Coins

I spent the morning making gingerbread.  I only have six more houses to go!  Yay!  We started working on Adventures in Coins for scouts.  I sent Preston out the door about five minutes before scouts started. This was his first time walking to his new scouts.  I'm glad he was able to find it.  I was more than happy to crawl into bed today.  I can't believe it is December tomorrow!  I hope I can accomplish everything that I want to!

O Christmas Tree

I was so happy that we were able to get the Christmas tree decorated today.  I felt that if it didn't get done today, we wouldn't get it up all season.

Jorja

 Preston

This picture below is hilarious because Preston and Mike are pulling the same face and Jorja has evil eyes.  Oh boy.

Jorja, Preston, Maysen, Mike, Stockton

 Much better!

I also started making my gingerbread houses today.  I love how my house smells during gingerbread season!  I need to have 23 houses done for Sunday.  I'm hoping to have them all set up by Thursday. I got this!

Softball and 4-Wheelers

Jorja had a softball camp at BYU today.  She seemed to enjoy herself. It was fun to watch a few of the girls that were really good!  I'm proud of Jorja for being brave to start a sport and just jump in.  Crazy that she hasn't even been doing this for a year now, but she sure does love it! She was exhausted by the end of the day.

Jorja

While Jorja was at softball camp, Mike went shopping for 4-wheelers. All of my brothers gave us the money that we spent on the cabin.  We paid each of them a little more than $3,500.  All five of them gave us the money back so we could buy 4-wheelers.  That was so nice!  There is no way Mike and I would have been able to buy these for a long time! Mike also bought tracks for one of the 4-wheelers.  They had to be ordered and we should get them in a few days.  Mike borrowed Ed Holmes trailer so we could get these to our house.  Now we will just have to figure out how to get them up to the cabin.

We stopped at Cold Stone on the way back from softball camp.  4-wheelers behind us and everything.  Of course there was nothing I could eat there.  I was pretty hungry by the time we got home.  I'm looking forward to the end of this sugar challenge!

Bubs and his kids came over and brought their fooseball table.  They needed to find somewhere else to store it for awhile.  Bubs helped drive the 4-wheelers into the garage.  I thought he would want to take his kids on rides, but he said it was too cold.  They didn't have gloves and things like that.  Oh well, I'm sure they will get plenty of use out of these!

Black Friday

Mike went to work pretty early.  He got back pretty late.  At least he loves his job.  Overstock does a good job in making black Friday fun for their employees.  Jorja asked me if I could take her and Kate to the mall.  Nope.  No way I'm going there!  Jorja's mitt arrived today.  She loves it.  We played catch for awhile out back until my fingers started to freeze!  Jorja took off her jacket!  Show off!

I couldn't find my phone before bed.  I had Maysen call it.  Jorja answered.  I guess I left it on her nightstand when I tucked her in.  She left me a cute selfie.  I love my little Porge.

Jorja

Thanksgiving

Preston helped me make banana cream pies this morning.  He was so stinking adorable!  I also made Grandma Honey's cranberry sauce, rolls, veggies, and sweet potatoes that didn't turn out as good as they did on Sunday.  Once again, I made it through Thanksgiving dinner without one snitch of pie or rolls!  We met at Shannon's around 3:00. It was so much fun!  Mike's family doesn't get together often.  I sure miss them.  We kind of feel cheated.  His family got together once a month for Sunday dinner until we moved back to Utah.  I wish they would still do that.  Anyway, we had a great time today.  Sherry brought turkey hats.  They were a hit.

Preston & Jorja

 Jorja

 Miah, Xander, Jorja and Jake's back

 Haha!  Xander!

 Preston & Jorja with Instagram filters

I managed to get one picture of Mike with his brother and sisters.  Look how happy they all are.  It's so great to be together!

Lisa, Mike, Sherry, Steve

Sherry rushed out after this to go to a movie.  The rest of us stayed and played games.  Aimee and Nathan creamed the rest of us in Ticket to Ride.  I think Aimee creamed everyone in Set also.  We played Kings Wild for awhile, but weren't able to finish the game.  It was a lot of fun though.

We got back close to 11:00 at night.  Mike has to get up super early to go to work tomorrow.  Our garbage disposal broke right before we left to Steve and Shannon's.  Mike stayed up extra late getting that fixed so I could have a sink tomorrow.  I love him.

Lazy Day

They kids didn't have school today and we did nothing and loved it! Well, I did get up super early for my super hard exercise class, but other than that we stayed home.  We love home.  Mike had to work though, we can't all be lucky!

