No school today so it feels like Saturday. 

Last Saturday morning was a family work day-I love those! Our kids really should do more to help around here! Colt learned how to run the mower, my goodness that kid is super cautious when it comes to anything with a motor! But he got it figured out- and well some worked some played. 

That night was the fall festival down at the country connection in LaPlata-super fun! I love it when we do things with both wards. 







That night was a good old crazy Midwest thunderstorm! 

We have guest room on top of us but I don’t know how my kids sleep at all when the rain is pelting that metal roof right above them! It’s so loud! And it was pretty darn loud when this tree got hit too. Of course we didn’t see anything till the next morning but it shot some wood clear up by our cars -and the exit hole coming out of that tree was pretty cool too. 

Sunday I had a sickie so Seth and I sluffed church. As the big boys were leaving I said “please be good” And Tan answered “Mom, we’re always good when you’re not there.” …okay then…good enough

Sunday night popcorn! 

Monday Isaac cut the branch out…well pulled it out. 



Tuesday we took some treats to daddy’s class! 

And it was Colt’s last soccer game! They beat the team that was previously undefeated. They actually thumped them-it was fun to watch. They improved so much over the course of the season, that team beat them by probably 5 goals both other times they played! 

Tan snuggled on my lap the whole time (and kept me warm) but he was so snuggly because he didn’t feel good. We got home and he fell right asleep before the missionaries came, it didn’t last though when the other boys were getting ready for bed he woke up crying and ended up puking…it was rough! So I kept him home Wednesday. 

He wasn’t sick anymore-I guess it did buy us a nap that was needed but mostly it was just a day to dig in the costume box and play with Seth. There was a fair amount of jumping -I mean flying-off the couch involved. 

Thursday everyone was good enough to go to school and enjoy a short day with Halloween parties! They loved it!





That night Tanner had bball. He was so excited and a little nervous but he had a BLAST! 

He keeps asking me how many days until it’s basketball again (I love it) today he wanted to work on all the things the had practiced! I LOVE THAT-and it made his brothers want to get in on it too. It’s good for them! 

Tan was not the worst one on his team  but I think he’s probably the youngest and it showed a little but even after working with him tonight he was catching the ball so much better-I think he’ll be fine. I’ll tell ya the glaring difference between Tanners team and the group of Cannons that I coach. They are young-and starting younger than Cann did but there are 8 of them, they have 1 coach and 4 dads helping. It’s varying degrees how much the dads know what they are doing but I just kinda watched and shook my head in (jealous) amazement. But I guarantee the group of Cannons friends that all play together have the exact same thing, in fact I could probably tell ya which dads help. 

But whatever-I enjoy coaching. We get along-the kids have improved over the years and they get to play so good enough right? 

Today we had planned to go to the temple with the Pettit’s and switch off tending but the reality of the logistics was just daunting-on the road by 6:30 eating/not eating in the car. 10 kids at the arrival center. So instead I said hey how about I’ll tend your kids this week-you can tend Seth next week-and maybe have my others for just a few minutes after school. Michaila was like well that’s not a very fair trade but I said well it sounds way better to me so she went for it. The kids had a BLAST! (I love the idea of it being fun for the kids when the parents go to the temple too.) But as it worked out I left 4 sleeping kids, got to her house where there were 6 SLEEPING kids, and when everyone got up and going we came out here-I thought it worked to perfection (well except I thought Isaac would have fed our kids-instead I’m pretty sure he was still asleep-or asleepish when I got here at 9) but whatever they didn’t seem to care! The one bummer was our house is definitely more fun when you can get outside but it was cold and wet and rainy so we stayed in. Lots of games but the kids had a blast playing with they’re friends-I think it was a win. 

Bout it! 

If it’s not it too bad-I’m too tired! 

The best news of the week was last Saturday night as it got back!

Saturday morning we started with soccer and it was cold! (I’m not used to Tanner being in that green coat yet I still feel like it looks like Colt-he told me this week “mom you need to get Colt some orange stuff because I end up getting his all his old stuff.” Ha true!) 

