Moving out and moving in

Wowee, it’s been a busy time around here. 

Today we cleaned and prepped and then cleaned some more. Papa moved in Monday and Dan and Chan are coming tomorrow so we worked most of the day. We also got my dads apartment all cleaned out and looking fabulous. Feels so good to be done after a long and physical day. 

Working my way backwards, we’d run into a moving glitch, so yesterday we reformulated our whole plan and everything came together pretty perfectly. Uhaul has been so great with my mistake, then my dad and I talked over every scenario under the sun before landing on me driving the uhaul down this weekend. I was able to find movers in FL to unload him Tuesday, and got a really great nonstop flight for Frankie and I, and papa was able to get us a room at the same hotel he’s staying in in SC. Then I went to MakerSpace because I had picked up my friends shift in exchange for her taking my Monday, which ended up working perfectly because I won’t be in town Monday. Sam, and Mike & Nicole showed up to help load up the moving truck, and since we’d brought almost everything down on Monday it went super fast. I think our helpers were there for an hour. I felt bad for being last minute, but it really helped us so much. Then after our long day of decisions papa took us out to Salsa’s where we ran into Pablo. He showed me pictures of the buck he hunted and we talked about how ready we are for Christian to be home. Also, Sam asked us to be a ma and pa on Trek and we told him yes, but only if we are not Adi’s ma and pa. It was her request and I’m choosing not to be offended by it.  

On Monday evening Sarah and girls helped move the rest of the boxes down while Matt disassembled the bed and couch, and it went really quickly. Today marks 3 days in a row where my move goal has been blown out of the water. But I think Monday was the first time I’ve ever hit 200%.

Hahaha, my mini pod. 🤦‍♀️ there were a few tense moments on Monday as we tried to Tetris everything in before calling it a day. I readily admitted fault and everyone was understanding. I mean, i watched a video and they had a ton of stuff in theirs. 🤷‍♀️ Plus also I haven’t moved in 13 years and we’ve had professional movers our last 3 moves,, so I am understandably rusty. 

On Monday after piano we picked up pizza for our night’o‘moving and my dad got this amazing candid shot of us watching a video on how best to load a pod. 

I finally ordered our 2021 family picture. Why did it take me so long? The world may never know. 

On Sunday Amber and I spoke in the Spanish branch. Next time I do that I’m bringing Matt to translate for me. They also want him to speak since the Branch loves to hear from new people. He would have come Sunday, but there was a linger longer after church and the girls really wanted to go to it. Then that evening Matt drove a jolly green full of guys to the Stake Priesthood Meeting in Calvert. The girls and I went to papas and I packed and they played. 

On Saturday the big girls came with me to the Capitol Super Saturday. Their Relief Society president, ViAnn asked for me to bring them to participate, show support, and pad their numbers. They had over 40 women there, but it was sweet that she invited them. 

They had this amazing balloon arch Photo Booth, so we took some pictures. The gym was freezing, so I kept my coat on the whole time. Only took it off for a few pictures. 

I’m so proud of these girls. Adi did every activity but blinging crocs, and Frankie did several too and they were both so friendly and outgoing, even with a whole RS full of people they didn’t know. 

We had some deep conversations on the way home. We talked about abortion and transgender people and all the things. These girls are so good and thoughtful.  

Both years I’ve gone to this Laurie has made a million cookies for people to practice decorating with royal icing. Adi and I loved that table. My fav is the loopy swoopy Christmas tree. It was almost too pretty to eat. After, we went to Sam’s for gas, pizza, and a few other items. Then finally home for 30 minutes before heading to clean the church, only it was mostly done by the time we’d set up to go clean. Chicfila for dinner, then finally home again. I still needed to organize my thoughts for my talk the next day.

Alli came down Friday and we had a going away party for papa. We made meatloaf, mashed potato’s, pumpkin pie, and Queso with bacon. The party was Adi’s idea and we loved it. She’s a sweet girl. 

And our outtake. 😂 Alli and I went shopping that morning, for the party and thanksgiving, then I met the Lexington Park Relief Society president to make a ministering visit with the sweetest lady. 

