October

Trips and Activities

James and Lewis, deer hunting x2. No luck this year. They had a few fun days together anyway.

James and Joseph, Esports competition in Price

Katie's first orchestra concert

hike to the dinosaur tracks at Red Fleet

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (James, me, Joseph, Anna)

Birthdays and Holidays

Katie's 12th birthday! Anna was visiting and we had a supposed showing, so we went to the park to open presents. We had key lime pie and cookies and cream ice cream as well.

Halloween. Our main thing was attending the ward Trunk or Treat.

Weather

really nice with a few cold days. No snow yet! The leaves were beautiful right up until Halloween when we got our first hard freeze. Now, everything is brown.

Sickness

I got my bloodwork done again, and my labs look great! Yay!

I think James and I had the flu (influenza) after Halloween because we were both extremely tired for a few days (and achy and queasy). I don't know for sure.

Repairs

replaced a light fixture out front that was ugly and didn't work for 10 years. It was much easier than I expected. I wish I'd done it sooner!

Projects

I painted both of the kids' rooms since they were the last unpainted areas of the house (within the last year). It took up 3 days of time, 1 for prep, 1 for actual painting, and another to put everything back together.

I had to time to do that because...

...we didn't get to move.

Honestly, it's been rough lately. Everything went well up till the day before closing (October 14th). I got a phone call saying there was a delay with the house we were buying because the sellers hadn't turned in some receipts in time. It was Fall Break and I thought, 1 day, no big deal. Then, our realtor who's working on selling our house showed up at our door. I figured that wasn't a good sign since he lives in the Salt Lake area now. He told us that there was a problem with the financing and that this house is trickier to finance than he'd realized originally. The loan our buyer wanted wasn't going to work, and they'd have to try something else. Less than a week later, we learned that our buyer was forced to back out (not his fault, but still).

At that point, I had packed up most of the kitchen and been trying to cook all week with limited ingredients and tools. The living room was full of boxes from the kids packing up their rooms. I moved boxes to closets and unpacked the entire kitchen.

I felt like I had just barely gotten back to regular life after painting the last 2 rooms, when my parents had a health issue and had to cancel their visit to Utah for the 3rd time this year.

We've had 1 showing in the past 2 weeks (the time back on the market).

God's timing always works out, but I sure don't understand it right now. I also hate the home selling/buying process much more than I ever could have anticipated. The home we're trying to buy is still available, so we'll keep on waiting and doing small projects around here till we get to move (hopefully).

September

Trips and Activities

Ward Harvest Dinner: probably our last activity with Maeser 4th!

a hike to Moonshine Arch

Homecoming (James and the girls)

Dinosaur Museum

fossil hunting

2 Valiant activities (for which I'm a leader). They went well and didn't require much planning since we combined with the boys.

talks for James, Katie, and me

Downton Abbey movie with James

shrimp boil with the Warburtons

Birthdays and Holidays

none, surprisingly

Weather

super nice, occasionally rainy

Sickness

minor

Repairs

inspection on this house, after which the buyers backed out

inspection on our new house, which went well. I made a big list of things to tackle right away/later in the new place. We also requested a few repairs from our sellers.

replaced the roof because it was the right thing to do

was brave and used some extra shingles to fix the shed roof

another inspection on this house (after getting a new buyer), which went well

fixed a couple small things to get ready for the appraisal

Projects

organized the shed, 72 hour kit

a couple more showings, bringing the total to 19

painted the front and side doors and frames

a Saturday open house, so we had to be gone from 9-3

another offer! It came 9 days after the first. 

Things are progressing, and it looks like we'll move during Fall Break (mid-October). The appraisal happens today, and as long as that turns out good, we just have to wait for all the paperwork to be done.

August

Trips and Activities

lunch with the Primary presidency one last time. It was bittersweet, but good.

Head reunion in Albion: I didn't really want to go, but I ended up having a wonderful time. There were 100 people there this year, which was a lot, but it was worth the trip!

