tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31975218498764420062024-03-10T15:42:37.136-06:00"We're Off in a Cloud of Chicken Manure" --The Egg and ILife in my family is like a sprint toward the horizon trailing clouds of dirt, chicken manure (figuratively), and awesomeness. I have to document our adventures because no one would believe the stories, or my recall ability would fail me. Life is an amazing adventure worth documenting. Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.comBlogger1609125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-54951253612683234882024-03-10T15:42:00.000-06:002024-03-10T15:42:04.846-06:00Read Across America<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85f5ySr-5GYYrb4bsaOYd4ujYQv5s8-cWrrwa_C9k2jpoQkWZmjg74ZuFAA3Y3iPS4cFDvAN5I40RuoXKiQjPdB7xiIsH_G2r4J0NOxmUWrnIJvcHsB1Xu-IE-YJc0D5_rs9U_iITJyrn_3NF183atIKmgKCLCgpJgDu0BTeD6zGZ0wOLUlm12ISsjyI4/s3300/RAA2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="3300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85f5ySr-5GYYrb4bsaOYd4ujYQv5s8-cWrrwa_C9k2jpoQkWZmjg74ZuFAA3Y3iPS4cFDvAN5I40RuoXKiQjPdB7xiIsH_G2r4J0NOxmUWrnIJvcHsB1Xu-IE-YJc0D5_rs9U_iITJyrn_3NF183atIKmgKCLCgpJgDu0BTeD6zGZ0wOLUlm12ISsjyI4/s16000/RAA2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXmOpPJg0BSto4s5m8fXgJ56JFB4XRREDztOILlpzZa7KXgQsPLOpHNndDzvpkyNCNw6RItmhWSEB_PvfhCVxfdQPonuphHd09Qd_lSd5pFksSEthd4fb-2It0xcJW4bfIWJacAoT1Ers_-yzqZ43lOTne0gQEZBh65z_HLWKkZ7d2SRLMl_iwjhhbm48/s4472/RAA5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXmOpPJg0BSto4s5m8fXgJ56JFB4XRREDztOILlpzZa7KXgQsPLOpHNndDzvpkyNCNw6RItmhWSEB_PvfhCVxfdQPonuphHd09Qd_lSd5pFksSEthd4fb-2It0xcJW4bfIWJacAoT1Ers_-yzqZ43lOTne0gQEZBh65z_HLWKkZ7d2SRLMl_iwjhhbm48/s16000/RAA5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Uw2tTw69L0ferMpLLQagwYufy44Gg-vevzuD3e8C0Nt_v77J4GzorSyHVinK5qkflQmXKfbo7IEy6jcNsV-eYrot9q013ps3ZNKLe02TxlqPLPc_jBXzlKsgnwGpySM3Wc33XCXqD36Hp7XsdSZGd5RNQQnvwQApQaPB2ioKqRefCFT5RXAB4ukRUo1J/s4472/RAA6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Uw2tTw69L0ferMpLLQagwYufy44Gg-vevzuD3e8C0Nt_v77J4GzorSyHVinK5qkflQmXKfbo7IEy6jcNsV-eYrot9q013ps3ZNKLe02TxlqPLPc_jBXzlKsgnwGpySM3Wc33XCXqD36Hp7XsdSZGd5RNQQnvwQApQaPB2ioKqRefCFT5RXAB4ukRUo1J/s16000/RAA6.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">Columbia High School hosted a volunteer gala to thank all the parent volunteers that support the sports, arts, and general workings of the school. I was invited for hemming all the concerts clothes, planning events, and chaperoning the trip! I did not read the invite until Saturday evening, the RSVP date was back in February. Alas, there was plenty of room so I got to attend. Amelia was invited to serenade the gathering with piano “elevator” music before dinner. She played for a good 40 minutes! Nice work. The Culinary Arts Pathway students to prepare, serve, and wait the tables. It was all very fancy! Justin showed up, the VP quickly made sure he had a seat and service. We listened to several CHS graduates talk about Columbia and the impact programs made in their life during and after high school. We sat next to the Izatt family and Rebecca Leach, both choir volunteers. Hats off to the students for the yummy lasagna, salad, and delicious dessert.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Amelia and I had a mandatory parent meeting Tuesday around 6:30. The boys went early to Top Golf for a YM activity. We are getting very excited about the NYC trip. During the meeting Mrs Sene reviewed the itinerary, passed out forms to sign, laid down the behavior law, and wrote down lots of notes to make the trip successful.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Phillip earned a last minute trip to the Nampa Air Museum. His teacher Mr Z called me during first period, said a few students missed school so he could take extra students. Phillip was chosen on the fly because his behavior is acceptable. He said it was a fun visit, even bought himself a new hat. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Reagan hosted a fun Read Across America event all week for Dr Suess’ birthday. Monday was hat day, followed by sock day, crazy hair/clothes, green eggs and ham, and places you’ll go. We had a fun time dressing up for literacy. I wore my galabeya from Egypt on Friday. Next week Mrs Harp will host the Book Fair.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Evelyn and Josie saw me rolling out pizza dough for taco pizza. They rushed upstairs to don their pioneer dresses! Soon I had Laura and Carrie helping me make pizza. I had no idea pioneers ate pizza, guess I was wrong because they were in MY kitchen! </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I had the BUSIEST weekend in a very long time. I photographed 4 newborns and 2 babies between Friday evening and Saturday evening. Friday I rushed home from work hoping to have enough time to bust out all my studio supplies. I photographed twin girls the “Oso” family welcomed, I photographed their 16 month old son Matthew last year. Kylie and her husband were both Black Hawk pilots. Early Saturday morning I photographed baby Abigail and her 3 siblings. Justin and I were very impressed with the family, just had a good feeling about them. Down to Earth folks that believe in God. Miss Everly came over next. She wore a darling onesie Kim wore when she was a baby, a handmade creation in robin’s egg blue. I had 30 minutes to eat and rest before Tarah Norland brought her sweet new baby girl for photos. She is on the 5th grade team this year. I will say her class is about the rowdiest group ever. Baby Faye was the daintiest little baby I’ve seen in a long while. Three out of the 4 babies all had dimpled chins! Right after baby Faye, Dahlia came over for her 9 month photos. Somehow Diego was convinced to sit in a chair for the steep cost of a smarties roll of candy. I cleaned up a bit, mostly gathered it all together for the children to help me put away. Then off to grocery shop at the late hour of 7 pm on a Saturday.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Evelyn and Josie had fun photographing each other before my studio stuff got packed up. It is much easier to pose an 8 year old like a newborn! Ha ha. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Josie begged me for weeks now to have a fancy movie night. I told her last week, come hell or high water, we would have a movie night on Saturday. Evelyn and Josie got snacks ready for the event. Josie taped name tags to the couch and loveseat so everyone would have a spot, Justin switched his tag for his favorite perch. I brought home a couple snacks to add for the movie treats. I popped fresh popcorn to snack on. We bought tickets from Josie, used REAL coins for our tickets. I am glad the gils scrounged up enough coins for everyone, we didn’t need to use our own coins. I bought the new Wonka movie at Walmart, it rent was $20 and buy was $24. The movie was so refreshing and uplifting!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This morning I played my flute with Linda Minor for a special musical number. I flubbed a note, an obvious flub, my brain stuttered for a moment. Otherwise, all the practicing paid off! My body was aching after a full week of work, mommy jobs, and 6 photo sessions. Now to carve time to edit everything. I tell ya, working full time is no joke.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">PS: if you ask Phillip a question is typical answer is: OINK </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-76874153519836123732024-03-03T14:59:00.001-07:002024-03-10T15:02:33.470-06:00Josie's Baptism Day<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Xa4ZteUpSGf7SQK399pYrIuFVllNA98NoMnOcg0Wzfg8RvpzP8e-q139qnTg8Rqdry7CGHn_Xh12nCqTmy7wUJTgEEHxGi4UHqGoblz6gYQ8Fs0oL4v-LVG7h_4h_6TjKpwkYzgEeIxar4ei8uVVYYbR536KZD_x7hjtT-8QZuWttrdcFoy1k56rjWmI/s4472/josiebaptism8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Xa4ZteUpSGf7SQK399pYrIuFVllNA98NoMnOcg0Wzfg8RvpzP8e-q139qnTg8Rqdry7CGHn_Xh12nCqTmy7wUJTgEEHxGi4UHqGoblz6gYQ8Fs0oL4v-LVG7h_4h_6TjKpwkYzgEeIxar4ei8uVVYYbR536KZD_x7hjtT-8QZuWttrdcFoy1k56rjWmI/s16000/josiebaptism8.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">Josie is baptized! She had a lovely weekend celebrating her big spiritual step. The past 2 months we spent Tuesday evenings talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ with Josie as the student. We took turns helping prepare Josie with basic gospel topics. Tuesday night the Bishop came to our home for her baptism interview. We practiced her song with our heads touching (still giggling over that one). She handed out invitations to her friends and a few teachers at school for her special day. She was really hoping some of her nonmember friends would attend. Friday evening she and I went to Walmart for drinks, plates, cookies, and cupcake ingredients. I stayed up way too late making fancy cupcakes, they were divine! Phillip was struggling with his talk. Justin gave him a vague directive to read some conference talks and lesson plan to use for his talk on the Holy Ghost. He had a blank screen by 10 pm and was whining like a baby. I found an idea to use objects in a gift bag to talk about different roles of the Holy Ghost. Phillip collected the items while we described the symbolism of each object (flashlight, compass, heart, lifesavers, q-tip, bandaid, hand sanitizer, scriptures, and blanket).</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Josie was up bright and early! She was very excited to get her dress on, even get her hair fixed up. She reminded me of a cute little bird hopping everywhere excitedly chirping. We arrived at 9:30 to the Stake Center. Sister Grow fitted a jumpsuit for Josie and showed us which room we could use. Josie was the last of 5 baptisms of the day. She chose My Own Sacred Grove for the opening song. Justin set up the TV so we could use the video as a sing-a-long since most did not know that song. Everett offered the opening prayer followed by a talk on Baptism by me. I had 3 bears to symbolize the covenants Josie would make: bear testimony, bear Christ’s name, and bear one another’s burdens. Josie sang her song after my talk, our foreheads were not touching. We still had time so Phillip gave his talk as well. He did a really good job. Justin made us all cry when he started crying after giving his part of the Holy Ghost talk. While we waited for Josie’s turn we sang Primary song, that was very peaceful. Amelia, Phillip, and Everett were the baptism witnesses. Josie popped out of the water with a huge grin! Our last child is baptized! Now to help them stay on the path. Justin gave Josie the gift of the Holy Ghost with Bishop Roundy, Dustin Ostler, and Brother Floyd assisting. Josie was very excited Mrs. Adamson (her 2nd grade teacher) gave her a jumbo chocolate bar! Best day ever. She got a lovely bracelet from Mrs Jessica who teaches her violin. The service ended with treats of cupcakes, cookies, brownies (thanks to Heidi Ipsen), and juice. Another family history chapter of the Call family closed gently, we are now all covenant makers.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thursday the little girls and I stayed home from MCO to participate in Literacy Night at Reagan. We donated quite a few books the girls did not want to read anymore, each girl had 12+ tickets to trade for gently used books. I love that idea. We dressed up as the Ingalls family just for fun. There were lots of games and other literacy games to play at different tables each grade level hosted. It decided to pour rain just as we left our home for the event, we walked over with umbrellas. We even spotted a light rainbow shimmering in the eastern sky. We paused a moment taking in the lovely rainbow.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">After Josie’s baptism I went grocery shopping, Justin and Mia went car shopping, and the kids tidied up the loft area. I spent a happy two hours sewing baby clothes with Jessica Digiacomo, we’re making Tara Norland some cute baby outfits. It’s very hard to keep up with everything: the cleaning, the laundry, the meals, the errands, and etc. Our home is in need of a spring cleaning!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I want Josie to know how much we love her. Josie is a very happy child! I love her testimony in Christ, a simple and powerful faith in her Savior. I know Christ is my Savior. I know he filled his part of the plan of Salvation, we can overcome death and sin through Christ. I know Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration. I am privileged to read and study the Book of Mormon.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Justin brought down a “new” black backpack for his post baptismal clothing. Amelia immediately named it Boberita. What better activity than to hold a wedding between Bob and Boberita. I mean, it makes sense. Josie cut out confetti to sprinkle as the flower girl. Evelyn decorated the wedding aisle and venue Amelia officiated: she read 3 verses from the Book of Mormon. LOL. Bob had a fancy tie with lips pinned on so he could kiss his back-bride. Boberita was stunning in a 10 ft veil and tiara! She too had lips to kiss her new husband. My wedding band was used to solemnify the event. So hilarious. Too bad Bob has to go to work early Monday morning. No rest for the weary.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-12403052049284950482024-02-25T15:46:00.003-07:002024-02-25T15:46:18.705-07:00National Tennis Day<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbICTTaAMjN9pSW2MPSE0lV7yTdNYAiYPkYHTLPY1HWrenXWeH0k655i6jXgi6i-WboWuOPc73BgIMsqYDkjraZOV7bSVHcItyLbQThBETKqPSLE1tSb6K2iXL1FOxmerAoH6mxiSk-raCLoOnkmFTEcK7nQp0cvnkG_bUaJmzAC8b9xqdIlbOCW3AdWA8/s4472/tennisday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3577" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbICTTaAMjN9pSW2MPSE0lV7yTdNYAiYPkYHTLPY1HWrenXWeH0k655i6jXgi6i-WboWuOPc73BgIMsqYDkjraZOV7bSVHcItyLbQThBETKqPSLE1tSb6K2iXL1FOxmerAoH6mxiSk-raCLoOnkmFTEcK7nQp0cvnkG_bUaJmzAC8b9xqdIlbOCW3AdWA8/s16000/tennisday.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybOa9PmRP5_dhlLu0YZf5Mcn3bXujf17orIf0T6bBKyJQIkkjWyPakLsimIgVTEKkgna_yBIrJz4T9Syj7c7ThTdY5IdCvAASK2_j7iNgAvB_aSTispDi3td0pf7VaKdzj_W0GIG5uwBXbVfjLzd3__UJHUvKrsW5VORw4UXNV_Vbwk7MVqB9scUt6M6L/s3300/tennisday1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybOa9PmRP5_dhlLu0YZf5Mcn3bXujf17orIf0T6bBKyJQIkkjWyPakLsimIgVTEKkgna_yBIrJz4T9Syj7c7ThTdY5IdCvAASK2_j7iNgAvB_aSTispDi3td0pf7VaKdzj_W0GIG5uwBXbVfjLzd3__UJHUvKrsW5VORw4UXNV_Vbwk7MVqB9scUt6M6L/s16000/tennisday1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6IYsFFZX3vnMKqhVcKtGhTgPGNEYvJHeH8Kl7CMb8XyVK1LKnSkcLXOOXvwnR_n2aY0ewrXIf1fdG7wNRxplSt3-5h_xu2drZ4BX_1QfVX76gUVVdxKKLQQe2Kmx-y9EV0I5uqAXZVknSxdrk_kGIsQG28VYkx_4XkfkGrH-qQsYCR9PSVIyj4zhV9Ir/s4472/tennisday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3577" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6IYsFFZX3vnMKqhVcKtGhTgPGNEYvJHeH8Kl7CMb8XyVK1LKnSkcLXOOXvwnR_n2aY0ewrXIf1fdG7wNRxplSt3-5h_xu2drZ4BX_1QfVX76gUVVdxKKLQQe2Kmx-y9EV0I5uqAXZVknSxdrk_kGIsQG28VYkx_4XkfkGrH-qQsYCR9PSVIyj4zhV9Ir/s16000/tennisday2.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">We had quite a busy President’s Day holiday. The day started out getting prepped for a newborn session and then the actual session. The baby was wide awake but calm! That rarely happens. She was adorable. During the session mom and I were talking, found out her 3 nieces are at Reagan! I was excited to tell the girls about the photo session. I left my photo studio up for Mia to use on two projects she needed to work on. Later in the day we worked on her splash assignment which consisted of dropping strawberries…then a lemon into a clear glass pitcher. She finished the last assignment at 8:45, she had to photograph 16 different emotions. Evelyn made a great subject she has all the expressions. Amelia and Evelyn both had dental appointments to fix their cavities. Evelyn was very brave and went without me. We got McDonalds as a reward for bravery and no school. Amelia’s top lip was quite the source of entertainment, her lip up to her nose was all numb. She amused us all trying to pronounce “b” words, roll her lips, and such. She was laughing so hard we all joined right in. I went to get some fabric with Jessica Digiacomo. We’re planning to sew up an outfit for Mrs Norland’s baby.</span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We have a neighbor from Southern AZ, every school holiday she makes tamales. Tamale day is Phillip’s favorite day. That kid pounded 9 tamales in less than 3 days, he claims tamales taste best cold right before bed. He came to my classroom on Wednesday with the rest of the bag, perched on my comfy chair and polished the rest off. He likes to think my chair is his chair, he comes just to watch an hour of YouTube or play Cool Math Games. The boys are quite helpful when they come while my last class is still in session. My typing contest ends next week on Thursday! One 4th grade boy went home and FINISHED the entire typing course for the 4th grade, earned almost 7,000 points. I am so proud of all the students for doing their best.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Everett is struggling something fierce with depression, anxiety, and or hormones. He spent several restless nights, during the day he was so anxious about sleeping that he did not sleep. We had many hugging and snuggling moments as he tried to express his troubles. I advised him to use the mental dryer trick, just fold up that load you are spinning, it’s dry so put it away. Tuesday night Justin gave Everett a powerful Father’s blessing. He was told that guardian angels surround him, ancestors assigned to lift him up, providing protection. Satan’s angels were rebuked and commanded to leave Everett alone. There were many more words said but those stuck out to me. Breaks my heart to hear about his struggles at school, feelings he can’t place, and rushes of “icky” premonitions that seem to have no source.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Wednesday Amelia and I went to a RS activity learning to assemble charcuterie boards. The trick lies in variety, texture, and color theory! Our plates were cute little boards we used to serve ourselves after we applied what we learned making 2 large trays. Our board looked more chaotic than charcuterie but it tasted good. LOL. I got to sit with the YW, so fun to chat and joke around with folks at my same maturity level. Fergus got a business shirt, so he can be Lord Business. He decided Justin’s head was delicious, licked all that yummy salt off his head…while wearing a business shirt. That was epic.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Josie and I finally sat down to plan her baptism program. She was very specific about what songs she wanted to sing, but changed her mind 3 times. She settled on My Own Sacred Grove and Walk with Me for the songs. I talked her into singing a song which she agreed to do ONLY if I sang and played piano with her. We had a cozy sing session singing I Like to Look for Rainbows and I Love to See the Temple. She had her hand on my shoulder with her head resting by my cheek. She exclaimed several times, don’t you feel all that love mom?! Yes, I do! She found me at my computer a few hours later wanting to practice again. Our conversation went something like this: “let’s practice again, I’ll just sit right on your lap. There! Ok you let me sing first but just help a little. Mom, you missed coming in again. Sigh, let’s just sing like this forever. You love me and I love you. Don’t you love rainbows and temples, mom? Let’s sing like this forever, well maybe tomorrow.” My heart was full.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I have a fun Sandra Boynton calendar at school, it tells you when it is National Crazy Sock day or National Play Tennis Day. Friday happened to be National Play Tennis Day. Josie planned for an entire week to go play tennis afterschool on Friday. Everett is starting on the tennis team next week so was also eager to play. The EVMS court was busy so we drove to the Skyview court. It was empty of practicing teams. We enjoyed an hour of smashing tennis balls across the net. The moon and sun were at exact opposites, as the sun set the moon rose, it was a very pretty sight.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Amelia had her State Solo performance Saturday at 11:20 at NNU. She was quite worried because her throat was sore for about 10 days and was still very sore. I checked her throat Thursday night, indeed it was very red but did not look like Strep. She practiced with Mrs Goodman several times throughout the week. I attempted to help her practice at home, alas my piano skills were tested by Handel’s prowess. We saw Jenn Spackman and her daughter Lily there (from MCO). I am so proud of Mia for pressing on to complete her obligation to sing. She is feeling very overwhelmed lately with a lot of responsibilities on her plate. It’s not easy being an 11th grader!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When Phillip wants to clean, he is my best cleaner. The van was gross again. He detail cleaned several spots in the van with gusto and precision. All the kids chipped in to vacuum and scrub off surfaces. The van was several shades lighter after an hour of scrubbing. I dropped the older 3 off at the church for a temple baptism trip. I photographed Clyde Izatt’s senior photos around 4 pm. It’s been a hot minute since I last photographed a graduating senior. Next week we are gearing up for Josie’s baptism, that came quick.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-48820144349126452712024-02-18T15:21:00.000-07:002024-02-18T15:21:01.387-07:00Valentine's Day 2024<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHY2olSW31VIszyBVg-d1gHu4isYjz2Mw2p3sJSHCiI4g56OfhfRFZTDvV17D07XM_1RyhhOk-tOfTSf1RSWqKuHSkE1d-LA_88tFbY5f15yxVBodFKcpaPAIml2sGRTvJFdlsimAqCRUZ7gKDd5pGN14H4ZbNQE_n1HeohmkBDjVbVWsYqm4przGKleF/s4472/valentinesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHY2olSW31VIszyBVg-d1gHu4isYjz2Mw2p3sJSHCiI4g56OfhfRFZTDvV17D07XM_1RyhhOk-tOfTSf1RSWqKuHSkE1d-LA_88tFbY5f15yxVBodFKcpaPAIml2sGRTvJFdlsimAqCRUZ7gKDd5pGN14H4ZbNQE_n1HeohmkBDjVbVWsYqm4przGKleF/s16000/valentinesday.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVF9-4fgwNY5BG-erjN7X3LM8XR23E8Fbo8_QHtP-nZYUPfmYtMTpkj6SY0ozTDdMrAm-7cAQVlaSl-WIebnP0QTYKK2tyY6T31Gb4vEAsAvbgf60c96t_uiAFnVVkATZz4bdtynPL87Vo-8ywGsbHqrLAx6Bz05Zf3GJL0UQKgdblYIfI2pZRVw-CMM9y/s4472/valentinesday1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVF9-4fgwNY5BG-erjN7X3LM8XR23E8Fbo8_QHtP-nZYUPfmYtMTpkj6SY0ozTDdMrAm-7cAQVlaSl-WIebnP0QTYKK2tyY6T31Gb4vEAsAvbgf60c96t_uiAFnVVkATZz4bdtynPL87Vo-8ywGsbHqrLAx6Bz05Zf3GJL0UQKgdblYIfI2pZRVw-CMM9y/s16000/valentinesday1.jpg" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVF9-4fgwNY5BG-erjN7X3LM8XR23E8Fbo8_QHtP-nZYUPfmYtMTpkj6SY0ozTDdMrAm-7cAQVlaSl-WIebnP0QTYKK2tyY6T31Gb4vEAsAvbgf60c96t_uiAFnVVkATZz4bdtynPL87Vo-8ywGsbHqrLAx6Bz05Zf3GJL0UQKgdblYIfI2pZRVw-CMM9y/s4472/valentinesday1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6LraT0KTVNdehEyDmME0c87xE146US4Cn2YzhYVKQ4ULnoJcfplk-AuLLKrsXsna5VagNLmH1PquVfMZJa29lCEVc-dQm7VnO1ASOA15lbQwiULRQALVmwzhE6ZQEiJjNEzS_UNQTolYCQsOLiImj5iT55IGiKTN28zeaqyJaqLE49IJOyR5AaqSzm7v/s4472/valentinesday7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6LraT0KTVNdehEyDmME0c87xE146US4Cn2YzhYVKQ4ULnoJcfplk-AuLLKrsXsna5VagNLmH1PquVfMZJa29lCEVc-dQm7VnO1ASOA15lbQwiULRQALVmwzhE6ZQEiJjNEzS_UNQTolYCQsOLiImj5iT55IGiKTN28zeaqyJaqLE49IJOyR5AaqSzm7v/s16000/valentinesday7.jpg" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbBvhGucJL-GJiKtQy6iprnm6iAxPO4kgjgt5qPFrfMVQtFwpS5AWmQe7oWWT7I3xjB81P0BojCQkY1Nyfj9J-NJprR9r7iVdltggeaN3VCoJYKXV3jdODwWuD9XiynY_boe3sSOLYxwKacUdw0hQlxf4d_HyAHKdj8JubNm0sNUYntTFOb9i1QgHszyn/s16000/valentinesday3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5p7Z64cClqrf98x64GIfQp6F3ceoVr7IAB4pxW-dvv-DJH9Fk9_ubUcvYqbC9SCyQ0Fqmwrvpj9dFPtizG_78NZ5YLPc5oA7alGHWk2R0-_AD2SoGeQGLhWaDs848i5chlA828v4w-uO7DV4crM0Jp94rBfAK4-shGvWpGGdBUdu8cRgUiEqmzl1fXx5C/s4472/valentinesday4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5p7Z64cClqrf98x64GIfQp6F3ceoVr7IAB4pxW-dvv-DJH9Fk9_ubUcvYqbC9SCyQ0Fqmwrvpj9dFPtizG_78NZ5YLPc5oA7alGHWk2R0-_AD2SoGeQGLhWaDs848i5chlA828v4w-uO7DV4crM0Jp94rBfAK4-shGvWpGGdBUdu8cRgUiEqmzl1fXx5C/s16000/valentinesday4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLS2nHWEqCMdIx2pNtQYGT0fqeCWwfcsLvRVy9h2yIKAGxjhJX1CRzfMw2fIRx47Fu2v89PZK-Wvx9AhVw_1Rj7VLngogSo3poedj5lMsmTe5Vrzfp6T72U5uhctm6UVuan3z-A82DHu7sSusIDgdS2AP3kdwsnu7o6y6OUQUUEBf_tpRfcR9cQPd08NJ/s4472/valentinesday5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLS2nHWEqCMdIx2pNtQYGT0fqeCWwfcsLvRVy9h2yIKAGxjhJX1CRzfMw2fIRx47Fu2v89PZK-Wvx9AhVw_1Rj7VLngogSo3poedj5lMsmTe5Vrzfp6T72U5uhctm6UVuan3z-A82DHu7sSusIDgdS2AP3kdwsnu7o6y6OUQUUEBf_tpRfcR9cQPd08NJ/s16000/valentinesday5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoMc494K_nl-1TBXgZdbne1NSe1DJ84bzCBj05OQbBGejE34OhUFsP3eMi5lQ5gEt3KxMo7TqDaEFlQYsuLfEdsMxNuXN7lYjfEeMcGSFyA5cF2W52OigQc_k6VdOoSUGfM9xGioPBiYe_G1TvC4OLs6Wzj5gcleMyD_9FMG3jLJzsgKGHyZPZ2egD5te/s4472/valentinesday6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoMc494K_nl-1TBXgZdbne1NSe1DJ84bzCBj05OQbBGejE34OhUFsP3eMi5lQ5gEt3KxMo7TqDaEFlQYsuLfEdsMxNuXN7lYjfEeMcGSFyA5cF2W52OigQc_k6VdOoSUGfM9xGioPBiYe_G1TvC4OLs6Wzj5gcleMyD_9FMG3jLJzsgKGHyZPZ2egD5te/s16000/valentinesday6.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">Evelyn’s nasty cough caught up with Amelia and Josie this week. Thankfully, they were not nearly as sick as Evelyn was. Josie came to my classroom toward the end of the day looking peaked and tired on Monday. Amelia and Josie stayed home Tuesday to convalesce. Amelia was supposed to miss the day at school for a choir festival at NNU so she felt good about missing that particular day.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Sunday the girls and I worked on their Valentine boxes for school. Evelyn made a strawberry cow box out of an empty Goldfish carton, it was so cute…like a huge carton of milk. Josie wanted scrapbooking paper, buttons, flowers, and ribbon on her box. The girls had all their Valentine cards made and assembled by Tuesday night. Josie was feeling much better by dinner time. I needed to run to Walmart to buy a shower gift for a teacher, the Valentine’s aisle was crrrrrrrrrrrazy. No, thank you. The buzz was palpable all week at school. I had students either made a Valentine’s Day card using Adobe Express or code a Valentine’s maze in Kodable! That was a fun break. I was very excited to set out candy and squishmallows for my own sweet Valentines! I actually found a pickle with a mustache squishmallow for Phillip! Everett got a hot sauce bottle, Mia a darling big foot, and the girls Harry Potter house animals. Justin even got sushi and ramen, he said I was the expensive fish compared to his cheap bowl of Ramen…stop it! I quite loved seeing thoughtful students pop in throughout the day with cards and candy. So fun.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The day after Valentine’s was even crazier, tired and sugared up kids makes for grouchy students. I finally got a new hallway bulletin board put up with cute squishmallow Yetis to honor the new typing program we’re using. It looks very cute. A few parents donated squishmallows to plump up the contest prizes, only a couple more weeks to go!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I actually went grocery shopping Friday during the day! I had the day off for a teacher work day, yes! The boys had another nerd fest at their school, the state robotics competition this time. I watched their first match which they won, they lost the next two, won two and so on. Phillip really wanted the little girls to come watch. He bribed them with a slice of pizza. Phillip let both girls play with F.R.E.D. between matches. They added pneumonic wings and a rotating drum launcher this competition. When they lost the 4th match I noticed the boys were trying to smack the wall seeing which boys could jump and smack the highest. With Phillip being the tallest by far he won every time, still the competition went on. At their next match they lost because the wings did not have enough air pressure and the battery was low. I suggested maybe the boys check their bot first then smack the wall after it’s ready for the next upcoming match?! Everett crumpled on the floor crying into science beaver covered with his toast blanket when they lost that match because their own teammate accidentally blocked their bot in the corner (it lost battery power too). Losing is not fun especially when a trip to Texas for the World’s competition is on the line. In the end their team placed 7th, which was a fair improvement over the Valley of Vex competition (25th place?).