Tacos

Jorja and Travin

We had the missionaries over for dinner again today. This is the day we originally signed up for. Mike made taco bowls. Sister Turner was thrilled. Yesterday she told us how much she loved tacos. Jorja was able to come home early from Macbeth again, so she was here too. That was nice. Stockton was at the state bowling championship and Preston was at piano. Stockton did great, but overall Alta took 4th. Mike set up the massage table and Preston loved it!

Preston and Mike

I have been after Stockton for a long time to finish his BYU college application. He has been super slow about working on it for two reasons. One, he is incredibly busy. Academic Decathlon and Sterling Scholar stuff. The Sterling Scholar portfolio was due today. Two, he doesn't want to go to BYU. I don't want him to close any doors. Utah State was pretty low on Maysen's list, but became her top choice a few months later. Anyway, Stockton realized tonight that he hadn't sent in his SLCC transcript. YIKES! We hurried and ordered it and are crossing our fingers that it will get to BYU tomorrow!

Weakness

Mike has this week off, which is awesome! I talked him into going to a $5 Tuesday movie with me. I sent this picture to make Jorja jealous. She has tried several times to see this movie with different friends. It has never worked out. We went to lunch at Mimi's Cafe afterwords.

Mike

Preston went to Ben's house after school. No one signed up to feed the missionaries so we made waffles for them. All of a sudden I realized that I should get Preston before the missionaries came. What if Ben had to go somewhere and I needed to pick him up? I wouldn't be able to leave for about an hour. Right as I was about to leave Jorja texted me to pick her up. She was able to leave her Macbeth rehearsal a couple of hours early. Yay! I picked Jorja up and rushed Preston out of Ben's house. We got home a few minutes before the missionaries showed up. Whew!

The missionaries talked about the talk given in conference a few years ago called What Lack I Yet? They asked us if we would be willing to pray and ask Heavenly Father what we lacked. I laughed and said I already know many things I lack! Sister Turner then read Ether 12:27, which is one of my favorite scriptures. "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble;..." Sister Turner pointed out that the Lord is saying 'weakness' which is singular. She said that Heavenly Father doesn't expect us to work on every challenge we have at the same time, but if we go to Him and ask what He would have us work on He will say, "Here, this is what I need you to focus on now." I don't know if I'm explaining it as simply as Sister Turner, but I loved it.

I dropped Jorja off for young womens. They were making pizzas. She texted me after awhile and asked if I could pick her up. She was not feeling well. Boo! Hopefully she'll feel better in the morning.

Jorja

The Girls are Gone

Rachel and her girls left this afternoon. Marie wanted to play more games of Werewolf and Disney Code Names. Too bad my kids were at school. Rachel left them with a chocolate bar. Nice call. I also found a few random pictures that I didn't post throughout the week.

 Eve & Jorja

 Jorja & Eve

 Jorja, Eve, Ella

 Eve, Grace, Mina, Marie

 Jorja had digital photography today. Here is her beautiful work. So talented.

Jorja texted me during her photography class asking if I could sign her up for an online class of Geography for Life. She transferred out of that class so she could take ballroom. Too bad there are only two boys in that class! Poor Porge! Anyway, I got her signed up for this one. Hopefully it won't be too much for her. That will be nice if she can get this class done.

Preston came home sick today. Boo! I sent Stockton and Gavin off to diving without him. Not a chance I wanted Preston in water getting everyone else sick! Hopefully this ends with him!

Stockton's an Adult!

Today is Stockton's 18th birthday! AHHHHHH!!!!!! I am so proud of him and the person he has become, but turning 18 just reminds me how quickly he will be leaving us. I realize this is the goal, it is just hard to watch your babies not need you anymore. Stockton has brought such joy into our lives. He is super funny and super smart. I adore this kid!

Maysen texted Stockton at exactly midnight to wish him a happy birthday. She had a happy birthday Garfield song on a loop. The 'Happy birthday, happy birthday, whoopty do, whoopty do. May your day be pleasant, open up your present. Whoopty do, whoopty do.' At least that is how I think it goes, I'm not 100% positive.

Stockton ~ 18

 Stockton and Stephanie

I usually try to put on makeup on Sundays, but today that didn't happen. It was crazy getting ready for 9:00 church with four extra little girls! Grace specifically didn't want to go. I brought her anyway, even without shoes. Mike was going to stay home with Mina and then we were going to switch so he could teach Elders Quorum. Mina came upstairs dressed and excited to go to church right as we were about to walk out the door. Wow! Preston also gave a talk today. He wrote it this morning. Marie said it was the best talk she had ever heard. Mostly because he talked so people could understand him. All of my kids are great speakers. This is Preston's talk:

When builders build a building, they have a plan before they can build. All buildings have a foundation, doors, windows and walls, but they're all different. Some are tall, some are big, some are different shapes and colors, and they all serve different purposes.

Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us. He helps build us up how he wants us to become. We also help build up each other. I don't know his entire plan for me, but I know he has a plan for each of us. We can pray to learn more about the plan he has for us. When we're older, we can get a patriarchal blessing, which can tell us even more about what God has in store for us.

