My Journal

 Even though it didn't freeze last night people said that they slid more this morning than other days, so it was a good choice to cancel. Michael started work at 9:30, so delayed but not super late. We still haven't been able to drive up our driveway and I had parked the van at the flat driveway entrance so Michael parked in front of the house but couldn't get the car out this morning so he took the van. Later in the morning I got it out and took some of the kids to the library. It has been quite a while since we've been and I forget how much I love the library. I got books on sewing, on hair designs and on facial workouts, which I got into yesterday and am a big fan of. I also have been having the best scripture study and exercise routine during this break. I just need to make a plan to keep it all up after everything starts back up.  Benson and Evan went sledding for the last time earlier on in the day, which was good because by the evening our driveway was totally cl...

 Today was another great day at home and sleeping in. Michael didn't start work until after lunch which was what he had done yesterday as well. I went through all of the other boys clothes...Benson, Evan and Calvin. It feels nice knowing their drawers are in order at least for the time being. I went to the store just after lunch, it was the first time taking out the van. The back of the van slid down to line up with the front so I was facing the correct way without even turning. Other than that it was fairly smooth sailing to get to the grocery store. At the store it was very difficult to push the cart in the parking lot...I almost had to pick it up and drag it. While I was at the store I had gone to buy food for the seminary breakfast which was planned for Thursday but as I put the first thing in my cart one of the parents messaged me saying they would not let their child go to seminary even if they did have it...they are one of the parents that always lets their child come so I s...

 The kids did their second math assignment today in anticipation of going to school on Wednesday. We later found out that school was canceled again and so were the public schools so no seminary again. We have been enjoying sleeping in. Michael opened up for a couple of hours. Him and the boys drove over Monday afternoon to clear some of the ice/snow. Today was more of a cloudy day so we didn't go out as much to sled but still did a little bit. We have spent lots of time trying to switch schedules around as we plan on having lessons/ school/ work ect but overall it has been great. I've started going through the boys clothes. Today I did Alden's, I didn't realize how long it had been since I went through clothes with him. He had a whole laundry bucket of too small clothes we cleaned out.

 We canceled everything for the day as there is a good solid two to three inches of ice everywhere. I was going to have a lesson come in the afternoon so Michael and I went to try to clear the driveway...that is when we realized that we would be lucky to clear a small walkway on the sidewalk to the door. I ended up cancelling that lesson. The sun was out today which made for a perfect day to get out and enjoy the snow. I had seen pictures of lots of people enjoying the snow and I wondered...did we miss it? We were mostly inside the last couple of days, both were very cold but on top of that Roslyn and Maebryn still weren't feeling great and yesterday was Sunday. But it worked out perfectly because with the sun out today was the perfect day to get our and enjoy the snow. We all did lots of sledding and exploring. It was great going down the hill but very difficult to get back up...sometimes the kids were on their hands and knees trying to climb back up but were still sliding back do...

 Another snow day. We had home church which is always a neat experience. Benson gave the youth talk. Roslyn played her violin for the musical number and Michael gave the last talk and then I taught our Come Follow Me class or Sunday School. Roslyn was feeling better today but Maebryn is still quite sick but we are all thinking this will be her last sick day. (We hope so as well.) Roslyn taught me how to play the game Ur. I made macaroni and cheese for lunch and then took a little nap with Maebryn. In the later afternoon we watched "Suits on the Loose" together. Had dinner and then I read stories to the younger four. It has been a very laid back day.  This morning I took a hot shower and thought how amazing it is that I can be taking a hot shower when it is 7 degrees outside. We lost power for a few seconds a few times this morning. Really when I think of how much power we are all using I am amazed that we can all have power. It is a huge blessing and I am very grateful for it...

 We were expecting up to 6 inches of snow, it ended up being more like one inch but lots of freezing rain. Luckily we have kept power throughout the day. The boys let out the ducks in the morning, they said they came out but then walked right back in, but then saw the food and came out. They spent most of the day in the pond, but in the afternoon I went to feed them and couldn't get them to stay out even for food under the porch and I realized that it was too cold for them. I hurried them back to their coop but even then we were a little worried about them and ended up putting them all in the garage. (Their wings had ice chunks all over them and we knew they needed to get that off and warmed.) The cats are still in the garage all curled up. Today we slept in then Michael, Benson and Evan mad scones. We ate just before Calvin started his cyber security competition that was just here at our house. Everything was cancelled for today and tomorrow really. Michael and I did a little clea...

