2018- Week 45(Nov 5- Nov 11)

We had a DUP board meeting to plan what we will do the next few months. I have really enjoyed being on the board and getting to know the ladies better.

I am part of a temple group that goes once a month. They go at 5:30 in the AM. That is so so early for me. I get to bed so late by the time my kids are in bed. They are up around 6 so I am usually up then too but I can't even function until at least 8 ha ha so it's not a great time for me to go. I had planned to take my friend Joidee to lunch the same day for her birthday so I asked her if she wanted to go to the temple at 11 instead. She was game so we went and it was wonderful. We had to wait an hour but it was peaceful and I can't think of a better place to be. Afterwards we went to Cubbys for lunch. I usually love Cubbys. It always tastes so fresh and healthy but this time I ordered the macaroni and cheese and the sweet potato fries and they made me so sick. The fries were a little burned and the macaroni while good, was way too rich for me. Also the waiter spilled my entire cup of ice water in my lap so I was wet and cold the whole meal. When I got home I was even sicker so yeah I will probably never go there again. Even Joidee felt like something had changed with the grilled cheese recipe and hers was super greasy.

My friend Claudia took her daughter to have her rescheduled surgery on her teeth and all went well this time. She felt comfortable going alone so I didn't go but I did take her dinner that night. They are vegan so I grabbed a salad from Harmons. Ally can say my name now and it's so cute when she comes over to play.

I have been researching capsule wardrobes lately. I have a few friends that do these and it just seems so organized and gives you so many more options. Melinda came over and we went through my whole wardrobe and I got rid of all the pieces that I no longer wear or that don't fit me. It ended up being two huge bags worth. I also stored away my seasonal clothes for next year. I feel really good about what I saved and it's been fun to put together new outfit combos.

 I forgot to take a before picture- but trust me it was over flowing

My friend Cassidy decided to throw a ladies lunch for all of her friends and I was lucky enough to be invited. There were 13 of us and I love every one of them too. We had soup, salad and yummy treats. These women are my tribe. I am so lucky to have so many great friends.

Ashtyn had another concert. This time it was at the assembly hall at temple square. It was with the American Organ Guild. Her teacher is a member so they had several of them play beautiful organ pieces that we all sang along too and then the choir sang four numbers in between. It was a beautiful night. Jeff's parents came with us too. 

 Baylee, Rylee, Sydney, Beverly, Ashtyn and Emily

They had to do the "Drew" pose in honor of their friend Drew who is now on a mission.

Ethan has been taking an AP Chinese Prep class that is one Saturday every month so he went to that this week and then I took him and his friend Ayvri to lunch because I felt bad that they had to spend half a day studying.

Saturday was Bingham Ball. This was a girls choice dance. This was also Ashtyn's first dance. She asked a boy named Carter from her Madrigal goup. Whitney asked her friend Terrence. Whitney took her date ax throwing and to lunch for the day date. Then they went to Tepanyaki for dinner. Ashtyn took her date on a scavenger hunt that one of the moms put together at City Creek and to lunch and then they went to the Old Spaghetti factory for dinner and to Chip to get cookies after the dance.

 They did a scavenger hunt at City Creek for their day date

 Ashtyn always helps her friends get ready for the dances when she hasn't been asked so this time they came and helped her because all the boys they wanted to ask had already been asked.

 Ashtyn and her friend Kelsey

Ashtyn and her date Carter

This is the only picture I could get of Whitney and her date Terrance. She got ready at a friends house and didn't take many pictures.

2018- Week 44(Oct 29- Nov 4)

This week was Halloween. I didn't put up a single decoration until that night we hung up a spider wed Sharon gave me. She is always so cute to give us holiday decorations. Then I put out some pumpkins we had bought from our cute little 10 year old neighbor Vann who grew them in his pumpkin patch. I had used up all the candy I bought at the ward party and the party that Ethan had so I went that morning and bought more. Usually we have a neighborhood dinner at the Barneys before everyone goes out, but this year we decided to skip it because everyone is getting older and making different plans and doesn't always come anymore so instead I made my famous Orange Chicken that I use to make every year. I haven't made it for several years and it tasted just as good as I remember. Ashtyn went with friends to a Halloween party, Ethan went trick or treating with friends and Whit hung out here. Jeff and I watched A Quiet Place while we waited for Trick or Treaters. I really hate and love that movie. It freaks me out to the point of tears. We ended up only getting about 15 trick or treaters so I have a ton of candy left over. Halloween without little kids is nice, quiet and well boring.

These girls are obsessed with Mamma Mia- Donna and the Dynamo's

Melinda and I went to breakfast Friday morning at Village Baker and we were the only ones there which was fun. Then we headed to the Pinners Conference at the Expo Center. There is always so much to see and so much to spend your money on. Melinda is expecting so she got lots of fun things for her new baby and I bought a headband called Savvy Curls that is suppose to curl your hair over night. I did try it that night but didn't have the mousse it said to use and discovered that I had wrapped my hair upside down in the morning so the top layer didn't work. I'll try again. I also got a cute wooden peg missionary doll for my friend Alisa and two bags of Sugar Bear nuts- that was a dumb buy because they are so expensive but I couldn't resist so I decided I'll give them away as gifts instead of eating them all. 

Later that day I went to lunch with Liz Daw my old neighbor and Kelly, Melissa and Leslie some other neighbors. We went to Even Stevens. I miss Liz. She is darling and so fun to hang out with.

Saturday I had the Stake Baptism in the morning and then a convert baptism for a cute 9 year old in Primary named Mele. She has been waiting to get baptized for a long time so that her dad could be there but it wasn't working out for him to come so she went ahead without him. Both services were beautiful and inspiring as always.

Saturday night we went to dinner with the Poulters. They live across the street. They had been wanting to take us to dinner ever since we invited their family over for dinner. We went to Wallabys that just opened by us. It has great smoked meat. It was fun to hang out with them.

It takes our trees awhile to turn but when they do I love the color.

Sunday was dinner at the Shaw's. Everyone was there this time. I got up early before church to make french bread to take. We decided that next year we are going to rotate houses so there will be more room for the kids to play. We also drew names for Christmas. How is it already that time? Scott gave us all a test to see who could write down the names of all 50 states in 6 minutes or less. I only got 42. Too bad I never learned that state song.