Saturday September 30

I have more pictures from today.....but it is late :)

Today Madi left at 8:30 for her day date for homecoming.

They went for a hike up Bogus Basin and hung out up there.

Here at home we watched General Conference.

It feels a bit different when we had both Madi and Dad gone.....

And it seems noisier with more fighting!!!!!

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Madi came home around 3 and started to get ready.

He came and got her again about 5....we had neighbors stop by and check her out :)

Sherrie came and did her makeup for her.

Madi did her own hair.

It was so cute...she was so nervous waiting for him to come!!!!

After they left, I went with Stacia and we hung out with Tripp's mom while she took the groups pictures....and I happened to snap a few too :)

They were so gosh darn cute!

When we came home, we were all starving!

We grabbed the kids and went to Chick-Fil-A for dinner and then to Yogurtz....because we needed to make up our yogurt date we didn't do least weekend after to woman's conference.

Laura came with her kiddos too.

Cassi went to Laynie's house after that and she just got home.

Waiting now for Madi to get home.

I am sure she had a great night!

Friday September 29

Cassi had a rough morning this morning, so I let her stay home and took her to school after lunch.

She has been having a rough time lately.....I think things are stressing her out a bit.

Anyway, I think a little time off this morning was good.

I didn't get as much done as I had planned with her home.

But I did go and help in Elsie's class after I dropped Cassi off.

Tonight Porter had his flag football game.

He did an awesome catch and run!

He made a touchdown, but there was a flag for some other player, so it didn't count.

It was fun watching him :)

But, in the end, the team lost :(

Oh well.

Cassi hung out with her friends.

Madi did too.

Madi went to some of the football game.

Stacia came over and we made boutonnieres for the girls to give the boys tomorrow.

I think they turned out really good for the fraction of the price!!!!!!

Dad had a fun day today at his first class.

One of the Boise guys he went down there with used to work there in NM.

So tonight they went and had dinner with one of his old fire buddies and his family.

He is looking forward to more of the class and is enjoying his time.

Thursday September 28

Well, Dad's gone to New Mexico.

We are gonna miss him around these parts!

But I am sure he will have an amazing time and learn lots of cool stuff!!!!

I decided to take the morning and just hang out with him.

He had to be to the airport at 12:30.

So we watched a show.....he moved the cows to the other pasture.

We got his stuff packed and then he was off :(

After he left, I went to Stacia's for a bit.....she had a craigslister come over to look at water pipes and she didn't want to be home alone.

Over night there was a crazy home invasion and house fire not too far from us.....

The home invader and shooter was still not accounted for and we were a tiny bit on edge anyway.....

I came home and went for a run before I had to leave to pick up the kiddos.

I picked up Cassi from Volleyball, Madi took Porter to his football practice.

Then she and Cassi went to Walmart while Elsie and I worked on her book report project.

She did a great job with it and we had a lot of fun working together :)

Oh....and little funny from Elsie this morning.

She forgot her lunchbox at school.....and then when she was looking for her shoes this morning, she thought they were in the front room, but they weren't......and she puts her hand on her forehead and said "What is happening to me!!!!  I am forgetting everything!!!!"

It was pretty cute :)

Funny girly 💓

And another fun thing....Elsie got her 5 mile token today!!!!!!

Yay!

Vern has really been encouraging her to run laps at school.

And she's made it to 5 miles!!!!!

So cool!

Port is already at a half marathon, which is super awesome!!!!!

So proud of them both!

And Proud of Elsie for doing something she thought would be too hard, but doing at anyway because Vern believed in her!

Wednesday September 27

I think I wanna boycott Wednesdays!!!!!!

So much running around!

I finished up the stuff for YW and went to get it all set up at 2.

Dad worked on the house.....and helped me out with the YW stuff too.

I think the set up at the church turned out really good!

After school, Elsie and Porter had Activity days and scouts.

Cassi had a volleyball game.

Dad went to that while I went to the church to help with the rest of setup.

Madi had her Powder puff game tonight.

I was sad that I had to miss that :(

Sounds like she had a lot of fun.

