Anniversary Trip

Brian and I had our 22nd anniversary in March and celebrated this past week in Dallas.  We bought tickets to the Broadway show Hamilton and I have been really excited to see it.  We flew up on Tuesday and ate at PF Changs.  I love their lettuce chicken wraps.  The restaurant was was in the NorthPark mall so I stayed for a couple of hours to shop while Brian went to a hobby shop. (Or maybe a sporting type place?  I can't remember.)  We had a long nap at our hotel and then headed to Pappacitos for dinner.  Food was definitely a highlight of our mini vacation.  We ate at a lot of delicious places.

My guy.  I love him.

On Wednesday we met Nate and Becky, my two siblings who live in Dallas, for lunch.  I am so glad they were willing to arrange their day to meet up with us.  Hanging out and catching up was fun and I was able to snuggle baby Sutton too.  We did a little more shopping.  IKEA and a hardware store and then Wednesday night we headed Fair Park for dinner and the main event.  HAMILTON!

Me, Nate, and Becky

We ate at this fancy Italian restaurant we found via Trip Advisor.  The pianist/live music was a fun touch. 

There were several historical documents on display.  There was also a copy of the Declaration of Independence.

It was pouring rain so for the first and probably last time ever in our lives we paid for valet parking.  We had great seats about twenty rows back.  Right before the show started Brian casually mentioned that he didn't really expect much from the production.  I was shocked.  WHY NOT?  And why hadn't he ever mentioned this to me?  (That is my kind, selfless husband for you.  He is always willing to go out of his way to please me even if he isn't all that interested. I am very blessed.)  Luckily we both loved it.  It was inspiring and beautiful and just amazing.  I think we would both go see it again in a heartbeat if we could.

Thursday morning Brian was kind enough to take me on a Target run before heading to the airport.  (Brian was the only authorized driver on our rental.)  Easter clearance was at 70% and I am a sucker for a sale.  Fortunately we headed to the airport with a little extra time because we typed in the address with Dr instead of Ave and GPS took us to a totally different suburb of Dallas.  Whoops...that could have been bad.

All in all it was wonderful being away from real life for a couple of days.  Reconnecting with Brian and remembering all of the reasons I love him was the perfect way to celebrate twenty two years of marriage.  Grateful for my kind, handsome, patient, helpful, steady, strong, spiritual, hard working husband.

Sunday Night

We met together at our house this week.  Gram and Gramp flew out Sunday morning for an Italy trip and the Bird's were out of town.  It was fun to have Kerry and group join.  They usually come about once a month at the most.  We visited, played some ping pong, got Stevie signed up for driver's ed, did Holden's hair and makeup, and played Settlers.  Usually, even though everyone has just eaten dinner, we bring a snack to share and we end up with a nice little spread.  This week we had sugar cookies and barbecue (Kerry), vanilla pound cake (Gwills) and chocolate cake (Chris Vores).  Nothing too exciting happens.  Most of the time we are just hanging out trying to think of things to talk about.  I am so glad we get together each week though.  It keeps our family connected and close.

Charity and Parker playing while Kerry, Ang, Chris and Bri look on.

Holden:)

He is much too pretty with makeup on!  Aubrey was allowed the "privilege" of  putting on his makeup if she LICKED HIS DIRTY FOOT first.  What?? And she did it???

"Sunday night" usually goes from about 6:30-8:30.  A few of us decided to extend and play Settlers.  It isn't a short game and we wrapped up after 11.  It was fun that Tanner and Parker joined in although they were going a little cray-cray from being confined to one area for so long.  Brian won.  (Turkey boy--I was one point away.)

Temple Trip

On Thursday I headed up to the temple.  Brian is so good to always support me in this.  He will arrange his work schedule to pick up or take home kids as needed.  I left about 8:15 and was home to pick up the Middle School group at 4:25.  I was hoping to get a little group together from the ward. I announced it in RS. Also, Kim Sanders (a friend from Odessa 1st) and Sandy McKown were both planning on going but dropped out do to conflicts.

Nobody else was able to attend so I headed up by myself.  I downloaded a copy of Sheri Dew's new book about President Nelson.  It made the five hour travel time a dream.  It was really fun to learn more about his childhood, his newlywed years, different jobs and callings all the way to his service as the prophet.

