More Adventures

Another Friday-here we go again. I can’t make this stuff up! 

My friend Haley was subbing Cannon’s primary class and he was telling them about getting stuck in the Golden Goose pulling out of the yard with the excavator on-she was dying. Then the other gal standing there said “oh yeah, when I had her kids in primary it was alway something-my favorite was when they said ‘my dad started the car on fire’” I laughed and said “oh yeah-I forgot about that one.” I mean I can’t remember things-that’s why I blog!!  So currently we’re on our way to Nauvoo but we hit something???? I was looking at my phone so I didn’t see it (he was talking on his…ultimate togetherness on this little jaunt I know) but it sounded awful and now he’s changing a tire. Bummer. 

As he was getting out I thought I’m thankful it’s him and not me. Second thought-why is he wearing those (athletic) socks with his suit??? They look terrible. Oh I’m the worst! 

But if he’s the best -we balance out right? 

Let’s go with that! 

3rd thought: Holy crap (I was going to type crud because it doesn’t seem quite so crass—but anyone reading this knows I didn’t think Holy “crud” we might as well keep it honest right? ) but back to me though: we have less than 1/4 a tank of gas! 🤯

Seriously in the time I’ve started blogging he’s changed it and done. So either he’s pretty quick or I’m pretty slow. Maybe both. 

Anyhooo

Saturday-basketball. Still bad-not as bad. But sister was tired and needed a nap- she was squealing at the top of her lungs. 

Isaac had something in Nauvoo so it was tough it out troops! 

Sunday the horse got out—again! 

I taught RS but eh it was ok. 

Back to today: We stopped in keokuk to buy new tires—2 hours later (Isaac can’t believe how inefficient tire centers are) but we left with 2 new tires but only one was mounted-the side we didn’t need. But when they went to do the other one one they found out whatever we hit -Isaac thinks it was a big bolt he saw it but not soon enough- ruined our tire AND put a hole in our rim. Yikes. So we headed for the temple 2 hours later with the donut on anyway. We were driving along the River and I decided to look at the schedule even though you don’t have to schedule an appointment anymore and it said “no available appointments” so I looked at next Friday just to get an idea time wise-the last one was 6:30. It was 6:42. So hopeful, I still called...no luck she said “hopefully you can come tomorrow” 

We’ll at least we talked to the nice lady Arleta at the tire shop about family history. 🤷‍♀️

Cuz otherwise it was a strikeout on the temple date. But oh yeah Sunday. We have a pic with Sister Wheeler cuz she got transferred this week but we’re thankful for the time she served in our ward! 

Sometimes at the end of the year when I go to print out the blog I have too many pics (I know you’re shocked 😉) but the other Sunday pic I have is of my car with the gas light on saying 9 miles to empty 😳😳😳

Somebody took the youth to Nauvoo and had enough gas to make it home so-he was good. 

Good Heavens! 

Anyway. 

Can’t think of much Monday-Cann had basketball so we hung out at the Pettit’s until it was time for that but Tuesday we had snow! 

Seth wanted to build a snowman and I wanted to clean up our messy house-I’m glad he won out!! And it was Addi’s first snow!!! 

We forgot to take a pic of the one at our house but we had the idea to make one for Caleb and Riz at the cemetery too. So we busted it over there but by then the snow was melting fast. We’ll make’m a better one another time!! 


Oh and Tuesday I made Salvadoran Quesadilla for Colts cultural celebration at school. …🤢 Little too authentic for me 😂

And that gets us to Wednesday! 

🎉🎉🎉

Addi Colt and I went to Des Moines to pick up Grana and Grampa—they are hosting thanksgiving this year but since we’re not going they cane here first! We’re so lucky and loving having them! 

A sweet (and super soft) new blanket from Grama Kay



Ok what else? 

There’s a bunch of pics of Colt as a baby on my phone. Addi reminds me so much of Cannon and other times Tan but she is definitely Colts sister! 

Grampa shenanigans 

Oh and we got the Golden Goose back 😏

I don’t know what else!! 