Then we came home for a few minutes and around 230 or so we headed towards Kahoka for Cannon‘s game. I basically had the cheer squad on my hands that’s what I looked to me like they were trying to do with Seth anyways. 🤷‍♀️ Whatever it’s a long day for the brothers so as long as they were played and happy game on! It was a bit of a rough game for Cannon’s team but Cann did have a fumble recovery he was pretty happy about and one tackle but nothing on offense…it was well…the other team had a really good game plan! We ended up chatting with his coach when we turned in equipment and he said just thanked Isaac for helping coach and what not but they were basically double teamed in the tackle and that’s why they were untouched in the backfield all night long and by time we figured it out it was time to make sure everyone got to play. Anyway all I know is we moved the world ball backwards a lot more than we moved it forward! I told Cann when we were coming home hopefully it’ll keep him hungry to work hard for next year cuz it was a pretty tough one to end on. The Best part of the whole game was when Colton turned to me and asked mom why are they cheering to “beat the idiots?” It was pretty funny-their mascot is the Indians but when he said that I listened and it did sound like that’s what the cheerleaders were saying. 

Isaac was home when we got home-Yay!!!!!!

Sunday was normal. 

Monday was Cannons banquet. After dragging the troops Saturday I didn’t want to make them go so just Isaac and Cannon went. He got an award for attitude and ???? I dunno what else but we could use a little better attitude around here…just say’n…

By Tuesday Seth and I were doing our thing 🤣 oh and we started working on his Halloween costume too. 

That jersey was a size 3x but I got it for .99 cents so we bought it and cut it down to about Tanners size -we had the pants in the football bin and head since I dunno couple years ago on Halloween clearance. The plan has long been to dress up like the bulldog and take some treats to daddy’s class. We had so much fun having the students out to the house we decided to go for it and Seth (knowing he will get treats too) is super pumped. He wanted to go right now! 

We made bread yesterday…it didn’t turn out the best…maybe because I have LOTS of help…

Oh well I like having wheat bread around cuz then when it’s a huge fight to get these guys to eat I’m just like whatever have a piece of toast-I don’t care. 

Colt showing off his art star award for his tacos! I quickly too that pic so the tacos could go to “art heaven!” 

Tanner might want to be the bulldog…maybe I should have left this pic off-you can’t tell it’s Tanner and. It Seth…except the pants don’t go to his ankles. 

Today we dropped the brothers off at school and busted it for the temple. It was a quick but good trip. 



And maybe we don’t tell dad what we do while it’s his turn in the temple. It’s not that he wanted to wanted to fudge shoppe—it’s that I did! But once there there was no talking him out of it. 

After We took our treats to the park! And we tried for a pic with the temple and the park. 

Bout it!

Cannon scored a touchdown!

I didn’t take a single picture at football last week. But my friend got the best play (for us anyway) of the game on video 😊

https://youtu.be/GZ2ioRMKxPk

I did try to take a couple pics at soccer but…I didn’t get anything good. 

Soccer and football that’s pretty much the story of all our Saturdays. Seth loved the parade and thought there should be more and we should go every day…maybe I’ll take him to the Truman homecoming one…probably depends how cold it is-today was cold! 

Sunday I taught-or rather led the discussion in RS. I always like doing that just because it makes me focus so much harder as I study! Isaac filled in for me in nursery singing time-sweet, wish I could’ve seen it 😊

Monday the kids had a “late start” we LOVE those and could have used it later in the week when things got crazy! Seth and I made caramels-I did it for Colt they are his favorite but I figured it was going to be easiest with one kid around instead of 4! 

He’s all kinds of help. 

Isaac needed the trailer so he has the van (and my purse) but when he got back and went to football with Cannon the other boys and I headed for the grocery store to get stuff for the shin dig with his grad students. He invited them out Tuesday for fajitas zip lining and night games.

I had no idea how much stuff to buy! So I guessed and Monday night I made a bunch seasoning and cut up and marinated chicken. Then Tuesday morning I cut and cut and cut up peppers and onions. 

Tuesday I took the kids down to soccer-and had a great visit with my friend April I hadn’t seen or at least not talked to for years. It was good to chat and unanticipated but totally therapeutic. It was great to chat, life has dealt her some really tough blows but her faith is strong and  I could see the tender mercies mixed in. 

When we got back it was a PARTY!!! (Way better turn out than any ward function we’ve done out here.) there were cars-and college kids everywhere. 

The one picture I took doesn’t do it justice 

The fajitas turned out good-those kids brought tons of stuff too. They were super cute about asking if they could give the kids candy and stuff. I bet everyone of them thanked us for having them! I was impressed-they are kids. Jeff told us this summer he misses Truman students (he’s at Boise State now) and after interacting with them I could see why! Night games…when one kids tried to run across the top of our opening into downstairs (it didn’t work) we were lucky  we didn’t have to take him to the hospital! Crud! I actually need to make sure Isaac’s checked on that kid. 

