Farmhouse hide and seek in the dark…better count as wholesome recreational activities! And also is to blame for me not blogging sooner…so if the blog is sub par…mine and Sethy’s hiding spot wasn’t! 

Actually, we snuck out of it after a while because we might need a really good hiding spot another time. 

The wind and the creaking noises it’s a little bit creepy out there but it was pretty fun.

Last Saturday we left Tanner with the Pages so he could play both basketball games and then headed for Nauvoo for the ward temple trip. About 20 minutes into our drive my phone started blowing up with Basketball stuff. This kid sick is that  kid sick this kid‘s not gonna come blah blah blah. It was a pain in the neck. We were down to four players. One of the sick players was the guy who coaches with me son, so I wasn’t sure he would want to go if his kid wasn’t going, so I just called another kids dad and said you please touch base with him. I’m going in the temple and I turned my phone! 

The temple, for the win!

Then we were driving back and Keaton did Coach he’s the guy that helps me and he’s awesome but what he did was had his other son play so they just had fighting and they actually got a win so that was awesome! But the game was scheduled to start at 4:10 and at 4:09. He sent a text to the group that said he was hoping to see some familiar faces soon because the game in front of ours was ending…🤯🤯 I just waited until after the game should’ve been over and I text him and said did we end up having enough to play? “How did it go?” and he said they got the win so whatever I guess they started out four on four.

I had Colton come with me I didn’t have a spare uniform and I didn’t have time to go clear home. We had taken two cars part of the way on our temple trip but anyways I had my guys change their jerseys to White and then Colton come with me so he could wear Tanner’s  shooting shirt so he would have a sixth man so he could play if we needed him to, he didn’t really want to, but he was a trooper and it was fine. (He didn’t end up having to play) 

I had handed Anni Hilton my phone to take pics (Cannon was going to come with me and be the photographer but then he was mad that Seth wanted to come too…so he didn’t come 🙄)

 Tan’s my tie-up man! 

This picture is significant because I saw it Saturday night and I thought wow-that coaching shirt looks like a tent on me. I’ll get back to that—

So we didn’t win the 2nd game-we let one kid beat us (he was pretty good but still) 

Whatever, we did bball, they got better, I think they had fun…good enough! It’s over! 

So that was Saturday! Did I even mention the temple was good I had been a little annoyed we couldn’t just do an earlier temple session so I could coach both games but it was good. I did an endowment session for one of the gals I’d done initiatory for 2 weeks before so that was cool. It turned out Isaac was literally the only brother during our ward session and honestly there were only 5 maybe 6 of us in the women’s side. So I was glad we supported the ward temple trip. 

Anyway let’s move on to Sunday. It takes a full 6 months after I quit nursing for me to lose ANY baby weight! But I’ve done my time-the 6 months plus the treadmill! It was 6 days a week until I messed up my hamstring! But I’ve been pretty determined and I was feeling pretty good about things…which is why I noticed that coaching shirt and thought yikes that thing would fit me when I was pregnant or  nursing! So Sunday I purposely wore a sweater that was slimmer…right? Because I had paid the price to be slimmer. 

WRONG. For -no lie- the 3rd!!!! Time in my life a friend at church (it’s always a friend) pointed at  (or nodded toward-whatever) my belly and asked if it was a baby bump. Nope! It’s not! (I mean I would take another baby-I would-but we’re pretty old. And if it was a baby bump hopefully I would own it. But It’s not!!! I laughed and said it was just my “motherly figure” and she felt horrible or course and we chit chatted about my injuring my rib muscle and not being able to hang from the kids pull-up bar which was what I thought had been helping in the Ab dept. She emailed me later because she felt bad but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t ruin my day. The tent give me the tent! 

Anyway it is what it is. A motherly figure. Oh well! 

Isaac finally gave Bishop Sorhus’a trailer back-Seth went with him to do that and some ministering but I got this pic from Marriane 😊

These books…cost a whopping $4.50! So why why why would I ever let it get this bad???? I guess it’s because I love that it looks loved used and learned from! I sure hope so!! 

The new one came-I took a couple picture and…goodbye well loved Book of Mormon story book! 

A couple pics I don’t really have explanations for…

Any yikes! I definitely prefer hide and seek for our wholesome family recreation! Games turn into too many hurt feelings and subsequent fights! But…we tried! 

New undies! 

I hope we’re making progress and not just making it 6 month potty training process. 🤞🏻

Petting zoo at the high school! 

