Football, Volleyball and Chicken Cordon Bleu

August 30, 2018
With the kids gone at school all day I have been slacking taking pictures.  Today was a good day though.  I went to Sams Club and stocked up on some frozen foods because we finally decided to buy another refrigerator.  We just bought a used one off Craig's list and it is not very pretty.  However, it will be so nice to have room for extra milk, frozen rolls, ground beef and who knows what else.  I made dinner today too...Chicken Cordon Bleu in a crockpot.  It got okay reviews by the fam.  I'll count that as a win.

This is my menu planning station earlier this week.  I do
so much better if I jot down a few meals for each week and buy
everything for them.  I'm horrible about doing it though.  Life took
over and I never completed it for the week/month....maybe tomorrow.

Parker had his first official game tonight at Grande stadium in Midland.  He played outside linebacker and did really well.  He is bruised, scraped, sore and tired.  Brinley was kind enough to pick up the Nimitz group (Tanner, Aubrey, Holden and Kendra) so Brian and I could be there on time.  Brian and I had fun watching him play.  I loved riding to and from Midland with my guy and just having time to visit about life.  Often with late nights and early mornings and work and callings and four children we don't have much one on one time.

Adam and Megan organized a group to play volleyball up at church and so 45 minutes after getting home from the game we headed to the church.  I was surprised Parker wanted to go but he was all in.  Brian had a long day out in the sun so he stayed home.  We played four games.   I was a complete disaster but I tried.  (Sorry team.)  Aub did really well especially considering she was the youngest one there.  Brinley, Park and Tanner were amazing and made big contributions to whichever team they were on.  It made for a late school night but since homework hasn't really started up it was nice to fit it in.

Our new Shutterfly family album (2017) came in
yesterday.  They take a ton of work but when I see the
family looking at them it makes it all worth it. 

Isn't this the saddest thing ever?  Aub had to get blood
drawn--allergy issues--and she was freaking herself out
on how bad it would be.  The phlebotomist was a pro
and Aubrey realized it's not so bad after all.

After the doctor apt. I let her choose a treat. 
She chose to stop by the store and buy a
whole gallon of sherbet just for herself!

You Might Have Teenagers If....

August 29, 2018

You might have teenagers if....
-you find lots of shoes (large shoes) discarded everywhere-socks too
-chargers, cell phones, air pods, ipads on counters,on tables, poking out of random outlets, missing-lots of electronics
-you find yourself taking late night walks and having great talks along the way
-you go through a gallon of milk a day
-your grocery bill is astronomical
-somehow the weight set made it's home in your master bedroom

-said weight set gets used at 11:00 pm at night on a fairly regular basis

 -your son's airsoft gun supply is found on your bathroom floor

You might have teenagers if...

-lots and lots of airsoft b.b.s everywhere
-you find yourself being wrestled to the floor after family prayer
-you find yourself cracking up because they are funny
-you have lots and lots of pictures like these:

Bryn and friends

Parker...what can I even say?

You might have teenagers if...

-you go to them to borrow money because they always seems to have plenty of cash on hand

-for lunch they take a Walmart bag to school to fit their three ham and cheese sandwiches, two water bottles,Gatorade, two fruit cups and two bags of chips

-you find yourself arranging your schedule to be home when they are home because they are a lot of fun

Megan is Married!

August 23, 2018

Our sweet niece Megan was married in the Salt Lake temple on Thursday August 23rd.  Congratulations Griffin and Megan Bell!

Kris and Eric with the newlyweds.

 Megan and Kyle were super close growing up and with their missions overlapping they didn't see each other for three years.  He came home from Argentina in June just in time to meet Megan's fiance!  He approved!

 Bruce (father of the bride), Jeff, Kyle, and McKayla

 Keith, McKayla, Levi and Kaitlyn (Levi and Kaitlyn have been married almost a month.)

 Lindsey and Ruby (love Lindsey's face!)

Selfie time w/ Uncle Bri!  (Ruby and Andrew)

August 25, 2018

August 25th, 2018

It's fun having older children.  Instead of spending the last few weeks of summer easing back into a school schedule, we found ourselves packing in late night movies on Netflix and sleeping in whenever possible.  