 It felt amazing to have a Friday at home. Something that I have realized over the last while is that when I have a day off all of the time, I take it for granted but when it usually has something it is like I have been given this great gift of time to do everything and anything I have been wanting to do. In the morning I went for a run, then when I came home I did a few things that needed to be done around the yard in preparation for the cold. I put a bunch of mulch over the banana trees, covered the faucets, put more bedding for the ducks. While I was doing these things I finished watching Grease 2 that I had started last night. I skipped through most of it so I can't give the best opinion of it but my opinion is that it is a one timer if that. I really liked Grease (other than the ending) but Grease 2 seemed just like a bad second of the first. After the outside work, I came in showered, we ate a sheet pancake that Evan had made then I got to work on the laundry that I did throu...

 I thought today was going to be the day that everyone went back to school. It's been a while since my whole family has been at school. Maebryn had a fever again last night and Alden didn't look that great this morning. Alden, Calvin and I went to seminary, when we came back home Evan and Benson were ready but Roslyn and Maebryn were still in their pajamas and not feeling well. Maebryn really didn't want me to go but I had Alden stay home and read her stories and she seemed to be okay with that. At school in my class I taught everyone how to Salsa dance. It went fairly well. Benson was coughing a lot at school and maybe should have stayed home. We are grateful that Friday school is cancelled for tomorrow. Hopefully everyone cane get better by next week.  After school I got the cages for the cats returned to Weatherford Wiskers, a miracle that I was able to get them back in time before the cold hits tomorrow and I was able to do a last minute grocery run and gas up the van.

 Alden ended up coming down with whatever cold or flu we ended up getting. Calvin although it's been weeks has still been coughing. We all went to seminary where I did a lesson on having the Holy Ghost in our scripture study. The kids helped teach it which was really great. Afterwards we took the two cats Fiesty and Gismo to the animal shelter to get neutered. We were their in plenty of time and made it part of the first 12. (Miracle number one of the day, even though having the lesson go well in seminary could have been miracle number one. Another miracle is that I am feeling all better, I feel great!) The rest of the day was a wonderful day being home with my kids and getting a number of things done around the house. We cleaned out a lot of the garage and a number of little things around the house. I also was able to teach Calvin and Benson their lessons and check everyone's homework. Benson and Evan seemed to be feeling much better but have a lingering cough. Last night Maeb...

 Seminary went well. It is hard to get up as I am not yet into the routine, but I can tell I am getting there. After seminary I came home to check on the kids, they were all still in bed except Maebryn who was awake when I left. I was amazed that she hadn't woken anyone up. Everyone else..Evan, Benson and Roslyn were still a little under the weather so we had them stay home and I took Alden, Calvin and Maebryn to school. We started learning about Puerto Rico today which made for a nice day. The first day of a country is always really nice as it's already planned out and everyone knows what to expect. Things are really going smoothly at work. Came home and did the Spencer's lessons. Then I warmed up some frozen pizza's, snuggled Maebryn and Roslyn as I read to them, then went up and read "The Other Side of the Mountain" to Benson and Evan and am now in bed writing this and it's only 8:30.  Miracle of today is just it all, miracle that school is going well, ...

 No seminary in the morning. Roslyn did have a fever all through the night and had come into our bed. I slept in to snuggle with her, which was so nice to be able to do. I got up around 7:00 and went for a short run, we then did scripture and breakfast. I showered and we did art. Lauren and her family then came for their lessons. After their lessons I taught Evan and Roslyn their lessons. Everyone was able to get all of their things done today so that was exciting. Also I was able to do a little extra cleaning in the kitchen. No choir or orchestra today so that was nice for a change. Alden, Calvin and I all started up a new lesson today, they all seem like great people. It was a nice day. Roslyn is still a little under the weather but felt okay throughout the day. The boys are still coughing but were out and about playing today. 

