November

 Part of my stress at Collin learning to drive was the fear he'd crash my car. So we started looking for a teenager car for him. Travis found this little, black, Mazda truck. Same body style of a Ford Ranger. I think it's a 2003. We paid $5,000. I pick him up from school at the Circle K down the street to avoid the mayhem of school traffic. Travis and I got the truck without him knowing and parked at the Circle K to pick him up from school. We both videotaped as he walked up, looked confused, then saw Travis in the truck. His face was CLASSIC. First disbelief, then profuse joy! He always has been the most fun kid to give gifts to. His facial expressions are everything. He hugged us and couldn't stop exclaiming "oh my gosh" and "I can't believe it" over and over. We let him drive home and the whole drive he was beside himself. These are the payoff moments of parenthood for sure! And I just love that he isn't high maintenance. It's an old truck. Nothing fancy. He has friends driving brand new Jeeps or shiny red trucks but he was so grateful for this. And it's not even technically "his". Just the family, teenager car he can drive now. He tried out some names before landing on Black Betty.

Marcie had her family Halloween party the weekend after Halloween to make scheduling easier. Travis and I went as Adam and Eve. Full, nude colored body suits covered in vines. Is my husband a good sport, or what?

Seeing my husband like this in the kitchen with my mom just gave me the giggles. 

My parents had the best costume  EVER!!! They dressed up as David and Abbey hahaha! It was a dead ringer! My dad looked 30 years younger with the fake beard and new fit. David and Abbey dressed up like them a different year so it was pay-back time. We all couldn't stop laughing.

My stake had their annual, Relief Society service day. I made a bunch of these cute wreaths for a retirement home! And got to visit with Uncle Nick's daughter in law, Roz Udall, for most of the time. Her husband, Nick, isn't active right now, but their son, Hunt, is also in our stake and our orthopedic surgeon, when we need it. He's awesome. 

Weston had fun playing flag football with his friend Mason, for what now seems was the last time ever. Sadness. Unfortunately their coach was super weird and flaked a lot so the season wasn't awesome, but I think he had some good times. 

Daddy daughter, stake dance for these two!

I substituted Tanner's primary class. This was his sculpture of Christ at the tomb.

Okayyyyy. I see you, sweet Jane!! Look at those adorable smiles! Her blessing day was super special. Marcie bore her testimony, which, as usual, was really powerful and emotional. 

Whether she likes it or not, the cousins love her!

I tried my best to take some good pictures of her in her blessing outfit. Always easier said than done with babies and their many facial expressions! But this was a sweet one with her precious smile.

Happy 4th birthday, Winnie! We've degenerated to whipped cream on a plate. She loved it.

Showing Collin the way with old school CD's in his car CD player. Sadly, it skips a lot. The nostalgia was still strong!

My first day as a temple worker! 

Grandma came over to give Olive a violin lesson to practice for the upcoming Christmas party.

Swim practice is every weekday morning from 5am-6:30am. Can you imagine swimming that long?! Travis is a champ and took him every day, then went to the gym. I like to get up early, but not when a 4 is the first digit of the alarm! I would pick him up on my way home from my gym session. This was the last day I picked him up. The blessing is that it is literally a half mile from our house. Next year, he can drive himself!

Tanner drew a family picture, complete with a popsicle stick frame on the back to give it structure, and hung it up on our wall. and there is will remain forever. I appreciate that I'm the same size as Weston haha.

Couldn't find Tanner. I went searching and opened the door to this.

Collin made it to the state championships held at Phoenix Country Day School in Paradise Valley. Apparently it costs a cool $35,000 a year to go to high school here. His friend on the club team he competes with goes to school here. His name is Chase Sorosky and both his parents are surgeons. Talk about making friends in high places!

Collin did awesome and placed 3rd! Chase placed 1st. Chase and the 2nd place finishers are seniors so Collin is licking his chops, planning to take 1st next year. We shall see!

Our sweet, wonderful Annie Coon got married!! Now she is Annie Ferrin! She had a beautiful reception way out in Queen Creek. Yummy tacos and pizookies and dancing! We were freezing, but so glad we could be there to support her.

Then we went straight to Tanner's flag football tournament game. The kids grumbled but it was all over in 20 minutes because they got mercy ruled. Sad. The only time Tanner got the whole family to cheer for him and it was over almost as soon as it started. I would have felt more sad but I was so cold I couldn't breath so we were thrilled to hightail it out of there!

Kids for Kindness!

We took the kids to see The Best Christmas Pageant Ever movie. Travis remembers watching the original growing up but I'd never seen it. Cute movie. Everyone thought the main girl looked like Olive.

Pictures on my phone after Sunday night dinners at Grandmas! Just a bunch of gangsters.

Sleepovers at Landon's house are the epitome of happy days! Aunt Marcie is a saint! 

I wanted it documented that I took Collin on the freeway. How many bonus mom points here?? A katrillion? I just repeated to myself over and over, "I can do hard things. I can do hard things."