I also stopped to shop at a couple of stores.  The only things I came home with were a new shirt and three pair of reading glasses.  My family always teases me about the number of glasses I have and how often I lose them.  I am pleased with my purchase though!

It was weird to be gone most of the day and then to have no kiddos home for the evening.  We had a four day weekend due to Easter and a snow day and the kids were in vacation mode.  Aubrey went to Lauron's house.  Tanner headed straight from school to a friend's house.  Brinley and Morgan made plans and Parker hung out with Austin, Cole and Harper.  Brian worked late...and I just kind of puttered around until bedtime. 

Isn't this a beautiful day to be at the temple?  I just took a snapshot but it looks postcard ready. 

A few extra readers are a must at my age!  Brian thought it was so funny when I brought them home that he insisted on taking a picture.

While I was gone, a member of our bishopric, Brother Riley Williams, brought over this delicious homemade pie.   He made one for each member of the ward council at Thanksgiving.  I was teasing him on Sunday that I might get my feelings hurt and go inactive since it had been awhile since he had brought over a pie.  I felt kind of badly when I came home to his delivery.  Thanks Bro Williams.  You are awesome.

Two Drawers Down, One Million to Go

I was walking with a group of friends and my sister Britney on Wednesday.  Somehow organization came up.  I mentioned how much I admired an organized area but wished I was better about applying that admiration.  One of the ladies kindly insisted I was organized (although she hasn't really been in my house a lot.)  I was dying a little inside because things get pretty rough around here.   I decided rather than continue to protest, I would just smile and say thanks.  The next two days I kept thinking about our little walk and I decided I better get to work!

This is our main kitchen drawer.  The before is not too bad but there is a ton of space wasted.  Also, our office supplies were split between the kitchen and the laundry room.  I grabbed my similar containers that were in my bathroom drawer and figured out how I could best use the space.  It was so fun to run to the Dollar Tree, grab 30 more containers and give it a go. (So glad Dollar Tree still happened to be selling the containers I already had too.)  

I LOVE the after drawer.  I was able to combine the drawer in the kitchen and the laundry room and really use the space much better.  I think it will be super doable to keep it up too.  

Before

Definitely one of the more organized spaces in my house but....check out the improvements below.

After

Ta-da!!  I think this will be much more convenient and the only thing I took out of the drawer was the recycled scrap paper.  I moved it to the next drawer over.  I'm so glad we have a label maker too.  It rarely gets used but it makes me happy.  My only concern is for my nice colored pens.  They will be so out in the open.  I don't want them disappearing into the kids' school supplies.

I raided the containers in my top bathroom drawer to figure out container space in the kitchen.  I didn't take a true before but this pile was all in there.😲  

Before

After

These containers don't fit as perfectly in this drawer as they did in the kitchen.  I am trying to figure out if I really care.  I don't think I do.  One trick I learned online is, if there is wiggle room with the containers in your drawers,  use some double sided foam tape to keep the drawers in place.  Brilliant.

Keeping Busy

Here are a few things I have been up to lately.

I have been serving as Relief Society President in my ward for about a year.  The amount of time I devote to my calling really depends on the week, but I definitely have the time to serve. It's nice to have a little direction and focus to keep me grounded.

I love the Relief Society program.  I love being with the ladies from church.  I love ministering and being ministered to.  I love the friendships, the shared insights, and the bonds that are formed as we learn and serve together as sisters.  I have been able to serve in many callings over the years but it seems I always get called back into Relief Society.  There is a very special place in my heart for working with my fellow sisters as we strive to come unto Christ.

Another thing that has been keeping me busy is working out.  I dropped my membership at the YMCA in the spring of 2018.  I would go on walks regularly and occasionally workout to a  DVD at home.  However, I joined a new gym in January and have been faithfully going 4-5 times a week.  I love the body pump and HIT classes they offer.  It's nice to have a morning schedule and also to be a little more intense with my workouts.  I always do feel better when I exercise.

I definitely put lots of focus on my family and my responsibilities as a wife and mother.  This is were the majority of my time goes but it's not really something one can document in a paragraph.  Also, it's an area I can always improve in.  I love that I can rely on God to help me.  I had a concern last week with one of my kids.  I was stressing out and wondering what I should do.  Brian and I discussed it.  I considered talking to my sister-in-law for advice.  I was literally wringing my hands with worry.  Then, after 2-3 hours,  I remembered who I should and could talk to about the issue.  I turned to my Heavenly Father in prayer and had an impression to re-look at a parenting book I had in my nightstand.  As I began reading and skimming through the different sections, I felt confident in knowing how to approach my teen with my concerns.  I am grateful to know were to turn and that He will help me.

