Weekend happenings

We finished our puzzle! Except some of the pieces don’t exactly fit, so we went wrong somewhere, but we’re not the type of puzzlers to worry about little things like that. 

The boys sent valentine friendship bracelets, so we had to sport them!

We finalized our Women’s Conference flyer and our presenters and food makers have all accepted their assignments. Yesterday we had a meeting with the stake youth leads and they gave us some good ideas and ways to hopefully make it more inviting to the young women. Now down to the nitty gritty, how to set up, making sure every detail is planned for, and all that. This will be my third in person, and I definitely feel like I know a little more what to expect. 

Madison came over on Saturday and we all went to Curtis’ basketball game at LMS. His team happened to be playing Quinton and Max’ team, so it was fun to watch with everyone and cheer on our boys. Matt and I loved it because we were cheering and happy for both teams when they did well. 

Curtis is kind of the star of his team, so that was fun too. 

The Darrow kids came home with us so their parents could go to a training/fireside up at the temple. I cooked a bunch of pasta and then we had root beer floats and they played and watched a movie and put makeup on Lily. 

This is one of my favorite scenes - family scripture study. It just feels like all are safely gathered in and my mama heart soars. 

I went to the White Plains ward on Sunday. We had a meeting after and then I went up to the stake center to have a meeting with their rsp. It was a good and productive day and I got done sooner than I thought I would. I did have to pull over for our missionary meeting and do that one in my car, but I’ll take it. I got home in time to take adi and friends to Alecia’s so she could drive them to their camp meeting because she’s a youth camp leader. We joke a lot about all of our meetings, and there are a lot, but I think we should be careful to express the joy we have in being able to serve together. We’re all just trying to figure things out, thats why we have so many meetings. And we need each other, so what a blessing to be able to meet together often. 

Monday was pretty low key. I had been asking and asking my crew what they wanted to do and no one had any ideas. It’s been cold cold cold too. Late in the game Matt discovered the countries oldest Carmelite monastery in Port Tobacco and thought it would be cool to check out. So off we went! It snowed the whole way there, just light flurries but so pretty to see. Unfortunately we didn’t see any nuns or hear any singing. But we looked around their shop, which they run using the honor system, and read through some of their prayers and learned about rosary beads. They’re doing a lot of landscaping, so we checked out one of their old historic buildings and then headed on our way. We let the girls choose between Texas Roadhouse and Chick-fil-A and those sillies chose Chick-fil-A. No spend January is going fabulously, bytheway. In our defense, the spending has gone down drastically and you have to get lunch on family adventure days. 

It snowed all evening and we all cheered when we got the text that we’d have a 2-hour-delay for school today. 

We did family night early and watched Napoleon Dynamite- classic! and Delaney made a fun iMovie. 

And this morning we’ve all enjoyed our extra 2 hours of sleep. 🤗

We’re Dancing with the stars

For Christmas I got Alli and I tickets to see the live Dancing with the Stars show on their opening night in Richmond. We were so excited, DwtS was one of our simple joys during Covid. 

We couldn’t find any promising restaurants around the theater, but we did find a chili’s on the map, only to find it is a college meal plan style chili’s and was closed at 7:00. On a Thursday night. We stumbled upon this cute little hole in the wall 👆🏼and enjoyed a table full of delicious appetizers and then walked on our merry way to our show. 

Our seats were the *very* last row, which kind of worked out because we had a great spot to stand up and stretch our legs and we could still see. The seats were tiny with no room to stretch, and also we were right on the end, so we were able to stretch a lot. 

Alli had to tell me who was dancing because #oldladyeyes couldn’t make out who it was, but it was still really fun. They put on a fun and silly and beautiful and emotional show. 

Alli only brought casual clothes, so in solidarity I dressed down too. At least we were comfortable. 

Something was so funny. 🤷‍♀️ Anyways, we had a fabulous night and did something we’ve never done, it was great. 

And some randomness. Matt helped dislodge a broken toy that was cemented at the park. We all went to cheer them on and the girls played with the hoa presidents kids. 

They dug, dug, dug, then attached a chain and pulled with the truck and then had to dig a little ramp to get it all the way out. Saved the hoa several hundred dollars. 

A random festive December shot playing scattergories. 

And finally, Alexis and crew spent Christmas in Florida with papa and hit up the magic kingdom one day. 

