Nov. '19- Week 2- Ben Jazz Game, Girls and Dan Ice Cream, Roth's Move, Hero's Lunch, Frozen!, Books and Breakfast, Helping Gma, Ben Basketball Pics

Friday I worked on my UEN class.  After kids were off to school, I took Alice and Bethany to my parents' to work on more box sorting in their basement.  We made it home in time for Alice's nap that afternoon.  Then, after school, Ben auditioned for the 3rd and 4th grade school play, Annie, and had Prelude youth choir practice.  That evening Dan had a Bishop emergency and Ben went to a Jazz game with his Jr. Jazz team!  They had a blast! 

Once Dan was available, he took all us girls out for ice cream at Spanky's. Then we finished Descendants and Dan taped off the entry way for painting.  

Saturday I exercised, Anna had a dance workshop, and Ben had basketball.  We did some cleaning and tidying around the house and Dan painted the entry way window trim.  The siding guys officially finished around 12.   We LOVE how it turned out and brought our home out of the 70s!

 Here are the before and afters

 My favorite part is that we got rid of the yucky yellow glass above the front door!

Alice learned to climb the bunk bed ladder and was so proud.  

After lunch we went outside to clean up the yard and Ben went to Taggart's to play.  I trimmed the rose bush and tried to scrub the butter marks off the driveway from the scones during Halloween.  Dan also did some wood burning with Ben with his wood burning kit.  That evening, we went to a farewell party for the Roth's at the church.  They have been in the ward around 10 years and we're really going to miss them!  

Sunday I taught both singing times "I Know That My Redeemer Lives."  That evening we hosted the Temple and Priesthood Preparation meeting for 11 year olds.  We had about 19 people and it was a lovely meeting.  I went to Prelude rehearsal that night.  

Monday I drove the kids to school since Dan went to the doctor's earlier than normal.  I did laundry and vacuuming.  My dad was able to attend the Hero's Lunch (for Veteran's Day) at school with Ben and Anna and he was nice enough to buy them each a book at the book fair!  They felt so special.  

That evening McKenna had her first performance for Frozen in the ensemble!  She did so great and I loved being able to see Cast A perform once.  

Tuesday I exercised and worked on Blurb and my UEN class.  Dan went to music with Bethany.  I ushered at the Frozen performance that night.  McKenna played the parts of Young Elsa and Sven!

 Wednesday I went to my mom's again and worked in the basement and flattened so many papers.  Alice also said "Gama Kelly" for the first time! So cute!  We found an old yarn wig my mom made for me when I was little since I always wanted LONG hair.  Alice looked adorable in it.  That afternoon, while Alice and Bethany napped and McKenna and Ben were at Piano, I had some good time with Anna.  Later, Ben went to the Alexander's and the Food Pantry with Cub Scouts.  Dan was able to meet the scouts there.  We also got back Ben's basketball pictures.  

McKenna had another show, and Dan and Ben went to his Jr. Jazz game.  

Thursday I exercised and looked over my UEN class.  Dan went to Books and Breakfast with the kids at the school.  I tidied the basement and Clara came over to play.  I went to Bethany's Parent/Teacher conference and then volunteered/read with kids in Anna's class.  Anna had music and we ran an errand to buy a BD gift for Lyla.  Ben had me take this cute "before and after" pictures of his big muscles! ;)  That night, we worked on making banners to welcome home Dan's parent's from Nauvoo the next day!  

Nov. '19- Week 1- Play Dates, Jensen Sealing, New Siding!, Anna Lost a Tooth, Bethany and Alice Dishes Help.

The kids had no school and slept in a little, but they were still pretty grumpy due to the late night!  Autumn Cundick stopped by for a bit to see how I'm doing.  Taggart, Lia, and Lyla came over to play.  They played with McKenna's singing machine and performed a little Frozen play for me.  Super cute!  Dan worked on painting the kitchen ceiling where we had a crack fixed.  Bethany unfortunately started having a croupy cough.

That night we stopped by my parents condo in Layton.  It felt so good to see all their stuff in there!  It made it feel official they're going to live here!  

Saturday I exercised and Dan had tithing settlement.  Brittana and Henry Alexander came over.  I drove the boys to basketball and picked up groceries.  The kids took some awesome selfies and Ben learned how to edit them.  

Mickelle came to babysit and Dan and I left for Lindsay and Jordan Jensen's SEALING!! Such a wonderful spirit there and an amazing example of repentance and true change!