I volunteer with ECISD as a SHAC (Student Health Advisory Committee)  parent member.  I am wrapping up my second year and will probably resign at the end of the school year.  It has been nice (and sometimes terrifying) to feel more informed on programs, procedures and concerns in our school district.  We have had guest speakers share info on topics such as: safety in schools, sex ed, drugs, exercise benefits, nutrition and more.  It's kind of a weird volunteer position.  We are just asked to listen throughout the year and then make recommendations, as a group, to the school board.  That's it.  I think that is probably why I will not do this again next year.  I think it might be nice for another parent to have this opportunity and it's not like my specific input is really needed.

I have been putting in a lot of time making a book of memories and pictures from my dad.  I have also been trying to blog for the sake of history.  I enjoy listening to conference talks and church books on my phone.  I am trying to do better at reading my scriptures more diligently.  I recently bought a scripture journal to jot down insights and impressions. (I lost the one I have had for years.)  I am trying to make time to sit at my desk in the craft room when I study rather than reading scriptures in bed right before I go to sleep.  I seem to need to make this a goal over and over.  I definitely learn more and see the benefit in my life when I put more into my personal scripture study.

Life is good.  I am a blessed and happy girl.

A Glimpse at our Weekend

April 13-14, 2019
Soccer season is here and we have three referees in the house: Parker, Tanner and Aubrey.  There was a big tournament this weekend and they were going to work a lot. Saturday they were scheduled to work all day.  However, due to thunderstorms throughout the night, Saturday games were cancelled. Park and Aubrey were able to ref games on Friday night though.  Also on Friday night, Tanner had a baseball game and Brian went.  Sadly, I stayed home because of a migraine...the worst I have ever had. Brinley had her big Prom evening.  This is the busiest Friday night I remember having in a while.

We have a new ref in the house! Hoping her allergies allow this job to continue.

These pictures were from the previous weekend.  (Tanner)

Brian and I felt the tournament being cancelled was a good thing because they could now attend youth temple trip and special fireside in Lubbock.  Aubrey was thrilled but the boys were grumpy.  They went from the thinking they would be working all day and making some money to thinking they would have the whole day off to realizing they would be spending a lot of their day traveling and doing church things.  They weren't happy campers.  Brian loaded up the van with our group (including Brinley) and a couple more young women from church and they headed to the temple.  Honestly it sounded like the trip was rather stressful.  Brinley and Brian were both pretty frustrated with the car ride there and back. (T.ranslation...the boys were being difficult.) Blessings...right?!

While they were at the temple I visited my mom, ran a few errands, cleaned the carpets, got a massage, did laundry, cleaned the kitchen and took a nap.  My day was pretty stress free and relaxing.  I was also able to listen to a lot of my audio book.  I've been enjoying Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn and Alloy of Law series.

Sunday morning we invited Gram and Grampa over to have FHE with us.  It was Tanner's turn to teach but he let Aubrey do it.  They both felt like they won!  She prepared a very nice lesson on family history work.  She included a story from both grandparent's books on a memory of a favorite uncle.  She also shared counsel and blessing from Elder Cook's Sunday morning conference address. Then we played Psych on our phones for the activity.

I'm in my dress because I had ward council right after FHE.

This girl is a natural.  She loves to teach and is great at preparing and presenting.

Sunday after church we had "Break the Fast."  Then after a quick nap, we headed to the Chris Vore's for our Sunday night get together. 

We all love Lincoln!!  Baby shark, doo doo...  

Kate, Chris, Emily, Dave (Happy 40th), and Gramp. (And Brinley and I in the mirror!)

Gotta love a good hair chain.  Katleynn J, Aubrey and Lauron.  

We wrapped up the night with a little ping pong (Bryn and the boys), a walk (Parker and I), and some last minute Social Studies "studying" (Brian and Tan.)  Tanner had all week to study an hour at home but he kept putting it off.  So Sunday night he decided to "teach a parent."  He followed Brian around reading his notes in a very loud, very monotone voice and then asking him questions.  I am pretty sure Tanner got nothing from it other than getting a parent signature for the week.  Brian purposely teased him by answering every question wrong.  The rest of us laid low and tried to avoid the Social Studies monotone monologue.

