1/17/16 Back in the swing of things

Beautiful Sunset seen from our front porch

Feels like we are back in the swing of things after the holidays.  Back to the grind.  Back in our routine.

Last Sunday night we had a birthday party for Wendy.  Her family, Ben & Laura, Gma and Gpa and us.  Over a Gma's house.  She likes soup so we had a soup party.  Laura brought southwest soup, Gma made chicken noodle with fat noodles and dad made chili.  We had breadsticks and salad.  It was yummy and fun. 

Abby is sure growing up.  She is so tiny.  Skinny.  And pretty.  And she has a sweet personality too.  Very likable.  She has said she wants to get together with the girls and do a make-up party.  They haven't done it yet but I think your sisters would enjoy it!

Monday night Dallas and McK were busy so we just had the 4 of us for pizza night.  We made pizza on buns.  They were pretty good.  Guess we'll be seeing less of them as McK's schedule has changed.  She got a job in the hospital as a psych tech --- Her shift is supposed to be from 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. 4 days a week.  She works in the psychiatric unit (a lockdown unit) over in town at the old hospital.  She is also going to school.  So she is super busy for awhile!  

Cheese stuffed pretzels...yumm!

Tuesday I was still paying for the holidays and didn't get home until 8:30 p.m. Bleh.  That is a long day!  

Wednesday the girls had YW starting at 6 p.m. And Dad was working covering a game on the radio.  So I went to the family history library and met Marlee.  I had the missionary man help me figure out how to make my stuff work and then spent a little over an hour doing some of the things that he showed me.  It was pretty interesting.  Marleee came over after I'd been there a little while and we talked a little.  I guess Tuesday she got word that she can't go out on the mission until April now and she just doesn't know what to do.  She is so unclear as to what will happen (extend her mission due to late departure -- which might mess up her scholarship and make it longer till she see's you).  She also doesn't know if she'll for sure go where they originally assigned, or go somewhere else.  Or if she should do a local mission.  Or just what!  I think she was overwhelmed.  I'm not sure I was any help but we talked a little while and she decided she needs to find out some more (she had an appointment with the Bishop coming up I think) and then pray and see if she can figure out what feels right.  Hard decisions.  Sometimes the path we should take is unclear.  She'll get it though. 

Thursday night the girls and Dad and I went to a girl's game at PVHS.  Snow Canyon beat them but we had a nice evening out together.  

Friday night the girls had basketball practice.  Dad and I went to Ricardo's (Mexican restaurant) with Gma and Gpa and then Dad went to work and the Riley girls came over until practice.  We made cheese stuffed pretzels - they were pretty yummy!!! The girls played at the park and had fun. 

Saturday they lost their game -- the other team had 3 border league girls on it and they were all better than our best player on our team.  Oh well.  They stayed in there.  Lost like 30 - 20 or something.  Could have been worse!

We had a nice quiet evening.  Watched BYU basketball (another loss).  Week of losing!  Then we made cheese dip and played games.  We mopped and cleaned up while dad posted his game in between things.  We made homemade ice cream too.  It was pretty rich.  

And here it is Sunday again already!  

Mint chocolate chip cookies

We were having a little squabble about who's turn it was to clean the bathrooms upstairs (they always say they did it last week).  So I decided to assign them every other week and program it in my phone so they can't say it's not their week anymore.  Anyway the calendar lets you pick how long you want it to continue with that "event". So I picked 5 years...do you realize how different life will be in 5 years?!  Katie will be 19!!!!! Probably not even living at home anymore.  Holly 17.  Holy smokes!  Better savor these last days with my girls at home. 

I'm still missing my boy family!!!!!  I didn't realize how hard it would be to have you all grow up and move out!  Sigh.  Part of growing up for me too I guess!  

Quote of the week: 

Life can not give me joy and peace, it is up to me to will it.
Life just gives me time and space, it is up to me to fill it.
--William James

Hope you are filling your days with joy and peace and that you are happy.  Think of you often and pray for you and miss you!!!!  

Hope your temple trip is great this week.  (I printed my brother's work out so we are going to get his work done soon, hopefully).  Nice job on uploading the pix and stuff for his page.  It was the best one out there.  Nobody else seems to have taken the time to do stuff like that with the people I looked at. 

Love you!  Mom