Another low key kind of day. We all slept in, had scripture, breakfast, come follow me and then went to church. After church I went and visited with Robyn Robinson, she made us some beautiful dish cloths and more hot pads and gave us some very nice soap.  It was all very nice of her and was nice to visit with her. When I came home I visited with my family via zoom as the Haven Ward the one we grew up in was dissolved today. All the wards in Salt Lake have really gotten small so they have had to combine wards. During this call with my family. Roslyn was being very snuggly. I think she has finally caught what everyone has had go through our family. Hopefully she is the last one to get sick.

 Alden left for his robotics competition in the morning. We did some jobs around the house. Michael buried the septic hose while I pruned a couple of the fruit trees. It was a fairly cold day so we didn't last too long outside. Not long after that we all went to go see Alden's robotics competition together. Everyone is still a little under the weather, so we came home, I made some vegetable curry while the kids watched "How to Steal a Million" and then we got everyone to bed. It was a very nice relaxing day. I also went and picked up the cats from Frances, her husband just passed away and she is going to spend some time with her family.  I went and dropped something off for one of our Primary kids as well. So it was a good day, I was able to go see Alden at robotics, serve people in the ward, and most importantly serve and help my family at home. 

 I felt so much better today. It is amazing what a good nights sleep can do for you. I went to bed basically as soon as I got home from school yesterday and slept until almost 7:00 am. We all got ready for Friday school. I thought Benson and Evan were going to stay home but they decided to go at the last moment. Everything went really well in sewing, right as it ended Elizabeth Johnson came and I gave her a tour of the school. I brought everyone home after that. Benson and Evan both sound sick. We came home did laundry, cleaned up and the kids did their game time. Maebryn decided to watch, "Night at the Opera". Michael and I went and picked up Domino's pizza and then later on in the evening we watched some Psyche episodes together.

 Yesterday Evan started not feeling well, that's why we watched a movie mid-day. I also didn't sleep well, I just had a constant runny nose all night. So when we got up for seminary I let all of the younger kids sleep and just Alden, Calvin, Michael and I went to seminary. I still was having a hard time in seminary and decided we needed to leave early to go home and check on everyone. When we got home everyone had woken up and gotten dress, except for Evan who still looked under the weather. I had Calvin stay home with him and we all went to school.  Of all the days this was definitely my hardest. I was constantly sneezing and needing to blow my nose. I wondered if it had to do with all of the herbal teas and it competeing with the allergy drops, but whatever it was it made for a rough day. I made it through though. Right when we got back from school, I went straight to bed and I stayed their throughout the night. So I was in bed by about 4 pm and slept just fine through the n...

 Yesterday was so full that I had asked Shelly what she had done for her seminary class, it was perfect and just what I needed and wanted and it took little to no preparation for me with the full couple of days I had had previously it was perfect! The kids loved the lesson, it was one on creation where they went to a new station for each day of the creation, they read a scripture, created something and enjoyed a snack.  Afterwards I started cleaning up but really had to go pick up Frances, I ended up leaving a lot later then anticipated but it worked out, I got Frances and we went to go get the cats neutered but we weren't their soon enough, so I went over some things with her and then went home. It was nice to have a day more or less at home. I drank lots of herbal teas hoping it'd help me get back to normal. I got a lot of little things done, Calvin's lesson, went through the girls shoes and organized them, taught the Hunts and called in for a lesson with the missionaries...

 I was worried about having the energy to teach today as I lost my voice yesterday and wasn't feeling well. Honestly I still didn't feel very well in the morning. Seminary was fine but I started debating whether I ought to call in sick but as Alden, Calvin and I got into the van to leave seminary, Amanda gave me a call saying one of the teachers had called in sick and she was trying to figure out how to do it without her. I then realized I needed to go. About 30 minutes into school something kicked in and I felt great! We played baseball in honor of Cuba's national sport. I was still very tired by the end of the day but had a lesson right after school then had to run to go get some cages for the cats and picked up Frances. Got home in time to serve up the dinner I had set to warm up before I left on errands.  Again I wasn't feeling 100% but good enough to get around and get things done. (Random picture of a mole on Maebryn's back that we are watching,)