Dad and Porter went to that, along with our neighbors, the Edwards and the Leavitts.

Dad brought Cassi and Elsie to the church to hang with me before they went to the game.

Cassi performed with her guitar and she sang.

She did a great job.

i wish she would take the time to play more!!!!!!

She has such a talent!!!!!

Anyway, the program didn't last long and we got all cleaned up and home before dad, Porter and Madi got home.

Dad leaves tomorrow for a 5 day trip to New Mexico.

He will be taking a class that he will then come home and teach to the guys here.

Pretty cool.

But I don't like him going.......

Tuesday September 26 ( add pictures from phone)

I worked all day on some signs for YW in excellence tomorrow.

I am happy with how they turned out, and I think it is gonna turn out really cute tomorrow.

I still have stuff to do!!!!!!!

I helped in the office this morning while Dad went to the gym.

Then I worked on the posters and he worked on the garage.

It is a little tricky to do it by himself....but he is getting it done :)

I am excited to get it painted!!!!

Maybe not for a little while, but someday :)

This evening was the neighborhood party.

We had it at the Edwards house and it was a pretty good turnout.

And we had our second annual Marshmallow golfing, which is always fun times :)

Elsie was silly....she didn't want to hit her own marshmallow, but wanted to hit Sierra's for her.

Goof ball!

Poor Port fell off the back of Grant (they were all being too goofy...)

Anyway, he hit the back of his head on the ground and it hurt him pretty bad.

Dad has been watching him and I think he is fine......but poor kid got his bell ring!

Okay, now I need to go to sleep!!!!!

 I have more pictures, but they are failing to send from my phone.....so I will add that later :)

(ha ha ha.....who really believes that is gonna happen.....???)

Luckily I have these from Vern :)

Monday September 25

Today Dad and Justin started taking the stuff off the garage!!!!!

Yay!!!!

I am so excited!

I just took this before picture, and I don't have one from what they did today.

They did rip the old stuff off the front and got started until the nail gun gave out........

Soooooo.........

After some running around, Dad got some more stuff and, after Justin went back home, he got some done by himself.

I am very excited about this to be happening!!!!

Today I did a lot of running around to pick up stuff for Wednesday's YW in excellence

Picking up globes and suitcases for our 'Personal Progress can change the world' theme.

I hope it all comes together :)

I also had a PT appointment today.

I got some stretches to do.

I was too tight to be put back in 'alignment'.....but will stretch all this week and go back next week and hopefully can get fixed up.

Cassi had a volleyball game.

The team did not play very well :(

But Cassi had some awesome hits and serves and saves.

She looked good out there :)

For FHE we reviewed what we talked about last week....about being builders.

And we are going to re-new our effort....especially within our family :)

Sunday September 24

Today was the primary program!!!!

Elsie's last one!

They did a great job.

Elsie had no problems and sang her heart out the whole time.

She got to hold the microphone for Sierra's part and then she was very excited and said her part.

I had several people come up to me after saying how great she did :)

Port did awesome too.

He was so serious singing the songs....then he would see me looking at him and smiling, and he would smile big back.

One song they did sign language.

Elsie rocked that!!!!!!

But Port didn't do any signs.

When I asked him after, he said he just didn't want to do them.

Dad chimed in and said he wouldn't do them either.

Ha ha....boys.

But I was very proud of Elsie signing :)

It was a beautiful program and the kids sang amazing!

The spirit was strong for sure.

I had my sweet baby girl (Everly) sit with me a lot of church.

Whenever there is a prayer, she tucks herself into me, and it is the cutest thing :)

After church we had a few visitors.

First, the Murray family came over.

Steven works with Dad and he had some tools for dad to use on siding the garage.

We plan to take down the old stuff tomorrow.

Yay!

Anyway, they stayed and played and kids rode the horse.

Then the Pugmires came over.

Tripp's little sister, Londyn, loves horses.

She has been asking Cassi about riding the horse for a long time!

Tripp's mom grew up riding horses and she had fun riding Miley too.

After they all left, we had a nice ham dinner.

Port made us a great sign on our dinner chalkboard.

Pig + knife + oven = Ham!

