Jan. 2022- Week 4- Lots of Into the Woods, Anna Ice Skating, Cleaning out Laundry Room, Webster January BDs.

Jan. 22nd- Saturday: Anna had rehearsal at 9.  I took Ben to Standard Optical to get his blue framed glasses adjusted and order a replacement for his black frames which had broken at Basketball.  Dan cleaned out and rearranging the garage so we would be able to fit the new van in!  I helped McKenna get ready for her call time. We all went to McKenna’s Matinee show.  It was so awesome and I totally teared up during “No One Is Alone” and when I hugged her after the show.  (Dan left with the three little girls at intermission.)  Anna went ice skating with Aspen and Sayge and then had dinner with them.  My parents and Mickelle came over to our house after the Matinee to hang out for a bit.  Dan and I went to dinner with the Pugsleys to Kokonut Island Grill.   

Jan. 23rd- Sunday: We played “Where’s Enoch” (hot and cold) in primary.  After lunch, we watched our Come Follow Me videos and then Dan and I napped on the couch while the kids played.  I had my family conference call and then phone time. After dinner, Ben and McKenna made funny upside down chin videos.   

Jan. 24th- Monday: McKenna went back to school in person after two weeks at home!  I exercised (ran 1.5 miles). We had a normal morning and Alice had preschool. I volunteered doing assessments with some of the kids in the older classes at preschool. After homework, I helped McKenna do hair and make-up for her show. We cleaned out our Toyota Sienna van. After dinner, our new (to us) Nissan NV van was delivered!  We took the kids for a spin then put them all to bed.  Dan helped me sort through all the van stuff. McKenna came home and said it was her best voice night! 

Jan. 25th- Tuesday: Dan drove the kids to school in the new van!  He even picked up most of the Junior High walking group.  Alice and I went to the rec center with Brynn.  I made cookies for Kelly Kump as a thank you for helping with Ben’s party then I practiced for voice.  Brynn, Swa, and Grandma all came over to look at the new van.  I napped, read over my JA lesson, and blogged a little.  The kids got home from school and worked on their homework.  I picked up Anna and Annie from Seussical rehearsal then took Bethany to dance.  Everyone ate dinner at different times since Ben had basketball practice, McKenna and Dan had youth activities (Where’s Waldo game at Farmington Station), and the little girls and I ate together.  We also had Ben’s Primary activity boys over for a movie and popcorn night.  After kids were in bed, Dan’s dad came to look at the van.  

Jan. 26th- Wednesday:  After kids left for school, I watched the news and then ate with Alice. She got dressed and watched shows while I put the car seats back together and loaded things in the van. Alice went with Sarah Moulton to Lewis Park. I went to voice then Ben and Anna had piano. Then I went to Alice’s parent/teacher conference. They said she’s doing great and starting to talk more.  Desi came here for a bit.  I took Anna to gymnastics and Boof to Music.  We got home as Dan was leaving for Ben’s basketball game (they won!). Dan gave the girls baths. After the girls were in bed, we set up my new phone!  No more lines through my pictures.

Jan. 27th- Thursday:   I got a hair cut! Then I played around on my new phone! Dan went out with Jasper. Emmy Johnson came over for a bit. I volunteered in Bethany’s class teaching JA (driving the new van).  The kids played outside some and I chatted with Meghan. McKenna and Lyla walked home from piano. Ben played at Tanner’s. Anna got home from play practice. After dinner, Dan had a work call and the kids played on the silk. Ben and McKenna played a piano/flute duet together. I read books with Alice. Lyla left and McKenna ate and worked on homework. After kids were in bed, I worked on a grocery order and Dan watched a movie. 

Jan. 28th- Friday: Dan, Alice and I all left to go to Murray. Dan and Alice went to Dan’s office, I went to a workshop for Primary music leaders.  Right before it started, Bro. Gates called me to extend a new calling to me to be a YW's advisor!  I was excited, but also kind of sad to not be able to apply what I learned at the workshop. We napped when we got home and Alice watched shows. The kids got home from school and did homework. I did McKenna’s hair and make up for call time. Mabel, Desi, and Sakura came over to play. We ate pizza, then the girls watched "Hotel Transylvania 4." After the friends left we put kids to bed, then had the Chadwicks, Meghan Johnson and the Moultons over.  We talked a lot and played games (Skyjo).

