Just looking at my phone-I haven’t taken any pictures since Tuesday…well Isaac headed to a conference in Texas Wednesday morning so that sounds about right —we’re in survival mode! And it got cold on us again.

Saturday it was good to get outside

And it was beautiful so I decided to pass on the treadmill and ride my bike over to the cemetery instead. I invited Colt to join me but then Seth and Tanner wanted to come too-I was great with that (but later realized Colt wasn’t too happy about it…oh well sorry —middle children) but anyway we got over there and we were coming back and cute little Seth was belting out “it’s a great day to be alive” as he peddled along on the tag along bike so I decided I wanted a video…

https://youtu.be/iom4q_Zi9Hk?feature=shared

It went pretty good until I was putting my phone away in my pocket that has a stupid zipper and my hand was stuck in it when Tanner thought he heard a car…he did a good job of getting over to the right, only I was to the right, right behind him with only one hand on my handle bars—swerved and went down pretty hard trying to take it as much as I could so Seth didn’t! He still got a little scrape on his knee but I counted it a “success” in minimizing his wipeout.  Holy Smokes though mine hurt pretty bad. Colt finally got over his big mad and came to check on me. Tanner was upset he’d cut me off and there wasn’t even a car (really thank heaven there wasn’t-I mean telling the story here is one thing but a wreck cuz my hand was on my phone in my pocket…if someone had seen all that…yikes, that’s embarrassing)  

Anyway I sprayed off Seth’s hand and knee with the water bottle we had, tried to assure Tanner I wasn’t mad and getting over to the right is the right thing to, it was ok! Then we got going again. We got up the driveway and Addi and Isaac were outside headed our way! I confess after sucking it up for the kids I was hoping for hoping for some sympathy from Isaac!…but as I got closer she was smiling but definitely wet—ugh—remember how last week I said I was going to do a pull up for the foreseeable future? Well I didn’t and I definitely regretted it! I soon found that I’d missed a call from Isaac and she wasn’t just wet 😩😩😩

(Now I don’t think we’re out of the woods but it is Friday and I think that last Saturday accident was our last big disaster so almost a week…👍🏻 we’re making progress!) 

But I had to clean that up -gross-before I cleaned myself up. 

I had a pretty good road rash on my elbow—a little on my hand and couple dang big bruises! And of course a good story to tell -Yikes! Oh well! 

I also made 4 batches of cookies Saturday because I was in charge of drinks and treats for Cannon’s leadership group— I had ordered Gatorade from Walmart.com but only because it was cheaper that way…but I got a text that it was delayed-so I had to go buy some in the store anyway. I’d complain and say that was lame-but the truth is I love that stuff and don’t mind having it around.

Sunday smiles—I’ve been looking through pics to put together a little baptism video for Tan. I love them!! It just makes me want to take more! 

Sunday Isaac had Mtgs EARLY in Moberly and then an audit in Columbia.

Cann had that group that evening and they totally fluffed my feathers telling me how yummy my cookies were! Choc Chip totally won over the sugar cookies. But really boys, Keep it up, I’ll make ya all the cookies you want! His one friend was like “How did you learn the make those?” I smiled and said “practice” (and skipped the real secret of Ghirardelli choc chips) 😉

Then just “normal” shenanigans…

This one was fine if I would have just taken it, then grabbed her off but instead I tried to text it to Isaac and during the text she actually fell so it was kind of sad😞

And I made my last trip to Dr. Riley’s dentist office this week—(that means someone else will have to see my X-rays 😩)

A couple of the boys have appointments so I’ll go back but this was my last trip for me before he retires. Anyway, they used to have pictures and things that the kids have drawn posted all over the office they had taken down and they saved  this one from Cannon for me. 😏

Good advice! Now, if I could just get them to follow…

Until next time! 

Video link …Seth helped me while Addi  

https://youtu.be/EPvQdHcLqAE?si=m49NBBG5oXdsZS7a

Seth is 5!!!

After a week (or two) of hounding him to prepare I finally made it clear Saturday- “No college basketball until you’re lesson is prepared”

He got after it. 

It was his first time teaching-he said it went ok. 

On the video call to find out Jacob’s mission call!!! He’s going to Paraguay! 

Sis getting in on the scripture study—pretty cute. We gotta be careful though she likes to “mark” everything!! 

