Halloween

Halloween is kind of just not a big deal at our house anymore.  After so many years of it being a big deal, it's really odd.  I will include a few pictures anyway.

Aubrey dressed as a nerd for Red Ribbon week at school.  The theme that day was "Too Smart for Drugs."

For Halloween she didn't have a plan until the night before.  She remembered that she could dress up as a baby, and she could get a binky and a bottle from the dollar store.  This has a been a favorite costume for years.  I was thrilled....so simple and she was happy.

She put her binky and bottle to good use for several days.  (Don't worry Grandpa/Dr. Gwilliam...she has moved on from them.)

We headed to the trunk or treat at church.  The boys helped (I think) with the Young Men's booth.  I got a little craft together for the Relief Society booth.  Aubrey made the rounds.  (The YW's booth was pretty self sufficient.  Just Dance to spooky music.)

How cute are these two?!  Avery & Aubrey

Cute cousins, Lauron and Aubrey

Parker, Tanner, Sister Stringer & Ella

Trunk or Treat.  I heard Aubrey was huge help taking her younger cousins around to each car.  (I was inside cleaning up our craft.)  Go Aub Daub!

Britney, Charlotte and Ella visited our booth.   I love these girls.

My sweet friend Christie insisted on helping me when she found out I was running solo.  (My counselors and secretary have little kiddos and I wanted them to be able to fully enjoy the night.)  She was definitely a blessing because we had a steady flow of kiddos all night long.  The kids could make a ghost or a spider from a tootsie pop.  Super simple on everyone's part.  

Aub's haul of candy this year.  Happy Halloween!

Weirdly Busy Week

This week has been weirdly busy.  Nothing all consuming...just a lot of little things that needed to be handled every single day. (Two doctors appointments, providing Trunk or Treat craft booth, hosting a baby shower, glasses shopping, ....stuff like that on top of our normal busy routine.) Those things got in the way of my daily schedule of blogging, working out, slipping in a daily nap in etc....  

On Monday, Tanner had his follow up appointment and was cleared to go back to school.  Woo-hoo!!!  He was well enough to get a flu shot but was not to thrilled about the prospect.  He was joking around with the nurse and it was cracking me up.  He is usually very reserved around people he doesn't know well.  I am so glad he is feeling better.

He is not released to play sports until next week.  THANK YOU for that Dr. Ramos!  Tanner has a two weeks of makeup work to finish.  All of his teachers are pressing him to try to wrap it up this week because grades are due. I wanted him to forget about football and focus on school.  He has been working his tail off and has had to go several times to morning and afternoon tutoring.  (or "torturing" as Tanner texts it...not even sure he realizes he is spelling it wrong.)  He is feeling soooo much better now and has completed almost all of his missing work.

The top left photo just says it all. He would come right in from being at school all day and then settle in for another couple of hours to catch up.  He wasn't 100% well but just plugging along the best he could.

Speaking of flu shots.  Park is a big wimp when it comes to shots.  I knew he was leaving during one of his classes and I asked him if he'd meet me at Sams.  I didn't say why and I guess he assumed he was helping me load some heavy groceries.  We met at the pharmacy and he was incredulous when he found out why he was there.  He kept shaking his head and saying "You tricked me! I'm never helping you again."  I did point out that I never said why I wanted him to meet me.  I took him out for Orange Leaf after but I received a lot of looks like this over the next couple of days.  (But then we would both bust up laughing.)

Aubrey and I spent a little bit of time over several days and went all over town trying to find glasses she liked.  She had no luck and was resigned to just use her old frames.  Luckily she skipped her morning classes on Wednesday and we hit up one more shop.  (Don't judge! When your kids have things scheduled from 7:45-5:45 every weekday, sometimes you have to skip school to find glasses or get a flu shot.)  She found two pair she loved.  

She was able to get two pair for $89 which is less than we usually spend for one each year at Walmart.  Wish I knew about this shop years ago.

Puffer coats...we had to pose.  Gram came in later and she had one on too.  This was Taco Villa Monday at Rosas on Wednesday.

We are finishing off the week with basketball tryouts (Aubrey), a football game (Parker), a trip to Lubbock to watch Parker's game (Dad and Tanner), a temple trip (Aubrey, Dad and Tanner) and hosting a baby shower (me.)   Happy Friday!

Family Time

Sunday morning we had a good Family Home Evening lesson given by Aubrey.  She found a nice article in the New Era magazine and taught about the apostasy.  I really appreciated when she led the discussion to personal apostasy and how to avoid it.  We can guard against it as we study the scriptures, learn to hear and follow the Holy Ghost, obey the commandments etc....

We played a couple of rounds of a hand confusion game for our activity.  (You know the one where you lie down on your stomachs in a circle and place your right hands on the other side of the person next to you.  Then you tap in a circle and if someone double taps, the direction of the hand taps switches.)  Just trying to explain it adds a layer of confusion to the hand confusion game.  It was pretty quick and we had fun trying to survive to the end.  (Bri and Aubrey won both times.) 

