Service and Burnout

We did so much that first week of December. I wanted to get things in before the tradition of being sick during the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. Actually, nobody was sick for that this year. Yay. We did enjoy watching it together.

In Sacrament Meeting that morning, our bishop talked about doing simple acts of service, which as you know I've been thinking about and trying to do lately. He shared an experience where he offered to throw away somebody's trash for them because it looked like they were done eating. Simple acts of service. I offered to take someone's cart back for them in the Costco parking lot. I was already taking mine back and he had one arm already full. Simple acts of service. At church, I complimented a couple men on their ties because the Christmas season brings out some awesome festive ties. Simple acts of service.

I also took some time Sunday afternoon to make paper bag puppets with Jet. He loved it. 

So I tried to do service. I tried celebrating. Then Monday and the burnout came. I had my nice little breakdown, feeling the overwhelm. I managed to clean and vacuum the living room. I did not manage to catch up on dishes. Did you know baking uses a lot of dishes? I still haven't caught up on the dishes. I'll just admit that right now. And I want to do more baking (read that with a whiny voice).

I still managed to do service when a couple people asked me to help with things. I mean, when someone needs a balloon blown up and you have access to balloon pumps... 

Monday evening, I dragged the kids (a couple were grumpy and didn't want to go- everyone's feeling the burnout and overwhelm) over to the mall for something new. 

They had a live nativity. Students from one of the local high schools were the performers. I knelt down with Jet to explain who the different people represented. When we get to the different groups (shepherds, wise men, etc.) in our family scripture study, I'll be able to remind him of what we saw. 

We also got hot chocolate and brownies there which we were excited about because December 8 was National Brownie Day.

Jet wanted to go inside the big Christmas tree while we were there. It is so cool looking inside.

 

We enjoyed the holiday lights (including the lights of the fountain). 

Here's a funny story. We sat down by the fountain to let Jet eat his brownie because he was just carrying it around for a while. While we were sitting there, Lucky handed me his napkin which he had shaped like a flower and said, "Here's a pretty flower for the lady." Awwww. When Jet finished his brownie, he handed me his crumb covered napkin and said, "Here's a napkin for when you finish your brownie." Ha Ha Ha Ha. I think he did it in a similar voice to what Lucky was using which is what made it hilarious. Have I mentioned I love my kids?

 

We got to see live animals as we walked back to our van, including a camel.

The weather was so good that day. We were really fortunate. I think the student performers were also really fortunate because when Nichole went to the mall just a couple days before that, it was so cold.

The grumpy kids didn't stay grumpy very long which I am grateful for and Jet was very well behaved.

We talked about how many years ago (November 2017), most of us got to ride a camel, so when we got home, Jet got on his brother's back and told us, "I'm riding a camel."

Since it was also Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day, we had "fish fingers and custard" at home.

Huh. I guess going to a live nativity also works for that holiday because we went back more than 2000 years to when Jesus came to Earth as a little baby.

 

Yesterday, December 9, was National Llama Day so my mom said I could share a couple pictures she took of her neighborhood llamas. She shared some llama thoughts with me as well. I love that my mom helps me celebrate. 

Lots of Lights

December 6 was a day for being around holiday lights apparently.

Since it was St. Nicholas Day, we found candy in our shoes. Lucky let me know that he had learned about that holiday in the library so when he saw it on the calendar, it reminded him that it was that holiday so he went to look in his shoes.

I need to take a little break from writing now because Jet wants his turn so this is my way of doing service for him now- letting him type.

 

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Now it's my turn (after I edited his a little). 

Besides St. Nicholas Day, December 6 was also Put On Your Own Shoes Day. That happened. 

Since the lights are on at City Center Park now, I wanted to get out for a walk on the first morning I could, which was that Saturday (because weekdays during school, there's not enough time). You know I like going for morning walks there when the lights are on. It was Play Outside Day as well.

It was raining that morning so I was worried about going out until Jeremy encouraged me to unlock my "inner Oregonian" and I realized I could use an umbrella. So I went and got a good walk in the rain and enjoyed the lights (and an audiobook). 