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Josie accompanied me to Winco just for something to do. She originally thought I was going to Home Depot, which was exciting. Winco was even more exciting because of the bulk bins. I cautioned her it takes me quite a while to grocery shop, she was up for the challenge. We made it through the produce section and the exciting bulk bins. She got a small bag of rock candy, after that she was ready to go. Halfway through she complained, “I did not sign up for this! I just wanted some candy and get outta here!” Sorry kid…</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is some friend drama going on this week with one of Amelia’s friends. I got several alerts through Bark (a device monitoring service) that her friend was bringing up trigger topics. It is never clean nor fun to deal with messy family situations, especially “he said, she said” events. It was quite agonizing for Amelia caught in the middle, she knew I was aware thanks to Bark so she was not breaking her promise to not tell. During church today the dad pulled me aside and we actually had a very clarifying conversation, in my head the conversation was angry, blaming, dark. Not so, it was a heavy conversation but one born out of love and concern. I hope the family will continue to seek professional help.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Palmers are in town visiting! Hooray! Amelia and Clare spent a day joined at the hip. They painted tiny canvases, took the little girls to Build-a-bear for a Tessa gift, went to Tessa’s birthday party, played Animal Crossing, went to the mall, and vegged. It was magical for Amelia! She needed some bestie love. Justin took the kids to clean the church early Saturday morning. I stayed home to make a complicated marinade for chicken schwarma, and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>quick trip to Walmart for bread. We drove up to Kirkham Hot Springs just to have an adventure. It was quite busy with the college-aged crowd swarming the largest hot pools. Josie cried in her closet, she was terrified to go because last time she lost her new koala hat in the river. I forced her into a swimsuit and into the van. Once there the switch flipped and she had quite a lovely time. Phew! Evelyn was not impressed with the PB&J lunch supplies I packed for the adventure, “whyyyyy peanut butter, Moooooooom?” Everett and Justin slipped on the slimy rocks. Justin did not suffer injury but Everett sliced open his palm on the sharp rocks. We explored the area more this second trip, checking out the source vents and the cool hoar frost formations. Dave and Esther came over around 6 for dinner. I was scrambling to get dinner made with all the side dishes that go with schwarma. We did not eat until almost 8 pm, dude, I was quite embarrassed. Sadly, the chicken schwarma was not as yummy as the beef version. The marinade called for bell pepper and onion processed with yogurt and citrus. The marinade was on the chunky side, stuck with the meat through cooking as well. Not my favorite. I hate how some garlic cloves are on the bitter side, there is not way to tell if you have a bad head of garlic. The hummus was too lemony and garlicky for me. In the end the meal took the back seat to having the Palmer’s in our home again. Dang, we miss them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-47511280747396629952024-02-11T15:17:00.001-07:002024-02-18T15:18:59.391-07:00Josie Turns Eight<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMHLqgGQ1ABg5hqNG-bHqrANsefpWqwqHOQJwIjnwkwfhumdq0KgV7yj7Jer7HaGgZcifnNgwuNHfxKqrCxUAW2D67WX3SZ7JRr10yGbiwUCsl9nBQmokEb9Sx7srJBdqJGmPNx-mfh5LSRTYeDALYuu8MrCpN7zBW2Ykfei3RUqiSwR8IraPkMIrKhsX/s4472/8Josie1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMHLqgGQ1ABg5hqNG-bHqrANsefpWqwqHOQJwIjnwkwfhumdq0KgV7yj7Jer7HaGgZcifnNgwuNHfxKqrCxUAW2D67WX3SZ7JRr10yGbiwUCsl9nBQmokEb9Sx7srJBdqJGmPNx-mfh5LSRTYeDALYuu8MrCpN7zBW2Ykfei3RUqiSwR8IraPkMIrKhsX/s16000/8Josie1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2n2EpvwAb_cDrgZJ4C6DMVVYeaaQKKop-2Gwldlx1-oV08wsQ99L47vEOr8wgkoYXJaQTIIPuHPajJakB0L9uQ330ZMK1GMnv7NvkmwrYCLWhtNvJZ3RoFN5U8dMSdobsI94wVeRIIt0NKaOpMfrUQpLZQTai-_tU-fPb8HP0N5vWy82eThhotyilFeg/s4472/8Josie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2n2EpvwAb_cDrgZJ4C6DMVVYeaaQKKop-2Gwldlx1-oV08wsQ99L47vEOr8wgkoYXJaQTIIPuHPajJakB0L9uQ330ZMK1GMnv7NvkmwrYCLWhtNvJZ3RoFN5U8dMSdobsI94wVeRIIt0NKaOpMfrUQpLZQTai-_tU-fPb8HP0N5vWy82eThhotyilFeg/s16000/8Josie2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq41UU-E1NX-gUdwI9Hf5iIkMkVt4R6av_ilaPT8I1LnkNIkfBOBvLeXUh34qemuyNSgQ2kHvmEvM_qX6O7PMDt1cLRtJ2M3Yvp1-nLMvuQlgo-s-nO9qrd03Ma2Sq4TDCv0Q4-2CExClow1E_5vqbJ0FZrF9wzogu1zAXqH_Kaicb23EuDPtTtnsl89Fp/s3300/8Josie3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq41UU-E1NX-gUdwI9Hf5iIkMkVt4R6av_ilaPT8I1LnkNIkfBOBvLeXUh34qemuyNSgQ2kHvmEvM_qX6O7PMDt1cLRtJ2M3Yvp1-nLMvuQlgo-s-nO9qrd03Ma2Sq4TDCv0Q4-2CExClow1E_5vqbJ0FZrF9wzogu1zAXqH_Kaicb23EuDPtTtnsl89Fp/s16000/8Josie3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JsxkCfML2Ly7tzKfo4VlgMX0_G-kfNFKS5sBXhs9RphYSuZ_eIJb1k1CzulQ_fQudvq7Yf7iMuBVUNvOK_tckXFJ067WWoB3BBC3kE5heI0dP31-cLxapVd4watATTdRJNpdy_d4_KZBAwYLJ7lL7gi6fsixoN_47QPOUGlf1BR4i2US4RqEpkgJoESA/s4472/8Josie4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JsxkCfML2Ly7tzKfo4VlgMX0_G-kfNFKS5sBXhs9RphYSuZ_eIJb1k1CzulQ_fQudvq7Yf7iMuBVUNvOK_tckXFJ067WWoB3BBC3kE5heI0dP31-cLxapVd4watATTdRJNpdy_d4_KZBAwYLJ7lL7gi6fsixoN_47QPOUGlf1BR4i2US4RqEpkgJoESA/s16000/8Josie4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXE0r05R8yCH7CkL3lVfic6oRJY7bV91dIpWOyxL28ibTZA2AFRHv2sFLiBSGbffGhDKJrmlfvHfYFEAfXKtdeXJ4yII16aZWWfsRXUEzUnqX_0wlSyKkqOz1jij64SMx0QnuYZki4vMbSuj7cBf5bvBHXxsN83E758dkk8D__YW4SXFYIGNsE9LfCvfD/s3300/8Josie5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXE0r05R8yCH7CkL3lVfic6oRJY7bV91dIpWOyxL28ibTZA2AFRHv2sFLiBSGbffGhDKJrmlfvHfYFEAfXKtdeXJ4yII16aZWWfsRXUEzUnqX_0wlSyKkqOz1jij64SMx0QnuYZki4vMbSuj7cBf5bvBHXxsN83E758dkk8D__YW4SXFYIGNsE9LfCvfD/s16000/8Josie5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MVOtaB-iFUvoJAkjsrZC-jSlicgKKKCp6egCymAqMceIcEVm2TLCr59pZ-N6eatSb2htrYi4ReCkO4BXFJVv-1myTXoh1GBvTD47XalCGAW94kfWGH1l2SYYmXVcFJS6mLWGw9dQ_EMwWCsvm2_1HZboziJukWxyYGjmWsKjXaV_wV8V3zBp7fm-8R8H/s3300/8Josie6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MVOtaB-iFUvoJAkjsrZC-jSlicgKKKCp6egCymAqMceIcEVm2TLCr59pZ-N6eatSb2htrYi4ReCkO4BXFJVv-1myTXoh1GBvTD47XalCGAW94kfWGH1l2SYYmXVcFJS6mLWGw9dQ_EMwWCsvm2_1HZboziJukWxyYGjmWsKjXaV_wV8V3zBp7fm-8R8H/s16000/8Josie6.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ9AQUHiJ-OOQ78i2hMe3viJRQt1YSKWJKoRNNZny2g7CRW2MBrBCgDtJC3xDq_G_2vf4Ba0zqN47sKI_X_tOpvNuS6E1eKCNJrbI8jzthEC0S288lQHSNrwjaWtfK9-yg2D1_GUzPj_UbUkkMfPszuLaWDLfMOd7dW30WIgsGQ1kkX9_a-wwOd_-ttkG/s3300/8Josie7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ9AQUHiJ-OOQ78i2hMe3viJRQt1YSKWJKoRNNZny2g7CRW2MBrBCgDtJC3xDq_G_2vf4Ba0zqN47sKI_X_tOpvNuS6E1eKCNJrbI8jzthEC0S288lQHSNrwjaWtfK9-yg2D1_GUzPj_UbUkkMfPszuLaWDLfMOd7dW30WIgsGQ1kkX9_a-wwOd_-ttkG/s16000/8Josie7.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFHceDshkyhzCVFUZyg4BSmhjAx63PJEhVXJ37X5h5YHE39uO_qc_JxN78UJZyhe3iqMlwwynKWyOSfRVY4ochfGLFxVsJesztMPZU_xiCjBPpZBgjZ80Ij2BU9LfB3NEU-RnkHWCW1UOiSNu7RGtL-HfV25kq1Hl93HJvS6wGhlzy156NEJIFmyEZ8P8/s3300/8Josie8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFHceDshkyhzCVFUZyg4BSmhjAx63PJEhVXJ37X5h5YHE39uO_qc_JxN78UJZyhe3iqMlwwynKWyOSfRVY4ochfGLFxVsJesztMPZU_xiCjBPpZBgjZ80Ij2BU9LfB3NEU-RnkHWCW1UOiSNu7RGtL-HfV25kq1Hl93HJvS6wGhlzy156NEJIFmyEZ8P8/s16000/8Josie8.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFLHSiHInEkIBi1T83IpoSl7t2WfF7JwbQZHXImYU9fPZNU4s4oxlBP5M5FQK9NPL-V5KC8c_cwl8tDlC-sDylpetYiOxF5u8wVe2lpoIKWELumLPYyMGdEyd2Rt0w0-PpWKhPGA90qs5PZHh4y2PuiRi3zsj9OmB2tTjy-wzjMjqUGerwFogRr3Z3IB4/s3300/8Josie9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="3300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFLHSiHInEkIBi1T83IpoSl7t2WfF7JwbQZHXImYU9fPZNU4s4oxlBP5M5FQK9NPL-V5KC8c_cwl8tDlC-sDylpetYiOxF5u8wVe2lpoIKWELumLPYyMGdEyd2Rt0w0-PpWKhPGA90qs5PZHh4y2PuiRi3zsj9OmB2tTjy-wzjMjqUGerwFogRr3Z3IB4/s16000/8Josie9.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">Our happy, sweet caboose turned 8 years old during the wee hours of Tuesday morning! This milestone feels as momentous as when we used the last diaper! Josie was very, very excited Monday night. She sweetly batted her eyes asking me to heart attack her door before I went to bed. What mother could resist the eye batting of an 8 year old? Not this one. Josie had a normalish day with school et al. Amelia picked up some Jimmy John’s for lunch during her lunch period. She got an extra few minutes out of school to have a picnic in my computer lab. That was fun! Josie requested bean burritos and red rice for dinner. Dinner was quite late because I needed to help Justin pick up a rental car to use for a week. While dinner was instapotting I made a white cake with blue frosting for her favorite dessert! She wanted the Heeler family on top of her cake, because Bluey is amazing. The Ostlers came over to share in cake and ice cream and the present fiesta. Josie acted surprised, which was cute and silly, since she chose and wrapped the gifts. Our cute little nugget was just glowing with joy all day. Her favorite gift was a “keytar” and Bluey’s Beach house.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thursday was the new parent MCO meeting. I gave a short presentation on MCO attire and how the attire checks work. The parent of the young lady whose dress I “hemmed” and scorched with my iron finally requested to see me. I lost the paper that had the girl’s contact info during the craziness of the concert. Mom was very upset I ruined the dress with the iron, I let her vent, no good would come from giving me two cents…like the fact that mom had taped the hem up over a foot inside the dress, ironed it. She would’ve had to purchase a new dress due to the iron hem tape she used. I did feel bad the young lady was uncomfortable with the attention and attempted fixes at the concert. Live and learn. I’m working with central toward a good solution.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Friday night she wanted to eat her special birthday dinner at a “buff-buff-buff-buffet.” Sometimes she barks like a dog saying buff-buff, so when Amelia told her about Golden Corral with endless offerings, ice cream, chocolate fountain, and cotton candy Josie was sold. She was goofy all day over the prospect of going to dinner with just Dad and Mom. One of her birthday gifts was a wearable hoodie blanket with the same pattern blanket Sara got her two years ago. She is thrilled with the enormous article of clothing. Josie ate a shrimp (le gasp), 3-4 pieces of fried chicken and a slice of pizza before she got two dishes of ice cream, cotton candy, and a cup of gummy bears.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Josie’s pet adoption party was on Saturday from 2-4 pm at our home. Josie invited 8 friends to her 8th birthday party (Melody, Malaya, Chloe, Aliyah, Savannah, Aria, Sawyer, and Haylee). I made leashes using nylon webbing, split rings, and lobster clasps earlier in the week. Amelia was such a big help. We all pitched in to clean the house upstairs and down before 12:30 pm. Amelia made pet baskets with an animal, fleece blanket, ball, frisbee, party blower, punch balloon, and Scooby Snacks. As each girl arrived Amelia handed out fake money, the girls chose a pet basket, chose a leash, ribbon for a collar, filled out an adoption paper, then filtered into the dining room area. Amelia and I glued the collars together with the ribbon of choice while the girls went outside to play. Next up the girls made name tags on shrink dink sheets! We attached those to the collars. Amelia then conducted an animal training session using Fergus as an example. She would show off a trick, then the girls had to mirror the actions and use a Scooby treat as a reward. That was magical. By then we had time for Josie’s doughnut tower then opening gifts! The party was chaos but really fun and easy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The rest of the week was quite low key, the party consumed most of my energy. I finished editing Josie’s birthday Baptism photos on Saturday night. Hooray! Evelyn was not feeling well at all for most of the week. Josie and Evelyn stayed home Monday, Evelyn with a nasty cough and fever and Josie throwing up. Evelyn stayed home through Friday morning sick with the cough. It was intense! I stayed home on Wednesday just to give Evelyn some support at home. She was very sad on Tuesday with only Sara for company. I went to work early in order to get a sub plan written out. I worked on a bulletin board project cutting out Yeti characters for most of the day. I took breaks to snuggle the kids (Everett stayed home with a tummy bug), make food, and work on laundry. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-32839962579080817832024-02-06T15:21:00.001-07:002024-02-18T15:22:50.565-07:00Josie's Baptism Photos<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRq_Zu1kVdd0hTAuY9SAb_gUgPjhglcw_PCFk8sh95htlbqfd4xWhk7BY1w2xvrrd2_CDPiwxwhgvqDX7ew-fS51PUu70GBLjdcVv3n6yD1kGCUMDUkILG5n_IbUs0gLJ2sCLHXH7yT0fEKnM_RFIB5dakw3O5SWSCy0AnQgZTTN1x7CCYhUaXnhKYUlLv/s3300/8Josie21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRq_Zu1kVdd0hTAuY9SAb_gUgPjhglcw_PCFk8sh95htlbqfd4xWhk7BY1w2xvrrd2_CDPiwxwhgvqDX7ew-fS51PUu70GBLjdcVv3n6yD1kGCUMDUkILG5n_IbUs0gLJ2sCLHXH7yT0fEKnM_RFIB5dakw3O5SWSCy0AnQgZTTN1x7CCYhUaXnhKYUlLv/s16000/8Josie21.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLzFd3GSz_g1B2jy3brQCK5OfC5mVbE8iJ9xsQK-sazcLYr0RzPQUPCzjAzE7Q0WXQcSIQohlAMenLsVPBjHUSABhpjLpQR-rXGhG9N5s644IwLbm7XXCu70FvGF62S1PL-nrnlmnNstF9UA3H5GhNLyMpZ1P3Bz4cMC8FDBAqOTnJcLG2dqkGT0SJG0Y/s3300/8Josie20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLzFd3GSz_g1B2jy3brQCK5OfC5mVbE8iJ9xsQK-sazcLYr0RzPQUPCzjAzE7Q0WXQcSIQohlAMenLsVPBjHUSABhpjLpQR-rXGhG9N5s644IwLbm7XXCu70FvGF62S1PL-nrnlmnNstF9UA3H5GhNLyMpZ1P3Bz4cMC8FDBAqOTnJcLG2dqkGT0SJG0Y/s16000/8Josie20.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3bj5qXshyphenhyphenqNZReIbf1vqhHLRALvAiMhyB9JfEkmOiYjlZBTIxY2wGXJycDvd5Nbo8XFoE14lgEwvqFkgpLHhCaTdQald8p1qVZS2JxvgU0AngetDZBxqbfSzNmI4QyC1tW0VPN24HrG6uooz-mCkqjmYuvhOl28WqIsy-htofGB7zymfejSCehxNxBn7/s3300/8Josie19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3bj5qXshyphenhyphenqNZReIbf1vqhHLRALvAiMhyB9JfEkmOiYjlZBTIxY2wGXJycDvd5Nbo8XFoE14lgEwvqFkgpLHhCaTdQald8p1qVZS2JxvgU0AngetDZBxqbfSzNmI4QyC1tW0VPN24HrG6uooz-mCkqjmYuvhOl28WqIsy-htofGB7zymfejSCehxNxBn7/s16000/8Josie19.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z_ck2argz87mHgf-0D-nkklrIt-Hls171gItY8_TWdsVFCZTICOhw4PSvbOPymHFw1crvXQImaqbtlFDUgPl5Pil5qHRfDySEsYKceidqG2cFEzXkCDW1rZXbQKvMpzzr7ONnHac9vsa8XPNywmGTxgeymTsjMhyM1riFQ6dMKRwfKCZcRukwYKAzwsN/s3300/8Josie18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z_ck2argz87mHgf-0D-nkklrIt-Hls171gItY8_TWdsVFCZTICOhw4PSvbOPymHFw1crvXQImaqbtlFDUgPl5Pil5qHRfDySEsYKceidqG2cFEzXkCDW1rZXbQKvMpzzr7ONnHac9vsa8XPNywmGTxgeymTsjMhyM1riFQ6dMKRwfKCZcRukwYKAzwsN/s16000/8Josie18.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkzLHufbblmoAnNv7-FJ-tI8RMTsJFvJJJn1q7VxZUgJnI_mFfoKN-P4c0GnsyY1d16ai92r-pcBTTT262lsrtPNBEn6fpYz8v5n_iHO-XTwAUjdJUoeOCqBtdTVArdB9eGzhCZoNFZQg56GB_xVYMNuTOmP5EGlFYjPEcjJHW9ITMFSu9-gDZ6WbN3kt/s3300/8Josie17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkzLHufbblmoAnNv7-FJ-tI8RMTsJFvJJJn1q7VxZUgJnI_mFfoKN-P4c0GnsyY1d16ai92r-pcBTTT262lsrtPNBEn6fpYz8v5n_iHO-XTwAUjdJUoeOCqBtdTVArdB9eGzhCZoNFZQg56GB_xVYMNuTOmP5EGlFYjPEcjJHW9ITMFSu9-gDZ6WbN3kt/s16000/8Josie17.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlhNl-YsbmfuKnC9DNR_oRcB0uoTkduobQ0MzC1CNHhkq1DkeAn6bhybnWZmvgT5bKEZlvfVWKA35fNAlsdhe8kqfYS9bGULF8SseBCOyZue4OlE_YnbHxM50Tj4lp_JrkyIxacAWY5ztoQOgsq4L1E17kOPY7AzjznNat5YkpUSq29F8uAclBwZ-B2Lp/s3300/8Josie16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlhNl-YsbmfuKnC9DNR_oRcB0uoTkduobQ0MzC1CNHhkq1DkeAn6bhybnWZmvgT5bKEZlvfVWKA35fNAlsdhe8kqfYS9bGULF8SseBCOyZue4OlE_YnbHxM50Tj4lp_JrkyIxacAWY5ztoQOgsq4L1E17kOPY7AzjznNat5YkpUSq29F8uAclBwZ-B2Lp/s16000/8Josie16.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RUusAi4Hrf2BS0v6DIzPRyIlrfbvxrwnaIZ8hyCol5SKpZAor_iKR9TyPrRC-oQ3mdcz1qrK8ACOEHDIV4dHaL9fI5aKvckLrq_QCnJwKXKRnptyyTRCNcNQVQjSSXefYi2Rn5VTMT4op2DmmYaBkCbVRXcPHkGYVNTqSI4P-oR2XFkJ6dDpa0d2IdwJ/s3300/8Josie15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RUusAi4Hrf2BS0v6DIzPRyIlrfbvxrwnaIZ8hyCol5SKpZAor_iKR9TyPrRC-oQ3mdcz1qrK8ACOEHDIV4dHaL9fI5aKvckLrq_QCnJwKXKRnptyyTRCNcNQVQjSSXefYi2Rn5VTMT4op2DmmYaBkCbVRXcPHkGYVNTqSI4P-oR2XFkJ6dDpa0d2IdwJ/s16000/8Josie15.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BLjJ_uzHgsB6siic9SpU1pvlFkaB0HRWlSFvGmkWPXTo28o1JoFPeuITFeAEeYu_RESq_WlCXuLL6bEHz0jeSxATp1A59rVHPGs9FnnkT4EwDxgX27bJHK2gadXhwk_0gRzpQckCbC7HdevV64GpIUky4oEcWNY2ZabJ6dwtlCHtiWEvvG3pxup0iWX9/s3300/8Josie11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BLjJ_uzHgsB6siic9SpU1pvlFkaB0HRWlSFvGmkWPXTo28o1JoFPeuITFeAEeYu_RESq_WlCXuLL6bEHz0jeSxATp1A59rVHPGs9FnnkT4EwDxgX27bJHK2gadXhwk_0gRzpQckCbC7HdevV64GpIUky4oEcWNY2ZabJ6dwtlCHtiWEvvG3pxup0iWX9/s16000/8Josie11.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdM5E4Rlz7lKYP7ByNsiH_ZuLHyEtUKZ-SV0YNLccIkx5WbWfIo8AeWazEuD-s8wg2Q23ok57-Z-FJncNMZkXSZs7gHdZEx8dCPM0wk3eLoTDh84G6RfnWjNtS5xraJ7fYWW7GeMRfbmjiR6sTrQnyN1hNhr-p4xwiaGJ5Jfq_Il1_nBlrooYCWohQvZU/s3300/8Josie10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="3300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdM5E4Rlz7lKYP7ByNsiH_ZuLHyEtUKZ-SV0YNLccIkx5WbWfIo8AeWazEuD-s8wg2Q23ok57-Z-FJncNMZkXSZs7gHdZEx8dCPM0wk3eLoTDh84G6RfnWjNtS5xraJ7fYWW7GeMRfbmjiR6sTrQnyN1hNhr-p4xwiaGJ5Jfq_Il1_nBlrooYCWohQvZU/s16000/8Josie10.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-12824714264256807662024-02-04T16:16:00.004-07:002024-02-04T16:26:57.764-07:00So Long Quasimoto<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sZkwmGhfoquseWlN1dtoYqQDOCiz-XhDq9jh3aCtsxCD9eHVFx9B4ETYWclS2aRTo3ld0BHYLZjK3FZL-EGF6HuJgY0t9GA__v21Ud7dWYUQ4kzl76Ojbq-vcVYzF37LIPhBbjycTLPACJu9OnYsKRrLOIA66uOHOwBcamHBdTTYSkG9XLswmrZrgG1V/s4472/solongquasi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sZkwmGhfoquseWlN1dtoYqQDOCiz-XhDq9jh3aCtsxCD9eHVFx9B4ETYWclS2aRTo3ld0BHYLZjK3FZL-EGF6HuJgY0t9GA__v21Ud7dWYUQ4kzl76Ojbq-vcVYzF37LIPhBbjycTLPACJu9OnYsKRrLOIA66uOHOwBcamHBdTTYSkG9XLswmrZrgG1V/s16000/solongquasi.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMUk-sMti1bVoqbmxHgNnRNgyGFazBkDxduxk58BUKMJTd1mRJfpNnB9uhyD8kpKSxsRf83mS_g1raXSpzqOXC61LERwSf6cybIhr8wEPrRUKodMmvlv_rDjt3qGAa-wJo_ONr2kJGpfzTI_rtUbBatBK15cz4EMX0HZOCdWC2Zq7DxBbt5hJQOB1DF09/s4472/solongquasi2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMUk-sMti1bVoqbmxHgNnRNgyGFazBkDxduxk58BUKMJTd1mRJfpNnB9uhyD8kpKSxsRf83mS_g1raXSpzqOXC61LERwSf6cybIhr8wEPrRUKodMmvlv_rDjt3qGAa-wJo_ONr2kJGpfzTI_rtUbBatBK15cz4EMX0HZOCdWC2Zq7DxBbt5hJQOB1DF09/s16000/solongquasi2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBx91yt0G7y1dS03-dwpDUXAHDS9KyKmwolDmO5_GoflAEW49EVKfMh8dowUOWsOAKnNAfpcviVOZPeVSD1xKCRgGzM-W2b6yP1qp8hmW-8Mx3hrQjZyxZeCAtQl2KwgjuxeSr-RLyvNb7B6rnOMnAmY24R3p6tH-BEJYCKEVDus14YbeT28a9Zf8C8PRz/s4472/solongquasi3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBx91yt0G7y1dS03-dwpDUXAHDS9KyKmwolDmO5_GoflAEW49EVKfMh8dowUOWsOAKnNAfpcviVOZPeVSD1xKCRgGzM-W2b6yP1qp8hmW-8Mx3hrQjZyxZeCAtQl2KwgjuxeSr-RLyvNb7B6rnOMnAmY24R3p6tH-BEJYCKEVDus14YbeT28a9Zf8C8PRz/s16000/solongquasi3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">The big news of the week is that Quasimoto may no longer be part of our vehicle cadre. Justin and Everett were on their way to a hockey game Friday night. Justin noticed the fire station door was open and the main fire truck gone. He glanced a moment too long and failed to notice the vehicle in front of him slowing down. Quasi deployed airbags when the front hood when crunch-a-munch. Justin and Everett got quite a scare but no injuries past sore muscles, bruised pride, and some emotional trauma. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">The absent firetruck was right there, I hear 911 was called by the firefighters before Justin could call. The firefighters gave Everett the royal treatment after the police left. He was able to tour the truck and poke around the station house.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">Everett slept in our bedroom on the floor because he is feeling so disconcerted. He was brave to get back in the truck with Justin to ride over to church this morning. When I arrived at church he was nearly sweating bullets from stress. Most likely the insurance company will total the car because the airbags deployed. What a huge bummer…about the car because it means more money and time finding another suitable vehicle.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Tuesday the kids and I all had dental cleanings. We left with 4 out of 6 with a no cavity badge, Evelyn and Amelia both have molar cavities. I can totally relate having had many myself in spite of constant flossing and brushing. It might be time for orthodontic intervention for Evelyn because she cannot get floss between her back teeth. I took the afternoon off because the front office staff got me a substitute for the rest of the day. I went home with the girls to enjoy the afternoon. The girls played outside or held the puppies, I finished editing a photo session. Next day I had a Dr appointment with Mary Kerr for my annual checkup. Still healthy, hooray! Saltzer Health is closing their doors end of March, that could mean we have to search for new family doctors, pediatrician, etc.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">After MCO on Thursday Josie, Evelyn, and I went to Target for a shopping spree. Josie was all sorts of stressed trying to decide what she wanted for her birthday. I think she had a splendid time hearing “yes, sure, put it in the cart” than she’s ever heard before! Her favorite purchase was a Bluey keytar and Bluey Beach set. I quite enjoyed shopping with the littles, that was fun to spoil them a bit.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Amelia had All-State starting Wednesday evening through Friday night! She worked extra hard to memorize the words and her part as 2nd soprano over the past week. Once again, I am amazed at how much these musical wizards accomplish in 2 days with students from all over the state. Amelia said the treble choir conductor was absolutely enthralling. Dr Edith Copley taught music for over 56 years! She was very inspiring to watch as she directed the girls. Phillip and I went to the concert, Justin and Everett were on their way to a work-hosted hockey game. Last Thursday I told Justin about the choir tickets, he texted back asking if he could take one of the boys to a hickey game. Next morning I vaguely said he could NOT take a boy to the hickey game. He whipped out his phone and checked, yep, hickey game. I approved the hockey game. Sara and Ambree wanted to attend the Amelia’s concert in Justin and Everett’s stead. I got Justin’s text about the crash during the concert so did not notice it until 7:30ish, the crash was around 7 pm. I left out coats set out on seats because we had to leave then come back for the jazz choir and band concerts. Amelia snuck into the auditorium to grab our stuff. By that time Justin called Dusty for a ride home. Everett was in a mild state of shock, mostly jittery. Justin had a moment alone upstairs, crying off the stress, bear hugs all around for the rest of the evening.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Josie is counting down the days to her birthday! She is t-minus 1.5 days right now. After grocery shopping was completed the girls went shopping for party stuff. We went to Zurchers hoping to find carrying boxes for the stuffed animals. Josie had a coupon for a free drink at the new Swig location next to Zurchers. The cashier kept my debit card, how rude! I did not notice until we were finished shopping at the Dollar tree. We made one last stop at JoAnns for fabric and stuff to make collars and leashes for the stuffies. Sounds like a quick trip, right? Oh gosh, we were gone 3 hours at least. It rained the entire time plus 3 more hours beforehand. Lots of rain yesterday. Justin and Everett mostly napped or snuggled for the day. I decorated the front table for Valentine’s day once we got back home. Hooray.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-35343727209349441102024-01-28T16:04:00.003-07:002024-01-28T16:04:18.313-07:00Purple Barty<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWvIzbTY9wo0cj6d2xSE4qwy5K9bLiwzJuB_sWLS_SSUaHC1vKLBiseVt6P0xvV4J-6d6BwT8eeGc62a-_4-mfixZBrjfMj-WWygZ8gyOPFg-5SHHg6MZOl2wCxTFBAyfK2Ijkwz_wIKoPKxJHsLvb79ZlQrCbaetdVIapuJ4u9zZCOmnE8a-5GXDTZOh/s4472/purple%20barty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWvIzbTY9wo0cj6d2xSE4qwy5K9bLiwzJuB_sWLS_SSUaHC1vKLBiseVt6P0xvV4J-6d6BwT8eeGc62a-_4-mfixZBrjfMj-WWygZ8gyOPFg-5SHHg6MZOl2wCxTFBAyfK2Ijkwz_wIKoPKxJHsLvb79ZlQrCbaetdVIapuJ4u9zZCOmnE8a-5GXDTZOh/s16000/purple%20barty.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ8f9jR3stS4jOAJU219UjpJPhIWkl6wn33YvmcM-JSckcjE8JxgQknJi5ONxAgVPSy66LHzxXC_0Gpz1mcNMduaX4Yw0UHMOgrmPNIs5NX3DWcebGHGRAeR830MkBA5aWJ7fSnBbR0kd9lrLqAyJP29j19wZjUdTTwN5Rp6a0GT1Zr03jdlXF8cioQyE/s4472/barty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ8f9jR3stS4jOAJU219UjpJPhIWkl6wn33YvmcM-JSckcjE8JxgQknJi5ONxAgVPSy66LHzxXC_0Gpz1mcNMduaX4Yw0UHMOgrmPNIs5NX3DWcebGHGRAeR830MkBA5aWJ7fSnBbR0kd9lrLqAyJP29j19wZjUdTTwN5Rp6a0GT1Zr03jdlXF8cioQyE/s16000/barty.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZOdOTmUsuP5JwSo1tNuM0lbCKqOkJuvXSLPgOVSyuIxdoD7ykp6AvRnJEOEIQl41nc7NgS5nF3zp8x3PfgZpgF9dZJVZ8DyR630VS87h7WON9z0j8iL4uNkKJJS6u-lgNkSMdTBd9Vc07CxptybWVI2WxLa3qsRBwNNabI7pC9fqYiydOfrD6VmQIgtV/s4472/purple%20barty3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZOdOTmUsuP5JwSo1tNuM0lbCKqOkJuvXSLPgOVSyuIxdoD7ykp6AvRnJEOEIQl41nc7NgS5nF3zp8x3PfgZpgF9dZJVZ8DyR630VS87h7WON9z0j8iL4uNkKJJS6u-lgNkSMdTBd9Vc07CxptybWVI2WxLa3qsRBwNNabI7pC9fqYiydOfrD6VmQIgtV/s16000/purple%20barty3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">We finally met with the kids, one-on-one, to make their yearly youth goals. The older three all made a goal to attend the temple once a month and read the Book of Mormon. Phillip decided to bring his book to school and read during his reading WIN time! One point I made this year is that the goals they made are not between us and the child, but between the child and God.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">All the snow is melted. It rained off and on all week. Ironically, it now feels like spring with the temperatures in the 40s and the rain. Recess this week was only on the black top for 3 days because the grass was saturated with 3 inches of excess snow melt and rain. The students were really cranky about the change. Josie stepped in the grass on Monday before the decision was made to restrict recess. She reported a friend triple-dog-dared her to step in a snow pile, she did and then spent the rest of the day with soggy socks. She skipped up to me after lunch recess and blamed me for not bringing her snow boots. Gracious, I quickly turned that boat around and put the responsibility back on her, first for accepting a dare that made her socks wet and for not grabbing her own snow boots. Barty is hanging around this week too! Friday morning Barty turned a lovely shade of purple for a few moments while the sun was rising. Sometimes Barty is nice! Ice, ice Barty though is not so nice.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The cutest experience of the week was on Wednesday when Josie snuck into my room with a folded note, giggled, then ran back to class. On Sunday I showed her how to fold notes like I used to in middle school. She showed all her friends how to fold notes at school. Her note was a sweet collection of hearts and “I love you.” Later I intercepted a note from Cindy to her big brother that basically said, “Connor, you are werd (weird). You stink and need to take more showers. I love you though…with a drawn picture of Connor eating trash from the can.” Well, we had a talk about sending love notes not mean notes. So funny and endearing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Wednesday afternoon Mrs Sene called me at work with the best news! Amelia is going to All-State next week as an alternate! She was very bummed earlier in the year when she did not make it into All-State this year. Now she has a week to learn 4 new songs, three in different languages of Russian, Japanese, and Spanish. Her initial reaction was elation and joy, after the news sunk in she realized how much work she had ahead of her. We picked up her music and signed the forms at the choir NY Trip parent’s meeting. Mrs Sene had a meeting where parents could come pick up the itinerary and ask questions. I really want to try and see Wicked on Broadway while we are there! How fun would that be? Evelyn and Josie came with because they had Activity Days at 6:30. I cannot believe Josie is now in Activity Days. Time is flying by!</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Millie birthed 6 puppies! I was in the middle of making an early dinner before all the meetings starting at 6 pm. Ambree frantically called me over, freaking out because Millie birthed her first puppy. I rushed over and found a stark white puppy breathing like a champ. It was still attached to the placenta, which normally the mother chews off the umbilical cord. Amelia researched what to do, I picked up the pup and placenta, Mia tied thread around the cord and we removed the placenta and cord. Millie settled down licking her new son. I went home thinking it would take another hour before another pup arrived. NOPE! Millie birthed 3 more pups before Sara got back home. Sara went out to donate plasma because Millie was not acting like she was in labor. I can now add dog midwife to my resume. