November 2017

November started out with me having to talk to one of our new neighbors about his waaaaay too fast driving habits.  All the kids were out playing basketball in the driveway across the street when he came screaming around the corner.  Luckily the ball had not bounced into the street as it had frequently been doing throughout their game, or one of the kids might have been hit.  I took off running after the car down the street and waited for the person to get out of their car once they pulled into their driveway.  I was nice, but firm, and told the young man that there were frequently children playing on that corner and he needed to slow down when entering the neighborhood.   He apologized and then went in the house.  I turned around and all the neighborhood kids were standing at the top of the hill watching.  When I got to them I said, "You guys are really sweet to come and make sure I was okay while talking to him."  They all laughed and then one of them said, "No, we wanted to see you let him have it!"   I guess I have developed a reputation for being the protector of the kids.  For the record, the worst I have done is yell at a person who was being creepy (staring and smiling a creepy smile while watching them play) around the kids and asked him to leave the neighborhood before I called the cops.  (It was creepy ice-cream truck guy and we haven't seen him since that day).  

Naomi thought the moon was really pretty. She is studying the phases of the moon at school and is super interested in all things space right now.  

November 4th was the last soccer game of the season.  It was a fun season.  Naomi learned a lot and playing on a co-ed team made her a better player.

November 7th, Naomi was in charge of teaching the Activity Girls.  She chose to do a drawing class.  She gave each girl a piece of paper and taught them how to draw a basic face.  The girls loved learning a new skill.  Naomi is a natural teacher.

November 8th, Steve finally gave up and went to the regular doctor because his ear was still really hurting.  He whole ear was really swollen.  That can't be good.  Well, it turns out that the Minute Clinic gave him the wrong antibiotic and was was just an out ear infection was now a raging out and inner ear infection.  His ear was basically swollen shut with infection.   He got an oral antibiotic and some ear drops and started feeling better in just a couple of days.

Later that day I threw a baby shower for one of the sisters I visit teach.  It was a fun shower and there were a lot of people who attended.  I fell into bed exhausted that night.

November 9, Nick took his Eagle project proposal to the review committee.  He was so nervous, but they loved his idea and he has approval to go ahead with his project.  Way to go, Nick!

Nick got his project approved!

Steve left the Eagle review meeting and headed straight to the church to take his HAM radio test.  He passed, of course, and now has his HAM radio license.  

November 10th was a fun day.  Sophie Miller came over and we spent the whole morning together baking cookies of her own creation - S'mores cookies.   They were super yummy.  Take any old chocolate chip cookie recipe and put chunks of graham crackers in the dough.  Bake them for about 5 minutes and them put mini marshmallows on top and finish baking them.  YUMMY!

Steve had his MRI for his shoulder to see why it was hurting so much.  Nick went on a scout campout that night and spent the evening getting ready for Naomi's birthday party the next day.  

November 11 Naomi had her Bob Ross birthday party.  We set up the living room with tarps on the floor (so happy accidents didn't get on the carpet) and tables and chairs with all that was needed to create a painting masterpiece.  We ate pizza, and painted and had birthday cake and played and...  The girls had a really good time.  Below are some pictures of the organized chaos.  

Morgan and Naomi

Anusha

Caitlyn

Barrett and Ashley

Bella

Arias

Haylie

Mia

Let them eat cake!

The whole artistic crew
Front Row (left to right):  Arias, Mia, Haylie, Bella, Barrett, Ashley and Naomi
Back Row (left to right):  Caitlyn, Lucy, Morgan and Anusha

November 12th, Fernanda came to do Naomi's official "Welcome to Young Women" visit.  Naomi is so excited to be out of primary and FINALLY into Young Women.  

November 13th - She is officially (FINALLY) twelve.  We had a family party for her.  Nick and Jeremy showered her with Slytherin stuff from Harry Potter and she got stroganoff for dinner.  She was one happy camper.  

Naomi with two of her favorite people.  

Her new, favorite shirt she bought with money her Aunt Jenny sent her.
"It's an anime thing.  You wouldn't understand"

Steve got the results of the MRI back.  He has a rotator cuff tear with nerve impingement.  We are headed for surgery.  