But other than that debacle it was really really fun-my kids loved it!!! Sethy has asked all week if daddy’s students can come again. But even though those kids were all gone by 9:15 or so it was a late night for us! 

Wednesday morning Isaac took off for an ethics conference, the big boys had children and youth (after football) so it was another late night and Thursday Colt had soccer and Cannon had football, it wasn’t as late of a night but the third one in a row!!! 

Today I had a parent mtg for Tanners basketball but it was at the same time I’d agreed to take the Page’s pictures. So I pretty much just showed my face then left. As for pictures-I’m not very good (I had a ton of blurry ones this time 😏) but we got some good ones too and I sure enjoy it-it was so fun. I should buy the new camera I want just cuz it’s fun for me…maybe Santa will hook me up😉 anyway that was it for today, but my troops did practice piano today because that was the ticket to getting to play tablets while I took pictures-we had to improvise with Isaac gone. For as bad as I hate their noses in those screens, they love it equally much. We don’t do a lot so I just shrug and let them enjoy a simple indulgence. 

Not many pics this week. 

Seth did talk me into running the skid steer for “school” yesterday. We tried to smooth out one of the places I saw the students trip. And a little park time. 

Bout it-until next week! 

Blogging lately has been more of a “oh crud it’s Friday night” scramble, than the stories of our lives but oh well, we’re hang’n in-even if it’s barely. 

Saturday the kids squeezed in as much Bryant time as they could (Colt was super bummed he had soccer and missed some.) They hit the road and we listened to conference. (I’m glad I have relistening built in to my routine. I guarantee I didn’t get enough out of the talks round one.)  Cannon had football between the afternoon and evening sessions. Oh And Colt is ok with his artwork getting destroyed/trashed as long as we get a picture of it first 😉

Cannon was pretty pumped he got to be a captain.  (Isaac was on the field so he had picture duty 😊) 

And I would have been more pumped about talking these guys into rubbing my feet if Seth hadn’t been using shampoo instead of lotion 🤦🏼‍♀️ And Colt I just kept trying  to say “no really push your hand into my foot” it’s like he just tickles them. Oh well they get points for trying! 

Conference art



Oh and they snagged another rooster from the Gonda’s (it’s name -according to Seth-is “Chicken” but we call it Roosty) …it’s lasted 5 days…but last time I blogged that the roosters had survived the next morning did them in. 

Maybe I jinxed them-if so, sorry Roosty. Isaac and I have an ice cream cone bet on if Roosty makes it two weeks or not. 

Last week I got a random message inviting Tanner to play on a basketball team. I was like oh they play the same places as Cannon and I don’t have to coach it-this sounds great! So we went for it. But I’m not sure I should have— I just paid almost a hundred bucks for a uniform! These kids are 5!!!!! Don’t you just slap a number on the back of t-shirts at this age? For Cannons we ordered $13 reversible sets and I did the vinyl. I totally offered for Tans but they said they already had one designed. I finally had to just decide it saved me $100 worth of work and go for it. I thought it was ridiculous. Anyway I have no idea what  I agreed to (but there’s a parent mtg next week) however I’m certain we have a greater identity than that of a kindergarten basketball team-I’ll bail if I have too. And I liked the idea of not coaching but I’m pretty dang opinionated-they better be fundamentally sound and not just cherry pick the athletic kids only to beat up on the Podunk towns around here…

I should be quiet-Tanners really excited about it! 

Anyway it was athletic dress up day at school and everyone had Chiefs gear on but Tan finally found one of his basketball buddies! He said it “was the best day cuz they were matchy matchy”

It’s a pretty funny story with this kid. I was like Hey Tan do you have a friend at school named Easton? (His dad had text me about joining the team) “No.” Oh really? Do you play basketball at recess? “Yes” who do you play with? Exasperated -“I don’t know his name!” 

Next day

“Mom my friend IS Easton! At first He wouldn’t tell me his name but I saw him answer when another kid said it so I know it’s right.”

🤣

Funny kid! 

Isaac finally decided to pay to have his motorcycle fixed. But It was short lived. Since the guy didn’t have room for it at his shop Isaac brought it back and is going to do it himself! Seth is helping him push it back into the basement-I helped him push it up out! 

A little park fun while Colt was at soccer and Cannon at football. 

And the homecoming parade today! 



I forgot to get a pic of Colt on the soccer float 🤦🏼‍♀️

And we went to half of the game tonight while Isaac helped someone move. 

I guess that’s it!