That evening, Nichole needed to go some places for homework so I took her to the mall and to BYU, both places with holiday lights. 

She pointed out the cool Nativity they had on the windows of the library at BYU. 

The moon looked cool that night.

We ate breakfast sandwiches that night because it was Microwave Oven Day and I made sure to cook my egg in the microwave as well as sausage links. 

 

Perhaps You'd Like to Chew... On Your Fist

We celebrated Chinese New Year on January 25. It's the year of the rat, the metal rat.
I love how "helpful" our children are. I wanted to get a picture of the Chinese food we made (Jeremy made most of it, I wrapped the egg rolls). I had my arms full of baby again so Lucky offered to take a picture of the food. What a sweetie. Of course even standing on a chair he was too short to get all the food in the picture from the angle he was at but it's the thought that counts.

Jeremy was also a sweetie and held Jet while I ate.

There have been times in the past where we have watched Kung Fu Panda for Chinese New Year. Fun movie. There is a line toward the beginning of the movie where a character says, "I see you like to chew. Perhaps you'd like to chew... on my fist." Jet has gotten into chewing on his fist lately, including on Chinese New Year so we've been going around saying, "Perhaps you'd like to chew... on your fist." It's the small things, I tell you.

After dinner and fortune cookies, Jeremy took the four kids (as compared to the one baby) to the mall for the Chinese New Year celebration over there.

Apparently it was very foggy that night so instead of coming home when they were done, they hung out in the van until it was time for fireworks. We can normally watch the mall fireworks from our house, but not in that kind of fog.

While they were gone, I celebrated a little of A Room of One's Own Day, also January 25. I often spend quite a bit of time in my room anyway with this new baby in cold/flu season (I look forward to Spring but I'm glad I'm not stir crazy). While Jet slept, I got out my new foot spa I got for Christmas and was using it while wearing my comfy new bathrobe when Jeremy and the kids got back.

Earlier in the day I did get the room to myself to take a nap while Jeremy took care of Jet. Thanks, Jeremy. And thanks, Jet, for being content while I got some rest.

Halloween Fun

Trunk or Treat and ward party! We even made chili this year to contribute to the chili cookoff (and there was enough left over for dinner another night). I don't have indoor pictures to show from the ward party.

The kids' costumes: Jr. Jr. was a pirate. Lucky was a pumpkin. Jr. was a Ten Man from The Mysterious Benedict Society book series. Nichole was Kate Weatherall from The Mysterious Benedict Society book series.
How do you like my costume?

I fooled several people thinking I had a baby in there. Nope. It was candy to hand out.

Beautiful weather for being outside. Several of us wore short sleeves.
And the next morning? Snow on the ground.

Then it stayed pretty cold through Halloween (depending on the time of day. There was no more snow, though).
Halloween day, I went to watch Jr. Jr. and Lucky walk in the school's Halloween parade. Then I got to watch Lucky's kindergarten presentation, sharing what they've been learning. He was so happy to have me there and to give me a hug afterward. I love supporting my kids like that. And I'm so glad he loves school.

After school, we met up with friends to do trick or treating at the mall.

Then the kids and I went home to have some dinner and did some trick or treating in our neighborhood.

We stopped off at a neighbor's fire to warm up and roast some marshmallows. Then we collected Jeremy who by then was home from work and went to visit and trick or treat at my sister's.

On a side note, after the ward party, Lucky was proud to show me what he did to his face and hands (and armpits) with a stamp. I let him know (nicely) it was not the best choice since we had church the next morning (the Primary program). Thankfully it washed off.

Catching Up- June

We sent Nichole off the end of May and while she was having a good time with cousins and grandparents, we were having fun here with our boys.

We started the month off with Orem Library's Summer Reading Program kickoff.

We decided to sign up for the reading program this year. The theme was the Centennial (not surprising) and traveling through time on the time traveling train- the Orem Express.

Jeremy built the train out of balloons this year.

During the reading program we earned badges for reading certain amounts of books and we earned badges for doing other activities. We received different awards for different amounts of badges.

