Dog Bear

There were a lot of eggs for Mike to collect this morning!

I got to talk to Stockton today. He has been out 22 months today. Only two more to go! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Stockton sent us this blurry video over text, but it is so funny. Man I miss that kid!

Jorja went back to in-person school this week for the first time in several weeks. She went early to school to talk to Packer. Her fundraiser video showed in the advisory classes today, but she wasn't sure if anyone really saw it. She said 33 teachers were absent. She isn't confident the subs would have shown the video. Too bad because she worked really hard on it. She stayed after school to decorate for the fundraiser. They did a Cinderella theme. Kate's favorite princess is Cinderella and her original wish was to go on a Disney cruise. Corona changed that.

Jorja & Riley

Jorja

Riley took Jorja on a date to Build-a-Bear. Jorja got a bear and named him Dog. They also got a small lego Star Wars kit. She didn't have time to finish her Baby Yoda before curfew, so she finished him at home.

Jorja & Riley

Preston

Christmas Past and Present

We had church at the cabin. We talked about priorities and making room for the important things. It was a really good discussion. Zoom church is great. Nice that we can be here and still go to church. This week was the primary program. They had prerecorded it. Mike had it and was able to share the program after the bishop and primary president talked. I was a bit worried we would lose track of time and miss the program. That would have been horrible. There were so many families watching. Would have been so embarrassing if Mike didn't show! The program was cool. They did this mixture of Christmas past and present. Several years ago the ward had the primary record part of the Christmas story for part of a Christmas party. They mixed videos from kids years ago with the kids now. Little Jorja and little Preston were on it. It was so cute! They did a great job on the entire thing.

We were able to leave the cabin pretty quickly after church. I drove Maysen and we listened to the False Prince again. Mike drove the rest of them. Jorja and Preston have spent hours playing together this trip. Lots of Super Mario Bros. They are cute together. Jorja wanted to keep playing games with Preston on the way home.

Giselle, Riley and Riley's sister came over once we got home to help Jorja make bracelets. She is hoping to sell them for the fundraiser. I am so impressed with how hard Jorja is working on this fundraiser, even when most of her events keep getting cancelled. Corona is dumb. What a weird year.

Gloomhaven

Preston, Maysen, Mike and I have had fun playing Gloomhaven. Preston got this game for Christmas and he loves it. It takes a long time, but is pretty fun. It is a four player game. The times Maysen hasn't wanted to play, we have tried to get Jorja to play. She did not want to. She was a good sport and stayed upstairs with us. She made bracelets while we played. She was also very glad she didn't play, because she does not like long games. Maybe one day we will get her to play.

Preston and Bear

Maysen and Bear

Week 14

Pictures

We had a relaxing day playing games and hanging out together. It was the best time. I love being with my family. There is no better place. I'm so excited for Stockton to come home soon. I miss him so much. Anyway, here are some pictures Jorja took yesterday. The first one makes me laugh.

Jorja

Mud came over today. Bear was so excited. Mud left after a little bit and Bear followed him until the end of our property and then just watched him wander. What a good dog.

Bear and Mud

Thanksgiving in Parrydise

Today was a great day! We had a no-stress Thanksgiving and it was amazing. Each of the kids made a part of the dinner. Maysen made mac and cheese, Jorja made mashed potatoes and Preston made apple pie. Mike and I tag teamed the rest. (Mostly Mike... he is a WAY better cook than I am.) Mike loved not having a time he had to work everything around. It was yummy and fun. I loved it.

Jorja

Jorja and Preston

Jorja, Stephanie, Maysen, Preston, Mike

Stockton called and we were able to talk with him for thirty minutes. On Sunday he will become the new zone leader. One of the zone leaders is having an emergency transfer and the mission president asked Stockton yesterday if he would step into his place. Stockton is the only one who knows and says it is crazy knowing that everything is going to change on Sunday. It was great to talk with him. Last Thanksgiving without him! He sounds happy. Some members invited him to Thanksgiving, but then got scared because of covid. Instead they dropped off food for him and Elder Radley. I don't think Stockton was expecting much, but they dropped off an entire Thanksgiving feast. People are good.