It’s been pretty nice weather so we finally switched out the trampoline mat…it would have been easier if I could found the right size/# of rings combo but—I couldn’t. So it was a pain but it’s on there now and it works! 👍🏻 that’s a win in my book! 

Someone else try to tell this girl we can’t run dad’s equipment without him…

And tonight was our basketball “party” at the Hiltons 

We watched a the movie “Rise” about the Giannis Antetokoumnpo story…look how much Tanner like it…


By the end there were non of my actual players watching it…

But they were outside playing bball so I think that overall was a win for the season. 

I think that’s it but who knows!! 

Last weekend we had good weather…

Because it had a chimney the boys wanted to build a fire in the cellar…

They quickly smoked themselves out—but Isaac told them they can put a stove down there…

They were pretty proud of this warm chair. 

They’re working on a pond on Kilmers property in our back yard. I’m just glad it was nice enough for everyone to be outside! (We woke up to snow today 👎🏻)  

Cann taking Addi for a spin on the compactor:

Pushups in undies??? I guess so…

As far as peeing in the potty Addster is rocking potty training. (As for poop we’re yet to have success 😩) but over all I think we’re doing pretty good 🤞🏻 for 21 months. 

But Addi-tell us how you really feel about that antenna ponytail 🤣

We celebrated Valentines Day Tuesday by going to lunch and then we could have done ANYTHING I wanted…but since I couldn’t come up with anything and I wanted to make him happy too so I helped him work on his excavator! 

True love.

A pin had started coming out…what a pain but I admit it was ridiculously satisfying when we finally got it…on Thursday! 

Oh and Isaac bought me a new Fitbit too (he wants nothing but hot suit pants…they *almost* match ugh)  

He did good though I needed a new Fitbit I like it-he knew that and went for it! Maybe he’s make’n progress in the ole gift dept🤞🏻 great news! 

Oh and Tan held out until Valentine’s Day on the shirts we made his class—they were a big hit! 

The younger boys have been upping their mini operating  skills—and Colt had a happy little helper. 

Stolen from the brothers valentine boxes! 

And dad came home with a scroll saw! 

They have some pine wood derby cars they’re working on. 

I think that’s it. 

Cannon played basketball with the men at church Thursday night—he had a blast. Isaac was gone to stake mtg’s in Moberly,  So I had to take him down and pick him up it was pretty late but since they were off school today for professional development for the teacher I let him go for it. 

I feel like I really did was potty training all week. But the successes make it worth it.

🙏🏻

And everyone gets in on that screen time!! 

Last Saturday we headed to Nauvoo, we have some friends at church they were recently married and he was baptized but they were going to get to do baptisms for each others parents him for her dad and her for his mom. So that was pretty cool, being there that weekend ended up pretty awesome! We alway love looking for the bald eagles this time of year, and there were a ton along the river, so we dropped Isaac and Cannon off at the temple then headed back to  the river. But we got down by the family living center and the road was blocked off…so we we went up a road and were headed for Parly street…only when I turned onto it- it was blocked off too. I thought about backing up but given my recent history (and I watched a couple cars crossing the other way do it) I just drove around the barricade-not down Parly street just headed south. Finally at  the south end of town we just parked (next to yet another barricade) and started walking toward the river. 

I pointed back up toward Parly street telling the kids that was the one the pioneers headed out when the left Nauvoo when it finally hit me-we were there the first weekend in February! The barricades were for the re-enactment celebration!! But we didn’t know anything about it since we’re not in the Nauvoo stake anymore 🙁

But a flood of memories came back from 6 years ago when we went over 2 days after Isaac had been called (but a month before he was sustained) as bishop. 

It was quite the trip down memory lane. We did go back around to the family living center but only saw one person we knew from the stake. I was hoping to see Pres Thomas! We love him. 

And being there while they were getting all the horses, oxen, and wagons lined up was pretty cool but my pic didn't do it justice at all! 

 We did find a few birds down by the river I’ll admit I was hoping for a better pic but oh well. 

And I was a nervous wreck (no spare clothes if someone ended up wet) but these kids LOVED playing on the frozen Mississip

Can you see the dead fish frozen in? Wild huh? At one point there may have been a little game of dead fish soccer-gross! 

I switched off with Isaac, then we touched the temple then busted it back home. 