And finally. I’ve been missing my mom lately. 

I hope so too. 

Days of our lives

The youth had a hike to the temple saturday and we were able to make plans around that. We dropped the girls off at a park for their walk and headed to the temple with these 2 cute 10-year-olds. Matt was able to worship in the temple at 11 and the girls and I found a nice bench to picnic on. 

We hung out in the Visitor Center and then when Sarah went into the temple we walked Ezra around outside and made a few laps. When the girls got tired I let them hang out at the fountain and walked Ezra around until he fell asleep. He was a perfect angel, never made a peep. 

Our cute Pax youth. They are an amazing group of kids. 

The youth watched a video at the VC, and then at 1 when they and Matt were done, we headed to Six Flags for the last day of the season. I have no idea why they’re not doing Holiday in the Park this year, but I’m pretty annoyed by it. Anyway, this is the one picture I took. Delaney and Ellie decided to switch shoes to make Ellie just a tiny bit taller so she could ride whatever ride she wanted. 😂 And then I forgot to get my phone out again. 

We had a lovely day. It was beautiful and warm and everyone got along and had fun. Adi started to not feel well, and then Delaney rode Harley Quinn as her last ride and then she didn’t feel well either. It was a much quieter ride home.  

On Veterans Day Matt and my dad made the rounds. First, free brekkie at Wendy’s. 

Then a free donut. 

They picked up their free haircut coupons and swung by Target for a special Veterans Day discount - Matt bought razor blades. 

Sheetz for a sub sandwich. 

Then Applebees for lunch. They took all their other goodies to go, so they were pretty hungry by this point. 

After lunch they picked up their free bbq sandwiches from Mission. 

Then a coupon for a free meal from Texas Roadhouse. They did a good job and got a nice little haul. We love our veterans!

Later that evening Matt took Delaney on a date to Red Robin for a free burger, and then Harris Teeter where I got an extra $10 coupon and then an extra 11% discount. I was most stoked about my Harris Teeter haul. 

On Wednesday Frankie got selected to play kickball against the teachers. I had to reschedule her orthodontist appt, but when you get chosen to play kickball, you gotta play. 🤷‍♀️ 

In dental tales, Delaney has had a bad attitude about all the appointments, all the exercises, all the appliances and dental fixtures. Ms. Claudia had a stern talk with her last week. We’ve seen Claudia several times a month for the last year, so we’re fairly tight. Anyways, Claudia worked on her and told her how she knew Delaney could handle it and made her agree to try harder next month and that she would give her a Sweet Frog gift card if she did. And she did! It seems like she’s turned a corner and is being more mature with her dental duties, school, and bedroom. She got her gift card and I took her to use it immediately. Love this goof. 

Matt and I voted. I actually mailed in my ballot, and they included an I voted sticker which I thought was super sweet. I spent my time and did as much research as I could. I talked to friends about how they were voting and made what I felt were the best choices. 

Alecia hosted a super fun Election Day brunch. She had such a good turnout and I was gonna make some rounds and take pictures, and then I got distracted. I’m seeing a theme with dumb shoe pictures being my only shot. 🤷‍♀️😂

Papa is packing packing to move. He brought Delaney over an old chess set and she was so excited. 

We went to church and the young women sang Trust in the Lord and did such a beautiful job. I had a mission meeting and then we had shepherds pie for dinner. 

Monday was MakerSpace and piano and then we had the sister missionaries for lasagna dinner. They are such cute girls. 

Today I had a list of to do’s and I got them to done. It turned from autumn to winter this morning and we had our first frost? Maybe? We had Alecia’s delicious chicken taquitos for dinner and a cookie cake for dessert. I haven’t made one of those for years, then we had family night. We’re plugging our way through the new For the Strength of Youth pamphlet and it is so good!

