Giving Thanks

We set up the Chirstmas tree!  All the big kids were in the same room, though napping.

Later that day, Skull King bets and scores rang through the rafters.  Molly and I played with Pet Shops.

Monday I baked a million gingerbread chateaux pieces.  It's a really good thing I had helpers -- I'm way more efficient with their hands all over in my business.  Yep, nice mom award, that is becoming easier and easier as the youngest age increases.

Tuesday the holiday week began!  Melijah came and brought the joy and laughter that naturally follows in their wake.  We found a new Switch game, "ChickenHorse."  Buy it.  Play it.  Laugh hysterically.

The hammock under the balcony still rocks bored children for hours.

Wednesday we spent the morning decorating our houses.  Lots of sugar and candy and mess is a tradition with my own award attached, "Mother = Maid of the Mess."  I liken the event to the "Maid of Mist" boat at Niagra Falls.  For some reason she stays afloat although the waters are surging around her and the she's but a spectacle in the 75,750 gallons of water/second that pour over the falls in her direction.  Miss Maid, I know just how you feel.  The sprinkles that pour and fall each second in insurmountable.  Luckily, this Maid of the Mess has a capable adult daughter that contributes and encourages.   

Elijah wrestles every night with the littles.  He's a trained wrestler, so he knows just how to handle these boys.  And, he laughs easily and eats without complaining.  The more we get to know him, the more we love him.  I'm sure this trend will never end.

Although we've shared 22 Thanksgiving feasts, this year we had a first -- Austin did not help prepare one dish!  Diane and I made the menu and made it happen, while he took the kids to the park for pickle ball and napped on the couch afterward.  He sure deserved it this year.  I am thankful for this nice boy of mine, and the more I get to know him, the more I love him.

Oh! Two firsts: Bruce cut the turkey as we filed through the line.  We ate hot turkey this year! YUUUUMMM!

(Might I take a liberty and complain, just an eensy bit? I get full too fast.  I spent hours in the kitchen and only minutes eating.  Ugh.  Next year I'll go bach for fourths just because I spent four hours preparing.)

This! This is why we love living by grandma and grandpa -- they love and nurture and encourage and teach and smile and play and guide and testify.

Oh! Another third first -- we hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and all the way up again = 18 miles round trip, or 46,106 steps (Thank you, Garmin watch).  We started at 7 am and finished at 4 pm.  The entire journey was delightful and powerful.  I knew I could climb a mountain, but I didn't know how well I could do it.  I just trotted 10 miles up. Thank you, Peloton Power Zone training, once a week for 30 minutes.

(Austin was actually the historian on this trip, so I don't have any pictures on my phone, but I did upload a link of pictures if you want to scroll through them.)

Grand Canyon Hike

Also, here are my 4th grade skillz. 

Bar Tricks

I hope this Grand Canyon hike becomes an annual tradition.  These trails allowed me to prove to myself that hard things solidify that I'm awesome, that spending 9 hours straight with my teens is a blessing and the wonders our Creator created continue to fill both soul and heart.  

Thank you Austin, for our eight children and a 40 minute Sunday nap.

Thank you Melijah, for your patience and kind words (They thanked me at the close of the day and expressed their appreciation for their inclusion and care.).

Thank you Andy, for eating more than most and sleeping more than all.

Thank you Maisie, for laughing the entire hike.

Thank you Nick, for rubbing my back and needing a back rub back.

Thank you Maddie, for playing the most beautiful piano music -- our home echoed with Christmas carols and spiritual anthems.

Thank you Eddie, for giving me tips on how to win when I was mostly losing.

Thank you Ryan, for eating only 1/2 of the gingerbread candy, and for waiting two hours before you started eating it off the finished chateaux.

Thank you Molly, for putting your hands and body all over Elijah instead of me at meal time.

Thank you valiant readers, for not giving up on my life nor it's blantant holes that correspond with my character holes.

Thank you Joseph Smith, for revealing Jesus in this dispensation where now the privilege of temples and covenants are an integral part in my progession and discipleship.
 

Noviembre

Sunday Austin, Eddie, Ryan and Molly all participated in the primary program.  Each had two speaking parts, and all three children could be heard singing above the rest.  They testified that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration, and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church on the earth. Well, done!

Sunday evening are always peaceful at the grandparents' house.  Quiet conversations and small talk fill the air and are intensified by sitting closely together and eating treats.

I loom-knitted a hat.

Maddie got shot by a dart during family chior.  So gross.

Andy received his mission call to the Tennessee, Nashville mission.  His home MTC starts January 10th, and he flies out on February 23rd.

Maddie wanted a trim.

Uncle Mike taught me over the phone to make fires, and Nick came home to reach me.  Then, I taught the YW at our activity.  Eddie and Ryan wanted to make fires for science.  They did for an entire hour.  Eddie came back to me later that day and wanted to have another go.  Maisie concluded, "No wonder the boys love making fire, it is fun!"

Friday morning Austin and I attended the temple.  We did not see Grandma B., but she was there serving.

Friday night we were all home together, so we watched a movie and ate delicious popcorn.  Saturday morning I didn't open my eyes until 9am.  I was asked to help with different events, but I ignored them and gave myself the gift of sleep.  The rest of the day I did my projects and loved my people.  What a concept -- forget the outside world and take care of my inside world!
 

Sliding into Central November

Sunday night these scholars were studying away.

Monday these people played in the trees.

Eddie was invited to join the middle school wrestling team. He the betiniest boy, but he's so amazing.

Maisie was quarantined this entire week.  She came up a new game, predictable. The "it" person traps the fools under the bed, then they try to escape and get to my room before they get tagged.

Maisie planned a fun joint activity -- Black Light Nerf Wars.

Andy became the sacrifice.  Eddie, Ryan and Molly joined in because Austin had a school meeting.

We tried hiking.  Molly got a blister, so she and I went home.

We built this plant stand.

Saturday Maisie raced XC at state.

She came in 16th of 177 runners.  She made it to the podium.

We waited for two hours.  Maisie's fan club was so patient.

Listen to how the announcer pronounces her name.  We've called her that ever since.

Maisie's Podium

Andy won a Marines shirt by impressing all the ladies.

Andy's 20 pull-ups

We to Cafe Rio to celebrate out athlete.

Andy worked in the evening, so Austin and I visited.

Finally, a 10 minute date.

Maisie was so tired Saturday night.  She bought her racing swag and posed for my camera.

I never amounted to much in the public eye -- I never take risk because I'm afraid of failure.  I'm so proud of my children who push pass that fear and are just aweseome.  Sometimes they lose, sometimes they win, but they always learn.