Tanner was relentless.  He could have quietly studied on his own or chosen to really teach Brian what he was learning.  Instead he teased by making his homework as loud and as boring as possible. Brian was a good sport.

There was no escaping this kid!  He followed Brian from room to room.  😂 

Prom

April 2019
A friend from church, Nico, asked Brinley to his Prom.  Morgan came over (bless her!) and helped do Bryn's hair and makeup.  Brinley looked beautiful and she and Nico had a nice night together.

Aubrey needed to go ref a soccer tournament, but she was all about being part of the excitement of getting ready for the night.

Brinley and Nico

Our beautiful Bryn.  What are we going to do without her next year?

Super-est Bowl, Sunday Night Gathering

April 7, 2019
The Bird's hosted a Super-EST Bowl party for the Sunday afternoon session of General Conference.  We all headed over there to watch with our favorite snacks to share.  It was nice to feast on the word's of God and to literally feast on delicious food.  I liked seeing all of the cousins together listening and interacting quietly.  After conference was over, some of the kiddos got a baseball game going in the backyard.  I took a couple of walks.  (One with Brinley and one with Britney.)  And everyone enjoyed visiting for another hour and a half.  Here are a few pictures.

Cute hair chain going with big and little cousins.  Parker laid his head in Charity's lap and Pepper (the dog) was having NONE of that.  It was kind of hilarious.

Char brushed and played with Parker's hair while listening. He had plenty to play with...definitely needs a haircut.

Parker and Charity made this little temple.  They were short on blocks because Hudson was building a big one.

Hudson, Adam and Brit

Tan would occasionally stop by my chair and sit on my lap.  Love having my big 14 year old snuggle up.

Ella had a full on side business going during conference.  Ice cream cups or cones for all.  Don't worry, if you gave her a dollar she would give you two back in change.

You can kind of see the spread of food in the kitchen.  Tan and Holden were at the coloring table.  Ella, Grandpa, Brinley, Ang and Chris in front.  Gram stayed home and watched because she wasn't feeling well.

It was nice to have this lego table set up.  Several of the kiddos rotated through and built something while listening to conference.

Super fun news.  These three Vores are moving on to become the Vore Four!  And it's a boy!  They brought a big bowl of Hershey bars with the "he" in Hershey colored in blue.  We were all enjoying the snack but not realizing the significance of the gender reveal.  Once we realized what they were saying, Ang's jaw dropped open for a good 20 seconds.  It was pretty cute.  She loves being a Grandma.

Friday Night Fun

April 5, 2019

A friend asked me to take her children home for her on Friday afternoon.  She has a son Tanner's age and a daughter Aubrey's.  On Thursday night when I told Tan and Aubrey the plan, they asked if Jaden and Jaela could just come over instead.  Then they asked if they could have a few extra friends come over as well.  (When you give a mouse a cookie....)  I  needed to make two trips for after school pickup due to the number of friends plus regular carpool kiddos.  I knew I didn't have it in me to cook for the crew so we ordered pizza and I set out fruits and veggies.  It was very loud and crazy and I admit I slipped to my room and shut the door for awhile.  However, I am glad my kiddos want to hang out here and I am glad they have good friends.  We shut down the party at 9:00 and I was in bed at 10:00.  Brian was a saint and stayed up until Parker came home at 11:30.

The girls talked and laughed and walked dogs and played twister and played truth or dare and read scary ghost stories.

The boys played b-ball and games on their phones and boxed and played football in the rain.  (Several years ago the boys were given a punching bag and gloves for Christmas.  The past few years they pull them out and set up boxing matches between friends...and film them.  It's awful and I always ban it.  They wait a several months and then act very astonished when I find them with friends punching it out again in their bedroom.  I don't think I am usually this slow to act but I confiscated the gloves...and they are heading to Goodwill.)

Lft to right: Tanner (at the head of the table), Tate T, Gavin B, Julian T, Jaden R, and Mason S

Kiara (Jaden and Jaela's sister who was picking them up.), Jaela R, Breena W, Aubrey, and Avery M

Lots of pizza vanished but only a few apple slices and grapes were eaten....