Monday

The other day Delaney asked me what I do while they are at school, and a lot of time I don’t even really know, but I’m mostly doing things. 🤷‍♀️

Today was an easy day to answer that question:

• Run
• Dropped off my ballot
• Adi appt 
• Made Shepard’s Pie for dinner
• Piano x3 = 1.5 hours
• Ju jitsu = 1 hour
• 2 double batches of muffins 
• Clean kitchen, vacuum, general tidying
• Sold our table

It was a good and productive day. Tomorrow is Election Day which means no school. Our alarms are off and we’re excited to spend the day together. 

One thing I did not do today was take many pictures, so I snapped one tonight as we watch the end of Dancing with the Stars. 

And a bonus shot of Miami Jack when he came over. It was 80° today, so it tracks. 

Quiet Sunday

It’s been a lovely quiet Sunday. This morning Delaney worked on her Primary talk and adi and I talked about Patriarchal Blessings. We talked about what it is and looked it up and then read mine together. She came to Matt and I a few weeks ago and asked us to pray with her about it she was ready to receive hers. And then we had some cool experiences that told us she was ready, so she had her interview today. Matt and I made dinner together and then went for a long walk. 

I got a fun surprise in the mail yesterday! My dad sent me a book about L.M. Montgomery and I can’t wait to read more about her. ♥️

Working backwards, Delaney had a fun Primary Activity where they made Thankful Jars. 

Delaney is weird about Primary Activities. One of her goals is to have a better attitude, and she came up with that on her own, so I think that’s a good sign. We’ll keep trying. 

Last Friday after Matt and I made some deliveries (more to come) we went to the Pumpkin Patch. 

Delaney was in the process of falling as these pics were taken. 😂

It was quiet without friends, but it was nice to be there with Matt. 

We started off in the maze together, then the girls ran off to play and then we’d meet up around the maze. 

Then the girls fed the baby goats, or “kids.”

They looooved it. 

They’d go grab a bunch of dried corn cobs and go to town. 

It was a chilly day! 

Unfortunately the hay ride wasn’t running, but we got a nice discount on our tickets. 🤷‍♀️

Matt made a friend (an older man waiting for someone to drop off a key because theirs had gotten locked in their car) so adi and I went and picked some apples and got a frozen apple cider to share. 

We set up the phone to get a pic of us, and then a nice lady offered to grab some pictures for us. Here’s our timer shot:

And our friend taking our picture:

That night we walked Delaney to Duke for their Trunk or Treat. Adi decided to come too and it was fun to see all the creative trunks all decorated. We loved Ms. Frizzle’s Magic School Bus best. 

And today was Daylight Savings which felt weird tonight and will feel weird for the next few days. But I do love an extra hour. 😴 

Family night Saturday night

Currently. 

Matt worked today and we didn’t have any plans. So I made a list and we got done about half of it. We cleaned bedrooms, did laundry, cleaned the basement, got lunch at McDonald’s (treat for all that cleaning), went to Johnna’s Open House, had leftovers for dinner, and finally, after pushing back all week, had Home Evening. 

We’re studying the new For the Strength of the Youth each week, and I am loving the changes. Tonight we talked about the gift of repentance and that it is just that, a gift to be used. It’s so good. 

Delaney had the treat, so she and I teamed up (I had the activity) and we put together the Haunted Gingerbread Houses I found on clearance after Halloween. $6? Yes please. 

The girls wanted to divide girls against parents, which made my night super easy. And then everyone got along! The girls decorated and then put the house together, while Matt and I put the house together then decorated. I gotta say as I was struggling to spread frosting on my doors I was thinking they might have had the right idea. 

Their house was pretty unstable, probably because they didn’t use enough frosting to hold everything in place. 

If you watch their roof, like Frankie’s doing, you’ll see it’s going, going,

gone. 

They weren’t phased at all and dug in right away. And in the back you can see the Dracula radio program Matt found for us to listen to as we worked. 🤷‍♀️

Our cute little house. Things only got tense once or twice when we had different ideas about putting walls together, but it was fun. 

Family night love. 

After the girls went to bed (at 10!), Matt and I started watching Clue. We watched that a lot when I was growing up and I haven’t seen it in years so it’s been fun.