Piano Recital & Holiday Dinner at Elementary

Tyler, Josh, and Megan had their piano recital on Thursday.  Our piano teacher only teaches her own boys and our family, so that is all that was at the recital (plus some grandparents).  

All the kids did a really good job.  Josh was pretty funny and clapped for himself after each piano song.  One of his songs was the theme song to James Bond and Josh really got into it and it was pretty funny to watch.  

Megan did great at her first recital.  She didn't seem nervous and remembered all of her songs.  Tyler sounded really good as well.  All the kids memorized their songs, and I was a very proud mama.  The kids are good to practice, even though they don't practice as long as I would like them too.  They do practice without complaining.  It was a great night, and I am happy that my kids are enjoying learning music and playing the piano.

We also got to go to the holiday dinner night at the elementary.  A nonprofit company provided pizza, salads, and desserts and they also had a Santa and a conductor from the Polar Express. After we ate dinner then we got to meet Santa and the conductor and got a picture.  After the picture then the kids got to pick a present.  They still had a lot of presents at the end of the night, so they let the kids go back for a second present.  

Megan got a puzzle and card game, Allie picked two different stuffed animals, and Tyler got a card game and some baseballs.  Josh went to a party at Brocton's house that night and missed out on the fun at the elementary.  

After we all ate and the kids got their gifts, we chatted for a while with some friends before going home for the night.  It was a fun night, and I am glad that we went.  

Holiday Sing-along

The girls had their Holiday Sing-along at the elementary school.  They both got to sing two songs, and both did such a good job.  They wanted to dress up and be festive.  They looked great and performed great.  

Grandma and Grandpa came, Tony came from work, and Averee even got to see the performance.  She had come the night before from Snow College and then I took her to the airport after the performance.  It was a great program that I look forward to every year.  It was kind of weird just having kids in two classes at the elementary.  Next year will be Megan's last year at Frost, and I'm told Allie will only go until 5th grade and then go to the Jr. High in 6th grade.  That means that Allie would only go to elementary for two more years after this year, crazy to think about. 

Snow Day

Because of the snow overnight, the school district decided to have school start two hours later on Friday.  Friday is already early out day, so I decided to keep all the kids home instead of going for less than three hours of school.  It was probably for the best because some were still coughing and needed more resting.  Megan and Allie went out and played in the snow.  There wasn't tons of snow, but they enjoyed what they had to work with.

Ward Christmas Party & Allie's Award

Our ward had their party on Friday night.  Allie and Josh stayed home because they were still coughing.  Allie seemed worse this day then she had been, so she really needed to stay home and rest.  She was actually asleep on the floor when we got back from the party.  Luckily, she has been doing better since this night. 

Our ward did things a little different this year and just did snacks and crafts and guessing gift baskets.  They also had games on the tables, but we didn't play any of them.  We chatted and waited to see if we won any of the gift baskets.  Turns out we did pretty good and were very close on a few baskets and Tony even won a basket.  The party wasn't what we were used to, but it was still fun to get together with friends and neighbors.

Allie got the Soaring Eagle award for the month of November.  It came with a certificate and a metal.  She got it for high academic achievement and high citizenship.  Allie works hard at school and is always nice to everyone.  She was pretty excited about getting the award.

I Got My Shoulder Shot!

I was able to get an appointment to get the shot in my shoulder for Tuesday afternoon.  I was very nervous getting the shot, because I had no idea how much it was going to hurt.  Tony was able to get off of work to take me.  To make sure that the shot gets in the right spot they wanted me to go to imaging.  Because they used the imaging, Tony wasn't able to come with me to get the shot.  I was bummed about that, but I understood.

I had to change into a gown and then pull out my shoulder once I got into the imaging room.  I laid on a table and they moved a big imaging machine above me and my shoulder.  The PA was telling me what he was going to do.  The first shot would be the numbing shot (like at the dentist) and then he would put in a shot of die contrast and then he would do the shot that goes way down into my shoulder joint.  