The first week of school, with the start of 6:00 am seminary (Park & Bryn) and 7:00 am football (Tan & Park) , has led to almost everyone being in bed by 10:30 almost every night.  One night Aubrey and I headed for a school night swim at Gram and Gramp's.  A few years ago that would have been impossible with the ages of our group.  I think it has also helped that we have moved on from Reagan Elementary which was pretty intense homework wise.  Brinley and Parker hung out with friends on Thursday night and Tanner had plenty of time to talk,text and play Fortnite.  All of the kiddos had a full Saturday with friends and cousins.  Bryn and I helped Susan (Morgan's mom) throw a surprise party for Morgan's 16th birthday.  The boys did lawn work at home and for the business.  Tanner  and Gavin went to a choir party.  Aubrey spent the afternoon and night with Lauron.  We missed having Brian home and glad it wasn't too stressful with him out of town the past four and a half days.

Aub's evening swim never happened because she hit her head while she was changing into her swimsuit.  She had a huge knot and it was a sad ending to a fun plan.

Bryn and Morgan hung out on Thursday and Friday night and then all day and night on Saturday.  I appreciate that part of their Saturday consisted of an afternoon nap.

Parker had a watermelon feed for football on Thursday and then a scrimmage on Friday.  He did well.  He played some on defense and offense.  I was texting Brian the play by play but then decided it was much easier to just call him.  So he was in Utah watching Lindsey's soccer game and hearing my poor but earnest commentary of Parker's scrimmage. 

Loved seeing Parker diligently working on Algebra and asking Bryn to help clarify a few things for him.  Also, Park gave a great talk today in church on Work and Self Reliance.  He shared several quotes from the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet and also personal examples to go along with several sections.  He mentioned EFY this summer and how it sank in that he wants to focus on working hard in school now to be a better provider for his family later.  One of my favorites was when he mentioned he was showing self reliance by NOT letting his mom help him with this talk even though she kept trying to.  (True story!)  He did a great job and I told him I guess (sniff, sniff) he has outgrown needing my help with  preparing church talks.  

Fortnite vs Chilis

August 22, 2018

Day three of school and both of my High School kiddos' schedules are correct.  Now that is a miracle and really makes me sigh with happiness and relief.  Sometimes it takes up to two weeks for their schedules to be correct.  Now they can do assignments and learn their teacher's expectations and purchase the correct school supplies and know who is in their classes etc...  

Aubrey called me right after school talking a mile a minute about how EVERYONE was going to Rosas and then to Crossroads to church.  She told me in a rush of words "I am just going to go home with Brooke's mom and then to church, okay Mom? Okay, bye."  Wait, Wait, Wait a minute.  Heather had texted and invited everyone and I did not respond that Aubrey would be going because we already have Wednesday night church plans and schedules.  Also, it's the first week of school and we added piano this week plus seminary and football and mandatory parent meetings for way too many extra curricular events.  (Black Magic, choir, PHS football, Nimitz football, piano--I am not a fan of mandatory meetings.)  Guess who went to Rosas?   Good friends are nice to have...especially day three of a new school and new school year.

Aubrey, Amery, Brooke, Marisa, Jencee (sitting), Landry, Olivia, Saydi, & Ava

Brian flew out to Utah today to attend our niece Megan's marriage and then stay for the weekend to visit with his family.  I am sad I couldn't join but both of us leaving on the first week of school doesn't really make sense.  I can't wait to see pictures and hear all about the sealing and reception.  

After cooking three days in a row, a rare happening, I decided to take the kids out to eat for dinner.  We probably bring in fast food a few times a month but we rarely go out to a restaurant all together.  And this is were the title of this blog comes from today: Fortnite vs Chilis.  After the summer we have had with the boys and most of the nation's boys 25 and under being obsessed with Fortnite I should have known which would win...but I'm still in shock.  When it was time to load in the van Tanner would not leave his game.  😂  He had 22 people left and he wanted me to wait until it was over.  I am tired of waiting for them to die in Fortnite before we can have dinner each night.  I told him we were leaving now and he said "Go ahead.  I'm finishing this game."  

Parker, Brinley and I were rolling.  We just couldn't believe it.  Parker was telling him he was crazy.  I was just rolling my eyes and laughing.  Well, the three of us headed to Chilis and when we walked in Tanner's best friend in the whole world was there...and then it was even funnier.  Tanner should have come!

 We sent him these pictures throughout the next hour so he could have a visual of just the kind of fun he was missing out on! (Julian is in the middle)

 Our appetizer...a chocolate lava cake.  Yum.

Then we all headed to church.  The kids had a combined activity: Pictionary with shaving cream.  I had a ministering interview with a couple of sisters and then headed to Crossroads church to pick up Aubrey.  Aub was a hot mess by the time we got home.  The day was just too long for her and she hadn't practiced or done her homework.

