November 2022

We had a cold start to November, that coincided with a wet and muddy and windy soccer tournament. The tournament was local so we were able to come home in between games to warm up....but boy did we freeze while we were out on the field!  Emmie seemed to have a lot of fun. I would have just been miserable, so I'm proud of her for getting out there and having fun!  

We also made Leo his Harry Potter bed in the office/Ainsley's bedroom. I think it turned out great. And now we don't have a huge dog crate taking up space in our house and I can just close the closet and not even know it's there. I think I appreciate this more than anyone else. Except maybe Leo, he seems to like being upstairs with most of the family. 

On a random note...Kort sent me this picture from the day she went to Disneyland. By herself. 

Emmie hasn't had a birthday party with friends for years. So this year we decided to throw her one. We made invitations and she had 8 of her friends over for her party. I'm so sad that I didn't think to take a picture of the group!  We had pizza and then headed over tot he village for a photo scavenger hunt. The girls came home and we looked at all of the pictures they took. Then we played the saran wrap game. I spent about $60 on some fun prizes to wrap up in the saran wrap ball. We had face masks, necklaces, rings, candy, nail polish, lotion, body wash, loofahs, hair clips, and all sorts of prizes. After the girls were finished getting their prizes we opened gifts and had dessert and then played some more games. I think everyone had a great time and I got to see that Emmie has some really nice friends. 

(Emmie trying out the wax stamp kit one of her friends gave her.)

Ainsley and her roommates signed up to participate in natural disaster day. The art department does costume makeup for all the students participating and then the medical students have to rescue and treat all of the "injured" students. Ainsley was a burn victim. Her make-up artist went all out!

Emmie also made this folded page art with an old book. Apparently it's a thing at her middle school. I can't think of a better trend for middle schoolers.

Owen had his end of year banquet for cross country. The kids got to have treats, watch a video of pictures from the season, and get awards. Owen got an award for his grades and for participation. Cross country is not an easy sport. I'm so impressed with how diligent Owen has been with it. He works so hard!

And then Thanksgiving came. Which I also have no pictures of. I am so lame! Ainsley came home on Tuesday and spent the week with us. We went shopping and baked pies and watched movies. On Thanksgiving we went to my parents for dinner and then listened to all of my grandpa's old records on my dad's new record player. He had so many records! I especially loved the Christmas records. 

We also got our Christmas decorations up so that Ainsley could help us decorate the tree before she left. But what I'm most proud of is the chalk lettering that I did on this sign. Far from perfect but I greatly surpassed my own expectations!

And our month ended with Ainsley driving back to Provo with Olivia Demars and her husband and then we had to all go back to work and school. Boo.

 

October 2022

October started off with Home Coming. Which somehow led to us getting a new table. Probably because 2 of our chairs had broken, the paint on the rest was peeling, and the finish on the table had gone sticky. And since I finally accepted the fact that I would never get around to that...we bought a new one. For Homecoming. But then I ended up feeding the kids outside, so it didn't matter anyways.

Owen's date was Sarah (in the red dress). Apparently she asked Owen if he would ask her because there was another boy that wanted to ask her that she didn't want to go with. Then Logan asked Clara. Then Logan decided he like another girl (Elsa...in the front pink dress) so he told Clara she could go with someone else. Then everyone told Logan that was rude. So then they all went together. Then 3 other girls came along. Which was great. Everyone that was available got together for games at the park and a picnic earlier that day. Then everyone met for pictures that night. The girl in the dark blue dress showed up for pictures and dinner, and then before they ate dinner she left to see a friend, and then we never saw her again. It was definitely an interesting situation......It was super weird! 

I was pretty proud of myself. For a bunch of dollar store and borrowed decorations it turned out pretty nice!

But the kids were all happy and seemed to have a good time while they were here. Emmie and Elsie were their waiters and we served them Fettucini alfredo, bruschetta, and french bread. After that I just heard that they went to the dance, which was lame, and then went to Logan's house, which also sounded a little lame. Kids and dances are strange to me now.  I just don't get it. I wonder if my parents felt the same way?

Due to the fact that Owen kicked Ainsley out of her bedroom and bathroom, I had to convert his old bedroom into her bedroom/my office for teaching. It was a tight fit. Leo's bed has since moved into the closet. Which the family opposed and said was sad and Harry Potter like, but he loves it. 

As soon as homecoming was over Emmie and I busted out the Halloween Decorations. This years addition...the bats!

And all the while Ainsley was off at school having fun as well. One of her roommates threw a Charcuterie  party where everyone had to make a different board to share. She decided to do a yogurt parfait board. I think they all had a ton of food and a ton of fun. 

And I left mid-October for a sisters trip. Hopefully the first annual! Syd and I flew into Denver and then we drove 3 hours to steamboat springs and got an Air bnb. It was awesome! We just got to hang out, live in messy frat house conditions, go horseback riding, eat good food, and go on a beautiful hike. I loved it. 

And Emmie is now famous. Her artwork from last year was chosen to be put on an Ada County Highway District sweeper truck!  The best part for her was that she got a $50 visa gift card. Which she is worried she won't be able to spend before it expires in 5 years....hmmmmm?

And last but not least....Halloween!  Emmie was the queen of hearts this year and Elsie was the Mad Hatter. They had plenty of opportunities to wear their costumes, between a soccer party, the ward carnival, and then Halloween itself. 

Owen didn't dress up this year, but he did make an awesome pumpkin. 

Actually they both did. Owen's was snoopy and Emmie's was the pirate.