Tuesday November 20 (add pictures)

Today we have been waiting for Emmy to show up!

The day started with a little playdate with Trent and Sierra, and the Edwards boys.

Dad moved Port's shelf that we made YEARS ago in to his room.
It was in the basement bedroom.

It looks really good in there and helps his room look a bit more organized.

Got some laundry done and last minute house cleaning.

Emmy got here about 3.

We hung out for s bit.

 Then Elsie, Emmy and I went grocery shopping for Thanksgiving stuff.

When we got home, Dad had pulled pork sandwiches for dinner.

Yum.

And then Emmy and I got started on the pie prep.

And that took the rest of the night.

Madi and Cassi both went to a movie with their friends.

They should be home soon.....

Tomorrow is my baby boys birthday :)

Can't believe he will be double digits!!!!!

I think we will have a fun day!

Monday November 19

So dad got to get s overtime shift today.

Which worked out pretty good.

Got the little ones rooms really cleaned out and went through clothes to donate, or give to younger friends :)

That took a big chunk of the morning.

Also worked on laundry in between helping them.

I would set my timer for 10 minutes and rotate between Elsie and Porter and every once in a while I would check on the laundry :)

Worked out great.

Guess what?!?!?

No meltdown fits from Elsie this morning.

She said, Maybe I am growing up :)

Which I am totally on board with!!!!!!!!!

Then Madi went to work and I took Cassi to her Ortho appointment.

She thought she would get them off next month......but found out she in fact has two more left.

There is one tooth that they are waiting on.

She was really bummed!

But her teeth are looking so good and when they do come off, that will be an exciting day!!!!

I got a little run in and then showered.

Then I remembered that Elsie had speech therapy today!!!!!

It worked out good because we were only 5 minutes late.

These days with no school really mess up my schedule!

Elsie and I stopped by Target for a couple things on the way home.

But lucky us, it was rush hour, so we took about an hour to get home.

Got home and then took Cassi to her friends house.

Madi got home a little after 6:30 and then I went and got some basic grocery shopping done.

Port had been at the Edwards all day from when he left at 11 a.m.

So they had a fun filled day,
The Edwards boys came over for a little bit, like 8-9:15 this evening.

And I just got the little ones to bed.

Madi went to a Friends-giving party, a breakfast for dinner kind of thing.

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

A couple nights ago, Port and I finished reading his little youth reader Book of Mormon and he decided now he wants to read from the real Book Of Mormon.

So the last couple of nights, we have only read a couple chapters, but have already had some fun discussions.

He is a smart boy with some really good, and hard, questions.

He helps me to learn and grow right along with him.

It has definitely been something I have been very thankful for.

I look forward to the Come, Follow me in home curriculum.

I look forward to having time set aside to have the same kind of discussions and questions from all the members of our family ❤

Sunday November 18

I had to wake up early and go to ward council since Stacia is out of town.

There was a lot of discussion about how to implement the new 'Come, follow me' curriculum.

When I got home, everyone was in a great mood, people were ready for church and it was very pleasant to be home :)

That was all because of dad!!!!

The youngest three went to choir and then we all went to church.

Today was our ward conference.

Bishop Keller spoke and I really enjoyed his talk.

He talked about the story of Moroni fortifying the city, preparing for the war.

Being ready for what comes.

Then be compared that to the recent changes to the church schedule......to be taught in a home centered, church supported way.

This is how we can 'fortify' our cities.

Build up the walls and prepare for what is going to happen.

We have no idea what is to come, but if we listen to the Prophet, we don't need to worry.

He of course said it much better than me.....I just really enjoyed it.

Then in Sunday school we talked about Jeremiah and how he was as an "Iron pillar" who had great strength in adversity and would not bend or break.

We talked about being faithful in times of adversity and opposition...….

Again, that goes back to what Bishop Keller said about fortifying ourselves.

You better believe we are gonna fortify ourselves with iron and brass so we can't bend or break!!!!!

For YW, we combined with the YM and had some stake leaders speak to us.

The first guy showed a cool video that shows America and then the timeline of when temples have been built.

It is a very cool video because at first it goes pretty slow, the years go by with a temple here and a temple there...…

But then the last few years they just kept popping up and it was pretty cool.

Pretty exciting!

Things are moving quickly and the adversary is gonna do anything he can to break us!

Again, we have to be ready and listen to the guidance that we have received from our Prophet.

And the last guy had a fun analogy of the drive from here to salt lake, and how that is a straight line.

Quickest way there, straight line.

He compared it to the tree of life and iron rod (hey look, there's the IRON again :)

And how on the road of life we have lots of reasons we might take the long way, or get lost, or get distracted or be held up because of an accident not of our fault.

But there is ALWAYS a way to get back on that road.

A U-turn or getting back on the on-ramp.

It's never too late.

Anyway, I really enjoyed everything I heard and learned today.

We had tithing settlement and then we had a yummy dinner that Dad made.

The kiddos did the clean up and sang some songs as they did :)

Then we all sat down and watch Christopher Robin as a family.

It was such a cute movie.

Dad and I have a special place in our hearts for Winnie the Pooh :)

It was a very enjoyable night and a great day!

Saturday November 17

I got a lot of stuff done today....

Woke up and took Cassi to her friends because they went to the game.

Then I ran.

Did some laundry.

Took the Morgan's to the airport.