Jan. 29th- Saturday: Dan took Anna to rehearsal, then brought home groceries. The kids played. McKenna did her laundry.  Dan and I worked on organizing the laundry room!  We cleaned out cupboards and drawers and under the washer and dryer.  McKenna had Brinley over and later went to her house. Dan also took the kids outside to shoot the BB gun. Sakura and Haku Bott came over for a bit. Dan took Anna to the store to buy a BD gift for Aubrey.  I got McKenna ready for her call time.  Ayla came to babysit while Dan and I went to dinner with his parents and Swa and Whitney. Then we went to McKenna’s final show.  There were lots of tears from the cast at the end!

Jan. 30th- Sunday was my last day in Primary as the music leader and I was quite sad about it.  We had a little meeting after about possible new people to replace me.  After lunch and videos, Dan went ministering with his dad and I had a phone call with Amy Hamblin about my new calling in YW (advisor to older girls).  I tried to take a nap and then had my family conference call.  Dan and I prepped veggies and then we went to Webster family dinner at his parents’ house. We celebrated January birthdays. We put the kids to bed and talked with McKenna about her next after school activity to be involved in.

Jan. 31st- Monday: Dan and I worked to put back the washer and dryer.  The dryer gave Dan a lot of grief because the vent hose had to curve a certain way and it was such a tight space. After about 2 hours, and a trip to the hardware store to find a better part/adapter he finally got it in position as best he could.  I started the laundry. Alice had preschool. After McKenna got home, I went through some shoes in the laundry room to figure out what fits the girls and what doesn’t. Dan left to pick up Ben from HP club and to run some errands (which all seemed to flop, unfortunately).  I continued to do laundry and tidy up while the girls did homework.  After dinner, James Smart came over to help Dan give me a blessing before my PRK laser eye surgery the next day.  We cleaned up and put kids to bed.  We folded laundry and finished cleaning the laundry room. I wrote our Nelson News article.

January Videos:

Alice’s “creek”, Ben basketball, McKenna “Into the Woods,” McKenna and Ben piano flute duet, more “Into the Woods,” last time leading Primary song.

Jan. 2022- Week 3- Organize Pantry, Ben's BD date, Rearrange Girls' Rooms, Alice's Creek, Ben's Jr. Jazz, Into the Woods, New Van

 Jan. 15th- Saturday: After breakfast, we all went through the treats from the pantry and “thinned the herd.” Each kid got their own treat basket then I picked up groceries and Dan started helping to organize Bethany and Alice’s room. Ben left for his birthday date with Grandma and Grandpa Webster. I started some laundry and put groceries away then we started changing bedrooms for the girls! Anna and Bethany would now share, and McKenna and Alice would now share. We ate a late lunch then continued with the rooms: sorting, decluttering, hanging stuff on walls, vacuuming, making beds. We finally finished around 4:30pm. We did baths and pizza for dinner. McKenna babysat while Dan and I went to do temple sealings with the Kumps and Ulmers.  We went to Blacksmith ice cream after.  *My symptoms weren't totally gone, but I felt pretty good.

Jan. 16th- Sunday: Dan had an EQ ministering meeting before church. Dan and I took turns staying home with Alice since she could possibly still get Covid from us and infect others. We did “Choose the Right” songs in Primary. After lunch, we watched the “Line upon Line” videos. Dan and I napped on the couch. The kids played (and fought). I had my family conference call. Dan took 4 of the kids for a quick walk to deliver some notes to neighbors. We watched Relative Race after dinner. Dan and I played Old Maid and Cover Your Assets with McKenna and Ben.

Jan. 17th- Monday: MLK holiday from school and work. The kids played and watched “Encanto"  while I cleaned and started laundry. McKenna had an ocular migraine.  She quickly took some meds and laid down and it went away.  After lunch, I took McKenna, Lyla, Hannah, and Makayla to shop and hang out at Farmington Station.  We got home around 4:45pm.  After dinner, we folded laundry while watching the final episode of Relative Race.  We put kids to bed and then I worked on my Primary singing time lesson.  We also got word that McKenna’s school will have virtual learning for three days due to the spike in Covid numbers.  

Jan. 18th- Tuesday: After the middle three kids left for school, I exercised.  McKenna slept until 9:30 and had no school due to the end of term/teacher work day.  I practiced voice and organized the music room. After lunch, McKenna practiced her music, Alice watched shows, and I took a quick nap. After school,  Anna and I attended the cast meeting for Seussical and we both got excited!  Anna was cast as a Jungle Citizen, a Fish, and a Who! Dan made it home in time to take Bethany to dance.  Ben ate dinner early so he could go to basketball practice.  McKenna went to Backstage to watch the other cast's final rehearsal for "Into the Woods."  The girls played on the “creek” Alice set up and I finished sorting music stuff.  I also worked on the blog.  

