2019- Week 47(Nov 18- Nov 24)

Monday was Tom's birthday and we all went over- minus Ashtyn and Whitney who both had classes. We had cake and had a nice visit with everyone there. 

Monday was also DUP. I did the artifact this time and I brought the handkerchief dolls that I had made for Ashytn, Whitney and Brooklyn out of my great grandma's handkerchiefs. Marilyn Mann was kind enough to give me a ride so Jeff could have the car. 

I babysat Bronson on Tuesday and Ashtyn facetimed me while he was there. He was going crazy over the phone and kept smiling at Ashtyn and trying to grab her through the phone it was so funny. He is so so cute. He still can't sit up for too long so I have to lug him around and he is heavy. I think he'll be the kid that just one day stands up and runs away. 

I took Melinda to breakfast on Wednesday for her birthday. We went to Kneaders. It is our favorite place. They had some really cute Christmas decorations so I also bought her two little fabric trees. She collects them. Melinda is one of the nicest people in the world. She cares so much about other people and is always doing things to show them love- especially me. If I mention I really like something often she buys it for me or she'll come pick me up when I don't have a car, etc. She also is amazing at making things and decorating- they do all their own projects and they always turn out great. She is really thoughtful. I'm glad she lives close and we can hang out often.

A few weeks ago I reconnected with an old friend that I grew up with named Nicolle Wilson. I have known her since I was around 6 years old. We went to lunch a couple of weeks ago and she mentioned that she wanted to see my house so I picked her up this week(she can't drive) and she came over and we had a nice visit. She is autistic and things haven't been easy for her. She still lives at home so afterwards I stayed to say hello to her mom. Her brother use to live in my ward- but I didn't realize that until she told me that he also lives in South Jordan.

At the end of every season we are required to turn in our costumes at work so they can be repaired and so we can switch them out for weather appropriate items. I have had my same costume for 3 years because I work all year so I need to have a costume in case they need me. They decided to give me a new pioneer dress. It is so cute. It's a green plaid fabric and it has puffed sleeves that are three quarter length. It has hook and eye closures so I might have to make sure I put it on before Jeff leaves so he can help me until I get the hang of closing all of them myself. It was so so windy up there and there were snow flurries. They also checked me out a cloak to wear to keep warm.

Scarlett came over for tea. I love talking to her she is so awesome. I tried my hand at making blueberry scones with a lemon glaze. They turned out great and I also made butter cookies. We had a nice visit and a cup of tea always hits the spot on a cold day.

Whitney had to see another musical for school so we went to see Children of Eden. It was at Bingham. There were several kids in it that she knows. It was the story of Adam and Eve and Noah and how their choices led to different consequences good and bad. It was so long. Over 3 hours and it was freezing in the theater. Plus Bingham has the oldest sound system and so it was hard to always understand what they were saying. Overall I liked it.

Jeff's cousin Todd's daughter Makayla's home coming was on Sunday. I can't believe it's already been 18 months. She is such a great girl and spoke about how to be grateful in adversity. 

Ashtyn is home for the weekend so she helped me teach Primary. I was subbing for the Songs in CTR 4. This is the best class. They are so sweet and know so much. We tried the marshmallow experiment to talk about patience. I gave them each one and said they could choose to eat it now of wait and if they waited they would get two. All of them waited. I was so impressed. We also talked about how our words are like a sword and can hurt people. Which is a lesson I am still learning. It was so fun and glad Ashtyn could be with me. 

Sunday night we played a game that was in the most recent New Era magazine. It was actually pretty fun. It was called Wise Up. I was on a team with Ethan and we won.

2019- Week 46(Nov 11- Nov 17)

One of the girls I minister too is pregnant and has a little 3 year old boy as well. I volunteered to watch him because she has been super sick. His name is Louie. He is the sweetest little guy but also the most active. Nothing held his attention for more than 3 minutes. He even asked me to put on a show and then only watched it for 10 minutes. We were going around my house the whole time. He asked me to see in the pantry and the fridge, he wanted to go outside and downstairs. We went on a walk but he was done with that by the time we got to the corner. I was so tired at the end. I do not know how his mom keeps up with him. At least he was super cute so how could I get mad.

Ashtyn's November package was brown. I put in a lot of chocolate, Native brand deodorant, cocoa butter lip gloss, hot cocoa mix, bbq chips and a head tie that I got at Pinners.

It was the very last pack meeting for us this week. We decided to throw a big party and play games, show a slide show, have banana splits as we "split" from scouting and just have fun with the boys. Our friend Bryan in the ward built a big Plinko board so we used that and I did the invitation with a Price is Right Theme. They asked some of the leaders to tell jokes and I told What do you call a scout...ones. My wolves performed two skits too. One was called Bubblegum and the other was Flloyd the Caterpillar. We also did two arrow of light ceremonies for Vann and Jackson. It was a really fun night.