Well if this isn't terrifying I don't know what is. I had Tanner sleep in my room for two nights until an electrician could come check it out. He didn't see anything wrong with the outlet and determined it must be a faulty night light. I also bought a heavy duty, fire escape, folding ladder for Olive's bedroom because her bedroom window leads to a straight two, story drop below. Stephanie Peterson, our babysitter from 9th ward, lives across Recker from me in Morrison Ranch and her house caught fire from a RC car battery that was charging. Freaking scary! 

One of my favorite things to do is anonymously leave flowers, a treat and encouraging note on people's doorsteps in the early morning hours. But with Ring doorbell cameras it's tricky not getting caught. Enter, the Darth Vader mask. Although, I'm a bit afraid a neighbor might call the police if they see me.

So random, but when Winnie goes potty on walks she "wipes her paws" over and over as she walks away, flinging grass helter skelter. It cracks me up every time. So dainty. Who knows, maybe all dogs do this.

Primary program! Olive's last one. Wipe a tear.

So grateful to be loved by these wonderful grandparents.

I've been healed by celery juice for 4 years now, but this still resonates haha!

Relief Society pie making night!

I signed up to teach art masterpiece for the first time ever. I switch off months with another mom but still go on her months to help out. I tried to teach them to sculpt a dog. Ha! I'm the last person qualified to do this. But it's so fun to be with the kids. Tanner's teacher doesn't let moms come in to help so this is my only chance to be in there. 

For Veteran's Day the school decorates the walls with family who serve or have served. Hi, Grandpa Jess and Aunt Katie!

We try really hard to take the kids to do baptisms once a week in the morning before school. Generally, Travis takes them and they swing through Bosa for a donut afterward. They invite friends too, Occasionally, we'll go on a Friday though and get Venezias pizza afterward. This Friday, Marcie had reached out about getting together so we met her at the temple and let the kids play while we waited for the older ones to be done. It was Travis's first time getting to hold her since the hospital.

Twisted Sugar has this seasonal, peppermint fudge cookie that is TO.DIE.FOR. I usually go for ice cream after a date night, but this cookie has me reevaluating everything!

My little elf helper wanted to decorate herself more than the tree!

We had the highschoolers over for games and ice cream. Travis gave a devotional. I think in the future we'll stick to just games.

I live at my computer doing schoolwork. I'm in a counseling theories class right now and it's a lot of information to keep straight.

These kids love to play school when they get together!

Thanksgiving!

I have always made homemade pie crusts but this year I'm tired. And wondered if anyone would even tell the difference. So I bought frozen pie crust and just made the fillings. I made Grandmother's chocolate custard, a white chocolate macadamia nut and a cherry. 

I say it every year, but I LOVE the turkey trot tradition! 

Our first one was 2015 so it's been 9 years of jogging, minus 2020 when we did our own turkey trot. 

Dan Law and his boys were there so Graham and Weston decided to run in Santa suits. The Laws run cross country so Graham quickly smoked Weston and he was left, sweaty and panting trying to finish the race, poor guy! The Santa/sweat suit didn't turn out to be such a great idea.

Reddin and Karen's family family joined us for the first time! It was really fun getting to do it with them. Livy had a hurt foot so she did the whole thing on a scooter. What a trooper!

It's been awhile since we've done Thanksgiving lunch at my parent's house with everyone. The Goodmans were at the dunes but everyone else came. 

Travis not only smoked a turkey but also a brisket!

Abbey and I twinning it with exact same boots, button up cardigans and wide leg jeans haha. Call us basic, white girls.

My cousin, Andy Godsey, was in town and stopped by to say hi, which was so nice. He lives in Utah near Christopher and they're good friends.

We had a lot of fun playing a game where you have to guess the year and artist of songs. Then we went out back and did a funny tik tok dance where one person makes up an 8 count of dance moves then the next person in line watches and tries to copy cat. It goes down the line like playing telephone but with dance moves. We were cracking up!

Since the boys didn't have Lane or Rusty, they left after lunch to go hang at Grandma Evans house with their other cousins. Really works out nicely that they live so close! Olive went over a little later too.

My Uncle Dea's funeral was that Saturday. Marcie, my mom and I brought breakfast over to Aunt Marcia's house that morning. Marcie made tons of cinnamon rolls, my mom did a big fruit bowl and I made 4 batches of homemade granola and bought yogurt and orange juice. They seemed to really appreciate it and thanked us over and over at the funeral. I LOVED hearing all the kids get up and talk about their dad. I have so many fond memories at the Montague house growing up and feel super proud and lucky to be related to such an awesome family. 

There was no viewing the night before or before the funeral, but they did a little reception afterward with desserts so people could stay and visit. We stayed, but then met up at Mangos for lunch. 

Grandma's turkey flautas are always anticipated after Thanksgiving. Collin was inducted as a fryer!

Collin got asked to Winter Formal by his friend's cousin. She brought him a whole meal right after we got home from a big, family dinner haha. She was super cute. He is only 15 but it seems we've entered a new day and age when this is deemed acceptable.