Thursday, April 25, 2024

March '23- Week 4- YW Paint Night, Stuffed Animals for Dan's Work, Layton Visit, McKenna to see Lola, Ogden Temple, Webster Dinner March BDs, Snow Day, Ben and Alice Doc. Check, Bountiful Museum, 2nd Grade Immigration

Mar. 22nd- Wednesday: Bethany stayed home sick again. McKenna went to Collette’s for a birthday breakfast!  We ate at home, Bethany did piano, then we went to the gym and Bethany sat on the side lines and played on my phone rather than go to the child care. We ran two errands on the way home. We had lunch and Alice went to preschool. I came home and showered and then checked Alice out of preschool early for her LPA kindergarten orientation.  She was a little shy at first, but enjoyed it!  It was raining and snowing lots when we got done. I took Alice back to preschool and parked and waited to bring her and Kaysen home. We picked up piano kids, and then I had some quiet time in my room. McKenna stayed after for track.  After dinner, Anna played with Emi Atkin. Ben played video games for YM. McKenna and I and the YW had a paint night with the Pugsleys. Here are a couple examples of our painting and our inspiration. Mine is the mountain one, Emily Horne painted the pitcher and apple.

Mar. 23rd- Thursday: Bethany went back to school. I watched the news. Alice and I ate. She did Upstart and then we did her music homework. I worked on my long “to do” list and stayed off Instagram to help with that. I talked with Ginger about YC food stuff. I napped. I got dressed and practiced voice. Alice and I ate lunch, then Kaysen came over to play. I worked on phone calls and a grocery order. We took Kaysen home when it was time to drive carpool. Ben stayed after for crochet club. The kids played outside some. I worked more on a grocery order. McKenna had piano. We had dinner and Ben went to church ball. The three girls had a sleepover in the basement living room on the couches since they had no school the next day. I blogged a little and Dan and Ben watched a show. We bought McKenna a new swim suit. 


Mar. 24th- Friday: We got to sleep in a little. McKenna got herself off to school. A big snow storm moved in!  I ate with the 4 younger kids and did CFM. They did reading and piano and I talked with Dan. I showered and listened to my book some. Alice ate lunch and we took her to preschool. The snow had stopped for a bit, then another snow squall came through. We headed to Murray and had lunch with the three middle kids at Costco, then we went to Dan’s work storage unit and loaded up TONS of stuffed animals for their Sunday Supper event. We got home and shoveled and snow blowed. I picked McKenna up from school. We left for Layton around 4. We visited for a bit and Alice got some birthday presents.  We checked out Mickelle’s squash mellows and then she packed for dog sitting. McKenna, Bethany, and I played Cover your Assets. We had pizza for dinner and then I asked Grandpa Mike to share memories of his dad, my Grandpa Dave, since it was his birthday today. He would have been 92!  I miss him a lot.  The kids played the piano and played Beat Saber, then we left.  The three girls had another sleepover on the basement couches at home. 

Mar. 25th- Saturday: McKenna got up early to go with grandma and grandpa Webster and Katie and Whitney to see Lola perform her solo at a dance competition. I exercised before breakfast. Then I showered. Dan got groceries. I got the girls ready. Dan left with McKenna and Ben to do baptisms at the Ogden Temple. I took the three girls to a bridal shower for Nicholas Nelson's fiancĂ©, McKenna. We rode with Lara. We got home by 2:30 and Anna’s friend Zoe came over to play. I snuggled Bethany some. She and Ben played in the snow a little. I took McKenna to shop at TJMax for some exercise clothes. The kids had Mac and cheese and Dan and I went on a dinner date to a local taco truck. We went home briefly to take McKenna and friends to a birthday party. Then Dan and I went shopping at 5 Below for Easter stuff. We got a McFlurry and sat in the garage and talked for a while. Then we needed to help out Stewarts and pick up Henry from a friend’s house. We got home and Dan and Ben showered and I made picture collages. Then we talked with McKenna and Ben. 

Mar. 26th- Sunday: I got to sleep in till 8. Dan had early meetings. I fed Bethany and Alice, the rest of us were fasting. I gave Alice a bath after she ate. McKenna worked on picture collages. I showered and did the girls’ hair. Dan and Ben shoveled because we got lots of snow again. The YW practiced our Easter song and had our lesson in the chapel choir seats. After church, I went to a Youth Conf. meeting till 4. Meghan used our ovens to make her rolls. I made tater tots for Webster Sunday dinner. We celebrated March birthdays!  We also found out Jake and Abril are pregnant with baby #5 and it’s a boy!! Dan had a Sunday Supper event for Foster Care and came later to dinner. We got the kids to bed late, and then Dan and I calendared. 

