Oct. '19- Week 3- UEA, Pumpkin Festival, Pumpkin Walk, McKenn's BD, NFBD

Tuesday Bethany and I made a cool symmetrical design with Ben's Suspend game.  I also went to an appointment to proof Anna's dance pictures.  Ben went to the Alexander's to play and I went with Bethany to music.  We delivered some "Boo!" treats to Roth's and Holdstock's.  I went to book club that night at Kylee Nelson's house to discuss The Nightingale.  SUCH a good book about two French sisters in WW2. 

Wednesday was free dress day for the kids.  I went walking with Rachael and we had a good talk about some things we've both been struggling with.  Bethany played at the Alexander's for a bit.  The kids came home early due to a "reunification drill."  McKenna was invited to Lia's to play, have lunch, and then go out for ice cream since Lia would not be available to come to McKenna's upcoming BD party.  So nice of them!  Bethany had crazy hair day at preschool.  The kids still had piano and then we went to Bountiful City Park with Laura Lewis, Shelly, and also Emily Hartvigsen from the 6th ward came as well.  After dinner, the Priest Quorum came over for games and treats and I took Ben and Henry Alexander to their Jr. Jazz basketball game which they unfortunately lost.  

Thursday was the beginning of Fall Break from school!  Unfortunately, the night before was a rough night of sleep.  We went to the health department for our traditional UEA flu shots! :)  I took a before and after picture of the kids being scared at first, then brave!  We picked up GH bread and Keva juice smoothies for lunch and then headed to Dan's office to eat with him, then we ran a couple errands to Costco and Target.  After we got home, McKenna went to play with Brittana and Anna and Ben had Yaritza and Melek over to play.  Dan ended up having some church appts and McKenna still had Activity Days about family history.  

Friday was a FUN filled day!  Dan took Ben with him to pick up pumpkins for Utah Foster Care's Pumpkin Festival  I put in a grocery order and my mom came over to help do some altering to McKenna's Frozen costume for the play.  After lunch, we picked up Lyla Lefler and took her with us to the pumpkin festival.  We saw Elsa and baby goats they use for Goat Yoga.  We also met the "Carpool Dad," Seth King, from Instagram.  We painted pumpkins and just had lots of fun!  

After that, we packed and headed up to Mantua, and then Logan.  We ate at Del Taco and met up with the Pugsleys and then went to the Pumpkin Walk.  Stewarts, Winegars, Sam and Lara, and Adam and Mia also came.  Here were some of our favorites.  

 Candyland, Gnomes, New Mary Poppins, and an Under the Sea scene.  

 The Sandlot

 Beauty and the Beast, Up

 Greatest Showman

 Despicable Me, Frozen

 Lion King and Alice in Wonderland

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Witch, and of course all the cutouts! 

Saturday was McKenna's 11th Birthday!  Since we were at Mantua, I decorated a little up there.  We had waffles, sausage, and fruit for breakfast.  Then we cleaned up, chilled, and left for home by 11:45.  

We snacked, changed, and opened presents!  She got cards from grand and great grandparents, a "singing machine" from the Webster grandparents, and clothes and bath bombs from us.  

 Bethany gave McKenna her flashlight and said, "You can use it when the songs are done."  So cute!  Meaning, she could read with it or something if she was having a hard time sleeping after her CD finished.  

 Then we went swimming at the Rec Center!  McKenna and I ran to the store to pick up some last minute party things and then everyone had showers and baths and we decorated for the party!  

 Such a fun group of friends came!  Lyla Lefler, Camille Roth, Brinley Aune, Sophia Madrid, McKenna, Bridgett Moulton, Brittana Alexander, Whitney, Katie, and JoJo Lewis.  

 We had pizza and berries for dinner.  Dan spent most of the time in the basement with the other 4 kids.  Then we watched the new live action "Lion King."  We paused it halfway to do ice cream cake.  The girls got rowdy and loud at the end and McKenna got a little embarrassed that I told them to be quiet so much, but they were still having fun!  While we were waiting for everyone to be picked up, they told scary stories.  