We wrapped up and  I had to run off to my extended bishopric meeting at church at 12:00.  We had Sacrament meeting at 1:30.  It was the Primary program.  So cute.  This is the first time in the past 16 years we have not had a Primary child which was kind of sad.  The YM and YW were asked to join in on a song though so we did get to see our three, looking sharp, up on the stands.  It was fun to think of those little Primary children growing up to be valiant young men and young women like those who joined with them in for a song.

We had our Relief Society ministering conference during the 2nd hour.  Because all of the sisters were invited in, Parker, Tanner and Aubrey were able to help with Primary and nursery during their class time.  It was a good change up for all of us.  (Bri had his regular Elders Quorum class though, so his church day was the same.)

Brinley texted: IT IS SNOWING! and sent these cute pictures from her Sunday.  She was hoping to build a snowman after church but the snow wasn't sticking.  She is ready for a big snow.  She said this was just a little Odessa snow.

Cami, Katelyn, Ashlyn, Bryn, Elena & Kiersten

Parker kept reminding us all it was "National Tight End Day."  Whatever crazy kid.  There is a day for everything these days.  I presented him with this special gift.

We headed to Sunday night at the Bird's.  Chris and Ang were sending Benja a b-day package and asked everyone to include a letter or note if they would like.  Benjamin recently left the MTC and is now serving in the Little Rock, Arkansas mission, Spanish speaking.

Look at these good uncles diligently writing a letter.

Park snuggling Christian.

I was looking for Aubrey to tell her it was time to go home.  Char, Ella and Aub were curled up reading.  Love it!

Tanner, me, Park and Charity snuggling on our section of the couch while visiting with the family.

I love our gospel and family focused Sundays.

Cookie Woes and Ministering

We had a ministering conference during Relief Society on Sunday.  We (the RS presidency) were each supposed to bring two dozen cookies so we could provide some refreshments at the end of the conference.  I volunteered to make chocolate chip because I knew they would safe/fail proof.

Bri and I had a full day starting with Aubrey's all day volleyball tournament at 8:00 and ending with a date night at a haunted house.  I needed to bake those cookies and it was 10 pm.   I was pleasantly surprised when Tanner agreed to help.  

We teamed up and doubled the recipe.  Everything was going great...or so we thought.

But then the first batch came out of the oven.  These cookies were about 1/16" thick and just lovely.  This wouldn't have been so crushing if I wouldn't have been so tired and I didn't have to have them for the next day.  

I was beat and still needed to hash out my part of the ministering presentation.  I figured we probably doubled everything but the flour.  I added flour, put everything in two pans and made them into bars.   Then I could move on with my life rather than living on a 8-10 minute timer until 12:30 in the morning.

The bars turned out good enough and I was able to use my cookie woes as an object lesson in Relief Society the next day.  I printed two pictures.  One showed a beautiful pan of cookies and the other showed our sad, flat little guys.

I related it to ministering.  Sometimes we might get caught up in the "fluff."  We might not reach out because our cookies didn't turn out.  Maybe we haven't had time to make a treat or purchase the cute little gift we had planned on giving.  Maybe those we minister to are sick, and we hesitate to make contact unless we have a meal on hand to provide.

We need to worry less about the fluff and make that call, send that text, just reach out. 

Our ministering brother and his wife did just that these past two weeks.  They noticed Tanner had not been at church for a couple of weeks and stopped by after Young Men's to see how he was.  It was 9:00 at night.

They didn't bring cookies.  They didn't bring a card or a meal.  They brought concern and love.

They also followed up with a few texts to check on his recovery over the next several days.  I was extremely grateful for those texts and also pretty surprised at how grateful I felt.  With both Brian and Tanner being sick, I felt like a buoy had been thrown to me.  This experience really helped me realize/remember how simple acts of kindness can make a really big difference. 

Ministering could be a batch of perfectly made chocolate chip cookies, a home cooked meal or help with a move. 

Ministering should be a friendly face, a budding friendship, interest, a helping hand. 

Ministering is love.

Friday Night Football

Football takes a lot of Parker's time.  I would say,hands down, it the priority in his life right now.  The workouts are grueling...but he loves it.  This is his weekly schedule: arrive 45 minutes early to school everyday for football, watch film during part of lunch, 5th period workout, after school from 4:30-7:00 workout, Saturday morning watch film.  I'm actually a little jealous of the coaches and how much they get to see MY boy.  I do like that he is busy and in shape and working hard.

I also love how happy Parker is when he is playing football.  Just look at the expression on his face in these first two photos.  (He is #12.)

He's plays tight end and on special teams.  We enjoy watching him play on Friday nights.  This year they have had a ton of home games which has been so nice.

Wishing Grandpa could get on the field to take pictures...they only let the "official" team photographer though.