Mar. 27th- Monday: We woke up to messages of the Davis district having a two hour delay due to snow. The LPA kids still got up and started eating, then we got notified their school had late start also. Dan and I tried to go back to sleep. I exercised and found out both schools were calling it a remote learning day!  Sadly, Anna’s field trip to the Planetarium was canceled (they said they would try to reschedule). The kids watched shows, then started their reading and piano. I started the laundry and ate with Alice. The kids got on their computers and I showered and listened to Don’t Miss This. We had lunch, then Alice and I went to her Let’s Play Music class later in the day. We got home and the kids played in the snow. I chilled in my room. I helped Bethany with her money counting for a math assignment. I napped and blogged a little. We had dinner together then watched our CFM videos. Dan and the kids started playing games, and I went to book club at Melissa Smith’s talking about neurodiversity and autism.  It was a very helpful and enlightening conversation. Dan and I folded laundry. 

Mar. 28th- Tuesday: I watched the news after the kids left. Alice and I ate and got dressed. We picked up Ben and went to Ben and Alice’s doctor check-ups. Unfortunately, they both had to get shots. Ben laid down for his and did not have a vasovagal response! I’m grateful both kids were healthy and growing!  We took him back to school.  Alice and I had lunch. She watched shows and I napped. We went to my voice lesson and I felt pretty good about preparing for the Tab Choir auditions this Summer!  We picked up Ben from orchestra and then McKenna from band (both after school rehearsals). Anna came home upset about her field trip being rescheduled on a day we would be gone. I helped her process that and started dinner. I spent some quiet time in my room. Anna ate and I took her to gymnastics. Bethany played outside a lot. We ate, then Dan picked Anna up. We played with playdoh and bananagrams, then got the kids to bed. I blogged and McKenna and Ben showered, Dan watched a show. We talked about Dan’s work stuff. 

Ben's Stats

Height: 58.2in (2.2in increase in 1 year) 40th%

Weight: 75lbs (7.4 lbs increase in 1 year) 18th%


Alice's Stats

Height: 42.2 in (2.5in increase in 1 year) 48th%

Weight: 38lbs (4.6lbs increase in 1 year) 48th%



Mar. 29th- Wednesday: I watched the news after the kids left. Alice and I ate with McKenna. McKenna left for her band festival field trip at USU. Alice and I went to the gym with Brynn, then we ran a couple errands. We had lunch and Alice had preschool. I napped and then showered once the three middles left for piano. I got caught up on Marco Polo. Once the kids all got home, I worked on texts and stuff in my room. We had dinner, then Anna had activity days and Ben, McKenna, and I had YM/YW. The younger YW class went to the Bountiful Museum with Sandy Inman. She’s done such a good job with it and the girls enjoyed it! We got ice cream after. We talked with Dan and Ben when we got home and we got more rain/snow! 

Mar. 30th- Thursday: I got up and got ready before the kids had breakfast. I took the kids to school and stayed to help with the second grade Immigration Day!  I got to be in the “hospital” area and I loved chatting with the other moms. We had more down time than in years past, but it all worked out. Chelsea Chadwick watched Alice for me.  We had lunch and then she did Upstart and I prepped some food for Friday lunch with the sisters. Alice watched shows and I napped. I drove carpool. Ben had crochet club and McKenna had track. It was cold and snowing more while they did event testing. Poor girl!  We watched the Johnson kids for a bit because Meghan’s dad was in the hospital.  Dan had a great conversation with his dad. He gave some advice for Dan’s job and our long term financial goals. (Little did we know then, this would change our lives!) McKenna had piano. We had dinner. Bethany had a make-up hip hop class in Centerville and Ben had church ball. After the three girls were in bed, I worked on a grocery order and Dan helped me with a few things and watched a show. 