 Sunday the missionaries spoke in church and we sang/learned "I Love to See the Temple" in Primary.  Mickelle gave McKenna two flip sequin pillows for her BD. 

 My parents and Jonathan came over for dinner and gave McKenna a lip gloss making kit.  We watched silly YouTube videos and then McKenna sang a little using her new machine.  

Monday I exercised, did laundry, and volunteered in Ben's class.  We went to the Nelson Family party that night to celebrate the October BDs.  

Oct. '19- Week 2- Ben Diorama, Bethany Fire Station, Anna Red Butte, Let's Play Music, LPA Fall Festival, Fall Hike, Anna's Class Pet

Tuesday I went walking with Chelsea Chadwick and Rachael.  Ben turned in his habitat diorama and I had to document up close the orca whale I made out of clay.  :)  

I had a nice parenting conversation with my sister Emily over the phone.  Then, after lunch, went with Bethany's preschool "Be There" activity on a walking field trip to the fire station. 

Dan also went on a field trip that day with Anna to Red Butte Gardens and the Museum of Natural History.  They stopped by Ugurt afterwards and luckily ran into Uncle Adam! :) 

The kids had piano and Dan cleared out the sprinkler lines and our black garbage can.  Bethany had music we did some baths that night as well.

Wednesday I went through Bethany's clothes and organized the girls' dresses.   We had our first snow flurries of the season.  The kids had piano and Anna had dance, then we ran some errands.  We had dinner as a family and then Ben had a basketball game that tied 14-14.

Thursday I ran/walked 1.5 miles.  We talked about the thinking and feeling parts of our brain with the kids that morning as a pornography prevention lesson.  Bethany had dance and I made soup.  I went with Anna to her music class.  After dinner, I went through more kids' clothes.

Friday we did another Anti-Pornography lesson before school.  I ran 2 miles then we went to ladies lunch.  That afternoon was a crazy one!  The road in front of McKenna's school was being resurfaced which set us way behind!  It took us 18 mins to get from the school the 1100 N.  We were planning to use that time to run home to grab some things but instead headed straight for the Library where Bethany and Anna had a Let's Play Music recital.  They did great considering Bethany had no shoes and Anna was mad about wanting to change outfits which made us late as well.  Anna is slowly gaining more confidence at performing in front of others.  She doesn't like to talk in front of people, but she will dance and play the piano.  :)

 (The kids drew superheros for a Foster Care lunch.)

After the recital we ran home to change into Halloween costumes for the school Fall Festival!  We ate Burger King dinner in the car then went to the school.  2019 Costumes: Anna- Popstar, Ben- Doctor, McKenna- Hawaiian tourist, Alice- Ladybug, and Bethany- a pirate.  

 So fun to see friends and teachers!

 The kids always love the bounce houses and it was funny to see the ladybug on the ground at the end of the night because she was DONE!

Saturday Ben had basketball practice and we attended McKinley Barnes' baptism where I led the music and Dan conducted.  Anna also had dance, we picked up groceries, and then we went on a hike up the City Creek trail with the Pugsley family.  Anna got to take home her class pet (a stuffed fish) for the weekend, so he came along with us.  The Fall colors were pretty great and the kids had a blast running on a BMX park.  

More fun with the class pet!

Later, Ben went to Xander's BD party at the Wairhouse (trampoline park).  I gave Alice a hair trim and we had pizza for dinner.  After kids were in bed, Dan working on his talk for Ward Conference and then we played games at Scott and Kylee Nelson's with Melissa and Jared Smith and Sammi and Nick Holt.  