Blog Therapy—this one’s a doozy

I haven’t totally figured out why but I think Kirksville is a pretty special place. There are so many families here that are so close to our hearts the Moody‘s were like that. The Hilton‘s are like that! We sat behind them our first week at church Baydon was just starting his second year of medical school and they’ve been able to stay and he’s just finishing up residency here now. This week we got the shattering news that their little boy passed away-he had anacephaly so his brain hadn’t developed and would not sustain his life. I feel like they should’ve known (what the heck was going on with that anatomy scan? —they knew he was a boy so I assumed they had one. Anyway it wouldn’t have changed the outcome just they could have prepared-that would have been awful too though) but it was completely unexpected it has been quite the emotion stirring week. I am heartbroken for them, I want to be a good support person for them, but I’m really only 21 months ahead of them on a very hard -oh especially at the start- but very hard and also very spiritual journey. And admittedly I’m dealing with some upheaval of my own! People keep asking what they can do for them-nothing! Absolutely nothing! Pray, just pray, so dang hard-for her aching empty arms, that they’ll get some sleep, for her kids who don’t get that little brother in this life, or her husband that’s going to have to try to hold things together while she just can’t! Ug. 

They are moving next summer but at least for now they laid Caleb’s little body to rest right by Riz. And with that side of things I do feel like we’ve been able to help a little. I picked up the casket-not easy but Isaac wasn’t around (I’ll get to that story) and there was a small window so that left me. I just had to think of it as a small way to serve. And he dug the grave. I’m sure he’s helped in other ways too. 

I remember so vividly the conversations I’ve had with them over the last two years too. 

Somehow there was a rest of the week…I think. 

I guess I should start there. 

Saturday Tanner had basketball. He worries so much about doing things exactly right but he needs to just play! Oh and he does this flappy arm thing on defense-oh it’s terrible cuz his whole body is going up and down with his arms—it drives me bonkers. But he does better if I’m the cheering mom not the coach. Sometimes I remember that better than others😬

But basketball was awful! Absolutely horrible we played my friend Cassie‘s daughters team and I was embarrassed to be on our team! They don’t keep track of the score in YMCA ball but if I am guessing we probably won by 80!! I was appalled surely there are things that we can do to make ourselves better without running the score up like that. So I stewed about it for three days then I went to practice with a whole list of suggestions. Only our head coach wasn’t there because he had a school board meeting— that’s another thing I’m like look man you’re on the school board you represent the values of the entire community and you look like a horses butt! But I gave the assistant coaches my ideas and they were cool and receptive. So we’ll see. Its a dad‘s club but I should have just inserted myself into the middle of it in the moment because somebody should’ve! But when I talked to them I just said thank you for coaching I appreciate it I just want to share some ideas with you and invite you to try them. My list of the ideas were things like: we could try to make a game speed layup with our weak hand.  (Your horses shouldn’t really be touching the ball with their strong hand in a game like that) or how about we never once scored on a post entry passed I know he didn’t need to but at some point they will need to do that or be able to make an outlet pass. Long term you’re not gonna want your big man rebounding it and dribbling at the length of the floor—so anyways I just feel like they could have done a lot of things differently—even just make them follow instructions: I want this person to get the ball in this place and get this shot! But it wasn’t like that—why not????? And people like Tanner who aren’t going to touch the ball in there more competitive games (Tanner is not getting any better playing with these guys…) but why not let him dribble it up? I don’t know but it was awful! 

Oh and they don’t call double dribbles or travels or anything — but they should’ve called everything on our team !! so disaster is an understatement! 

Bla-waste of a morning! 

Oh and remember I said Addi found her tongue😛❤️

I’m teaching RS Sunday so I have lots of little things like this on my phone—I figure if people don’t read the talk before the lesson I can at least get some of it to them via memes and stuff …but since I don’t do social media I have to send them to the Relief Society President and have her post them. Ha! Thanks Jane. 