Permian pep rally pictures.   Madison G, Austin J, Reese R, Kamryn C, Parker, and Ray'onna W

Harris S (a very large freshman!) and Park.  They were going to look tough (not smile) but Harris said "we can't look tough--we are just white boys."  Thank you Harris...I like Parker smiling much more that than his football stone face pictures.

Awe...Freshman year vs Jr year.  He is a growing boy!  I think he is about 6'1" and 170 lbs now.

Update on the Sickies

We are limping along.  Every time I think we are over the hump, we aren't.  It is 11 p.m. on Tuesday night though and things are looking up.  Brian has only been at 101° today.  (Unlike the past several days were he has been in the 103° range.)  Maybe tomorrow he will be fever free.  His doctor tested for flu but it was negative.  Brian is mostly just sleeping.

I took Tanner in to our pediatrician on Monday afternoon.  Tanner was NOT happy.  Some of the things I heard: "I am FINE Mom."  "Why are we here?"  "This is so stupid and a waste of time."  "This place is for two year olds."  (The pink walls, baby pictures and Halloween decorations did not help my case.  But I trust Dr. Ramos.  He is good and when my kids are really sick, we go there.)

I knew he was feeling a little better because he had the energy to chew me out.  About half way through our three hour visit he became much more mild.  His medicine must have worn off.

I was dying when I saw this.  Sorry my 15 year old young man!

I'm so glad we went to Ramos.  Tan has a horrible double ear infection.  Dr. Ramos says it is very unusual for it to be this bad after the age of 2 years old.  He has blisters in his ear and Ramos is concerned about permanent damage.  He also has bronchitis and an upper respiratory infection.  (And Tanner has been on antibiotics for the past seven days...crazy....how is this possible?)  Ramos said he probably has/had Parainfluenza virus type 3.  He also sent us down to the first floor to get an x-ray.

Dr. Ramos called today to say Tanner has double pneumonia as well.  Not good.  A few days ago I started really thinking it was pneumonia.  (I did not think it was all of those other diseases though.)  Tanner's symptom's were reminding me of when Brinley was hospitalized with pneumonia several years ago.  Ugh.  Poor baby. No wonder he has not been recovering.

Dr. Ramos has given us all sorts of medications and I am watching him closely.  He has a follow up on Monday morning.  Honestly, even before we started the new meds, he woke up perkier than he has been the past few days.  He is young and healthy and strong.  He's got this.

Our little med area for the past 10 days.  

I wrote out this insane medicine schedule and have set 5 alarms on my phone, including one at 2 a.m., to stay on track for the next 12 days.  Things were good enough today with both of my boys that I was also able to get a nap in and even a massage.  I also just brought in Rosas for dinner.  

Tanner got up from the recliner and went on a 10 minute walk with me.  He even came with me to pick up Aubrey.  He never runs errands with me.  He was desperate to get out of the house I guess.  (This is day 10 of him being home sick.)  Brian came into the den and interacted with the family a bit.

I think we are really over the hump.  I guess tomorrow will tell.

A Little Bit of Aubrey

Charity, my niece, has a very good friend who recently was diagnosed with Leukemia.  Charity has really tried to support her emotionally and has also brought friends together to support her in other ways as well.  She headed up a 5k fundraiser, and Aubrey and I were able to participate.  

We didn't run together because Aubrey is in top notch running shape with being in athletics this year at school.  Also, we didn't run together because I didn't run!  Well, I ran and walked the course.

During registration, they would casually ask if you wanted to be timed.  If you did, you received a number. Aub is a little embarrassed about this picture because she didn't actually finish second.  There were maybe 5 female racers who finished before her....they just didn't choose to be timed.  I think she was amazing though!  I am so impressed that she could run the whole course, and she finished way ahead of me.

A few other Aubrey events from this month:

 Lots of volleyball, of course.

She and Brian enjoyed a nice Daddy/Daughter date.  They had a nice dinner and enjoyed spending the evening with some of the other fathers and daughters in the ward.

Aubrey beat me!  She and I have been playing Bananagrams lately.  I am so glad she has wanted to play.  I love playing games but my kids aren't so eager usually.

Aubrey had two eye appointments and then we went shopping for new frames.  I took her to one doctor who said Aubrey was having trouble focusing near and far.  She also wasn't able to correct Aubrey's vision to 20/20.  I worried about that for a few days and decided it was worth forking out another $135 to get a second opinion.  I am so glad we did.  Dr. Jackman was able to get her to 20/20!  We may be doing some eye exercises at home to help her eye muscles do better at adjusting back and forth between things near and far.

FLU SHOT!  She was not pleased, but I insisted.  I also offered to buy her Orange Leaf.  I am guessing flu is what Tanner and Brian have.  Hoping it is not too late for Aub to get an extra boost of immunity.  (I got a shot a couple of weeks ago.  Parker will be going in on Monday or Tuesday.  He is the worst with shots.  THE WORST.)

Aubrey and I enjoyed a Sunday night walk together.  She ran a few houses ahead and then waited for me like this.  Crazy girl.