Jorja and I didn't stay home the entire day though.  We went shopping for a catchers mitt.  We went to four stores.  No one had any softball mitts.  I did not expect that.  I ordered a mitt off the Internet and paid for fast shipping.  Hope it gets here in time!

The one good thing about the shopping trip is I ran into Tenille Welch at Sheels.  Well, her name is Tenille Williams now.  It was so fun to see her!  We talked for awhile and made our kids terribly bored.  It was great.

Jeffrey Matthew

Brett sent me this picture today.  His family is at Great Wolf Lodge right now.  Lucky!  Look how adorable Marie is!  One day we will have to go with them, just so I can watch Brett's girl's cuteness.

Marie and Mina's head

Sam and Matt had their baby boy today.  They named him Jeffrey Matthew.  Sam had a c-section.  After Anne's scary birth they were taking no chances.  Plus Sam has had a hernia this entire pregnancy that has been extremely painful.  I'm glad Jeff is finally here safe and sound and Sam can start recovering.  Matt sent me these two pictures. I hope he is okay with me putting them on my blog.

Sam, Jeff, Matt

 Jeffrey Matthew

Stockton went to diving today.  Maysen had statistics.  When they were both back we went to see Jeffrey.  We are in love!

Preston & Jeff

 Stockton & Jeff

 Jorja & Jeff

 Maysen & Jeff

 Stockton managed to snag Jeff again

 Stephanie & Jeff with Matt and Sam in the background

Graveyard

I went to a funeral today.  My friend Alisha's mom died.  I exercise with Alisha several times a week. Her mom had been sick for awhile.  I feel so sad for her.  Judy and I took the scouts on a field trip.  We went to a pioneer graveyard and made grave rubbings.  The boys loved it.  They love just about everything.  It was weird not having Preston with me. He had scouts at the same time.  They also went on a field trip, just not with me.

I totally forgot to write about this, so I'm adding it now.  There was a bomb threat at Maysen and Stockton's high school.  We were called about it yesterday.  They let us know there was a threat that specified todays date as the target.  We were told that police had searched the building with dogs and found nothing.  I sent Maysen and Stockton to school, but apparently many people didn't send their children.  More than half of the students stayed home.  Jorja heard about the bomb threat on the bus and texted me about it.  She was worried.  I told her that I felt completely safe sending them.  There were so many police at the school that it was probably the safest the school had ever been. Plus, we can't live our life in fear.  I'm glad I sent them.  There were no problems today.  Maysen, Stockton and I even went back to the school at night to watch Cinderella.  My favorite were the step-sisters.  At first I was bothered by them because I thought they were too pretty to be cast as step-sisters, but they played those parts so well!

Anne's 2nd Birthday

Today Anne turned 2.  We had my family over for a Thanksgiving dinner.  Aunt Gayle and Sam's mom also came.  I made rolls, cranberry sauce and banana cream pie.  I didn't have one bit of anything.  I'm doing a no-sugar thing with my exercise class.  Pretty mean to have the challenge go over Thanksgiving!

Millie was pretty excited when she got here.  She had brought one of her old Elsa dresses for Anne to wear.  It looked super cute having Abby, Millie and Anne all in the Elsa dresses.  I didn't get a picture of that though.  Here is a picture of Anne opening our present.  We gave her the book Goodnight Baseball.  We also gave her a Christmas stocking.  I forgot to get a picture though.  I'll need Matt to get one for me.

Anne

Sam made Anne a dairy free cake.  Nice that she will be able to eat her own birthday cake!  Anne did not like Matt lighting the 2 candle.  She was not happy with him for that.

Bored Lincoln, Millie, Anne and confused Matt

 Millie, concerned Anne, 1/2 of Max and 1/2 of Matt

Jorja gave Chester to Abby.  Abby has started to love frogs.  Jorja also gave Abby her frog slippers.  Abby was so happy.

Jorja, Abby and Ella with the photobomb

Cabin Beds and Christmas Projects

Mike spent the day by himself at the cabin.  He was able to get the water heater fixed, so that's great.  He also finished the bunk beds in the basement.  There are now 9 beds down there and more room to play.  How fun!  I can't wait to go up and see it in person.

Mike also  finished the rain guard on the middle bunks in this room.  In the basement he put them a little lower so he wouldn't need so many dowels.  All that is left is sanding and staining, but they are useable now.  I hope everyone loves them!

