Maysen's 23rd Birthday

Maysen is getting old! Holy cow. I'm sad... and happy... and proud of her... Anyway, this morning Jorja got up bright and early to take the ACT an Juan Diego. I spent the morning baking Maysen's cake. Maysen spent the morning connecting with her online friends. She is a mod at a website called Creature Crossing. She released a huge event this morning, so she has had fun watching people enjoy that. Mike spent the morning picking apples. We were able to borrow Al Clark's truck that allows Mike to get to the high branches, but we didn't want to keep the truck too long. I was helping Mike back up when he was finished. I looked carefully at a stump with the back tire, but then got distracted by a branch. I didn't want to truck to get scraped up, so I worried about pulling that out of the way. The front tire hit the stump and the tire immediately went flat. It was awful. Mike looked up the tire and it is a $600 tire. Mike looked around some more and ended up finding a used tire that would work for $150. Al said that would be just fine. Mike is going to go get that taken care of Monday morning. 

View from Al's truck

Mike's duck pond

Jorja called us around noon to let us know she was done. We met her at OHP for breakfast. She had gotten us a table, so the wait was pretty short for us. That was nice. We had delicious crepes for breakfast and were stuffed to the brim. Maysen and I watched a few episodes of Avitar when we got home. Then Maysen played a computer game with the other kids. They did that while I watched the BYU football game. That was nice of them! Maysen wanted to do a birthday craft of making terrariums. That was also Jorja's gift to her, getting the supplies. Maysen loved doing that!

Preston and Maysen

Maysen & Mike

Maysen wanted to go roller skating, but the terrariums took a lot longer than we thought they would. Everyone was so tired when they were finished that we decided to go roller skating another day. We finished the day with presents/cake and ice-cream. My dad came up just in time. He was able to watch Maysen open her presents and blow out her candles. He was also with us when we read a chapter in The Book of Elder Smith. He thought it was hilarious. He is right.

Jorja, Maysen, Bear's head, Mike, Preston's foot

The big present is Maysen's mixer she chose. The smaller present is from Preston. It is a tennis ball launcher. He thinks she will have fun using that with Bear. I do not know why Jorja is eating chips and guac.... Maysen's favorite cake is a plain cake. Yellow cake with chocolate frosting. That is what she asks for every year. I did stop by Cold Stone and get some cake batter ice-cream. I got sparkler candles and she thought that was ridiculous. Haha. Oh well...

Kind of blurry picture, but I love Maysen's smile

Balloon Car

I was pretty frustrated with Jorja today. She had asked if she could go to breakfast with Riley. I am not a Riley fan, and she missed curfew last night. She did keep me posted and when I wouldn't let her stay out extra late she hurried home as fast as she could. The kids don't have school today and the plan was for her to study the ACT all day. I thought that her having breakfast with Riley would get her up early so she could start studying in the morning. Riley picked her up at 8:00. She didn't get home until ALMOST 11:00! Three freaking hours. She told me she would just go to breakfast and back and then start studying. I was furious. Jorja studying most of the day and then went to get hot chocolate with Ella and Giselle. That was the plan from a few days ago. While she was out she asked if she could ask Jake. She said it would be fast, so I told her okay. She texted me that message at 7:30. She FINALLY asked him at 9:00. She had worked on the poster yesterday, so I believed her when she said it would be fast. I admit, it looks cute, but she has the ACT tomorrow! Then she came home and had to do government homework that she had put off doing. Something like a giant assignment and four quizzes. WHAT? So, when I ask her if she has done all her work, she says yes because it isn't due until a long time from now. That is not what I meant and she knows it! So, instead of getting a good nights sleep before the ACT she stayed up until 11:30 working on her government. I think I'm going to lose my mind.

