Filling the Pond

Seriously? The pictures all went in backwards again! Noooo!!! Blogger stop messing with the way things are done! Oh well... I don't want to start over, so we will talk backwards. Jorja had girls night with a few people. Bode had invited a lot of people to the Salt Flats. I did not want Jorja to go. Luckily she decided she didn't want to go on her own, so that didn't become a thing. She got her PLT shirt. I think they got their jerseys too. This time it was a short sleeve hoodie. Jorja's says JORJIE on it. I'm kind of bugged that student government didn't get shirts this year. Usually they get two shirts. This year nothing. So many things got cancelled this year, why take that away too? Jorja doesn't seem bothered about it, so that's good. Her student government shirts were super cute her freshman year, but she hasn't really liked them since.

Jorja

Jorja told me that when she was a freshman, all the sbos had their office embroidered on their Alta blanket. I gave Jorja an Alta blanket when she was a freshman and had it embroidered with Jorja Class of 2021. I called Ellie's mom and asked her where she had the blankets embroidered. She gave me the lady's name. She was willing to add student body financial chair for me. I know Jorja has a lot of plans this weekend with the Halloween dance and everything. So, I gave this to her as an early birthday present.

My fancy wrapping of Jorja's blanket

Random picture of Gabby and Jorja in seminary

Mike started filling the duck pond today! What a project! He is so excited. I hope the ducks appreciate it!

Mike fishing out a rock that fell in

A guy came over to work on our ice machine. That sure cost a pretty penny to fix! While he was here he looked at our washing machine. It has been out on our front porch for a bit. I have literally been doing laundry out there. Classy. Hahaha. Anyway, he couldn't find anything wrong with the washing machine. Mike hooked it back up and decided to run it while the guy was still here. I was doing dishes and walked down the hall after it had been going about five minutes. The hallway was flooded again! It was pouring water down in the basement as well. Not fun. Turns out it wasn't the washing machine that was broken, something is wrong with our pipes. Now our wood floors are popping up. I'm so frustrated! Both times it flooded we saw it within a few minutes, but still the floor is warped. I hope once it is completely dry it will go back down. Looks like I will be doing laundry on the porch for a few more days.

Two more random things. First, Jorja was able to get Venmo approved for the fundraiser. She worked HARD on this! Other years haven't been allowed, so this is so happy for her! Second, Jorja has been asked to be in Dancing with the Hawks. She is soooo excited! She has always hoped she would be asked! The ballroom officers are the ones who participate in it, and there are only two boys this year. She is so excited to be asked! She found out today that they will be doing the jive. She is happy about that as well.

99 Days

I felt a little sad this morning. I was looking through Jorja's texts on her phone when I saw that she said something about me. She was texting Jake and said sorry about being in a bad mood last night "my mom was being so mean." WHAT? When was I mean? When I made her breakfast? When I made her lunch? When I checked her out of school so she could sleep? When I talked Mike into letting her go to Cornbelly's when he didn't want her to go? Even though I don't like Riley and knew he would be there? We literally had no disagreements yesterday. How was I so mean? I asked Jorja about it. She said she was in a bad mood so she blamed me. I don't mind her using me as a scapegoat when she wants to go home or get out of an uncomfortable situation, but I'm sick of being the villain in all of her stories. Her friends must think I'm the worst mom ever. I miss my babies. I loved being a mom to my little ones. It was hard, but I loved every second of it. Even when I was alone in Georgia, I would look around my life and try to memorize it because I loved it so much. Now my kids don't need me and I hate it. I know they will want me to be a part of their life again, but now I just feel so unwanted. Mike is and has always been awesome. I just want my kids back. Preston did spend time with me today though. He asked if I would take him to get an eclair. He LOVES those things. We shared a pizza and brought home eclairs for dinner. We got a pumpkin doughnut for Maysen.

Jack couldn't come over today because he has covid. He found out on Friday. Luckily he cancelled last week because of Young Mens. Mike and I were downstairs watching the World Series when Jorja came down and mentioned that Stockton had 99 days left. WHAT! I was so sad! I missed the clock turning! I was probably at lunch with Preston when the clock turned, but drat!

Jorja went with Brenton after dinner to answer Ella to the Halloween dance. I am glad she was able to hang out with him for a bit, he has been a really good friend to her.

Cornbelly's

I checked Jorja out of school today. She had a bad headache. She came home and slept for a few hours. We cancelled her exercise with Kerity too. She was able to go to young women and I let her go to Cornbelly's with her friends. She was wide awake by this point and her headache was gone. She thinks she was dehydrated. She forgot her water bottle and all the drinking fountains are covered because of covid. For the last year Jorja has gotten bad headaches when she doesn't drink water. Still, glad she's not going blind.