Monday Addi turned 6 months!!! We’ll call having the students over her 1/2 birthday party! Holy cow I chopped and cut and made seasoning all day long. When I indicated to Isaac that he was causing me a lot of stress he was like “just don’t worry about it you weren’t even here last year”  I answered “well… but all the food was still here and ready to go last year!” 🤯 He’s crazy! But I got it all done-phew-and then after school we hung out with a Pettits, I was peacefully enjoying visiting with my friend and he was  frantically running around trying to finish last minute preparations-he called 3 or 4 times- I was like ha-poetic justice.  😉 Cannon went to basketball (which I don’t have to coach -that’s fantastic-thanks for the out Addster) and then we came home and hung out with the students afterwards. They are good kids! We enjoy having them over, it’s just a lot of work! This is how many were left when I thought to take a picture. 

Colt was pumped he won the hide’n seek game. 

Then a few random pics-I love scripture pics, Isaacs been trying to get the kids to help more, and maybe we start letting them drive on the dirt road too soon but she never cries -I swear she’s like the perfect baby-but she was screaming so I got her out…





Then Tuesday 

Oh Tuesday. Isaac got Cannon out of school early and that’s actually when he got the news from Baydon—Cannon told me he was with him when he found out. But the 3 of them (Isaac Cannon & Seth) took the Golden Goose down to Kansas City with a plan to load the excavator on the lowboy (it’s an oversized load so they couldn’t drive it at night-I had no idea there were rules about such things) but they were going to load it up. Then leave it there then pull the belly dump back. Because he bought a belly dump too. So I get this picture. 

And I don’t hear from them again until after the Bible class. The boys had my phone during class. Well he had text me to call him. So I did and that’s when he tells me he needs me to go get the casket because the Hilton’s want to get out of the hospital the next morning.  I asked if I needed to go get it the next morning and he said “no tonight” the funeral home people had a funeral and are going to be in Columbia the next day and that they went to bed at 10. So we went -right then- and I definitely broke down when I was telling Colt and Tanner where we were going and why. Yikes, but I think it’s ok to never be ok in this life. Anyway we got there about 8:40 picked up a casket exactly like Israel’s and headed home. 

By time I got home and everyone to bed it was 10:30 so I called Isaac-no answer-so I went to bed thinking he’d be home by midnight. 

Silly me.

One of the flashback things in all of this is I haven’t been able to sleep. So I was just half awake up tossing and turning when I looked at my watch at it was 2:30–I decided I better call. So I called and he answered! I asked if they were almost here? He said no. So I asked if they’d had trouble-he says all kinds of trouble. 

Seriously this 2:30AM call is the first I’d heard of any of it! But I guess the had to go to the John Deere dealership to get a key for the excavator-the kenworth sealership to get a solenoid??? Then trying to get out of the yard they got stuck-like stuck stuck! I guess they tried everything either Cannon or Isaac could think of (except for unload it pull out and load it back which was my first thought—he said they probably should have) anyway they got it it eventually somehow—he said like 3 inches at a time for the length of that lowboy deck doing something with the raising then hydraulics??? I dunno but they didn’t go get the belly dump they were coming back empty. “Just limping it along” he said. So I asked him (this is the 2:30 call) if he wanted me to just load up kids and come get him. He was still 20 miles from the turn off to Cameron (which is 2 hours away…Kansas City is just a little less than 3) he said no if he could get it home he’d prefer to work on it here-I asked how fast he was going and mentally tried to figure out when I would need to leave here to make sure he got home in time to teach his 11:30 class. At 5:30 I get a text that said they were in Bevier and that I didn’t need to rush to come get them. I didn’t know if that meant come but don’t rush or don’t come cuz they’re that far they’d make it. So I called. It meant come. I guess he’d had to  roll start it a couple times 😳 and who knows what but at 5:30 he crawled back in the sleeper with Seth and Cannon. I gathered up made lunches for the boys here that were going to school fed Addi and we headed on the rescue mission oh and I was under the impression they needed the casket at the hospital so I text Baydon -so early- and tell him I can either bring it now (6:00) or at 8:00 or Isaac can bring it at 9:00–or after. Later Isaac told me “they’re just doing what we did” and they brought his little body home and put it in the casket there. Isaac took it by I had just text Baydon back (later) and said Isaac will handle sorry it for the confusion “he was just out of town this morning” so if they needed sooner I would’ve brought it, and that we love then and we’re praying for them. 