While he was preparing the shots, I really started getting anxious.  I started crying and had to take deep breaths.  He said I could take off my mask and that really helped.  I told the PA that I didn't want to watch, but I wanted to know when he was going to start.  I decided to tell him all about the foot issues that I had been dealing with the last month.  Telling him my story helped me refocus my attention and be brave for the procedure.  

He started with the first shot.  A pinch, but not too bad.  Then it was the second shot.  I could feel it, but it wasn't painful.  Then the last shot was the longest, but not painful either.  He did his work while I blabbed on about my foot, then it was all done.  It really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, thankfully.  

I then went back to Tony and got changed.  We then stopped at Costco and my parents' house before going home.  The PA said that the numbness would last about a half an hour and then it would start to hurt in about 6-8 hours and the pain could last up to two weeks.  I started feeling the pain after about an hour.  Then for the rest of the night it hurt more and more.  That evening I could barely move my arm at all.  It was a crazy feeling.  After a rough night's sleep, I then woke up the next morning with my shoulder feeling much better.  This has been a crazy thing that I didn't think that I would have to deal with, especially this young, but I remind myself that it could be a lot worse.  

Thanksgiving Vacation - Day 5 & 6: Driving Home

Tony and I had not been sleeping very well and kept waking up super early and being wide awake.  So, we told the kids that if we woke up early then we would just get up and start driving towards home and maybe not stay at the hotel we had booked.  But we stayed up so late the night before we actually were able to sleep until like 7:00 am.  

We had talked about going out to get breakfast with the other adults, but everyone wanted to just stay home.  This is the morning that many in our family and extended family woke up sick.  Josh and Megan woke up feeling sick.  Josh was the worst.  They had a cough and just didn't feel good.  So, we decided to just pack up the car and start heading towards the hotel in Wells, NV.

While we were driving through the Tahoe area on I-80, a part of the road was closed, and we had to take a detour.  It did take an extra half an hour, but it was a really pretty drive.  It took us right to Lake Tahoe and through the towns right by the lake.  We then stopped for gas in Reno before continuing on our drive. 

We stopped in a small town for lunch.  The food was decent, and we all had our fill.  Poor Josh was really not feeling good, but he was able to eat all his hamburger.  

The rest of the drive went smoothly.  We decided to stop in Elko to go to the Walmart and get some dinner for that night and some cold medicine for Josh and Megan.  We just bought some premade sandwiches and chips and cookies.  We figured that would be easier than Tony having to go out and find us all some dinner.  At this point, Tyler and Allie didn't have any symptoms.  

We then drove to our hotel in Wells.  We checked into our room and then checked out the pool.  Tony, Tyler, and I really just wanted the hot tub.  But they only had a pool.  It was a pretty new hotel too, so we were pretty bummed.  Josh wasn't feeling good at all, so I stayed back in the room with him while Tony took the others down to the pool.  Tyler didn't last very long.  He said the pool was colder than he thought it was going to be.  So, he came back and showered and ate.  Then Megan came back up.  She was done and wasn't feeling very good.  Then Tony came back up with Allie.  They all showered and had some dinner.  

We then watched a movie and then the first half of the BYU game before going to bed.  That next morning Josh and Megan still felt sick, and Tyler and Allie were starting to feel it.  Tony and I took Allie and Tyler down for breakfast and then we went back up to check out of the hotel.  

Luckily Wells is only two and a half hours away from home, so it was a quick nice drive home.  We gave Josh some more meds and he slept the whole way home.  Which was for the best because of his bad cough.  We then got home, unpacked and just spent the rest of the day resting our sick kiddos and doing laundry.  

Thanksgiving Vacation - Day 4: Girls Day & Guys Day

Friday is Girls Day! And Guys Day!  We weren't able to get into the pedicure place until 11:00 am.  So, we had some extra time to get ready for the day.  Wendy did my hair and makeup and then we decided to meet Julie, Averee, Sherri, and Betsy with her girls at See's Candy store.  Wendy bought the girls their own small box of chocolate and then we headed to the nail salon.  

