Tuesday September 21

We went and got everyone's passport today.

No, we don't have anything planned.

But there have been a few opportunities that we have missed out on because the kids didn't have passports.

So it will be good to have this in our back pocket for future adventures!

Port ran a XC meet today.

He shaved another few seconds of his PR.

Came in at 10:07 👍

Pretty good, especially for a kid who isn't totally loving the running part of XC!

He has another meet on Thursday too.

Then tonight Dad and I had our ARP meeting.

We have only been able to go about once a month lately......

I am sad when we miss it, but it is so good when we can be there!

Sweet Winnie!!!!

Only a few more days baby girl until Gimi (Gramma Kimi) gets to snuggle you!!!!!!

 

Monday September 20

Feeling a little overwhelmed with life this evening and I'm thinking a good cuddle with Winnie would take all my worries away 💗

School with Elsie went good....not any meltdowns, but there was some whining.

But I will take whining over meltdown!

I am grateful for these sweet pictures that Madi sends me throughout the day.

The brightest part of my days!

I am grateful for the fresh tomatoes and cucumbers out of my garden.

Grateful for a meltdown free school day with Elsie :)

Actually……I’m also thankful for port and how sweet he was this morning doing kind acts for me when I was at the gym that I didn’t even notice until he left to school. 

There was some very full garbage cans he took out and I was so thankful he did that. 

Just a little thing but it really made my morning so happy ❤️

 

Sunday September 19

 It was a nice Sunday today.

Dad had to go to work.....which is always a bummer.

I like having him with me.

I think I was kind of grumpy....but that might because of Dad being gone :)

But Madi sent sweet picture of Winnie and they remind me so much of baby Madi!

The hair is different, but those facial expressions.....they are twins!!!!

I love it!

One more week (tomorrow) and I get to hold that sweet little one!!!!!

I wish I could hold her every day!

I am thankful today for the years I have been a pretty constant blogger :)

Port spent quite a bit of time reminiscing tonight, and it made me happy.

It takes time and effort, but it is worth it for the memories to be documented!

I am grateful we were able to go to church today.

Things are still a little scary with everything going on with the pandemic, but we do our best to stay distanced and wear our masks.

I am ready to go to bed and I am thankful that I have a comfy bed waiting for me :)

Saturday September 18

Cleaned the church this morning.

Then went for a 5 miler.

Dad and Port went and got their hunting licenses.

Port went to Cannon's birthday party.

We got laundry and chores done around the house.

Madi and I are starting to plan family picture outfit....staring with Winnie's outfit 💗

Tonight Cass babysat.

The rest of us watched 'News of the world'.

Then Dad and Port watched the end of the very sad BSU game.

Things I am thankful for:

*Sweet Winnie pictures!

*The mini nap Dad and I got today :)

*That I could get out and run outside.

Friday September 17

Dad went to Garden Valley to help Randy build his cabin.

Back here at home, it wasn't a terrible day of school, but it wasn't super great either :)

I did get my workout this morning....it is hard to wake up early sometimes, but it is days like today that I know if I didn't get up at 5 am, I probably wouldn't get the workout in and then I would be mad grumpy mom all day!

Still thankful for stuff!

Like the gym :)

I had date night with Dad this evening after he got back home....so I am happy about that!

Annnnd......Madi sent me cute videos and pictures of Winnie today!

I just love her so much!!!!!

Look at those little whispy hairs in the back!

She is the most precious EVER!

 

Thursday September 16

 It was a beautiful cooler morning today and I enjoyed a nice run.

Then Elsie came home after seminary and got to work on school.

I actually got to go and do a lunch thing while she worked on school and Dad supervised.

Port ran his XC meet today.

He did a great job.

He shaved about 40 seconds off his last time.

So that is awesome!

Then we got Tin Roof Tacos for dinner.

Dad had a meeting tonight.

Port, Elsie and I went and got some watermelon and cantaloupe from Bubble and Eldon.

Then chilled the rest of the night.

Sweet Winnie is cute as ever and chunking up really nice :)

Cannot wait until I get to hold her again!!!!!

-I am thankful for the cooler, but not cold, fall weather.

-I was so happy to see how proud Port was to see his new time after working so hard.

-I love that we have such amazing neighbors in our lives!!!!

Wednesday September 15

These photos are all out of order!!!!

Elsie had her art medium class today. 

We are having fun!

She learned how to make a pinwheel and how to make a spiral.

School went pretty good. 

We had two meltdowns, then a little time to cool off in her room, and after that we were back to business. 

I’m sure we will get to the point that there will be no meltdowns 😉

Cass and Elsie had their dentist appointments today…no cavities. 

Yay!

Cass and I went to the mall to look for a homecoming dress. 

No luck yet. 

Cass didn’t have YW, but everyone else went to mutual. 

So she went to the gym and I cleaned the kitchen.

Cass FaceTimed Madi while doing her school stuff. 

What a cutie!

She’s getting so chunky!!!

Three things I’m thankful for:

I’m grateful for my creative side and my love of things artistic…. And I love that I have some kids with the same interests!

I love a little quiet time when no one else is home 😉

I am so thankful for technology to be able to watch Winnie grow chubbier every day ❤️

 

 

Tuesday September 14

Andy and Maegan had their baby boy today!!!!