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I am struggling something fierce with some of the students and classes at school. I kicked two students out of my lab for a couple weeks, they cannot (will not) settle down and focus. They provide a serious distraction for the entire class. The new 3rd grade class is so difficult to manage. Monday I called for Mr Obert to come in because the students were not listening to me. While he spoke the students were absolutely quiet. Within 3 minutes of him leaving the entire class was back at the same noise level. I must have a lack of something, presence? Authority? Sternness? Mr Obert advised I take the class outside to walk laps (even after he just announced the grass was off limits). The first graders, most of the 3rd graders, and two of the 5th grade classes are just chaos. I introduced the first Microsoft module this week. We started off small by learning and practicing some of the shortcut combinations using the keyboard. I cannot believe the number of students who complained, moaned, murmured, and rudely refused to try something new. A handful of students absolutely light up once they started trying out the shortcuts, the excitement of learning a new skill was exceptional. That bridged the gap for me during a really hard week. My typing points contest is going really well. The kinders are now typing and excelling further than the 1st graders. It is fascinating to me now the dynamics change and the effect COVID had on certain grades. Mrs Harp boosted my confidence, said I was doing an exceptional job, that the students love me, the teachers say only good things about me, and the students are learning more than they ever have in the lab. I needed to hear that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Josie and I had a fun afternoon date at the Meridian Temple for her baptism photos. Her dress was 2 inches too short after the alterations, I added some length with eyelet border to at least cover her shoes. She was very excited to take photos once we got into the groove. It was cold outside, she warmed up after running around for a few minutes. Josie really, really wants a birthday party this year. She wanted a Bluey party, a Miraculous Party, or a piñata party. Amelia and I described Penny’s adopt-a-pet birthday party Friday afternoon. She was not sold until she did some internet research on Pinterest. Josie is now so, so excited! After her temple photos we went to Goodwill to find stuffed animals for her party. She is inviting 8 friends to her party next week. At Goodwill she latched on to a cute play store stand, she envisioned stuffed animals on the main table, and bins with snacks, collars, adoption papers, and carrying crates below. We headed to Seagull book to look for baptism stuff and an illustrated Book of Mormon for kids. I loved hanging out with Josie Mae, she is a delight.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The van was quite the trash bin. I was very embarrassed to take the Young kids home after MCO Thursday night. It smelled terrible after all the snow melted on the carpets, melted crackers, paper, candy into the carpet along with the water. Gross. The boys responded to my call to clean the van out. We removed the trash and stuff, vacuumed, and wiped down most surfaces. Much better.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">My mom had her double mastectomy on Monday. She was in the hospital until Tuesday afternoon just to make sure the healing process started. I spoke with mom on Sunday, she is feeling so betrayed by the medical system. She is suffering from PTSD after her previous runs with cancer and all the surgeries (most did not help) she went through to fix her nose and sinuses. Sunday she mentioned how badly she feels about passing on her damaged genes and mutations down to her children. What a burden to carry. Mom, there is no burden there! We understand that is how God tries and tests us, no matter the way challenges are transmitted. When I think of my mom the first image that comes to my mind is seeing my mom seated on her bed with her scriptures, study manuals, and notebooks. A warm glow of light behind her highlighting her work as she studied about God. I’ve never thought, “gosh, why did Mom and Dad have so many kids and infect us with her broken DNA?”</p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-2577017541872350922024-01-21T16:49:00.005-07:002024-01-21T16:49:32.572-07:00Snowmeageddon 2024, Valley of Vex<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI5OLIwQ9VSVM5OWaW7A0-LHJ6-wjkq8kHl8xUuglvm48zyoJxqMif46EKhiEaVVtvhfhQrqA1opIAfyO81_dxweCNA6SGC3B9P0MPjne2d74pqfo-J3HQjSeHatH2fOa9MfVX_d3WK4IlCyjwv_5zCGjmMLCx8fLA0zUqQSPvVpDCjkDEthMQvydpS0X/s4472/snow13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI5OLIwQ9VSVM5OWaW7A0-LHJ6-wjkq8kHl8xUuglvm48zyoJxqMif46EKhiEaVVtvhfhQrqA1opIAfyO81_dxweCNA6SGC3B9P0MPjne2d74pqfo-J3HQjSeHatH2fOa9MfVX_d3WK4IlCyjwv_5zCGjmMLCx8fLA0zUqQSPvVpDCjkDEthMQvydpS0X/s16000/snow13.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziiRp_KuGoXLlGt3RIzcTFLbP8BeQHLPyf78cyfXW6JzclZyLFDXQjdlgRmpec6-lzbGD-FhN6iLJn5PeVkfZsieU601y-gEZviIrJODpBE-f3JcZJewBdcHESmzqF6AyqohXZ0A9z_j-iZovKsgEG66FXkVSA5rcNfyv4HjLrbpfxoHgj4DJpvySb-9o/s4472/snow12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziiRp_KuGoXLlGt3RIzcTFLbP8BeQHLPyf78cyfXW6JzclZyLFDXQjdlgRmpec6-lzbGD-FhN6iLJn5PeVkfZsieU601y-gEZviIrJODpBE-f3JcZJewBdcHESmzqF6AyqohXZ0A9z_j-iZovKsgEG66FXkVSA5rcNfyv4HjLrbpfxoHgj4DJpvySb-9o/s16000/snow12.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqfDJFgKRa7Gj0F4Its0FHa088zq2EuTQbnuz44dLtfv1kH-7JrJfNkbvMli_bxDL202jXfYOuz7gsYVs34PgrimwILlsFgQAizTQokyQJ3it1zOfAJYOGMsJe8TYm_VLDwQurBZLOEdis_WL-c8KLyVqAuy_O-2RW0gXwh4E8IXb7Zb9PpWoXBuoSBtY/s4472/snow11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqfDJFgKRa7Gj0F4Its0FHa088zq2EuTQbnuz44dLtfv1kH-7JrJfNkbvMli_bxDL202jXfYOuz7gsYVs34PgrimwILlsFgQAizTQokyQJ3it1zOfAJYOGMsJe8TYm_VLDwQurBZLOEdis_WL-c8KLyVqAuy_O-2RW0gXwh4E8IXb7Zb9PpWoXBuoSBtY/s16000/snow11.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAWa5JojcAEyBPZL8V2vr4Oo-Au_5L6ZWB9TgZCBUOCH3Yi4UifKMLb5hy92tPnPI0dQh3lQ1s62-rP_1Fjj0HVwyRFKIpw9G7khyphenhyphencpv_AIc5XDAtlg68v7nbeWBh1bpTz1-ansVDE4bjngRO9GEE8eeUJhjnK0pWo3KtKNTOHhlJ0s5FOT0GYWGMMngJ/s4472/snow10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAWa5JojcAEyBPZL8V2vr4Oo-Au_5L6ZWB9TgZCBUOCH3Yi4UifKMLb5hy92tPnPI0dQh3lQ1s62-rP_1Fjj0HVwyRFKIpw9G7khyphenhyphencpv_AIc5XDAtlg68v7nbeWBh1bpTz1-ansVDE4bjngRO9GEE8eeUJhjnK0pWo3KtKNTOHhlJ0s5FOT0GYWGMMngJ/s16000/snow10.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiX460CTeNCQnC3Zr7msWmEaQhIdzoj1R9ykVkfy3l_9As3W6mkM-StEVI_hUjmLwSeqCErbmF5TUtKZm9y-wLTqdvBDioSdGEMeNGffSZiVe8YANJquznxflTUgx1N4-UuAc9co40NqoRhs3XC9OF2gZ0KzKV6MtTu-OQNvAVq4OQc3qIlQnb5AWXAvKX/s4472/snow9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiX460CTeNCQnC3Zr7msWmEaQhIdzoj1R9ykVkfy3l_9As3W6mkM-StEVI_hUjmLwSeqCErbmF5TUtKZm9y-wLTqdvBDioSdGEMeNGffSZiVe8YANJquznxflTUgx1N4-UuAc9co40NqoRhs3XC9OF2gZ0KzKV6MtTu-OQNvAVq4OQc3qIlQnb5AWXAvKX/s16000/snow9.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZ4RMfFZZM8mHibSG0X8lrC_Dv8Zu_QqyTLLzAkE21SDmgHK_BRa0yZQRgTvTt7GwNuxKjbb4Vk2yqc8vWwOO7HncXdU_atTACOG0CqW0CrG0cv8Hq5EfCzEZUdzhLMFxj2GeUU86M38cbG8HhiQd_fC9-_WhkczI6pDSnXbfj2X5LcSJ1z6TOtCtilFF/s4472/snow8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZ4RMfFZZM8mHibSG0X8lrC_Dv8Zu_QqyTLLzAkE21SDmgHK_BRa0yZQRgTvTt7GwNuxKjbb4Vk2yqc8vWwOO7HncXdU_atTACOG0CqW0CrG0cv8Hq5EfCzEZUdzhLMFxj2GeUU86M38cbG8HhiQd_fC9-_WhkczI6pDSnXbfj2X5LcSJ1z6TOtCtilFF/s16000/snow8.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHU_t1v7wuEB7kYOPbc1t9yPFoGzawomuUi_rLHH-aJ5RNVXqmTuxFlc6DFtDUtu-z9xcCu_W35ooKQ1InoAaBaPaxjErb-eytrKo88YE6hn2oNXBGO4xYH5-B-URpYvrm153luTNconsQ-onhTpnPkdQJ3zrJClozbm3LKvZIiY4LPKemhSs-mXhEQcib/s4472/snow7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHU_t1v7wuEB7kYOPbc1t9yPFoGzawomuUi_rLHH-aJ5RNVXqmTuxFlc6DFtDUtu-z9xcCu_W35ooKQ1InoAaBaPaxjErb-eytrKo88YE6hn2oNXBGO4xYH5-B-URpYvrm153luTNconsQ-onhTpnPkdQJ3zrJClozbm3LKvZIiY4LPKemhSs-mXhEQcib/s16000/snow7.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibI3t-1GcPicATbT894Zmt66QDIBOxDY5fLx1S4TdTTIri-O1Ebpol7QVp7KltrRJRVESPQWtwoQKVkt6cMtkSIMDDS5Rx7WTDbndVknPTMXBu-iYdRNoP1yGyGyMHdfT9yPTBpnd1cFRYezqg6kX8JUnV0xS-cdYxZlz4sWwpStZhesmeYIkDltxEKgwG/s4472/snow6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibI3t-1GcPicATbT894Zmt66QDIBOxDY5fLx1S4TdTTIri-O1Ebpol7QVp7KltrRJRVESPQWtwoQKVkt6cMtkSIMDDS5Rx7WTDbndVknPTMXBu-iYdRNoP1yGyGyMHdfT9yPTBpnd1cFRYezqg6kX8JUnV0xS-cdYxZlz4sWwpStZhesmeYIkDltxEKgwG/s16000/snow6.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcBkedap_cUmFUTsZQRJFYSf2KclOXSQvlGZA91ydKSH4YAgBgwxwQxmZOXYFZty0ZCuSyTcVU1hghKDKBtgwQp0JAm4jAylUPYN2iZjnuBhla4XsnWWZRYdCpJSQLwQWtmAz4hCO6e7hpXjDkpJ70Tr0pnbGGU6DjWWYyt_h6eGuP4J1-8oCwtGJZGtU/s4472/snow5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcBkedap_cUmFUTsZQRJFYSf2KclOXSQvlGZA91ydKSH4YAgBgwxwQxmZOXYFZty0ZCuSyTcVU1hghKDKBtgwQp0JAm4jAylUPYN2iZjnuBhla4XsnWWZRYdCpJSQLwQWtmAz4hCO6e7hpXjDkpJ70Tr0pnbGGU6DjWWYyt_h6eGuP4J1-8oCwtGJZGtU/s16000/snow5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTEdHyOB47bovcGPAUIk_l5bbdcdV5vhUNgmitCb0gSdNOZht2bvaYhKuoIP6f6ro_JidjFGoGEz2l-4XDPOwl3XMFIExfpxh2ptHqrBWlRZgFUKq_0mNZ-rX425eMIrS2uAPDst4JV_N5qgj5riWoqTpZzUe2rktEKnJq6gSq3FdDidKpn-ZVWH_5yBM/s4472/snow1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTEdHyOB47bovcGPAUIk_l5bbdcdV5vhUNgmitCb0gSdNOZht2bvaYhKuoIP6f6ro_JidjFGoGEz2l-4XDPOwl3XMFIExfpxh2ptHqrBWlRZgFUKq_0mNZ-rX425eMIrS2uAPDst4JV_N5qgj5riWoqTpZzUe2rktEKnJq6gSq3FdDidKpn-ZVWH_5yBM/s16000/snow1b.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2lm9sUNea_t3tZefUFoQHwOAmoAOu0g0eQVBlp_fDVnSpNtGQQ_R82N1wlnON6zerLA4GFMeKDqM5snwuOLnQAGcv6G5tDqXSKFKhDxGOaBKqNBxwSGNraJeZOV63vUt1uqasQr6NxTKCjGAJ1krT28Yihi8WwQbzXtmjFiT1l3Ec9X3V3s2aE-GHHOO/s4472/snow1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2lm9sUNea_t3tZefUFoQHwOAmoAOu0g0eQVBlp_fDVnSpNtGQQ_R82N1wlnON6zerLA4GFMeKDqM5snwuOLnQAGcv6G5tDqXSKFKhDxGOaBKqNBxwSGNraJeZOV63vUt1uqasQr6NxTKCjGAJ1krT28Yihi8WwQbzXtmjFiT1l3Ec9X3V3s2aE-GHHOO/s16000/snow1a.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcc8d9qUWbvZxmbvqmYoGaefa0e0J04Ozfa-gF_jJeRGf0mZpiFv43wvaGLS_g7ae6shmh7z2YzmdtyV22AXI1xWQ0K0scJCcKembkcctVnyfL_nQzMkzXlwV6pAoGmyGQiTUJddZ9GB6Axch1PbiqILqtYHOJVokB1YperUsHIXoZaXmlEAWHrCS78mmD/s4472/snow4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcc8d9qUWbvZxmbvqmYoGaefa0e0J04Ozfa-gF_jJeRGf0mZpiFv43wvaGLS_g7ae6shmh7z2YzmdtyV22AXI1xWQ0K0scJCcKembkcctVnyfL_nQzMkzXlwV6pAoGmyGQiTUJddZ9GB6Axch1PbiqILqtYHOJVokB1YperUsHIXoZaXmlEAWHrCS78mmD/s16000/snow4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrlqSDi1R9sWJRzfcRlZ0Ewq8-MRpUR40fh3d24V3pBspzry0nlJys62kfm7Q9wtbGofUlJ0MpjUh__MceBAYWRSCpJ58GfFhB0bBczoLf9WqiygwB-IgxikmLpbOsggVEH8n-WzJQ3IqYdGow8n_bIAlfkBAZfhRh3vWojL3Y-hLy6oRo8bM9IqW-pW3/s4472/snow3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrlqSDi1R9sWJRzfcRlZ0Ewq8-MRpUR40fh3d24V3pBspzry0nlJys62kfm7Q9wtbGofUlJ0MpjUh__MceBAYWRSCpJ58GfFhB0bBczoLf9WqiygwB-IgxikmLpbOsggVEH8n-WzJQ3IqYdGow8n_bIAlfkBAZfhRh3vWojL3Y-hLy6oRo8bM9IqW-pW3/s16000/snow3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWX8Y8phKc3gaSa8E7UsAwvvwKPIT6mxF1lxmO-T_nxtN4hksTQSFXoTNvbBHdDF4HezHTMbV6unYM2oaPx-Ekn3GUYtTNknCl2MxCMNAaUnZ4DLDolXjLaIrUuRt5zJvCQcR8qXSej1foLkbI0u6HfpnNoQR9PvpzHSXjJ0-uIqvzp_71ZJMcCSKZkL_/s4472/snow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWX8Y8phKc3gaSa8E7UsAwvvwKPIT6mxF1lxmO-T_nxtN4hksTQSFXoTNvbBHdDF4HezHTMbV6unYM2oaPx-Ekn3GUYtTNknCl2MxCMNAaUnZ4DLDolXjLaIrUuRt5zJvCQcR8qXSej1foLkbI0u6HfpnNoQR9PvpzHSXjJ0-uIqvzp_71ZJMcCSKZkL_/s16000/snow2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWmPab9l9xgIaCVNbtFTeCciJMHbRzliWh_zCHLqmJl5YqBrNnw3wrtXbcpVLnqfwt-UnTa482X-RM9cb7GXBwMW1Y6QGtTAWKbq9MOms8y_J7BJ0nSxe4rl8KX3NV4H41a6WpEq-zkMNkYWUrjKhv0HCfdDtbBimfBd1NobgAR6aTVzsKBxUExrR3LGt/s4472/snow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWmPab9l9xgIaCVNbtFTeCciJMHbRzliWh_zCHLqmJl5YqBrNnw3wrtXbcpVLnqfwt-UnTa482X-RM9cb7GXBwMW1Y6QGtTAWKbq9MOms8y_J7BJ0nSxe4rl8KX3NV4H41a6WpEq-zkMNkYWUrjKhv0HCfdDtbBimfBd1NobgAR6aTVzsKBxUExrR3LGt/s16000/snow1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">The Treasure Valley had another snowmeageddon, it beat the 2017 record of 21.5 inches at 22.1 inches total so far. The snowiest winter on record was back in 1929 at 27 inches. The winter was terribly mild until the skiff of snow we had when Jared came to visit 2 weeks ago. Mostly temperate days, cold in the mornings but not too bad. It snowed about 1.5 inches overnight on Jan 9th, the roads were super slippery! Most schools districts had a snow day except for Nampa, I hear Eagle and Star got quite a bit more snow. As it melted on Thursday the blacktop was iced over so the students could not play on the blacktop, only the grass. Most teachers cancelled outside recess…I let the 5th graders go outside since indoor recess is about the worst. The kids had fun playing in the snow until the clouds delivered a swift dose of wind, hail, and snow all at the same time. We quickly ran for cover, the hail stung our cheeks something fierce. Josie made Mrs Harp laugh as she was making her way outside for sidewalk duty. Josie paused, bowed, and said, “Madam, I hope you stay waaaaaarm!” In her best British accent of course. She is a character.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is a funny “spicy” weather forecaster on FB that is quickly gaining a following. Kody is quite the character, always cancelling the haters and folks who bring up “but my weather app said….” He was spot on with his prediction of snow, arctic temperatures, and blizzard conditions. Over 9 inches of snow fell Thursday January 11th, we woke up to the most gorgeous blanket of pristine snow on Friday…AND a snow day! Yippee! I woke up at 5:45 to check the weather and for school alerts. Indeed there was a school cancellation notice. I let the older kids know they could sleep in then went back to bed. I nearly had another full “night” of sleep. I woke up thinking it was 9 am…my watch told me it was actually 11:30 am. I felt pretty darn energized after a double dose of sleep. The kids spent hours outside playing in the snow. Carson invited Everett to ride on a sled pulled by the Ostler’s car. Once the other kids heard about that there was a close mutiny. It sounded like fun, so I tied our largest sled to the back of the van for over two hours of fun pulling kids around the neighborhood. The kids got permission to use Justin’s motorcycle helmet, mostly to keep the snow off their faces. It was frigidly cold outside and still snowing. Soon those not sledding took turns riding on top of the van! I got to work on my snow driving skills, that was quite entertaining for me. The laundry room is now a massive pile of snow gear. We kept the dryer constantly running to dry out gloves, pants, coats, and hats. Friday night Josie took Jellybean (her build-a-bear rabbit) outside to experience snow for the first time. She had an umbrella to keep the snow off her stuffy. I was so amused watching her touch the snow here, run inside for a ruler to measure the snow depth here and there, then dance to some wild snow song only she could hear. It was magical.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Saturday was more snow. Amelia, with her glorious ideas, set up a snow cone station outside where folks could grab fresh snow and make a yummy treat with flavored syrups and condensed milk. The kids wanted to build a snow fort, they started clearing out a large circle of snow. The temperatures were so cold (between 0-18 degrees) that the snow was quite icy and sandy. Justin decided to join the kids outside, after much prodding from me, with a blowtorch in true Justin style. He used the torch to melt the snow a bit so it would support more height. He had all the kids outside piling snow and digging. Fergus kept us all entertained with his snow antics. Fergus was not tall enough to clear the snow so he hopped around until he made a path. He plowed through the snow like it was the best experience of his life. We all laughed at the dingle-berries he collected on his belly and fur pants. That dog is hilarious. My main goal for the afternoon was getting all the Christmas stuff boxed up and put away. The kids pitched in and helped me get it all into piles and sorted into the storage boxes. It took me the rest of the day to get the dining room area back to order. I wanted to change up the walls, was tired of looking at the same arrangement. As fate would dictate, putting the large rooster board painting in a “new” location was not new at all. It went in exactly the same spot as it was when we first moved in. It’s a bugger to hang, so there it stays. I need to move the series of “ordinance” photos to a new area since Josie’s baptism photos will not fit along the hallway. I am relocating them all to the piano room. Needless to say, the house was an organized disaster area for 2 days while I worked through the switches.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It snowed and froze overnight. We got a notice late Saturday night that church was cancelled, the roads were quite perilous. We all rejoiced to stay home. Justin watched several Muppets movies. I worked on finishing the messy process of reorganizing wall art. The boys put the Christmas bins away by the end of the afternoon! Success! We had a lengthy Temple Table lesson on Lehi’s Dream. I love studying Lehi’s dream. The tree of life with the fruit that gives us true happiness and peace, the iron rod that leads us to the tree, a reliable unchanging path we can trust. The great building that offers an imitation of happiness. The way between the tree is blocked by a river that sweeps us into sin, mist that obscures the love of God, those who leave the tree never make it to the building. How is the building populated? By those who are not baptized or choose Christ? There are three ways to leave the path of the iron rod or the tree: forbidden, strange, or broad. How many religions have some sort of tree of life story? Numerous! Brother Dunford connected the dream to the First Israelite Temple. I loved the idea of the Ulam (the first room of the temple) that represents the open, spacious Temple forecourt. Lehi says the field is as big as the world, or the Ulam (field) is as big as an olam (world).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We had Monday and Tuesday school holidays to celebrate Martin Luther King Day then a teacher workday. I was excited to get my editing plate cleared, got caught up by Wednesday! Evelyn complained last week about her tooth hurting, I looked and saw a bit of tooth missing with a brownish color. I invited over her friend Sophia for a few hours in the morning. Amelia invited Jocelyn over for a few hours of entertainment. They made sushi for a diversion snack. The girls begged for sled rides around the neighborhood before all the snow melted. I actually towed the girls to Sophia’s home when it was time to end the playdate. Evelyn went to the dentist at 2:30, she did not know until an hour beforehand. Turns out one of her previous fillings had popped out and filled with numerous bits of food. She about fainted when the dentist numbed her tooth, the dentist said there tooth cavity was packed with food, took him 5 minutes to flush it all out before filling it again. The boys spent a few hours at EVMS prepping for their Robotics competition Tuesday morning. They helped set up tables, chairs, and the competition arenas. Amelia and Everett are now taking piano lessons from Becky. I pulled Evelyn from lesson at the Christmas Break. She gets to uptight about playing her instruments. Everett graduated to level 3a so was ready for a more experienced teacher.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Tuesday was a crazy day! The boys had to be at EVMS by 7:30 am for a full day of competitions. I went over a few times throughout the day to watch some matches. I caught the first qualification match which F.R.E.D (673F) won by 10 points. They lost the middle 4 matches, because they said their bot was competing against pusher bots that shoved the point balls under their net. Their other teammates kept getting stuck so were no help. They did win their last match by 35 points. The Valley of Vex is the largest competition of the year in the valley. There were three times the teams and students as the previous matches. Their ending score was rank 36 out of 48 teams, last competition they ranked #4! It was awesome to see the boys take their scores in stride and adjust their bot after each match to accommodate other team’s strengths. Next up is the State Competition, this could be their last competition of the season if they don’t make it to the top 3 (in the school). The top 3 teams are headed to Texas for the world competition. I wonder how the boys will adjust their bot between now and then. The gym had a peculiar smell that only pre-teen boys and girls can make, add in a mix of nerd smell, and robot parts…it was interesting.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Between the boy’s matches the girls all got hair trims at Kymra’s salon. Evelyn was in quite a peppy mood, annoying Amelia to distraction. Her good mood was very contagious! Fergus also got a fur cut at 2:30, he was not pleased with his situation in life. He is quite a dapper dog after grooming. He came home rushed the gauntlet of hands that wanted to pet him, made his way outside to roll in the snow and mud. All better.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I woke up at 5:30 Wednesday morning to check the school alerts, school was cancelled again. I peeked outside, yep, 3 fresh inches of snow covered the ground. It was a mess outside. The neighborhood streets are not plowed so the 12 inches of snow made quite a mess. Amelia had a Dr appointment that was NOT cancelled at 2:30 with the OBGYN for her painful periods. The 3 month pill cycles never worked for her, she’s had a period without fail, and lately getting more and more painful. We are going to try a different dose and brand with the 3-mth cycle again before moving to the next step, which would be an MRI scan or a scope to diagnose endometriosis. The snow waited for our appointment before starting up again. The drive was near whiteout conditions! Good thing I had 3-4 hours of practice under by belt from towing kids around the neighborhood. All activities were cancelled because of ice and snow. The previous snow started to melt before freezing with the new storm and layer of snow. Thankfully, school was cancelled again per threat of freezing rain and more snow Thursday morning. MCO was also cancelled for the same reason. I convinced Josie with a burrito bribe to go out and take some Baptism photos in the snow. She loves burritos more than candy lately. Evelyn found Josie’s embossed BofM in the church bag. Josie’s baptism dress is getting tailored right now so she wore Evelyn’s dress with a long-sleeved white shirt. I thrifted a long-sleeved white dress in size 10-12 for $5 two weeks ago, finding a warm dress was nearly impossible without dropping $100 or more. Josie’s violin teacher also is an impressive tailor. She knew exactly how to adjust the dress. I dropped off Amelia at Jocelyn’s home for a hang out sesh. Later I picked up the girls to come over and “vibe” at our home. The snow was starting to melt…so we made the most of the streets deep in snow. The kids decided it was better to sled behind the van than Steamboat Gulch. They did not have to climb up the hills! I had a great time slaloming the van and kids for 3 hours of fun. The van roof was prime real estate, the sled the best seat ever. Our circus act attracted more folks to rev up their engines and join the fun. Josie and Chloe were the last two kiddos to get rides. Oh how they screamed with delight!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Friday? Blech. School day. It felt pointless to attend school for one day. I pulled on my big-girl panties and made it to school like an adult. I let the students do stem activities and play on Reagan lab for the entire day. I needed prep time to get the rest of the assignments uploaded for my upcoming Microsoft 365 boot camp. I finished uploading the last assignments by 3 pm. Hooray. This will be interesting. Principal Obert declared indoor recess per unhealthy inversion outside. Double blech. Phillip was a HUGE help setting up my studio paper and light. He did most of the set up without me asking for help. The kids got their chores completed in record time too. I photographed a large family of 11 people and a dog. I am NOT looking forward to editing the photos since the paper was not wide enough to fit everyone. Josie was awarded the best babysitter, she kept the 3 little entertained with candy and toys.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I came home from grocery shopping early Saturday morning to a wonderful sight! Justin had the kids working hard. Phillip was sweeping water off the garage floor and Everett and Evelyn were elbow deep cleaning the garage fridge. All the milk and Justin’s soda all froze during the coldest hours, half of the soda cans exploded inside the fridge. It was a horror scene. Amelia and Josie were busy inside cleaning the kitchen. Warm my heart. We have a sketchy situation in our Master closet. The entire shelving system ripped off the walls. Apparently, the unit was nailed to the walls and not screwed or properly installed. Granted we did have a LOT of items hung and stored, so that did not help the situation. I’m not looking forward to dropping $1,000 on a new closet…I’d rather get a couch that fits the family. The little girls are thrilled I found a clearance Princess Lego set. They were anxious for something to do!</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Josie is busy planning her birthday, apparently birthday season starts 01 January for her. She is constantly bringing me lists of gift ideas, party plans, and her favorite activities. Jellybean is now her favorite stuffy since she got her last year on her birthday. Jellybean now has a cubby all her own, decorated for a birthday party. Josie begged for a Walmart trip to Build-a-bear to get Jellybean a birthday crown, good thing the store also had a sash and a koala shirt…gasp. Josie wanted something to report on Monday at school, so she convinced me to face paint her a Miraculous themed mask. Saturday she wanted just ladybugs crawling on her face.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The older kids had youth conference from 3-9 pm. Everett was a really good sport, he played several games with the girls. A new favorite game comes from the book Candyshop Wars. Each person has 3 powers they can throw. Josie had rainbow distraction, teleportation, sticky footprints. Everertt had lemon head (blinded for 5 sec), snackter beam, and tickle bomb. Evelyn had rainbow farts and invisibility. Everett had the girls running and playing for a good 30 minutes. Then he good-naturedly allowed the girls to paint his back. He laughed/giggled the entire time, soooo ticklish!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Ward Conference was today. The adult meeting was wonderful. We giggled when Moroni walked in wearing a kilt, sword, et al. The giggles quickly abated when he started reading the last chapter of the Book of Mormon. It was powerful to see and hear Moroni’s words delivered with such fervor and testimony. President Hansen then admonished the adults to teach our youth how to bear a testimony. After the world youth testimony meeting, President Hansen became concerned that our youth don’t know how to testify. Most testimonies were about seminary, friends, the temple, and experiences, Christ was missing from the equation. Our charge is to teach, like Moroni admonished, to learn about Christ and testify of Him. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-56593948466216006462024-01-07T19:15:00.000-07:002024-01-07T19:15:18.615-07:00123123 to 010124<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuUy9BIfXzW7tU_bcJhdmsGd0xcStRMP0eCX1_GJeX_boYHS-NnPBCRgxgXpZN9rhBg530GV8nFBapg9rq1WsN45vdrLuX3vWklhkTcUIGvmzb43P-8rey56pyNhbtzi_zKLYli3e9q48Hd4FnY0f5-unOIho933JKCj-BSXcVGu8QcSKhmwMVT4OlUo4/s4472/123123%20to%20010124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuUy9BIfXzW7tU_bcJhdmsGd0xcStRMP0eCX1_GJeX_boYHS-NnPBCRgxgXpZN9rhBg530GV8nFBapg9rq1WsN45vdrLuX3vWklhkTcUIGvmzb43P-8rey56pyNhbtzi_zKLYli3e9q48Hd4FnY0f5-unOIho933JKCj-BSXcVGu8QcSKhmwMVT4OlUo4/s16000/123123%20to%20010124.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFB8cAtzKtKdEYlWTCYAfJi635rdTVqRQo5u8rP3gu14tzHkugxtXzgM3a_QcyEW5DI45wp-ClVmOw-ff2GVm2nHBcKgNy5znino3Z36PDWgBf0DIMrdze9DKDZZ3L0BTXNp1mfi2ECupz3vxI3k94JzlWndt153CrYKbf-jpMiYljayeoSQNiqiEdOgp/s4472/123123%20to%20010124g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFB8cAtzKtKdEYlWTCYAfJi635rdTVqRQo5u8rP3gu14tzHkugxtXzgM3a_QcyEW5DI45wp-ClVmOw-ff2GVm2nHBcKgNy5znino3Z36PDWgBf0DIMrdze9DKDZZ3L0BTXNp1mfi2ECupz3vxI3k94JzlWndt153CrYKbf-jpMiYljayeoSQNiqiEdOgp/s16000/123123%20to%20010124g.