Thursday night I went with Jeff downtown to see the movie Harriet. His firm was invited by another firm to watch it. A while back they invited us to see the Ruth Bader Ginsburg movie so they must really value strong women. It was such a great show. So powerful. Harriet Tubman was a leader and so strong. I can't imagine what it was like to be a slave. It brought up so many questions for me like why are some people born into such horrific circumstances and yet here we are in our pampered life. Also what is is that God wants me to be doing? I want my whole family to see this movie.

Friday night we went to dinner with the Seares and Barneys. We always have a great time with them. We went to Tio's. It's becoming our place to go with them. We love the Mexican food and also that there is never a wait.

Saturday I went to lunch with Leslie and Melissa and Leslies new renter Janalyn. She and her husband and two small kids just moved here from Idaho. She is so awesome and I'm excited to get to know her better. We went to the Angry Korean in the district. It was great. I need to take Jeff there.

I had to say goodbye to three of the best little girls in the world. Lynli, Taytem and Gigi were some of my favorite kids in primary. Their mom told me they always loved to play primary and fought over who got to be Sister Shaw. Lynli was baptized last year and she was the only kid I have ever known that read the whole Book of Mormon before she got baptized. It was all her own idea. These girls have some pretty big spirits and are going to do great things to help Heavenly Father. They are moving to St. George to help Taytem's asthma. I made them their own little primary kit so they can carry on and hold primary at their new house.

2019- Week 45(Nov 4- Nov 10)

Jeff was out of town for a conference in Vegas Monday through Wednesday so our ever growing quiet house was even more quiet.

Tuesday I went to the temple with my temple group. It was so nice and I got to say hi to Tom and Sharon who were working that day.

Wednesday I took Joidee lunch for her birthday. I got to see her newly finished basement. They are huge into wrestling and jujitsu so they had a wrestling room put in with padded walls and floor. It was awesome and I think you could really get your energy out in that room.

For cub scouts we had to prepare a few skits to perform at the last pack meeting. I have to say I am very sad to see scouts go. I know I am the only one ha ha. It has been such a great program for these boys and taught them so much. I also love the structure of scouts. I am anxious to see what the new program entails. After we practiced out skits we made gratitude posters for the boys to hang up in their homes and write all the things they are thankful for this month. It made me want to redouble our efforts on our gratitude jar. It kind of fell by the wayside because we don't hardly ever have family dinners all together any more.

Ethan has been taking care of Rana the neighbors cat. Scarlett and Christian are in Lithuania. I don't love cats but Rana is so sweet and she loves to wrap her arms around your neck.

Velvet Graybeal- my ministering partner and I made freezer meal soups for our ladies this month. All of them are having significant health issues at their houses so we were trying to think of a way to help and who doesn't love not having to cook. It was a yummy Panera Bread knockoff recipe for vegetable pesto soup.

Friday I got to watch Ally. We came up with a really elaborate dinner party for the Barbie dolls. She says the cutest things and I love how happy she gets to come play.

Kristy and I went in together on a pair of stadium seats for Tom's birthday. We decided to give them to him early so he could use them a the BYU game this weekend. I wrote a little poem in the card that said "Roses are red, violets are sweet. Here is a gift to comfort your seat. But it wouldn't be right to only give one when going together doubles the fun." I signed the card with our new couples names Mikey and Jean. I'm all about combining letters of names to make new names ha ha. Mikey is of course Kristy and Miles- it is short for Mikel and means gift from God. Jean is Jeff and I and it's pronounce Jon because it is french- which only made sense for our couples name right:). It means God is gracious. Scott and Malia are Sam which means told by God and Paul and Kellie are Luke- only because I couldn't find a single name that sounded good and started with a P- Puke, Pak, Palie, etc. Luke is one of their ancestors- Luke Shaw and Luke also means light giving and Luke was one of my favorite writers in the New Testament. I know everyone else thinks that is absurd but I'm going with it from now on.

Friday night Jeff and I went to the RMPRA finals. That is the professional rodeo association for the mountain west. One of the families Jeff ministers to has kids that compete in it and are pretty darn good. They held it right by our house at the equestrian park so how could we not go? Unfortunately none of them scored well that night but they all have another chance on Saturday. When we walked in I felt a flood of memories. Several of my boyfriends growing up were cowboys so I have been to a lot of rodeo's and I love the rough and tough environment. I honestly thought I would end up with a cowboy one day. Glad I got Jeff instead but something about the rodeo is still so exciting for me. I wished I still had my Wrangler jeans and boots. My very favorite thing was to watch the two pickup men rescue the bronc riders and wrangle the horses back into the corals. They were working hard all night long. I loved the whole night.

Brody slept over Friday night by himself and he and Ethan had a blast. I am so grateful that Ethan is willing to play with him. They played ping pong, chess, video games, watched a movie, I made an escape room for them too.