While Mike was gone Maysen, Jorja and I spent all day working on a Christmas present for the boys. I hope we can get it finished before Christmas.  We might have to give it to them late.....we'll see.

More Stuff

I took Jorja and Preston to the dentist before school today.  Mike went back up to the cabin after school and we watched Anne tonight.  Jorja also went to see Cinderella at the high school with the Young Women. Anne was funny.  I had everyone get in their jammies just before 8:00. I got Anne in her jammies as well.  As soon as Anne was in her pjs, she wanted to go to bed.  She went right to sleep.  Wow.  Matt and Sam went on a date to see Hunger Games.  They are trying to fit in a lot of fun before Jeff comes!

New Shirt

I received a package in the mail from Brett today.  He sent me this Guantanamo Bay shirt.  I love, love, love it!  He also send me a beach towel.  I'm going to wrap that up and give it to me on my birthday.

Stephanie

I spent a lot of time doing things for Christmas that I can't write about. I hope I can get everything finished that I want to do!  I always think I can do more than I am able.  If only I weren't so slow on everything I do!

Just Stuff

I watched Anne today.  We didn't go anywhere, just mostly hung out downstairs and played in tunnels.  Maysen watched Anne while I took Stockton and Josh to diving.  That's about it.

Preston's Field Trip

Preston had a field trip today at the Museum of Natural Curiosity.  It is by Thanksgiving Point.  I had a group of Preston, Parker and Will.  It was pretty easy and fun.  I was glad I only had three kids in the group though.  That place can get crazy!  It is especially hard to keep track of them in the Rainforest room.  Basically just a giant slide and play area. They seemed to have a great time.  This is the only picture I took.  I love this little boy!

Preston

Brandon's 16th Birthday

Preston and I spent a lot of time working on his poster for his Duty to God award today.  The last thing he had to do was visit a religious monument and make some kind of visual.  We are planning on taking the scouts to a pioneer cemetery that is nearby, but haven't been able to do it because of football.  Two of the boys have to leave fifteen minutes early.  When Mike was leaving for Idaho I asked him if he could stop at the Swan Valley temple and take pictures.  Mike said, "You mean Preston's three week church history trip can't count?"  Whoops.  I didn't even think of that.  Preston's poster turned out so cute.  My favorite is his caption of the picture of us standing in front of the place where the Book of Mormon was published.  That information is kind of labeled in the picture, so Preston's caption was, "This is obvious".  That kid makes me laugh!

My nephew turned 16 today.  I brought Stockton over for cake at their house.  Stockton gave Brandon a candy bar.  Their house seemed so quiet and empty.  Erica is at college, so just the three boys are home now.  Although when I come here I usually have my entire family, so that is probably the real reason things seemed so calm.

Jacob, Weston, Brandon

 Stockton & Brandon

Just a quick side note, Jacob has gotten tall.  It's really weird.

Cleaning Flour

When Jorja came up the stairs this morning she looked at me and I said, "What do you think I'm thinking?"  She burst into tears.  I told her she wasn't allowed to cry and I was allowed to be mad.  I told her she wouldn't be allowed to have friends over when I'm not home and she couldn't play with her friends until the flour mess was cleaned.  I have no idea how long that will take.  I have never had to ground one of my kids before.  I don't like it.  Jorja cried through most of sacrament meeting.  I was not sympathetic.  She wasn't super loud or anything, just tears and sniffling.  The stake young women's president was sitting in front of us.  She gave Jorja a hug as we were leaving.  Jorja had finally gotten herself and her face under control.  When Sister Valentine gave her a hug she lost it again.  Maysen, Stockton and I went to choir practice after church.  Jorja was left home alone.  We came back and she had spent the entire time cleaning.  She cleaned most of the day today.  It is impossible to get all the flour out of the cracks. Mike and Preston got home from the cabin this afternoon.  Mike and Jorja spent a lot of time working on the flour mess too.  Mike was a little disappointed because he accidentally broke the water heater at the cabin.  He made a silly mistake and was unable to fix it.  He thinks he just needs the right kind of tool.  Hopefully we don't need to replace the water heater there.  Mike had to take a freezing cold shower this morning.  Brrrrr.

Cabin, Diving, Sterling, Flour

Mike and Preston spent the day working on bunk beds for the cabin basement.  I love the pictures Mike sent of Preston working on the bunk beds.  How fun!

Preston

 He's his daddy's boy!