Jan. 19th- Wednesday:  After kids left for school, I watched the news and Alice played.  Kenna got up and got ready for her distance learning day. Alice watched “Encanto” while I went to my voice lesson.  Alice had preschool. I started dinner in the crock pot.  The kids got home (early out) and I took Ben and Anna to piano. After homework, all the kids took turns playing Mine Craft.  Dan got home from work in time to take Anna to gymnastics and Bethany to music.  I got McKenna ready for her first performance!  We had dinner, did baths, and then watched a little of the “Into the Woods” movie.  After the three girls were in bed, Dan took Ben to his late basketball game.  I worked on my Primary lesson.  

Jan. 20th- Thursday: After kids left for school, McKenna started her distance learning. I walked 2 miles on the treadmill. David Gates came to help us with some computer stuff. I taught Junior Achievement and did Bethany’s half birthday in her class. McKenna went to the South Davis/Mueller Park basketball game with Lia to see Whitney play. I snuggled and read with Boof and Alice then I picked up Anna from her first Seussical rehearsal. She loved it!  I picked up McKenna from the game then took her to piano. After dinner, Dan had a work Zoom event. The kids and I watched the rest of Act 1 of "Into the Woods." After kids were in bed, I worked on a grocery order and then talked with Dan about the possibility of a new van he found online that day!  We got snow that night!*

Jan. 21st- Friday: After the kids left for school, we got McDonald’s breakfast before driving to Orem to check out a Nissan NV van!  Dan has had is eye on one of these vans for 2-3 years. We found a 2013 with only 56,000 miles on it! McKenna had another online learning day. We test drove the van and really loved it! We did the paper work and left by 11:15!! Dan went to lunch with Riley Pack. Henry, Arlee, and David came to play with Ben and Bethany. Anna went to Sayge’s cat birthday party. I played with Alice. Dan and McKenna watched another Marvel movie. We had leftovers for dinner and then played games. McKenna went to watch the other cast perform "Into the Woods."

Jan. 2022- Week 2- Covid, Organize Ben's Room, Anna's Wax Museum, Organize Pantry.

Jan. 8th- Saturday: The Covid case counts were SUPER high everywhere thanks to the Omicron variant. Uncles David and Jake both had Covid.  Saturday after Ben's party, both Dan and I felt scratchy throats. We thought it was from talking loudly to all the boys all night. McKenna woke up with a croupy sounding cough.  We had our usual eggs for breakfast.  We canceled game night with friends because of sickness in ours, Remington’s and the Koldewyn’s homes.  We opened Ben's presents from the family and measured him.  The kids played the new Oregon Trail Card game.  I worked on a grocery order and my primary lesson.  Dan and Ben did Legos.  McKenna, Bethany, and Anna did homework then played.  After lunch, Dan returned party stuff to the Kumps. Then Dan and I worked to organizing Ben’s room and clothes. We went through a lot of stuff! I washed his laundry and sheets. Dan and I still went on a date to get groceries and eat at In n Out. That night, we found out both my parents and Mickelle had Covid.  Once we got home, Dan gave McKenna a blessing. She really wasn't feeling good.

Jan. 9th- Sunday: We woke up super early (6:45am), and Dan, McKenna and I got in line to get tested for Covid. Dan and McKenna were positive! I was negative, but we assumed I also had it because of my scratchy throat and headache. We're 99% positive we caught it from my dad who first had symptoms on Wednesday after we saw them at Maddox on Tuesday. He had no clue where he got it from. We all started masking at home then we started making phone calls to let people know. Mat Ulmer filled for me in primary. We ate oatmeal and watched Joe’s talk in his ward and then Music and Spoken Word.  Then we watched our own ward virtually. Dan passed us the sacrament at home. We took a little naps. Dan gave the girls a bath.  We had lunch and then a napped more. I had my family conference call, Dan played games with the kids. We worked more on Ben’s room, rearranging some furniture and taking stuff off walls. We had breakfast burritos for dinner then watched Relative Race and put kids to bed. Dan checked some blog posts, I looked at Primary singing time stuff for the next week.

