Elementary School

It is still weird to me to only have one child in elementary school. Goofy had his music concert on November 8. They did a lot of patriotic songs for Veteran's Day.

 And he received a Top Dog Award this quarter as well. He was awarded his certificate at a school assembly.

I am the Home Room Parent for his class, so I get to plan the four parties they have during the year. We had fun with the Christmas party, playing Christmas charades, a book exchange, hot chocolate, and cookies.

It's nice that he has a cousin in his class because my sister-in-law helps me plan and execute all the parties!

Feeling Connected

We had a family move out of our ward at the beginning of December. We were all still fighting sickness, but I did go out to eat at my friend's going away breakfast. This is Minnie with the friend that moved in the middle.

Well, at that going-away breakfast, I had the opportunity to talk to one of my friends that I just hadn't had much time to talk to recently. Her husband has been battling throat cancer for the past ten years. They have 3 little girls who are just the cutest. One if 5 years-old and the 4-year-olds are twins, so she is super busy. Her husband hasn't been doing well, having had to have surgery to remove a tumor in his leg recently and then having to go in for throat dilations every couple of weeks, plus they had to put a trach in so he could breathe. Anyway, it's been rough on my friend and we really wanted to help. So I offered to help set up some ladies to come in and clean her house and watch her kids when she has to take her husband in for his long appointments. It has been such a blessing to be able to help her out and feel connected to so many women in my ward. We just love their family and want to help however we can. Here's picture of my kids playing with their kids on the trampoline.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 These four girls just love to play together. M & C came in for Thanksgiving week, so while the men took the older kids to go play Laser Tag, we girls got together to chat and let the little ones play.

They had a lot of fun playing Laser Tag!
For Thanksgiving Day, we all got together and D & S's house. Nana wanted to do sugar cookies with the kids, so we let the girls go first. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the boys doing it, but we did let them!

 

 Tink and Bucko went to the temple with their cousin who went for the first time, along with some aunts and uncles.

 

 Then we all went out to eat at Guadalajara one night.

 And, of course, we did our Thankful Turkey for Family Home Evening that week.

Mini-course

Minnie signed up for the Cake Boss mini-course at school. She had a blast baking and decorating her cake. I think she was most excited that she got to keep all the bake ware and icing bags/tips. She loves baking!

Haircut

Minnie got her hair cut today. She has been wanting to get it done all week, but we were so busy I told her we needed to wait until Saturday. Unfortunately, I got sick on Thursday and have pretty much been in bed for the past few days. But I dragged myself out of bed and we went and got it cut. I think it looks great.

Dates

PC and I don't get to have "real" dates because of his schedule. There just is not an evening where we can work it, so our dates usually involve the little girls and us shopping. I realize I just don't take very many pictures of me and him together, so I made sure we did today. And of course, the girls needed their picture taken as well.

Randomness from September

 Tink went to the Homecoming game with her friends. They had a lot of fun and came back here for ice cream afterwards. I'm so glad she has good friends.

 This was a mutual activity and I just love Bucko's smile in it.

 Goofy went to the fire station that same night. He looks good in a fire truck!

 This little girl just cracks me up. She really wanted to dress up in the shark costume, so I helped her in and rolled up the pants. So stinking cute!

 And a bit rotten. I don't remember what she got into, but her face was covered in something red!

 And these two always want me to take their pictures.

 She's a good helper in the kitchen. Making bread.

 Minnie has had huge bumps on the inside of her eyelids for a couple years now. She has eye drops but they just weren't cutting it anymore, so we went to the ophthalmologist and she gave her some antibiotic drops that cleared her up. She has bad allergies that affect her eyes. She had to get her pupils dilated.