Feb. '19- Week 2- Ben's BD Date, Ben's Baptism, Jazz Game, Knight's No Slip Grip, Charter Day on the Hill, Jr. Jazz, Hair Cut, Valentine's Day!

Friday I was able to go to the temple in the morning then Amy Hamblin came to visit.  We waited in line for a while after school to buy Peter Pan tickets.  After that, we got Keva Juice and Great Harvest bread for lunch.  Then my parents came into town for Ben's baptism the next day!  I trimmed Anna, Bethany, and Alice's hair.  The kids did a heart craft with Grandma Kelly, then Ben left for his BD date with Webster grandparents!  All the 7 and 8 year old boys got to go on a group date with Grandma and Grandpa!  They ate out and received matching blankets to snuggle with while Grandma and Grandpa are on their mission.  

Saturday we got ready and scrambled a bunch of eggs then we headed to the church at 10 to decorate and set up for Ben's baptism luncheon.  Here are all the Baptism pictures Aunt Lara took that were on display at the lunch.  He's such a sweet and good little boy! 

McKenna and Anna helped set up the display tables.  

The brunch was lovely.  We had all the Websters (minus Emma), my parents, Mickelle, Jonathan, Grandpa Condie, the Eppersons, Chuck Thompson, the Holdstocks, Alexanders, and Lewises.  

The kids loved running around in the gym afterwards.  

We're so thankful for all the love and support for Ben and our family.  Lots of people helped clean up the lunch as well so I didn't have to worry about it.  

Grandfather was so sweet to attend.  He knelt and greeted Ben when he came in the chapel.  So many ward members came to support Ben as well.  The Bramalls, Novaks, Becky and Alana Smith, and his school teacher as well.  

The Program:

Grandma Kelly- Piano

Lara Webster- Chorister

4th Article of Faith- Opening Song

Grandma Sibber- Opening Prayer

McKenna- Talk on baptism

Cousins- Sang "Baptism"

Dan- Baptism Ordinance

Bro. Thompson and Bro. Epperson- Witnesses

Grandpa Webster- Talk on the Holy Ghost

Dan- Confirmation

Grandfather- Closing remarks. He called Ben up and talked about the Covenant Path

He Came for Us- Closing Song

Grandpa Mike- Closing Prayer

I'm so thankful for the priesthood power and authority to perform this ordinance for Ben!  He said, "I've never felt so calm before in my entire life!" I felt like it was such a perfect day I didn't want it to end! 

Dan's parents gave Ben some new scriptures and he received a new scripture case from my parents!

We were home by 1:45 ish and Alice took a good long nap while my parents babysat and Dan and I went to the Jazz game with Dan's parents. 

We had a nice chill evening at home that night.  

Sunday Ben laid out his shoes and *new scriptures just like McKenna does before church.  He also stood in Sacrament meeting to be recognized for his baptism.  My mom took Alice for me during YW and she took a nice snooze on her. :)  We practiced our song in YW again.  We did Come Follow Me when Dan got home, then he went to Sis. Womack's setting apart for her mission.  We had dinner at the Webster's as a big snow storm was coming in!  We celebrated February BDs (we gave to Truman). 

  Monday I did the usually laundry, and Anna played at the Alexander's.  My parents came by to hang out and my brother Jonathan started a new job at eBay! My mom helped put together a new Fall wreath for my front door.  The kids worked on their Valentine's along with their homework.  

Alice has a thing for belly buttons and makes the funniest sound when she sees one.  My kids love playing piano duets with Grandma Kelly when she's in town.  

My parents stayed for dinner and then we filmed McKenna's sales product commercial for school.  She (and I) made balloon stress balls filled with water Orbeez.  She called them the "Knights No Slip Grip" since it would help strengthen their grip.  

Tuesday I exercised, went to Jan Evans's class and took my turn in the nursery.  I finished my book club book, "Educated." McKenna got to go on a field trip with Student Council to the Capitol for "Charter Day on the Hill." 

I took Ben and Henry to Jr. Jazz that night with Anna and Desi. 

Wednesday I visited Amy Pugsley. The girls had a tea party to celebrate Rachel's BD. We went out to lunch with some family for Swa's BD, and Skyped Kelsey for her BD.  My mom and Mickelle came over for a bit.  McKenna stayed up a little late that night and we read about our Disneyland memories from 2014.  

Thursday was Valentine's Day!  I picked up my mom from Mickelle's place and then visited Shelly and got a hair cut.  In the afternoon I went to Ben's class for his Valentine's party.  

After school, I helped decorate for McKenna's 4th grade middle ages day.  That night, my mom was nice enough to babysit while Dan and I went on a date, even though she was away from her Valentine, my dad.  We went to Hug-Hes restaurant and then the Utes Basketball game (we won!).  

Feb. '19- Week 1- Utes Game, Stake Conference, Alice 11 Months, Snow Day!