Jan 10th- Monday: McKenna stayed home. The three middle kids still went to school with masks because they were still symptom free. I watched the news. I felt like my symptoms were a little worse. Dan and McKenna’s were a little better. Dan and I ate breakfast separate from Alice. I stared cleaning and gathering laundry. McKenna did homework (online learning for the week). Dan worked some. I had some computer and phone time. After lunch, Dan, McKenna, and I watched Captain America in theater room. I napped and blogged a little.   Alice watched a lot of Octonauts. After kids got home, McKenna, Anna, Bethany and I played outside some. The fresh air was good and it wasn't too cold. Dan helped Anna with her wax museum display and presentation. I made an appetizer dinner for us. After kids were in bed, I blogged some more and Dan watched “Pompeii.”

Jan. 11th- Tuesday: After kids left for school, I watched the news and we were a little better.  We opened the windows every morning to "air the Covid out." I did some puzzles with Alice. McKenna started on her homework. I went to my room to make some phone calls and read over the next Junior Achievement lesson. Alice played in my room and ate snacks. Dan watched a show. After lunch, I worked on my primary lesson.  Alice watched “Cinderella.”  As soon as the kids got home from school, I took Anna right back to school for Seussical call backs!  Dan played outside with the other 4 kids.  Bethany had dance.  After dinner, Ben decided to skip basketball practice because he had a runny nose.  We watched Emma open her mission call to Stockholm, Sweden!  We got the kids in bed and then finished hanging stuff on Ben’s walls.  Dan and McKenna finished watching “Pirates,” then Dan watched “Lost in Space” while I blogged.  

Jan. 12th- Wednesday: I got Ben and Anna up early to go get tested for Covid.  Anna needed a negative test to attend gymnastics and Ben was starting with a runny nose.  I also took a PCR test to see if I am officially positive.  We got to the testing site right at 7 when they opened.  It only took us about 45 mins start to finish so Ben and Anna made it on time to school.  Dan gave himself a haircut.  Then he and McKenna started Captain Marvel.  I texted a bunch about finding a roommate for McKenna for FSY this Summer.  The kids came home from school since it was early out.  At school, Anna had a Wax Museum assignment that we couldn’t attend. Dan’s mom was nice enough to go see her!  Anna said it was fun, but she was very tired of repeating her little blurb about Florence Nightingale by the time she got home.  Ben and Anna had piano.  Anna had gymnastics and Bethany had music.  Meghan Johnson was so kind and brought us dinner that night.  Ben had a Jr. Jazz game that they won 15-11  (the Alexanders took him). Dan worked on installing printers into the new computer.  I worked on the blog and my primary lesson.  

Jan. 13th- Thursday: I helped Alice make a count down chain until her birthday.  Since Ben's birthday, she would ask every night when her birthday was. We did a few puzzles. McKenna worked on her homework.  After lunch, I worked on a grocery order then Alice watched shows and Dan, McKenna, and I watched "Iron Man" in the theater room while I napped some.  The kids did their homework. I worked on making picture collages for October. Alice and Anna played on Alice’s “creek.” The kids took turns playing Minecraft. After dinner, we watched "Relative Race" and put kids to bed. I kept working on collages. Ben’s PCR test came back negative (or so we thought...). Dan and Ben did Legos. Dan finished “The Eternals.”

 

Jan. 14th- Friday: Dan left to take the kids to school and I took McKenna to get tested. Her rapid came back negative!  She and I got McDonald’s for breakfast. We watched the news and Gov. Cox’s press conference about the Covid Spike. McKenna had piano with a mask on. It was now 7 days since her symptoms started. Alice watched shows. Dan and McKenna ran errands (returns and Costco). I caught up on Marco Polo and ran the Debot vacuum. Alice and I ate lunch together. McKenna did homework and Dan had virtual work meetings. Alice watched more shows and I blogged a little. I drove carpool. We signed McKenna up for FSY! The kids did their homework and piano and Mine Craft. I read with Alice, then got McKenna ready for her dress rehearsal (hair and make up). Ben babysat while Dan and I went to eat at Tony Burger and then went to At Home to buy organizing stuff for the pantry.  We got home and put kids to bed and started working on the pantry till 11:45.

Jan. 2022- Week 1- New Years, Maddox Dinner, Dan and Jonathan Skiing, Ben's 11th Birthday!

Jan. 1- Saturday: Happy New Year! 2022! I ate breakfast with the 3 littles. McKenna slept in till 10. I played Pretty Pretty Princess with Alice and worked on my Primary lesson. The girls played Barbies then Desi came over. After lunch, McKenna went to Lia’s. As I was putting groceries away, I watched the Rose Bowl then took a nap. I also started putting away Christmas decorations. After dinner and bath, the girls had a movie night with Desi watching “Encanto." I put more Christmas away. McKenna got home at 9. I watched SNL and collaged pictures.

