Tuesday March 15

I helped in the office this morning, and then in Port's class.

I got home and Dad and I had lunch together, then did laundry together :)

So romantic.

He went and picked Madi up from school so he could take her to the DMV to get her permit.

So crazy....the thought of her driving.

But kind of exciting too :)

I picked up the little kiddos and then Elsie had speech.

Cassi had track again.

Poor girls has been so sore!

But I told her to be thankful that we have been excising together, or she would be a million times more sore!

She tried out the high jump today and she really likes it.

They haven't picked their 'events' yet.

But she is pretty excited about that high jump :)

Cassi got home about 5:15 and we had to hurry and eat dinner all together, because Port's football practice was at 5:45.

We left the girls home to clean up and do homework.

It was so cold out there....but port was so awesome!

He is like a little bullet with the football!

And he has a way of moving around that make it hard for anyone to pull his flags!

He is having so much fun, and so is dad :)

Then tonight, we had a little family movie night.

We watched 'The good Dinosaur'.

It was a cute one.

That definitely ended with a  few tears in our eyes....

But the best part, according to Elsie, are the long horn buffalo in the movie :)

It was a nice evening together.

Monday March 14

I want to start off with a baby update!!!!!

Both babies are doing so well!

After a long hard time with a very bad virus, Cole was sent home today!!!!!

Such exciting, and unexpected news!

Look how happy he looks!

So happy they get to be all back together again!!!!!

And sweet Kaiya got to go home last Monday!

She is doing so good.

She had to be put back on oxygen because of the altitude change from where they live vs. the hospital.

But I am sure she will be off it in no time!

Those sweet big eyes......what a darling!

So happy for them to have her home with them to cuddle!

*****

The day today was one thing after another, it felt like.

You know, when I finally got all my kids in school i thought I would have so much extra time on my hands!!!!!!

Not the case!

That's okay, it's all good stuff.

So I helped in the office this morning.

Then I went VT and that was a nice time.

I did some laundry, some cleaning,but not as much as I wanted to.

And I did some shopping for a few things we needed to stock up on.

Then Madi was home and then I picked the kids.

Cassi started Track today, which is fun!

She is excited about it :)

We got a carpool together, so that will help out a lot!

She had to workout in the hail storm we had come through!!!!

The little kids thought it was so much fun to play in :)

When they were all home, we had dinner.

I made pie....as in pizza pie, in honor of Pi day :)

Then we took a little drive to visit the Young's.

It is Kara's birthday today!

And Madi wanted to take her a present :)

It was a fun quick visit.....

Besides the fact that Porter was terrible :(

I don't know what got into him.......but I told him he made me super sad because he wouldn't listen to me when I asked him to calm down.

He had a talking-to when we got home and he was sorry for not listening.

Now we can only hope that Heather will let him back in her house again!

 

Sunday March 13

Today as stake conference......and I was really tempted to just leave the kids home and go......

But we all went and they did surprisingly well with the 2 hour block :)

As long as I gave Elsie unlimited access to the drinking fountain.....

After church we had lunch and the kids played a lot of organ music.

It is nice that Cassi is able to play some stuff so it isn't too much of me yelling at them for pounding on it.

They do tend to turn it up too loud sometimes though.......

O started rewarding Elsie and Port fake money for doing homework as soon as I ask, extra reading, doing extra chores.

And on Sunday's I let them pick out of what we are calling the "Grandma box".

Grandma Ene always had a box full of dollar store toys for the kids to pick from.

So that is where we got the name from :)

Port and I spent a couple hours on a coloring/activity book that he picked out.

I was pretty lousy at making dinner for them.

I let them pick whatever they wanted to eat.

We had quite a range....anywhere from Ramen noodles to oatmeal.

At least they didn't go to bed hungry!

Dad had a fun day today.

They got a call to come and help out at the Wings center where they were doing a courageous kids climb.

It is where disabled kids get to go and play at the wings center and climb the rock wall and stuff.

They have done it the past few years....but it is always on a Sunday, so we have never taken Elsie.

But It was such a fun time for Dad!

And even more fun, he got to work with Katie, Elsie's PT. the whole day!

Fun stuff!

And afterwards, Katie picked up her hubby and boys and they went to visit him at the fire station.

He told me about one of the boys.

His name was Jonathan and he is 11 years old.

Brent was saying how super smart he was.

Then he heard someone speaking Spanish and he got all excited and said he had just started learning Spanish a month ago and he wanted to try and have a conversation.

The fire guys were like, ya you just wanna say Hi?

And his mom said that no, he was 45% fluent in Spanish after one month!

Crazy!

Just amazing!

So it was a super fun day for Jonathan, but also for Brent :)

  

That's Katie in the pink shirt :)

And that boy is Jonathan.

Saturday March 12 (add pictures)

It was a late night (that is why am writing this Sunday morning....)