November 14th was Naomi's first official Young Women activity.  I got an email reminding Naomi to bring a blind fold.  When I told her about the blindfold she said, "They are going to torture me on my first week!???  NICE!!"  That's my girl.

November 15th, Naomi got her Herbst appliance off today.  She is so happy to not have all that extra metal in her mouth.  

November 16th Jeremy got all registered for Spring semester and Nick got a new bed.  They are both growing up so fast.  

November 18th we spent the whole day getting Naomi's and Nick's rooms put together.  Nick all new bedroom furniture.  Naomi got his "old" dresser which we spruced up a little with some paint and it is perfect for her room.  She went from three small drawers to five much bigger drawers.  Everyone is happy.

Nick and Steve putting the new bed together.  

November 21st we had a Turkey Shootout during seminary.  I set up turkeys and divided the kids into teams.  I would say one of the doctrinal mastery scriptures and the whole team would have to look it up.  The first team with everyone at the right place in the scriptures won and got a chance to shoot a turkey with an elastic gun.   The team with the most turkies shot won the shootout.  The kids really enjoyed it.

Out of all the kids in the school, Naomi's art was one of eighteen that was chosen to be on display at a local credit union.  She was so excited.  

November 22nd we got the rest of the house cleaned up in preparation for Bradden, Sunny and the kids.  They were coming to us for Thanksgiving this year since Jeremy had to work most of the weekend.  We were all so excited to spend some time with the cousins.  We spent the holiday making blanket forts in the living room, baking Hello Kitty cookies, seeing movies (girls to Cocoa and boys to Thor), going for walks, playing at the park and the pond, looking for golf balls, painting, eating and just having a good time.  Steve and Bradden went out on Black Friday, but didn't come back with much this year.   Jeremy had to work Thanksgiving Day from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m.  He said the mall was crazy!!!   It was a great holiday.  We were sad to see them leave, but all good things...

Maddie loved playing the piano and wearing the big headphones.  

Cousin walk.

Hy found this really cool, really big leaf. 

I love how they are holding hands.  Cousin time is the best. 

Hello Kitty cookies.  They looked a lot better than they tasted.  

Card board and blanket fort.  This is Naomi and Hyrum's portion. 

Maddie had her own part in the middle.

Olivia in her cozy corner.  

It took up with whole living room, but they loved it.  We saved all the boxes from Nick's new bedroom furniture so the kids could create something fun.  This is definitely fun. 

Steve doing the turkey.  We fried it again this year.  YUM!

Sitting down to our feast.  

Walking off our big meal.  The weather was gorgeous. 

The golf course pond is always a beautiful and fun place to go for a walk.  

Skipping rocks. 

Nick and Hyrum checking out the cool bugs in the water. 

Maddie was fishing with her stick.  I think she caught something.  

I love the fall colors.  

Back from our walk and creating art to relax. 

The boys went to see another movie so Sunny and I took the kids to Sweet Frogs for some frozen yogurt.  

November 25th, Sunny and Bradden left to go home.  Nick went to Josh Hansen's birthday party and we all just kind of chilled.  

November 27th I subbed in the 5th grade for Mrs. Hammond.  Both Nick and Naomi had her.  The kids were working on a project that both my kids loved and I was familiar with so Mrs. Hammond felt good leaving them with me.   I could help them where needed. These kids are so creative.  

That night I got to pick Sandra up from the airport.  She had spent Thanksgiving with her family in Las Vegas.  She is always so full of stories when she gets back from family gatherings.  

November 28th and 29th I subbed for Mrs. Hammond.  These were fun days, but by the end of the third day I was really getting sick.  Immediately after school I put myself to bed.  I still had seminary to teach and couldn't be sick.  

November 30th I took Naomi for her well-child checkup.  The doctor was really pushing the Guardasil shot.  I had Naomi scheduled to have the shot a couple months back, but had a really bad feeling about it so I cancelled.  All the research I have done was inconclusive as to whether the shot was actually helpful.  Most of the stuff was about the serious side effects.  After praying about it I got a very strong feeling about not allowing them to give her this shot.  It was just too risky.  I am grateful that I did not have to make that decision on my own.