Yummy Cheeseburgers

We sold our old couch today that we had had for over eight years! Is it weird that I kind of wanted to make sure that it went to a good home? We loved those couches! I listed it this morning and we got several offers. It’s gone now and it’s nice to have our home less cluttered. I got to help Kade with a church talk and a book report poster today. We had fun doing both while the rest of the family took Keena to the dog park. He’s a smart little man and I loved all of the thoughts he had to add. It was nice to have some one on one time with Kade.

Brad took me to my favorite burger restaurant tonight. I was really craving a burger! And it was so delicious.

Bravery

We went skiing as a family today and somehow I convinced Ryder to take off his edgie wedgie clips. He was definitely nervous and not excited at all, but after trying to inspire him with stories from my childhood when (a) I cried through the whole line at Splash Mountain in Disneyland because I was terrified of it, but came off loving it so much! And (b) when I fell off a horse that bucked up and my Dad had me get back on and try again, he decided he would give it a go. The first few times were slow going and he fell, but he kept improving each time! He was still slow by the end of the day but he did end up going on a run with Brad and the big kids. It was huge improvement to me and I was so proud of him!

Skiing and being at the lodge is always fun, but sometimes I enjoy the conversations we have with the kids on our two hour road trip just as much. I love talking about life and memories with them and Brad always finds something to teach them about. I know these Friday ski days are ones I’ll always treasure.

Brad’s Fixes

Luke is relentless when it comes to getting in the snack cupboard. Even if he just finished his dinner, if I’m in the kitchen he’s going through the snack cupboard. So Brad used a few elastics and made it near impossible to get in the cupboard now. Hopefully it trains him to stay out! Haha

Afternoon Walks

Wednesday’s are always nice because my kids get out of school an hour earlier so we have more time to hang out. Today with our extra free time we all went for a walk! This winter has been the most mild one we’ve ever experienced here in Montana. But as long as the ski hill has plenty of snow, I’ll take it!

Personal Development

Ever since the face to face broadcast with President and Sister Oaks on Sunday, I’ve been encouraging my kids to think of different goals they’d like to achieve. We will discuss it more on Sunday after they’ve had time to think about it, but they’re already getting excited about it. I’ve seen them both write things down in their books before bed and today when I started to make dinner Tenley said she wanted to help because she wants to learn how to cook. She got both of us an apron, read the recipe, and made most of the dinner! She did a great job. I’m so excited to learn more about what my kids want to do in life.

Basketball

Kade had his last basketball game tonight. He played harder than I’d ever seen him play. It was good to see him try so hard. It’s been a hard season, but he’s been so positive through it all. I think he enjoyed it.

He wants to sign up to play in the competitive league. I think it will help him and push him to be better. I’m glad he’s willing to challenge himself!

Gratitude

I ask my kids each night to tell me their favorite part of the day and Ryder always answers, “Everything!” I love his enthusiasm and I hope it’s genuine. He really is a happy little man and forgives so easily. Children are such wonderful examples.

I taught my primary class without Brad today and the kids and I missed him! But I’m happy to still be able to teach such cute primary kids.

Our first sacrament meeting with Brad in the stand was a little difficult. I was playing the organ so I tasked Kade with taking care of all the kids. He did a great job, but Luke can be needy. Luckily some wonderful, amazing, and kind young women went and sat with my kids. I was so touched by their kind act. They saw a need and they went and helped. It meant so much to me and it was so helpful. Hopefully we get the hang of our new Sunday life soon.

Outdoor Fun

It was a typical Saturday. We ended up at the church this afternoon so I could practice the organ and Brad could play basketball with the kids. They are loving this tradition. It was also warm enough to spend some time outside! We played soccer and jumped on the trampoline. It was refreshing to get out.

Family Ski Days

We have four feet of new snow at our ski hill since we last went skiing. That and the fact that it was going to be a blue bird day, we all decided to go skiing today. There was a little bit of wind, but for the most part it was a beauto full, warm and sunny day. I had a blast with my little boys in the bunny hill. Brad and the big kids had a lot of fun too! At the end of the day, Luke fell asleep in my arms as we walked up and down the bunny hill following Ryder around. We stayed until close and we were all pretty tired! We picked up Cafe Rio for dinner and had a fun night together. I love family ski days!

