I had a roommate in college teach me that you could "roast" marshmallows over a stove! Haha. I thought it would be fun for an FHE treat. I bought these chocolate squares that have caramel in them and we made s'mores!
Happy birthday to my sweetest Weston!! Oh my gosh I love him so much. Just thinking about him makes me smile. How did I get so lucky to be his mom? He's a treasure and such a blessing to me.
Favorite foods: Sub sandwiches, any type of BBQ, quesadillas, brownies, cotton candy DQ blizzards, raspberry brownie concrete from Andys
Least favorite foods: lettuce wraps, sweet potatoes, cornbread, sherbet "cake"
Favorite class: English, because it's easy
Least favorite class: Spanish, because its hard
Closest friends: Graham, Henry, Brody, Reagan, Grant
Currently loves skateboarding
Favorite shows; Psych, Brooklyn 99, The Office
Wants to travel to Alaska
Involved in wrestling and diving
Weston is changing! He looked so different from the first day of freshman year to the last. His voice is deep, he's taller... he's growing into a man! Weston loves to learn about new things. Right now he's interested in planes and tracking them on an app he has. He wants to be a pilot. He loves fishing. He's always telling me about some new fact he's learned. He's chill and easy going. Rides the Super 73 around to go to friend's houses or get himself to wrestling practice if I can't take him. I'm writing this in June and over the past couple months I've noticed he and Olive have become friends. They laugh and joke and seem to enjoy each other's company. This is a big change from before! It makes me so happy!
He sleeps on the top bunk in their room and he hates it. Their room gets hot and he hates climbing up to get to his bed.
Weston is simply the nicest kid. He will be the best dad. He's a natural with babies and kids. He has a soft spot for animals, especially Winnie. He's good-natured, likes to talk to people and can get along with anyone. I love him more than I can say!
That night he had a birthday party that started at a rage room in Mesa. The boys LOVED it. An adult had to be in the room so Travis joined them. The crashing noises were jarring. I had to walk away haha.
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Left to right is Henry, Grant, Weston and Mason
Then we went to Grandma's house to continue the party with hot tubbing and dinner! We did a nacho bar and they had fun playing basketball and even jumping in the pool. So many kids gave him nice gifts. One of his wrestling friends gave him a jar of pickles because supposedly it's supposed to help with electrolytes while wrestling??
Tanner has been playing a winter season of baseball and has a great coach.
I've wanted to do something with the bishopric for a long time and I finally did it! We hosted a Valentines party at our house complete with Boca and couples games. The balloon game won for most hilarious. One spouse stood at the end of the room and the other spouse had to run across the room with a balloon and pop it against their spouses body. Then repeat for two more balloons. Best time wins. The Kaylene Knighton RAN down that hall like a linebacker and slammed into her husband so hard she ricocheted back onto the ground! I was DYING! We laughed so hard! I can't believe I didn't take more pictures! Brian and Taylor Libby, Scott and Aubrey Rowan, Joseph and Kaylene Knighton and Wes and Taryn Nearon all came. They are also all in their 20's or 30's with really young kids so we felt like the old grandparents in the group for sure!
Tanner gave a talk in Primary. I tried to teach him that including a personal story or application helps people listen. He did not want to. I coaxed him and coaxed him. Told him that being vulnerable is what helps people connect to you. He finally agreed. Then he went up there and read the first two paragraphs then said, in the name of Jesus Christ amen, and sat down. My jaw hung open. That turkey.
I took Camilla out for her birthday date! I took her to get a facial first (I spent HOURS trying to find a place where we could do it together but it's impossible on a weekday night). Then we did a cookie decorating class at Studio 223 in downtown Gilbert. You wouldn't think it would take so long but we were there for 3 hours! I was proud of our cookies though! Then we got dinner at Tap'N'Tikka... Indian food.. one of her favorites! Then ended at Frost for gelato. I love this girl! We had the best time.
I was only sad that while I was gone, I missed seeing Collin got asked to Sadies in the cutest way!!
(It breaks my heart he never got to go because he was grounded.)
Tanner's Valentine's box. It was his idea and he did it all himself!
Our Valentine's date was to go to the Phoenix temple. We had only ever been to take Collin to do baptisms so it was interesting to go to a session. Then we tried Doughbird for lunch.
I helped Collin make clay earrings that he could give to Paige.
Shelley was looking for someone to run the Mesa 1/2 marathon with and asked me and Marcie. I laughed at the thought. Then I sat on it a minute and figured, "why not?!" I fully expected to run a few miles then walk the rest. I haven't trained or been running in years. Well I forgot my airpods so Shelley was nice enough to talk to me and that distracted us enough that we ran the whole thing!! I was so surprised and proud of us! And we made pretty decent time too! But boy were my legs killing me the next 4-5 days. The running was the easy part... the recovery was awful. Oh, btw it was on Valentines Day!