Little Mason Clay 💙

He does have to be in the NICU for a few days....I guess the birth was pretty traumatic :(

But they have the best nurse around helping them!

Andy and Maeg live in Provo, so there was a good chance they were at Utah Valley Hospital, where Steph works.

So I did a little texting and got Steph to request being with them.

They are in very good hands with her!

My three good things for the day is:

I got a great 5.5 mile run in today because the air quality has gotten so much better!!!!

Yay!

Elsie did school pretty good today.....with only getting mad the last hour.

But I do need to give her credit for getting over the 'fit' quickly!

And........

Grateful for tender mercies, like Steph being able to be there with Andy and Maegan at such a hard time.

And it is great that she is so familiar with the NICU as well, because she can answer any questions they have!

I always have to add a picture of Winnie :)

Such a dang cutie!!!!

Less than two weeks until I get to hold her again!!!!

Monday September 13

My sweet little Winnie baby is 1 month old today!!!

How can that even be???

She is just the most yummy, sweetest thing!

Just two more weeks and I get to go and hug and cuddle her again!

She will grow and change so much in the next two weeks!!!!!

Today was no seminary for Elsie.

She goes every other day.

She read to Emmy after breakfast and she worked on her Health class assignment.

Then she had her online class.

I asked her for 30 minutes of math before lunch and she had a full on, crazy lady, meltdown!

She went up to her room to cool off.

I hope we can get to the point soon where she just does the work and we can avoid meltdowns!!!!!

We have had, I think, two school days where there was no meltdowns.

It would be great to have more!

Cassi has been dog sitting Carley's dog while they went to Disneyland.

So she didn't get much school work done today.

Tomorrow is her in-school day, but hopefully she can get some lessons done that were supposed to get done today!

And Port is doing good in school.

He is doing XC practice after school.

He has a love/hate relationship with that.

***

I am gonna try, as I get back into journaling, to think of three things I am Thankful for and share that.

That is what got me started my everyday blogging journey almost 13 years ago....

So maybe it will kickstart me back into it!

I am thankful for sweet sweet Winnie 💓

Madi reminded me that two years ago today, we dropped her off at BYUI.

Who could have ever guessed that Logan AND Winnie would now be a part of our lives!

So so special!

You just NEVER know what could happen!

I am grateful that I get to go to the gym and make my body and mind stronger!

Even when I have to wake up at 5 am to fit it in!

I really do need it for my sanity!

The last one kind f has to do with Winnie too....

I am so grateful for technology!

I love that I can talk to Madi and see pictures and video of Winnie every single day!

Madi and I talked about how, when she was born, I used film.

So I had to take the pictures, wait to get them developed, and then mail them (snail-mail) to grandparents!

Such a different world now!!!!!

 

September........1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 AND 12!!!!!

Okay , okay....

I need to do some repenting!

I love that I have blogged for the last almost 13 years!!!!!

Why am I having such a hard time keeping up now!

But look at sweet sweet Winnie!

I am so smitten with her!!!!!

Sept. 1

Took Elsie school clothes shopping

Sept. 2

Cassi went to the Jonas Brothers concert and we spent an hour and a half, up until the very second she got picked up, making her a t-shirt to wear to the concert.

Sept. 3

Dad and I went for a quick over night trip to visit Winnie, Madi and Logan.

I wish so badly I could hold and love on her every day!!!!!

We left as early as we could, as soon as Dad got off work.

I pretty much held her the whole time we were there...

Gosh I love her!

We just stayed at a nearby hotel, so we could stay late and get there early :)

Sept. 4

More Winnie time.

She has the sweetest temperament.

Madi has been feeling good, so that is great.

Had to leave a little after 2 or so we could get home to the other kiddos before too late.

Sept. 5

Dad went to work, he was paying a shift back.

That evening, after church, the kiddos did karaoke.

That was a fun time!

I am sure it will happen more often :)

Sept. 6

Labor Day....

We went to the movies together.

We went and say the Shang-chi: legend of the ten rings.

We all loved it!

It was so so good!

And very funny!

Sept. 7

Trying to work through school with Elsie.

Most days, there is some kind of struggle.

Hopefully it will get better.

She is starting a fun class with Polymer clay.

Sept. 8

I am sure it was a good day.......

Don't remember anything!

THIS IS WHY I BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sept. 9

Port had his first XC meet.

He did really well!

It was fun to watch him!

Sept. 10

We had our ward campout at Givens Hot springs.

It was a lot of fun.

It rained all day before, so we were a little worried about night.

But it was perfect.

And lots of fun!

Sept. 11

Woke up for the ward campout.

Had a nice run in the foggy fog :)

Then we all participated in a service clean-up project.

Then drove back home.

Sept. 12

Church.

It was a nice Sunday.

I actually spent the morning with a bad attitude.......

Kind of having a few interactions with some people that caused some disappointment in my heart.

Which I really hated feeling!

But then went to church, and the opening song was "Lord, I would follow thee".

And the phrase, 'Who am I to judge another, when I walk imperfectly', stopped me in my tracks.

I love stuff like that, where I am gently guided by the spirit to do a better job!