Saturday September 23

This morning I took some family pictures for the Nielsen family.

I think they turned out good.

The kids and I got lots of Saturday chores done.

Then I helped Madi withe the tie she is making.

We are using extra crushed velvet fabric from her dress (Oh just you wait!!!!) to make a tie for Tripp.

It's gonna be so cute :)

Lets see.......Cassi went and watched her friends cross country race.

Madi and I worked on the tie until Trill came over to hang out.

I made Lasagna....that turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself :)

Tonight was the Woman's conference.

We, like we have the last few years, watched it at home.

Laura and Sierra came this time.

We had dinner and watched it.

Such great messages.

I will love listening to them again, because with a room full of these chatty girls, you tend to not hear everything!

Then Madi had a date with Spencer tonight and Cassi went to Laynie's house.

I got the little ones to bed at a good time.

I hope that makes all the difference for Elsie tomorrow and the primary program!!!!!!

So I am waiting now for the big girls to get home.

\It was a nice day :)

Friday September 22

It was a cold and rainy day today!

I went and got some containers to help with my organization......and I started working on organizing my office!

Yay!!!!

Still a lot to do, but it feels so good to have a little  bit of organization happening!!!!

Tonight was Port's game.

Luckily there was no rain, so that was good.

I left the girls home and went to watch Port.

The game wasn't the best.

But Port pulled 5 flags!

He was a rock star and he had some good runs too.

After the game, Bubble invited us over for some yummy warm Potato soup.

And to watch the BSU game, that was a really bad game.....

But it was fun hanging out with friends :)

Thursday September 21

So bummed I didn't get a picture today on Brent's and my temple date!

The other day our niece, Heather, sent me some names.

It was funny, a couple days ago we were texting each other (Brent and I) and saying we needed to plan a temple date.

So I put today on the calendar.

Then just a day or so later, Heather asks if we could use some temple names....and I was like TOTALLY!!!!

The temple is so neat.....but to go there with family names, it is so much more personal.

It was a very enjoyable afternoon!!!!

He also took me to Olive Garden for lunch.

We tend to always go there after our temple dates :)

Love it!

We got home and the kids started coming home.

While I helped Madi with her homecoming dress, Dad worked on my shelves for the office.

Still one more shelf to do, but I am so excited about them!

It became a busy night and so we will finish it up later :)

I picked up Cassi from volleyball and turned around and took Port to football practice.

Then we went to the store for toilet paper and paper towels, where I realized I forgot my purse....

Sooooooo....Dad had to run it to me.

Then we watched a little bit of the America's Got Talent finally together.....but don't tell us who won, because we didn't finish it yet!

Wednesday September 20

I helped out in the office this morning.

Then Dad worked on more trim upstairs while I cleared stuff out of the office so we could start with some shelves in there.

One day this mess will be organized!!!!!!!

We went and got some wood for the shelves from Lowes.

We, well HE, is gonna build some shelves around my file cabinet.

That should help with organization!

I had to run to the library to get some copies made for our neighborhood party next week.

They messed up and made them double sided, so they made me new ones for free :)

Then Dad and I left for Cassi's volleyball game.

Madi stayed home with Elsie and made sure Port got to Scouts.

Got home in time to make and eat dinner as a family and then the big girls and I were off to YW.

Tonight we had a service scavenger hunt.

I think the kids had a lot of fun with it.

So it was a good night.

Tuesday September 19

Feeling a bit off today.

I am having some weird sciatic pains and I think I need to go get some PT done.

I caught myself from falling when I was on a long run back in June.

Thought I pulled a hamstring, but I think it may have actually been my back.

Anyway.....

So I wasn't very productive today.......and it rained most of the day, so it was one of those kind of days.

I was able to go get some VT done.

And I made a menu list and shopping list and actually got some grocery shopping done!!!!

Woo hoo!

I actually made real dinner tonight, which has not happened for quite some time!

Chicken noodle soup :)

Perfect for a rainy day.

Elsie had speech therapy today.

We had planned on it being the last day.

Joanne is planning to stop the in-home services because her son is now in high school and has extra curricular activities that she needs to make time for.