Friday I started to feel a little better.  I listened to my book while I did some cleaning.  After school Paisley and Eli Forbes came over.  We spray painted McKenna's castle and she worked on her talk for Ben's baptism.  We worked on collecting items around the house to finish off a large purge we were doing.  

Cute videos of Dan and Alice playing.  

Saturday after breakfast Dan and Ben ran errands (taking lots of stuff to the DI).  Lizzie came over to play with Anna.  McKenna and I worked on her castle, then she had rehearsal.  Ben got a haircut and Ayla Hamblin came over to babysit while we went to the Utes Basketball game, which we lost. Though Swoop walked right by us! :) 

 Mickelle came over to babysit in the evening while we went to the adult session of stake conference. I left towards the end to run home and nurse Alice to sleep, but then joined the group for a treat at Nielsen's.  

*Dan and I felt a new motivation to change the way we're doing Come Follow Me!  We heard some wonderful talks from families who were doing a section EVERY day and we knew we needed to do the same!  So we decided to do it every morning at breakfast! 

Sunday Alice turned 11 months!  She did not love the headband I put on her, and she's fast to crawl away.  :)  We didn't have Stake conference until later in the day, so we did our Come Follow Me lesson right after breakfast.  Ben did play dough, I bathed Alice and braided McKenna's hair while Dan was at Priesthood leadership meeting.  During Stake Conference, Katie Stewart gave a beautiful and poised testimony about her experience reading the Book of Mormon with Brynn.  We went to mom and dad's house that night for the Super Bowl game, but mostly for the food and togetherness. :)  

Monday Charlie and Clara came over for a bit.  I did laundry and after lunch I ran some errands.  McKenna wrote her script for her middle ages product sales commercial.  That evening we went out for ice cream with the Pugsleys.  Bethany still had quite the constant cough, so McKenna slept downstairs on the couch.  

Tuesday I exercised and started attending Jan Evan's scripture class.  It started snowing while I was out and about dropping off Anna and Bethany to their respective schools, but thankfully I made it home!  Ben had Jr. Jazz again and McKenna worked more on her castle and her Helen Keller report.  

Wednesday Dan had a snow day.  McKenna's student council did a skit called Super Flex!  Dan drove carpool for me and Ben and Anna played in the snow when they got home from school! 

I went with Anna to music and we cancelled some plans to go to a Grizzly Hockey game with Mickelle due to the weather.  

Thursday I exercised, ran errands, and in the afternoon we had parent/teacher conferences for ALL my kids! They all had wonderful reports and Ms. Walter's said, "McKenna is the kind of student you never forget!"  I worked on getting some of Ben's baptism stuff ready.  Dan's cold had made it so one of his ears wasn't hearing so well, so we tried some drops in it and it didn't really do anything.  

Jan. '19- Week 4- Pinewood Derby, NFBD, Anna Bring a Friend to Dance, Sick with Colds

Tuesday I exercised and we went to the church gym for ministering visits with Amy, Shelly, and Melissa Roth.  I listened to my book club book.  After school, Anna was late for dance due to missing tights and shoes which she took out of her dance bag at home for some reason.  Ben worked on a book report and had Jr. Jazz.  I bought our Disneyland t-shirts that night online and Dan worked on the Pinewood Derby car.  

Wednesday I called my mom.  :)  After school we ran an errand to buy a BD present.  McKenna went to Backstage for an extra rehearsal with Lyla for Peter Pan scenes.  Dan and I watched more of the "Tidying Up" show.  

Thursday I exercised and Dan went to the temple.  He's been so good about going every week! Bethany's preschool had "Moms and Muffins." Bethany loved having me there and was quite sad to see me go when she had to stay for the rest of her class.  Ben and Dan finished up the Derby car.  

Friday morning, all the kids had dentist appointments and there were NO cavities!  I helped Rachael Alexander drive Henry's homework to school since her car was dead.  I met with Becky and Joanne to talk about YW music.  I watched Hazel during lunch.  After dinner we went to the long awaited Pinewood Derby!  

Ben helped tell about an Adventure badge their den completed.  

Ben's car got 1st, 2nd, 2nd, and 2nd place in each of the heats he raced.  Even with that, he did not place over all, but he had lots of FUN and showed great sportsmanship! 

His award was the best "Starry Night" car.  

The kids all had a sleep over in McKenna's room that night.  We left the iPad on Facetime in the hallway and Dan and I went to the Johnson's for a fun game night and stayed up way too late!

Saturday Ben went to a BD party for Anna and Millie Fairbanks.  McKenna had play practice.  We went to lunch at Ramblin Roads with some of the Websters.  I had a bad head ache but we went through some clothes in the afternoon.  Lyla came home with us here after rehearsal and they played for a while.  After kids were in bed, I worked on prepping a YW lesson I was going to teach the next day.  