Rexburg: Bear World, Museum of Idaho, kayaking in Victor, Big Jud's with the Lees, KPop Demon Hunters, Freakier Friday

Joseph and Kenny camping trip to Massey Meadows with the Young Men

back to school! Joseph: 10th, Kenny: 8th, Katie: 6th, Lewis: 3rd, Samantha: 2nd

Dino "Soar" Days

Birthdays and Holidays

Ana and Benji's bday party

Samantha's 7th birthday. She had all the strawberry things, as usual: strawberry shortcake and homemade strawberry ice cream. We also found a lot of strawberry-themed things for her at 5 Below.

Weather

hot

Sickness

a cold on the 2nd day of school (most of the kids). They are all better now, but James is feeling a bit under the weather.

Repairs

stupid car, needed a new thermostat in Albion since it kept overheating on every single hill. Now, the AC isn't working. I hope it just needs a recharge.

Projects

started looking at a few homes and unexpectedly found one we loved! started the financing process

painted the living room and kitchen, which was really hard but worth the effort

depersonalized and packed up 1/3 of our stuff

survived 15 showings as of 9/2. That was not my favorite thing to do. I've spent SO much time cleaning, then cleaning again, all while 7 people live here to get things "picture perfect". It worked, though, because someone bought our house after 5 days! If everything goes perfectly, we should be moving in October. It's been such a whirlwind, but I'm grateful for all the tender mercies we've seen along the way.

July

Trips and Activities

We took our long road trip to New Hampshire!

Days 1-5, we drove there. Stops: Martin's Cove and Independence Rock in WY, Mt. Rushmore in SD (slept in Rapid City), Wall Drug, Minuteman Missile, and Sioux Falls in SD (slept in Wisconsin Dells), New Buffalo Beach and Holland in MI (slept in London, ON), St. Lawrence Market in Toronto (slept in Cornwall, ON), Underground City in Montreal, Joseph Smith birthplace in VT, fireworks at Granite Lake (slept in Munsonville, NH)

Days 6-10, we did lots of activities in NH with the family. 6 of my 9 siblings were there, along with the locals, for a total of 63 relatives. Activities: quaking bog, cookout at Daryl and Cheryl's, swimming at Nubanusit, mini golf at Twinkle Town, church and a baptism for my cousin's son, Pitcher Mt., Twinkle Town again, swimming at Granite Lake, day trip for James to Fall River and Lexington/Concord in MA, hike at Duane and Kathy's, swimming at Granite Lake again, many games of cribbage with Grandma, many family meals both cooked and eaten together, day trip to Maine and the Lindt Chocolate store on the way

Day 11-15, we traveled home and saw a lot more cool stuff. Stops: Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse, Hill Cumorah and the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, NY (slept in Farmington, NY), Niagara Falls in NY, Kirtland temple tour in OH (slept in Perrysburg, OH), the country fair and pageant in Nauvoo, IL (slept in Keokuk, IA), church in Nauvoo, Mormon Trail Visitor's Center in Omaha, NE (slept in Grand Island, NE), Cabela's in Sidney, (slept at HOME!!!)

Other stuff this month:

Primary potluck dinner

temple baptisms with the kids twice

Superman and Jurassic World

Joseph's learner's permit

Lars's graduation from BYU-I

Belcher Reunion in Heber. We went to IKEA in Draper afterward.

Birthdays and Holidays

4th of July, most of which we spent in Montreal, but we made it to NH in time for the fireworks!

Pioneer Day: ate the Scout breakfast at the park and then split the party for the parade and Lars's graduation

Weather

hot and dry

not too bad in NH, but humid. We survived without AC!

Sickness

mild cold for Kenny, Samantha, and me. We were pretty wiped out for 2 weeks after NH, but we're doing a lot better now.

dental appointments for everyone

checkup for me, which went well

Repairs

dishwasher, which was paid for by Lowe's. I doubt it was worth it to them since it was the control board.

Projects

assembling the stuff from IKEA (living room bookcases and storage). James took the younger kids out while Joseph and Kenny and I worked on it. It took pretty much all day to set up, organize, and clean, but it looks great.

I made a photo book of all the past NH trips for my grandparents. It took me a few hours, but I think they enjoyed it.