Anyway got down to them got’m got Colt and Tan back to school Cannon and Isaac came home and showered before they headed back in. 

All normal in an Isaac family adventure right? 

Good heavens! 

Wednesday Isaac told me if we were ok with it they would like to lay Caleb’s little body to rest by Riz. We were great with it and I went over and picked the spot. 

Not long ago while we were studying Isaiah in Sunday school I ended up sharing the story of them redoing the artwork in the Nauvoo temple and the mom looking at the grave. (it’s says do not copy so I can’t but look it up! It’s called Blessed Honored Pioneer or something like that and it’s by Elspeth Young.) Anyway I talked about that painting at the scripture that went with it

And my eyes might have leaked a little…I think Brittany still served in YW then but I remember seeing Baydon attentively listening to comment…and I knew they needed part of the tree. 

 So here is Caleb’s spot.

Yesterday morning Isaac dug the hole. Sethy wanted to go over so I thought oh sure. Wow! I didn’t get to see Isaac dig Riz’s but I made him stop and hold me for a minute while he did Caleb’s. It was overwhelming just knowing he’d done it before. Because they plan on moving him his needed to be a little bigger too.  My friend Stephanie made sure they had flowers and I put vinyl on the shovel that said “Covenants to Caleb” and got out of there just before the first people showed up. Isaac went because he was the Bishop but we really liked ours being just family so I didn’t go. But there’s was different they zoomed it (I didn’t know I probably would have watched it) they invited the nurses we had some of the same ones. I realized it was not such a private service when our relief society messaged me and said “you buried Riz in a beautiful spot” 

Anyway oh wait I’m driving to place the flowers and shovel right before it and I see this:

And this one —the graveside service is supposed to start 5 min from when I take this pic!! The guy he paid to haul it up here was cool though-he unloaded for him then hooked back up to the lowboy and hauled it up our driveway. And the graveside started about a half our late anyway. 

I went to Michaila’s after I picked up kids and told her pretty much everything I’ve written here cuz she’s basically my counselor. Oh and because we had planned to let the kids play one man dodgeball at the church that day until I realized there was a luncheon!! 🤦🏼‍♀️ Whoops. 

But that was that-what a week right? 

I don’t know if it was a c-section or not but I can’t imagine Brittany staying in the hospital as long as she did if it wasn’t. So this morning I took Rizzy’s bench over to the cemetery so if they go she can at least sit down. We bought it for over there but it’s just been on our porch for a year and a half. But when I got over there I thought oh wow-I would have tried to come to the graveside just to be supportive but it’s a good thing I didn’t!!!! Too hard. Way too hard. 

Today I went to Tanners Veterans Day assembly. it was darling! 

https://youtu.be/bKr5jgZyPnw

Then just the rest of the weeks pics! 

My dad asked why he bought such a big one-answer-“the best price”-then he added “cuz they’re such a pain to move.” 

Ha! Truth! 

The crazy thing is—I’m sure there’s more but at some point…enough is enough 😉

So until next week! 

Saturday morning my phone dinged and I was terrified it was Isaac going to tell me that they got a deer -but it wasn’t! It was just my friend asking me if we were going to the science thing that Truman was doing. Nope. Unfortunately though, that it wasn't them,  and it was getting to be mid morning, lulled me into a little false of security. 😂  I got a call from Isaac around 11 and he  said “that Cann man —he’s a pretty good shot”

So I had a super happy 11 year old and I was the -Ug I hope you can get ahold of Brad to process it-mom.