Jorja & Giselle

This did turn out adorable

Jorja & Jake

Three Hour Hold

Mike spent the day working on bunk beds and putting thermostats in more cabin rooms. Preston did school from the cabin. He is LOVING online school. I tried forever to figure out Jorja's ACT. I emailed them a few days ago. They told me to reset her password. I did that. Didn't work. I called them today and finally got to the next stage! Usually they just say because of high call volumes to try back later. This time I got to a message that said my call would be answered in the order received. I did not want to hang up. Pretty sure they left me on hold and all went home. I stayed on for three hours and fifteen minutes before I gave up. I just had it on speaker sitting next to me while I watched the BYU football game. I hung up at halftime because it was really annoying.

Preston

ACT call

Kitchen

Back bedroom

Jorja went to a haunted house with her Chick-Fil-A friends. She talked them into going to South Jordan's Pizza Lamone so she could listen to her friend Kenjo sing. She met him outside a Pizza Lamone a few weeks ago. She collects friends everywhere.

Kenjo and Jorja

Jorja & Riley

Riley & Jorja

Madison, Riley, Jorja, Carson

Jorja missed curfew today and I was not happy about it. We had a long talk. It was a good talk, but man it is hard being a parent!

ACT

Jorja took the ACT today. All the Juniors in the state of Utah took it today. She said she felt okay about it, but the math section was really hard. Jorja was hoping to go axe throwing with her friends after the test, but that didn't happen. She hung out with Hailey, Ben and those guys for a couple of hours though. She came home around the time school would usually end and slept for four hours. Guess she was tired. Maysen went back to Utah State today. It was nice having her here. She is having spring break this week, but wanted to get ahead of the rest of her schooling for the semester. I can't believe she is almost done! She has worked so hard.

Day Off... Kind of

The kids were supposed to go to school today. The district chose this day as a make up day because of the snow day a few weeks ago. Well, Jorja had ACT camp all day. That camp was pretty expensive, so no way was she going to miss that. Preston still felt pretty sick, so we let him stay home. Mike had work off too. Jorja drove Drew, Gabby and Evan to BYU. It took them forever! There was something like 80 crashes on the freeway, just on the part they were driving. I guess there was a lot of black ice. So glad Jorja didn't crash! They left at 7:00 and didn't get there until 9:00. Their class started at 8:30. Jorja's class was playing Kahoot when she arrived. She joined the game late and ended up in second place. Nicely done Porge! They had to take a post ACT test at the end of camp. During the reading section Jorja's head started throbbing. She could barely concentrate during the science section. Her headaches haven't bothered her for a long time. It makes sense though. She was reading and concentrating a lot. Those are the two things that seem to set off her bad headaches. The kids went to In and Out and then headed home. Jorja's head was pounding, but she didn't want to let anyone know. Gabby was being the navigator. Jorja was concentrating on driving and not on where they were. They found themselves in North Salt Lake. Whoops! Overshot that by thirty minutes! Drew made fun of Gabby about that because he did the same thing when they drove up on Saturday. All of a sudden they found themselves in Payson! At least they are learning, and got home safely. Just really late. Jorja's head was pretty bad by the time she got home. I am so glad she made it home okay.

It was fun talking with Stockton today. His mission president has said really nice things to him. He even gave Stockton a blessing on Wednesday. He told Stockton that he knows he can always count on him and he holds him in the highest regard. He said a lot more, but I don't really want to go into detail about that here. Stockton is killing the mission. He is working hard and thriving. I hope he doesn't burn out. I am so proud of him.

Kaylee's Handprints

So....Jorja was sick again. She missed the entire day of school. She probably would have tried to get the last classes, but she was supposed to go on a field trip for PLT anyway. She also missed the Valentine party in student government. Ever since Jorja had mono last year, whenever she gets sick, she gets really sick and has a hard time shaking it. Still, nothing has compared to the awful days when she first had mono.

