If it’s possible kindergarten basketball was worse than last week and blogging about it really makes me dread tomorrow morning. Ug. 

I handed Isaac my phone and told him to take pictures but he didn’t hear me and thought my phone must have just been pulling my shorts down. So still no pics—but really it’s not something I want to remember…unless it reminds me never to do it again…

Saturday was busy Isaac had leadership meetings in Moberly then I went to the Adult session. It’s nice our kids are old enough to just leave but I text them to remind them to eat but I should’ve reminded them to take Addi potty too…so maybe we’re not as completely potty trained as I thought—or maybe it’s because they were all so engrossed in the screens either way they had to deal with a mess (just pee) although they did call hoping we were close. We hadn’t Moberly yet! 

When they decided they were still hungry after we did get back (I think they only realized it because I shut down the screens) they still had to cook their own hot dogs. 😉

Sunday we had to go clear to Columbia for the stake meetings and we took two cars because I took Cannon and the Page girls down to the youth mtg early. 

Maybe we got lost. 

But we were at the right place—just in the back side and it did NOT look like a normal church building. Oh well—we laughed and made it memorable. And got (back) to the right place eventually. 

Then we went to a different place for the general session. 

Then we had to drive all the way home—and then feed the feed the missionaries. It was an exhausting weekend. 

And Monday I took dinner to a mystery family-I probably shouldn’t have. I mean it was something I could do so I said I would. But let’s just say I did not serve with a kind heart. I was annoyed the whole time. 

Towards the end of summer I ordered a youth xl wetsuit-it was green I thought it would fit Colt and maybe he’d wakeboard a few more times…hmmm not quite-nor did I notice the girly print on the sleeves. Oh well. I don’t know why I got it out—oh yeah I was digging for something else in my closet—but Seth was having a great time with it…

I have a great little helper!! … who sometimes starts her own projects when I don’t let her help enough with mine 😉

Colt wanted to try making these caramel chocolate coated pretzels when I asked what snacks he wanted for stake conference. We didn’t get them done until after crazy weekend but…we did it! And we’ll get better at it. 

Cann had basketball Monday but…I didn’t travel. He just sat the bench year and with 4 other kids…I feel bad cuz my parents NEVER MISSED A GAME. So that’s the lens I look through but…oh well. 

He played at home Tuesday and they kinda knew they would get killed. Told him to look for “something he could win” I was a little annoyed we were late (why don’t I ever learn to just tell Isaac 15-20 sooner than I really want to leave?…) But we walked in half way through the first quarter and they were down 10-0. So we didn’t miss much. Cann didn’t get in until the 4th quarter but it was honestly the loosest I’ve ever seen him play! I don’t want them to get killed all the time but… Cann did great! I think he (finally) wasn’t afraid to mess up!! 

He looked to score, had a bucket,  got to the free throw line,  had a steal and 3 rebounds, looked good on defense… I was pumped. 

I thought maybe he’d turned the corner…

But we watched him again to night and it was a little rough. His team did better they killed the other team but I don’t know if it was just trying to run the plays they have set up for going against a zone or what but he didn’t look near as loose, aggressive or smooth tonight. Oh well. He has it in him though-now I’ve seen it! 

Just me take’n pictures…of Addi taken pictures —wonder where she gets that from? 


Thursday we packed Addi a lunch and went to Seth’s school for a lunch date! He’s been asking for a while I said I didn’t think they did that anymore but he asked Mrs Feeney and she said “sure” and we could eat in her room. 

I don’t know how much lunch got eaten (not much$ but they had a blast. 

Seth though—he was all sad and pouting after we left. I want to tell him he’s ridiculous and if he’s going to do that we can’t come (and basically did) but if you know me AT ALL—I struggle with goodbye something fierce, so what I probably should have said is “sorry!”

Today we had a few Pettit kids over. When I ask Addi if she had fun she says “not really” 😂 but look at that smile—it couldn’t have been THAT bad. 

And tonight I made popcorn and then brought myself a little bowl in my room to eat while I started blogging. Addi came in and found my empty bowl and said she would get me more. I decline but she went anyway…and came back with this: 

😂😊😂

Gee thanks Sis! 

https://youtu.be/lDPMp32SpIw?si=UkBBD6zQq_njWPYl

Saturday morning Isaac took Tanner and Cannon hunting. I took Addi (mistake) to Seth’s kindergarten basketball game with me. And Colt stayed home and read. Basketball was as absolutely miserable as you can imagine…no worse. We only had 5 players and really only 1 of them could get it up to the (8ft) hoop. And it was just one of those Kirksville specials where I walk in the entire place is full on their half of the court (everyone who’s anyone in town) is all there with  parents and grandparents lining the wall and I’m thinking oh crud what did I get myself into? We hung for a little while but got killed the second half (because they do that wear a wrist band guard the guy with the same color wristband thing) well my kids didn’t switch bands cuz we only had 5  so dude just gave his best player (a redshirt kindergartener mind you—why is that a thing around here🙄) but gave him the wristband the color of one of my butterfly chasers and bingo-we lost by 10…which is like a hundred in kindergarten basketball.  Oh and we get to do this 5 more times 🤯🤯🤯 there’s only 2 kindergarten teams. 