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">New Year! I can honestly claim I've not been to Hobby Lobby all year. Justin was not feeling well at all New Years Eve, he accepted defeat and went to bed early. He caught whatever mystery ailment I had earlier last week. The kids and I played out new Handsy game with two teams instead of 1 on 1. It was much more fun with more people! Amelia, Everett, and Josie won 2 out of 3 games. Then we played another new game I got called Gnoming Around by Grandpa Beck, it is scored like golf where you want the lowest points by the end of the game. The kids were quite excited to bang on pots and pans at midnight! Fergus got his first taste of New Years chaos, he was a bit unnerved so wanted to run up and down the street. We were all riled up and not at all sleepy after that escapade. Amelia put on a relaxing ASMR video on the TV to help us decompress. The video really helped! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">New Years Day! We had a nice lazy morning enjoying the Nintendo. I promised the kids we would make a gas station excursion. Josie had violin lessons at 11:30, we went right after she was done. Phillip was still comatose so he missed out on that excitement. I made a quick run into Walmart for cucumbers and some staples to last us the week. Amelia organized a cute doll tea party for Evelyn and Josie. The girls dressed up in fancy clothes and got our dolls all dolled up. Amelia and Evelyn made cucumber sandwiches, bananas in caramel and nutella, apples with dip, chips, juice in the large tea pot, and raspberry tea in the smaller pot. Everett was our "but" short for butler. The tea party started outside with Evelyn welcoming in all the dolls. Josie had an entourage of 3 dolls! We helped the dolls talk about sophisticated subjects like the weather, how to really drink tea, and yelling for "BUTTTTT." Evelyn was in heaven, finally getting to play dolls with Amelia. Amelia kept the trend going by playing more upstairs with Evelyn and her Rainbow High dolls. The new doll she got for Christmas is seriously darling, even I want one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tuesday was brutal getting up at 6:25 am for school and work to start once more. Most of the students were crabby butts, myself included. I had a Dr appointment right after school so drove the truck that morning with my precious classroom plants instead of carrying them. Not much to report about the rest of the week...it was back to the grindstone. I did find a 6 inch long booger one of my 3rd grade friends dug out of his nose. I did not process that the item was a booger until I tried wiping it off, ewwwwwwww. I busted out the lysol and wipes to disinfect all surfaces. </div><br />Phillip and Everett finally got to attend a robotics competition! They now have a 4 person team, one more member to balance out the awkward 3-person team. Phillip sent me a link to watch the event televised! I watched two of their matches, one during lunchroom duty. Johvanii's brother is on the 5th grade and on Phillip's team, we watched the match together. The boys were placed 2nd until the last match, they lost the match due to a low battery. They learned to always check the battery before going in the ring. Punkle Jared drove up from Utah to visit us over the weekend! He arrived the last 4 minutes of school, got to see part of the first grade chaos. Viewed the students pushing the computer power buttons after I asked them repeatedly not to power off the computers that way. Evelyn met Jared in the hallway, got a long koala hug! I was out at crosswalk duty when Josie got a surprise! Walked in my room to find Jared there! Yipee. Amelia dropped off Phillip's lunch then headed over to join the party. We rushed over to Nampa Christian Academy attempting to watch the last part of the boy's match. We missed it but still got to see their robot, the fervor of the competition, and watch a couple of live matches. It was quite impressive. I really needed to grocery shop, resorted to making a pantry meal of Carbonara. Oh my gracious, it was so delicious. Jared showed us photos of his unit in action, described what he does as an infantry grunt. We saw more Waldork photos, some quite impressive. I thought Jared was the radio guy all these years, nope! He is a gunner in a stryker tank. Life is improving in his unit after a year of misery. He had a team leader with a vendetta against Jared, made his life miserable. <p></p><p>Saturday we really wanted to go soak in the hot springs. Alas, it snowed, and Josie's friend Melody was baptized in the morning, and Amelia had to be home by 5 pm for a party. So we revised, as is a common occurrence in our family. Evelyn went to bed Friday sobbing because I never keep my promises, like we STILL have not gone to Arrowrock, now we did not go to the hot springs. I got up early to grocery shop, that took longer than it should've (like usual). Amelia brought Josie to the baptism at 10. I somehow arrived just in time to watch Melody get baptized. She is a very sweet girl, Josie is lucky to have a good friend like Melody. At home we put groceries away then scrapped together a plan to go downtown to the RePop store, have lunch, and walk around. Once again our luck was against us, the store was closed for rennovation. It was snowing and very cold, so we walked down Freak Alley. Went in search for Guido's Pizza for lunch, it felt nice and warm once we arrived. I wanted to find a Middle Eastern market for sumac spice, shwarma seasoning, and pita breads. I found a store that looked like a replica of an Egyptian store. I wanted to make shwarma for Jared. By this time we were tired and bummed out. Stopped by a bowling alley, all the lanes were full, none to open for 1.5 hours, same story at another business. Phillip suggested Jeremy's Downtown arcade, we went there! It costs $5 per person to enter all games are "free" if they work. Some of the games were really fun! The dance games were fun, I found a cool rhythm game, Josie loved the driving games, needed a big human to push the gas pedal for her, and the fun pinball machines. That saved the day...there we had FUN. I got Mia to her party in the snow, Jocelyn turned sweet 16! Hooray! I made Zuppa Toscana for dinner. Jared was in rough shape, poor guy was feeling quite sick with some strange ailment. He perked up for a while after dinner. Justin and the boys headed out to shovel the walks at church before the snow froze to ice. We watched the Barbie movie to put that day out of its misery. </p><p>Jared felt a bit better Sunday morning. We have early church now at 9 am, that means Justin's meetings start at 7:30. Started off the year with fast and testimony meeting. Everett went up and bore his testimony, he told a story about feeling down last week and reading verses from the Book of Mormon. He felt God's love and heard His voice saying everything would be ok. Several folks mentioned Everett's testimony in Gospel Doctrine, brought tears to my eyes. Means even with all the failures we have some successes. Jared called out Phillip for wasting time, lectured him for a good 20 minutes! In essence, get out of bed right away, get dressed, do all the things...then waste time. We talked about being ready for church at 8:30 at least 10 times on Saturday. He was still in the shower at 8:20, mumbled he thought he had to be ready by 10:30...what? Jared also called out Everett for his gross habit of eating with his mouth flapping, we've ridden him for years about eating with his mouth closed. Yes! Lecture those little doofenshmirtz. The Shwarma was delicious! I marinated the meat overnight with a mustard and tahini marinade. Today I made hummus, garlic sauce, and sumac-onion pickles. Oh my, with the fresh pita breads felt like we were back in Egypt. </p><p>We started our study of the Book of Mormon this week. The first lesson focused on the Title Pages, Introduction, and Testimonies found at the beginning of the book. One podcaster I love listening to (feels like I'm back in Institute) gave this thought provoking opinion: Mormon had a huge task. By the time Mormon came around the records from Nephi were 1,000 years old. Think about how much the language had changed over that time. Then each king, leader, prophet, etc had their own set of records, the amount of records to condense was immense. I felt a renewed respect for Mormon's sacrifice. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-7086602395767177512023-12-31T22:45:00.000-07:002023-12-31T22:45:04.735-07:00Boring Aftermath<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPEFip1Xpo7cTLTqizffqfoBVUASwUP9uY-xuGBSJ-E-hw_kUBXVXuEPP9Z4l_O9q7ifSoapFDvsgP0jYRpzFlyKDFoBqOgxo9n3L05gtIVYOJCCgqE2MUtbMoeirgdRJZXPuM4d6KJEn-1YXMn0KgbYaWol0bS9QeX53jJItIIfVi-dWl7JL5KrgCj6d/s4472/boring1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPEFip1Xpo7cTLTqizffqfoBVUASwUP9uY-xuGBSJ-E-hw_kUBXVXuEPP9Z4l_O9q7ifSoapFDvsgP0jYRpzFlyKDFoBqOgxo9n3L05gtIVYOJCCgqE2MUtbMoeirgdRJZXPuM4d6KJEn-1YXMn0KgbYaWol0bS9QeX53jJItIIfVi-dWl7JL5KrgCj6d/s16000/boring1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vp8GNk9_wJhhKPkwRPphNDzuDGXii03UTFO1D_ZiqQcY9t6wDYFeQYWqXcFSvy_eIYCM8DKzSLDxkGxqI2SNZvKt3pBj2BJP1hHXWi4s76IA7rQVlDgG7-ME_JoYUjPZ5hvfyUg5fUy9S1XL5cyQ3U-52MXNSwwCIYHCHL0nxWAvFBq01N_zADIK-0Xa/s16000/boring6.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y9i_JBhVk7VucWNk3fvN1AH74-L1dq-3GqGRiHAzJLMw8s4ba2jRJUm_3RaN7MEYMWUrJwarQljsi-hkl4Vypmqo5i6CNjdKvKMVP4Y9n-ANWw7q3rLfgjw22S8V6DXWOa2DA101dWKnHQHKim2WcKv37jT15WyUaxJWyCVYizXt1Dcx9Pzfp4YdcFLR/s4472/boring7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y9i_JBhVk7VucWNk3fvN1AH74-L1dq-3GqGRiHAzJLMw8s4ba2jRJUm_3RaN7MEYMWUrJwarQljsi-hkl4Vypmqo5i6CNjdKvKMVP4Y9n-ANWw7q3rLfgjw22S8V6DXWOa2DA101dWKnHQHKim2WcKv37jT15WyUaxJWyCVYizXt1Dcx9Pzfp4YdcFLR/s16000/boring7.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">Last night of this year, today it is 123123! That must be fortuitous! Let’s waltz.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Basically, Tuesday and Wednesday was a blur of balloon head, fake fevers (felt chilled and feverish but actually had a temp of 96.7), nausea, sore hips, and fatigue. Maybe it was covid? Can’t smell or taste much the past few days, but it’s coming around again. Amelia, Phillip, Justin, and Evelyn are all feeling sick again. Must be something contagious, maybe a flu? I tried to light a fire on my bum, instead spent half my time prostrate in bed. Grrrr. I did eke out some energy to cut out and start sewing the girl’s “ballgowns” to wear over their hoop skirts. Evelyn is thrilled Emmy also got a hoop skirt for Christmas! I found cheap chiffon fabric at Walmart that was actually very pretty.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Wednesday I made a short trip to Walmart for essentials, like eggs for chilaquiles. Justin took the kids, minus Amelia, to the rec center for swimming. We were about to go stir crazy. I sewed the bodice pieces for both dresses. Amelia worked on some doll pants while I made salsa and beans for dinner. I promised the kids we would go ice skating before break was over, it was too windy on Wednesday and I was still not feeling well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We made Thursday the day to ice skate! Yay! McDonald’s kids meals are coming with squishmallow toys for the next week. I suggested everyone get a happy meal just for the fun of it. Phillip and Everett almost died from hunger, the meal is actually perfect in size if you aren’t a growing boy. We got 5 Archie Axolotl toys and 2 Sharks. Each character had their own playlist we listened to on the drive over to Caldwell. Over the past year I found 7 pairs of ice skates at DI for $2-8 per pair! The rental skates are terrible, so we hoped having our own skates would help keep the foot pain down. We had to wait an hour for the next skating session. I sent Justin to the liquor store for more vodka and white rum, my homemade vanilla is gone. This time I am going to make extract in the instant to cut down on the 6 month wait, supposedly the extract can be used right away when pressure cooked. I saw some MCO friends and a family I photograph for homeschool at the rink. Phillip’s skates are a mondo size 11, they well enough for me to take a few turns around the rink with the kids. Justin treated us to hot chocolate before we went back home. That was nice to get out in the sunshine and fresh air.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Friday morning I photographed the Rodriguez family here from California for the holidays. The kids were very shy, by the end the kids were finally smiling and having fun! I think we got some true snaps of the kids, especially Nico snuggling his mama. Justin and I packed overnight bags for a stay at the Anniversary Inn in Boise. We went to an endowment session at the Meridian Temple. Enjoyed the peaceful nature of the visit. I was craving Ramen for dinner, the broth and ginger hit the spot. We caught Boys in the Boat at the mall theater around 6:40. There was enough time to peruse the Lego store before the movie. The previews were absolutely terrible, felt like they had to insert raunch before showing a decent movie. One preview was about Black Jesus, but not Jesus. The movie was decent. My favorite part of the book was how Joe’s early life shaped him into the athlete he carved himself to be later. The movie started when Joe was in college, so the early years and his hardships were glossed over. I thought the olympics and races were well-portrayed. We retired to the Romeo and Juliet room at the Inn. Evelyn jolted us both awake at 2:46 am, she couldn’t sleep so called Justin just to let him know. The next morning I found she had called me 21 times before she tried Justin. My phone is muted at night so no texts or calls will come through. I felt terrible AND irritated. She kept Amelia up telling her every few minutes about her insomnia. When she got through to Justin I suggested she go sleep in my bed. That tickled her fancy, she slept until 8 am. I noticed she also sent me dozens of texts. Help! Any moms dealing with insomniac children? We went to Deseret Book for undies and scripture case for Josie. I saw a word per day set for the Book of Mormon study this year! I got it because the idea is intriguing, and I love words.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We made it home safely, Evelyn wrapped herself around me like a tree bear. She was so tired from her nightly escapade she agreed to take a nap with Justin. Everett, Josie and I played out new game Get Handsy before I had to leave again. Everett needed some hugs and attention. Me too! I had a newborn twin photo session to get photographed. The twins were in the NICU for a week so it was not possible to get the session done before Christmas. Oh my gracious, the girls are Maven and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Maddox! I offered an in-home session because Phillip was sick again at our home. The girls were super sleepy, made my job easy peasy. I was in out in 90 minutes. I finished sewing the skirts on after making dinner and cleaning up that mess. Amelia and Phillip went to the Stake New Years dance, it was a glow party! Josie had quite the Ralph the Overnight hairdresser nest in her hair. She gets terrible nests when she wears PJs with hoods.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Justin caught my cold, he is in bed for the next two days. I took the kids to church minus Justin and Phillip. We heard the missionaries speak during sacrament. Afterward we sat in the RS for 20 minutes since the teacher did not show up. Brother Minor took the reins, stood up and told a story about his father paying tithing. That was quite a stirring story, giving when it feels impossible to give, then an unexpected blessing. Everyone shared extra Christmas treats after church in our last potluck of the year. We are moving to 9 am church. Yee haw! Bring it on, I am excited to have early church. I think noon church is the hardest. I have a hard time getting out of bed before 10 am. Whelp, I’ve got to go.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The kids and I are going to play Get Handsy and Gnoming Around until midnight. Happy New Years!</p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-73350462478750192272023-12-25T21:19:00.001-07:002023-12-31T21:22:27.219-07:00Merry Christmas 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzqNWSLT2xZhksvM24EWicb_xOaf1TsA6zG5B551FewiQQD-lexkhySvepZpv0nkmsjYhxW1FMrzA8ukDfdqhGa6lF-Q0qAwpKUwAmYpO5G5n57ZB2kBnatgzTu2cWNTuuODH2r16ZZu9FWu7BfNmw62A4oMhZSQwxred0VaTAzdFneINa7_YePrz0VZs/s3000/christmas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzqNWSLT2xZhksvM24EWicb_xOaf1TsA6zG5B551FewiQQD-lexkhySvepZpv0nkmsjYhxW1FMrzA8ukDfdqhGa6lF-Q0qAwpKUwAmYpO5G5n57ZB2kBnatgzTu2cWNTuuODH2r16ZZu9FWu7BfNmw62A4oMhZSQwxred0VaTAzdFneINa7_YePrz0VZs/s16000/christmas1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="3300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fBCX-322Bs1rmtPXv_ESZsHKG_FV2eLODI2LF-GNMJhsyxpxg955SefohQuMa7XH1ROGOT9Uig5KsUuT3wq7tuP2T8whzVDuo5lcieiR9qygbJoOgrOTMODfzOXnRhoJ5mT9GWssjKsj9G02BYdrONymHUskeaK_GU69NS2uSLtgOUJYjW3YHB6Zzahc/s16000/christmas9.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORGCODzWJPgmxEv7xeqkXDRlhi0RUH_zCjGRG7SpDrWEfLds6zSR_cGZ4UKAZXFvmuvDC-9zS_GmGhfPbCfO18asQfXNi72KNeCgIESiwXW3U1bJfXMNo4Pyg5qg1lWrLS9oRH_gEhy53aCDG_-XWhlp9ZIU2Pt6UPOAWwkv9L_ZqHIWL7FOHwiU76U6Q/s3300/christmas8b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORGCODzWJPgmxEv7xeqkXDRlhi0RUH_zCjGRG7SpDrWEfLds6zSR_cGZ4UKAZXFvmuvDC-9zS_GmGhfPbCfO18asQfXNi72KNeCgIESiwXW3U1bJfXMNo4Pyg5qg1lWrLS9oRH_gEhy53aCDG_-XWhlp9ZIU2Pt6UPOAWwkv9L_ZqHIWL7FOHwiU76U6Q/s16000/christmas8b.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">Oh Holy Night! I love that song, now even more after the MCO concert. I still get tears in my eyes when thinking about the youth sinking to their knees at the one command in the song. Here it is Christmas Eve, surrounded by our family and the Ostlers, still family. Christmas came way too fast, that week needed to be twice longer.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I used the first day and a half to catch up on photo editing, cleaning, and relaxing. Everett and Phillip assembled one of the K’nex sets Miekka gave us a couple months ago. That project took Everett 2 days to build. Nampa is stuffed in a dreary inversion, “Baaaaaaaaarty, you bad boy” is finally loose. The weather really affects Everett, he is quite sensitive to dreary weather. He had a rough few nights with a “sinking” feeling in his gut. He was unable to sleep well for 3-4 nights. We had many talks about the cause of his feelings. Poor guy was very emotional for about 5 days. My best guess is he is dealing with:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><ol class="ol1"><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Seasonal Affective Disorder</li><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Lack of exercise</li><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thrives on the activity at school</li><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Feels guilty about playing on his computer, even when I allow him to</li><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Growing hormones</li><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Anxiety, he creates the nerves and ramps himself up before he can even try to sleep. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></li></ol><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We tried several changes in his routine like walking the dog, taking brain breaks, using calming music at night, vitamin d, and using a therapy light.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Justin suggested we go look at Christmas lights on Monday. Fergus was very excited to join the excursion in the seat of honor, my lap. He smeared nose juice all over the windows and dash. Justin DJ’d the music while we drove out to the Bayhill neighborhood. The weather is so mild the mood is not very Christmassy. Once again the favorite house was the Star Wars house, this year with a Death Star on the roof. On the way back home Becky called asking when Amelia was coming, shoot! I forgot about her piano lesson. She reluctantly found a 30 minute spot on Thursday for her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The boys played Roblox a few times with Ronald (AZ friend). While cleaning the girl’s room I heard Phillip saying the most random things. One phrase just tickled my funny bone: “Ronald, what if there were 5 million pounds of potatoes at the Jamaican border?” I immediately thought, Jamaica’s border is water, potatoes? Is this code? He is always spouting off weird phrases, so it’s mostly normal to us, I can’t imagine what an outsider must think!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thursday morning I made a large batch of Chex Mix. The kids and I drove up to Eagle for a visit to Justin’s new office at Cascadia. Fergus came along dressed in his dapper dog sweater. He was the star of the show instead of our cute babies, how time changes. It wasn’t long ago when we invaded Cabela’s with our crew of 5 babies. Josie took Justin’s pen hostage, hid it under an accessory tray. She left a ransom note: I stole/hid your pen….evil smiley face. Next day Justin called me asking Everett to tell him where his favorite pen was hiding. JOSIE was thrilled! I divulged the location with Josie muhahahaing in the background. Phillip discovered Justin’s chair could morph into a machine gun chair, both boys were converting the chair into all sorts of weapons. We had a quick lunch at McD’s. Josie played three songs with Mrs Jessica at the Rest Home in Nampa. I love that idea of having kids perform for the elderly. Josie played Joy to the World, Up on the Housetop, and Hickory Dickory Doc accompanied by me on piano and Jessica on violin. We rushed home so Mia could make her 30 minute lesson to Becky. I ran to Walmart one last time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Amelia was scheduled to get her Patriarchal Blessing on Tuesday at 6. I called to confirm only to find the date was changed to Thursday at 6. I called the patriarch on our way up to Eagle asking if we could move the time to 5:30 since I had another commitment at 7. Slipped my mind to text Justin the change in time. The rest of the afternoon was back to back errands and chaos. I barely made to back to the house at 5:15 to pick up Mia. Still did not text Justin the change. We visited with Patriarch Norman Holm for a few minutes. I learned Sister Holm knew both Esther and Fawn! We relished the small talk about both ladies. Amelia and the Patriarch spoke for a moment in the next room before the blessing began. A couple phrases stuck out to me: Amelia is blessed with the gift of creativity, leadership, and the gift of ministering! She is a pure, bright light to those around her. We both left feeling full of God’s love. I especially reveled in knowing that Amelia knows how aware HE is of her and aware of her struggles and progress. Amelia was grateful for that knowledge as well. Justin got to the appointment right on time, at least the original time. He was crushed. Broke my heart when he asked if I think so little of him as a Father that I couldn’t even let him know about the time change. I felt terrible, my spines poked out and I disguised my guilt with gruffness. He was hurt deeply by our non communication. I rushed back out the door for an MCO Christmas party at Jenn Spackman’s home.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Danielle drove Heather Bird and I out to Eagle for the event. We had a snacks and a little white elephant exchange. I brought one of my favorite Pannetone cakes for my contribution. Most of the ladies had never tried the cake and loved it. There were 4 cranberry appetizers, tis the season. Kami suggested we each share a favorite memory about MCO. Jenn started us off with a silly story about Brett’s undies hanging out in the youth chorus’ holding room, he calmly claimed said undies without a blush. Most stories told how folks found MCO and what drew them to stay and later donate time and talents to the organization. I had no idea Abbey was the one to really build the program and management in Idaho…while having little babies at home. The story I loved the most was that those who stay to volunteer are movers and shakers, we have to do in order to thrive. Yep, that sounds like my MO. I organized a gift exchange game with my spin-the-dial phone game. I enjoyed making silly categories, like open a gift like Brett, throw your hair like a conductor, sing for the best gift, and make other people exchange gifts. I learned Bergen collects muumuu’s! The best gifts were: a set of ornaments made out of blue tape (used to tape lines on the floor), a polyester muumuu, and 20 gifts cards with only 1 that had money on it. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Amelia and I wrapped most of the presents while watching Little Women! It was very nice to have a small haul this year. I finished up the wrapping on Saturday after grabbing a couple more gifts to round out the distribution. Justin took the kids on a truck ride to Pickle Butte while I finished the dredges of Christmas preparation. Dad Lance organized a family zoom meeting for 7 pm on Friday evening. Each family had 10 minutes to tell a favorite Christmas tradition, favorite part of the Christmas story, and share a song. The song did not work out, some settings on zoom prevented singing from coming through clearly. I enjoyed seeing everyone!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Poor Amelia was so sick on Friday, she felt dizzy, nauseous, had a head cold, and ear ache all at once. She stayed home from Christmas Caroling Saturday night. Poor kiddo was crying in bed when we got back because Fergus kept barking each time she tried to fall asleep. Caroling was fun! I used Grandma’s caroling books, jingle bells, and rhythm sticks as props. Kyle dressed up as Santa to hand out candy canes while we sang. Everett was grateful for an excuse to get out and sing his little heart out. I stayed up late making cherry cookies and my favorite soft gingerbread cookies. Amelia stayed up to keep me company for part of the night. Those cherry cookies, mmmm, mmmm!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Nnylatter graduated to a true Nelf this year. He caught sight of a bigger Nelf on an errand and decided it was time to join the ranks. He sent Santa a message, you mean to tell me all these years that was really you? Yep! I was really Santa. Nnylatter earned a glitter shower and his pointy ear hat. He immediately went on a Nelf errand, passed that obstacle with flying colors.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christmas Eve day was lovely. We had sacrament meeting and a lovely Christmas program. The choir sang some seriously hard songs. We felt edified by the stories and songs shared. Sara and Dusty hosted a fondue party right after church. I brought white chocolate fondue, cheese fondue, and challah bread. We had a party frying meat and dipping all the things into cheese or chocolate. Josie is a carnivore, she ate about 15 pieces of meat. After “lunchner” I worked on prepping all the pieces for our traditional Christmas Eve. The clam chowder was a bit lack luster this year, we were all too full from fondue. The Ostlers joined us for the Nativity play, with Ambree and Amelia as costume mistresses. We sang hymns and listened to the story in Luke and Matthew. My favorite part was singing with the kids while waiting for the Nelves to drop off PJs! We sound pretty darn good. The Nelves waited until 9:30 to come this year. Josie screamed when she found a Hufflepuff zippy PJ and Evelyn was exceedingly happy to have a Ravenclaw version! The older kids got Star Wars lounging PJs. At the very bottom of the bag we found a package for Fergus, he got his own PJs! Awwwww.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Nelves and Santa were very busy Christmas Eve! They got all the fun gifts laid out nestled under the tree ready for opening. I went to bed knowing that when we woke up the cookie plate would be empty, a Santa letter waiting, Santa gifts laid out, and gifts under the tree. The stockings were carefully stuffed to the brim and set out next to bedroom doors. It was a magical night. Josie had a very hard time sleeping! She peeked out her door at 1:30 am to find stockings waiting at her door! She crawled into bed with Evelyn just so Santa would not leave with his task unfinished.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We got the wake-up call at 7:30 am! I am grateful the kids love sleeping. I brought up Fergus, Santa filled his stocking with goodies too. Each kid got a fun toy called a zip string, it seems like a fun toy. The best stocking stuffer was a box of Kawaii slime, Josie got Nelf slime. Josie’s stocking had a girl Elf on the Shelf with a note attached that said her name was Rose. Josie jumped up and down yelling about Santa somehow knowing she wanted an Elf named Rose! That was magic. We headed downstairs, Josie led the pack. She found a remote controlled carriage…with a Bluey squishmallow stuffed inside?! Squeals! Evelyn had a Rainbow High studio and a Bluey Squishmallow! Amelia scored an Ahsoka Lego, Phillip an Endor Lego, and Everett had a puzzle box. Justin made me unwrap his gifts! He got me a legit telescope AND a pan set. My pans were falling apart, so that was a thoughtful gift. I got Justin some fun t-shirts and a car stereo. Most of the gifts were family gifts making a Nintendo Switch Oled fantasia, not just one BUT two switches!