Veterans Day

Sunday was the primary program and it was so sweet, it really is the best Sunday. After church Frankie and Delaney went downstairs and made Christmas list presentations and then shared them with us.

Maybe they’re onto something, because Matt already bought Delaney her biggest gift (off Marketplace) which never happens, so winning!

Matt went into work on Monday and then we had to postpone family night because Delaney had a lot of homework. 

On Tuesday I picked Ginny up in Huntington and we went to a Pastor Appreciation lunch at the Museum of the Bible. 

It was a lovely program and we spread out so we could mingle and get to know people and I loved the table I chose. We had great conversations and made some sweet connections. 

Part of my calling is just making contacts and showing up, and I am enjoying that. 

The museum is beautiful and for a buffet lunch everything was really delicious - especially the crème brûlée of which I had 3 (they were so small). 👀 I got my comeuppance for that and had a sad tummy all evening. 

After the lunch and the speakers we got a private tour and also a free membership for a year. I’m excited to take the crew! Ginny and I always have lots to talk about and it was really just a nice day. 

Route 66 memories are popping up on Facebook and I’ve said it before, but I’m so grateful we took the trip. If I at all can, I hope I will always take the trip, that I’ll always remember that it is never convenient, but that it is always worth it.  

Today Matt met up with Dan in DC to do veterans stuff and the rest of us had a plan to get Delaney’s pointe shoes but she decided she’d rather have a day off and get them when we go to Charlottesville for Thanksgiving. Having plans changed last night (after family night) threw me off so then we did nothing. Frankie helped me bring in all the Christmas trees and I’ll start putting up one each day and then Carter came over and they watched Twilgiht. 

So grateful for all the amazing veterans in my life!

Playoffs

Friday night was the football playoff game ho in crofton. And even though it was annoying to drive so far, the drive was beautiful and I chatted with Amy the whole time. Double rainbow!

Peak autumn.

I wasn’t sure how the traffic would be so i arrived early and walked around their giant and beautiful and fancy campus. 

And I thought how cool it would be for our podunk school to beat their big fancy school. And then within the first minute our boys got a  really cool touchdown.  

And then heading into halftime we were still up. 

There is an older man that goes to all the sporting events and takes really cool pictures and Friday was his last game before they move to Florida. So sad. It was a foggy and beautiful night.  

Unfortunately Frankie started feeling sick and threw up at halftime again. I didn’t want to leave just in case she took a turn for the worse. 

She’s been having tummy troubles for about 2 weeks now, so we’re having her write down what she’s eating and her symptoms. 

The game also took a turn after halftime and we started losing. And Frankie was sitting, so I got some steps in and happened to be over by the scoreboard when they announced that they needed to clear the field. There was a dad watching near me and he said one of the crofton players had a seizure. And for some reason their big fancy school didn’t have an ambulance there on standby and it took a good 10 minutes for them to lock him up. Prayers that he is okay!

the final score was 43-20 and their team were pretty bad sports. There was a lot of personal fouls, like shoving each other after plays, and when you’re winning and doing that it’s super lame. 

But that wraps our football season and now there’s just a cheer championship and then that will wrap up the cheer season. I went through Mac’s pictures and found all the Frankie cheer ones I hadn’t seen. 

And I also saved Carters. 

It was fun going to the varsity games even though our team was not super great. 

Delaney had nutcracker rehearsal Saturday and I had Frankie take her to and from. I finished cleaning the house from top to bottom with a whole lot of organizing in between. We raked some leaves and Frankie made a coming home treat and then I picked Matt up at 10pm. So good to have him home after a super fun almost 3 week trip!

Thursday

 Josh and crew left Wednesday afternoon. I trailed Jasper at one point so they could finish packing their car, and i let him upstairs where he climbed into Frankie’s bed and snuggled down in her satin sheets and fluffy comforter. I rubbed his face and he laid there for a good 20 minutes - he loved it! I told them he definitely needs some satin sheets in his life. 

Frankie had a 504 meeting that day that I did on zoom and I drove the ballet carpool and the girls went to activities and I cleaned up after having guests. 

I drove the ballet bus on Thursday too and had errands to run, so I stayed out the whole time, which included some time reading in the car. It rained just a little and the sun was setting and it was so pretty.

I wanted to have a girls night while Matt was gone, and Thursday was our night. I wasn’t sure at all who would come, but it ended up being a good little crew! Alecia, Kat, Tracie, Sarah, Jess, Kellyn, and Johnna. I can’t remember when everyone left, but I got to bed at 3. #worthit

Laura brought my homemade star and I sent pics to Frey and Alli. We’ve all been sharing our homemade gifts with the siblings we’re not giving to. 

