HAPPY MOMENTS

 We chopped down the top parts of the large Cottonwoods on our property. It took us working as a family for three straight evenings to clean up all the debris off the lawn. I treasure moments when we work as a family.  Then we had over thirty trees planted on our property. We still have a lot of tree-work to do but we are happy to see progress on our little farm.

 I treasure my moments with these two little boys. They are growing so much.

 The boys did karate together for a few months until James got a fungus infection on his foot. Yuck, we quit. 

 Just sitting around talking to dad and eating watermelon.

 Picking grapes at Kay's farm. 

 We missed Disneyland because this little one got sick with viral meningitis for ten days. Then she had lingering fevers for another month.

 She did make a short recovery for her birthday. 

 Logan eating grapes. 

 She was healthy at her birthday party that weekend. She invited, Kaylee Neff, Evelynn, Colt and Rowdy. They ran around the house and made their own pizzas. 

We went to the Truck-or-treat event in Fruita. We had a couple power rangers, a transformer, and a witch. Oh, and a cowgirl, not pictured. :)

The only two to go Trick-or-Treating on Halloween was James and Ashton. Nate and I took them. Nate kept the car warm while I and the boys ran from house to house. James exclaimed,"This is the best day ever. I have only seen people do this in the movies!" I giggled. I can't believe I had never taken them trick-or-treating. We always do the ward trunk-or-treat and truck-or-treat and I am usually  tired by the time Halloween comes around. I don't think they will ever let us miss it again. They had a blast. Sierra thought she was too old. Madison was sick. Sigh.

 Ashton built a fort for his brother.

For history day the 1st grade was studying ancient Egypt. I made James a mummy costume. He said he loved it so much he will be a mummy for Halloween next year. I was making Madison a Geisha and had a wig and everything but she was so sick she couldn't go. 

 Enjoying a warm day in November with my boys. I taught them how to push each other around in their Tonka trucks. 

WAFFLE LOVE

Disney got canceled because Madison became really ill. She had viral meningitis. After she got feeling better we went to Orem to play. It wasn't Disneyland, but we had fun.

PREP DAY for DISNEY

Hanging out with this girl today while we get a few more things ready for Disneyland.

DOLLS

Madison still plays with dolls.  I am grateful this world has not robbed her childhood. She has several friends who spend their days on their cell phones watching YouTube. They are wearing makeup and dressing like they are sixteen. They are talking about boys. I am really grateful that she is still playing with dolls. She starts young women’s in January. I believe that for the church as a whole it was the right decision to lower the age of Young Women, but I wish Madison had another year in Primary. Sigh! She will be fine. She will thrive.

CAT FISHING

Nate and I went out for Mexican food. Then we came home and loaded up some gear and went cat fishing. I spent the night trying to get through one of Sierra’s required readings for school “A brave New World.” It has been laborious for me.

I wanted to have a discussion about Trump being a conservative President who has actually fulfilled his campaign promises. Nate doesn’t feel he is conservative enough because he hasn’t cut taxes enough. Nate didn’t really want to talk politics, he just wanted to be still and watch the sunset. I guess that is more relaxing anyway.

KARATE

They have been begging to take karate for a year. They started last week. It was like Christmas to them. They were over the moon. They keep asking when they are going to get “fire power.” 😂

DUCKIES IN THE MORNING

I sent all the kids back to school. I hit a wall. During the summer I was so exhausted I couldn't find any motivation to do anything and I couldn't stop crying for three days. I had been frantically trying to buy a new home for three months. I was obsessing and I couldn't let it go. It is almost impossible to home school in 1200 square feet. I have a one bedroom, one bathroom house with a loft and it couldn't support a school. There were books mixed with dinner dishes and laundry all the time. I was sobbing in Nate's dude room searching for an answer but one wouldn't come. He finally said, "Send the kids back to school." I told him how much I loved homeschooling and I didn't want to do that. He gently said, "Send them back to school."

Now I just have my two little boys. We go to the park and do the things I use to before homeschooling and it is relaxing and it makes me happy.

GOD's MOST PRECIOUS GIFTS

Today, I was waiting outside the Sam’s Club bathroom for Ashton to finish pooping. He was in there for twenty minutes when an old gentleman came hobbling past me. Logan waved at him. He pointed to Logan and said, “God’s most precious gift.” He said he had thirty-one. His daughter lovingly corrected, “Grandkids, he has thirty-one grandkids.” 

Heavenly Father knew I needed that gentle reminder because a moment later. Ashton let me in the bathroom to wipe his bum and there was poop everywhere. He painted the bathroom brown. I just sighed, “God’s most precious gift.”

Later in the afternoon Logan used my lip stain and put it all over him. I couldn't get it off. I still can't get it off. After a bath and rub down with vasiline, he went to bed with lipstain all over him. God's most precious gift!

GRANDPA HAIR's FUNERAL

My grandfather passed away unexpectedly. He was getting old but he was still so full of life. He was working on the washer and dryer in the morning and that afternoon he just went home to be with his Creator. He lived such a glorious life. He could not have lived it more devoted or faith filled. I remember asking him if he ever regretted not going to Juilliard he said, “That was never my dream. I wanted this life.” It is interesting how our choices effect generations. I am glad he chose to marry my grandma at eighteen and have 17 children. I am glad he endowed each of his children and grandchildren with a love of music. To say he will be missed is an understatement. I hope my devotion to family and faith emulates his. I know he loves me. I am grateful for all the years I got to spend  not only being his granddaughter but his neighbor.