(I always tease Cann about being my pretty boy-but it’s totally weird to see him with his hair right out of the beenie) 

Actually, it was a pretty cool story that I shouldn’t complain about— I’ve asked Cannon to write it in his journal a couple different times but that’s not very fun,  to just do what your mom nags you to do, so I don’t think he has. Anyway the story is secondhand for me but I guess Isaac didn’t even really see it but Cannon had seen it and shot it and knew he hit it but they looked and looked and couldn’t find it. So they decided they would just say a prayer and ask that if he had hit it they could really find it and if he hadn’t that they would know it was OK to quit looking. Then after the prayer they decided they should look in a totally different direction but they headed up the trail and not very far it was right there dead on the trail. Cannon was pretty pumped because he felt really good about his shot (and I guess he hit it right in the heart) but it just hadn’t got to where Isaac could even see it yet.  I think it’s important to remember those times when you know prayers work-so even if Cannon didn’t write it down it’s here on the blog now. And really how can a mom complain about him getting a deer when food is wildly expensive right now and it strengthens his testimony of prayer? I’m pretty sure that’s actually a double win. 

Everyone went back with them to get it. (Because they have to come back and get the van and hook on the trailer…Isaac should really buy a truck-that may come up again later in this post.) Colt wasn’t overly impressed. Tanner is old enough to hunt this year (6!! Missouri is crazy) and he is hoping to get one too. He could’ve gone out that night but the ward trunk or treat won out. 



Lucky for everyone Brad was willing to process it. I haven’t paid him yet but I told him it wasn’t the good neighbor discount it’s the good neighbor bonus! But we love the Neff’s they are just good people! And we bought a dehydrator this year so…bring on the jerky. 

And Isaac did show his face at the ward truck or treat but the deer got him out of most of it. 

Tanner was Mr. switch a roo this year. He was a reindeer at Isaac’s class then switched to a hawk. (No masks at the church that’s why the skeleton is wearing a Santa hat. 🤷‍♀️)  And by Monday morning for school Tan was Mahomes. 

Sunday Isaac took off for Utah, to finalize the sell of his pump trucks. He says he’ll do pump trucks again. That’s fine. But as far as I’m concerned good riddance-at least it won’t be that  pump truck, the one he bought 6 weeks after Riz died and the 🤬 thing got all of his time attention and focus. I recognize now that it was all part of it.  He had to do something -create something- a business, that he’s always wanted to do. So he did. He likes that kind of thing.  On our very first date he told me he liked to “dabble” and I literally thought “oh he’s no risk” because security and stability are so important to me. Ha! So I’m pretty sure he teaches and has a normal job because he loves me. Thanks Honeybear!! 

Anyway good bye (at least for now) pump trucks. 

That left me to do Monday -Halloween- by myself. 

And the troops wanted to go to go to Halloween Town.

So we did. 

I didn’t put Addi in the carrier because she had her little baby shark costume on-it didn’t sound very comfy and she was awake and smiling at everyone. 

Then she crashed and was an off balanced dead weight. Ug. My ache’n back-I felt my age! We toughed it out. 

Cannon found his friends and they played football then he caught up to us at the end and asked if I’d got him candy-ha no chance! But we had the whole length of it to walk back so he trick-or-treated the (crowdless) booths as we walked briskly back by. I checked for my troops probably 20 times (you know where this is going) and Seth -totally sugared up-a sucker in each cheek- kept up awesome! The boys were showing Cannon what they had got at the Kraft/Heinz booth. And Cannon‘s friends mom is the HR gal there so she was helping run it and it was really fun!  It was like wheel of fortune -you spin the wheel and either you got mac & cheese or barbecue sauce or marshmallows or whatever so Cannon wanted to get to do that booth, and since it was right by where we would have to go to turn off to the car anyways I agreed. So we were just looking for the Kraft booth but we were getting pretty close down to where we had parked and so I was kind of hum ha-ing like Oh Cann man sorry you might just miss it, but then we found it! So we stopped but Sethy didn’t stop! When I realized it-complete  panic, it’s little old Kirksville but it was dark and there were tons of people. I had Tanner and Colt stand by a tree (by the Kraft booth where at least we knew Megan) promise not to move-eat all the candy you want just stay together and stay here! And I sent Cannon back up the street while  I went down. I thought I heard him cry but then nothing. Oh it was the worst 30 yards I’ve ever walked but then I saw him-with Mrs Totta! Who is Tanners teacher and we just LOVE already!  Now I’m convinced she’s an angel-straight from Heaven! 