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Phillip threw up a little while after breakfast, he spent 7 hours in bed napping from 2-9 pm. I also woke up feeling like my hips were on fire (strange symptom) and a brewing sinus infection. Essentially, we were out of action until Wednesday. Most of the day the kids spent playing the new games on the switches. I hear the Bluey game is really fun. We played a few rounds of Mariokart. I was not feeling well at all so did not make any Christmas dinner. We did do our Ostler gift exchange around 2 pm. Phillip got Carson the same stretchy hot dog I gave Phillip last year. Oh how we all laughed. I love that we did that this year. Josie loved the Keeper-Uppey game Dusty gave her. I played several rounds with her. Justin got my telescope set up. IT was a clear sky!!!! Yippee! Calibrating the scope was very tricky, we never got it set up. We got to see the full moon in all its Christmas glory. I found Jupiter, we could see 4 moons reflecting light around the planet. We all went to bed relatively early, feeling under the weather in one form or another. Merry Christmas!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-69802137855192602372023-12-17T19:25:00.040-07:002023-12-31T19:36:58.522-07:00The World Was Waiting<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BaJLC6dc9V03gWbiHLXOyvvcW-0zV6mxU9UgUt9VPx9rKTuNxpMSG5FCEvfCA38q8hBPqlJzmulJDPCN5Dp8qP5PH-X6yJdC1cwxjCKynW-HvhTXjVrJZkxQLKtM7oUhBFLI6KjnHTmUYOZQI9l_Pz3NQXzgOPGWyqXEir_4I9xPJz1nxhZODjfir3n4/s4472/TWWW1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BaJLC6dc9V03gWbiHLXOyvvcW-0zV6mxU9UgUt9VPx9rKTuNxpMSG5FCEvfCA38q8hBPqlJzmulJDPCN5Dp8qP5PH-X6yJdC1cwxjCKynW-HvhTXjVrJZkxQLKtM7oUhBFLI6KjnHTmUYOZQI9l_Pz3NQXzgOPGWyqXEir_4I9xPJz1nxhZODjfir3n4/s16000/TWWW1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZNmOX5NFoP68TEatJGFmW6VOfWm9_OxC8KzkiIvjBhfB3QfpGNPGLKy8ypfrCr-TxCPlES7vy6n7ElK9GRVeKH_0RXNnqnWi-74U1QKKq3Tl4dYqbh2YdzlXBRuZaB7hQ_tjaLv4otK2MwAFjskVwul4f-dJZBWZqCKoT8rtOwSYhI-QIQCBKdmbMi5B/s1920/CabelasSanta2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZNmOX5NFoP68TEatJGFmW6VOfWm9_OxC8KzkiIvjBhfB3QfpGNPGLKy8ypfrCr-TxCPlES7vy6n7ElK9GRVeKH_0RXNnqnWi-74U1QKKq3Tl4dYqbh2YdzlXBRuZaB7hQ_tjaLv4otK2MwAFjskVwul4f-dJZBWZqCKoT8rtOwSYhI-QIQCBKdmbMi5B/s16000/CabelasSanta2023.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">My head is spinning after all the business of last week, it was a doozy! Phillip had a medicine check for his Adderall. He is doing well on the 30 mg dose. Mostly, Dr Aldous checked out Phillip’s big toe, his big toenail is constantly giving him grief. He cuts it too short and rounded so he gets ingrown nails. It was nice to have Dr Aldous second all the advice I gave Phillip. Right after that appointment Josie had her violin lesson. Jessica decided to hold an impromptu recital at the rest home! Josie decided to play Joy to the World, Up on the Housetop, and Hickory Dickory Dock. Amelia kicked off the week of concerts with her Columbia Choir Concert at the HS. She was still not feeling well after catching strep, her throat was aching even after 2 days of antibiotics. She stayed home from school except to attend choir class. Everett finished his medieval diorama, he had to ride the bus so did not take his awesome project. I was worried Fergus would snatch it so his project rested in the garage until Tuesday. The choir concert was a long one because East Valley students performed with the HS students. I thought the middle schoolers did a fine job. I realized the main difference between MS and HS choir: the younger students only have 1-2 parts so harmony is simple. I loved that the HS students sang most of their songs scattered in the audience. Made it feel surround sound. Amelia sang right next to us for one number, got to hear her sweet, clear voice. It was also fun to see several of my own students there supporting their own siblings or friends. Music to my ears: “Mrs Call!!! I know you!”</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Phillip and Everett’s concert came next on Tuesday. The boys went to school prepared for a looooong day since they volunteered to be band-aids. That meant ensuring Everett washed his band shirt and brought clean black pants (not grease-stained sweatpants). The concert was earlier in the day at 6 instead of 7 due to another concert at Columbia HS. Everett has a goal to make it into the jazz band next year. We got to hear the beginner orchestra (Logan Ostler), the beginner band, then Phillip and Everett in concert band, orchestra, and percussion. They sounded pretty amazing! Some HS orchestra students came to perform the last number with the concert orchestra, it was fun to watch Carson play his cello. Excellent job boys. Amelia stayed home to rest, not really rest since she finished making dinner.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Wednesday was a fun day at school. The atmosphere of excitement was more than the students could bear, throughout the day I’d hear random calls for help about this student escaping or that student needing a break in the Principal’s office. A student in Evelyn’s class was expelled for viewing very inappropriate things on his iPad, bringing a gas lighter to school with intentions to harm. Poor Mrs Curtis was in quite a state over the situation especially since the scenario involved two other students. Drama! The school closed at 3 for a “teacher meeting.” Mr Obert provided a catered lunch from Olive Garden for all the teachers and staff. He passed out comfy socks with the hope that we would all use the socks as a reminder to take some time to relax. Since I don’t know what that means, the socks will just keep my feet warm. I heard lunch was coming in but did not realize it wasn’t until 3 pm. I was starving, snarfed down two stale rice cakes Evelyn stashed in my desk drawer just to keep my blood sugars up. I snuck breadsticks out to the horde of children hanging out in my computer lab. The boys had haircuts right afterschool to get that tidy concert hair ready for Thursday’s performances. I headed over to the Brandt center at 5:00 pm for the dress rehearsal with Evelyn and Josie. They checked themselves in and settled on comfy benches to journal or prance about with friends. I volunteered to stand outside in the freezing cold directing traffic for an hour. Dress rehearsal is always a crazy affair. I am so, so happy we rehearsed at the Brandt center. This year we have over 150 new youth singers, concert logistics in the cramped auditorium were quite tricky last year! The concert logistics ladies and guy were running here and there for hours figuring out ways to make the singers all fit. I was quite exhausted myself, sat in a comfy chair to listen as the children sang their hearts out. Frosty the Snowman made a cute appearance during that particular number. Abby got a blow-up snowman get up just to amuse the singers during rehearsal. She has some very unique moves. I loved seeing all the waving flags during Joy to the World, the candles for Silent Night and O Holy Night. The manger scene. All of it was astounding, there is a miracle that happens during every concert, bringing all the moving parts and somehow making it all fit into a wondrous concert. The little girls and I left about 40 minutes before the older singers finished. The girls needed baths and wanted crinkle hair for the concert. Crinkle hair consists of numerous French braids with wet hair then dried overnight. Makes for epic “Heroine Granger” hair.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I took Thursday off, used one entire day of my 2.5 days of personal leave left, just to ensure we were prepped, ironed, fed, bathed, and groomed for the noon curtain call. Somehow Everett’s attire was still dirty from the attire check, he never brought his attire down for laundering. I commandeered Sara’s washer and dryer just to get his shirt washed, it was brand-new so had the stiff chemicals and wrinkles from being wrapped up. His pants had white stuff from illegally wiping his hands on the pants. While ironing noticed his vest’s top button was missing, sigh, sewed the back up button on. Last concert I bought white undershirts and gave explicit directives to set aside two undershirts for concert use ONLY. Both boys brought me their whitest undershirts, which rated a -50 on the white scale, more dingy gray than white. Sooooo…off we skipped to Walmart with Ambree along for the ride. The kids wanted special concert food: bread, bread, bread, bread, bread. (Please chant bread with us) Amelia led the bread team to scrounge up dinner food and…bread. I wandered off to the men’s section for white undershirts and belts because Phillip broke another belt after only 3 months. It’s a talent I tell ya! The bread crew was easily located by following the chanting voices. We checked out and rushed home with only 20 minutes to spare before I needed to arrive for the 11:00 am volunteer time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The little girls accompanied me since they checked in first at 11:45. I commandeered a corner of the volunteer table for attire preparation. I was ready for all sorts of fiascos, extra tights, extra socks, new jumpers, vests, ties, pockets squares, scissors, sewing kit, glue, tape, pins, rubber bands, you name it I had it! Soiled your undies? No problem! I’ve gotcha covered, in a one size fits all sort of way. I was happy to see most girls in jumpers! Only two singers had real issues, one showed up in a green plaid jumper another did not have a jumper at all. I had two jumpers ready for the girls. Miracles happened between Monday and Wednesday, four singers still did not have jumpers, I was ready to call all the other locales and plead for extras to travel up with the professors. Monday a mom texted saying she ordered two extras and wondered if I had use of them?! Um yes! Wednesday another mother brought two extra jumpers in exactly the sizes we needed. That was all sorted out perfectly. As the singers went through a real dress rehearsal I walked up and down inspecting the youth. I pulled singers out with issues, had several girls trade dresses to correct hems that were too short of long. One poor girl showed up with a FOOT wide hem…scotch taped…then ironed to the inside of the fabric. Sara brought over my sewing machine, I cut and sewed her hem right there in the lobby. In spite of all my efforts four youth chorus boys showed up with the wrong shirt, there was nothing I could do about that except take their names and email parents later! Phillip said the Concert Choir Men were quite intimidated when I rushed about snatching pocket squares that looked liked wadded piles of satin stuffed in the pocket. I spent a load of time ironing 60+ pocket squares according to standard. I even ironed half the grand chorus’ squares while I was at it. It was a crazy on your feet 6 hours of stress. Once the first concert started I gave the rest up to the Lord! It will all work out. Jenn Spackman was barely on her feet, she had the worst head cold ever and lost her voce over the course of the evening. She was practically a zombie. I voluntold Dusty to help Abby at the volunteer table, we had quite a fun time during the down moments. All the while savoring the heavenly music coming from the auditorium.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I used my privileges to visit all my kids before the concert! It was so fun to see the behind-the-scenes chaos.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I volunteered to take photos of the concert, but was told my services were not needed. The Brandt center is not photo worthy?! I took my camera anyway and snapped a few photos of the first concert. The opening song is Joy to the World, the children come in waving flags halfway through the song with 6 young men waving large American Flags at the end. The theme was Christmas around the world. We went on a tour:</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">*Spain: Riu, Riu Chiu</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">*Germany: Stille Nacht</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">*Israel: O Little Town of Bethlehem</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">*America: Frosty the Snowman</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">*What Child is This?</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">*African Noel</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">*England: Orchestral Carol of the Bells</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">*Austria: O Holy Night, mixed with Moonlight Sonata (Prague)</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">*Africa: Betelehemu</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">*The World was Waiting</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">*Scotland: Far, Far Away with bagpipes</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">*England: We Wish You a Merry Christmas</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So many sweet vignettes showed up during the concert. Mary and Joseph traveled across the auditorium during O Little Town. The sweet YSC dressed like little angels in robes and holding candles. The older youth singing What Child is This? Ummmm, tears. Snow falling from the ceiling for Frosty the Snowman! My angel children falling to their knees during O Holy Night. The soloist blowing us all away singing The World was Waiting. It was magnificent. I visited the littles between concerts, snarfed down a congealed chicken patty thing (gross) on the walk through the cold to their holding rooms. I found Josie crocheting a chain that reached nearly 10-feet in length! Her hand form is magnificent! If a 2nd grader can hold a hook and yarn like Josie does then those gnarly 4th and 5th graders sure can learn. Evelyn introduced me to her new friend, a very cute young man! Whoot-hoot. Justin and I sat in the second row, not the best seats because we couldn’t see that far upstage. He reminded me once again to get seats a few rows back next time. We had prime seats to see Everett and Evelyn! Amelia, Josie, and Phillip were on stage right most of the concert. I was excited to catch a few sights of Phillip this concert! He was stuck by the harp instead of next to the organ. Everett took charge during their last entrance, the line leader wouldn’t make a new row. Everett shrugged and charged onward making the front line. He had quite an earful with the bagpipes just a foot away from his ears, maybe that is why the line leader balked…she knew what was coming. Blown away once again with our 6th MCO production. In my mind it is no longer just a concert, it is a production.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Justin headed home with Phillip right away. It took me longer to get all my gear schlepped back to the van. Then off to help with dismissal for the younger choirs. I was unable to get all the jumpers, extra tights, ties, and socks back from those I loaned the items from. I tried to take good notes but it was moving very fast at moments. Now…how to get my emergency supplies back?! We got the holding room back in order before heading home. The kids begged for a Sonic treat, sure why not? I was rather parched myself. A cherry limeade sounded close to heaven right about that moment. Phillip started crying when we arrived home with treats and not much extra to share. He was very disappointed we did not tell him that was our plan…there was no plan buddy! He could’ve begged Justin to take him. I donated 3/4 of my cherry limeade to Phillip. He was still not mollified. We snugged for 20 minutes before he started telling me why he was so put out over a treat. Turns out going the next day is not special, not as special as going for a treat after a concert.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I was at school bright and early the next morning…in PJs. Thank you Mrs Wolfe for mandating a school-wide PJ day. My gnome pants were very happy at school. Since it was Friday the kids mostly used Pickle and Mayo time, all the fun STEM toys got used at least twice during the day. Santa Tracker and Dance Party were a second favorite. The kids were hyped up on goofy balls all day. I was very excited to learn a new 3rd grade teacher is starting 02 Jan, yes, please split those large classes into classes of 24 instead of 31-33 students. I went to bed at 7:30, I was trashed. The kids all stayed home from school. Amelia brought Evelyn and Josie around 10 am because the girls had fun class parties planned. Amelia came to our school assembly at 2 pm. She said if her school assemblies were half that fun she would enjoy attending them! Each grade had a skit ready for everyone’s entertainment. I loved 4th grades’ spoof on Jeopardy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The sing-a-long flopped per technical malfunctions. Ah well, we still had a great time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Saturday at 10 am the Ostler and Call family met at Fred Meyer. Amelia and Ambree whipped up a gift exchange list and made 3 groups of adults/kids to shop for an epic shopping trip. I was teamed with Dusty, Evelyn, and Carson. I was shopping for Ambree. Dusty had Josie and Carson shopped for Phillip, Evelyn scored Logan’s name. It was great fun to hide everything in our carts and sneak about hoping the other groups were not loitering. Checking out was a fun challenge! The checker went along with our blanket covered conveyor belt of gifts. She was very sneaky, making sure the other teams couldn’t see! How fun! The Calls split off after that and headed to Cabela’s for our annal Santa visit. No, they are not TOO old yet. We placated the Justin with Chik-fil-a nuggets before going to Santa’s Wonderland. Amelia found new snow boots, Phillip needed snow pants, and Fergus needed new toys to destroy. The indestructible toys only last a week, I swear there is a constant litter of cotton fluff on the floor. Santa was darling. The kids smiled. We survived. Back at home the older kids quickly jumped into church clothes for the youth Temple trip. I settled down to finally edit sessions from before Thanksgiving. What can I say? It’s been a crazy few weeks.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Sunday School was quite a lesson on the book of Revelation. So many good comments.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><ul class="ul1"><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Think more of the imagery and feelings we get from the images, less on literal meanings</li><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Only one plan was presented, not two, Satan’s plan would never work</li><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>How can a lamb defeat a dragon? Not in the way we think! When Christ came the first time the Jews expected a dragon, a glorious conqueror. Instead a lamb came, fulfilled everything in exactly the right way but opposite of expectation. Then that Lamb defeated the dragon, the weapon? Love, Charity, Patience, Humility.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></li></ul>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-19317399892992899222023-12-10T19:48:00.000-07:002023-12-10T19:48:01.991-07:00It's Nelfy Around Here<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgN11A_IflQhYVjCl3LSQdr2SLzdLjGoiN48BNoU1yElmp_6a3fqTJlioF-U3Qs1qlodvDxvwWpAp0vZMZjOfJ1lF0CROqpgjO4PP1w1_bbzvvPv6hf3bNeWoCTxgkJDADyXkVjVOM_SWa6IMbi4uGF7w6nD1IEJtEjAbldZTgYGD4GHXnOOr-Uq2TYU9q/s4472/Nelfy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgN11A_IflQhYVjCl3LSQdr2SLzdLjGoiN48BNoU1yElmp_6a3fqTJlioF-U3Qs1qlodvDxvwWpAp0vZMZjOfJ1lF0CROqpgjO4PP1w1_bbzvvPv6hf3bNeWoCTxgkJDADyXkVjVOM_SWa6IMbi4uGF7w6nD1IEJtEjAbldZTgYGD4GHXnOOr-Uq2TYU9q/s16000/Nelfy.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikd6kBOsmTa27scxH73Nd3jbVu9g2VLDWNpW_8frF3ndLrnHr_f9VlHlywOGB0OEzeIs8DSKRJZ5da3lL59R4TlaiQp329YBdsjhu0wcdvrTM9in_w3xrpye_NnoZ4NP2hL10TRJMf31F9w6SR7xN5b8Vm9BtNpjpvArCpQsHtkPQtm9tjgqbEPp3jHXbP/s16000/Nelfy8.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2c3ywd1fymolUdZCkQiiKKSeZhlYxgdgigeO7OHHQOTRcgWfg71sW2PZX1f_fdapFTogF9IDlrLBvQY7CoIrkfVMlJfG82FxB4_wS7NQb2TslFEwevPrddo-yDxv7o5BgE3huhlig2zk0i4O7wu3T2LO-E_Jrw3Hlr0ldjsaQJ0tQmIG3vQsvxAHasBn/s4472/nelfy9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3577" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2c3ywd1fymolUdZCkQiiKKSeZhlYxgdgigeO7OHHQOTRcgWfg71sW2PZX1f_fdapFTogF9IDlrLBvQY7CoIrkfVMlJfG82FxB4_wS7NQb2TslFEwevPrddo-yDxv7o5BgE3huhlig2zk0i4O7wu3T2LO-E_Jrw3Hlr0ldjsaQJ0tQmIG3vQsvxAHasBn/s16000/nelfy9.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">The Nelves are picking up the pace! They delivered an elf carrier so the girls can take turns toting around “Cherry Sugar Cookie.” The jingles sounded twice right around 7 am, I am too slow and haven’t caught them yet. Monday the girls heard jingle bells, found the elf carrier and a fake snow toy stuffed in the Christmas tree. Wednesday the Nelf came earlier at 7:45, dumped candy on the floor! Everett was thrilled his Nelf left peppermint nougats, a family favorite. Thursday the Nelves hid Cherry under a Bluey Advent Calendar. I ordered a cute Bluey Calendar last month, seems the Nelves took it and switched the ornaments from cute ones to cheap China crap. The figures looked nothing like the photo. To add insult to injury the containers did not match up with the openings.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">Misery! Justin is gloating that he bought a legit Lego advent. He saved the day.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Josie went to bed with a headache and cough. Evelyn woke up next morning with the stomach flu. Justin planned to stay home from work because we had a Christmas party to attend with his new company at 5:30. It was easier to drive together than separately. Evelyn said she felt better after barfing and wanted to go to school. I instructed Justin to have her eat breakfast, if she kept it down then I’d consider her coming to school. She did not make it to school at all! Josie slept until after noon! I felt on the queasy side half the day, kept it all together somehow.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">December 4th-8th is national Hour of Code week! We ventured into the world of coding using <a href="http://CODE.org">CODE.org</a> Dance Party lesson plan. The kids really, really enjoyed the change of pace. I had a couple students act like stinkers, ended up banned from computers for two weeks. This coming week the students will do typing then design their own snowflake pattern. That should be a fun activity. I decorated the lab with all sorts of lovely hanging decorations. Bah hum bug, hanging decor is considered a fire hazard. I’ll survive somehow.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Cascadia company party was at the company building(s) downtown. I got to meet the CEO and CFO, the HR lady, and Justin’s team. He works with a good group of people. Dinner was a fancy plate of salmon, steak, mille-fueille potatoes, and carrots. The bulk of the party consisted of a gift opening game, trade once, if item is traded more than once a sing or dance off took place. Only two people sang to win a trade. The cappuccino machine and Williams Sonoma gift card were highly sought after. Justin got a pair of Xbox headphones. He reported next day the headphone squeeze his head too tightly. We listened to an NSD report on consolidating and closing 6 schools in our district. I really hope at least Reagan Elementary’s boundary is redrawn. We’re bursting at the seams.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Wednesday was a red banner day for Phillip. He got his patriarchal blessing! I took the girls to visit with Nina until 6:30 so was not around for the event. Justin took Phillip to the appointment. Phillip carefully shaved, showered, and dressed up for his blessing. He reported on his experience later for devotional. Phillip said the patriarch asked him about himself, his family, etc. Phillip explained he was named after his Great-Grandfather Phillip and his many great-grandfather Anson. He said it felt like Anson was present for the duration of his blessing. Justin urged Phillip write down his thoughts, a challenge for our boy, BUT he wrote two entire pages in his bullet journal! As they headed home Phillip said the words from Glorious went through his mind, “And pretty soon you'll start to figure out your part. Everyone plays a piece and there are melodies In each one of us, oh, it's glorious.” He had a very silly grin on his face when he related that his future wife is being prepared right now for him just like he is being prepared for her. It’s moments like this that define our lives. Hold on to that experience with your heart and soul, dear boy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thursday I stayed home from MCO to catch up on some photo editing before I get even further behind. I was able to complete an entire session! Hooray, only 3 more to go. Evelyn came home with a hang dog face, complaining that I was not there, she had no dinner, and life is just not the same without me exactly by her side. Josie entered a few minutes later crying because Ellie was not in Quasimoto. She looked everywhere with no luck. I advised her to postpone the freak out until after Amelia got back home with the van. Ellie was not visibly present in the van after an initial search. We emptied the trunk of dinner, got her school things out, no Ellie. I said a prayer, just had a vision of her elephant wet on the pavement back in Eagle. Josie came out and said another prayer with me, we searched one more time. She opened the driver’s side passenger door and there was Ellie’s fuzzy leg sticking out from under a paper bowl. We both had tears of joy, such a simple miracle for her and I. God even cares about precious stuffed elephants brought to life by loving little girls.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Amelia’s choir hosted a Dessert Show to raise money for their choir trip. Justin and I helped out in the kitchen plating cream puffs, peppermint brittle, popcorn, and cheesecake. Amelia helped decorate 4-5 tables with cute stuff from our home. Our table was especially darling, good job Amelia. Amelia played Sugar Plum Fairy’s dance on the piano as her contribution. Most of the performances were cute skits the students thought up. Several were so off-key my curls tightened several twists. The favorite 12-days of Christmas skit was a real winner with Clyde and another dude acting out all the parts. There were more tickets sold this year so that was a really winner. I was trashed by 8 pm, went to bed after trying to edit with my eyes closed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Mrs Harp at school gave me 5 tickets to have breakfast with Santa in Melba for a cheerleader fundraiser. Josie was very excited to meet a real Santa “because Brother Finch was not really a Santa.” I’ve never been to Melba, it reminded me up Potter in Nebraska. Breakfast was at a pizza place across the street from the schools. I parked a bit wonky, back up to correct the park, then got a silly urge to repark until the kids noticed or made a comment. I got at least 5-6 reparks until Phillip quipped, “mom either you are terrible at parking or something is going on!” I lost it! Laughed my head off, Justin joined in with blessed mirth. Santa was a real Santa! He knew that Josie was an elf, could possibly make her own toy in the workshop, and ate only Lucky Charms marshmallows! Evelyn was stunned Santa somehow knew she was 10 years old! Mrs Claus was a special extra bonus. We only had 5 tickets and 7 people, just let the kids eat pancakes, syrup, and bacon. It was “early” to get up and going by 8 but the kids had a fun time. Amelia went back to bed with a headache and sore throat. I went to get the weekly grocery trip done. I was craving Panatonne, made a special trip to Winco just for that! Happened to pick up sourdough bowls and meat since Walmart was out. Phillip struggled his way through an essay he has due on Tuesday for ELA. I got an email Friday morning alerting me Phillip was seriously behind for this essay, the draft was due last week. He spent Friday and Saturday morning whining and crying about the work. Finally put his head to the wheel and tapped it out. The topic was on a famous person and what made that individual famous. He chose George Lucas. He was hung up because the teacher had a handout he forgot to grab earlier in the week. I advised him several times the teacher would not ask him to work on something she did not provide information for. He said there was only a sample essay….great! That is perfect! We read through it and divined what needed to be written about in each paragraph. I am quite glad he finished while I was gone because I probably would’ve helped him just to get it over with.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Josie had her Great to be Eight program this evening. My last baby is somehow getting baptized in a couple months. She just has a jolly disposition that makes us all smile.