 Overall it was a good day. Seminary started up and went well. I brought all of the Aston's home with me from seminary because their mom had a doctor's appointment. Normally I have lesson's early in the morning but they moved their lessons into the afternoon.  While the Aston's were here I got a lot of little odds and end things done that I have been needing to do. They left around ten or so, I then taught Evan and Roslyn their lessons and Lauren and her family. I went over homework with the kids and I was ready for Orchestra and Choir in the evening. I wasn't feeling 100% by the afternoon but did fine through choir and orchestra, just felt a little tired, especially at the end. (But honestly I think most people would be tired with a similar schedule.)  I also didn't get dinner made before orchestra like I normally do, so right after I put something together really quick for the kids to eat. But at this point I was feeling overly exhausted and thinking about get...

 Really a nice low key Sunday. I went and picked up Frances earlier around 10:00 and took her to her trailer so she could get ready there. I then went over to Hudson Oaks ward to give out some things to our Seminary students to remind them that seminary starts up on Monday. I then got to come home for enough time to have a little time together as a family and then I went to pick up Frances for church.  Primary was great, I love our little class, such good kids. We went outside to look at some of God's many creations. In the evening I got everything ready for choir on Monday and had the kids write their poem and scripture. Also went for a nice little walk. Picture is at night reading to the girls. Some nights I am tired and think it would be nice to just send them to bed, but really I do love reading with them and to them at night. I realize I really only get a few more years of this special time. (In 10 short years most of my kids will be all grown and out of the house...the t...

 Michael left early in the morning to go to work because he has to put in a new AC unit. We were hoping we wouldn't need to change it but it definitely is time. He was there almost all day. Alden left not long after to go to his robotics competition. Which seemed to go fairly well. I went for a quick run and then took Calvin to Cyber, then grocery shopping at Town Talk. Once home I ran over to return Maria's big pot she had let me use when we made soup together and to pick up our guitar. She had made me a corn pancake which was really good. I will have to make it for my kids sometime.  Once home we did some cleaning, and worked on homework with Benson. I put in the ham and made potatoes for the missionaries for dinner. They came over in the evening when I left to go play the piano for an FSY get together. It was a good day.

 Friday school was great. I left after lunch again, came home did some laundry and then went to a lesson with the missionaries. The lesson with Yolanda was wonderful. I really enjoyed being there as I always do enjoy lessons with the missionaries. She plans on going to church so I am going to try and go and see her there. In the evening Michael, Calvin and I all got Dominos pizza using a bunch of different codes because there is a new Dominos right by our house. At night Michael and I watched, "Out at Sea". I randomly said why don't we watch that one on a list of hallmarks that Michael had pulled up, it turned out to be on the same ship we plan on sailing on next month, so that was a fun suprise.

 New schedule at school. The only thing constant is change, is a phrase that I like to think about sometimes. The schedule got all switched around but I think I might like it even more. Lunch is later which I do like which makes it where I have 4 classes before lunch and 4 classes after lunch. Today was a good but full day. After school I dropped the kids off at the Chambers to play and then came home to make dinner. The evening was a nice low key evening together. Calvin stayed home from school due to a cold that him, Alden and I have had. I really am starting to feel better but I can't breathe out of my nose or smell anything because of it. (I still can taste though.)

 The older three boys went to the temple with the Aston family. I stayed at watched my younger three and her youngest two.  It was fun to see all of the games and things that they played. In the past we would do math and reading together but it was neat to watch them play and how much of that they do naturally in their play. I make ham and broccoli casserole for them for lunch and also prepared the basic part of dinner for tomorrow. (cabbage stew- I got all of the vegetables cut up which will make it super easy tomorrow.) In the afternoon, I ended up not having any lessons so we cleaned the girls room and worked on a few things with the kids. We were able to get pretty much everyone done with everything they needed to do and I did Benson's lesson. Tea party with the girls. Right after they finished Roslyn and Clara came over and washed and put away all of the tea party things, it made me so happy! Both of these pictures are things from helping the girls clean their room. Above...