Mike had work off. He gets every other Friday off, except during crunch time ~ Black Friday and Christmas season. It was perfect timing because Sherry came down from Highland to do Kaylee's handprints. Super nice of her to do that! She had the day off of school today and spent it doing us a favor. It was awesome. I have a lot of pictures of Kaylee getting her handprints, but none of her footprints. Weird. Also, I couldn't help but put every picture with Amy watching in the background. Haha

Mike wandering, Sam holding Kaylee, Matt watching, Sherry creating

 Kaylee

 Taking the oxygen sensor off to get Kaylee's footprints

 Matt, Kaylee, Sherry

 Amy's watching

 She's concerned

 And adorable

 Matt & Kaylee

 Kaylee

Poor little girl. You will love the handprints when you are older though. If you notice all the Enfamil in the background, it is because Matt and Sam are stockpiling it. This is the only thing Kaylee will eat and it has been discontinued. Matt searched every store from Provo to Layton yesterday getting as much as he can. Sam has a lot of writer friends around the country. Some of them are sending her some. Bad timing for this. Hopefully by the time they go through it all her little body will be able to tolerate something else.

Mike and I went to lunch at Sizzler after the handprints were done. That was nice, fun and relaxing. We tried to convince Jorja to go with us, but she wasn't hungry. She hasn't been hungry for a long time. Jorja had her ACT camp today. She picked Drew up at school and they got to Provo for the 3:00 check-in. Evan and Gabby were also there. She said it was a lot more fun that she thought it would be, which was great. Evan and Drew were in one group. Gabby and Jorja were in another. She is hoping that she will be in a group with someone she knows tomorrow since it is all day. Fingers crossed for that one!

Aubrey, Gabby, Drew, Evan

 Ben

Once she got back she picked up Ben and they stopped by Crumbl. Jorja had a coupon for free cookies. Then they went to Smiths before Jorja came home. Hopefully she isn't sick tomorrow! Also, Mike finally finished the Sweethearts video. It is awesome. Here is the link to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEYgVkgdzzA 

Pictures with Hailey

Stockton found out his new ACT results this morning. He was disappointed. He earned a 33, which is the same result he earned when he didn't study. This time he got a perfect score in English, a 35 in math, a 33 in Reading and a 29 in science. Weird that that is only a 33. Science is not forgiving because if you miss a question, it will drop you two points. When Stockton was taking the math test he was working on a problem that was a trial and error problem. He knew he was close and the time was almost up. He figured out the answer right as they called time. He knows the answer was J (I think that is what he said), but he didn't answer it. Stockton did the math this morning. If he had answered that question he would have received a 34 on the test. I love Stockton's honesty. He is 100% honest. At all times. I love that about him. I know he is disappointed, but I hope he never changes. He is going to be the best husband and father one day. His wife will not ever have to worry about him. He is so kind. He has a strong testimony. He is excellent with kids. I hope my girls marry someone like Stockton. He is amazing. I am so proud of him.

Preston woke up sick this morning. He stayed home from school. This is not a usual occurrence. It probably has happened before, but I just don't remember. I texted Rachel about the change of plans. She decided to stay away. She does not want to deal with sick kids. I don't blame her. It started snowing today. The pictures never look as cool though.

Stockton and I went to see the Wizard of Oz at the high school. The Wizard of Oz has never been my favorite. It was fun to see the different kids I knew, especially my young women. Rachel, Zoe and Olivia were all in it. I miss watching Michael. I guess it would be a bad idea if he stayed in high school forever.

Hailey came over tonight. Jorja took my camera and they played around a lot. I adore Hailey. There are tons of pictures on here, but I couldn't decide my favorite, so I just put all of them. I am thankful Jorja has Hailey in her life.

Jorja & Hailey

 Hailey

 Jorja

 It was so dark, they had no idea if they were even in the picture

 Hailey

 Jorja's eyes are beautiful. And strange. Bluish/greenish on the outside and brown near the pupil.

 Hailey

 Jorja & Hailey

 Hailey and Jorja's frog

 Jorja

 Hailey

 Jorja

 Jorja & Hailey

 Hailey & Jorja

 Eyes ~ Hailey & Jorja (with a little black eye left)