Whatever. So every Saturday except Thanksgiving until the middle of Dec. Is it Thanksgiving yet? And this is why I do what I do with Tanners group. Every Saturday is too much! The kids need to be kids! But…live and learn. Or live and should’ve learned 🤦‍♀️

Hopefully tomorrow someone will come (not Addi) and snag some pics of Seth. 

The weather was great to get outside Saturday but…

They were painting with mud 😩

Cannon and Isaac went out hunting again but Tan had had enough. They didn’t get anything and called to see if I wanted them to stop at the grocery store on the way home. I said we could get by if I just sent cracker sandwiches in lunches on Monday (Cann loves them anyway) I think the conversation went something like me “how’d it go?” Then “…from your perspective perfect.” So they swung into Burger King and grabbed an ice cream cone and headed home. It was getting borderline too late but they saw a buck on our gravel road and pulled over and shot it! I thought they called and asked permission later but I guess Isaac had talked to Calvin  prior to the hunt about shooting something if they saw it. 

Anyway my version made for a better story… it was an hour or so later -I think we did come follow me and everything-before they went back and got it. And imagine me trying to get little to bed with the skid steer back up beep out their window and such…I don’t know when they finally came in.

I’m not a hunter-I don’t get it but they love it so whatever. 

The best news was they found and Amish butcher shop to donate it too. 

We might get a little jerky meat from him and Cannon wanted the European mount-whatever that is-but Isaac thought it was a fair price and went for it. We still hadn’t finished the deer burger from 2 years ago! (Mostly cuz I don’t like it. I finally cooked it up for Belle a few months ago but…it’s still in the freezer) I’m not into killing as a sport but after getting our two killer cats I’m less of a softy—the animal world is brutal! And quite frankly I like those killer cats killing mice and I don’t care if they tease them mercilessly first. Artimas is a bird killer too—and Isaac saw them chasing a rabbit the other day too. 

Anyway. 

Saturday nights other disaster was I had to redo the weekly video I’d gotten flagged on. So I took off all the fireworks, I took off Addi “hunting raccoons” -aka Seth’s monkey slippers (that are actually bears) 😂- but it was so dang cute but I wasn’t sure if they’d freak out about that toy rifle so I deleted it and added a few from the week and posted it. 

And—now I don’t just have a warning  I have a strike and can’t post for a week…

They didn’t like Cannon running the mini—whatever! 

They’ve busted me on Seth before so I should’ve remembered but…he was probably 3 at the time (and Isaac  was standing right by it coaching him) but Cann is 13 and they didn’t mention it when they were complaining about fireworks. And it didn’t say anything about Colt -younger-just Cann. But I’m sure if I tried again then it would-So whatever! 

Maybe this video of her blow drying her hair will make it on someday—maybe not. 

Isaac hates it when Cann sits in his phone but….

Looks pretty similar to me. 

Colt snagged the pic he has a very strong sense of fair vs unfair. 

One of the days there was a Frog in my house!!! The pic was too small so maybe when I’ve served my weeklong suspension I can show the video—we’ll see.

Here they’re just playing and I’m certain that’s sissy’s “gun” I mean I know we’re not real safe but…come on! 

Oh this was cool. I found it in Colts backpack when I was getting his lunch box. When I asked about it they had learned out the Day of the Dead and Riz is who he wanted to remember. ❤️ (And can one of my favorite parts be that you can kindof see Israel but it’s erased!…I know buddy I spelled his name wrong when we first picked that name too😂) 

And Addi helped me get the conference “train” up! It’s a little different but it’s fine. In this pic she is “skiing” on the stools but my favorite thing she does is call Elder Bednar “my guy”

And she loves to watch videos about Jesus. It probably helps that if that’s what she’s watching I’m great with A LOT of screen time! But she loves when he says “Behold I am Jesus Christ” and she watches the 3rd Nephi 11:1-17  Book of Mormon video over and over. 

Actually have I already written on her about when she see a picture of Jesus and lights up and says “I know Him!” It’s the best! 

She’ll tell ya Jesus says “behold” Santa says “ ho ho ho”  and the pups say “ar ar arooooow”

Big helpers! 

And dad saddled up her horse…but she should’ve pushed that hat on a little further 

Cuz when it blew off and spooked Enzo she was done for. 

Poor little cowgirl. This is a screenshot from the video I was taking that will only make the weekly video with a little audio editing 🤬 whoops 

But look at that. If I can’t post it to YouTube if I already have issues with their child safety policy…

Thankfully she wasn’t hurt. Isaac’s always a titch…I dunno the right word but  maybe somber? After scares like that. 