Painted a little more downstairs in the basement.

More laundry.

Madi worked until 3.

Koy and Titan came over as well as Max and Graham.

They hung out for a while and then we went to the Nielsen's for some dinner.

We had some Brazilian food and played games.

It was a fun night.

 

Friday November 16

I had a fun brunch this morning with my ministering ladies...

Had 6 little boys here 4 and under :)

It was fun.

Then I went to Hobby Lobby and bought some Christmas stuff and some stuff for YW.

Then the kiddos came home.

Madi didn't have to work today, so she spent some time painting before she headed out with friends.

Then I took Cassi and her friend, Donovan, to the movies. 

He is the sweetest thing ever!!!!!

Cassi and Donovan met when they had the same teacher in 4th grade.

Immediately a bond was formed.

In 5th grade, it was requested that Cassi be placed in the same class again with Donovan, because she was such a great advocate for him.

Now, both as freshman, they still have that great friendship.

They no longer have classes together, but they see eachother each day and still make time for eachother. 

What seemed at the beginning of their friendship that Cassi was there for him, has transformed to him being the shining spot of her day.

This is a friendship that will never end ❤️

All the boys came home with Porter after school.

They played the Wii, they played outside, they had dinner, then played more outside.

Then we had a little movie night with popcorn.

Such fun boys :)

Elsie and I just hung out with the boys too.....

Thursday November 15

Today I got a lot of painting done!

Yay!

The basement is slowly transforming!

Fun things happening.....well, fun for me :)

I promise, pictures will happen soon!!!!

Anyway.

Brent got to work a few overtime hours down at the training facility.

But he was home in time for dinner.

Madi had to work, but other than that, there were no crazy run around stuff going on!

It was so great!

I miss those days!

Cassi did go to her friends basketball game and then had a babysitting job.

But when she got home, Bubble and Eldon stopped by with a birthday gift and some cake.

They are just the sweetest!

Wednesday November 14

Well, we had a nice evening at our Young Women in Excellence night.

I went and helped set everything up just after noon today.

It all turned out so cute!!!

Madi was asked to talk about earning her YW award, and what it means to her.

She did a fantastic job.

Cassi also shared a song she has been working on.

She also did a great job.

Elsie made a little poster that included pictures of her playing the piano, because that is what she is working on.

We really enjoyed the night and I left being so proud on the girls we are raising.

Not proud as in bad prideful.....but just proud as in thankful.

They really are pretty great girls.
I feel like we have made many mistakes with them.....but we seem to be doing something kind of good :)

They are pretty amazing!

 This is the table that the girls put their projects on.

Tuesday November 13

Dad added a couple more can lights downstairs.

It is pretty awesome!

I am excited for what is gonna happen down there!!!!!!

I finished up painting the signs for YW in excellence tomorrow.

I will take pictures and share them tomorrow.

They turned out pretty cute.

I had to leave at 2 to go to a YW meeting.

Dad spent a few hours raking leaves.

We have an insane amount of leaves!!!!

With still LOTS more to drop!

The kids had piano this evening, Porter had basketball.

Dad went in to work a few hours to cover a guy that left.

He will be home sometime tonight.

Port and I went to his pack meeting tonight as well.

He got to pin his bear pin on me since his birthday in next week, and he is moving up :)

Monday November 12

I finally feel pretty good so I went for a run, on the treadmill :)

It is getting colder outside, and I don't like cold!!!!
Today Dad put new can lights in the basement!

So very exciting!!!!!

While he did that, I am working on some extra large signs for our Young Women in Excellence this Wednesday.

Then I picked up Elsie for speech and PT.

We have been trying to find a day to get everyone together to go out for dinner for Cassi's birthday.

Well, tonight was the only night in a long time!

So Port had to miss basketball practice for it, but that's okay.

It was fun to get out.

We had a really good time.

Lots of  laughing and talking about memories together.

I think the waitress had fun watching us :)

And it was good for my mama heart.

But don't worry, once we got home they were all back to fighting :)

Sunday November 11

Well, there was a lot of fighting going on today :(

But I think we might all be a little over-tired!!!!!

We survived the day anyway.

Cassi and the little ones went to choir.

I worked more on my lesson.

I had fun with my lesson this week.

It was 'Why is WORK a gospel principle?'

Work has played a big part in my little family's life and that is exactly what we wanted!

I know that you can create good chances for kids to work even when you don't live on land.

But man, I have seen our kids blossom and grow in their hard work and service.

But I had fun talking with the beehives about how you never know what blessings your hard work may bring.

We talked about how Uchtdorf, when he was a small boy, would help his mom with her laundry service.

He would ride his bike to go pick up laundry, then he would do the same to deliver it.

He didn't love doing this job, but he knew it was part of helping his family out.

Years later, as he was volunteering to become an Air Force pilot, he found out that he had scars on his lungs from a childhood illness.

He said he didn't know of any illness, but immediately thought of the hard work he did as a child and realized that the good exercise and the hot moist air from the laundry had helped keep him from getting very ill.

You can see how, many years later, he was blessed for putting in that hard work and effort helping his mom.

I just love that story.

Anyway, after church I had a meeting with my Beehive presidency.

Back at home (more fighting) and we had dinner....leftover chicken noodle soup.

Afterwards, we played a round of clue and a couple rounds of Uno.

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

I even think the big ones are sleeping now!

Yay!!!!