Finding the Joy

• It's November. In the past I have done a thankful thinking post, but it's one of those things I'm too busy with, instead I want to share some thoughts through the month rather then something each day. Sometimes, its tricky to come up with those things and it seems they always repeat themselves each year!! 

• Today's Relief Society lesson was on finding joy in the journey. My good friend Jen gave the lesson, she herself had had a rotten week, spent lots of time on her knees praying and was having a hard time finding that joy in the journey. As tears filled my eyes, I too was grateful for the rocky roads, the challenges that are presented to me each day, the ups and downs, the highs the lows. Sometimes it is easy to not find Joy to be discouraged to get down and have pity parties, and just when I need it most, my Savior picks me up and tells me to not give up, to keep believing, to work harder and things will work out. Because I have challenges doesn't mean I am not loved by Jesus Christ, he still loves me but finding joy through those trials is the lessons I must learn. Life isn't meant to just glide by and be Pinterest perfect all the time. I have had my fair share of Pinterest Fails, life has thrown our family curve balls this year, but we have been blessed and I too need to remember to find joy along the journey in the simple things, in life's joys, and in the rough times also. 

• My calling at church is Relief Society planner, Lauri and I call ourselves the Party Princesses. It was Super Saturday yesterday and Neighborhood Ladies Day Out. I collected over $2700 for wood projects, pillowcases, bracelets, necklaces. It was a lot of work but so much fun. Grateful for the friendships I have in the ward and the unity we can feel as we get together. 

• Election Day is Tuesday. It honestly hasn't been something I have been looking forward too. I prayed on what to do and hope our country is also.  I feel Evan McMullin just suddenly came out of the woods and even though he may be a good candidate or a better President then Trump or Clinton, I just didn't feel he was the answer to my prayers. My mail in ballot had been sitting for weeks, I finally completed it last week and mailed it off. I voted for Trump, I really like Pence so I was really voting for him. My Dad said the same thing, he is hoping for an assassination and then Pence could be President. Praying for our country. I've seen several friends who are so excited to be voting for a women for President as if that will solve our problems. I do not know what the outcome of the Election will be just pray for our country. 

20 years no way!

How has it been 20 years since I graduated High School. It doesn't feel like yesterday, but no way does it feel like 20 years ago. Yet, here we are celebrating 20 years. I didn't go to our 10 year reunion, we lived in Idaho, I had just had Jack and felt fat an didn't really want to go. I didn't honestly want to go to the 20 either, but thought what the heck. So we did (made Mike come with me) and it was a lot of fun. It was fun to see lots of friends, who I see a little big on IG and FB but not in person. Fun to reconnect, laugh, reminisce and get dressed up in the mean time. 

It was in Layton, we left the kids at home with Dan, Mike's brother said it's fun to hang with them so he did it two Saturday's in a row! Nice! They had dinner, open bar and dessert. We pretty much just mingled all evening. There was a too cool for you party the night before and they didn't' come but I wasn't too sad because I didn't really want to see any of "them" either. 

Staci, Kinz, Heather

Staci was in my 2nd grade class when I moved to Farmington, we've been friends always. Heather and I life-guarded at Lagoon A Beach. Always fun to reconnect with good friends. 

 Kinz, Tania (KSL news reporter--she's famous), Melissa and Kelly who was in charge of the whole reunion. She did a fabulous job!! Glad I didn't run for 12th grade office.

 And my roomie Amber. Sad we saw more of each other when we lived in different states, now that we are both back in Utah, life is busy and we rarely see each other. Mike took another pic, because it looked like I cut my hair in the first.

 Debbie a basketball buddy and great friend.

 And then at the end we took a group photo of girls. I screen shotted it from someone so the quality sucks! BUT it's here non the less.

 And then Staci, Heather, Debbie and I. Missed a couple people who didn't come, but got to see the ones I wanted to anyways. It was a lot of fun and my cheeks hurt at the end of the night from smiling. Driving home, Amber texted me and our song by Savage Garden was playing. It was the perfect ending to a great night. Thanks Mike for enduring chatting with other husbands who were also forced into coming. His  20 year reunion was a more fun  for me then mine was for him. BUT it's done and now we officially feel old having celebrated 20 years since graduating from Davis High School!

March Madness

Recap of the March Madness at our house. Early morning choir practise 2 times a week for Jack, 5 times a week for Madison! Softball for Maddy, Softball for Lexi and baseball for Jack, season has begun. Practise 6 days a week all over the valley. In the mix of all the madness, the Leprechaun did find us. Good thing he was able to find our trap which barely made it out of the box in time for St Patrick's Day. Maddy and Jack were off to choir early and didn't see the trap or the mess the Leprechaun left in the toilet but this girl found it! And was excited to have treats for breakfast. 

The pancakes are green just browned so it's hard to tell. Who doesn't love whip cream and lucky charms for breakfast! 

Lilly came home from school with a pot of gold. The Leprechaun left her some chocolate gold coins at school also.