She was pretty ticked at Enzo and said she wanted a new horse. I better watch out-he’ll buy one. Or a mule because they don’t spook as easy. 

Her prayer that night was hilarious. Enzo and Beller are always 1-2 in her prayers then usually the kitty cats and Seth but it went something like: 

“ thankful for Enzo even though he bucked me off, thankful Belle…I wanna ride Belle”  😂😂 yeah no kidding that dogs a lot closer to the ground! 

That was Wednesday all before children and youth activities, then Thursday was Tanners practice after school followed by Seth’s. Isaac really saved the day taking Seth and Addi during Tan’s practice and Colt saved practice because he filled in so we could go 4 on 4. I wish he liked it more-he’s so dang fast he’s fun to watch I mean he’s older than these kids but…still if he liked it he could learn the game and shoot and he’d be so good! 

Anyway. We survived basketball I brought Seth home from practice only to have Isaac have to leave to go get Cann from practice 10 minutes later but…we just decided the extra trip was worth it to get the 5 year old home! 

And today I got this from his teacher…

Along with some Halloween pics but eh-that was last week…

Bout it. 

Primary Program Halloween and such…

Saturday morning I remembered it was the Truman homecoming parade-because that’s why they moved our last soccer games…but I didn’t remind anyone and we got away without going! All I really remember from the morning was messing around with the boat cover—trying to get it so water doesn’t pool in it. In the afternoon Colt had a birthday party (I didn’t realize the poor kid is 11 and he’d never been to a normal birthday party!) he was pretty nervous but I think it turned out fine. He didn’t LOVE it but he had some fun so good enough! They are friends from school and the kids mom actually grew up out here at our farm house. I’d met her a couple times but I didn’t realize Colt hadn’t so that contributed to his apprehension. But it turned out fine. The gal actually probably got ripped off out of inheriting this place by her step mom…or dad’s next wife or whatever. Oh well we just bought it from the bank. Anyway. We also went to a convert baptism and then that evening we caught the Truman volleyball game (I wanted to go because I minister to the coaches wife but) it was pretty fun. We just took Addi and left the boys home. 

Sunday we survived the primary program! The kids did great! 

And speaking of survived…

Both Colt and I escaped pie face in the post program celebrations unscathed! 🎉🎉 actually he was disappointed he wanted to lick that cool whip off—I was good with either result 😉

My Turkeys were checking our Rays Turkeys 😉



…and when you color on my walls…actually this was bad because I was wiping things off too and there is so much caulk that “we’ll just paint over” that’s never been painted over-I haven’t done it either! But it looks like heck and it’s just better when I don’t see/notice/remember that crud. Sigh. Oh well! 

We got the yellow marker off. 

And we got into the Halloween bucket. 

At this phase of life it’s mind blowing to me that I ever thought far enough ahead and made costumes—now it’s more like hey go find something in the box and hope it fits! But I did order this girl a Marshall hoodie…that will probably fit in 3 years…

Oh and BUSTED! 

Apparently it’s not okay to film and post kids doing fireworks. Bummer because they had a blast. And then the 2 year old found Cannons box of firecrackers 

I mean I do draw the line somewhere as far as kids and fireworks. No way sister—however her left hand is clear full of them 😳 but we just put them back. All of them! 

The costume choices for the trunk or treat: 





I didn’t get a picture of Colt because he wanted to get dressed later after the chili cook off but he had a heck of a combination going with his Monkey pajamas and cloak and a wig…???

But he’s such a fun big kid he was dressing up the younger boys and then the girls were trying to guess who it was then they’d switch…I don’t know what all but they were having fun so—win! 

Cann just walked to the church from basketball practice. It’s super close, but I had meant to pick him up. We just didn’t get there in time. (His practice gets out early sometimes which is so foreign to me) but he just walked over and put his backpack and gym bag and all his stuff in a classroom. Well then we forgot it so when I was taking him to early morning practice we had to swing by the church first! 

Anyway back to Wednesday 

Last Year when our buddy Andrew was looking at different schools to play football at I was going to make him this fruit pizza on his birthday—just to be sure he knew my vote. This summer I  totally thought he was going to choose K-State or Iowa State but -call in divine intervention 😉- he picked BYU. So even though it was a year later—I pulled it off! 

Seth’s class got to go to Truman farms. 




For school Seth went with the Tiger Kirk’s kid costume 

Sis helped me fill the flour bucket. 



Best lunch dates ever 😘

And the BYU O-line coach/run game coordinator came to Kirksville! They had a bye week so he came to watch Andrew play. 

Too bad they got beat. They were 9-0…and now they’re 9-1 and their seasons over. It was kinda a bummer. We left some points on the field in the first half then had to come from behind to tie it with 2 minutes left, then had to hold them. But we still lost in the second OT. 

Oh well

They made great strides this year. 

I think that’s it…until I add a movie to the bottom…that hopefully YouTube will approve 🤞🏻