She heard him cry, and kinda saw him as  group he was walking with that he thought was us moved on. She is why he stopped crying (good and bad for me) and he told her his moms name was “Lyndi” then she realized it was Tanners sibling and right about then is when I got there but yikes. That was awful. I’ll try even harder to buy them off with a movie and their own bag of candy next year! So happy and relieved to have found him!!!!  I then realized I really hadn’t coordinated with Cannon how we were going to meet back up! So Seth and Addi and I got back to the tree where Colton and Tanner were and I was trying to figure out what I was going to do and Colton said “Mom,  I’m fast! I’ll go” so I sighed and said ok. But he go clear to the road-wasn’t going to cross it-and came back. Crud. Now what? Not near as stressful because he’s 11 and knows tons of people there but still…! So we decided we’d just take everyone to the car. I’d lock it and then I’d run back and look for him. We let Megan know our plan just in case she saw him and headed for the van but as we got almost to the parking lot he called out to me! Phew—he hadn’t found Seth-didn’t know I had- and wasn’t happy to see us all leaving but when I explained he understood and was cool about it and I was happy to kiss Halloween goodbye! 

But wait-at this point I still haven’t heard ANYTHING from Isaac! Not a word. Not I made it safe-the pump job went good-nothing. I’d thought of him several times but I didn’t want to wake him if it was the couple hours he got to sleep—or later catch a nap (he didn’t) I didn’t want to interrupt. I just think he should contact me but…maybe in the millennium-it’s not happening in this life. I would have lost the bet though he did call that night at 9:00. 

Tuesday I thought he got into Des Moines at 4:40 which was going to cut it close as far as me making the Bible class. But look at the cute shirt I made Addi to wear! I have a twin one😉

I still hadn’t heard that he’d made it (to the airport in SLC or Des Moines) or anything-again! So I called him at 6:30. He was in Denver-the plane was taxiing. So that vetoed Bible class but good heavens why won’t he contact me??? Oh well-I asked him to call when he got to Des Moines -he did! Baby steps! It might happen again but it won’t be because of those pump trucks!! 

Seth had a super hero party at school-he didn’t want to participate because we didn’t have any super hero costumes at our house (they have tons at school)  but we rigged him up a rubble cape and he was good to go! 

Isaac might have been in the doghouse for not communicating but he’s pretty smart about getting out of it when he got Tanner to help him do dishes and then cleaned out the lights!!! Definitely a good move!   

And the cleaning/help was nice but this was yesterdays big news:  Never a dull moment around here! 

The boys are pumped!!!!

The mom is not sure what to think😂

No, I’m happy for them—the 6’6” one too😉

Of course I’ll keep ya posted on this story. 

Seth was my mop helper this morning but I managed to slam my hand in the door. So dumb! 100% my fault. And hurt(s) like the dickens! I’ll post a picture when it actually turns colors and looks like it should hurt. Ha

Tonight it’s rainy so Isaac couldn’t putter outside so they played Settlers. Neither Colt nor Tanner are overly amused with Isaac having his nose in the phone with excavator stuff. Sorry guys. 

But Colt did win easily 😂

Addi does the best smiles and has totally figured out how to stick out her tongue. She’s pretty dang fun! 

Oh and 11? ish years ago when Cannon was a baby I’d write the funny things Isaac would say to him. (Usually on the side bar of the blog) but now it’s usually just part of the weekly blog stories if I remember but anyway here’s this weeks. Addi’s in her bed and it had been all night so he takes the blanket of her and gets the all night peed up smell says “Oh sis, it’s like you’re giving yourself a Covered wagon under there.” 😂😂

Maybe you had to be there but it was hilarious. 

I cracked up again typing it!