Lexi's 1st grade class almost caught a Leprechaun but he got away. She, and we know it's a she because she left glitter everywhere:), left a note that said go on a scavenger hunt to find the treasure. OREO's! They also made this cute ensemble.

Dad also has been recovering from shoulder replacement surgery. He injured his arm in high school and can't remember ever feeling better!

He's new arm brace. He was still under anesthesia when this was taken. Sorry Dad!

And check out that scar! He can add it to his half a dozen knee surgeries, his wrist surgery just to name a few. When I showed Jack this, he said okay can I play flag football then??? Jack wants to play football so bad. Dad says even with all his surgeries he'd still play.

Taxes done! Mike's least favorite task of the year but he/we worked hard on getting them done. I say we because my Mary Kay taxes are quite the pain in the butt to accomplish!

The kids rotate emptying the dishwasher. This made me smile when I went to grab a cup for dinner. Lilly is even in the rotation. Didn't she do such a great job!

We snuck up to Ruth's Diner before our Groupon expired. We have baseball every day of the week and with work and life, the only day to go was Sunday. We went up Sunday morning and so did LOTS of others. It was the day of the Provo City Center Temple Dedication and apparently its a popular spot Sunday morning. We also ran into Bill and Stephanie who had the same great idea. We put our names on the list and then headed to the zoo to see the animals before our table was ready. The wait was 1.5 hours just enough time to see the lions, tigers and bears! Oh we did see the new baby giraffe Willow, the organtan is growing and we saw the 3 baby lions cubs on a video.

We enjoyed yummy breakfast. It was nice enough on the patio with our jackets on. Sun was out and is trying to come play. It seems its nice for a day and then the storms roll back in. Warm before the storm. Lady in the back is photo bombing us!



I had eggs Benedict and couldn't help but think of Grammie. She loved Ruth's. I myself have been coming here for 35+ years. I wanted to bring her a biscuit and a cup of coffee to the cemetery!

Lilly got the funny face pancake. This was always a favorite of mine growing up.

After Ruth's we drove past Wander lane. Bitter sweet memories there. The house has finally sold. The street looked the same and the house also except the swing set and soccer goal outback.

Grams tile is so much shinier than Grandpa's. I'll have to see if I can bring some cleaner up and shine Grandpa's up also. Grandma's sister died just after Grams did. She will have 4 sisters in a row and the cemetery and then a row up my Mom's. The lawn was greening up nicely, soon enough it'll be time to decorate the graves.

Lilly was off running through the cemetery chasing pinwheels and spinning them.

See what I mean,  a day later it snows! It stayed cold for a good week before we got another day that was warm only to get rainy and cold again. My daffodils are hiding in the snow.

And just like that it was Spring Break time and Easter weekend. Lexi had an Easter Parade just before going on Spring Break. The kids made bonnets and hats, sang songs, and had a candy parade.





It was also mix matched sock day, in case you were wondering!

She also requested her hair to be like this as if they were bunny ears!

Mike went off to the mountains Friday to build snow caves and sleep in them. Sounds delightful, right. Yes, I was glad to stay at home and hold the fort down with the kids. We decorated and colored eggs, went on a candy hunt at Smith's and enjoyed a night flashlight hunt at the Jones'.





Smith's hunt is warm (there was snow on the ground Saturday morning so an outside hunt would be really cold). It isn't crowded and the kids come home with more candy then we get at Halloween, almost anyways. It was also Madison's last year to do a hunt. 11 is the oldest they allow kids! Sniff, sniff, she is growing up so fast. As is this one!

See what I mean, the kids baskets are so full. Madison even broke the handle off hers!

Mike made it home Saturday afternoon. We were at softball practise. Sunday morning the kids found their baskets and are showing them off.

We quickly changed in to our church clothes for 9am church.





Just love these 4. I am grateful to go to church on Easter and remember his death, his life and the atonement. He Lives and I will once again be with my family on the other side.

We headed back to school Tuesday and Jack had a wax museum report due. Lucky for us, he was sick earlier in the month (3 out of 4 kids got the stomach flu and fever--Lexi lucked out again to not get sick-she did the same in January). Jack however has thrown up 4 times this school year alone. He has missed 6 days of school (7 including the funeral). I blame it on his nail biting bad habit. 2 years ago, he was one of 3 kids to have 100% attendance! The kids were required to read a biography, make a poster that had 5 subject, write about the subjects and then dress up as the person. He choose Steve Jobs. He looks great!

Rewind back to Easter, Lilly's birthday was the same week. we made a bunny cake to celebrate. Later that night, I realized I should have just celebrated her birthday that day also. With ballet and practise and scouts on her real birthday, it was kindof tricky adding that in. BUT it all worked out and we were able to celebrate both Sunday Easter and her birthday.

December

I'm so far behind on blogging, I blame it on December. It is non stop! I kind of miss having track break this month, because adding homework and projects to the already busy month is one more thing! BUT the month at school is so fun also. Parties, caroling, food drives, random acts of kindness and the LOVE that the Christmas season brings is apparent in our lives. Here's a lot of what we've been up to this month!