They figured out genie+ and rode tons of rides and everyone loved it. I heard only good things from their visit. ❤️❤️❤️

New Year’s Eve 2023

We went to our last 9:00 church, and even though I only go to our ward about half the time, I’m still super excited. When we got home we all worked together to make some yummy party food. Adi made garlic knots that were tasty but I accidentally baked too long while she was… somewhere? She’s an amazing little bread maker. She also made the pumpkin roll. Frankie made the black eyed pea dip and jalepno poppers. Matt made the veggie pizza. Delaney made salsa and something else?  I made a slush punch, a chocolate trifle and something else? It all kind of blurs, but it was lovely to cook together and everyone was happy and helpful. 

The Darrows and Utzingers came over and we ate and played games and visited. The kids played and it was a low key and fun evening. 

The girls had to show the adults their amazing photog skills. 🙄 

The younger crew played games and toys and then watched a movie. And everyone made it till midnight!

The older crew hung out in Adi’s room. Normally we wouldn’t allow boys in rooms, but Curtis is like family, so we allowed it. 

And also no boy/girl hugs. No.hugs. 

For the lead up to midnight we watched some of Londons fireworks, then New Yorks and we counted down and drank sparkling cider and I had found a big basket of poppers someone gave us (bubba maybe) and the kids threw and popped them all - it was perfect. Delaney and the younger crew banged pots and pans and we welcomed 2024 with some of our very favorite people. We had a good start and now let’s go 2024!

Mega couch

We got a fun surprise yesterday when the girls got out of school 2 hours early for a storm coming through. There were high winds and tons of rain and I guess worries of coastal flooding? I always say better safe than sorry and we were happy to have an extra 2 hours and then no ballet. I made a giant batch of muddy buddies and after some homework we made mega couch push the couches and ottoman together, kind of like a bed) and watched The Adam Project, which was cute and also made me cry when he got to go back and see his dad that had passed away. 😢 I am cleaning out pantries and made the dehydrated burritos I put together with Colleen last year and they were fairly fine. It was just an all around lovely lovely day. 

We were hoping for at least a 2-hour-delay this morning since Calvert cancelled school altogether, but no such luck. I had my popcorn bar staff appreciation event today and compared to the Christmas lunch it was so easy! I didn’t get a background made so I just hung my extra tablecloth. I would never do this event on my own, I love popcorn,  probably more than the next gal, but this seems kind of weird to me. But I’m just going easy on myself and following Ashlee’s lead, just easy peasy, no need to be a hero. 😉 

I set up from 8:30-10 then went back at 1:30 and after Delaney put herself together a nice box of popcorn and cup of candy, we headed out just after 2. And another event down. ✔️ 

The girls home worked and I exercised and practiced piano. After years of piano being on my resolutions list, I finally decided to get serious. Alecia does not want to be one of only 2 pianists in the ward and graciously offered to teach me years ago, but I thought I could do it on my own. I’m admitting defeat and Alecia is a wonderfully generous friend giving of her time and talents to help me. I’ve gone through the 3 primer books and just finished the 3 level 1 books today. I’ll keep playing through the level 2 books and we’ll just see where I’m at. She told me a friend of ours found herself in level 3 when she started, so my competitive self says I’ve got to at least get to level 3, but my resolute self says it doesn’t matter and I just want to learn. Next stop, primary pianist. 😭 In a few years because I love my calling. 

Tonight was the youth and parent meeting. The youth planned it and didn’t really plan for parents, so we got to visit and that worked nicely. Delaney has been banned from taking books into church, or reading on the grounds because she needs to be more social, and tonight after she headed to bed I found one of the goals she’d written down. 

So proud of her being so self aware. 🤣

Listen, I take pictures of puzzles. It’s who I am and I’m not sorry. 

Taaaa daaaa! Missing one piece - dang it! I like this one because of all the fun pictures, and also Texas, yo!

And finally, love from Revelation. ❤️

Mildly annoying

Home evening fun. It actually was really nice, adi had offered to play Love at Home and Frankie is learning to lead music and as we sang about beauty all around I grabbed my phone to take a picture just as Delaney pestered and Frankie wacked. Twas a friendly wack, and the song goes on. 

See? And don’t mind the basement gear in the dining room. Nothing to see here. 

We’re in our puzzling era and my dad gave me a lighthouse puzzle with 12 fun lighthouse pictures and then all. This. Border. 