I know that if we are willing to help Heavenly Father build his kingdom on earth that he will help us be a part of that work. I know he has a plan for me. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Eve and I snuck in the back to watch Preston. I was glad I was able to see him. Eve refused to go to nursery. She said it was scary. She came to my classes with me instead and fell asleep in Relief Society. After church I wanted to get a picture of Stockton. Jorja wanted pictures with him too. We took a lot. They sure have fun together.

Stockton and Jorja

 Weird Face Jorja

 Stockton and Jorja

 I think Jorja looks SOOOOO much like her cousin Aimee in this picture.

 I was singing Grover's 'Near, far, over and under and through'

 I think this one is my favorite.

 Stockton walking away from Jorja doing the funniest walk. I was laughing so hard!

 Jorja posing, but I missed Stockton doing the exact pose right behind her. Again I was laughing too hard to catch it.

 Rachel's brother brought her back from Dubai. Her kids went nuts!

Rachel with Eve, Grace and Mina

 Stockton's traditional birthday cake

 Side View

 With Candles! We didn't have enough, so every candle is times 2.

 Stockton opening Preston's present with his best friend Eve

 Preston made Stockton a computer game titled Yarg 3D

 Stockton loved it. Preston loved it. Eve loves Stockton.

 Grace and Jorja watching Stockton open Jorja's present

 Jorja's present

 Jorja gave Marie a makeover. She loved it!

Photobombs by Rachel & Mina, Jorja & Eve

The kids played One Night Ultimate Werewolf Daybreak. Stockton got that for his birthday. Marie was so happy about that! She just wished they could play more games.

Best Friends

Stockton had another Academic Decathlon competition today. It lasted all day long. All day. He sent us a text saying most events were going okay, but he nailed his speech. He ended up getting a gold medal for his speech. Nicely done! Jorja spent several hours at school learning stage combat techniques. She loved that! Carter sent her a picture of his sweater with the Jorja face pin she gave him. That girl makes me laugh.

Carter's sweater, Jorja's face

Bubs texted me this morning and asked if they could have Brett's kids over today. Marie had talked about the main thing she wanted to do when she was here was to see Ella's house. I drove the four kids down and left them there. They were so happy when I left. Bubs and Ange have a great playroom with a ton of fun stuff to do. Mike and I went shopping for Stockton's birthday. We ended up deciding to get him more bowling stuff, but we needed him there to pick it out. Stockton didn't get home before the shop closed, so we will have to do that sometime next week. I went back and got the kids around 5:00. They were so happy. Ange wanted to get a picture before we left. We gathered all the kids but couldn't find Mina. She was asleep on Ella's bed. She wasn't feeling well. NO!!!!! Mina was the only one who didn't get sick. She came home and slept until bed time and then slept some more. She came up late at night saying her stomach hurt. I got her a bowl just in case. As soon as she had the bowl in her hands she threw up. It was so sad. Although then immediately she said, "I feel better now."

Lincoln, Amelia, Abby & Grace, Eve, Marie, Ella, Mina

Here is a picture of Eve. She is super funny. One thing to know about her is she is terrified of Stockton. She always has been. It is really weird because every other little kid loves him. I mean L-O-V-E-S him! He is so great with kids. The second Stockton comes in a room Eve will run away, or look down and pretend she doesn't see him. It is kind of funny.

Eve

Well, that all changed today. Out of the blue Eve decided Stockton was her best friend. She hung around him constantly. She played with him. Yay! On the last day before her mom comes home she finally decided Stockton was worth interacting with. It was a good decision because Stockton played with the little kids for over an hour. They were having so much fun. I got a few videos, but none of my pictures turned out. They were all blurry from someone always moving.

Eve and Stockton

 Stockton walked around for awhile like this.

Stockton playing with Eve, Grace and Anne

Eve & Stockton

 Mike wrapping Stockton's birthday present under a blanket. Preston helping.

Marie and Eve in the background. Stockton trying to make Mike's super sly attempts invalid.

 Eve and Jeff

Jorja went to see a movie with Hailey and Areesha. They saw The Death Cure. It is the second Maze Runner movie. Jorja has never seen the first movie or read the books, so she had no idea what was going on. She had a great time anyway though. I picked up the girls at the movie theater and dropped Areesha off at home. I then dropped Jorja and Hailey off at the mall. Jorja brought her gift card Papa had given her for her birthday.

Areesha, Hailey, Jorja

 Jorja bought this dress.

 Jorja, Hailey, Areesha and a super weird poster

 Jorja and Hailey ~ I love this picture!

Eve fell asleep on the way home from Bubs, so she had no desire to sleep tonight. Mike went and slept in the guest room and I slept with Eve in our room. I put a show on for her for awhile and the ended up going to sleep okay once it was over. She loves the LEGO Elves show for some reason.

I was kissing the boys on their cheek while they were sleeping before I went to bed. I thought, "This is the last time I'll see Stockton when he's 17." Then it dawned on me that this is the last time I'll see him while he is officially a child! That made me so sad! I hugged him for a long time while he was sleeping. It's hard to watch your babies grow up. Better than the alternative though.