Where we made it in plenty of time for Sandair’s baptism—he’s in Cannons quorum but the other ward. But his parents and one of his brothers also got baptized, it was pretty cool, I’ve been to a lot of baptisms but that might have been my first time for a family! 

Mischievous Addi pushes a chair over and climbs her way right up to the treat cupboard. But I can’t complain about that girl-we kindof started potty training and she’s doing awesome! 

The “outdoor boys” making scones in my house! 

You can see the one on the counter in front of the pineapple-golden brown, looks pretty good, they were pumped! 

But one bite in—no good! 

They were working on things when Isaac got a call from his uncle. He abandon the project temporarily and at one point Tanner came running in saying she was getting into their project. I said “tell dad”

But after Isaac’s one bite “it tastes like salt” Tanner said (oh yeah Addi was getting into it but I just ran to tell you”

So see that black chair?  It’s pretty handy to push around and push right up to the treat cupboard and also allowed her to add a ton of salt to their water and yeast mixture so it was well mixed in and nobody knew 🤮🤮🤮 the scones were awful! 

Puzzle fun

I don’t think I got a pic of Colt in his 100th day of school monkey shirt he designed. 

Cann was going to play in a dodgeball tournament tomorrow but it got canceled because only 2 teams signed  up. I got a screaming deal on shirts (of course) but I spent more time on designing and cutting out the vinyl than I want to admit-ugh

Oh well. 

Isaac spent all day Thursday getting his excavator home…. 

The Blackbird (Seth named the semi) was stuck at the bottom of the driveway. I tried to help him pull it out with the skid steer but we ended up having to pull it fwd (downhill) then back up when he was on more of the road. It was a typical fiasco. 

Seth and Addi were on the tractor watching when he backed into the box blade. Not bad no one got hurt but not good for a mom to watch either. 😳 and…I back into things without a trailer so -not judging-just very glad it wasn’t a big deal. 

Isaac wants to do a YouTube channel and surely someone outta be able to make a fortune documenting  our life but…we’re pretty much guaranteed to get flagged for safety. So I’m not sure that’s going to work out. 

And the typical scene: occasionally he has to get his horse too. (I think if he keeps rewarding it with grain, the horse will keep leaving but…what do I know? Apparently nothing.) 

He did get his machine home though and they did a little repair work on the zip line. 



Somebody’s got to supervise! 

Today I went to Columbia for a devotional with a member of the General primary, yw, and relief society presidencies. 

It was good! 

Snagged a selfie with Sis Browning. 

I left food in the crockpot to feed the missionaries. Plus the potty training  battle —it’s been a busy day! 

I’m out. 

I bought Isaac new church shirts today-whether he wants them or not! I say he NEEDS them! And I bought groceries (so basically I spent an arm and a leg and didn’t come home with much) my people are all in the other room watching a movie but I figured I better blog instead shop…

So let’s see: Saturday Tan had a basketball scrimmage-yikes we got smoked! I really wanted to get some pictures of him playing but…I forgot to give my phone to Cannon with that request-darn. Maybe tomorrow. 

After basketball before Isaac and I went to a wedding we swung into Walmart because Grandma had hooked us up with a pretty fun Walmart order for Rizzy’s birthday! 

That’s only the 2  kids I got pics of—it was pretty fun and I definitely didn’t have to cook on Rizzy’s birthday! 

Can you believe he would be 3?!

It’s crazy-it’s still hard- and that whole weekend and the time of year still suck but I really wouldn’t change it. I have learned things I never would have otherwise and I know I get him back-in the end it all works out. But it’s not the end yet. So it’s okay if it’s kinda cruddy. Oh Sat Isaac and I went over and cleaned up the Christmas decorations at the cemetary and put a Happy Birthday balloon up. 

Sunday I got a text and this pic from my sweet friend Marisa—she helped me so much when she was here. 

👍🏻

How bout it?!

I think I blogged about Cannon teaching me about that slang…

Sunday I took Cann down to the World Wide Youth discussion on the youth theme.  Oh Cann talked in church and did a great job (also on the youth theme “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ”) Tanner told me Sunday morning “oh yeah I have a talk in Primary”…so we scribbled one out quick on what we’d learned in Come Follow Me and went with it. 

I didn’t get to see it though because a guy brought his nonmember girlfriend who we know from when she worked in the school of business office at Truman. So Isaac sent her to Relief Society with me. If Tanner had prepared and we’d worked on it I probably would have felt bad about missing his talk but since it was a scramble I figured oh well. 🤷‍♀️ 

But back to the fireside-thing, it was really good. I liked getting to go. 