I spent time yesterday looking up scriptures and quotes and songs about families looking for a new family theme for the year. The girls have been snippy with each other. It’s not terrible and I’m not even really worried about it, but it does create disharmony and also it’s annoying. I’m gathering ideas to take to a family council, and we’ll decide together this year instead of Matt and I choosing. 

Yesterday I got almost everything done on my to do list, it was a good day. 

Another good day was last Thursday when Joni and crew came to town! I offered to host and have anyone she wanted to see come by. All the kids hung out in the basement, that is after Adi and Delaney finally made it down, about a half hour after everyone arrived, unbeknownst to me. I’m having to make them stop reading lately, which if I look at all the parenting battles I’ve waged over the years isn’t the worst by a lot, but is also annoying. Maybe annoying kids is the theme of this post. But also they’re not that annoying, just mildly. 

This picture cracks me up. I showered later in the day and just threw my wet hair up, my Japanese apron Matt brought me, our stair step pose, the open cabinet and all that space above our heads. 🤣

This is the teen photo pose. No arms around each other, we can’t touch!

But then I made them and Sammy even had to laugh. 

The 15-year-old crew was not having it though. And I tried. 

I made everyone dinner and it was so nice to spend a few hours visiting and cooking and chatting. We miss the Schoenys so much!

We decided we’d do the teen photo pose too, just for good measure. 🤣

Anyways. My blog writing is disjointed but that’s a happy, silly, weird, amazing, mildly annoying life. 

Friday and Saturday

We went to the temple with Josh and Alecia on Friday. It was a really good day. I’m always grateful for those visits that bring revelation and power. 
After, we went to the Visitor Center and took the ornaments off our Suitland Stake tree. Matt and Josh took turns climbing the ladder and we got it all done quick fast. 

Spain! The embassy of Eritrea had also left us a flag and I love that our tree got some attention. 

Dream team. We grabbed Wawa peppermint shakes on the way home and enjoyed the whole day. 

We broke out our Darrow party gift the next morning. It’s the cutest little waffle iron and the confetti waffle mix was basically like eating cake for breakfast. So yummy!

Adi and Frankie had a youth dance to go to that night. Frankie’s first, and she was *so* excited! Kellyn drove them up so all we had to do was get them to Kellyn’s, blessings! We had offered Delaney to have a friend over but she wanted to stay home and read. I told her she needed to be social, so after lots of suggestions she asked to go to Emma’s. She took an ice cream truck full of dolls and we dropped her off when we picked Lily up and then we hot dated at the movies. We saw Boys in the Boat and I’ll be gosh darned, we did not know that happened in Seattle. We went shopping for staff appreciation supplies after and it was another lovely day. 

Adi really didn’t want to go to the dance. She’s got some confidence issues going on and being social is not always her favorite. I gently persuaded and firmly encouraged and really just made her go, which she was not happy about. Sweet Lily sent me some pictures and said that Adi had a good time and not to let her tell me different. ❤️ 

Saturday was cold and rained hard all day, but we don’t even care because we’ve got no carpet in our basement. And also it’s been dry. 🤷‍♀️

Back to business

It’s so hard to get back into the swing of things after a lovely break, but we’ve been back at it for almost a week so I guess here we are. 

I stayed up way too late de-Christmasing last night but it was all good because we have 12:00 church this year. All the praise hands. It was a wonderful sabbath day. 

I had a 2 hour presidency meeting where we’re hammering out logistics for Women’s Conference. We talk about it all year, and then it feels like BAM, it’s less than 2 months away and I feel flat footed. It will all work out, but I always wish we had more decided. So many good ideas, now to narrow it all down. 

Matt and girls made baked potato’s and Adi brownies and I made a King Cake for epiphany and the missionaries came for dinner. No one got the baby and we were all so full, but wanted the missionaries to be part of our celebration, so I cut the remaining cake in 6 pieces (I had already frosted and sprinkled the cake when I added the baby, so I knew where he was) and let everyone choose, and Delaney found him. Good luck for her all year! And my losing streak continues. 😭

They shared a sweet message with us - we love those girls! Then we listened to a conference talk and worked on a new puzzle. We’re on a real puzzle kick over here - a bunch of live wires!

And now I’m back to business and back to blogging and my dad will be happy. 

And our view today since we didn’t want to put the bins away on a Sunday.