After my tub soak, Tanner, Travis and I went on a bike ride to Tru Bowl for some lunch! Then I met my sisters with our kids at the park and ended at our parents house so the kids could hot tub. Not the most romantic Valentine's Day but I was happy being able to spend it with the people I love!
The front of the thank you card Camilla wrote for me. KC&Jojo.... a 90's classic.
We had the Figs over for the day! It was President's Day so no school. Winnie is always a hit. We had a picnic at the park. This was also the afternoon that I got a phone call that sent me. I'm not going to write about it except that it involved Collin. I was not OK. The cold sore that popped up the next day proves it. My stress and anger were through the roof. We were supposed to host the Lindblom Lip Sync party that Sunday and I didn't feel I had any other choice but to cancel it. I knew there was no way I could handle it. But that brought the unwanted attention of everyone wondering what was going on. I was spiraling Tuesday morning when the doorbell rang. I got on the Ring camera to see both my parents standing there. I'm crying all over again remembering it. I invited them in and told them everything. I was so indescribably sad. I felt so defeated. So broken. I cried and cried. I knew there wasn't anything they could do, but just the fact that they came meant everything. I didn't feel so alone. I truly didn't think I would do anything but lie in bed for the week. But somehow, someway, I gradually forced myself to function. My spirit didn't want to, but the reality of life is that I can't just pull the covers over my head. I'm sure that my parent's visit and prayers helped me crawl out of my hole. I will always remember them showing up for me that day.
At Tanner's school, the 3rd grade does a singing performance commemorating Arizona's birthday. They were invited to dress like cowboys wearing red, white and blue. He insisted I buy this shirt (hasn't worn it since) and was thrilled Collin let him borrow his hat and belt buckle. The songs were *so* cute. They had learned Fifty Nifty United States and he knew all of them! I just love this boys so much!
It was Ash Wednesday and I've always wanted to attend a service. This felt like the year to do it. I needed all the Jesus I could get. I loved the La Pieta sculpture and other artwork and sculptures. I stayed for about an hour and got the ash on my forehead but left during communion. It felt good to be in a room surrounded by believers, preparing for Easter. Instead of giving something up for Lent I decided to make a goal to not miss a day of scripture study. Travis gave up social media.
Our family Valentine's dinner! I had to wait for a night we were actually all together. I made homemade alfredo sauce to go over heart shaped pasta! We dipped strawberries in chocolate and had the fancy cookies I decorated with Camilla. I gave Olive a cute waterbottle, earrings and a sweatshirt. Tanner got a new kick ball, water bottle and nerf bullets. Collin and Weston got gift cards. Parenting is freaking hard. But I love our family more than life.
Nora Yeager asked Tanner to be her Valentine. Tanner came home from school and casually asked me if it was OK for him to have a Valentine. I guess Nora has a bit of a crush on him. Sad for her, we learned shortly thereafter that they are like 3rd cousins or something, haha. She gave him a 3D printed candy dispenser with a ginormous bag of Skittles.
Marcie spoke at her stake Relief Society conference on having Christ-centered traditions. She did amazing! I took Olive with me because we had to hurry straight afterward to her dance competition.
Katie got baptized into her church, Sun Valley. I found out super last second on Sunday morning, so I hurried and got dressed and flew over there. Luckily our church wasn't until 11:30am, so I could do both. I LOVED it. I loved standing and singing with everyone. I loved the passion of the pastor's talk. I loved how many members were spread out all over the property, welcoming you as you walking in. I loved that Katie has felt so good attending church and wanted to make a commitment to Christ. It was a beautiful morning!
Camilla's birthday was on a Tuesday morning, so I went extra early before my temple shift and decorated her front lawn. Kind of hard to tell in the dark.
Olive had another orchestra concert!
Early morning baptisms. Weston has wrestling so it was just the three of us.
The school earned an inflatable day from fundraising so Travis and I volunteered to help out. How is it so hot in February?! This is youngest child privilege for sure. ;)
I have never liked cantaloupe, but a widow in our ward (Grace) loves it. So I started buying it for her and my kids wondered why I never buy it for them. So now I do and Weston will an entire one in one sitting! I've even started coming around to it, haha! So, thank you Grace for opening our eyes.
Kayda got her tonsils out and had a rough go of it. Collin has been grounded, but he was allowed to go see his cousin. I also went a few days later and did a funny Instagram reel with her to try and lift her spirits.
Tate opened his mission call! He's going to the country of Georgia.. same as his older sister, Halle! Yowzers!
Mutual at the mall. I think maybe they did a scavenger hunt?? Bless youth leaders!