It was our stake conference, and afterwards we went out to dessert with Stacia and Paul.

Then getting the kids to bed, I kinda spaced blogging......

And now I am understanding why I write on the same day....because I feel like I can't even remember what happened yesterday.

Seriously, I think I have the worst memory ever!

So it was just a regular Saturday morning getting chores done.

After lunch Madi went to a friends house to work on an English assignment.

Oh, and Port and Dad went with Paul to visit a WWII POW.

Paul has been to visit him a couple times and took Brent with him.

Port was SO SAD not to get to visit a real Army guy......so they took him.

He had so much fun and was so excited to tell me his stories!

I did some quick errands after dropping off Madi at her friends....

When Dad and Paul came back they came back with an organ.

So I guess this guy, Clint, wanted to give his organ away so it could be used.

Now it is sitting in our front room.

The kids have loved playing it!

Lets see, I did go for a run.

And got more sheets washed and laundry done.

Then after dinner, Brent and I got ready and went to the adult session of stake conference.

It was so good!

I wish so badly I could get a written transcript of the night.

So many great speaker and I really should have taken notes!

But I left with a resolve to be a better person, to attend the temple more, to be happier for what I have been given, and most of all to be a better wife.

Afterwards we went to the Ram to get bread pudding with Stacia and Paul.

Oh I also got some tree trimming done during some part of the day.

And Brent finished the drawer fronts for the built in.

Maybe I will get it painted Monday........

Friday March 11

I spent my day cleaning upstairs.....

Well, I kinda got side tracked and hung pictures on Cassi's wall.

And I put a bunch of books on the front room bookshelves.....

But I still did get stuff clean and lots of sheets washed and laundry done.

Dad was gone for a lot of the day.

They give the guys who take the test a chance to go over it and argue questions that they got wrong.

So that is what he was doing today.

He also went and helped at Drew's house for a little bit......they are breaking up cement and going to put new stuff in.

After school, Madi went to the middle school basketball game with Cassi.

It was the 8th grade girls vs. the 8th grade boys.

Sounds like it was a fun game.

Elsie had her friend Belle come over after school.

They had fun for a little bit until Elsie, well, had a meltdown.

Then Belle played with Graham and Max and Port until her mom came to get her.

After that the boys played some football, well, practiced.

They are so cute :)

Cassi also had her friend Laynie over.

They have been talking about singing together.....so that is pretty much what they did all afternoon :)

And Madi babysat tonight.

She babysat her favorite little baby, so she was super happy about it :)

Thursday March 10

I actually did some yard work today.

I have been taking a little bit of time when I can to start trimming the fruit trees.

They are in bad shape since we totally skipped over trimming last year.

Anyway, I spent a good chunk of time out there today instead of running.

I really wanted to run, but it was so windy, and I HATE running in the wind!!!!!

So I got an arm workout instead :)

Dad got working on the drawers and stuff for the kitchen built-in.

I hope to get that painted and all done soon.

Hope to......

I had to leave just after lunch to go pick Madi up and take her to the back dr.

We waited forever for about a 5 minute visit with the dr.

Grrrr......

Anyway.

People seem to really like him, but I have not been impressed.

He wants to wait another two months.

He wants her to continue with the exercises she got from the PT for a month and still take the anti-inflammatory.

Then after that stop the medicine and just do the exercises.

IF after that she is still in pain, then he would recommend an MRI.

I just so bad that she can't stand or sit for very long.

I feel like with PT her back has definitely gotten stronger, but she still has that pain.

Anyway....guess we will check back in a couple months.

I took her home and then I went and got Elsie for her PT.

Elsie was a hard worker.

We left a little early so we could get home in time to have family dinner before Port left for his football practice.

Dad said he did so well :)

And they had so much fun!

Max got to join his team, so that is exciting!

When the boys were at the football practice, the girls and I went to Jenni's house because she was having a Lularue open house.

They sell fun leggings and dresses and stuff.

Madi found a cute outfit, but that's it.

But it was fun for us girls to get out :)

Wednesday March 9

I helped in the office again at school.

Dad went and helped Drew out with cutting some grass out where they are going to be pouring cement.

When I got back from school I went for a run.

And Dad called me and asked if I wanted to go to lunch....and I wanted to :)

So I got back from my run and got showered and then we went out.

I had to go back to the school to help out with Art Smart for Elsie's class.

I really wish i would have taken a picture of her flower she made.

I just loved it.

They learned about Georgia O'Keefe and she painted a giant red flower.

It was beautiful :)

While I was there, dad picked Cassi up and took her to Piano lessons.

After school, I drove and picked her up.

Then we had a bit of a break.....because Elsie skipped activity days :(

I wish I could get her to go regularly!

But they were making pizzas at a persons house she doesn't know......so she didn't want to do it.