Meanwhile, Ben and Dan were having a great time. They woke up early to go watch part of the Rose Parade. The parade floats were incredible in size and attention to detail. Before walking back they split a victory dog from a street vendor, then met up with the rest of the men cooking/eating breakfast. They saw many friends and relatives who were also in town for the game and enjoyed the atmosphere, tradition and ambience. Unfortunately the Utes lost in a nail biter.

Jan. 2- Sunday: I fed the two little girls because everyone else was fasting. I had time to crimp the three girls’ hair before church at 10:30. In Primary, we tried having the Jr. and Sr. kids combined, and I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. After lunch, I watched Don't Miss This, napped, and had my conference call. We worked on Anna’s audition form for the school play. Dan and Ben got home from their Rose Bowl road trip at 6!! After kids were in bed, we un-decorated the tree, put more Christmas away, and talked with Dan.

Jan. 3- Monday: up at 6:30. I drove the jr. high kids, the exercised. Alice had crazy hair day at preschool. I worked on laundry and read over the first Junior Achievement lesson. We had a normal afternoon with Ben at Harry Potter club and working on a book report with Beth. Dan drove McKenna to rehearsal. After dinner, I work on birthday party planning with Ben. We put more Christmas away and folded laundry.

Jan. 4th- Tuesday: I went to the gym with Brynn then ran an errand to Walmart. After school, McKenna went to Whitney’s basketball game with Gma and Gpa. Bethany had dance. Anna worked on a 3 paragraph essay. After dinner, Ben had basketball practice. After that, we drove up to Maddox in Brigham City for dinner with my parents, Mickelle, and Jonathan. En route we discovered one of our headlights were out, so pulled into an Auto Zone in Brigham City where Dan bought and replaced a headlight on our van. It was pretty snowy at times on the drive up there and back so we were glad to have the added vision :) .

Jan. 5th- Wednesday: Dan took McKenna and some friends to the temple, to school, then he went skiing at Snow Basin with my brother Jonathan! I packed Alice a lunch and got her Cinderella dress ready for Princess and Super Hero day at Preschool. She went to Meghan’s while I went to my voice lesson, then I picked up a small grocery order. I listened to my book a lot. I hot glued the dowels that would become the Harry Potter wands at Ben's party. Ben and Anna had piano. I helped Bethany practice he Olaf character book report, then did more hot gluing. Anna worked on an essay, then went to gymnastics. I went to music with Bethany.  McKenna had rehearsal. Ben had his first Jr. Jazz game. My parents, Mickelle, and Jonathan came to watch.  My dad wasn't feeling too good. :(

Jan. 6th- Thursday: I exercised once kids left for school.  I listened to my book club book a lot!  The gym outlet circuit was tripped and we couldn't figure out why for a while.  We watched William Alexander for a bit.  I showered and listened to my book more.  After lunch, I worked more on Ben's Harry Potter party prep.  I also taught my first Junior Achievement lesson in Bethany’s class. Once we got home, I helped Anna with her audition video for the school play.  After dinner, we recorded Anna’s audition and got the kids to bed.  I went to book club at Meghan’s house, discussing the book, “The Woman they Could Not Silence.”  Dan and Ben went through bags of clothes from the Holdstocks.  We decorated for Ben’s birthday and went to bed.  

Jan. 7th- Friday: Ben’s 11th Birthday!  After the kids left for school, I made the “pet” sugar cookies for the Harry Potter party (owls, frogs, and cats).  The frosting colors were tricky, but I'm proud of myself for figuring it out. Alice and I went to eat lunch with Ben at school, and it was a good thing because he needed a new pizza card.  We ran errands to the copy center and Smith’s for balloons.  Once we got home I finished the cookies and started cutting stuff out for the party.  I also made "Benny soup" for dinner. When the kids got home from school, McKenna had a sore throat and didn't feel good. We gave her a rapid Covid test from the Winegars and it was negative, so she still went to her tech rehearsal with a mask.  We went to the West Church Building to set up for Ben’s party.  Kelly and Tanner Kump helped us a ton with all her cool Harry Potter stuff.  We went back home to eat soup.  Then we went back to the church.  We had 14 boys total and it was a blast!  They went through "Diagon Alley" and bought candy and wands.  Next, they painted their wands then we played Quidditch in the gym.  We opened presents and had an oreo ice cream cake and cookies n cream ice cream.  We played pin the scar on Harry Potter’s forehead.  Then played Quidditch more until the parents came.  We got home around 9:45.  Dan went to pick up McKenna from rehearsal and we all went to bed tired and happy!