Then of course the nail salon wasn't ready for us, and we had to wait a little while for them to get to all of us, but we all got our toes beautified (except Averee who got a manicure).  After we then went and picked up my mom and Teagan from my parents' house to take them to lunch with us.  Julie's car went first and got us a table at the golf course restaurant.  They got us a table outside, which was nice, but half the table was right in the sun.  So, we switched spots many times when the sun got to be too much.  It was a beautiful day, and the food was good.  After lunch we went back to Julie's house with Betsy's girls and that is where Tony met us with the boys. 

Tony took the boys to play frisbee golf with the older dudes.  After that they went to lunch at Mel's Diner for lunch.  They said that they had a good time.  

Wendy took my mom, Teagan, and Sherri back to my parents' house.  Sherri then left with her family to start going home and Wendy had to go to a doctor's appointment.  

The rest of us then hung out at Julie's house for the rest of the day.  We wanted to do a little white elephant gift exchange with the cousins, so Juile, Betsy, and I went to the dollar store and bought gifts for the exchange and some extras for prizes for the big Bingo game that we were going to have after dinner.  We then brought them back to Julie's house and wrapped up the gifts.  

We had brought back all the leftover food from Thanksgiving to Julie's house and that's what we had for dinner this night.  While we were getting things warmed up and ready to eat, my dad had brought some fun wood animal puzzles for each of the kids.  They loved putting them together with Grandma Kim and Papa G.  After dinner we then did the kids gift exchange and then we did the family Bingo game.  Then we had dessert.  It was also Betsy's birthday that day, so they made brownies and no bake cheesecake for her birthday.  It was all very fun.  Teagan left after the party to head to the airport to take the red eye back to NYC.  

It was getting late so we said our goodbye's and then went back to Wendy's.  We got all our things ready to pack the van in the morning.  Wendy and I then stayed up until like midnight chatting about things.  She was having a really hard time with being separated from Gabe during the holidays.  They decorated the tree that night and it really hit her hard.  It was so hard to see her struggling and not being able to help.  She is one tough cookie.

This was the morning that I was able to walk on my foot again and not have to use my knee scooter.  It hurt to walk on my leg and foot.  It felt really weird to use it again after not using it for three weeks.  I just had to take it slowly and it did feel better if I wore my shoes and not just be bare foot.  It did make things a lot easier to be able to walk and I am hopeful that it will continue to improve and feel better. 

Thanksgiving Vacation - Day 3: Thanksgiving

Awe, Thanksgiving Day.  Tony and I were in charge of the drinks and Tony had gone to the store the day before and picked up them up, so we didn't have much to do for the dinner.  Wendy made us some pancakes and bacon for breakfast.  It was good.  

Wendy still needed to pick up what she needed for her charcuterie board.  So, after breakfast I went with her and Benje in the morning to the store to help pick out the yummy charcuterie goodness.  

After we got back, Sherri and her family had come to start making her stuffing muffins.  Wendy then started making her charcuterie board.  After that was done, we all enjoyed the appetizer and waited for the rest of the family to come.  

Gabe came with his turkey and started to deep fry it in the front yard.  The boys liked helping him with the fryer and felt very manly.  My parents then came with their turkey and Teagan.  Teagan had started coughing the day before and this day she had gotten really sick.  She was coughing really hard and had chills and a fever.  But she masked up and still came to be with the family.  

Julie and Kevin's family then came with all their food.  They had made a lot and had some warming up to do at Wendy's house.  After everything was ready, we prayed and ate.  Everything was very good, and we all had a great meal with great company.  

After eating we decided that us girls wanted to do our snowman craft that night instead of the next night because Sherri was going to leave back towards home in the afternoon the next day.  So, Julie, Betsy, Sherri and I headed to Julie's to pick up the craft to be completed at Wendy's.  

The kids all played in the front yard while we went to Julie's.  Megan and Allie tried to get into the pool, but it was too cold, so they didn't last very long.  Megan had wanted to go in so bad before we ate, but I told her to wait until after dinner.  I probably should have just let her try it while it was sunny.