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I am stressing about MCO attire. There are still several girls without a jumper and several boys without ties. I have a couple in my emergency box BUT I am reticent to lend those out now in case others show up with missing attire. I texted 50 families last night pleading for updates, thankfully, several folks responded, especially the ones missing attire. We figured out the main issues via text. I am quite frustrated with MCO, they did not advise the company French Toast that the choir alone would need 2,000+ jumpers in various sizes. I feel so bad for those frustrated parents whose orders were cancelled and cancelled and cancelled. Hopefully, next time won’t be so stressful! The main stressor was the new attire each choir was required to get AND the shortage of clothing stock with the companies they contracted through.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Evelyn is hates taking music lessons. She cries/complains each time I remind her to play her instruments. This week she came home crying because Becky said she needs to play faster and wanting to learn more songs because she’s been in the same place for 2 months. I am done! I won’t fight with her about music. I remind the kids that playing their instruments is part of their chores, Evelyn chooses to ignore me claiming she is overwrought and unable to practice. I suggested she bring her ukulele to school and practice before school! She actually did play twice this week! I will probably have Everett take Evelyn’s place in lessons, he is making progress and really is at that point where he needs a more accomplished teacher.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-30019332729022844622023-12-03T15:34:00.000-07:002023-12-10T15:34:31.034-07:00First Snow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuM62m8JaJtVRvzurpuQjA8ZUyHJeY4Y2DvIF1z2zUolB21NiPt4iKJrBZ5SHmyTnTCTZRqHNKIVeMjjjskEMN-e1aZ6N_RqTWQO50CBV-NpU8VIqQ82iIJbuoN5on-G5HYqtXSrgxgPMC_3cn7SCF9eRaaJcl8Rhzhow-db98G57T4LtXxlaBhimHlEX/s4472/FirstSnow1%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuM62m8JaJtVRvzurpuQjA8ZUyHJeY4Y2DvIF1z2zUolB21NiPt4iKJrBZ5SHmyTnTCTZRqHNKIVeMjjjskEMN-e1aZ6N_RqTWQO50CBV-NpU8VIqQ82iIJbuoN5on-G5HYqtXSrgxgPMC_3cn7SCF9eRaaJcl8Rhzhow-db98G57T4LtXxlaBhimHlEX/s16000/FirstSnow1%20.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFTn2iLsRo2nnKhrmJW00YmF10PxIGRPGhjgKbw2BQsZzI50AIzLsPrebW2SDUt_-XuWhysY8H3Cm_iWYSOKHdTFe03RxB3vVOV94GmO50JAHVxaojAAcCylZ0xN0LCk2q3aDdXPJnzH-fyL7tf01_s3NBTIq5x3Yu-OAr2MF07E09wPX2jsV_exbcO70/s4472/FirstSnow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFTn2iLsRo2nnKhrmJW00YmF10PxIGRPGhjgKbw2BQsZzI50AIzLsPrebW2SDUt_-XuWhysY8H3Cm_iWYSOKHdTFe03RxB3vVOV94GmO50JAHVxaojAAcCylZ0xN0LCk2q3aDdXPJnzH-fyL7tf01_s3NBTIq5x3Yu-OAr2MF07E09wPX2jsV_exbcO70/s16000/FirstSnow2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRz5tREvOzrDDx9YRwP5f1SGV1pbuFL8rYSjDDIOLeD-SS9h7Fjd41TMdRCjHjhGCbqzQYQ03zTfeuUqkrmb28zgCTlrZySwD_0O4Ajd_usDymSfC5BW4Lfeucqeiv-zvuGPKVk649MAAwRCEbcfwyakEsmxB_X5yogn0riKtAkIya4tjhDR4NwXAHFEzv/s4472/FirstSnow3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRz5tREvOzrDDx9YRwP5f1SGV1pbuFL8rYSjDDIOLeD-SS9h7Fjd41TMdRCjHjhGCbqzQYQ03zTfeuUqkrmb28zgCTlrZySwD_0O4Ajd_usDymSfC5BW4Lfeucqeiv-zvuGPKVk649MAAwRCEbcfwyakEsmxB_X5yogn0riKtAkIya4tjhDR4NwXAHFEzv/s16000/FirstSnow3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9tnJnIYBtzTyNgr42TcYK6nfOw7M5jO05dB56YXob0K5H5cROEEF9eS5uROLQeDlwg_qsb_PULVXlVa5ttDzK6SFRyjbd5s0Z2t6EdJk9OMC90K1JZhiD_2lmZF80cMLGjRRIQWpx2ff09_AXOPFN8WyosobUOmgNVWhSByLeoRHD9WRnRk60g3A6VQz/s3300/FirstSnow4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9tnJnIYBtzTyNgr42TcYK6nfOw7M5jO05dB56YXob0K5H5cROEEF9eS5uROLQeDlwg_qsb_PULVXlVa5ttDzK6SFRyjbd5s0Z2t6EdJk9OMC90K1JZhiD_2lmZF80cMLGjRRIQWpx2ff09_AXOPFN8WyosobUOmgNVWhSByLeoRHD9WRnRk60g3A6VQz/s16000/FirstSnow4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0gSvYm8k1XQho4M-2qbjCJkmyt72znSD997vopDfTYJxutjPl2JiBwQ265ajGlKohP_DgC5ZQbZO34nLNe3KLdnop2LLHZwyl7RmthcNLC96MQNz1jpWDAYSwNYhGOnOC5CFt8ZRDEzN_JQSfk4XNDJEPEHWfpl8tL0cr_ipSMocLdgjmpFV_ML5aCWt/s3300/FirstSnow5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0gSvYm8k1XQho4M-2qbjCJkmyt72znSD997vopDfTYJxutjPl2JiBwQ265ajGlKohP_DgC5ZQbZO34nLNe3KLdnop2LLHZwyl7RmthcNLC96MQNz1jpWDAYSwNYhGOnOC5CFt8ZRDEzN_JQSfk4XNDJEPEHWfpl8tL0cr_ipSMocLdgjmpFV_ML5aCWt/s16000/FirstSnow5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJZya2ytY40oOiPUDcqBuCmSjvZeLauKWqARMszeHM2iTU0CCtkb7ZK65hOjFz0d1QeyorE0rMvaet1yBkjt_t4Xk_hlt6IWrybi7BSTPbuS-xjBWkDxuqaYuuESVeFW5b6FpP6bgHGrnzMRmuNfoBaGYz8ACeI2CxXGhm2G1AXpWH2NQQBCeMrGZtUzM/s3300/FirstSnow6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="3300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJZya2ytY40oOiPUDcqBuCmSjvZeLauKWqARMszeHM2iTU0CCtkb7ZK65hOjFz0d1QeyorE0rMvaet1yBkjt_t4Xk_hlt6IWrybi7BSTPbuS-xjBWkDxuqaYuuESVeFW5b6FpP6bgHGrnzMRmuNfoBaGYz8ACeI2CxXGhm2G1AXpWH2NQQBCeMrGZtUzM/s16000/FirstSnow6.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I called in sick Sunday afternoon. I needed a day to recuperate and not wrestle with kids. Evelyn and I caught the cold everyone passed around last week. Everett stayed home from school the 17th with a cold, Phillip, Mia, Evelyn, finally me caught it in succession. As I write today, Justin and Josie are bringing up the rear…or starting a new trend. Once a year Blurb has a 50% sale on their photo books, I am behind making and printing 5 blog books. Each book costs about $160-200 per book so waiting for the sale is imperative. I was able to create two books by Monday afternoon! Hooray! The little girls and I slept until after 10 am then they amused themselves making an Elf house out of cardboard boxes and watching TV. I was thrilled to get something important checked off my to-do list while resting at home.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The rest of the week seemed squashed and off with the missing Monday. I am stressing about the MCO attire, more than 30% of the singers have not passed their attire check yet. I know…hope…it will work out but all the shortages on the girl’s jumper, socks, and kick shorts and the boy’s tie I am seriously concerned about singers showing up half clothed. Next week I will text/call parents if no updates are made. There was no rehearsal originally scheduled for last week but the conductors felt that everyone needed another practice, so we had a rehearsal. Amelia said Professor Bishop had the older choirs sing the same song or an hour! Well, I hope the kinks are worked out so next week Stewart is impressed. I finally heard that I may not photograph the concert, they only want to use the paid photographer at the Utah and AZ concerts.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The wish of Josie’s heart finally came true! We woke up on Friday to find a note on the white board that read, “Happy first day of December. The Nelfs brought you and Elf on the Shelf.” Josie was beaming from ear to ear all day. She convinced Evelyn to bring the Elf into their bedroom for a little world. Josie said Melody told her if she wished hard enough that Santa would make her dream come true. What magic sprinkled our home early Friday morning. The girls are completely thrilled.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Friday we woke up to 2.5 inches of snow! Josie was thrilled it started to snow on our drive home from MCO. She got out her stuff and tramped around in the snow for an hour. The roads were terribly slick, Mia made it safely to school however reported the drive was not fun. Fergus got his first taste of snow. He made us all laugh with his crazy antics in the snow. He had a game of flick the cup into the snow going on! It snowed off and on all day! Recess was a riot of snowman making! I helped make an 8 ft snowman with the 5th graders. So fun! Sophia was very, very excited to come play at our home afterschool on Friday. Everyone enjoyed playing in the snow. Phillip took Evelyn and Sophia to the school to make snowmen, Everett and Josie worked on a snow cave. Justin had a hankering for his mom’s toasted ham sandwiches, I was more than happy to let him make dinner. I did not grocery shop last Saturday or on Monday…we were scraping the proverbial barrel for milk, bread, cream cheese, and the fluffy type of grocery.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The YW were in charge of the ward Christmas party this year. Amelia helped make jell-o cups Saturday morning while I was out grocery shopping. She went back at 4 to decorate tables and help out with the finishing touches around 4 pm. I scrambled to whip up a dessert, had 4 very ripe bananas, so banana sheet cake it was. The boys helped wrap and get the potatoes baking while I took a short nap. The gym was transformed with a large screen print of the nativity (think 13 feet tall) and a darling corner 34th ward set up for Santa visits. We lucked out and borrowed the set, it was so cute. The YW served dinner of ham, potatoes, and salad. The hallways were blocked off so kids had to play in the cultural hall where the Primary had 6 crafts available. A Santa that looked mysteriously like Brother Finch sauntered into the gym with a bucket for candy canes. Brother Lynes bet Sara $2 to sit on Santa’s lap! She happily scored $2 with that easy bet. Oh how we laughed.</p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-19656713212216743972023-11-26T16:59:00.001-07:002023-11-26T16:59:14.831-07:00Thanksgiving with Grandpa and Grandma Lance<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgso0AsfXvOYns1zH31nBGOv8Estfatfq__v4PHnSyBLHkuoT5xF9fB_2XdJryfmqjr834X3wDEzu6wc7CdfJX3R_iSu7s4hZoCV9M1q_WfkkIHnO852T7Tfy5TT6F-1RDFdd0_ri5JY0VhlYtiw6EjrGaumownyK2WTzV9zd4maDdA5Oj_Cyh2tn0OBcJX/s3000/thanksgandg1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgso0AsfXvOYns1zH31nBGOv8Estfatfq__v4PHnSyBLHkuoT5xF9fB_2XdJryfmqjr834X3wDEzu6wc7CdfJX3R_iSu7s4hZoCV9M1q_WfkkIHnO852T7Tfy5TT6F-1RDFdd0_ri5JY0VhlYtiw6EjrGaumownyK2WTzV9zd4maDdA5Oj_Cyh2tn0OBcJX/s16000/thanksgandg1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qwRY9wIcCzC303OpBRyUqUKM6iVXiIPJYymp1XzsT7uhgUzNuVenaduiysVnWdB6gmt3QyOUMV4ZOgdMij5kxoL9aO_vCT8aYBfjmb1pEFahsGk6leAfliago4V5_2M0tt6Ru9t3xyMmKtHtsJ6N_ExvIlSEZWnWoTr03n7RSivY14X_xEGPsgWwRB-b/s3000/thanksgandg2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qwRY9wIcCzC303OpBRyUqUKM6iVXiIPJYymp1XzsT7uhgUzNuVenaduiysVnWdB6gmt3QyOUMV4ZOgdMij5kxoL9aO_vCT8aYBfjmb1pEFahsGk6leAfliago4V5_2M0tt6Ru9t3xyMmKtHtsJ6N_ExvIlSEZWnWoTr03n7RSivY14X_xEGPsgWwRB-b/s16000/thanksgandg2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDws2j8z3s3BEFmrfMSNgitoH3Icq6ZkcvPuS30qvLishUwTenh7Xg5GotW_3YD_1JAdtababc1O23qrxc-G8VP9-TVVslZpBIHpEpWSxa6ysgJCL3YuXlVQlllD-4wVwmCaS4Khe35ZNfXcVb6uAOpjxGvVaC6FvBfQE2CftB7F_c3jG6eKh1l6BDgwwe/s3000/thanksgandg3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDws2j8z3s3BEFmrfMSNgitoH3Icq6ZkcvPuS30qvLishUwTenh7Xg5GotW_3YD_1JAdtababc1O23qrxc-G8VP9-TVVslZpBIHpEpWSxa6ysgJCL3YuXlVQlllD-4wVwmCaS4Khe35ZNfXcVb6uAOpjxGvVaC6FvBfQE2CftB7F_c3jG6eKh1l6BDgwwe/s16000/thanksgandg3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tFD8hF0o9N01XDqIEJginLULFURuWSSxCkprdzlv_Laf0YAbwn0wZ5WR3CiKrSsqR-bQPnjZSAO4l1X4DrxrYo8TjOfsXKxOILzRTNsh7b_y9OZGQkU29ysjGCwzzMvrEh_h1CaWq0ci9OEwVfLAGLxlJn5ls8cSRGC67mcnd6ozVcPExWbCzNS_67jz/s3000/thanksgandg4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tFD8hF0o9N01XDqIEJginLULFURuWSSxCkprdzlv_Laf0YAbwn0wZ5WR3CiKrSsqR-bQPnjZSAO4l1X4DrxrYo8TjOfsXKxOILzRTNsh7b_y9OZGQkU29ysjGCwzzMvrEh_h1CaWq0ci9OEwVfLAGLxlJn5ls8cSRGC67mcnd6ozVcPExWbCzNS_67jz/s16000/thanksgandg4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhk2ZWc7ZOgJizKFfUnT7t1SGUgx3J2d03VsCX9_AGcDJePgQ8rBKhlt1actWX2p9x8sMXlrqSpDJVVPw9eRZBfWhHaaAS1Gs9cWgiTFSUD4TP66fTEscsXETUpedXDUBhGMni7XLcST0oHYrciTHhk8WdDg8_jX2ZXH0x_l6O3S8gXlAFFeroXngVmHDv/s3000/thanksgandg5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhk2ZWc7ZOgJizKFfUnT7t1SGUgx3J2d03VsCX9_AGcDJePgQ8rBKhlt1actWX2p9x8sMXlrqSpDJVVPw9eRZBfWhHaaAS1Gs9cWgiTFSUD4TP66fTEscsXETUpedXDUBhGMni7XLcST0oHYrciTHhk8WdDg8_jX2ZXH0x_l6O3S8gXlAFFeroXngVmHDv/s16000/thanksgandg5.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">Big haul shopping! That was the name of the game on Monday. I woke up early and went to Winco then Walmart for Thanksgiving shopping. I wrote out a menu with recipes the previous night then popped the needed ingredients into my “prepear” app shopping list. I love the menu planner and shopping lists on my phone. I really needed a Winco shopping trip as I was low on rice, flour, ramen, and other staples. I scored another free turkey! Mom said she would help me prepare all three free turkeys I collected. We will freeze the meat and broth for future use, the freeing up freezer space= extra nice. I about lost me socks when the total popped up, yikes. I only needed to pick up some meds at Walmart. I really need to figure out how to use the medical expense debit card, it’s currently sitting untouched in my computer bag. The kids helped me unload and stash away all the yummy goods. My cleaning goal for Monday included: pantry, hall closet, and laundry room. The laundry room was absolutely destroyed. I have a hard time fathoming how it goes from neat and tidy to barely passable (literally can’t walk through it) in just a week or so. The boys cleaned the closet then raked up leaves. Amelia, Josie, Evelyn, and I worked on the laundry room. Amelia focused on the school mess, I helped the little girls clean the junk drawers. Amelia took the girls to the mall as a treat after we finished halfway. I gave the girls $20 to share for a treat and a small thing to buy.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Tuesday I photographed a very sleepy newborn girl named Anna. She was one of the floppiest and sleepy babies ever. Her 2 year old brother was all-boy. He saw Evelyn’s AG Doll jeep and immediately tried to stuff himself inside, Amelia brought down the ice cream truck…he FIT inside it much to his delight. The tantrum he threw was epic once the toys were put away. I was afraid he would not settle down for photos but he was very obedient and got that part down with flying colors. Evelyn had a visit with Stephanie Lee about her dosage increase. Stephanie let Evelyn sort through 3 boxes of new fidgets she got in the mail when we arrived. Evelyn was excited to sort through it all and stock the fun treasure box. I think the increased Prozac is helping, she is not so mopey at school. Right after we returned I had another session with a 3-mth old cutie pie, Magnolia. She is Diego and Dahlia’s cousin. That session was really fun and fast. The kids worked on cleaning the loft and bedrooms. Evelyn threw a massive crying fest, she did not want to clean. She cried downstairs for an hour while everyone else cleaned up her messes. We left the doll area for her to clean. Evelyn then had the gaul to complain that no one will play with her and it seems everyone is upset with her. I turned those tables on her: how would you feel if Everett made the messes and you had to clean up after him, would you feel like being nice to him? Probably not. She eventually bucked up and helped me sort and clean the doll area. She wisely decided to get rid of the ice cream truck and school room doll sets. Justin worked with Josie and Evelyn in their room for 30 minutes or so.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Amelia betrayed Fergus. She took him to get groomed, it was not the fun car ride he expected, glared at her and refused to exit the van. He was quite upset about getting his fur trimmed. He yelped several times at home and rubbed himself all over the yard. He avoided Amelia for some time after I picked him up. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Wednesday was the day to clean the girl’s room…again. The older kids rocked it! They deep cleaned the entire downstairs by themselves. They divided up the kitchen and got it all wiped down. Phillip worked on sweeping and mopping the floors and deep cleaning the bathroom. Amelia tackled the tv area, moving couches and such to clean under all those spaces. I am so PROUD of the kids for cleaning so throughly. I guess we finally got the Spring Cleaning completed in November. The little girls and I worked on their room. Evelyn organized her art area while Josie and I worked on books, clothes, and beds. I took a 30 minute break to photograph Paula’s daughter-in-laws family. She welcomed a cute new grandson last month. I was happy to help Paula. My room was the only spot skipped over, it was not toooo bad. Oh gosh, having a sparkling clean house for a few hours was the best gift ever. Dinner was another late start at 6:10 pm, we had pizza pasta. Dad and Mom arrived around 6:15 pm! The drive was torture for my dad’s legs, basically anything is torture except constant movement or staying in bed. We had a mini MCO concert using YouTube tracks! Our favorite is Riu, Riu and Joy to the World. I shared a beloved Panettone cake from Italy, Winco has the moistest Panettone ever. Mom and I worked on pre-Thanksgiving dinner prep. Everett was keen on making a pie so he pitched in making the dough. Mom made a delicious cranberry spread with garlic, oranges, and ginger, a delectable sweet and savory sauce. I prepped the cranberry salad and got the 2 turkeys in brine.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I stayed up waaaaay too late editing photos.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Happy Thanksgiving! Our day was amazing. I was on my feet almost all day long baking and cooking. It takes a lot to get everything prepped and baked! I got the pies done first, a tangy apple pie and a raspberry pie using the berries Aunt Nancy gave me. I was really worried about the raspberry pie, it was a risk since I did not use a recipe. There is a really fun video on YouTube on how Panettone is made, Dad really enjoyed watching it. The owner was so joyful and exuberant about cake, at 80 he is still learning about his craft and making adjustments. We loved the idea that even making cake for 50 years can be a joyful experience.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Justin rallied the troops to get horse duver lunch organized and prepped. Dad was impressed at the army of working children! Everett made date, goat cheese, and bacon appetizers. I assembled a brie, cranberry sauce, and sour dough bread coup de gras appetizer. Justin, Amelia, and Phillip got the charcuterie finger foods assembled, cut, and decorated. We had quite the spread!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br />In the afternoon Mom wanted to watch The Sound of Music. That was a perfect baking companion! Got the roll dough made and set to rise then the turkey in the oven. The tag containing the turkey weight was lost so I had to guess the weight, turns out I guessed wrong. Our turkey was not finished baking until 8 pm. Mom and I had the rest of the dinner ready and waiting for the turkey so we decided to just eat it all except the turkey, well I did pull off a few strips of meat from the wings and legs. In spite of the missing turkey the meal was fantastic! Mom brought homemade grape juice, yum. We went around the table 2-3 times counting our blessings. I loved seeing my parent’s faces at the table. After dinner I was ready to sit down and rest, let everyone else clean up. I watched old family videos for fun. We finished out the feast with apple, pumpkin, raspberry, and chocolate pie with freshly whipped cream. I must say the raspberry pie tasted like a slice of sunshine. My apple pie was deliciously tart with hints of nutmeg to dazzle the tongue. Mom’s pies were devoured quickly!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Evelyn and Josie woke up Friday ready to get Christmas on. They dressed in elf clothes and pushed the rest of us into Christmas mode. The boys brought in the Christmas decor, Amelia and Evelyn gathered all the fall decor to put away. We spent the entire day decorating for Christmas. Dad said he imagined decorating for Christmas meant setting up a tree. He was continuously surprised when walls were cleared of decor, rooms rearranged, and rooms completely changed. Mom decorated my Jesus tree and set up the nativity. Amelia worked on the tree display. Everett set up the Olive Wood nativity. The kids set up and decorated their Santa tree. The boys were thick in an argument over the best way to wrap lights on a tree, we all got to see how robotics class functions. Stinkers. Amelia, Mom, and I made a trip to Walmart just to check out Black Friday deals. I am nearly finished with Christmas shopping now! Dad mostly read his nerd book on the Heartland theory. Once again my legs were throbbing from an entire day working on Christmas. It looks so fun and cheery. Now I can stay in our house another few months! Phillip enjoyed staying up late listening to Mom and Dad pontificate the Heartland Theory. He is quite intrigued to learn more! I think it would be fun to integrate some of the ideas into Come Follow Me for next year.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Nelves made themselves known! We heard the bells around 8 pm near the heater vent upstairs. We think they might have a nest up there! Upstairs we found tiny remote control cars and spilled candy. Everett thinks Nnylatter tripped and spilled his load! That is a good guess. Those Nelves in training need practice. Maybe this year we will catch sight of a Nelf. The kids had a fun time racing their tiny cars up and down the hallway.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We had several amazing Come Follow Me devotionals this week on 1-2 Peter. Phillip latched onto the idea of weaving attributes of Christ to make patterns on our life tapestry, Christ is the warp. He is the foundation for the tapestry, once we wrap ourselves around Christ, learn and use attributes, he creates a masterpiece. Same with the Lively Rocks, building with rock around Christ the cornerstone.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Mom and Dad left around 9 am on Saturday. I was trashed, also caught the head cold Everett, Amelia, Phillip, and Evelyn all shared over the week. We finished cleaning up the decorating mess. The kids mailed Santa letters! </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Amelia: Ahsoka's shuttle (Lego)</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Phillip: Bagals (ie bagels) and a Lego diorama</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Everett: clue box, have to solve riddles to open</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Evelyn: Rainbow High Design Set</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Josie: Real Elf on the Shelf and Remote control carriage</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Justin, Amelia, Phillip, and I all went shopping for Christmas stuff. Wink. Everett learned his Nelf in training is Nnylatter, he is thrilled the name sounds like annilalator. Amelia had several strange dreams about Chik-fil-a this week. She NEEDED a chicky sandwich to put those strange dreams to rest. Silly goose. We went to Target and Michaels. Justin was quite cheeky, he donned an elf legs hat and carried around a creepy Santa just to be strange. We all laughed quite hard! That was hilarious. Everett and a very reluctant Phillip helped me wrap lights around the porch and front rose bushes. The last touches! Hooray. I carved out some time to finish making a blog book, got one out of 5 finished.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-77293041875919174982023-11-19T19:40:00.002-07:002023-11-19T19:40:23.543-07:00Up on the Rooftop...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdD-ekdlgdIV-jHG06VCKUQ6Y6O80Gy69ObnT9Hukb-9pMOot6sLQjkWK_rnuXVfCUbn4ZUTtPyRx0R6HCzASO4490JERJyu22ISzo69sgQfp6QHakoF1x_whHOW9RC3GF4YFg83LT2gnJJoPUtq97rcvh3CvuGnUGfJUu-mfg0Od-TpatgNadStwqsgYX/s4472/rooftop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdD-ekdlgdIV-jHG06VCKUQ6Y6O80Gy69ObnT9Hukb-9pMOot6sLQjkWK_rnuXVfCUbn4ZUTtPyRx0R6HCzASO4490JERJyu22ISzo69sgQfp6QHakoF1x_whHOW9RC3GF4YFg83LT2gnJJoPUtq97rcvh3CvuGnUGfJUu-mfg0Od-TpatgNadStwqsgYX/s16000/rooftop.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOf28XG0DSaqcJZGHtRPCK9L1c1sUBitVgKxQJLO39fQfCn3mFKCcD404XNBfomwCXLwYMAj-dfdZxA1ycC35Rs8OI5E6Bmbeg0yvE7KAcSHnGQ8XbCgMexzcvqSdRae7ulhsv8GXgxrlWjliUGSly6oZ19UwadIcL6RWtV3u3Uo3jhN8mi_TMN6pqdGoM/s4472/rooftop1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOf28XG0DSaqcJZGHtRPCK9L1c1sUBitVgKxQJLO39fQfCn3mFKCcD404XNBfomwCXLwYMAj-dfdZxA1ycC35Rs8OI5E6Bmbeg0yvE7KAcSHnGQ8XbCgMexzcvqSdRae7ulhsv8GXgxrlWjliUGSly6oZ19UwadIcL6RWtV3u3Uo3jhN8mi_TMN6pqdGoM/s16000/rooftop1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELUxIGBAFpfLW8C8m9_VBICY26oKZIxrO1Vs7mnW00dJ7uo8VPBU3YIJt6q7DPxWBfpU-PzkyDB_aZVu-jSEbOH9SlZNVS-xDrjA0MuXgFsGEhpst9SVMpCrPwuEyJ5uhYqhEgVL7Hze2tUzbooMHLvpfOhhTu7owsuWAkAghNKkdBLgr9Pmsbmw0Ri7O/s4472/rooftop2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELUxIGBAFpfLW8C8m9_VBICY26oKZIxrO1Vs7mnW00dJ7uo8VPBU3YIJt6q7DPxWBfpU-PzkyDB_aZVu-jSEbOH9SlZNVS-xDrjA0MuXgFsGEhpst9SVMpCrPwuEyJ5uhYqhEgVL7Hze2tUzbooMHLvpfOhhTu7owsuWAkAghNKkdBLgr9Pmsbmw0Ri7O/s16000/rooftop2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkcTnF9FdnY46MSBfrRCo7dvBX_BQRm7TC7jnmQZRL95zfW49IOAjUOSbRSyfeBfjCEIoFhorEBsokMuiZEHBRdcGenR0OokuLnVPVnigzph7w3HwUi5uw0tA8zxZ8hl0QDbDqa8nNJv3en_9rIKQOsOC4e3OiEeumislX4DjQ9hY45CpwwkZ_pH-0SKV/s4472/rooftop3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkcTnF9FdnY46MSBfrRCo7dvBX_BQRm7TC7jnmQZRL95zfW49IOAjUOSbRSyfeBfjCEIoFhorEBsokMuiZEHBRdcGenR0OokuLnVPVnigzph7w3HwUi5uw0tA8zxZ8hl0QDbDqa8nNJv3en_9rIKQOsOC4e3OiEeumislX4DjQ9hY45CpwwkZ_pH-0SKV/s16000/rooftop3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Josie and Evelyn caught the Christmas fever two weeks early...The girls commandeered a shelf and all my red post-it notes to create a shrine to Cookie Dough, Josie's imposter elf. They took a tiny drawer from my desk (used to hold paper clips) and filled it with crumbled cookies and M&Ms. The notes were hilarious. I overhead Josie tell Evelyn that elves can only ready twirly handwriting. Melody brought her elf in named Twixie, I laughed when she said her other elf is named potato. I had an entire gaggle of girls plus Jett checking on the Elves everyday before and after school. They squealed if her leg moved, when the M&Ms disappeared, even wrote back one day. The magic of Christmas fills my heart! I totally believe in Santa.