I ran down to Orem to take Ashtyn to the store for her health class. She had to film herself cooking a heart healthy meal. University Parkway was a joke because of all the people going to the BYU game. We went to Walmart and then to Target to get a gift for her roommates birthday. We got in a little conflict because I didn't want to go to Target as well. I really hate shopping and it was starting to get dark and I can't see well in the dark so it scares me to drive. I am still learning how to parent an adult. I also tried to see things from her perspective because it would be so frustrating to be without a car and at the mercy of everyone else to do what you need to do. We instigated a DO-OVER which is where we immediately drop the conflict and start the conversation over with the intent to understand each other. Then the trip was great. I love Ashtyn and I hope she can survive my parenting ha ha. After the store we grabbed some dinner at Subway by her house. The drive home was fine because the freeway is divided so I don't have to contend with headlights that make
 my vision worse so it was a good trip after all.

Ethan got recalled to the Teacher's Quorum presidency. This is his third time. He will only be a teacher for 8 more Sundays but he is who the president wanted. He is the secretary this time.

Whitney was the only one in her surgical tech class to get 100% on the last test. I am so proud of her and so was the teacher. He gives them all nicknames and hers is Sunshine.

Sunday we had tithing settlement. We made brownies for the Bishop to thank him for all he does for our ward. We have a really great bishop that is super compassionate.
 It was strange to do it without Ashtyn this time. Then we came home and watched the new Book of Mormon video for the week. I love these videos they really capture the feelings I think Lehi's family would have felt. I have loved all the changes the church has made this year. Come Follow Me has been such a blessing to us. We still have a hard time always getting the teens to do the reading but we make sure we never miss a week of discussing and I can see the difference it makes in our home. 

2019- Week 44(Oct 28- Nov 3)

For cub scouts we taught them to make Halloween food. We made mummy hot dogs, pumpkin quesadillas and pumpkin rice krispie treats. They loved it and it was so fun!

For Halloween we helped the Barney's do a hot dog dinner. They called it their Halloweiner ha ha. We use to always do a Halloween dinner so I'm glad we did. Ethan had mounds of homework so he stayed home and Whitney didn't have anything to do and preferred to stay home so she and Jeff watched a scary movie. I went with Leslie and Melissa to The Brooks home to get one of Cassidy's famous homemade donuts. She hands them out every Halloween but we have never gotten one. It was so so delicious and we sat and chatted for a minute. I left my bowl of Halloween candy on the porch and when I came home it was almost gone so I gave the next group of trick or treaters the rest. It was a pretty boring night. I missed seeing all the kids in their costumes. Ashtyn and Baylee and Rylee went to the UVU dance where unfortunately Baylee got hassled  by a man who grabbed her and started grinding on her and wouldn't let her go so that ended their night. UVU is an open enrollment school so you get all kinds there and all ages. I don't think they will be going to another dance any time soon. I got to babysit Bronson while Melinda helped with Brooklyns party so I got to see Brody and Brooklyn in their costumes. 

 The Joker

Harley Quinn

Saturday I went with my mom to visit Liz in the hospital. She has been in the hospital more then she has been out this year for her depression. It is sad- part of me is tired of caring so much so I haven't been as supportive as I should. I found a picture of her from high school gradation and it was the old Liz I use to know. It reminded me that she is still that same girl inside even if it's hard to recognize now. We had a good visit. I am glad that Heavenly Father doesn't "get tired" of us. It reminded me of the scripture in Deuteronomy that says:

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

Ally turned 3 this week and I was invited to her party. It was at the church and Claudia had decorated it so cute. They did a donut theme. She also made her a pinata. I couldn't stay long because we had planned to hold our Fall Festival and had invited the Tanners and Lott's. I made chicken noodle soup and baked potato soup. Both were so good and then we had salad and bread and Hollie made pumpkin bundt cake and banana bars. I also made pumpkin spice Chex Mix. I had planned a pumpkin paper craft but we never got around to doing it.

We had dinner at Nana and Papas this Sunday. I had driven home to get Ashtyn and we got into a fight- this is a common occurrence lately and I hate it. It put a huge damper on the night. Luckily Malia intervened before I had the chance to drive off. She is stressed out about school and very homesick. I don't blame her but I know that she is going to learn so much down there that will help her in her adult life so we are trying to help her persevere. I am trying to make sure I Face Time her and send care packages regularly. I think her coming home so much hasn't made it easier on her. She is doing great in her classes so we keep reminding her to look for the good things that are happening and try not to focus so much on what she doesn't like. Did I mention before how this adult parenting stage is by far the worst parenting stage of all? It is for me and for her. I know things will get better. 

Saturday night we set the clocks back for Daylight Savings. Now it is starting to get dark and cold at 5 and I hate it. It has been hard because I am tired now at 7 too. Ugh I really need to get a better attitude about Winter. 

My friend started a Planksgiving Challenge that Jeff and I are doing. It is going to be good for me I think. It you want to follow along here is her schedule.