Flu Shots

Brad had to work until 6 tonight. He is normally off early enough to pick up the kids from school so they may have been a little disappointed to see me there to pick them up. Haha. And then I took them to get flu shots so they we’re definitely unhappy. But they were tough and didn’t mind the shot. The flu has been affecting so many people here! The nurse who gave them their shots said that one of the school in town had 74 kids out with the flu today. I hope they got their shots in time and that we can avoid this nasty flu!

Ryder has been folding his arms for prayers all by himself and it is so sweet to watch! I love watching him grow and understand more things. He’s a sweet little man!

Tenley

Brad has been gone every night this week due to obligations with his new church calling. I think it’s a rare week and it won’t normally be like this, but I could be wrong. We all miss him and we will definitely appreciate the nights we do have him home. Keena is really missing him. They would play together every night but Brad just hasn’t had the time or the energy. I asked the kids to help out and play with Keena today and Tenley was the first one out the door. She spent almost an hour with him. It was so sweet of her to take the time to do that! Keena was so happy to have some play time.

Good Deeds

Right when we got home from taking the kids to school Ryder told me he wanted to finish building Tenley’s LEGO set for her so he could make her happy. I couldn’t argue with such a great idea! We spent every moment we had working on her LEGO set for her and she was so happy to see it finished when she got home from school. I love seeing my kids do nice things for each other!

Presidents Day

It was a good thing the kids had a day off from school today because they needed some extra sleep this morning. Even Luke slept until 9! Kade a play date with friends and the rest of us hung out at home. We got out in the afternoon for Kade’s basketball game. His team is really struggling to play well, but they are all trying. I know losing so much is getting frustrating for some of them, but Kade seems to enjoy just being able to play.

Brad had a meeting tonight, but the rest of us enjoyed watching a movie together and dancing to the credits. Even Luke joined in. Our Monday nights are pretty predictable!

While we cleaned up the toy room I found the sweetest apology note from Tenley to Kade. She is a sweetie.

Blessings

Our three oldest kids sang a musical number for our church service today. We’ve been practicing everyday for a few weeks and the practice definitely paid off. They sang so beautifully and filled the entire room with their sweet spirits. When I got up from the piano to walk back to our seats with them, I couldn’t see a dry eye in the room. It was extremely touching. I love my sweet little kids.

To add to that emotional moment, we had a new bishopric called today and Brad was asked to be the 2nd counselor. I’m not sure we know what we’re in for with his new calling, but I know he is willing to serve and we are ready to support him however we can. Because of his new calling he needs to be ordained to the office of a High Priest. He really wanted his Dad to be here for that. Right now his Dad is on a snowmobiling trip in Idaho with some friends and he’s closer to us than he usually is. We were hoping it might just work out for him to be here, but due to the late notice and our early church time his Dad just wasn’t going to be able to make it.

After church they told us they’d have to push back setting the new bishopric apart until Tuesday so we headed home and decided to drive to Brad’s Dad in Henry’s Lake 4 and a half hours away so he could still be ordained by him. It’s been quite the adventure and crazy impromptu trip but it was worth it to have this special ordination take place with his Dad. The drive went so well and when we arrived the sun peaked through the clouds for the first time in an hour. You have to snowmobile in a mile to the cabin and we had a crew of people there for us ready to bring us all in. The kids loved the snowmobile ride! Travis had a delicious taco dinner ready for us and we were able to eat and visit. Then George ordained Brad. Afterward George asked for a blessing from his sons because he’s going in for surgery on his knee on Tuesday. Not long after the blessings we headed back to the car on the snowmobiles and made our long drive back home. We feel so lucky that the weather and the roads worked in our favor today so it could all work out the way that it did.

I feel overwhelmed today with feelings of gratitude for my husband and children. It kind of seems like an oxymoron to say that you gain happiness through effort, hard work, and sacrifice, but when I’m working hard and sacrificing for others I definitely feel the happiest.

25 Cent ICE CREAM CONES

We went to the church this afternoon so the kids could practice their musical number for tomorrow. They have been doing such a great job and I can’t wait to hear them sing!

After practicing we played basketball in the gym and luckily we had some friends show up to play with! It made it really fun for the kids. Then we decided to take them out for dinner. And since we were so close to Super 1 Foods we just had to stop for ice cream cones!

Valentines Day

Brad and Kade actually stayed home from skiing for once this season. Brad had some things to do and Kade was somewhat excited to be at school for his Valentines Day party. He did say he would have rather been skiing. Haha.