</p><p>I wanted to plant the monstrous zucchini in Mr Obert's office. Unfortunately, someone threw it away. Good thing I still had a garden-grown pumpkin hanging out back! Evelyn, Josie, and I giggled as I glued large googly-eyes, stabbed branches into the gourd, and wrote a note. Beware! When I pumpkin reads it may take over the world. Muahahaha. </p><p>Justin enjoyed his few days of unemployment at home and running errands. He was able to secure a loan and an offer on Quasimoto. He brought it home Tuesday! It is a small car, disel fuel, 34 MPG in the city, has some serious pick up and go. Somehow it still fits 4 teenagers and Justin (my primary requirement). Justin took several trips, favoring the round-a-bouts, so the kids could enjoy the new car. </p><p>Justin turned 48 on Wednesday! He rented Bridge on the River Kwai to watch in the morning. He came to school for lunch in my classroom with the girls. That was fun. We went out to dinner at El Guero to celebrate. He got to wear the special birthday sombrero, serenaded (much to his mortification), and a lovely flan for dessert. It was quite a relaxing day for him. </p><p>The students were quite on edge all week, seems like the behavioral issues were over the top this week. One boy went on a rampage down the hall ripping up bulletin boards. The guidance counselor was right there, just let him rampage. Mrs H was so mad the student ripped off her stuff, she put a kabosh to his behavior in seconds. I think the behavior that worries me the most is how quickly student give up, they throw out the "I can't" excuse after one try, slump down or act out. Could be we've crippled our children by giving them what they want after one try. I've made "I can't" into a cuss word! You can and you will. Several boys complained on Friday when they had to do ketchup work instead of "free time." I heard over and over, your class sucks, I hate computers, the last teacher was better...yada yada yada. That means I am making progress. Ha ha. Mr Obert hosted a contest during school on Friday. He passed out two laminated turkeys, the teachers had to ask, "Do you have a turkey in your pocket?" You had to give up your turkey if you had it. I never got the turkey, boo hoo. It was cutthroat competition toward the end of the day. The 4th graders made balloon floats they paraded around the track. Evelyn, Sophia, and Hannah teamed together and made a road runner. What a cute idea. The second graders had a disguised turkey contest. Melody's Mr Obert turkey won first place. Josie wanted a gumball turkey, so we had fun getting that decorated. </p><p>Amelia invited over the Priests and Laurels for a movie and hot chocolate night. They watched Elf and then made Cooper watch Bluey. I went to Walmart for milk and a birthday gift with the little girls. I was trashed by the time the party started, went straight to bed. </p><p>Saturday was super busy. I tidied the garage first thing in the morning. Justin went to work with others in the ward cleaning leaves and yards of those in need. The kids and I had a grand rehearsal from 11 am-2 pm. It was thrilling to hear how all the parts come together. Joy to the World knocked my socks off! I love that Josie is loving choir, I was concerned she would not participate willingly. Jenn Spackman said that Kami is leaving the General Manager position after Christmas. Jenn is getting promoted into that role. Darn it, she is the best youth manager. She confided that my name was first up for consideration of the youth manager role. Say what?! No, my squirrels are all over the place. I politely declined, BUT it felt very nice to be considered. I'll stay in the wings for now. I photographed the Schatz family then the Caruthers family. I cannot believe Cy and Leif are a year old already, seems like I just did their newborn session. Justin fixed the gaps in the kitchen flooring, the laminate planks slide several inches exposing the sub floor in several places. He found a tool to slide the boards back then secure them with shims. Sara and Amelia perched on the roof while Dusty hung Christmas lights. We soon had a party up on the roof watching the sun go down. It was quite a magical time. I recalled the nights I crept out onto the roof in Wellsville to star gaze. Carson asked Amelia to join him for ice cream. They went on a date with the parental units hovering in the background. We celebrated Sara and Justin's birthdays. I finally tried out a doughnut ice cream sandwich. It was delicious, overly sugary but yummy. </p><p>I was released as Primary Chorister today, called back to the Activity Day Girls for the 5th time. Guess that is my place. Ha ha. We are thrilled to have the entire week off from school. Hooray. </p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-92159020399233367602023-11-12T20:49:00.001-07:002023-11-15T20:52:37.531-07:00Primary Program 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKcphc22RBf9CKue1hiwoMQsImYFF2xHrQ7PQ8lqupkDGlYFG-KZU9ZehDljJcF7E7iil9b_YdgceNhFo0MB37WhTSEdiXa8a60KQK52eTG8Q-MoDMLj9JxCJq07zaMj74BQmucOZt49cmgQ4kRlb0ZlDs9CSwiXaYHvwMaccJm4mTkgi2NskuhUTl40f/s6000/PrimaryProgram1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4800" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKcphc22RBf9CKue1hiwoMQsImYFF2xHrQ7PQ8lqupkDGlYFG-KZU9ZehDljJcF7E7iil9b_YdgceNhFo0MB37WhTSEdiXa8a60KQK52eTG8Q-MoDMLj9JxCJq07zaMj74BQmucOZt49cmgQ4kRlb0ZlDs9CSwiXaYHvwMaccJm4mTkgi2NskuhUTl40f/s16000/PrimaryProgram1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WR_hMCFh9o2vUGNMR7E_Y9fcuteVB8RpI8wcV6QS_0eXBrFyuH3H8X-0Yrruj8XoPtMr55J_UpTZspmkBuE0wtTUvz9T09_80zqClEXTPOiMM2bQJPciEGecVZplCPDqvgQrEonegIpCANukAj-Pa3HKK3PgA_NQYw3MdT0hsswP5VyMFeBXafjISGDF/s6000/PrimaryProgram2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4800" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WR_hMCFh9o2vUGNMR7E_Y9fcuteVB8RpI8wcV6QS_0eXBrFyuH3H8X-0Yrruj8XoPtMr55J_UpTZspmkBuE0wtTUvz9T09_80zqClEXTPOiMM2bQJPciEGecVZplCPDqvgQrEonegIpCANukAj-Pa3HKK3PgA_NQYw3MdT0hsswP5VyMFeBXafjISGDF/s16000/PrimaryProgram2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Josie earned student of the week for politeness! She was very excited to eat lunch in my classroom on Friday. We played memory and ate our lunch, then she helped me clean tables after the 1st graders. She was so excited to be line leader all week! Phillip also earned student of the week for 8th grade a few weeks ago, he barely told me last week.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Feels like there is not much to say! Life is rolling along. Justin had his last day of with Pennant on Friday. I went out to dinner with Justin and the team in between dropping off kids at MCO and picking them up at 7:30. The girls elected to stay in the van alone, rather than hang out with the Youngs. We ate at a swanky place nearby in Eagle. I was not fond of the strange exotic fried “rice.” It was most assuredly fried grains. Justin will miss working with his team, there were a few tears, especially from Morgan. Jennifer (his old boss) chatted with me for a long while about Justin. He did not exactly explain the why’s for leaving. Figuring out who was going with whom was a bit stressful, I’m not supposed to leave kids there at all. I planned on Mia helping drive home, but she remembered last minute about her last Farmstead work party. She somehow won a $50 mini waffle iron with interchangeable design plates. She is thrilled! Prizes were handed out based on how many hours the employee worked, she was in the last group.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I got to be the primary bread winner for the weekend plus 3 days. That was really fun, glad we aren’t surviving off my pay! We’d never make it. Justin found a “cute” little red car to replace the damaged Hamster Wagon. I immediately named it Quasimoto…it is another hatchback! Had to name it before he threw out girl names like Becky, Michelle, or Karen. Now let’s hope the car is not sold before we can buy it, and hope it doesn’t have any major issues as the car is a 2011.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Everett is struggling mightily with a bout of depression. He met with Nina last week which helped him quite a bit. He really wanted to attend the temple for baptisms. We made Saturday afternoon for all the older kids work! He was just beaming after we finished. Thank you Everett for the lovely time at the temple. I was very surprised the Baptismal Covenant Prayer changed. It was determined that folk’s spirits don’t die. I love that change. The temple helped him recharge. He is also reducing his screen time, especially at school. This week he spent time drawing in my classroom afterschool.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Saturday morning Justin took a contingent to the church for our cleaning assignment. I went grocery shopping. Amelia went to the HS for a craft fair. She sold a few crochet potatoes and cute dragons. She and I had a long Friday evening manning concessions for a BB game. I left the work to the 4 students after setting up. I was able to finish emailing out the attire corrections for MCO. That was a hefty task, much more intense than my mind picture. Jenn Spackman enlisted another volunteer to help email half of the parents. She was such a help! I’d still be hacking away at emails for the next two weeks. I am getting email responses now which is another bowl of worms. Seems like the attire gauntlet was too porous! I got 10-15 emails saying their child was present and in attire, but not checked. I emailed back praising those sweet ninja singers who made it through the gauntlet unchecked. That takes talent. I hear concert day is quite intense attire wise with kids showing up in all kinds of creative get ups. Thanks to Mia for letting me focus on that task while working the stand. I was the warm body, the parent overseeing the students.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Sunday was the Primary Program. I was a bit worried last week because half of the primary kids were absent. Thankfully, a few more showed up this week. Our Primary is quite small! I am so proud the kids sang loud and strong. There are 3-4 strong singers, 2 cute little Sunbeams who sang with their hearts. Evelyn was singing with her whole soul, she captured my attention several times as she sang with expression and joy. Sister Titus commented that those 3 girls singing just captured her heart. Looks like I will be released this next Sunday, I sort of asked for it. Turns out the change was already on Bishop’s radar. I’ve been in Primary for 2.5 years now!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p></div><p><br /> </p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-1238568785910954542023-11-05T19:34:00.001-07:002023-11-15T20:50:21.275-07:00Haaaaallween 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGe7ZwFXmd1bDmsHBqWm7ZgvPRF8vpHaB1d4LjzkP4vIg7TkIZlOtdz7MSyi62HqIvKe83agAcbH4jxV1lBlP1CGNtX2C01gL9i8sbuPk6Y-GIH3Aq7EUG80BRwkdXNTZOh1cdsYfjzHdP5Hm0h0qX76cz_TUZ3nHynAk8VKvz-3MPwv3KojIbI9cLJbn/s4472/halloween1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGe7ZwFXmd1bDmsHBqWm7ZgvPRF8vpHaB1d4LjzkP4vIg7TkIZlOtdz7MSyi62HqIvKe83agAcbH4jxV1lBlP1CGNtX2C01gL9i8sbuPk6Y-GIH3Aq7EUG80BRwkdXNTZOh1cdsYfjzHdP5Hm0h0qX76cz_TUZ3nHynAk8VKvz-3MPwv3KojIbI9cLJbn/s16000/halloween1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm_KOU2Evd7fRiHzSpOCaHJbYL1er06Jo8TxM6W8Pt8e0YTTUK0hhLkHoZHtz1w2G-vNgTjY5RIj0cSezojS8QYbj4ICY7T5oNz7rgMN750X1mVImx4ItIqCAHsGP8KUjHJV9t56z9CzWm4670pjn41zKa_IuVtDXlA0pjg4e_y1cYE4iUDU86J1xlFqA/s16000/halloween3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPeAoqaOmC7Mgc7r1jzJfbFMGcw0fw0KdV34myYI5_F0sECykEAyRCrxZWK7aBM1cN5RrdzBWw-6XHiux8eUCL9G4S34J6-SnMC455w6nk9SgAg0zCVGoSl9h2mpTad5Ey1JHfxt937B3X58TcBQLAo7ceGoXJP9EHkra4_8CeoABt0fJnI2w7H5ItUsH/s4472/halloween4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPeAoqaOmC7Mgc7r1jzJfbFMGcw0fw0KdV34myYI5_F0sECykEAyRCrxZWK7aBM1cN5RrdzBWw-6XHiux8eUCL9G4S34J6-SnMC455w6nk9SgAg0zCVGoSl9h2mpTad5Ey1JHfxt937B3X58TcBQLAo7ceGoXJP9EHkra4_8CeoABt0fJnI2w7H5ItUsH/s16000/halloween4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLfN8rAur67vlsSqo0EIFI5XMR_OwNV85o48oFdg9nLwlNCJdqXJEtWt4nqqlfa-KBzbEY-6GH84qM_VlfuOABQE9Nie_4LrvZQiiGFegPSOYBAAuYuAfXmqm5xn_qrZCzFsJwrjGK0CYmepTjt1DMxwYylAu3T2GsijI-XgTPAvGiZshz9h7ZyVhwufE/s16000/halloween6.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">Hooray for Halloween! I tried something new for the kids at school to celebrate Halloween. I got some pixel art kits to use on Microsoft Excel. The hardest part was figuring out how to share the same file with each class. Teaching 3rd-5th grades how to do a new task was quite frustrating. They do not listen, even when we did the tasks step-by-step as a class. I really admire teachers more and more! How they capture attention is an art form! Then I started a unit on coding using a fun website called Kodable. The students were buzzing all Monday, the current was palpable.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> One of my sweet students gave me a candy bar because it said, "whatchMACALLit." I'm Ma Call! Ha ha. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I dressed up as Caroline Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie, mostly because I had the costume from trek! The bonnet made my head hurt all day long, but it was worth the effort! Ha ha. The students raised money to “slime the principal” before the Halloween parade. Mrs Shaw’s class raised like $600, she had quite the glitter in her eye as she got to pour two buckets of slime on Mr Obert. The kids were thrilled! After the sliming event each grade walked the track to show off their costumes. Evelyn was very upset Mrs Curtis missed school Monday and Tuesday with her sick toddler. Her sub is a very strict lady. Monday Evelyn was so upset she was not allowed to visit me for even a hug she cried for an hour after school. We snuggled on the couch while reading the American Girl Doll magazine. That was worth it to me! I asked the sub to allow Evelyn time to see me during the day, she gave me the nastiest look and snarkily clipped back, no way should a child miss recess to be in their mother’s classroom. I about grabbed my theoretical sword, then thought about it. She has a very hard class to manage, the way she reacted was upsetting to me, but in context I understand the situation. Still, a little grace goes a long way. After school the kids got costumed up ready for a fun evening. Sara got some help setting up tables for hot dogs, hot chocolate, and cider! I made a big pot of chili to contribute to the neighborhood party. We loved seeing all the folks stop for a snack and warm drink! Phillip’s friends Darrell, Ben, and Johvanni met up at our home for the evening. Everett disappeared to Kyran’s home, I did not see him except for a few minutes in my classroom! Phillip and friends had a blast trick or treating as a group. Amelia went around with Justin, Fergus, Evelyn, Josie, and I. We left a big bowl of candy folks could help themselves at while we were gone. Fergus was hyped up of goof balls! He does not bark at every little thing like Vader did. We met up with Melody and Jett (plus Heidi Ipsen) halfway around the circle. We ended up walking the circle twice for lots of candy. Amelia wanted to visit Mrs Sene so we drove out near NNU college especially for that. We sang a silly song at her door! Down the street from her home were two decked out houses we stopped at. Fergus and Josie were too scared to walk through the scary stuff. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The kids postponed the annual candy exchange for the next day after school. This is a much anticipated event! Will you trade me a Snickers for an Almond Joy? School after Halloween was brutal. The students were on a sugar rush, cranky, and completely unmotivated…me too! Ha ha. We somehow made it through the day with a wish and a prayer. The best part was having Thursday AND Friday off for parent-teacher conferences.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thursday dawned with rain and heavy clouds that continued all day. Gratefully, the heater was fixed Wednesday afternoon so we stayed nice and cozy. I got up early to attend Parent-Teacher conferences. Evelyn was up first with Mrs Curtis. She is doing very well academically, her strength is math (but her least favorite subject). There are some strong girl cliques in her class, Mrs Curtis said she just loves how Evelyn and Sophia act like kids, none of the girl drama the other girls create. I loved hearing that! However, Evelyn and Sophia are on the odd end of the spectrum, still loving little girl things and completely oblivious to the girl drama. I am grateful to Mrs Curtis for helping those two form a better friendship. Sophia brought a BFF book to complete with Evelyn during breaks at school. It’s adorable. Josie is doing great. She is a bit behind in spelling and reading, she’d rather snuggle and play than read. Josie and Melody are quite silly friends! I love it. The girls love to throw “rat”coon at me every moment they can. Last week they held my squishmallow hostage under a desk. Josie’s happy demeanor is contagious. I rushed off the East Valley to meet with Phillip and Everett’s teachers. I stopped by Mr Burton first, he said Phillip is improving everyday. Everett needs to practice more at home. Robotics was next, Mr Gomez and I had a lengthy chat about the boys. Their robot is essentially a tank, if robotics was about looks they would win awards. However, the tank is not winning any awards because it cannot compete with the lighter robots. I heard that the boys are very hot-headed and unwilling to compromise. The result will be not competing because they are stuck arguing vs working. They finally decided that the traditional h-frame was the way to go, essentially they are rebuilding their robot from scratch. Sigh. A 3-person team is not easy to be on, Phillip and Johvanni are 8th grade buddies with 7th grade Everett flopping along the side. I hope the boys can work together better if they each have certain tasks assigned specifically to each boy. Mr Z (Zarate) calls Phillip, Philly Cheesesteak. I think Phillip relishes the attention. Mr Z said one class period Phillip slumped up to him, all hoodied up, to say, “uh, Mr Z there is an open fun-sized candy bar on the floor, can I throw it away…?” Unsaid? I want to eat the candy bar, the temptation is too much. I can just see that exchange perfectly in my mind. Another day Phillip got a new deskmate who is a renowned “knucklehead.” After only 5 minutes Phillip slowly inched over to Mr Z, “uh, Mr Z, I can’t sit next to ****, he is not a nice person, next time can I get my own desk?” It’s more presentation, knowing Phillip and how he talks makes these two interactions hilarious. Ms Call tattled on Everett, told me he was turning in sloppy work, fully completed, then spending the rest of class playing games on his laptop. Nipped that in the bud, rather fully bloomed flower. I told Everett, NO MORE! He can only play computer games if his teacher says, during lunch, or for special occasions. Cinnamon rolls on a rainy day sounded like perfection! Made some rolls before choir to eat for MCO dinner. The boys had a chance to go work on their robot for an hour or two before choir. Amelia took Everett over, Phillip broke down crying because he did not know if Johvanni would be there, he didn’t want to go alone. He and I went to Walmart instead to find a birthday gift for Ben’s party the next day. Phillip walked out with a toy shark and mini remote-controlled car.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Friday and Saturday were boring. The Ostler’s were gone. Evelyn took good care of Ruby and Millie while the Ostler’s were away. She quite enjoyed alone time in their home! We cleaned bedrooms on Saturday. The little girl’s room was a disaster, I don’t know how it gets so bad that quickly. Evelyn berated me last week for having a messy desk drawer, spent 30 minutes organizing it. In my mind, I was thinking, “me messy? Evelyn your room?” Hello black pot, hello black kettle! I finished editing sweet Hadley’s newborn session and started edits on the bridal session. The girls went to DI, Ross, and JoAnn's for some fun shopping. Sunday we practiced for the Primary Program in the chapel. The program is next week already.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Mom sent me an intriguing commentary called Antidote. Essentially, about COVID, that it was a manufactured “illness” using snake venoms injected in special DNA carriers and dispersed in our water systems. The cure? Nicotine! A recent Harvard study revealed that Nicotine is not addictive as previously taught, rather other chemicals in tobacco products are responsible. Another pandemic is in the wings, the cause? A violent snake venom causing bleeding from the eyes, nose, etc. The cure? Zinc and stopping magnesium intake. Blew my mind because it all made perfect medical sense.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">My mom’s breast cancer is back. She held off the inevitable for two years, long enough to care for Grandma Jean. Looks like she is opting for a double mastectomy instead of chemo. We are fasting and praying for her. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-68003254195049483512023-10-29T19:48:00.002-06:002023-11-05T20:13:48.325-07:00Trunk or Treat!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SJw_DBpm0GAqelwQ5PVenEU2Bao50GsD_Lh60Vw4rqP4LLjNUP66u4cjPL5nLTDBDMpB-Srm35etWcJ1C28ZmCYGUtrLoZxqcXtTT2Tg4i42Gx5gV75esT-68a7PKKA1KikpxUwMlAl3RcaNQ4-k1EqcSUfSU2id3fYd3wmwNRp9UmDscxKT1I3f3WV8/s4472/trunk1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SJw_DBpm0GAqelwQ5PVenEU2Bao50GsD_Lh60Vw4rqP4LLjNUP66u4cjPL5nLTDBDMpB-Srm35etWcJ1C28ZmCYGUtrLoZxqcXtTT2Tg4i42Gx5gV75esT-68a7PKKA1KikpxUwMlAl3RcaNQ4-k1EqcSUfSU2id3fYd3wmwNRp9UmDscxKT1I3f3WV8/s16000/trunk1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIP76uuBfl_3TqFvyMrULJ8KzZl1brEOHWUeruwNEZFuAO5oHnzp1qP_YuM7VFNLbUGHJIWOhs_a92VVFwCTlauVu2tVGGUKaKv1kXdXITBo_ujdWZ3FmLrtzz3IIgWljs9D0ZvOSYR_oqOhPu1GqNqDk0hqk29_BO6Ak6a2t3KfuToiUlZPduopy2EFb/s16000/trunk12.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">Josie saw Dr Aldous on Monday at 11:45, she had a strange strain of strep. She was able to attend school the next day because she was not running a fever and the antibiotics were super strong. Aldous said kids were staying home for 10-14 days with this most recent strain of strep. Justin hobbled home in the Hamster Wagon, not even making it halfway to work. He made it to the Country Mechanic shop. Bad news, terrible news. The Hamster Wagon needed about 7k in engine repairs, the engine could explode at anytime. For all purposes that car is now extinct. Instead of using Justin’s vacation pay to scrub the credit card debt we are now looking at using it for a car down payment. Stoopid cars and money. Justin’s last day of work is November 10th with Pennant. He will start with Cascade on November 15th. Just to make sure we had three strikes the heater crapped out. Nick came over on Wednesday, figured out the new heater fan unit failed. He ordered a new motor that would arrive the next Wednesday. It was very cold downstairs the next week! Brrrrr.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Wednesday there was a fun rain storm right when school was excused. All the kids were at school with me enjoying the benefits of 30 computers (aka Minecraft). The rain was pouring down, even the lure of electronics could not stifle the pull of rain puddles. I felt like the Pied Piper leading the children outside to splash in the rain. Phillip looked completely ridiculous with Josie’s tiny umbrella! The rain was cold and refreshing! Since we were all wet it was logical to go to Walmart for trunk or treat candy, light sabers, and R2D2s. Josie found a Bob Bilby hand puppet with the Bluey toys. We love us some Bob Bilby.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Then home for soup and hot chocolate. The rain is magical.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thursday was a big day for me at MCO. It was the day of the attire check. I sent out all the emails and info as requested 2-3 days before Thursday. I made checklists to use for each chorus printed on different colored paper. Thursday I left school at 3:10 thanks to Jill who volunteered to be the warm body in the computer lab for the last 20 minutes of school. I arrived in time to instruct a team of volunteers for the attire check. Jenn said not to use the star stickers, so we did not at first. With the younger kids it soon became apparent that some were squeezing through the gauntlet without their attire checked off. I went back and put stars on all the kids waiting in the foyer sending several back to the front for attire check. The process took a couple of hours! Justin picked up the little girls and Everett so I could stay and finish up the forms. Now the hard part: entering the data AND emailing hundreds of parents about changes to finalize attire.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Friday was a teacher work day for the upcoming end of quarter and parent-teacher conferences. The kids slept in, vegged, and watched TV. It was amazing. I photographed baby Hadley, Sara Davis’ new baby girl. I quite enjoyed the change of pace. Amelia worked from 9-3 pm in order to attend the ward party. Friday evening the kids donned their Halloween costumes for our ward trunk or treat. Melody Ipsen, Josie’s friend came over to play for the afternoon. She joined the fun! Evelyn’s new friend Sophia met us at the church for the party. Amelia and Evelyn’s hair was tricky to figure out with long braid extensions. This year the line up was: Amelia as Princess Leia on the planet Endor, Phillip as a T-Rex with a light saber, Everett as a ninja guy, Evelyn as Princess Leia, and Josie as Ladybug. Fergus went as sweater boi. We shared soups and bread for dinner. The kids marched and announced their costumes in a parade. I morphed into a trunk monkey for the trunk portion.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Saturday morning I photographed a bride, groom, and close family. Their wedding photos did not turn out at all. They hired me to recapture their bridal photos. It was freezing! The groom is from Jamaica, quite the opposite of a cold Idaho fall morning. Josie was intent to carve pumpkins Saturday evening. Amelia was tired after her very last day of working the Farmstead this year. I was exhausted, everyone was exhausted. Josie reluctantly agreed to postpone to Sunday afternoon.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Evelyn and Sophia went to a Halloween party around noon. I picked the girls up, they were in the backyard picking up chickens! I got to hold the sweetest fluffy thing ever. Josie even got a treat back with a Witch’s finger lollipop.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Sunday afternoon all I wanted after church was a nap! Instead Justin got a nap while the rest of us carved pumpkins. I was jealous and mad! Stinker. I broke out his drill, circle cutters, and the Dremel tool just to use the big guns. We watched Nightmare Before Christmas while we gutted and carved. Evelyn wanted a pumpkin house and Josie wanted a Ladybug design. The girls worked hard to gut their pumpkins and I helped with the cutting. Justin, Amelia, and I attended a CES fireside with the presidents of BYU and BYU-I in attendance. The topic was on church education for 11th-12th graders looking for continuing education. Amelia is feeling more and more that BYU-I is the place for her. Her cousin Renee is there and she is excited about their choir programs. The cookie made it worth it! Kidding! The messages about education were very inspiring. A reminder that the knowledge we learn in this life can come to the next life.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-80161577240544976232023-10-22T19:43:00.001-06:002023-11-05T19:48:17.154-07:00Farmstead Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtLd7M1UsQvBrrcFIDgZRV4eNTM267s3K-NjjP_QFFvGPWHQcRLwQEqvPbUTiyuy8X6eJP82UiImhJBphvQMr0ofFOjmE4OmLPrlgoJgge_DRZYE8q8swGTBYornRvC7g93lfffc5Iw03UlE5vTG1Fo7pdUq0ApFapZvQzPRM4r4-alUHTGB5DJeMSr2v/s4472/Farmstead1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtLd7M1UsQvBrrcFIDgZRV4eNTM267s3K-NjjP_QFFvGPWHQcRLwQEqvPbUTiyuy8X6eJP82UiImhJBphvQMr0ofFOjmE4OmLPrlgoJgge_DRZYE8q8swGTBYornRvC7g93lfffc5Iw03UlE5vTG1Fo7pdUq0ApFapZvQzPRM4r4-alUHTGB5DJeMSr2v/s16000/Farmstead1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="3300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjN9goM5Ld4Mu2wS1nNmlDWB8xMS1ygAzruT_7kTyiZn5iwDdwuOaTRe4ok2My0t_fIZtetCCPowtsbFNyC5Qu5BnLvmoKgSlmPnyWq-DFcHHQjl1eHXCUIXZt8iubIuV8O6aafkTcMXCa4inDVuMrqgD3aWHds4LZFah8793wJCplJjJBGV_cubKVTLn/s16000/farmstead9.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsKFBSZ8oLRWJlVZ1D880Ti7AeuMlXQ3RRcIN7dwfSmv5IflGFbV7Hbf5K69Syw70PFrb0tUUtj9balC0mzLO6jfKr8zwxN4ax-GLwJcQg7FZICz6mL1qHAeSgZWMCARsNH7T7Pxt1Jl5Xx8wJzVDaJEeXUwGgWwGmGUD1vcH7wKYL_MuIoW5excrKhAi/s4472/farmstead10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsKFBSZ8oLRWJlVZ1D880Ti7AeuMlXQ3RRcIN7dwfSmv5IflGFbV7Hbf5K69Syw70PFrb0tUUtj9balC0mzLO6jfKr8zwxN4ax-GLwJcQg7FZICz6mL1qHAeSgZWMCARsNH7T7Pxt1Jl5Xx8wJzVDaJEeXUwGgWwGmGUD1vcH7wKYL_MuIoW5excrKhAi/s16000/farmstead10.jpg" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The boys had a wonderful band concert on Tuesday. The boys went early to be “band-aids” and help Mr. Burton set up the gym. Phillip and Everett chose Robotics over Jazz Band, a very tough choice. I love watching Everett’s expressions while he plays, he is one expressive dude. Phillip worked hard on his percussion parts, he even took his music to Sam for help figuring out the rhythms. It is amazing how much growth happens within one school year! The Columbia Marching Band performed one of their competition pieces. Can I just say “WOW!” After the concert the CHS Band Teacher was walking out. I technically never graduated Hight School, so I asked him if I could finish my Senior year just to take band. He laughed, said that is the number one comment he gets from adults, wishing they had not quit their instruments. Way to go boys!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Wednesday Josie and Everett were sick at home with general ickiness. We planned to visit Farmstead that evening because Amelia was not scheduled to work and I can get off a bit early. Everett and Josie were feeling better after a day resting at home. We had a great time together at the Farmstead. Amelia used her two free passes to help reduce the entrance fee cost and her discount for some food. The family added amazing kitchens and updated the obstacle course last year. Amelia said Farmstead was the “Bougie Patch!” Yep! So many moms wearing cozy sweaters, carrying their Stanley cups, glittery phones, yelling for their kids to pose for instagram. The best part was the corn pit. Everett was the first victim to get buried in the corn. Amelia gushed over the darling Highland cows. We drank in all the fall yumminess until closing. We ate dinner since it was too far to drive home and I did not have time to bring dinner. Sheesh, the dinner price tag hurt even with Amelia’s discounted meal. Josie was whining about walking through the maze, she was not keen on that event at all. We could use our phones to scan QR codes for hints to get through the maze. Amelia wanted us to try treats from both the Cider place and the Cookie shack. I ordered the fanciest dessert, apple cider, ice cream, and apple doughnut served in a mug. It was divine! We all shared it, enjoying a few bites of it. Amelia ordered a bucket of warm chocolate chip cookies to eat in line for the pumpkin hay ride. Another MCO family was also in line, we enjoyed visiting while we waited. Hooray for family fun. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I was feeling quite out of time by Thursday with several photo sessions sitting unedited on my computer. Amelia took the kids to MCO for me, Josie was sick so she stayed home with me. Evelyn caught a ride home with Sister Flake. Amelia brought the older kids and Darrel home. It worked out in a pinch. I was able to get my plate cleared and snuggle Josie.