Afterwards, Dan and I continued our date and ate at the Garden and then shopped at Target for Christmas PJs, which ended up not being a very good selection.  Ben and Dan got haircuts, and after kids were in bed I put away Halloween decorations.  That night was also Daylight Savings.

Sunday morning Ben read with Alice and we were on time for church!  I shared my testimony about the Jensen's sealing and the gift of repentance.  We taught scripture songs in Primary.

We had a relaxing afternoon and Dan sadly didn't get home until 5pm!  The kids made an epic fort in the basement.  After kids were in bed I went to my first Prelude to Christmas practice and then we played games at Sam and Lara's.  

Monday I volunteered in Ben's class.  I got a car wash and vacuumed it at the new Quick Quack car wash.  Bethany calls it "quack quack".  :)  I also blew off the driveway and the Hanson's siding guys showed up to get started!  The delivered all the supplies and would start work the next day.   We babysat Cooper Johnson in the evening.  Dan caulked around the new front windows and I finished laundry and dishes.  

Tuesday I exercised and Amy Hamblin came over to plan Primary music stuff.  The siding guys came and got started on wrapping the house!  Brynn drove both ways to preschool since my car was kind of blocked in the garage with all their ladders in front of it.  I also worked on my UEN class and Alice had to nap in my room for a few days away from all the noise at the front of the house.  That afternoon Anna was sad about her front loose tooth.  I also put up Thanksgiving decorations that night.  

Wednesday was more siding installation.  I tried to work on my class but was too distracted.  Emi came over to play after school (in the fort downstairs and they had a tea party).  McKenna was in the thick of dress rehearsals for Frozen this week.  While Anna had dance, Abril, Eli, and Mila came over to hang out for a bit.  We had dinner in a pumpkin and Anna finally lost her tooth by SNEEZING it out!  :)  Ben had Jr. Jazz that night and I finally worked on my UEN class after kids were in bed.

Thursday I exercised and McKenna needed full stage make-up for school because of a dress rehearsal/performance right after school.  Bethany played at David's house with Arlee there as well, and she had ballet and preschool.  Alice and I managed to nap even with all the noise outside!  Anna had music after school and Ben had scouts at the Beehive House.  Gma Kelly stopped by for a bit and got some good Alice snuggles.  I made dinner for the Roths because they were busy packing and getting ready to move.  :(

I finally got a picture of Anna with her lost front tooth smile.  I thought the comparison of her fancy, all done-up, dance pictures, and her early morning, toothless picture was pretty cute!  I found a new favorite lunch with a pita, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, fresh basil and balsalmic glaze.  Yummm!  also, Alice piled all her books on her chair and was so proud of herself.

I got an identical video of Alice putting silverware away just like little Bethany had done 2.5 years ago!  So adorable they can barely reach!

Oct. '19- Week 4- New Entryway Windows, Dan and Laura Get Away, Pack Meeting, Anna Dance Spooktacular, Trunk or Treat, Halloween,

Tuesday I worked on changing out my clothes out and had computer time.  I listened to my book and edited pictures on my phone.  I took Bethany to music and for dinner that night we had a friend of mine from VA, Riley Robertson, come visit.  We connected on Instagram because she needed a 3-7 year old to do a speech assessment with for a class.  Bethany did well and cooperated better than I expected.

Wednesday I exercised and then handyman Bruce came to install the new entryway windows!  I gave the little girls a bath and then went on ministering visits to Shelly and Janel.  I spent some time looking and praying to find a lost jazz shoe of Anna's and found it on the side of her bed!  After school, Mickelle came to babysit while Dan and I left for a little get-away to Salt Lake.  

Dan planned this trip because we needed the reconnection time! We got an AirBnB downtown in the Avenues.  First, we went to dinner by the U at Porcupine Pub and Grille, then we walked around the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.  We also enjoyed the hot tub that night.  

Statue of Daniel Webster and gorgeous paintings of the 10 Virgins and Adam Ondi Ahman.  

Thursday morning we ate at a little cafe called Publik which had probably the best food of the whole trip!  Then we walked around the Gilgal Sculpture garden.  We went back to the AirBnB for a nap and then hiked the Living Room trail.  

Most of the Fall colors were gone by then, but we managed to find some.  

Such a cool view!  Neither one of us had done that hike before and we were glad we did it before taking our kids on it.  It was pretty steep and we're not sure Bethany could have done it, and Anna would even be a little questionable.  

