogden to stay overnight in a hotel.  We walked to Deseret Book and let the kids shop for something they could enjoy over Conference weekend.  We took some cute pictures along the walk.  

After that, we met my parents at Zuppas for dinner.  Then we went back to the hotel to swim and unfortunately the pool heater was broken, so we spent most of the time crammed in the hot tub.  

We watched some TV before bed.  Once kids were asleep, we finished the "Murder Among the Mormons" and I worked on a grocery order.  It was not a great night's sleep since Anna and Ben were both coughing and sneezing a bunch. :(  

Friday after breakfast and packing up, we went on a nature walk around Ogden Pond.  The weather was lovely!  

After that, we met Mickelle at the Dinosaur park. This was our first time and it was way cooler than I thought it was going to be.   

We picked up groceries on the way home and Dan went to help Jordan and Lindsey Jensen move to their new place, which was our old Applewood condo we first moved into this ward!  I boiled some eggs and we dyed them once Dan got home.  McKenna babysat for the Chadwick's that night and Dan had a virtual Canada, Winnipeg mission reunion with President and Sister Clove!  

Saturday we celebrated Easter!  The kids hunted for and collected candy and we had bunny pancakes for breakfast! 

We watched to the first session of General Conference.  The kids colored and the girls played Barbies, and listened pretty well and Dan and Ben worked on building his new Salt Lake Temple made of metal.  We then went outside to play and spray silly string at each other.  

McKenna and I visited the Estate Sale across the street and we had egg salad for lunch.  We watched more General Conference then Dan gave himself a haircut and we played outside more.  My parents stopped by but didn't come in because some of my kids had colds.  For dinner we ate separately; kids downstairs, mom and dad upstairs, so we could watch the Priesthood session alone.  The kids watched "Hercules".

Sunday we had regular breakfast and gave the girls new Easter dresses and Ben & Dan got matching Easter ties.  I did the girls' hair during General Conference and the boys continued to work on the metal temple.  In between sessions, we went for a walk around the temple and took some pictures.  We had a fun snack lunch.  

Fun to see how they've grown in a year. 

I love Alice's lip picker and fist under her chin.  :)

Ben and Dan finished the temple and it looks so cool! 

We had french toast for dinner and Dan played a couple rounds of the duckie game with the girls.  Alice had a hard time going to bed that night (and other nights).  

Monday Ben and Bethany stayed home from school with colds.  Alex Boes came over later to play with Anna.  They stayed outside most of the time until a little storm rolled in and it turned windy and cold.  After dinner we watched Relative Race.  After kids were in bed I watched "Don't Miss This" and a bit of the NCAA championship game.  

Tuesday Bethany still stayed home from school.  After kids were home, Dan and I went on a lunch date to Nacho Daddy downtown and then went to the Salt Palace to get our Covid-19 vaccine (Johnson and Johnson).  We treated ourselves to a little Pie Fight after that.  

Ben had a dress rehearsal, Bethany had dance, McKenna went to Lyla's and I snuggled the A-team.  After kids were in bed I worked on my talk for RS conference and both Dan and I started feeling a little jittery.  

Wednesday I woke up feeling awful!  I had a headache, body aches, felt nauseous, and super tired.  Dan said he felt tired but no other major side effects.  After eating and taking some meds I felt lots better.  I worked on planning my primary singing time video.  Bethany was still sick at home.  The kids had piano and I worked on my talk some more.  Henry and Desi came to play.  Ben and Dan went to Ben's baseball practice.  After baths, McKenna babysat while Dan and I went to his friend Chitty's 40th BD where he received a group gift- his dream acoustic guitar.