Sunday was our Ward Conference and Dan and President Farnes ended up speaking about the same thing!  They spoke about being intentional and having a plan when learning and living the gospel.  Also, to avoid the three D's of Satan- discouragement, distraction, and deception.  Pres. Farnes also called up Jordan Jensen to share his story about overcoming addiction and how he was going to be ordained an Elder that day and how he and Lindsay and their son Kayson are going to be sealed.

Oct. '19- Week 1- Grandma's BD, Ben's Animal Activity, Anna Dance Pictures, Alice Halloween Costumes, General Conference,

Tuesday I put some Fall decor up and met with Amy Hamblin to talk about Primary stuff.  Clara came over to play a little before preschool.  I made brownies and did some green paint touch-ups around the house while listening to my book.  Dan went to music with Bethany.   Dan also had church appointments that night, but the rest of us enjoyed having my parents and siblings over to celebrate my mom's 61st BD!

Wednesday I went walking with Rachael and for some reason there were a lot of Marco Polos to watch that day.  We had a normal early out day with piano and dance and Ben worked on his diorama.  That evening we went to Emma, Andrew, Russell, and Kate's piano recital.  They all played so well and I love using Emma as an example of what my kids can play piano like if they practice as much as her!  ;) 

Thursday I exercised on the treadmill.  Arlee came over to play and I worked on organizing Alice's clothes.  The two little girls and I had lunch with Dan at R&R BBQ.  I volunteered in Anna's class with reading words per minute.  Ben had scouts, Anna had music, and McKenna had Activity Days.  Dan also helped Ben finish his diorama.  

Friday Lara babysat Alice and Bethany so I could go to Ben's Animal Classification Culminating activity.  I taught about spines and the amphibian life cycle.  We also listened to a bird expert (falconer), took goofy pictures with his friends, and saw their class pets (quail) growing bigger and bigger.  

When I got home I played fairies with Bethany a bit.   That evening Anna had dance company pictures.  She loved having someone, other than mom, do her hair and make-up.  She also loved how shiny her eye shadow was.  She and I picked up groceries then got home and had a late dinner while everyone else watched "The Croods."

I also tried on 4 costumes on Alice to see what she was going to be for Halloween.  She did the most adorable head/body tilt when she said "cheese!"

 I decided on the costume which fit her the best, the ladybug!  After kids were in bed, I put up Halloween decorations.

 Saturday morning we had our Conference french toast.  Ben had basketball practice and I divided up some chicken.  During the first session of General Conference the kids colored and played nice. 

 In between sessions we took a walk around the neighborhood and loved chatting with the Wests and Jerry Lynn from the 6th ward.  He was so nice and gave the kids kale, honey, black berries, and black berry jam. We also stopped by a garage sale of some new neighbors who moved in next to the Lemon's.  We had leftovers for lunch and then watched the afternoon session.  There were announcements made about changes in the youth program.

McKenna and I then left for the women's session aroud 4.  We ate at Ti Amo before and were almost late.  We had an eventful walk from parking to the Conference Center with an elevator almost breaking down and McKenna tripping and falling on the sidewalk (she was not injured).  There were more changes announced for the YW including a new theme and Grandfather announced 8 new temples!

 Sunday my parents and Mickelle came over to babysit the three little girls while the rest of us went to the Sunday morning session of Conference.

We had lunch at home and then during the last talk of the session, which was Grandfather's, we drove downtown to be there for Conference recap (though we left Alice at home).  Grandfather spoke about temple recommend questions and the 200th anniversary of the first vision next April!

 The kids' coloring pages all done.

We had conference quesadillas and Dan met with his counselors to talk over many of the new changes.  McKenna had a very hard time sleeping that night. :(  

Monday I got up early and tried to refocus my goals.  I volunteered in Ben's class and listened to my book a lot.  I did laundry and a few more paint touch ups.  Dan came home early not feeling well.  Ben had his last baseball game (poor Bethany got eaten alive by mosquitoes!) then I picked up McKenna and Lyla from Frozen rehearsals and took McKenna and Anna to Stephanie Marsh Williams's baby shower.