November 2021

 I got to start the month off with a visit from my dear friends.  Brigitta, Kara, and I served in the Relief Society Presidency for almost four years together.  We went through every change imaginable.  We became best friends.  Brigitta and her family moved to Florida.  I've missed her so much!  It was fun to catch up with both friends.

Wyatt turned 18!  Unbelievable!  He turned an abandoned smoker into a kiln.  He is excited to graduate early and move to Utah on his own.  

I ballooned his door so he would have a birthday morning surprise.  

We took Wyatt to PF Changs after the first restaurant he wanted to have his birthday dinner at was closed.

Wyatt got socks, a bass guitar and a trip to Hawaii for his birthday.  Pretty sweet 18!

Clare passed her permit test on November 8th.  It was a big day (two birthdays and Clare's test).

Wyatt and Will had a great trip to Hawaii!  Wyatt dressed like this to fly to Hawaii.  

They boys stayed with Will's cousin, Shawn, who has lived in Hawaii for a few years now.  

They went on a rad hike that did not end in death...just body builders posing at a water fall.

They had surf lessons.

And lots of shave ice.

While Will and Wyatt were in Hawaii (there are a lot of Ws in that sentence) we stayed home and enjoyed the long weekend.  The little kids and I took a hike.  California experienced an atmospheric river (a season's worth of rain in just a few days) the second to last weekend in October.  As a result the hills are green and so glorious!

Adell had her 12th birthday on Thanksgiving day.  We were supposed to go over to Alan and Heather's house for Thanksgiving.  However, Will came down with COVID.  The Friday before Thanksgiving he had a little cough and scratchy throat.  He was supposed to have a big in person meeting at work.  He decided to do a home COVID test just to make sure...but it came back positive.  He immediately isolated in our room.  I moved down to the family room couch.  But super stinker, I started with COVID symptoms Sunday night.  It was nice to move back up to our room but it meant our whole week was shot.  

The kids were amazing at entertaining themselves all week.  Lots of screen time.  And the whole family chipped in to make Thanksgiving dinner.  Friends delivered groceries and decorated our lawn for Adell's birthday.  Will and I lost our taste/smell right as Thanksgiving rolled around.  That was such a bummer.  We felt tired and achy for a couple of days but the loss of senses lasted a couple of weeks.  

Not being able to smell was wild.  After a few days it started to feel like I had gotten water up my nose.  You know that high, burning feeling up in your sinuses when you get water up your nose?  It felt like that all the time.  I would take walks and expect to smell fresh air and get nothing.  It was wild.  It was also such a bummer to not be able to taste.  I would forget to eat and be starving by the end of the day.  

Lorien decided to stay with her roommates in San Diego so she wouldn't get COVID (smart).  She and two roommates put on a darling Thanksgiving for each other. 

Our family dinner was small and quiet.  We loved it.  Except for not being able to taste or smell anything.

Adell got a cell phone for her birthday!  Thanks to birthday week she got to celebrate more once we could leave isolation.

Lorien and her friends got a Christmas tree and planned a gift exchange.

Adell finally got her cake (instead of Thanksgiving pie) on the last day of November.  She is a patient darling person.

October 2021

October happenings!

I got my bottom braces off!  I am braces free!  I have a permanent retainer on my bottom teeth and have to wear a clear retainer on the top day and night for the next six months.  Once again, I am in love with my simile and so thankful for my orthodontist, Tri-Valley Ortho. 

Uncle Alan and Aunt Heather and their kids came for a visit.  We all loved visiting, hanging out, snuggling the baby, playing with cousins, and Heather braided Wyatt's hair.

Will is wrestling in worlds in Greece this month but that will be its own post.  Lorien came out to watch the kids while we went.  I made everyone sit for a timer family photo.  I am so glad I did.  We are good looking people and I love us.

Wyatt had his senior photo session for the year book.  He looks like my dad.

The school had their Halloween parade on a Wednesday, even though school went until Friday?  I totally messed it up and didn't send Colter with a costume.  The school called and asked if I could bring one over.  Thankfully I had some crap for him to choose from.  Also, miracles of miracle, the school office had one extra costume Colter could have picked if he wanted.  The fact that they even called me to help was enough to make me love this school forever.  I love that they know me and our family.  

I have attended the Halloween parade every single year since we moved here.  Well, I didn't go to the very first one because I didn't know it was a thing parents went to.  Once I knew (and knew how sad my kids were that I missed it) I went to every one.  Sitting on that black top cooking my butt off every year. 

This year, because of COVID, parents were not allowed to attend.  I was fine with that.  I've put in my time.  The kids never see that I am there.  I have to take photos of them to show them at home for proof I was there.  It is silly but I do it.  Some parents were allowed to go and take pictures for the yearbook.  One mom texted me these pictures of Colter.

He loved being a cowboy.  He tipped his hat and called people ma'am and sir.  Everyone told me he really hammed it up.  

Clare had her first indoor, in person choir concert.  She was wonderful!  She even had a solo/trio.

Lorien went all out being Asane, an anime character from a show called Death Note.

Colter was Appa, the air bison from Avatar again this year.

I took myself to prom for the ward Halloween party.

Wyatt was a lumber jack.

Clare and her friends were Christmas Jammy wearers?  I don't know.  She has this little quartet of friends that I love.  Clara is her best friend and they have two guy friends: Austin and Jake.  Austin took Clare to homecoming.  I think Jake was Santa?  I don't know.  They are cute friends.

Adell was an ice cream cone.  She came up with the idea all by herself and made it.  She is awesome!

Lorien had a cozy costume change for Halloween night: Kirby.  She gave out king sized candy bars at her house in San Diego.  She didn't get a lot of trick or treaters but she had a good night.

Will and his friends are training for an ultra marathon (50K) in November.  They walked the entire length of the Iron Horse trail for training one Saturday.  It took all day.  I met them with my friend, Ann, in San Ramon walking the rest of the way.  The guys walked from Danville up to Concord, took an Uber down to Pleasanton and walked back up to Danville.  It was a crazy trek!

Greece part 4 (Athens)

Athens was a spectacular, busy, crowded, graffiti-filled, ancient-stuff-filled, wonderful city.  We toured the Acropolis, the white marble Olympic stadium, ate loads of delicious food, had a food tour, saw the National Gardens, and the Palace Guards at the Presidential Palace.  It was a great last four days in Greece.