End of January

This week we've had two visits from the missionaries, Evelyn getting evaluated for braces, the chiropractor finishing up Ada's and my treatment from the car crash, Jer and I going on a lunch date to a scrap yard to see if we could find a replacement countertop for the cabinet to finish the bathroom, two kids with colds, two kids with the flu, and 5 days of play rehearsals. We're better for now, and we're going to babysit Peter and Rosie tonight. 

Everything is starting to look better for Evelyn. Her teeth are crowded, but she might grow out of that.  Her wisdom teeth are really weird angles right now.  We'll see again in 10 years...

Ada had a biology project to make.  So of course she makes it into an art project.  I love it.  She's going to paint it, but it's the house from Up. I took a picture before she really finished.... I was just tired and wanted to go to bed.  I helped her make the balloons while she made the house.  Jer helped her make a solid base so it would hold the balloons. The project is about cells and organelles.  She wrote a comparison paper about Up and how the cells work. I'll post a picture when it's all done.  She was going to make a cake and share it with her class, but she's got a cold so we didn't think she should cook for anyone else.

 

Sam's Teacher's ordination

So between my surgery and strep, we hadn't had a chance to get Sam's ordination done to be in the Teacher's Quorum. Our neighbor, Brother Brown, asked if we could do it at 7 that night.... so we called up Grandparents and told them that if they could make it we'd love it, but we knew that there was really only an hour notice.  They all were able to come and bonus we got to see Nella too.  Sam was able to have his dad, both Grandpas and Brother Brown (who's been his leader for about 4 years) to set him apart.  I'm so grateful for good Priesthood holders that take their duties to serve in the name of Jesus Christ as a sacred trust.  I'm so grateful to love and support these wonderful men.  Jeremy and Sam are the first to jump up and do what needs to be done.  I love them so much.

And of course, Seth being rocked by Aunt Nella means that he needs to be eaten too.

 

Sam

About a year ago, Evelyn decided to make a baby blanket with the same pattern as her own baby blanket. We got it started and between she and I, we managed to do about 7 inches of it.  Then it got rolled up and forgotten.  When Sam broke his foot, he finished it.  He needed very little help from me and his sweet smile when he finished it is something I need to always remember. He wants to give it to Hazel... one of our 3 baby girls in our daycare.  

 

Evelyn's first time doing baptism for the dead

Evelyn was so excited about going to the temple for the first time. We made an appointment and then she didn't associate our appointment with an actual date in her head.  We completely surprised her after school when we said to go get dressed in Sunday clothes.  Two of the temples were closed for cleaning, so the Provo City Center temple was very busy.  I'm sorry that a long wait was part of Evelyn's first day, but I also needed it myself.  I've been getting anxious and upset about the immorality that's taking over in our society.  Then we go to the temple. Seeing the 50 people in line waiting to do 4-5 names each and knowing that the temple had been full every day for a very long time.  I think that at least on the other side of the veil we are battling immorality thousands of names a day.  Evelyn was so cute.  She let me explain how things work and then she sat and cuddled with Sam while waiting her turn.  Ada wasn't feeling well so she and Seth went and had a movie date with Grandma and Grandpa Wilcox. Evelyn was at peace and has told me that she wants to do it again.  

It was pouring rain and we had one umbrella for 4 kids.  This was the compromise.

We had a combined YW's activity.  The first time I got to be with both my girls for YWs.  The activity was "We're Tickled Pink that you're in YW's". Everything was pink and we did getting to know you activities.  My girls are sure turning out to be such beautiful and kind women. I'm so proud of them.

 

Teenagers are hard

 

Teenagers are hard.  Not impossible and often they are delightful. Ada and Sam are my best friends, but watching them grow... make decisions... get hurt... make mistakes... learn... try again...is emotionally harder than watching them learning to walk, fall and try again. I have extreme anxiety, joy, pride, worry all at the same time. Here are some of their current activities though that are less of a roller coaster than the emotional side of things.

Sam got his bottom braces on.  He really struggles with taste/texture and smell.  Getting molds and the fun stuff required for teeth work is hard on him.  He did it.  He didn't move.  Then he came home and cried.  I'm sad and proud all at once.

Ada used her day off school to help support Daddy in his new calling as Elder's Quorum president. He needed to fill 3 spots for the meat packing facility that the church uses for the Bishops Storehouse.  Ada and Jer went with our neighbor, Brandon.  They boxed and helped package sausage.  Ada said she wouldn't eat meat for a little while.... that didn't last long.  Her outfit is throwback to how I dressed working in the clean room.

We have a busy house.  I don't let my kids have more than one pair of shoes out at a time.... These are their shoes, our friend's shoes and daycare shoes AFTER half the daycare has left already.  Janine keeps their shoes nice and lined up.... I don't.  

We got two new chairs off amazon.  I wasn't expecting them yet and they both showed up the same day.

My beautiful painter missed the canvas a little.  She walked around a whole day before I told her she had paint on her cheek.

Sledding in January

We have had a lot of snow.  We've had more snowstorms in the last three months than the last three years combined. It makes for great sledding and Seth is a big fan. 

Jer and I got to go do sealings with my parents, Aunt and Uncle, and Tom and Inez.

Jer got the toilet in with the help of the kids.  I LOVE seeing him teach them new skills and to be unafraid of learning something new.

Our neighbors got the Orem decoration award.  They work so hard to make their yard fun and interactive.

Evelyn got her first temple recommend.  We're taking her to the temple next week for the first time.... then we'll go with cousins in February.

Last day out of school, the girls and I went to go dress shopping.  The place we were going was closed.... and the next store we stopped at was also closed.... so we stopped for pizza.

 

Multi-stake New Year's Eve dance

Ada has enjoyed the multi stake dances this year.  It was my turn to chaperone, so I went and hung out. These teenagers have an infectious energy.  They are fun to watch interact and dance and play.  Ada looked beautiful.  Usually I don't like black dresses, (on Ada they look nice, but they make her paler than she usually looks) but the theme was the black and gold ball.  Kooper and Xeno caught a ride with us. 

There were some very weird things that I never saw at stake dances growing up.  About half of the kids actually dressed for a ball.  About a fourth of them wore sweatshirts and jeans.... and the last fourth wore weird things.  I saw a guy with a beard in a dress, nylons and high heels (even my daughter and I hate nylons!), I saw some cosplayers (one was a John Lennon look alike), I saw some guys in very tight pants and corsets, and I saw lots of very revealing dresses.... low backs and spaghetti straps or very short like cheerleader skirts. I don't know what dress standards a Multi-stake dance is supposed to have since this is my first one since I was a youth, but it was crazy. 

I got to shoot confetti above the teens at 11:00.

The balloon drop didn't work, so they lowered the balloons and everyone popped them and pulled them out of the bag.

Then we came to the Robertson's for the end of the night.

 

New Year's Eve 2022/2023

Luckily no one was sick this year.... just me with my post-op recovery. That means that we got to get together with both the Tarkington and Hansen cousins. Evelyn was very excited to show her new game.... they played it forever.

Jer got to show the Reckoner game to Joseph... He's been saying that he'd love it for a couple of years now and they finally got to do it.  Then we moved on to fun card games and boggle to finish the night. The Hansen's had a long drive in a snowstorm, so we did our scumps song at 10:30 instead of midnight.

Sam was so sweet with Hal.  Every time Hal was trying to get his point across Sam would pause, listen and help.

Reckoners is a fun game.  I enjoy it.

Teenagers one and all.

Trying out Jer's new Pickleball net.... We got it primarily to play indoors at the church.  It fits pretty well on Grandma and Grandpa's driveway.