Once we got back with the crafts, us gals got busy making our cute showmen.  Julie always comes up with the cutest crafts and shows us how to do them.   The dudes all hung out together while us gals crafted.  My boys just love to play with Wendy's small dogs.  They love that they can hold them and snuggle them.  Luckily the dogs love to be held and love the attention, so everyone is happy.

After we finished the craft, we all cleaned up and then people went back to their homes for bed.  It was another great Thanksgiving and always wonderful to be with the whole family.

Thanksgiving Vacation - Day 2: Family Building Time

Wednesday morning, we got up and had some breakfast at Wendy's.  Wendy wanted to go walking and I wanted to go with, so we tried to get out the golf cart for me to drive next to her while she walked with her dog, Ruby.  Unfortunately, the golf cart wasn't working, so I took her four-wheeler instead.  It was still fun, but the four-wheeler was loud, so it made it hard.  Allie came with on the walk and then ended up riding with me.  We didn't go very far and then Wendy had to go to work.

Tony took the other kids to go play tennis at the high school while we walked/rode.  After they were done, they came and got Allie and I and we headed back towards my parents' house.  They kids wanted to stop by Wendy and Julie's work.  They always keep snacks and drinks there, so the kids really like to help themselves.  While we were there, Missy saw my scooter and she asked if she could decorate it.  I said, sure, and she went wild.  It was pretty funny.  

After we visited, we left and went to my parents' house.  Boyd was there with Averee and Kimball getting ready to screw in the flooring for my mom's clubhouse.  So, Tony jumped in and helped with the floor.  The kids also took turns helping with the floor or with the yard work.  I sat and watched them all work from the porch.  It was a nice sunny day and even though I felt bad I wasn't helping, I enjoyed soaking in the sun and just being with family.

My dad picked up pizzas for everyone and he and Tyler came back with them right as they finished putting the patio furniture on the new floor under the gazebo.  It all looked so good, and my mom loves it.  I was glad we were able to see it completed and the smile on her face while she sat in her new seats in her clubhouse.  

After Julie got off of work, we then all went back to her house.  We took my new Cricut machine and laptop so that Julie could show me how to use it.  She showed Tony and I many cool things and I am excited to use it more in the future.  

Kevin's family then made it into town and stayed with Julie.  Then Sherri's family came for dinner with my parents.  They decided to stay at a hotel this time because they brought their older dog that needed lots of personal attention.  

Wendy, my parents and Teagan then all came, and we all had a yummy dinner all together.  The kids all love playing with their cousins, and we love hanging out with the adults.  Then we went back to Wendy's for bedtime.

Thanksgiving Vacation - Day 1: Driving to Auburn, CA

We got up early on Tuesday morning to start our drive to Auburn, CA.  It was a cold morning, and we were all excited to be going somewhere warmer.  I was still using my knee scooter, so we had to bring it with us.  That was annoying to try to fit it in the back, but Tony and the boys were good to help me get it and put it back.

We also only stopped two times on our way there.  We stopped in Battle Mountain for gas and picked up some gas station breakfast food.  That food helped us hold off for lunch until we got to Reno.  We decided to go to Costco to walk around and get some lunch at their food court.  Their gas station was way too busy, so we got gas a few blocks away.

We then drove the rest of the way to Auburn.  Julie and Wendy weren't home yet, so we went to my parents' house first.  Their house was easy to get into with my scooter, just two steps to get into their house.  We got to hang out with them and play at their house.  Teagan had flown in the night before, so we got to chat with her too.  

We then went over to Julie's house for dinner.  Her house has a lot of steps and proved to be a lot harder to get into.  But I just climbed up and down the stairs and made it work.  Totally worth it to be with family.  Dinner was good and it was fun to hang out with our family.  After dinner, we went to Wendy's house and got the van all unpacked.  Wendy's house also has a lot of stairs, but they are separated with landings after each step, so that helped.  But I did end up mostly going through the garage and crawling up the stairs.  I am sure it was funny to see, but we all made it work.  After getting all unpacked, we all went to bed.  It was a good, long day.