The kickoff had an old west theme.  The boys were able to get their picture taken in a wanted poster, practice their sharpshooting, practice roping horses, and pan for gold.  Jr. was helpful and took a lot of pictures.

As usual we loved the puppet show.

The day after the Summer reading kickoff, Jr. went back to school (so much for sleeping in in the mornings). He was accepted into a Summer program at UVU where they teach junior high age students STEM skills. UVU Prep.

He learned a lot of things and made some new friends and said he loved it.
It didn't stop him from being involved in some of our Summer Reading Program adventures, though.
He helped Jr. Jr. create a box dwelling to be included in the library's Box City.

He helped his sister solve a mystery in the teen area.

He read plenty of books to himself and also his little brother.

Jr. wasn't the only one reading books aloud to Lucky.
On the very first day of the Summer Reading Program, right after we signed up, the kids picked out books and Jr. Jr. immediately started reading to Lucky. I love those kids.

While Nichole was still gone, we got to go to a Summer party, one that we go to every year.  Jeremy worked and the boys and I played. But the boys were so good to offer Jeremy food and drink while he was working.

While we were there, both Lucky and Jr. Jr. got balloons from Dad, inflated but not twisted.  They twisted their own.

Jeremy and I had the opportunity to go to another play from friends who used to be in our ward in Orem before they moved.  We enjoyed it again. Ah, community theatre. It brings back so many memories.

We welcomed Nichole back from her trip.  The younger boys made her "Welcome Home" notes. She had a great time with her cousins and grandparents and even saw a pileated woodpecker in Oregon and told us how they had identified it.  That's our girl. She was in good company with Grandma and Grandpa who also like birds.

Jr. Jr. had the opportunity to go to Cub Scout Day Camp and do a lot of activities there.

Another day, he had some Cub Scout fun finishing up some of his requirements that they didn't do at the day camp.

Jeremy and I did balloons at Orem Summerfest again this year.

For Father's Day on June 16, the kids fixed Jeremy breakfast in bed.  Sweet kids.

The kids wrapped and decorated a present for Jeremy- a portable charcoal grill.

What Jeremy wanted for Father's Day was a homemade ice cream and homemade root beer party with friends so we did that the day after Father's Day. Homemade root beer floats.

After my parents dropped off the girls and went back to Oregon, not long after, they came back to Utah again. My nephew was going on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so we got together to listen to him speak in church before he left. After church, we were able to have a relaxing afternoon at my sister's house. It was the perfect opportunity to get a grandkids picture since the last one we had was from when Nichole got baptized.  My parents have had more grandkids arrive since that picture including Lucky and my niece's husband.

These two grandkids pictures were taken by my photographer sister, Kimber Hodson. I love seeing her work with people in her photos. You've seen some of the pictures we get with our kids refusing to give us happy looks. She is great with it. My kids will smile for her.
Here's a link to her photo site: kimberhodson.pixieset.com

Jr. Jr., Lucky, and I went to Provo Towne Center one day to conduct an experiment. We took coins and the boys raced them. Jr. Jr. created a chart so they could keep track of which coins were fastest.

While we were at the mall, we also played and rode escalators. 

One night at the Orem Library, we had a busy badge earning evening. The kids joined in at the LEGO Lab and built trains.

Then we went over to Open Chess Night to play some games.

While Jeremy and the kids finished up with chess, I went over and took a class about sourdough baking.

And of course there was more book reading.

One of the badges suggested checking out cookbooks and trying new recipes. Nichole and I each picked out a cookbook and tried some recipes.  Nichole made bon-bons for the family. Great job, Nichole.

We took a day and brought a friend with us to drive up to Hanna to see hummingbirds like we did a couple years ago. The boys had fun because when they started getting restless with the rest of us taking pictures of hummingbirds, the owner of the house we were at took them over to throw rocks in the stream.

Afterward we stopped off to see some friends from our old ward who moved to Hanna recently. That was neat.

We enjoyed more time with friends throughout the month.

As you can see we kept busy in June. And what of July? Stay tuned to find out.