Mar. 31st- Friday: I drove the kids to school while Dan donated. I exercised, made soup, and showered. I hosted the Webster girls and grandpa for lunch. It’s always so great to talk about mothering with my favorite mothers. Dan took Alice to preschool, then went to Murray. He also had a tough conversation with his boss, Mike, about the future of his work and pay.  I cleaned up after everyone left, then took a nap.  Alice got home and I did stuff on my phone.  The three middles came home and I snuggled and talked to them. I picked up McKenna from track. I worked on moving pictures to the hard drive. Dan picked up groceries on his way home. We made Mac and cheese for the kids. Dan and I went to Zao and then to do sealings at the temple.  Sister Ardith Kapp was in our session. She was the Gen. YW President from ‘84-‘92 and just turned 92 years old!  (She once looked over one of Pres. Nelson’s talks and suggested some edits.) We got home and the kids played an early April Fools joke on us by surprising us with confetti and hiding in McKenna’s room. I worked on the General Conf. Bags once kids were in bed. 


March Part 5 Videos:

More Jungle Book, Organizing Game closet, moving stuffed animals for Foster Care, Oculus, Snow Day, Bethany Immigration Day.




March '23- Week 3- Subbing Spirit Week, McK Band Festival, Jungle Book!, Alice Fire Station, Food Drive, Game Closet

Mar. 15th- Wednesday: I watched the news, ate, curled McKenna’s hair, then got ready for the gym.

Alice and I went to the gym with Brynn. We took down birthday decorations when we got home. Then we

had lunch and Alice went to preschool. I had a long phone call, mostly on hold, trying to resolve a medical

bill/insurance issue. I showered. The kids got home and went to piano. I napped and texted some about

youth conference food. I picked up the kids and Anna had Activity Days to deliver bags for the food drive

on Saturday. I picked up McKenna from track practice. I worked on picture collages. We had dinner and

then Beth had hip hop. Anna and Alice were home alone for a bit while McKenna, Ben, and I went to

youth activities. Ben’s group did a french fry taste test. The younger YW class had a sports night where

Emma Mitchell taught us a fun game they played in Chile called “Stop.” I put kids to bed and helped

McKenna study while Ben showered. I blogged a little and Dan got home from a late work meeting with

the board.  



Mar. 16th- Thursday: I subbed in 1st grade in Ms. Voss’s class. It was Decades Day for spirit week. I

dressed in 80s stuff!  Ms. Voss has a hard class! Many of the kids cried for very little or no reason. 

Overall, I was nervous to sub again the next day, but the instructor, Ms. Sammy, was very helpful! I

drove carpool home, then got Anna ready for call time for her first performance of Jungle Book!  Bethany

had activity days and McKenna had piano earlier than normal. McKenna also had a district band festival

that we attended. Ben went to play church ball.  I worked on a grocery order, then took McKenna to

Adrie’s and picked up Ben and Henry from the church.  Dan’s mom stopped by to drop off a little St.

Patrick's Day treat.  

Mar. 17th- Friday: I subbed again in Ms. Voss’s. I felt like the morning went better than the day before,

but then after lunch we had many problems with emotional kids. One boy kept running away, and one

kid was wailing under a table and I had to call the office for back up. Phew!  Dan was able to go on a field

trip with Alice to the fire station! Bethany had a fun day with a Leprechaun visiting her classroom and

making a mess. Once we got home, I got Anna ready for her call time, then I went back to the school

with her. The Orange Cast did so great!  I even cried a little.  We got home and ate some pizza and

popcorn. Dan and the other kids played a game and watched “Encanto” while we were gone. We got

the kids to bed and I was pretty darn tired from subbing. 

Mar. 18th- Saturday: We had our traditional green french toast to mark 3 years since the earthquake! 

Dan went to help a family in the ward move. I helped the youth collect food for the food drive. The three

girls stayed home. Dan picked up groceries. I started making a dessert for Sunday. Desi and Billy came

over to play, then Henry also. I showered. McKenna made picture collages on the computer. We all had

lunch.  I got Anna ready for call time. We left at 2. The Orange cast’s final show went very well!  Our family,

Desi, my parents and Mickelle, all came to the Green cast’s final show in the evening and got to see Anna

as Shanti!  She did so great!  I got flowers and some gift cards for helping out as an assistant

choreographer!  I felt so grateful to have helped so much with the show and to get to know all the kids! 

We took pictures and then left to go to Max Bramall’s wedding reception! We loved how Alice signed his

guest book. The kids all got to bed late and we were all pretty tired!  Dan did dishes while I made another

layer of the dessert.  I went through pictures

and Dan worked on his talk. 