Jorja

Ryan, Luke, Jorja

Aidan, Jake, Ella, Giselle, Jorja, Riley

Giselle, Jorja, Ella

Jorja

Jorja & Riley

Giselle & Jorja

Giselle, Jorja, Ella

Three Tries

When Stockton called today I was on the phone with the doctor and I couldn't switch over. Stockton then called Mike who was in a zoom meeting with his boss and couldn't answer. Next he tried Jorja who was in class and couldn't answer. I texted Stockton as soon as I was off the phone and asked him to call back. I'm glad he did! He called three of us and no one answered, dang it! Mike has been feeling very sick. He scheduled a video appointment and they wanted him to come in and get a covid test. So, Mike did that today. His test came back negative. Yay! Although he does have bronchitis. Boo! Mike now gets to have an inhaler.

A funny thing happened today. I texted a few of Jorja's friends to set up a 'birthday party' for her next week. We are going to the Labyrinth. It is in South Jordan. I have never been there, but I'm hoping Jorja and her friends will like it. Anyway, Sami texted me today to tell me she was there. AHHH! I panicked a little and told her it was next week. I worried I never told her the date, just told her Monday. Luckily I did have the date in the text. Sami said she just got excited and she laughed about it. Whew.

Jorja finished her homework so she could hang out with Sophie. I'm not sure exactly what they did, but here are random pictures I found on Jorja's phone.

Jorja

Sophie

Sophie & Jorja

Home from Cabins

Mike left the cabin early this morning. He got home in time for church at 1:00. He sets up the zoom, so he needed to be back. Jorja had church at Ella's cabin. She got home about the same time we got home from church.

Ella & Jorja

Jorja

Ella's Cabin

Jorja and Giselle went up to Ella's cabin today. Lots of Ella's family was there too, but Jorja said she had a great time. Jorja and Ireland had signed up to go on an overnight trip to SUU to check out the campus. We just got an email that it has been cancelled. Utah's covid numbers are going up, so things have to tighten up again. Jorja was disappointed. She could have still gone down there on Friday and come back that same day, but she decided to see if it would be better at the start of next year.

Jorja

Giselle, Jorja, Ella

Jorja

Giselle, Jorja, Ella

Jorja and some dog

Mike and Preston are still at the cabin. He loves having a washing machine up there! I'm glad he likes the one I picked out. I'm glad he let me get that one.

Secret Room

Mike and Preston left for the cabin this morning. I am so glad they didn't go last night. Mike did have quite the adventure though. He brought the new washing machine up. When he tried to hook it up he could hear a pipe leaking. He did some investigating and found a panel behind a picture in the water heater room. He took off the panel and found a secret room behind it! Well, more of a secret hallway filled with trash. But, the knobs to close the valves for the washer were there. So, washing machine is up and running!

New bone for Bear

I honestly can't remember what Jorja did during the day. I know she left while I was in the shower. She came back to get dressed up for Grace's sister's wedding. Grace had asked her to be a server. I gave Jorja permission for this awhile ago. I did not know Riley was going to be there and I was not happy about it. That caused an argument between us. I am really trying to like Riley, I just don't right now. He has been very kind to Jorja though, and she is pretty happy with him. I just don't like it. (Jorja looked beautiful today, prettiest server ever.) After the wedding, Jorja slept over at Giselle's house. They are planning on leaving early to go to Ella's cabin tomorrow. Jorja's pretty excited about that.

Giselle, Bode, Jorja

Jorja

Jorja & Giselle

Riley & Jorja

Giselle & Jorja

Riley & Jorja

Jorja & Riley

Finished with the Cider

Today was officially fall break. Mike was planning on going to the cabin tonight, but changed his mind. Mike and Preston are going to leave first thing in the morning. I am happy about this plan. Mike finished all the apple cider for the year. The final total was in the 50s. Nice.

Hard Days

Jorja and I both had hard days. Dallen sent all the sbos a mean text telling them they aren't doing a good job, except he said Brenton and Joe were. Dallen had asked them to send out a short video to lift the spirit of the school. Jorja had talked to Dallen yesterday and told him she was sorry she didn't get the video done. She has most of it done, but has spent most of her free time working on the fundraiser. He said not to worry about it, then sent a mean text a short while later. Jorja stays super late every day working with Packer or working on the fundraiser. The crazy thing is Jorja has done so much of Dallen's job this year and last year. It was a jerk move.

Jorja also didn't have a good day because I got mad at her. I was furious. This morning when I went through her phone I saw that it was Jorja's idea to change girls night and invite the boys. She texted Riley first and asked him if he would come, then she texted on the group chat to invite the others. She did all this while she was home, then left knowing I thought she was going to be with just the girls. When I realized that Jorja planned everything I was so upset. I know she is a teenager, and I know this is normal for teenagers, but I can't handle it. I've talked to her over and over about how I need 100% honesty. I need it. Dishonesty is this easiest way to hurt me, and Jorja knows this; which makes everything hurt so much more. Anyway, we did not have a good day, but I found cute pictures on Jorja's phone.

Jorja & Bode

Brenton, Jorja, Bode

Jake pouring water on Jorja's head, Bode holding all the food

Officer Ballard and Jorja

Mike's apple cider harvest so far

Jorja & Layla ~ asking Bode to the Halloween 'dance'