Stephanie and Jorja

Jorja took a nap on the couch with Bear while we were playing Gloomhaven. She loved it. I took lots of pictures. She loves that dog.

Bear and Jorja

Jorja's Thanksgiving collage

Together in Parrydise...Almost

I got up really early to get to my 6:30 dentist appointment. Eric Martin recommended this dentist to me and I really liked him. I spent a lot of time yesterday getting everything ready, which was nice. As soon as I got home, I got the girls up and we headed up to Idaho. I listened to the False Prince on my way up. I love that story. Mike was up early and took these pictures. It sure is beautiful here!

We arrived just before 1:00 in the afternoon. It was a nice drive and I'm glad we are all together! Except Stockton isn't with us, but he is loving his mission in Tucson. Just over two months until he comes home!

Jorja & Preston

Mike thought Bear on Bear bed was hilarious.

Test, Test and Test

Mike ordered a boat cover months ago. It finally came last week. There isn't as much snow here as there was last time we came up. He was able to get the snow off and look inside and make sure everything is okay. He has the cover on, but needs to go to the hardware store to get rope to tie everything in place.

He also needed to replace this circuit breaker. Bleach spilled on it last year. He also replaced the sketchy plug that was by one of the bunkbeds. Every time someone bumped it, the lights would turn off. Weird.

Jorja did great on her three tests. She got a 96% on her government test and only missed one on her geography test. She studied hard for four hours and ended up getting a 100% on her statistics test. Nicely done Porge! Online school hasn't been fun for Jorja at all, but she has learned how to study better. Speaking of online school, Canyons district has decided for all the kids to go back on Monday. After Thanksgiving. After many of them have been traveling. So, we will cross our fingers and hope for the best. Hopefully school doesn't get shut down again in three days. 

Jeff had a zoom birthday party today. It was cute watching him open his presents and seeing how he wants to be just like his big sister. He's adorable.

Friendsgiving

Mike worked from the cabin and Preston did school from there. They are sure taking advantage of this crazy year. Mike also put in a dog door for Bear. It is in the mud room and is the same door we have in our house. Bear loves it.

Stockton called early this morning and I was able to talk with him for a couple of hours before I went to Becky's. I talked to him while I walked there and said goodbye once I was inside her house. Becky, Camee and I made lunches for the Road Home. We all brought different stuff, then made the sandwiches and assembled everything in paper bags. Becky and I dropped them off. I didn't realize the Road Home is super close to Mike's work. It was fun to hang out with Becky and Camee. I'm glad this worked out.

The stay at home mandate ended today. Jorja took advantage of it and hung out with her friends all day. She went shopping with Giselle and then went to Riley's to make mashed potatoes. We made cranberry sauce yesterday. Jorja brought those things to their Friendsgiving at Ella's house. She had a great time.

Giselle & Jorja

Jorja & Riley

Riley & Jorja

Sami, Ella, Giselle, Jorja

We were planning on going to the cabin tomorrow after Jorja's statistics test, but I ended up scheduling a dentist appointment for Wednesday morning. I haven't been to the dentist in over two years. I wanted to find a new dentist, so I knew it would be awhile before I got in. They had an appointment available when John is here, or in December. Then they told me they had a cancellation on Wednesday. I decided to just get it done. Mike wasn't too happy about that. "You haven't had an appointment in two years and need to do it now?" I called back right away to change the appointment, but they were closed. They close super early, like at 2:00. Anyway, I think I will just get it over with. Jorja told me she has three tests tomorrow anyway, so it will be good to let her concentrate on that.

Grandpa Millburn's 107th Birthday

Sundays have gotten a lot busier now that they have added the second hour of church back in for us. It is over zoom. Todays was crazy though. The relief society accidentally sent out two different zoom links. One through email and a different one through text. I connected through email and that is the one the teacher was on. The Relief Society presidency was connected through text. It took quite awhile to figure it out. Haha.

Jorja

We watched Anne's zoom party, which was cute. Can't believe she is seven years old! Mike and Preston went to the cabin today. Mike sent me this picture. The mugs look adorable up there! I love them!

Maysen, Jorja and I made s'more cookies. Delicious.

I have no idea what Jorja is doing here.

Jorja and Bear

Week 13