Mar. 19th- Sunday: I got ready earlier than normal to go hear Dan speak in Swa’s ward. I came home and

got the kids ready. Dan gave the closing prayer in our ward. I had a presidency meeting during SS. We

had lunch and I had my conference call.  Dan’s parents stopped by. I made dinner and we watched our

videos. We had dinner and then got ready for a dessert night. We had the Nelsons, Chadwicks, and

Mudrows over. It was way fun to visit and see all their cute babies playing!  We played “Just One” and

everyone left around 7:50. We got kids to bed and I had a brief call with Ginger and emailed Ms. Voss.

Dan and I calendared. 


Mar. 20th- Monday: I subbed in Ms. Higginson’s 3rd Grade class. I was surprised I didn't know any of

them because none of them did Jungle Book. This class was tons better than the Th/F 1st grade class.

I got a love note as well as took a picture of a funny mix up on one of their assingments.

Dan was able to be home with Alice and took her to Olive Garden with Jasper. She also had music and

preschool.  It snowed hard at the end of the day. McKenna has track practice. I napped when I got home.

We had salmon in the air fryer for dinner. We folded laundry. I worked on texting the YC food committee

to hold our first meeting. Dan and Ben watched a show. 

Mar. 21st- Tuesday: Bethany stayed home sick with her cough. I exercised. We ate. Alice did Upstart.

We decorated for Easter. I organized the game closet while Bethany and Alice played.  We had lunch.

Alice painted some. I showered and listened to Don’t Miss This. I wrote some notes down for the youth

conference food committee meeting and napped. The kids got home. I talked with Ben and Anna. I picked

up McKenna from track. I made dinner and listened to my book. Dan worked late.  Anna ate and then I

drove her to gymnastics. The rest of us ate, packed lunches, and collected garbage.  I had a youth

conference food committee meeting and it went very well, mostly because Bart Nelson volunteered to do

a ton of the cooking!  I talked with Dan and did a little more organizing in the game closet.  

Here are the rest of the Jungle Book pictures taken by the semiprofessional parents.  


March Videos Part 4:
McKenna band festival, Anna Jungle Book






March '23- Week 2- Jungle Book Dress Rehearsals, Dan in Vernal, Faye Wade's Birthday, Rec Center with Stake Youth, Alice Threw up, Rearrange Basement

Mar. 8th- Wednesday: Dan and I both got up early to shower. He took Ben and McKenna to the temple.

I got all three girls ready to go. I took Bethany and Anna to school and then we took Dan‘s car to Burt

Brothers and I drove him to the car rental place. I took Ben to school and stayed for the Jungle Book

assembly performance. The kids did so well and I was so excited for them! We got home and Alice did

Upstart. Kaysen came over to play. We had lunch and I took them to preschool. I came home and

worked on picture collages on my phone and then the kids got home from school. They went to piano

a little bit later. I picked up McKenna and friends, and then she had to go back to the school to ride the

bus to the district choir festival. Bethany went to hip-hop after dinner and we drove to Syracuse for the

choir thing. Unfortunately, we were late and missed McKenna’s performance. I felt pretty dumb, but also

grateful that Dan’s parents let me borrow their jeep since the roads were really wet and could have been

snowy. The kids had showers and baths when we got home. I had phone time and talked with Dan once

the girls were in bed.

Mar. 9th- Thursday: I drove the kids to school, then exercised. Alice and I ate. I got ready and she did

Upstart. We packed lunches and then went to get Thirst drinks for McKenna and her friends! I was

impressed we didn’t spill any on the drive!  I took Alice to the Jensen’s and then I went to sub for half a

day in 2nd grade (Barnett). I brought kids home and then went back to school for Jungle Book dress

rehearsal. Each time the kids ran it, it got better and better. Dan got home from Vernal and work!

McKenna had piano. We had leftovers for dinner and Ben went to play church ball. After the girls were

in bed, I did a grocery order and uploaded videos to the Jungle Book practice files. Dan played

Pickleball with the Elder’s Quorum. *We had so much wind that night! 


Mar. 10th- Friday: The kids had free dress day for the end of term.  Alice and I watched the news and ate.

I slept poorly the night before, so I did some computer stuff and napped. I got ready for the day and Alice

had lunch and went to preschool. I had went to ladies lunch at the church. I changed and then went to the

temple to do Initiatories and saw Dan’s mom there!  I picked Alice up from the Jensen’s and then went to

the Jr. High for a track meeting for McKenna. Ben went home from school with Caleb (Luke went too). 

