Thanksgiving prep and other things

I love our cute front porch. I need to fix my jenky bows on my lanterns, and add some bows to our railings, but we put lights on the tree so I’m super close to done outside. 

Adi had her 15 year checkup and got her a new epi pen. She looks great, obviously. She’s playing the organ for sacrament meeting this Sunday, her first time to play all 3 songs, practicing a duet with Lily, and preparing for our piano recital. She’s pretty stressed and has had a few quiet meltdowns. I promised her that it would be fine to let Johnna play one of her songs on Sunday and that she’s doing really  really well. So proud of her. 

This era of the Ray times finds us not watching a lot of tv, but in the fall we love dancing with the stars, survivor, and amazing race and we look forward to them all week. Today was a survivor and amazing race day since those air Wednesday but we don’t have cable so can’t watch till Thursday. Anyway, our viewing habits are fascinating, but it was a really fun week of those 3 shows. 

On Wednesday before thanksgiving (pie day) Christian, jeanne, Matt, Adi, and I stocked Chelsea’s store. We put up her Christmas tree and decorated it, then stocked Christmas clothing. It was fun to be there all together and happily working together. 

I always make 3 pies - chocolate chip pie (grandmas recipe), cheesecake (my moms recipe and not technically a pie, but maybe really technically a pie?), and some sort of pumpkin something. This year I had each of the girls take charge of one and Delaney chose a pumpkin cookie pie, which turned out a lot like Frankie’s chocolate chip pie, that was different from the way mine usually tastes, but was still very good. They all did a great job and I love cooking with my little helpers. We jammed out to Christmas music for the first time this season and it was a lovely lovely day. 

We had clean, clean, cleaned the whole house, and I found 2 more pieces of NYE ‘21 confetti when we put up our Christmas tree. 🙄 it’s truly the gift that keeps on giving and will be giving never again in this house. 😂

I had gone for a run that morning (I guess I’m working backwards today) and to my surprise this giant bird flew right overhead and landed on a house right next to me. The boys both said it’s a heron and apparently they fly all over all the time in Florida, but I’ve never noticed one. And that’s who I am now, someone that stops a run to take a picture of a bird. 

Delaney a) made a big mess with marker ink (see her fingers) and b) made herself, and ate the whole thing I might add, a gigantic brekkie sandwich that morning. I was impressed. 

It was a long day but we got everything done and prepped a ton of delicious thanksgiving sides. 😋 

Last night for young women (Delaney - “why couldn’t I go???!!!) the girls climbed at the Henderson’s. Their rock wall is so cool and unfortunately I’ve never climbed it. And I’d love to. 

For years I’ve wanted a pencil tree and finally I bought one and seeing it in our front room, even still undecorated brings me so much joy!

Yes, I’m overachieving on this. 

I chatted with Lexi-Lu and she is sick sick with influenza. They were sick and missed out on thanksgiving and then the boys felt better so she sent them to school yesterday, but while we talked they called and said Carter was not feeling well again and then he threw up last night. All my poor babies!

Christian and jeanne packed up their cute little first home together and set off for Alabama last week. 

After a brief stop here, where I took zero pictures, they made it to their new sweet home for the next year. I’m so proud of Christian chasing his dreams!

The Virginia Rays came for thanksgiving and on Friday we drove over to Solomon’s and walked around. 

It was beautiful and chilly. 

Just some cousins on a swing. 

We climbed up on their lifeguard chairs and I could have sat up there forever, so peaceful. 

❤️❤️❤️

Delaney will wade no matter how cold it is. 

After this we headed home for 2nd thanksgiving wherein we got out every dish and covered the island and feasted again. It was a delicious meal!

Delaney wanted one so bad! She swears this is gonna be her when she grows up!

And finally, after the Rays headed home Adi and I checked in on Chelsea’s shop. She swept and made sure everything looked tip top. We loved having a 5 day weekend!

Some things

I’m up to my eyeballs in garland and Christmas lights. For years I’ve needed to remove all the non working lights from so.many.garland strands and I’m finally doing it this year. It’s taking a surprisingly long time, like the better part of going on day 3 today. That in addition to dinners, calling stuff, Christmas prep, and general household maintenance. It’s a labor of love and I’m enjoying the satisfaction of completing a long dreaded task and also trying so hard to stay on top of Christmas mayhem so I can be present and enjoy December. I’m sharing this Elder (now President) Holland quote in the RS’s I visit this month - and it’s made me teary every time I’ve shared it, so I really need to hear it too. 