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Phillip attended the marching band event at CHS last football game of the season. Evelyn and I dropped him off then went to Lakeshore to return some posters I decided against. I was thrilled the exact set I wanted was 75% off! I could not find it because it was on the clearance racks. Since Ross was next door we continued with our spot of shopping. Evelyn found a cute pink cow bucket hat. She was raving about the cow her class adopted, named Molly “Moo.” Course we drove home with a special treat in our hand, that was a much needed evening on the town. We stopped at the HS to pick up Phillip. While we waited the marching band performed another competition piece, gracious they were amazing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Justin left after work on Friday for Utah. He attended Aunt Jo’s funeral down in Payson. He said the weekend was quite enjoyable with his Mom et al at Charity’s home. He got a surprise phone call from Bruce apologizing for his behavior a few years ago…hmmm, that was unexpected. Then before he left on Sunday Justin got a strange message from his ex-wife’s husband asking for Justin’s POV on his marriage to her. That threw him in a strange time loop for the next few days.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Saturday the kids helped me clear the garden beds. I did not make that a priority last year and by spring it was not a fun situation. We had a lovely time getting our hands all dirty working hard.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Stake Youth Council worked hard organizing a program for the World Testimony meeting. They decided to split into smaller ward groups in classrooms around the Stake Center. Amelia was sad only a couple kids bore their testimony, I hear most of what they heard was silence.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Josie stayed home sick Wednesday-Friday plus the next Monday with a mysterious ailment that included all the symptoms of first a cold, then the flu, then general ickiness. Saturday night she broke out in a rash all over her back and chest. I used some sick hours to take her to the Dr on Monday only to find she had strep. She started a powerful antibiotic and was able to return to school on Tuesday. That was the strangest case of strep ever! She did not have a fever, just a mild sore throat, headache, and all the symptoms of the flu. Everett was also sick on Wednesday, with a cold. I upped the baking soda intake, hoping to avoid the icky germs. Sara and Justin were godsends, helping care for Josie while working. That is a hard situation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-5423478017581705292023-10-15T15:36:00.003-06:002023-10-15T15:36:28.473-06:00Sing it Girl!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWpNMdaLFElqzPgzjYA5IbRFgto8iADgoLGGZ6bSow_l3_Q40Fwhj2ymdm2OSqhn4vRu-ku7MaZTMQpSV6zhlWdrE4JwWkDiguk1Rhte-8E0gCNhJ32UsGTJMvI5kETf2mJNb8iG5zpGZS7hjER5jYFx-RFjr4rulJ8ojVJFsvo70CkL2ZfSoARKCv7G3/s3000/sing%20it1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWpNMdaLFElqzPgzjYA5IbRFgto8iADgoLGGZ6bSow_l3_Q40Fwhj2ymdm2OSqhn4vRu-ku7MaZTMQpSV6zhlWdrE4JwWkDiguk1Rhte-8E0gCNhJ32UsGTJMvI5kETf2mJNb8iG5zpGZS7hjER5jYFx-RFjr4rulJ8ojVJFsvo70CkL2ZfSoARKCv7G3/s16000/sing%20it1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsSTD6QrrcpfNNmfDD2CTlwftcuyD0iGPBq-oP36nxDv9bfjIElvFF94H8APmlnddbYSAQPC3ONf_5Yb1nIXYyJBJCR_fty9Z-LdDXRM65cqVJf6rCnqGtLWslU5IJweLmgd9eaNAwPCa2UYRCix9QJnj0s1r1d-drSXv4hmcs5nxe8vVbAv9JiVzGp4i/s3000/sing%20it2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsSTD6QrrcpfNNmfDD2CTlwftcuyD0iGPBq-oP36nxDv9bfjIElvFF94H8APmlnddbYSAQPC3ONf_5Yb1nIXYyJBJCR_fty9Z-LdDXRM65cqVJf6rCnqGtLWslU5IJweLmgd9eaNAwPCa2UYRCix9QJnj0s1r1d-drSXv4hmcs5nxe8vVbAv9JiVzGp4i/s16000/sing%20it2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOWiVSBampCw8k2J9TfSnRAW3eV8lCbqNwXalBOHfJL9cO1DW36RMONSNSaaAx3elkqfhJGaxDk96x7SOm623TEOfPWq981x72DByjaHpSag4l4Q94eb7VR1-DfARo8Hrz8-4gv3l43c5XainTy3-SpfpJXMxmHpu0i1XBBB40NqXgtqsb0znz6S8Ochb/s3000/sing%20it3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOWiVSBampCw8k2J9TfSnRAW3eV8lCbqNwXalBOHfJL9cO1DW36RMONSNSaaAx3elkqfhJGaxDk96x7SOm623TEOfPWq981x72DByjaHpSag4l4Q94eb7VR1-DfARo8Hrz8-4gv3l43c5XainTy3-SpfpJXMxmHpu0i1XBBB40NqXgtqsb0znz6S8Ochb/s16000/sing%20it3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">What a strange week. My heart is hurting for all those lost lives in Israel and Palestine as the two countries are now at war. I heard news reports of decapitated babies left on the road side by the Hamas. Thursday my Dad had an angiogram to check on how the AVM removal surgery went. Friday Mom said he woke up with his extremities numb, chest tight, and his speech looping. Turns out he had a mini stroke due to a tiny nick during the procedure and/or an air bubble in the syringe. He is recovering but we were all holding our breath. Justin’s amazing Aunt Jo passed away Thursday due to old age. Today Justin told me Jonathon and Melissa are greatly suffering, to the point that Jonathon is hospitalized. I caught the nasty bugs traveling around school. I went to sleep at midnight and woke up today at 2:30 pm. Gracious. What an eventful week.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Amelia did a wonderful job playing piano for the men’s choir at school. They sounded off-key but her playing was perfection. Then she blew us out of the water with her solo part, a Dolly Parton song rewritten for choir. Way to go Amelia!!! Josie finished her violin practice chart, she decided to get blue-light glasses as a reward.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Phillip and Everett had their first robotics scrimmage on Friday. They came in last place because their robot arm is not functioning properly. The boys are both convinced the problem lies in contrary camps: Phillip thinks the code is wrong, Everett thinks the arm needs reworking. They are not coming to a consensus. Friday we had a chat about teamwork and that all players need to be listened to and examined.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Justin interviewed last week for a local home health company that is not publicly traded. This week he had two more interviews! He really likes the leadership and the personnel. The company is a split off of Pennant, called Ensign. I think he will accept the position if they offer him the job. I hope he gets an offer. The new position would mean a bit more money per money, better home-work balance, and less politics with the company not publicly traded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yesterday was a lunar eclipse! I got some eclipse glasses so we could see the event. Right around totality a bank of clouds rolled in and obscured the best part of the eclipse. Evelyn and I almost cried. I timed grocery shopping so that I would be home 15 minutes before totality. That was a mistake! Oh well! Justin nabbed some fun photos with his phone camera. The leaves are coming down in a swift pile. We are trying to convince Fergus to play in the leaves. He is not sure about that at all. My guess?! He plays in the leaves when no one is watching. Josie had the stomach flu Friday night. Saturday was quite the lame day for Josie, Justin, and I who are all feeling quite under the weather.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-84720099182526062072023-10-08T16:06:00.001-06:002023-10-08T16:06:15.197-06:00Fall Festival<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5Q1kZmzsrvuSGzpGrqkeBOkgAaMMNWYv6m-0R1YQPy-Typy0P_iU6camFQK3zmBu0sks3wZWvRWR4RndKsLBs3rrrooa4nZ6mTVgzuRkS7f8sJ-5a33vzoBc8gZdxRunRhcN1hwSfToYQyrwjQ_mBOTFKHjkO8NwqN9-bpqmlpJ68FdhCY2JdibXz8rT/s4472/Fallfestival1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5Q1kZmzsrvuSGzpGrqkeBOkgAaMMNWYv6m-0R1YQPy-Typy0P_iU6camFQK3zmBu0sks3wZWvRWR4RndKsLBs3rrrooa4nZ6mTVgzuRkS7f8sJ-5a33vzoBc8gZdxRunRhcN1hwSfToYQyrwjQ_mBOTFKHjkO8NwqN9-bpqmlpJ68FdhCY2JdibXz8rT/s16000/Fallfestival1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FqHqwF9zxyxIRb0pgi7JKS1uJC3pxedrpo9J9NUmWE29tcxBrIz_WFuaKIKU5rXSnhfamzuSKpWnNcVpBwBh7wuHMQj6rLkMxgsOpEZfYBO7fo7FEQWCgzD4A0JK8X4jK9_dFarfnJEUdQ1vImLfjKIINiZjO3ETfY1ApTfC2vtYqP2eC_shZesLfdJB/s4472/Fallfestival2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FqHqwF9zxyxIRb0pgi7JKS1uJC3pxedrpo9J9NUmWE29tcxBrIz_WFuaKIKU5rXSnhfamzuSKpWnNcVpBwBh7wuHMQj6rLkMxgsOpEZfYBO7fo7FEQWCgzD4A0JK8X4jK9_dFarfnJEUdQ1vImLfjKIINiZjO3ETfY1ApTfC2vtYqP2eC_shZesLfdJB/s16000/Fallfestival2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOAl5hrbl_lAaMzY23PCBKBgoE2lNblqrIkLdPX8M2PSvb3cAI_xv5zkeTJ_KfMT6fPBbMV7fBcipjphF1vmSAfTvBt6AoLNrgyyhNWalHv7p2veZE93NyQKWt0QRiCJWOlaWrE5GLtNk3KX9ssJbPxwCqS1dRdoVO77pfnWWd9xfpqPjnvpsvQ2LZlaX/s4472/Fallfestival3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOAl5hrbl_lAaMzY23PCBKBgoE2lNblqrIkLdPX8M2PSvb3cAI_xv5zkeTJ_KfMT6fPBbMV7fBcipjphF1vmSAfTvBt6AoLNrgyyhNWalHv7p2veZE93NyQKWt0QRiCJWOlaWrE5GLtNk3KX9ssJbPxwCqS1dRdoVO77pfnWWd9xfpqPjnvpsvQ2LZlaX/s16000/Fallfestival3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8p_BUp8VmCUMC2QVa0xpor3bDP5EvN9k0Q2UOz0EslXQEe73osFym7WcBwhOs8cGwjlydfpYhv7TFkIMsc7WXG5C0NoYKZMlSzL1JoCBNJwprvRLNUPegc-sejbxy1X4fGdpZDTaSoh8nC_dc1fSRxPl8U26rMopKO54EV8r4QPcSukjCk960ecUb7wQL/s4472/Fallfestival4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8p_BUp8VmCUMC2QVa0xpor3bDP5EvN9k0Q2UOz0EslXQEe73osFym7WcBwhOs8cGwjlydfpYhv7TFkIMsc7WXG5C0NoYKZMlSzL1JoCBNJwprvRLNUPegc-sejbxy1X4fGdpZDTaSoh8nC_dc1fSRxPl8U26rMopKO54EV8r4QPcSukjCk960ecUb7wQL/s16000/Fallfestival4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNur4qxGfYQWLFSoSJDiSO1xpbJEagEV3SgsCfVe0HHyw1dl9hY-CMGpRDi-KD3BpT8MRFLWl5K4g2Y-lfhSQOI-3jWXKXjsqLKXAak_1ktSRmgrEAEoHWw1PSKZAQhXRuR96X5rIYMKz7NN2fvMGwimc1QMquEYEmvsEHnTuye7KTYMdTH3LOnV4hMlF_/s4472/Fallfestival5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNur4qxGfYQWLFSoSJDiSO1xpbJEagEV3SgsCfVe0HHyw1dl9hY-CMGpRDi-KD3BpT8MRFLWl5K4g2Y-lfhSQOI-3jWXKXjsqLKXAak_1ktSRmgrEAEoHWw1PSKZAQhXRuR96X5rIYMKz7NN2fvMGwimc1QMquEYEmvsEHnTuye7KTYMdTH3LOnV4hMlF_/s16000/Fallfestival5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">Change of tactics. After a full month of Typing work it was time for reckoning this week. Last week I spent my prep time emailing the teachers with my plan for Computer Lab, procedures and expectations. After each class finished their typing for the day I pulled the classes’ report. If a student is not progressing the program does not report their time until the student finishes a lesson. Only 15-16 students out of 400 met the time requirement of 15 minutes for 2-3rd grades and 20 minutes for 4-5th grades. The previous teachers made up “Fun Friday” an expectation for the classes I see on Monday. We have 4 rotations so if I see a class on Monday they come again on Friday. This Friday students were sorely disappointed to learn they had to make up typing time. I renamed “Fun Friday/Free Time” to Burger Time. Students can earn Ketchup (catch up work), Mustard (must do group activities), Mayo (May I do Stem Time), or Pickles (Pick an approved computer-based activity). The groans were music to my ears! Even Josie tried to bat her eyes at me to get out of her work. Nope! Go get to that typing! Evelyn was one of the students that met her time requirement, she had 13 minutes out of 15 so was able to quickly get a lessons done. Mrs Harp, the librarian, noticed a group of Kinders playing with some play dough. It was smooth, elastic, and POOP. Some kid pulled it out of their undies and played with it as a group activity. Ewwwww. I finally got the gigantic keyboard up in my classroom. It looks very fun and festive.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Evelyn enjoyed lunch with me on Monday. We did not get to have lunch on Friday because of the teacher work day. We sat on the floor and enjoyed our strange lunches. The girls don’t have much time the morning for fancy lunches, so they just throw in whatever items are available. Evelyn had peanut butter sandwich (plain), chips, yogurt, jerky, candy, and a drink. She helped wipe down tables and collect trays when it was my turn to monitor the lunchroom. That was quite fun to have her helping. She made herself a name badge. Evelyn became Miss Evelyn, teacher extraordinaire! She requested her hair in a bun, wore blue light glasses, and waaalaaa! Teacher Evelyn.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> </p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Phillip grabbed the wrong phone from MCO this week. He thought no one else in the state had a Bark phone. Well, turns out another MCO kid also has that phone. He was very surprised to turn on the phone at HOME and find a silly profile pic staring back at him. Justin saved the day with his Dad skills. He noticed the weather was set for Payette, ID. Using Phillip’s location pings sent to Justin’s phone he was able to get within 2-3 homes radius. He chose the home that looked most MCO, aka Latter-day Saint. It was the right home! Swapped phones and headed home. Phillip was very, very relieved to have his precious audio books back. That one day was near torture for him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Friday was the Fall Festival PTA party at Ronald Reagan. I volunteered Phillip and Everett to come help staff the games. Little stinkers did not show up and I could not leave to get them. Amelia, Sara, and Justin were all gone so they got to vegetate at home instead. It was a very looooong day for the little girls and I. We were at school from 7:30 am until 8 pm. Evelyn wore her Laura Ingalls dress all dress. The temperature was hovering in the 80s but she quipped, “If Laura had to wear dresses and long-sleeves I can do it too!” She wore the outfit all day at school, I love her tenacity and confidence! I’d be afraid someone would make fun of me if I were the same age. By 7:45 we were starving so I got fancy ice creams and hot dogs before the food trucks left. All the kids loved the train ride. An older gentleman in the community will do “train” rides for free! I hardly saw Evelyn or Josie, they were busy running around collecting prizes and playing games.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Justin is quite frustrated with the upper management at work. They make any changes feel like he is killing their personal projects. He was worked up Saturday getting a necessary spreadsheet completed so others could get their contributions completed. It is a delicate dance. I photographed a multi-generational family Saturday morning. Three of the children are at Reagan! That was fun. I directly went grocery shopping, home, cleaned the fridge and tidied the pantry. The girls got out their winter clothes last week. We could hardly walk into their room because of the mess they created. Took me 3 hours to get their drawers switched from summer to winter and the excess packed away. They get to finish the job of cleaning the rest of their mess. I worked on editing a session from two weeks ago and laundry to round out the evening.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Amelia was asked to speak in Stake Conference today. She was the first speaker! Amelia was so nervous last night and this morning. Her topic was How to Live Like a Disciple of Christ. She pulled out C.S. Lewis quotes, President Nelson, and Elder Hales knowledge and wisdom. Amelia listened to the spirit and delivered a wonderful talk. Now to survive tomorrow…she is playing piano for the choir and singing a solo at school.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-70642646155616989142023-10-01T20:33:00.004-06:002023-10-01T20:33:56.959-06:00October General Conference<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLsmr8ldXQggX2xi2Qua5BUEaUT43rAEyzZnK_zcxsWL-83Vz3bUZFEBpok2l3fIbcce8-xQlaE7rKAagT_uyfyt_TldvlrBbWB7r9rw8edcMHvzGzcPV9lMsJ02wNqAnHW1vY_lWzICv5a6EnTmzTjHahMUSZub64t-kfmHoJ4vAnUpnjdS-yCgo06Ns/s4472/OGC1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLsmr8ldXQggX2xi2Qua5BUEaUT43rAEyzZnK_zcxsWL-83Vz3bUZFEBpok2l3fIbcce8-xQlaE7rKAagT_uyfyt_TldvlrBbWB7r9rw8edcMHvzGzcPV9lMsJ02wNqAnHW1vY_lWzICv5a6EnTmzTjHahMUSZub64t-kfmHoJ4vAnUpnjdS-yCgo06Ns/s16000/OGC1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8T8Yev_xIejvV4AkYmMMGYXmpSoJpkI7OppxiqVuAFwrnfXHnlXldqV1VmHTqFSYCudRXnz-2e2lfaxI2QgFNVk-oe709vSIVOU5WREGJmJbsQSni_q6sYy5N7sA8pjBZkgTmPjfWuuPvv3d_Darj7eXUvAhNoFLcrRSg5ToZRKbJWy2jYvNZUFQAbQp/s16000/OGC5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">Monday felt like an entire week! Have you ever had days like that? Gracious. The morning was tame but the afternoon felt like a lifetime. Wednesday is a “short” day with only 30 minutes instead of 45 with each class. I decided to teach Digital Citizenship on Wednesdays. Oh my flippin’ heck, the 4th and 5th graders could not handle that small change. Talk about disrespectful, I finally left the classroom to take a brain break, the kids did not even notice I was gone for 3 minutes. So, I emailed all the parents of those choosing to talk in class. They were not happy with me about that one! That is a good thing. I finished copying, cutting, and laminating a GIANT keyboard to hang on the wall in the classroom. Another project I finished was making a fun bulletin board outside my room. It’s cute with animals “typing.” If an animal can do it why can’t you? Ha ha. Tuesday afternoon I earned the title of Snake Charmer. A 4 ft long bull snake slithered onto the recess yard from the irrigation ditch. Several 5th graders were either screaming or trying to pick it up! Mrs Harp looked at me with heck no shining in her eyes. Sigh, ok…I HATE snakes. Creepers. I tried to pick it up with two sticks, herd it toward the ditch, flip it in the air with the stick, etc. Finally, I grasped it by the tail and flung it in the air. I have a reputation now. One kinder boy asked why my eyebrows are so black, his eyes rounded when I told him my eyebrows are tattoos. Tuesday morning was “Doughnuts with Adults” on the playground before school. That was fun to play with the girls until I had to leave for my front duty.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">KUDOS to Evelyn for earning student of the week for Honor! She works hard at school every day. She loves her teachers so very much. What a dedicated sweetheart. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Everett had his final Cross Country meet on Thursday. He had an asthma complication which made him almost drop out. He finished last place, but HE FINISHED! He is very glad to be done for the season. The best part of Cross Country was running to the ice cream dip place the last day of practice. Ha ha. No he seriously loves and hates it all at the same time. There was a spot of MCO drama oozing in from last week. Heather called me to talk after she avoided other phone calls made by Jenn and Danielle to explain why Danielle was lead and Heather was not. Comes down to the fact that Jenn thought Danielle was leader material and Heather was not quite there. Felt like a moment in Junior High again pitted between warring factions. The parent meeting went well. Brett voiced the 7-8th grade boys at the end of rehearsal. Phillip was moved into Men’s Chorus! Hooray! He is very excited to wear his handsome tux I ordered the previous day in case he made it. Brett did most of the talking about MCO, the mission, the vision, the requirements, et al. Jenn spoke for a few moments on local logistics. I had a few parents corner me after the meeting with attire questions. There are several items (size 10 jumper and the boy’s tie) that are out of stock, like completely out of stock at the French Toast warehouse.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We had a lovely day off on Friday, even Justin took the day off to enjoy some calm before the proverbial Accounting storm. I went grocery shopping, that was nice not to squeeze that chore between conference sessions. Justin went to the junk yard in search of lug nuts, gas cap and other oddities for our vehicles. Amelia went to work at 3:30, this time at the cookie creamery. Unfortunately, the cookie dough machine broke, so Mia rolled dough for most of her shift Friday and also Saturday. She’s trying to buff her arms out so the unfortunate broken machine was a good turn of events. Ha ha ha.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">By some form of events, after refusing several times, I was gifted 37 dresses and pants to hem for Columbia HS choirs. Yay. Amelia (and I) finally convinced Justin that I should chaperone the HS Choir trip to NY this coming spring. A few months ago, his response was, “heck no, are you crazy?” Yep! I am. The gifted hemming project at least came with a $15 per item hemming monetary incentive. Took me almost two days of measuring, pinning, cutting, serging, and sewing to get that beast completed. Evelyn was very excited to collect the remnants. She looked like a literal widow’s weeds all decked out. Josie and Evelyn made a dog train for Fergus called “the Fergal.” They took turns pulling the line of boxes connected with ribbons up and down the hallway. One box had the dog, the next toys, the last box treats. I am not sure if Fergus was terrified, resigned, or if he enjoyed the attention. The living room was a mess of crochet and legos all weekend. I had my own mess of thread and fabric ends floating about. Everett asked to crochet his own blanket. I found an “easy” afghan mile-a-minute pattern he could manage. He ended up with a 4-5 ft length of crochet! Amelia worked on her cow crochet and even made some earrings for me. Phillip and the girls played with Legos while watching Conference. Conference felt strange with both President Nelson and Elder Holland absent per health issues. President Nelson spoke the last session via broadcast from his own home. He announced 20 more temples, even one in Mongolia. The first session on Saturday morning felt very “last days” with several mentions of how short the time is. We are so blessed to live in these days. Even the music was millennial themed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I woke up early to make scones for a fun breakfast Sunday morning. I was greeted with groans and whines, why can’t we have cinnamon rolls or crepes. Gosh dang that green grass on the other side of the fence. Whelp, I made the yummiest doughnuts slash scones. Poo poo on Evelyn and Josie grumplestiltkins. Oh! I forgot! We are reading in Little House that Laura is now wearing hoop skirts and corsets. The girls begged for pettiskirts! Now we need dresses with skirts that wide since the widest dresses in their closet are still too narrow. Still, the girls loved playing dress up with those hoop skirts. So fun.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3197521849876442006.post-37230156478415840942023-09-24T16:45:00.000-06:002023-09-24T16:45:00.497-06:00Bonk-ers<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj708cZ5d-tvhQc95aDV3uJIeAuoIW9xdseM3NU5Dz-U2RBw4VIeK6c0cf2u4c6OLbMzizuII40QX5yqsP-bebplkEVl8sFo1WgfKtbfUDO5N26l5-DmswQ6w3T93-0ZYeCLW8k00FMD9XvYiCQqoflqSi8hcw7v7zShV7wbbSibgFXLgTwPoWYxSK-QW7k/s4472/bonkers1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj708cZ5d-tvhQc95aDV3uJIeAuoIW9xdseM3NU5Dz-U2RBw4VIeK6c0cf2u4c6OLbMzizuII40QX5yqsP-bebplkEVl8sFo1WgfKtbfUDO5N26l5-DmswQ6w3T93-0ZYeCLW8k00FMD9XvYiCQqoflqSi8hcw7v7zShV7wbbSibgFXLgTwPoWYxSK-QW7k/s16000/bonkers1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6vZ5U2MAB2K5Yr695SHr8wy4cL-HHDw-Diu2DIHa5WQxu4faTJj7Ff_Zo3ZDXdn4e1e9vd9P4Z25AGMH44JKecgb2q_lEseLwe-0sd33-kmQUoswih0phHfFnfYKJ8l4f5J5FRe14Rxx6l1XofRkLg9HemqfYjNZ3M_Rsx_4yFeoAQ1qKvk6g-Stbu3w/s4472/bonkers2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4472" data-original-width="3578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6vZ5U2MAB2K5Yr695SHr8wy4cL-HHDw-Diu2DIHa5WQxu4faTJj7Ff_Zo3ZDXdn4e1e9vd9P4Z25AGMH44JKecgb2q_lEseLwe-0sd33-kmQUoswih0phHfFnfYKJ8l4f5J5FRe14Rxx6l1XofRkLg9HemqfYjNZ3M_Rsx_4yFeoAQ1qKvk6g-Stbu3w/s16000/bonkers2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NxcnPb4-4z-Q155PHbL-K27PI9f2n1Fz3EaEh6TE_p5yC0L6Jf7nfJmgg5m-kgBN4c0ObzHxfAyh7hDZsJYix8KIA8DcyOownJl0fipuFm27OL9dklGVHrPgvHFRZk6fTETXrqe8-xZIRnaxWJK0agkKwEpUE7j1uGUZzynNh3RFGEGVl_WGNcc1A1Ya/s4472/bonkers3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NxcnPb4-4z-Q155PHbL-K27PI9f2n1Fz3EaEh6TE_p5yC0L6Jf7nfJmgg5m-kgBN4c0ObzHxfAyh7hDZsJYix8KIA8DcyOownJl0fipuFm27OL9dklGVHrPgvHFRZk6fTETXrqe8-xZIRnaxWJK0agkKwEpUE7j1uGUZzynNh3RFGEGVl_WGNcc1A1Ya/s16000/bonkers3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;">I started a fundraiser through Teachers Pay Teachers in order to raise money for some curriculum! I was excited that 3 people donated a total of $70! I was able to get the kindergarten program! Hooray! That will help immensely. Now to find the time to figure it out, print, and learn how to disseminate the materials. I also invested in a HUGE keyboard to hang in the classroom, it’s made of paper so not that exciting. I made three trips to Walmart for colored paper over the week, plus I did not get enough bread. So yeah. Monday was another crazy day. Some classes are just nuts! I felt like raw meat thrown into a piranha pool after the kinder and first grades. Wednesday the paras came in to help log-in computers and get the kids learning mouse skills. Josie and I are working hard on her spelling and reading when we come in early. She is getting her spelling homework mostly completed, in spite of my negative opinions regarding homework. Friday Mrs Villa plays music in the pavilion for a fun treat. I got the dance bug and started jiving with the kids. I did the splits like three times, the 5th graders were very impressed. My legs were not so impressed the next day. Remind me to not do that again without stretching a little beforehand.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Josie walked in my classroom around 3:00 pm with a huge goose egg on her forehead. She was playing chase at recess and ran right into the swing set pole with her head. It was quite swollen when the nurse checked her out. We kept ice on it for a couple hours and Tylenol to reduce her nasty headache. We were surprised her noggin did not bruise that much. Phew! That girl is a magnet for head injuries.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Evelyn got a new prescription for Adderall instead of Dextroamphetamine, her last medication was $65 at the Pharmacy. Thankfully, Adderall is much cheaper and not so hard to find the past month. I can actually get it at our local Walmart Pharmacy. Our ward had a Family History event at the local FamilySearch building. Justin went alone, I was late getting home after Evelyn’s psychiatry visit. Amelia and Everett worked hard to finish dinner, Caesar wraps, before I got home. I rushed them over to the center then carted Phillip to drums. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Sara took Evelyn and Josie to MCO on Thursday because she volunteered early for the YSC (young singers). I had an extra 15 minutes to make chicken salad on croissants for dinner. This time I made sure to take my attire bins home, I left them last week. Danielle Young made some waves about Heather Haycock. Heather was my “2nd” last year, she is the most gentle, meek soul ever. Danielle did not like that Heather appointed herself as the second, she criticized everything Heather was doing. I am sure Heather was just trying to help out. It’s not my arena anymore. Emaline Flake was driving me nuts on Thursday as well. She came over the night before to get Darrell measured for his tux attire. Jenn texted me saying Joni would voice test the youth boys wanting to transition to Men’s Chorus. I advised Darrell to go instead of his soccer practice because of the voicing. Well, it did not happen. Emaline texted me asking me to arrange Darrell’s voicing before she arrived to pick him up an hour early. I cannot stop rehearsal! Gracious. It will all work out, roll with those punches as the changes come.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Amelia worked Friday and Saturday at the Farmstead. She is loving the job so far! Amelia either works at the Orchard Stop selling cider-based treats or the Cookie Stop selling chocolate chip cookies. I hear driving home at 9:30 on dark backroads was not her favorite experience. I had a short mini session with the Potter family, they were 40 minutes late?! I decided it was the day to get fall decorations out! The little girls immediately set up a shop using a gnome as a “dooter” and a mini gnome as a credit card reader. I bought decorations from the girls for exorbitant prices, $200 for a small fabric pumpkin? Highway robbery. Josie coined the phrase, “the beard way is the best way!” We quite enjoyed decorating with that fun game going on. Justin and Phillip inventoried his ammo stash in the garage. I brought home a ceiling tile from my classroom someone painted back in 1999. I painted Starry Night over the former masterpiece. Getting my crafty on for a hot minute. Amelia and I used our winning trivia tickets to see Little Women as performed by 10 Columbia HS students. They did an incredibly good job. I loved the actress who played Jo and the gal who played Beth. Excellent. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>Jenni Callhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05172491858008687268noreply@blogger.com0