These are the questions they discussed:

What are your holy places? 

How do you find them? 

How does gathering with holy people strengthen you as a disciple of Christ?

When has that been true for you? 

When have you had the chance to testify?

Or when has someone else’s testimony strengthened yours? 

I didn’t really love coaching basketball Saturday, (could’ve been lots of things) but that fireside was also really good cuz I got to chat with a couple of the basketball moms after, we were pretty late getting home. 

Monday  morning (all morning) I cleaned up the weekend bomb…then this: they get them all back out! 

It’s a losing battle I fight! 

Monday was warm enough to get outside!!! 

Isaac didn’t love them playing on this—good thing I got pics before he told us. It reminded me of them doing it right after Riz died. 

That night-since Sis Stoddard went home and we don’t have any missionary weekly emails to read, so we had to change our routine and had some acting out of scripture stories for CFM instead. 

Colts elbow…can we pretend he’s going to get it up? He doesn’t. But they were being creative with the broken bow story-they couldn’t find and arrow (I threw them away after the Christmas Eve debacle) so Colt threw the ball when Tanner said “fire” anyway they had fun. Perfect! 

Wednesday when I was taking Cannon into weights we saw Enzo half way down the gravel road…I called Isaac and he said he’d deal with it—so I drove on past…but drove up on this scene when I came back. 

Me, I’m cuss’n that horse, Isaac? He’s give’n him grain! Well in this picture I think he’s putting the halter on but I’m pretty sure he just had a pail of grain in the tailgate getting the horse to walk behind. Most of the way home (actually probably until I came up behind them.) 

Let’s see…

We fed the missionaries that night. Here is Tanner sharing his favorite scripture with them-it was so cute. I was scrambling for my phone to take a pic. 

This girl loves the pups (just like her brothers) so she puts on Seth’s rubble shirt whether I let her or not…so we’ve been stashing it under her jamas. I’d buy her own but…then I’d have to deal with that being the only thing she ever wanted to wear…so I’m holding out.  

This next pic isn’t so much about the football—although I played all time quarterback with them a little this week and that Tan is fearless (to a not good level…moms don’t really like to watch that try to hurdle but upended twirling through the air and landing -thud- on his back as the air knocks out of him stuff. Yikes.) finally I had to say “No more trying to jump him when he goes low!” But defensively he has pretty dang good instincts. 

However the picture is more about the mud on his knee—they are both COVERED. Actually maybe you can see it better in the pic below—Colt was so pumped his monkey slippers finally came! So much for 2 day shipping he waited 3 weeks for these things, we had to order them twice-they canceled the first one. But in the background you can see that Isaac got a little too deep when he was clearing snow with the skid steer. And holy cow-the mud!!! It’s everywhere and with 5 kids tracking it in🤯🤯🤯 


Sis getting in on the football action too! 

And today Tan and I had basketball—the rest of them went on a little adventure to look at…a project he might want to bid on. 

Of course I’ll keep you posted. 

Oh wait 2 last things—

Over time our bedtime routine has evolved right? Well-we try to do a family prayer and then pray with each kid individually. They pray we pray.  (I mean, it takes a little time when you just want them to go to bed—never does Isaac get in hot water with me faster than when he sits on his phone and doesn’t help or doesn’t help enough with this) but anyway, the time worth it to me. If they have a math test I want them to know their mom is praying it will go well—type of thing. And ultimately these kids with make their own choices, they’ll choose to believe (I hope..and pray, since we’re on that subject—) but that scripture about “they did not doubt, their mothers knew it” I want my kids to come out of our home knowing that I know!!! It makes sense right?  Well all of that paragraph to set up a Seth story…he’s trying his hardest to “teach” me how to say shorter prayers 🤣🤣🤣 I think it’s so hilarious! 

And while I’m on the connection to heaven thing…Addi-she hates her crib! Unless…I lay next to it (my ache’n back on that hard wood) and reach up and hold her little hand. It’s impossible to get comfortable but I do a lot of thinking while I’m laying there hoping she’ll drift into a deep enough sleep I can sneak away. I love that to hold my hand is comforting to her, and I love to ponder on ways that our Heavenly Parent reaches through-and “holds our hand” on things. I know he doesn’t sneak off on us—ever. 

Alright—those last two were for me—cuz it’s my family journal—and  I want to remember them! 

I’m pretty sure I’ll be back next week…