Fakesgiving, Couch, Thanksgiving

Though I was still struggling with a cold, I successfully cooked turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry apple pie on Saturday. They were all delicious! I ran into the same problem I do every time: the turkey was still frozen on the bottom and didn't cook as quickly, so I ended up flipping it over and slightly overcooking the top. It was still really good, though, but I don't think I'll use a bag again. It makes the skin not crispy. We had our leftovers the next few days: turkey pot pie, turkey soup with dumplings, and taquitos, which were all delicious.

Sunday was the Primary program and my last emotional resilience class. The kids did a great job in the program. I'm sad the class is over. I think it's really helped me, and I made some new friends in the process.

On Monday, we bought a couch for the cabin! It's black leather and looks great. We can sit up to the table for games or lean back and relax to watch movies. It was a pretty good Black Friday deal. They delivered it on Tuesday, so I cleaned up the cabin while the kids played with the giant box. It delayed packing for the trip, but it was worth it.

We left for Rexburg yesterday and got here without incident. We stopped at the Layton Hills Mall for lunch and got peppermint chip milkshakes from Chick-fil-A. I hate to say it, but I think I like the KFC chicken sandwich better now. (I know, breaking tradition.) I definitely want to keep the milkshake tradition, though. I made cranberry apple pie once we got here and even finished in time for dinner. Nash came over for a while and then went to Sam and Jesse's to sleep.

It's Thanksgiving! So far, I've cut up a ton of potatoes for mashed potatoes and veggie chowder (for Angie's birthday, which we'll celebrate at dinner.) Later, I'm going to make her a chocolate cake. I'm thrilled to eat chocolate along with all the pies. :) I took an hour to read, which has made a huge difference in my day already. I feel pretty happy despite a really terrible night of sleep.

I was worried at how Samantha would do with the toilet, but she's been great so far. It should be an awesome day. Nash and Angie will be over soon, and then it will be time to eat!!!

A Cold, More Car Stuff, Traditions

We had a pretty busy Saturday. In the morning, we took the kids to the dollar store because they had some money they wanted to spend. We also redeemed some Book It coupons. Unfortunately, Joseph ate too much of the junk food he bought and threw up later that night. It was during game night, but he cleaned up most of it and stayed home from church the next day even though he technically wasn't sick.

Sunday night, I started getting a sore throat after my class. It came on very suddenly and hurt a lot. Joseph, Kenny, Lewis, Samantha and I all have that same cold, and it's not the same one that the kids missed a bunch of school for a few weeks ago. I really need my family to be healthy for Thanksgiving! We had so few illnesses in 2020, and it was awesome. Now it seems that we're making up for it by getting sick one after another, then starting over with something new. I'm getting pretty fed up with it. I think since early September, someone has always been at least mildly ill.

Since Joseph was home on Monday, I took James's car to Walmart to get a new blinker bulb, then switched cars and got the winter tires put on. It took forever, and I ended up being at Walmart for over 3 hours. Good thing I had a book with me! Still, the waiting room was freezing, and I didn't have any shopping to do. Unfortunately, wandering around didn't help me come up with any ideas for Christmas presents either.

I struggle with Thanksgiving. I like traditions that stay around for a long time, but things always change after a while. The only thing that hasn't changed, really, is the food. No one in James's family cares about making turkey pot pie, so I'm going to cook a turkey dinner this Sunday so I can keep that tradition for my own family. It doesn't work out in Idaho because we already have plans for the day after Thanksgiving. I'm completely happy to eat turkey all week, and I'll have a chance to try out a cranberry apple pie recipe that I've been looking forward to all year.

Shots, Time Change

Saturday morning was frustrating. I took James's car in for a new battery, but the people at Walmart didn't believe me at first that it needed one. Batteries only last 2-3 years since we have a harsh climate and no garage. They said the battery was okay, but I told them to change it anyway. This isn't the first time I've had to insist on a new battery. It solved all the car's problems, though, so I know I made the right choice. I just don't like to argue with people when I already know I'm right.

We played DnD on Saturday night, and it was really fun. I've figured out how much caffeine I can tolerate to keep me alert, but not awake too late. It's half of a soda. I've never been able to finish a whole 12 oz. anyway. It was really nice of Devin to find Cheerwine (a cherry soda from NC). I gave him the rest of Samantha's diapers.

Monday, we were able to get Covid shots in a drive-through clinic. I stressed a lot about it beforehand, worrying that it would take forever or that they'd run out. We were there for 50 minutes total, but I'm glad because it means there were lots of kids getting their shots. Joseph, Kenny, and Katie got their first shot and James and I got booster shots. Aside from sore arms and some swelling and redness, we've haven't had any other symptoms. We treated the kids to Denny's afterward, and it was pretty fun.

The time change has been tough. I keep thinking I'm used to it, but then I start feeling sad when it's dark so early and grumpy when I get up, even if I get enough sleep. It usually takes me a week, so we're getting there! For some reason, Lewis and Samantha have had extra energy during the day and have been driving me absolutely crazy. 

James and I have been looking for the perfect couch/settee for the cabin, but no luck yet. We were considering a sleeper, but no one has one. Everything is so expensive, too. I definitely want to love something before I pay hundreds of dollars for it.

Tricks and Treats, Getting Better, Potty Training

Thursday, I took the kids to a Harry Potter library activity. It was kind of crowded, but we survived and came home with potions and wands.

Lewis played a horrible trick on me last Friday. I was just starting to cut up ingredients for salsa when I heard an awful buzzing/humming sound from the wall in the laundry room. It was even worse on the other side of the wall in the master bathroom. I called Dad, and he recommended turning off the water and electricity to see if it was either of those things. It wasn't, so I called the gas company to see if they had any answers.

It was toothbrushes. Lewis laughed at me once I figured that out and said he'd left them on in the bathroom on purpose. They don't look like electric toothbrushes; they only vibrate instead of spinning, so I couldn't see that they were on (and didn't think 2 electric toothbrushes could make such a horrible sound!). I wasn't too happy with Lewis. I wasted over an hour on that terrifying mystery. It didn't help that I'd already been in the crawl space adding insulation to where a pipe had broken a week earlier. UGH.

Despite that, I finished my salsa - the last of the tomatoes that Taylor gave me a month ago! I took the older 4 kids to the trunk or treat and let them go around twice. We didn't get too many trick or treaters on Saturday and none on Sunday, but I was fine with that. We had enough candy to eat through Sunday, and then it was gone. I consider that perfect. I really despise picking up candy wrappers, and the kids are a little grouchy the day after Halloween.

It was Samantha's turn to get sick. She threw up on Thursday and Friday morning. Katie threw up on Sunday night but was fine by the next day. I kept her home from school, which made it more convenient for her doctor's appointment (a well check). Kenny's been home all week with a bad cold. I'm so tired of this! Even with masks last year, he missed 12 days, Joseph 8, and Katie only 2. They are going to miss a lot more this year if this trend continues. We've only taken 1 day for vacation purposes. I'm glad that no one is falling behind, but it stresses me out and disrupts my regular schedule.

On the bright side, Samantha is fully potty trained both night and day! She would only pee in the toilet for a week before she decided she'd poop in it too. She uses the big toilet now and doesn't want M&M's all the time either, so I'm 99% sure it's going to stick. I got her an Elena of Avalor scepter, tiara, and underwear. I'm going to give the diapers away ASAP.

I really hope my family can return to full health. At least it's not Covid, and the older 3 should be able to get shots soon.