We called the kids at home.   Jonathan was babysitting most of that day.  We showered and went to dinner at our least favorite place of the trip called Oasis.  They had really small portions and it just wasn't that good.  Then we went to the Eccles Theater for a recording of an NPR radio show called "Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me."  It was funnier than we both expected and then we enjoyed a treat at Hires and more hot tubbing.  

Sadly, that evening we had to miss Ben's Cub Scout pack meeting where they were super heroes!  Ben was Humor Man!  

Friday we checked out of the AirBnB, parked at the Conference Center, and rode scooters down to the Gateway to see a movie.  We watched Will Smith's "Gemini Man" which was pretty good.  We rode scooters back to the Temple and were able to do Initiatories.   

Last, we headed to PF Changs because we had a gift card there.  Unfortunately, their card reader system was down and they couldn't accept it.  Grrrr.  I'm so thankful for our time together and for my siblings babysitting and all the friends who gave our kids rides.  It was a much needed time to reconnect with my love!

That evening McKenna helped Brittana babysit at the Chadwick's and the rest of us watched some Halloween shows.  

Saturday Ben had basketball practice, I picked up groceries, and we made homemade bath bombs.  After lunch, we went outside and raked leaves and the kids played in the hammocks.  McKenna also lost a canine tooth.  

That evening Anna had her first dance company performance at the Rec Center's Spooktacular.  

We went to Laurie's house to do make-up before hand just to make sure I got it right.  

After her first performance, Dan took all the kids home and I walked around with Anna doing some of the games.  She chose eating a donut on a string.  

Sunday I taught "I Wonder When He Comes Again" in Primary.  McKenna painted nails and I snuggled and read with Ben.  We had family dinner at the church that evening.   We celebrated October birthdays and had fun eating donuts on strings, then I had Prelude rehearsal. 

Monday I tried to be super productive in the morning by doing laundry, clearing the kitchen counter, lost of texts, tidying the laundry room, and going through shoes.  Bethany watched Descendants.  That evening we carved pumpkins.  Dan tried a new method of carving using his drill and me and the girls did two emojis on the front and back of a small pumpkin.  

 Tuesday we woke up to snow on the grass which meant Halloween was looking like it was going to be pretty cold!  I exercised, roasted pumpkin seeds, tidied the basement and Bethany bonked her nose and it bled a little.  :(  I made zucchini bread and worked on some stuff for Ben's class Halloween party.  I went to music with Bethany and Anna started getting a cough/cold.  

Wednesday Dan went to Vernal for work.  After breakfast I had a lazy morning and watched "Descendants 3" and I worked on Halloween stuff for Ben's class.  Bethany wore her pirate costume to preschool.  McKenna stayed after school for a movie (Goosebumps 2) and Ben and Anna had piano and dance.  After dinner we went to Ben's Jr. Jazz game, then layered up and went to the ward Trunk or Treat and Spook Alley.  It was a busy night to fit everything in and but thankfully the trunk or treat was cold and fast!  

Thursday was Halloween!  I exercised and Bethany went to play at Arlee's and then to dance.  After lunch, Alice went to the Moulton's to nap while I went to Ben's class.  I taught some Halloween songs, helped with some Minute to Win It games, and decorating cookies, and listening to spooky stories.  I also stopped in Anna's class to see how she was doing.  :) We had our mummy hot dogs for dinner then Mickelle and Jonathan came to help me with trick or treating and watching Alice for the night.  It was too cold to take Alice out and she's really slow, so Mickelle stayed home with her.  Dan also made scones for the 2nd year in a row.  And here's a "throw back" of 10 month old Ben as Superman.   

 My middle three kids did most of our Trick or Treating with the Alexander's and Taggart Lewis.  Desi pretty much ran everywhere and was tough to keep up with.  McKenna went around with her friends (Bridgett, McKinley, Camille, and Jojo) for the first time this year.  

 There was a very pretty sunset that night.  After doing most of the upper ward, Bethany and Anna decided they were done by 7:30.  Jonathan and I kept going for a bit with Ben but came home a little after 8.   Ben and Anna got invited to watch a movie at the Alexander's.  It was quite cold so Dan had a space heater outside to help keep him warm while cooking scones.  We loved having most of the family stop by at the end to help us polish off the last of the scones.  I think we ended up making 112 total!  All our kids were asleep by 10pm and I felt so good that the kids did NOT have school the next day! 

VIDEOS from October 2019:

Alice headstand and E-I-E-I-O, Let's Play Music Bethany and Anna, McKenna 11th BD, Anna Dance Spooktacular, Jumping in Leaves, Donut eating.