BIG NEWS: I have been released from my calling as Primary president! For now, I am without a calling.

June

I used to think time went fast when I was publishing once a week, and now that it's once a month, I still can't believe how much time flies.

Trips and Activities

2 weeks of tennis at the high school: Katie, Lewis, and Samantha. They loved it!

fishing

FHE at Steinaker

Big Brush Creek Cave. James has been bugging me for years to go see the ice pillar inside. It was cool, but the intensity and altitude of the hike almost made me pass out. Never again!

Harry Potter Exhibition in Salt Lake. James and I met Anna there for the day, and it far exceeded our expectations. It was interesting, interactive, and fun.

How to Train Your Dragon at the theater. It was fun to see it on the big screen, and the remake is very well done.

Stake Primary activity

Girls' Camp for Katie. It was only one day long because of Trek, but Katie had a great time.

Esports board meeting. James now has a sanctioned activity that he can get paid for next year. Yay!

Trek. I dropped Joseph off this morning, and he gets back Saturday night. James and I both loved our Treks, and I hope this will be a meaningful experience for Joseph as well.

Paddle Fest at Red Fleet

Weather

hot and very dry, also unusually windy for this time of year. I hope it doesn't mean lots of fires.

Sickness

none, but Joseph got his braces off! He now has a retainer.

Repairs

2 oil changes, 1 new battery (under warranty, thankfully)

Projects

bucket hats for Katie, Lewis, and Samantha

T-shirt dress for Katie

For the remaining days in June, we'll be prepping for our trip to NH, which begins on Monday!

May

Trips and Activities

saw Happy Days (the musical) at the high school

babysat Cherissa's baby, Amaya, for 10 days during the last 2 weeks of school

Rexburg: Bear World, Yellowstone (first time since 2012), Lilo and Stitch (very cute), baby goats, old truck in the sand box, lunch date at BYU-I. It was a much-needed trip after a very busy last few weeks of school, and we had a wonderful time.

Birthdays and Holidays

Memorial Day: We attended a graveside service in Driggs and spent some time with Grandpa Head. dinner with the Lees that evening in Rigby.

Joseph turned 15! We watched the Minecraft movie and had mini Reese's cheesecakes.

Weather

practically perfect, lots of green and flowers. It's my favorite month (weather-wise) because it's so pretty. Yes, even more than October.

Sickness

James had surgery to repair a hernia. Now that it's been a month, he's doing much better. The first few days were rough, though.

My supplements are working, and I feel better than I have in 2 years. I'm sleeping better and feel happier too.

Repairs

routine stuff for the van before we take it to NH

Projects

laundry bag tutorial on my blog

cover for my sewing machine

April

Trips and Activities

donkey basketball with the younger 3 kids

North Carolina (me): Tap Station with Brinson; craft night with the ladies; a night at each home (Myles and Skyla, Christian and Rachel, Mara and Ricky); first time at the farmer's market, Dix Park, and picking strawberries; Waffle House with Myles's family; CFA with Carmel and Matt before seeing their apartment; all the time in between with Dad and Mom in Apex (Bojangles and Costco included)

Rexburg (everyone else): baptism, baby blessing, Museum of Idaho, trip to Victor to see Grandpa, JK Studios comedy show, Minecraft movie

BYU graduation for Nash. We got a nice tour of campus and took some pics. It was a long day in the car, but the kids did great at home.

trial run for babysitting Cherissa's new baby, Amaya. It went really well!

temple trip with Kenny and Katie while Joseph was at the Seminary activity

Birthdays and Holidays

Kenny turned 13!

simple Easter at our home with an egg hunt on Saturday, Church on Sunday, and a nice meal afterward

Weather

2 decent snow storms at the beginning of the month, but pleasant since then

Sickness

James had to take 4 days off for a nasty cold. Lewis and Kenny missed a day each.

Projects

Almost finished with all the ideas I have for my stash of fabric!

sleep masks for the girls

potholders (9), gave one to each sis(in-law)

fabric eggs (42)

Christmas gift bags (13)

Christmas gift tags (28)

roll up toiletries bags (7)