December 1.

Happy birthday Brody! This one decided she wanted to look, smell and be beautiful. In addition to cute!

December 2.

December 3. Ornament Party

One of my favorite traditions. Thanks Amanda for inviting me way back when we lived in Idaho. Everyone brings a wrapped ornament and a treat to share. We do a exchange and sometimes the ornaments get stolen, sometimes we wonder who brought that one (cute or ugly or anything in between) but always we have a great time. It is a Naylor Farm outing. Camille and I started it when we first moved here, 5 years ago and wanted to get to know our Naylor Farm neighbors. We had a couple newbies come this year and it's always a great time!

 December 4. Ornament Party for Lexi and Maddy.

 Christmas Party in Lehi. Santa & Mrs. Claus came and the kids were able to ask for their Christmas wishes. Lilly: play doh hair cuts Lexi: box of oranges Jack: too many to list Maddy: head phones (Grandma thought she said iPhone but Santa heard her right!) NO phones yet!!

I didn't make the Christmas party instead I went with Steve and Tif to Aunt Beve's Viewing (my Grama's sister).

Earlier in the day:
While making beds after washing sheets, I noticed a little pus coming from my eye.

 And then it came back and more.

 And by the time Mike got home from work it was more and starting to turn my eye pink. BUT we had places to be, so I plugged along. I did text my neighbor, home teacher and friend updates on my eye. He told me to wash it with baby soap every hour in addition to washing my hands.

 By the end of the night, it was starting to turn pink and I could fill swelling down my cheeks like I had a sinus infection. I had been in Cancun 5 days previous but didn't feel sick at all even when my eye was oozing. When my neighbor saw me, he said "oh wow" and went to his food storage room and got another antibiotic. I guess it was that bad! He keeps eye drops in his food system. Said when things get tough he'll barter for ammo or maybe food for eye drops and contacts! I'll be there! Anything to not have an eye like this!

 December 5. I woke up to a glued shut eye but had to get moving. LOTS and LOTS going on and no time for a sick day!

First up was the Festival of Tree's for this beautiful ballerina! She was so excited and I was also. We had never been to the Festival. I've always wanted to just never have. IT IS HUMONGOUS! I can't believe all that is donated. Amazing. The spirit of Christmas was felt there. Doesn't she look beautiful.

 Lots of photos of my eye per the Dr's request. It look a lot better. Still a little pink and the swelling is going down!

Here's the dance. Not the best video.

 Lexi's BF also danced in the Festival.

 After the performances we walked around and admired the gingerbread houses, the balloon creations, the trees.

 Mike and Jack took off early from the festival to head to Jr Jazz. Madison also had a game but it was the same time as her piano recital so we didn't go.

Madison has been practicing since August for this Christmas recital. Everyone did duets. Including Maddy and Alli. It was so fun listening to them practice together, work together and laugh together. These girls are two peas in a pod! 

 They did 2 songs. Here's the 2nd.

Here are 4 of the group of 5th graders that live in the Hood that all take piano lessons from Claudia. The girls (and others) did so fun. It was magical to listen to Christmas music. Everyone's talents were beautiful. I asked Jack and Lexi if they wanted to take lessons. Jack said yes, until I told him he'd have to practice, then he said never mind. Lexi can when she is 8.

Alexis lost her first tooth December 5th also. It had been hanging on a thread and she let Dad give a little tug and it was out. Darn tooth fairy forgot to leave her something over night but made a quick trip in the morning and left her a little note that she was sorry she forgot and hope 2 gold dollars would make up for it. 

 December 6:
We went to church and then decorated Gingerbread Houses with cousins. Thanks Grandma for buying so many treats and decorations.

 The weeks activities included piano lessons, tumbling, basketball practice x 2, ballet, Activity Days and homework and life in between. Friday Dec 11 Mike and I snuck away for his company dinner party. It was at Rodizio Grill. Everyone got prizes including Mike for being the "point guard" and the one who is always willing to scratch someone else back.

Earlier in the day we (my dad and brothers and I) snuck up to my Grandma's house to retrieve this beauty along with bookshelves and one last visit to the house. Thursday it is officially sold. It was a long drawn out process including going into probate but it is now no longer Grams. Love my memories on Wander lane!  Long story but we finally got all the pieces after the leaves and chairs disappeared because Uncle Dick wanted them to stay in the house. Grandma offered it to me but I didn't want it because it was the same size as my current table, but when everything got moved out of the house, someone put 2 extra leaves in the table. So of course I wanted it. Another reminder of my sweet Grandmothers. I think of her all the time. Miss her. Infact, I use to sing the song Grandma got ran over by a reindeer, she would beg me to stop! Miss her so much. Grateful to have so many memories of her.

 Jack finally did make a Christmas wish list for St Nick. He's shooting for the moon!