November 2019

I love November because we have so much school off!  The three younger kids went with me to see the new Springs Preserve Exhibit--we love when it's super interactive!

We had fun making paper ornaments for Jacob's paper missionary Christmas tree.

Alexander and Henry had school off for parent-teacher conferences and they happened to be giving out free bundlets that day--so, of course, we had to get some!  The kids were good sports to wait in a very long line.

I love watching my kids read the scriptures!

For Family Night we made "gratitude granola"... we had to say something we were grateful for as we added each ingredient.

I rarely pick the kids up from school these days because they ride or walk.  Alexander was sick a few days so I ended up walking home with Henry.  It was so fun to listen to him and Lydia on our way home.

One day I came upstairs to find Lydia watching a show with all her best buddies.  She is so cute!

During the month of November Rich received the call to be an early morning seminary teacher.  Because it was well after school had started it was really a shock!  However, the week that he started teaching we started receiving texts from parents who were so grateful that Rich was teaching their child!  One family even had crumbl cookies delivered with a sweet note!  (It read: "We are BEYOND grateful that you are Peyton's seminary teacher.  He came home SO excited and not dreading the rest of the year anymore!!!)

Lydia loves to get her nails painted and recently decided that she wanted to paint mine as well.  She does a pretty good job!

We had our stake day of service this month.  Our car was in the shop so it wasn't possible for us all to go do something together.  Rich took the boys  down to Boulder City to help decorate a foster care home for Christmas.  I think it was a good experience for all of them.  Lydia and I found a service project on Just Serve that benefited our elementary school... so we spent the morning sorting out good crayons to donate to the kindergartners.  We also cleaned all the boys' bathrooms so they wouldn't have to when they got home.

That same evening we took the kids to see Frozen II at the drive-in.  It was really fun!  Olaf and Anna even came out to dance during Olaf's song.  There was a raffle that night and our kids won!

We ended the month by getting Christmas all set up!

Thanksgiving week

Elise came out to Vegas with her kids during the week of Thanksgiving.  While she was here we had a lot of fun.  One thing we made sure to do was visit the Giving Machine!  We allowed the kids to hav $5 each.  They chose to pool their money so that they could give some bigger items.  They all really wanted to buy chickens.  There was a debate how to spend the remaining money but when Rich showed up with $20 from a co-worker who asked Rich to use it at the Giving Machine it allowed for both of the remaining items.  William had really wanted to buy 100 polio vaccines because it would help so many people.  The other kids really wanted to buy a baby resuscitation kit because James probably wouldn’t be with us without the good medical care he received at birth.  It was really sweet to hear them talk about what they wanted to give and to be so excited about it.

I never like to cook the day before thanksgiving so we ordered pizza.  I spent the evening prepping several dishes and it was fun to chat with Elise while she kindly cleaned my china and crystal.

Elise planned to eat Thanksgiving with the Burnetts so we celebrated a day early.  Wednesday was spent cooking! While we cooked dinner William gave the Burnett kids some tennis lessons in the garage.

And then we feasted!  The food was delicious and I'm so glad that Elise made the trip to celebrate with us!

Thursday morning Rich, William, and Alex went to play football.  The other boys were feeling under the weather.  They got home right before Elise left.  Unfortunately she missed her dinner because they got stuck in SNOW in California!  Thankfully they were all okay and were able to meet up with Austin's brother's family for dinner.

We spent the day relaxing, working on William’s Family Life merit badge (we organized and sorted through our toys bins to donate toys), and set up Christmas decorations.  The Elders came by for a little bit to share a message with us.  That night we kept our 16 year tradition of watching Elf on Thanksgiving.

William's birthday

Happy 15th birthday William!!  (15 on the 15th--a golden birthday!)

We kept it super low-key this year  William requested Krispy Kreme donuts for breakfast (and I made sausage for some protein).  Ribs were his dinner request and creme brûlée for dessert.  William even torched his own.

After opening presents we watched the latest episode of The Mandalorian at William's request.

We are so glad to have William in our family.  He is a good big brother and very independent.  It is exciting to watch him grow and mature!

F I F T E E N

William is 15 today!  It makes me sad to think we only have him at home for a few more years.  William is a great young man, a wonderful friend, and the best big brother.  He is currently serving in the Teacher's Quorum Presidency, teaches tennis to twin 10-year-old boys, and loves to hang out with his friends.  He enjoys his video production class at school and is a great sport to get up for seminary every day.  We love William!

What is your favorite...
color? red
food? any fried chicken
toy? Nintendo Switch
show? The Mandalorian
animal?  bear
book(s)? Lord of the Flies
song?  
hymn? Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (because it's the shortest one)
What do you like to do? hang out with my friends
Who is your best friend?  Lydia (He didn't want to list all his friends and wanted to keep his answer of Lydia from last year)
What do you want to be when you grow up? a pilot
Do you have a girlfriend/crush? no

I am -  15

I am afraid of - not much... but sometimes heights

I like - the weekend

I like to eat - chocolate

I don't like - strawberry poptarts, they hurt my stomach

I know - some stuff about things in school

I want to be -  16

I like to watch - YouTube

I like to go to - Oklahoma

My hero is- Lydia

I cry when - I yawn

Mom gets mad when -  I don't do my homework

Mom is happy when - I do my homework

Dad gets mad when - I don't do my jobs on Saturday

Dad is happy when - I do my jobs on Saturday

I can't wait for - tomorrow (his birthday)

Something Mom says to me - "do your Algebra or..." 

Something Dad says to me - "do you need help with your homework" x10

My favorite place to go is - not school

My Mom and Dad make me laugh by - tickling me

I know my mom loves me because - she hasn't kicked me out

I know my dad loves me because -he also hasn't kicked me out

College Reunion

We made it up to our college reunion this November.  This year we all gathered in Brianhead, Utah.  We stayed at a great cabin up in the mountains.  The weather was beautiful and we had a great time!  This year the Fitzgibbons, Scotts, and Trumans were there with us.  It was great to get together with everyone and catch up.

When we first arrived we discovered that Lori had backed her van over a ditch.  Rich, Ryan and the boys worked hard in the dark to pull her van up--miraculously undamaged! 

The first full day that we were there (Saturday) we went on a few short hikes nearby.

Not everyone was excited about the second hike (but it was so cool with mini arches!) so they stayed behind at the cars exploring and climbing trees.

After our hikes we were ready for some lunch.  We stopped at a little diner and overwhelmed them with our numbers!  It was tasty food though.

Aside from heading to church on Sunday we spent the rest of the time playing games, enjoying the beautiful surroundings and chatting with each other!

The kids also spent a ton of time working on building their fort across the road.... and sliding down the hill.

Sunday evening before we headed home the kids built gingerbread houses that Lori brought.

It is always fun to get together with old college friends!  We can't wait until the next time.