We chilled for a bit, then went to the Johnson's with the Mitchell‘s to sing happy birthday to Faye Wade!

We also have cake and ice cream. It was her 84th birthday!  We came home and chilled again.

McKenna went to Adrie’s. We had leftovers for dinner and then Dan and I both had computer time while

the girls played in the basement. We got them to bed, and then we put together a new lamp for our

bedroom. I went to the rec center with McKenna and Ben for a steak youth activity. It was fun to spy on

them a little, and watch them with their friends. I walked around with Brynn quite a bit and we got home

around 11:45pm. We got to bed late and as luck would have it, Alice came in at 5:50am because she

threw up. She slept in our room a little bit and kept throwing up about every hour, 5-6 times. 

Mar. 11th- Saturday: I went to the stake center first thing for the stake relief society meeting where I sang

with a group of women. The song went so well!   My mom came too and it was a lovely meeting where

I felt the spirit encouraging me to keep trying to be a little better every day. We had lunch after. Dan took

Anna to gymnastics, Ben to buy a birthday gift, then took Ben to Sam Burton’s birthday party. Dan also

picked up groceries and took Anna to shop for a birthday gift for a friend, Madelyn.  Alice threw up again.

Bethany and Anna had lunch and played outside some. McKenna worked on her YW lesson. I tried to

nap. Dan washed Alice’s sheets and vacuumed almost the whole house! I dropped Anna off at her party

and picked Ben up. I got gas at Costco and had a phone call with Ginger about youth conference. I

worked on family videos while Dan gave Ben a haircut. I picked up Anna while Dan made dinner, then

we went to dinner and the temple for a date!  We were lucky enough to be on the same session as

Dan, Lindsay, Cari, and Neil Moss!  While we were gone, McKenna went to Liza’s house and Ben

babysat. Unfortunately, while we were gone, Alice threw up again, this time on the basement carpet. 

Mar. 12th- Sunday: Dan had early meetings. I slept till 9. Alice was pretty lethargic and weak, so I started

her on Gatorade. She began to perk up. I ate with the three girls. Alice watched shows. I woke up

McKenna and Ben. I did stuff on the computer and talked with Amy Hamblin about the YW singing in

Sacrament meeting. McKenna practiced her lesson with me. I did the girls’ hair and drove Ben and

Henry to church, then the girls. Alice and I stayed home. She began to be hungry, so she ate bread

and crackers and said she felt “much better than sick!”  I napped a little and went through my emails

and uploaded family videos to YouTube. Dan brought the kids home and we had lunch. I had my family

conference call and the kids played. Once Dan was home from more meetings, there was a long

discussion about how to proceed with doing the “Crunch Lab” kits. I started on dinner and the kids packed

lunches. We ate and the Moultons picked up tables and chairs for the soccer dinner they would host the

next night. We watched "Relative Race" and got kids to bed. I helped Alice with her music homework.

Dan helped me with the blog.


Mar. 13th- Monday: I subbed in 4th grade, Ms. Ziel’s class. The class was better behaved than I thought

they would be! And the other 4th grade teachers are always so nice and helpful!  I napped when I got

home, then made dinner. Anna and Bethany played outside some. Ben played with Tanner Johnson.

McKenna had her first day of track conditioning. After we ate, we watched "Relative Race" and folded

laundry. We picked out outfits for the next day (Tacky Tourist for spirit week). We got kids to bed and

the Moultons dropped off the tables and chairs they borrowed. Dan and I talked and got to bed early. 

Mar. 14th- Tuesday: I exercised after the kids left. Alice and I ate. I did some cleaning while Alice did

Upstart. I showered and then we went to my voice lesson. We came home and had lunch, and then I

napped and called about medical bills. The kids got home and I got Anna ready for her final dress

rehearsal. I went with her and stayed the whole time. Both casts did so well and keep getting better

every time. I was feeling a little frustrated with a few kids who seemed like they hadn’t been to a single

rehearsal because they were messing up so much. Then, I had a thought, “The parents will love it no

matter what!” Anna and I got home at 8:15pm and got to see that Dan had rearranged the basement

furniture. Anna and I snacked and then she went to bed late. Dan and I talked and went to bed. 

 



March videos Part 2:
FHE at Pugsley’s, Anna Jungle Book, Alice Kangaroo Zoo with Kaysen, Faye Wade’s 84th Birthday.


March Videos Part 3
Stake youth rec center activity, more Anna Jungle Book, YW’s Activity