We had dinner then as we were cleaning up we got a visit from Justin and Sherrie Hall.

I had to leave, but they came in and chatted with the fam for a bit.

I had to go to a YW meeting.

After the meeting I came back to get the kids and took them back to YW.

Tonight, the Beehives made scripture chase cookies.

Each ingredient had a scripture to go with it and we had to figure out what the ingredient was by reading the scripture :)

I think it was a fun night.

Tuesday March 8 (pictures)

I just got back from such a great Woman's conference for my stake.

The theme was Look Up and it was so great!

But it made for a very late night and the little ones wouldn't go to bed for the big ones.....so I am sure we will all be grumpy tomorrow.

But it was worth it :)

I took lots of notes and I'm sure by tomorrow I will be a better person!

Ha ha ha......

But really, it was such a great night.

Today I actually got some stuff done.

After dropping the kids off at school, I voted.

Then I made a stop at the store to buy a locket for Elsie.

I am hoping things might go better for her during the days if she has a picture of Grandma right with her all the time.

Then I actually went running.

Yay.

My headache hasn't been as bad today.

I took some allergy pills, and I can't tell but I think it made it a little better.

So maybe it is all allergies.....

Then I did some grocery shopping.

When Madi got home I took her to PT again.

We go see the back dr on Thursday, and the PT thinks we need more imaging.

She has been doing great with the exercises and on an anti-inflammatory.

But the PT wanted her to stop the meds to see how much the PT is working.

And she has been in a lot of pain, almost as bad as it was to start with :(

So we will see what the Dr says.

Vern brought the little ones home from school for me.

When I got back, Joanne came over for Elsie's speech.

She did good, but had a meltdown in the last 5 minutes :(

She just needed a hug cause she misses grandma.....

The big girls stole my camera and I have yet to go through the pictures, but I am sure I have some winners.

I will be sure to go through and add some later....when I am not super tired and have a headache.....

Anyway, I made dinner then went and picked up Stacia for the Woman's conference.

Which, like I said before, was amazing :)

Monday March 7

I helped at the school this morning for a little bit.

When I got home my head was hurting so bad, again.....

So I decided to sit down and rest.

Then I ended up taking a 3 hour nap!

Talk about a waist of the day!

I did clean up the mess we had in the kitchen from making cookies yesterday.

But that is pretty much it.

Before I knew it the big girls got home, and I needed to go get the little ones.

I gt Port to do some homework and Elsie too.

Then Kyra, Cannon and Avery came over.

Stacia brought them over, and we sat and talked for a little while.

So that was nice.

After they left, I got dinner ready.

Cassi helped me with dinner while she practiced her choir songs.

She has a solo part and is trying out for another one and really wants it.

I love when she sings and I wish she would do it more!!!!!

Elsie bug had another hard day.....

I got a call from the school saying she was having a hard afternoon and all their tricks weren't working.

 And they asked if I had any ideas.

She wouldn't even talk so they had no idea what was wrong.

I told them that she had been sad about grandma.

I told them to maybe just ask if she was missing grandma.

Once they did that, and they hugged her, she was able to go on with her day.

I think it is really hitting her.

When we went up last weekend and she really realized that Grandma was really not there.....

I just think it is hitting her hard.

I decided I am going to go get her a little locket tomorrow so she can have a picture of Grandma with her all the time.

Pictures really seem to help her.

Sunday March 6

Madi finally got her honor bee today in sacrament meeting.

So proud of her and the hard work she put into it.

And she is already getting started on going through her Personal Progress another time.

I think my lesson went well today.

Besides the fact that I had a bad headache and I was feeling nauseous :(

The lesson was about Hope.

I really did like preparing the lesson.

Well, not the preparing part.....but the listening and reading talks for it :)

The two I used most from were 'The Infinite Power of Hope'

and

'Brightness of Hope'

Such great talks!!!

Elsie had a rough time at church and I couldn't figure out why.

But then she said that she missed Grandma.

Broke my heart :(

I told her that after she went to class with dad, we could go home and print off a picture of Grandma for her to put in her scripture bag, so she could have it at church,

After church, she made sure we did it right away.

Then she spent a lot of time with Grandmas scrapbook.

Elsie gets this book out every-single-day!

I went to an amazing conference yesterday that my friend Ashlee Birk puts together.

One thing I learned there is that, and I don't know the statistics, but that children who know the stories of their ancestors (and how they had trials too) are better equipped to make it through their own hard times.

So without meaning to, Grandma has given Elsie a pretty great tool ♡♡

Those two have a special connection.

Later tonight, Cassi wanted to make some cookies.

She did a great job and made some super yummy cookies :)

Cassi has also been working on her personal progress.

And I am happy to say that I finished mine!!!!!

(The leader portion)

My goal was to finish it by my birthday, and i finished it the day before!

Yay!!!