Brad just got us a carpet cleaner so we spent the morning cleaning carpets. It’s actually really nice to have them so clean now! It almost feels as clean as it did when we first moved in. We celebrated Valentines tonight with a yummy homemade dinner, chocolates, and a cute movie (Tuck Everlasting). Having a date in on Valentines is always way more fun to me than dealing with all the crowds at restaurants. We enjoyed our night!

ICE CRYSTALS

We woke up to a really cold morning today. Since it had snowed yesterday the trees were covered in ice crystals. It is so beautiful! Next time it happens I need to do a better job at capturing it.

Then about 20 minutes after I had dropped the kids off at school I got a call from Tenley’s teacher telling me that Tenley wasn’t feeling well. She said she had a headache so I went back to get her. She took a good nap when we got home, drank lots of water and was back to normal after that! I hope she stays healthy and that she doesn’t have the flu.

Ryder had a blast having Tenley home. They played Legos, Tenley taught him preschool, and we all made a Valentines box for Ryder because he really wanted one. Lol. I’ll have to add some candy to it tomorrow for him.

Tonight was the big Crosstown rivalry basketball game at the High School. Brad and Kade went to the game while the rest of stayed home. We danced a lot. They love following along with the moves of the amazing girls of Refit Revolution. Then we watched their favorite movie, Aladdin (the new one). My little ones are so much fun to party with.

Projects

Wednesdays are always nice because the kids get out of school early and we don’t have any sport practices afterward right now. We all love just being able to come home! Both Kade and Tenley had some projects for school to work on today. Kade’s class is having a contest for the best Valentines box and he wanted to make a Shark one. We had a lot of fun making it together. Tenley is student of the week and she got to fill out and create a cute poster! We all enjoyed hanging out, listening to music, and working n these projects together. Ryder was adamant that he help so he would get me tape and Kade let him glue the eyes on the shark. It was a good afternoon!

Cookies

The kids went back to school today. It wasn’t easy for me to send them after yesterday, but they didn’t mind going back at all. When I picked them up at the end of the day they said their day was great and totally normal.

Brad had a dental meeting tonight so the kids and I hung out and watched a movie. They’re fun little peanuts. I made cookies a few days ago and Luke keeps stealing them. He gets one and laughs and runs away. He is trouble!

Unexpected Days Off

Early this morning I received several text messages and voicemails from the school district letting me know that all schools in our school district would be closed today due to a threat that was found at one of the elementary schools. I’ve had a pit in my stomach ever since. It makes me sick and the idea of sending my kids to school makes the sick feeling worse. I was happy to have all my kids with me today. They came with us to a play date for a friend and then kade watched the little boys for me while I went grocery shopping with Tenley. After piano Kade had a basketball game and then we had Tenley’s family night at home. We had Mod pizza and watched The Nutty Professor. It’s a fun, classic movie and the black and white picture didn’t seem to bother the kids too badly. I love being with my cute kids.

Fly

Oh Sunday. It can be filled with so much spirit and rest and then other Sundays can be filled with so many nerves and much anxiety. Like when it’s my turn to play the organ. It wasn’t my turn today, but it is next week and the nerves are already creeping in. I have a lot to learn in the organ. It is an intense and amazing instrument to play, but it requires a lot of practice and skill which I know will take more than a few months to develop. But I’m in it for as long as my sweet church family will put up with my mistakes. I want to learn and improve and I’m trying to be patient with the process.

This afternoon as we had some family time, Ryder put on his Superman cape and started trying to ‘fly’. It reminded me of this great quote, “Let go of your fear and take the chance to let yourself fly.” If I only I had Ryder’s enthusiasm and lack of fear, but I want my kids to know that challenges make us stronger and helps us grow, even if we fail a lot along the way. Don’t turn down an opportunity for growth even though it’s uncomfortable or you’ll never know how high you really can fly.

Saturday

Saturday’s are so wonderful. It’s nice to let everyone sleep in, then have a big breakfast together, get some chores done, and have a night out as a family. Saturday is always a nice break from the routine of the week.
As Tenley was practicing the piano, Luke came up with a stool so he could play as well. It was adorable!
Ryder had a birthday party tonight. We dropped him off and took the rest of the kids out to eat. It was a fun night.

Time with My Boys

Brad took the older kids skiing and I stayed home with my cute little boys. We had a lot of fun playing games at home and after Luke’s nap I decided to take them to the trampoline place. We had a blast! Luke was so cute trying to jump on his own. I always have a blast with my kids when I forget about other things and just play.