The seminary kids talked about the blessings of the temple in Ezekiel. Delaney declined to participate. Girlie pop is giving me a run for my money, I will tell you. 😭 

President Meredith encouraged the students to memorize BYU-I’s mission statement in a devotional, so Adi and I have been working on it. I love it!

And some randomness from last month in YW. 

Matt was gone for almost 3 weeks and I was tired of having a whole country between us!

I got the girls off to school Friday morning and took a 3 hour nap. 👀 it was amazing!

Election Day

Since there was no school Tuesday, we had inklings on Monday and lucky Laura got to come. I started a family Thanksgiving group text and wanted to share that I’m thankful for our inklings group but I forgot a pic until there were just 5 of us there. Whomp whomp.  

Laura and I decided we needed salsas for lunch and Jasper sat and ate chips and salsa the whole hour we were there. He was happy as a clam, it was pretty funny. 

I ordered mini nativity’s, but there was just one small problem. No Jesus. Upon looking more closely at what I ordered, even though the picture clearly includes Jesus and some lambs and other figures, the written description says this is a 6 piece set. 

The whole McCombs crew went visiting and I made Harvest Bowls for dinner with chicken, kale, and sweet potatoes. Josh and Michelle’s dinner plans had gotten postponed for Tuesday, but thankfully everyone loved the bowls. And Josh is a good climbing toy.  

On Monday night I taught Josh and Laura to play our new favorite game - Splendor, and wouldn’t you know it, Josh won the first game. I was super surprised. But then I beat him until the very last game. He woke up Tuesday and was like, I wanna play Splendor! We trapped Jasper in the high chair with some snacks and teddy was pretty patient while we played. 

Then Laura left for Katie’s and Josh and I took the boys to the old wooden park/new park. We took turns following one kid around each and it was a perfect temp day and we had fun wearing the boys out. 

Frankie worked on some homework and I had already voted so we just had leftovers for dinner and watched the election results trickle in. 

Josh and Michelle went visiting, so it was a quiet night and I put away Halloween, cleaned (littles are so messy!), and put up Thanksgiving. My back was sore but my heart was happy. 

Full dance cards

We played some games and had fun hanging out with Alli.   

I got Christmas trees at BJ’s and Frankie opened it and we were so surprised how big they are!

Alli left when we went to church and then we were home about an hour before Josh and family and Laura arrived. 

We took the boys to the park to burn some energy and it’s so precious to see how teddy emulates Josh in every way. He kept checking Josh to make sure he had his hands behind him and was standing like him. So sweet. 

I made Alfredo for dinner and we invited Carter over to meet everyone. Then Josh and Michelle went to visit people and the rest of us played Times Up. Everyone was getting into it!

We had Josh, Michelle, and boys in the basement, and since we haven’t yet bought a new bed for Adi, we put Laura in Frankie’s room and Frankie bunked up with me since Matt was gone. She moved allll the way in. 

We stayed up late talking to Josh, just Laura and I, and I’ll say it again and I’ll say it again, grown up kids that you watched grow up and love like your own are so much fun. What a joy. 

Halloween 2026

Our dance card has been so full over here! Alli came to town on Friday and got to enjoy the last regular season football game with me. Which happens to not be their last because there is also a playoff game tomorrow. Who knew?! Not me.

Bryn dressed up like Frankie so we had to get a pic! 💙

The game was not too fun to watch. And I fear the playoff game will be more of the same. But my girl and I will be there cheering our mighty mighty raiders on. 

We hosted our annual Halloween potluck. It was a small one this year with just three families, but honestly if felt just right. Far less crazy than years past!

Our sliding glass door had been stuck but Delaney got Tony 2 screwdrivers and he fixed it. 🤣 which was lovely because the kids are outside. 🙌🏼

Fast friends over here when Alli helped Amber with her tin man wrapping. 🤣

Carter came over to be the Woody to frankies Bo Peep. They passed out candy and then when it got dark walked around trick or treating. 

Delaney had friends over and went as The Black Parade which is a My Chemical Romance song from 2008. Alli took one look at her and knew what she was because, as she said “I’m a millennial.” Other millennials in the house had no such knowledge, sooooo. 

Carter was a good sport. He’s growing on me. 🤣

Alecia, Alli, and I passed out candy - which is so fun. So many creative costumes - we loved the Hogwarts one best! And as Frankie was taking this picture she kind of went “oh, okay,” like not a great pic, but ok. Turd. 

It was a fun night and yummy food and we all love a Saturday Halloween. 

The girls and friends watched a movie in the basement and D’s moms friend came over and chatted for an hour (that was interesting) and then I took everyone home which took another hour and I was so sleepy but it’s fine. 

‘Twas a happy Halloween.