 Preston loved posing on the beds

 They had a healthy lunch of 'giant chocolate chip cookie'

Stockton had a diving competition at BYU today.  He competed JO on the 1 and 3 meter.  He did really well....until his last two dives.  They weren't terrible, but they weren't as good as the rest of his dives.  I have no pictures of his diving meet.  While I was at the meet I got a text from Jorja saying that Studio C accepted us to be extras today.  Let me back up.  Studio C sent out requests for extras for a new Scott Sterling sketch they are doing.  We were almost extras in the first one, but it was Wednesday night from 11pm-4am on a school night.  I debated for a long time and then didn't go.  Anyway, Jorja put in a request and got an email back saying we weren't picked.  Well, she got a new email this morning saying they decided to add 300 more people, so we could go. The problem now was I was already at BYU.  Jorja had invited friends over and didn't want to cancel.  I really wanted to go.  So, I decided to just have Stockton and I go.  Jorja promised me she would be well behaved without me there.  This is the first time I have let her friends come over while I have been gone.  I told her, "I'm putting a lot of trust in you."  She was so sweet and said, "I know mom."  Okay, that was settled.  Now I just had to go buy some clothes.  I went to the meet straight from my exercise class and was still in my workout clothes.  I hate doing that, but I had no extra time.  We were asked to wear blue or white shirts and nothing with the BYU logo.  After Stockton competed on the 1 meter I ran to the BYU bookstore to look for some clothes.  Do you know how hard it is to find something without the BYU logo there? Anyway, I did the best I could and ran back.  When I got in Stockton was up on the 3 meter about to do his first dive.  WHAT???  All of the sudden the competition moved at the speed of light.  I was supposed to help with the awards from the previous meet.  Whoops.  Stockton did great on the 3 meter, but was so tired and anxious to leave.  We walked back to the Wilkinson Center to look for food.  Yay for Chick-Fil-A!  We ate lunch, changed in the bathroom and hurried to the Smith Field House.  We got there just in time.  At first this is where we were sitting.

Stockton

When I bought the clothes I also bought The Count of Monte Cristo. That is the book Stockton is reading in English class.  He had a lot of reading he needed to do, and we were going to be here for a LONG time.  Well, I left the book in the car.  I hurried out to get the book, came back and couldn't find Stockton.  They had moved him to the other side of the court.  Anyway, Stockton and I had a great time.  It was a long day, but so fun to watch the filming.  They told people if they had the last name A-M they would cheer for Yale.  If their last name was N-Z they would cheer for University of North Carolina.  Bummer! Well, Stockton and I think we were the only people actually cheering for UNC because people were going crazy for Yale.  

If you saw the first Scott Sterling sketch, you know Matt is going to get hit in the face a lot.  It was fun because they would film with the ball doing basically what they wanted to at first, then they would film the same thing without the ball.  We had to follow where the ball should be. After they would get the shot they were happy with, they spent the next thirty minutes pummeling Matt with the ball.  It was thrown at his face HARD!  Over and over.  I don't know how he could do that without flinching.  Below are pictures of Jason throwing the volleyball at Matt's face.  In the second picture you can see how high the ball bounced off of him.  Ouch!

I can't wait to see the sketch when it is done.  It should come out in January.  We were there from 2:00-10:00.  They let everyone else go home except our section.  They had us silently cheer behind them while they did their little promos.  Stockton and I were in the second to back row, so I'm sure you won't be able to see us, but it was pretty fun.

Remember earlier in the post when I told Jorja I was putting a lot of trust in her letting her friends come over?  Well, turns out that was a bad idea.  While we were there, Jorja texted me a picture of her friend on the roof!  I texted back, "GET OFF THE ROOF!"  Really Jorja? Really?  My phone died about half way through.  Stockton got a text message from Maysen that said, "Apparently Jorja and her friend were throwing a bag of flour and dropped it.  Kitchen is a huge mess of white powder.  They anticipate it will take them two hours to clean up, and it probably happened fifteen minutes to half an hour ago.  And this is why I don't have friends."  Oh boy.  By the time I got home I was completely exhausted.  Stockton and I left the house at 6:10 in the morning and got back just after 11:00 at night.  This was not what I wanted to walk into. The pictures don't do this mess justice.  There is flour in every little crack on the floor and I have no idea how to get it off.  I'm furious with Jorja.  Maysen wouldn't let me go down and talk to her because she didn't want me to make Jorja upset before bed.  Really?  This is ridiculous.  Well, at least I know not to let her friends come over without an adult home.