Sunday Bishop Sorhus had us over for a dessert social-the boys were admiring his Tesla… He took them for a spin (About 100 yards or so) down to feed his horses. 

With pictures like this on my phone, you’d think I had the clean house… Well, OK, maybe at least a clean spot in my house… But I don’t! 

Monday it was beautiful weather after school, we came home from school and at the back door was a package addressed to Colt and Tanner. It was so fun- they were so excited, so later that night I thanked Grama for it —but it wasn’t her! But we figured it out. It was their sweet children and youth leader Sister Doman they had had so much fun with the Mad Libs at their activity that she sent them some. It was so sweet! And it was nice enough to play a little baseball…



Tuesday was a bit of a fiasco because we have a rule that we let sleeping dogs lie…but Seth’s brothers were so excited that it was his birthday, they wanted to wake him up! When I said “no” or rather the 15th time I said “no” Tanner pitched a fit and said he wasn’t going to school so… I left him. Really I walked out hoping he’d pull it together and get out to the car but he didn’t…not in time. (Oh and there is no way Seth slept through him stomping around screaming) anyway we left. Only to have him chase us down the driveway and onto the gravel road but I didn’t see him. It was a mess. Cannon started throwing that garbage I’m almost a teenager and I only do whatever I want attitude and stopped at the silage pit to chew his butt and tell him he’s the next one I won’t take to school. Well he didn’t get out but he did zip it so on we went…but I didn’t check my mirrors or I probably would’ve seen Tanner. 

When I got back home, he was halfway back up the driveway just standing there so while I’d said I wasn’t making an extra trip for him I did.  I took him back into school and it took almost the whole drive to piece together what happened and that he’d been running and thought I stopped for him at the silage pit only to then drive away. He was somewhere between crushed and ticked and told me “I even said 2 prayers!” I did feel bad but also hoped a little lesson was learned too…I dunno. We got him down to school and he seemed fine. Then when I got home the second time I walked in the door and saw the birthday boy! He was gonna wait to open his presents until his brothers got home. I thought that was pretty nice…and let’s go with that it was a really nice idea…didn’t happen! It was just too tempting. 

I can’t believe he’s 5! Time goes so fast! I’m an old mom but I also can’t help but be so thankful he’s not my baby!! 

He loved decorating his own cake! 

Colt and Tan  had so much fun making him gifts-I thought it was pretty sweet! 

And BYU knocked of Kansas!! Cannon kept saying “we would’ve been there if it wasn’t Seth’s birthday.”

…that might’ve been a stretch…but…that was my excuse for us not going. 

The other crazy thing about Seth’s birthday was our weather!!  It was 77° when I picked the boys up from school-and it snowed that night! Enough they did a late start for school. I actually really like late starts I just wish I knew about them in advance. 

Wednesday we went down to Bro Aldridge’s baptism, it was neat and a great turnout! 

But Wednesdays are late nights. 😩

Anyway

Yesterday this was the scene when I came home from taking the boys to school! Diaper-clean on the floor. Those footie pajamas-not! 

It was a disaster! Mess is a massive understatement—it was too cold to spray her off outside but that would have been my preference! And I still can’t figure out why I didn’t just throw those jamas away. They barely fit anyway they are not worth the time it took or disgustingness of cleaning them out!! It was so much worse than just poop in a footie…I’m not sure how we ended up with that big of mess…and speaking of not sure…dad was tending…not sure where he was for all of this either???…he said “well we had been in on the couch and she was asking for you 🤷‍♀️” … Gee thanks sis! 

Then there were two more accidents yesterday so today for the sake of my sanity we’re in a pull up…and I kinda think why not? She’s not even two-why not for the foreseeable future? 

Sure glad I blog for potty trading updates-🙄 sorry. 

Anyway the only other thing I have is little video version of the weekly update. I’m not sure I like it-I’m not sure it’s sustainable-I know how much time/effort the blog takes- but I love love love hearing the kids voices on it. (I don’t love hearing mine but you win some you lose some right?) 

This one is a little long. 

The other thing is I took the iPad out to film the kids—then they wanted to do it. I agreed…and I left there’s on at the end because I think they’re hilarious! 

Oh and if I film on my phone putting it in iMovie cut off the tops of heads… 

So whatever 

It’s a little first attempt. 

https://youtu.be/PeHWMBwmWSU?feature=shared

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!!