To all of our mothers everywhere, past, present, or future, I say, Be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are. 

In non-garland related news, we had the sister missionaries over for a brekkie dinner and home evening Monday night. They shared with us the new Light the World campaign for this year which is a modern nativity, so very fun. First task is to be the star and brighten someone’s life. I tend to be in my own world when I’m shopping, but I’ve been trying to be more personable, (weirdly I can be v v un-personable when I’m not focused) charming (see above), and friendly (also see above.)

Adi and Frankie walked them to the door with us and I grabbed a quick pic, and then Delaney, who was at the table working on a forgotten homework assignment (oh middle school) yelled “are you taking pictures?!” and rushed to the door. 

She’s a surprising little nut sometimes and she loves the missionaries. 

Yesterday was more of the same garland and lights, lights and garland. My delicate little hands are tender and scratched from removing non working lights. 😂

I had a presidency meeting where we are finally full throttle towards womens conference 2024. Can’t wait! 

When Matt got home he suggested we go for Covid shots, which we’ve talked about for weeks but haven’t made happen. So when the girls got home I let him have the task of informing them and from upstairs I heard the wailing of one Frankie G Ray. “You didn’t warn me! Noooooo! Not today, I need some notice!!!!” She literally wailed for a few minutes. 🙄

Anyhow, Walgreens hi jinx while we waited and Delaney “looked something up” on my phone. 

She’s really researching something something. 

Matt and I got a chuckle out of this one, his little bald patch isn’t that noticeable until someone takes a shot from right above his head. 😂

Incidentally, the shot giver at Walgreens is ah-mazing and that was the best shot experience ever. And we let her know that and regaled her with funny shot antics. Just us shining like bright little ⭐️’s. 😂

After, we made the girls take the frigid walk across the parking lot to McDonald’s, where much to my delight I found it’s McRib season! This is probably the grossest thing I like, and I’ll always think of Mindi cracking up at my love for them.  

The revamped our McDonald’s and it is tres fancy. 

Unrecognizably fancy. And since we couldn’t remember the last time we ate inside thag McD’s, we did, even though I’d already simmered a turkey soup. I’m being easy breezy this Christmas season. 

While Delaney ballet’ed, Adi, Frankie and I hit up target and Michaels. I saw these books when I was checking out and sent this shot to my favorite. 

D is excited about the Nutcracker, which the girls lovingly referred to as something else that rhymes with nut and starts with b and ends with 2 T’s. 

Anyhow, I miss my mom. 

Her birthday is December 6, and Christmas feels tender. ❤️

Oops I did it again

I’ve been wanting to blog for awhile now but the thought of catching up feels daunting. One bite at a time, and here we go. 

This is pretty much how we’ll be rolling. Last night we cleaned out the leftovers and tonight we’ll see. Adi’s been petitioning for pizza, and she might just get her wish. 

Last week Chantell and I finally caught up and she asked if they could come for thanksgiving, which is great and fun, and also made me get into gear after being busy and not being in home gear. Every day has been busy busy switching out summer clothes, getting rid of huge boxes of clothes we’ve been given and bought through the years that Delaney won’t wear, prepping for thanksgiving, finishing putting away Halloween and scouring the house. It wasn’t bad before, but the dining room and basement bedroom had become junk catchalls, all those projects I didn’t want to do, and now with the prospect of visitors they are getting done. And I am tired but happy. 

Bubba called Monday night and surprise! He and jeanne were cleared to leave NY early and were driving down as we spoke! And could they stay the night? 🤣 It’s absolutely fine, but young couples and they’re flighty flight plans are funny. Thankfully we were already well on our way to being ready for guests, so it all worked out and we’re always so happy to see them. 

Chelsea is out of town, so Adi, bubba, jeanne, Matt and I headed to her shop and decorated and switched out merch. It was fun to go all together. 

And hooray for turning off alarms and settling in for some full time thanksgiving prep because there’s no school Wednesday! 5 days off feels very luxurious and we’re all excited! Also exciting, we got a mystery advent calendar that we finally tracked down to Grandpa Ray. I’ve been giving grandparents fun advent calendars the last few years, so I guess I’m rubbing off on them. 🤗

I must be excited to be done with my long to do list (so close!) or to eat all the delicious food or for family time because I woke up at 2 and now it’s 4 and I’m still here. I guess it makes for blogging time? We’ll leave it here with just a toe dipped in the blog pool for now, but I think I’m feeling winds of massive catch up posts. Or maybe I’ll wait another 2 months. Only time will tell.