Bryn gave some extra loving to Tanner when we got home.  I still can't believe he chose to Fortnite over eating out.  Crazy kid.

First Day of School

August 20, 2018
The kids are back in school and we had a busy morning getting everyone off.  Several years ago we would have a family breakfast, take pictures and head off to Reagan Elementary.  Then we added Nimitz Middle School and that made things more complicated.  Then we added early morning seminary and early morning sports to the mix.  Soon the kiddos were spread out at three different schools when Bryn started Permian High School.  Our routine has definitely been altered over the years and our first day of school routine has become much more complicated but I sure love these four.  Here is to a wonderful 2018-2019 school year!

I had to take about 10 pictures each of the boys to get the tiniest bit of cooperation.  Turkeys.  I do love Parker's silly pose those.  Tanner is starting 8th and Parker is starting10th.

The girls were cooperative and photogenic.  Bryn did get annoyed at Tanner during the group picture and growled through a smile and gritted teeth  "just smile Tanner."  (Aubrey is starting 6th grade and Brinley is starting her SENIOR year.)

 We didn't get a great group shot but here is our best.  (sorry Park)

 Another fun but complicating part was meeting up with friends for breakfast before school.  It makes the morning a little crazier but it also helps to walk in to that first day with friends.  Aubrey is just starting Nimitz Middle School so I was glad she was able to compare schedules and ride together with her Reagan friends.

Aub is second the the right in the Navy shirt.

Tanner met up with some friends at Rosas Cafe.

Mason Simmons, Gavin Brown, Tanner Gwilliam, & Tate Terry

Brinley's group tried to meet at Chic Fil A but due to most of them attending seminary at 7:00 (Bryn is at 6:00) it didn't work out.  She stole two hot donuts from the ones we took over to Aubrey's gathering and seemed pretty content.

Lastly, Parker and friends headed to Big Daddy's with about half of Permian.  The only picture I have with him in it consisted of about 50 kids and Parker was directly behind one of them.  I am pretty sure it was Parker anyway.  I think those are his white shoes I see.

FIFTY Years Young!

August 16, 2018
Today is Brian's 50th birthday!  We are all in a little bit of shock.  He's 4 1/2 years older than I am so it's kind of nice that he paves the way with the big milestones.  The kids have been sweet.  Aubrey made/gave him a "heart attack" and also a cooling towel for hot days outside.  Tanner told him his birthday present: fifty 1 minute massages with a limit of ten minutes being used at a time.  I love that Tanner set boundaries.😂  Parker wrote him a card with a coupon for going out for a dessert of his choice.  Brinley planned ahead when she was in Brazil and found a beautifully carved knife.  Denise and I did some last minute planning and made plans to have a double birthday celebration on a Caribbean cruise!  (Bruce and Brian are twins.)  We wrapped up the day with some Papa John's pizza, visiting on the couch and a little bit of pre-season NFL football.

We don't have any pictures of Parker because he was at football and I couldn't wait until the evening when we would all be together again...I was too excited about the cruise.

Happy Birthday Bri.  Thank you for being a wonderful father, a kind and thoughtful husband, a good provider and example to us all.  We love you!

Joseph is Home!

August 15, 2018

Joseph is home!  We sure do love this guy.  He has been serving a mission for the past two years in Ogden, Utah.  The family and a few church friends met at the airport to welcome him home.  Then we headed over to Chris and Ang's to eat dinner (Rosas-Joseph's favorite) and hear his final testimony before he was officially released.  He bore a beautiful testimony about Jesus Christ and the purpose of life.  He said over the past two years he really "got it."  He understood better what life on earth was all about and why Jesus Christ was central to our happiness.  I was teary eyed and just silently praying that my children were feeling the truthfulness of Joseph's words.  Welcome home Joseph.  We love you.

About half of the group

 Brian with Joseph

Joseph and Grandpa Vore

August 14, 2018

August 14, 2018

More school shopping with Grandpa!  Bryn's last year for this tradition.  They met Gram at Fudruckers and then headed to Target.  

Buttercup LOVES Grandpa.  

The girls made delicious pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.  The boys were not impressed.  I've noticed Brinley making an effort to spend more time with Aubrey this summer and I know Aubrey has loved it.

I was heading to bed and Tanner decided to lovingly pull/escort me down the hall.

The turkey....he heard Aub snapping pictures and had to make a face. 

I sure love this boy!

Big news...there is a new Bird in town!  Meet Pepper.  Everyone was so happy the Birds stopped by to introduce her to us.

And this is happening TOMORROW!  Joseph is coming home from his two year mission in Ogden, Utah!