 Sunday I taught the Laurels about eternal marriage then we practiced "If We Love Him" which the YW would sing at New Beginnings.  That afternoon, our attempts at our Come Follow Me lesson bombed.  There was a LOT of push back from the kids saying it was too boring and they wanted it to be more "fun."  I felt pretty discouraged... Dan came home and we had a little lesson about John the Baptist.  That night at Webster family dinner we discussed more of Come Follow Me and got a few more ideas of what's working for other families.  Dan and I also worked on Ben's baptism invite and program.  

Babies sleeping with their bums in the air is my favorite.  and the TV stand became Alice's favorite place to pull up.  :)

Monday I did laundry, ran to Costco and got a carwash.  McKenna worked on a poster for school and Ben worked on his book report.  

That night was the Nelson Family Party for January BDs!  The kids had fun riding around the gym on scooters.  

Tuesday I exercised and got the oil changed in the van.  The kids had a "reunification drill" and I helped with one of the class calling trees.  McKenna went to play at Lyla's to play and we delivered Ben's baptism invitations then he went to play at the Alexander's.  Bethany was too sick with a cold to go to preschool.  Anna got to bring a friend to dance with her and she chose Emi.  Ben had Jr. Jazz that night and McKenna, Anna, and Bethany stayed home.  

That night I felt super sick too.  Achy, chills (but no fever), and a very stuffy nose.  And Dan and I did not sleep well at all! 

Wednesday Dan had to go to Ceder City for work.  We had a day of rest at home watching lots of shows and feeling crapy.  Anna had a cold too but hers included a fever and she needed her inhaler.  Ben and McKenna carried on as normal with piano, playing at Alexander's, and homework (McKenna working on her Middle Ages castle).  

Thursday we picked up Dan's car bright and early from Burt Brothers.  Bethany still did not go to preschool.  Ben babysat while Alice napped and I took Anna to go with me to pick up Lyla and McKenna from rehearsal but was quite late due to a train.  We worked more on McKenna's castle that night.  

Jan. '19- Week 3- Bethany's 1/2 BD, Alice Messy Spaghetti, Anna Field Trip, Wendy's Funeral,

Tuesday I exercised and finished reading the Book of Mormon which I started right after General Conference in October!! I loved reading at a faster pace this time which helped me gain a greater understanding of the story line.  I also loved highlighting references to God and Christ.  I started out just listening and NOT highlighting, then I realized I wanted to get more out of my reading this time, and I'm thankful I did!  There were really only a small handful of pages I remember NOT highlighting anything on.  This book truly testifies of God and Christ! 

Bethany celebrated her 1/2 birthday at preschool and I watched Jack Jaynes for an hour.  Ben went to the Alexander's after school and after dinner he went to Jr. Jazz.  

Wednesday I watched Hazel for a bit.  Ben and McKenna took our walkie-talkies to Piano lessons.  :) McKenna and Bethany painted craft boxes and Anna had music.  Alice got to take a bath in the big tub that night.  

Thursday I exercised and Anna's carpool friends came over because they didn't have school.  After lunch Anna painted her craft box.  Dan took Bethany to buy a new bathroom faucet because the old one was leaking.  Ben had scouts and Dan made spaghetti in the instant pot.  I let Alice eat it with no clothes on so she could make a big mess and she loved it and made cute poses after! 

Ben and Dan worked on Ben's Pinewood Derby car and McKenna had Activity Days at the Church History Museum.  

Friday Alice started getting good at pulling up!  Dan was able to go with Anna on her kindergarten field trip to the Gateway Children's museum.  I watched Hazel again for a bit then Dan and Anna came home. 

After school, Dan took Anna on an ice cream date to reward her for going to ballet nicely 5 times in a row.  We all then met at the Library to help McKenna find a book for her biography book report.  That evening we went out for dinner and then attended Wendy Maxfield's celebration of life gathering (instead of calling it a viewing).  

Saturday Mickelle was nice enough to babysit the three youngest girls while Dan and I took McKenna and Ben to Wendy's funeral.  It was a beautiful service!  Nothing like a funeral to make you think about how you want to be remembered.  I felt inspired to be a better mom by being more FUN and always making my kids feel like they are IMPORTANT!  I also felt like I need to call my own mom more often. 

We went to Cafe Rio for lunch, picked up groceries and got home at 3.  That evening after the kids were fed and bathed, Dan and I went on a date to Lowe's, Target, and then got a treat at Crumble.  McKenna babysat--even Alice!  

Sunday we were actually on time for church!  The heater in Dan's Bishop office was broken so I took him a space heater.  After dinner we played games as a family and McKenna went up to Grandma and Grandpa's to play games with Swa and Whitney who were there as well.  

Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the kids had no school.  We got TONS of snow so thankfully Dan's boss told everyone to work from home if possible!  McKenna ended up playing at Olivia Stock's house all day.  After lunch, the snow finally stopped and Ben and I went with Aunt Lara to Temple square to take Ben's baptism pictures.  We had pizza and games at mom and dad's house for dinner.  

Alice getting good at climbing and Bethany's creative dress up!