But after today's session she said that she would like to keep coming to see Elsie until things get too busy.....she loves close to us and she said when she thought about not visiting Elsie, she got really sad :)

So we will see her again next week......and who knows how long after that.

So we had dinner and homework tonight....

The little ones worked on spelling and reading.

Cassi went to Laynie's house to do homework and Madi went to the high school volleyball game.

Monday September 18

Dad and I had a lunch date with the Young's today.

It was nice to have a chance to hang out with them for a little bit.

I spent the rest of the afternoon editing pictures while Dad worked on trim around the bathroom door upstairs.

I picked Elsie up from school and we went right to PT.

She was pretty good....had a bit of trouble at one point, but pulled out of it.

Then we drove from there.....in bad traffic, to Cassi's volleyball game.

Vern and Bubble came to watch her play, so that was fun :)

Madi was there for a little bit, then she left for her powder puff practice.

We all got home at the same time and had chicken Dad bought home from Winco :)

After dinner we all worked to get the chores done and dishes done and kitchen clean.

It was really great.

I just love it when we all work together to get things done.

It always gets done faster and we are all happier :)

We had FHE tonight.

I used my same lesson from YW.

It was about how our words have power.....

And how we need to be builder's, not bulldozers.

As I was giving the lesson, Madi pulled out a little poem to share and I thought it was just perfect!

I love it!

Builders or Wreckers

I watched them tearing down a building,

A gang of men in a busy town.

With a ho-heave-ho and lusty yell,

They swung a beam and sidewall fell.

I asked the foreman, "Are these men skilled,

As the men you'd hire if you had to build?"

Ha gave me and laugh and said, "No indeed!

Just common labor is all I need.

I can easily wreck in a day or two

What builders have taken a year to do."

And I tho't to myself as I went my way,

Which of these two roles have I tried to play?

Am I a builder who works with care,

Measuring life by the rule and square?

Am I shaping my deeds by a well-made plan,

Patiently doing the best I can?

Or am I a wrecker who walks the town,

Content with the labor of tearing down?

-Unknown

Let's all just be builders for heaven's sake!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday September 17

So we had another rough start to primary...

I think it must be the change in routine that Elsie isn't liking (with the practicing of the primary program)....

Or she is just enjoying being a stinker :(

She wouldn't do the practice up on the stand, but I did get her to go to class once they went to class.

But that was after telling her the other choice was that I would take her home and leave her there, because I had to get back to teach my lesson.

She didn't like that choice.

You know...now that I think of it, this will be her last primary program, won't it????

Crazy!

The rest of Sunday went good.

I think my lesson went good....and I think I will use it for FHE tomorrow.

It was about how your words affect those around you.

Something we should really focus on around these parts.

After church the big girls did homework....which they should have already had done.

I will be better at asking them if they have their homework done before they go out with friends for the weekend!

We were invited over for a little gt together with some families in the ward, to get to know each other better.

That was fun, and we met some new people, so that is good :)

And then we got to bed a little later than I would have liked, and the house is pretty much a disaster.

'Tis my life.

Saturday September 16

 We got the laundry put away in good time this morning.

Porter had cannon's birthday party at 10 and Sierra was gonna come over for a play date....so they had reason to get stuff done early.

The bigger girls took a bit longer...with no reward to get it done :)

Port had a busy day!

After Cannon's party to Danik, he went to Christian's party at Jump time!

That boy was worn out!!!!

But he had a lot of fun.

And pretty much only had cake and ice cream today!

Elsie had a fun time having Sierra over.

The big girls and I got more cleaning done.
They got bathrooms clean, so that was good :)

Later on in the day I finally got a run in!

Cassi went babysitting for the Halls, and Port went over to play with the boys.

Cassi sent me these sweet pictures with Evie loving on him.

So so sweet!

He is so sweet with her and she loves him :)

Madi went to a friends birthday party this evening.

And after I picked up Port, Elsie he and I went wot Sonic so I could fulfill a promise I made to Elsie.

Now I need to finish planning my YW lesson while I wait for Madi to come home.....