Happy Thursday

On Thursday morning, I was able to travel up to Lubbock with three friends to attend the temple.  It made the 8 hour round trip even more enjoyable.  We visited about our interests and our families.  We are separated in age by twenty years and all in different or slightly different stages of life. Tia is a newlywed and expecting her first baby.  I have four teens.  Angelique has only two of her six children still in the home.  She also has two grandsons.  Christie has lots of grandchildren and three of her four girls are married.  We had plenty to talk about.

The temple itself was wonderful.  I don't make it there as often as I should, but I always feel peaceful and content when I go.  It's nice to set aside the everyday cares of my life and have a more heavenly focus.    

Before we left Lubbock we stopped at  McCalister's and enjoyed soup and cookies.  On the way home, in addition to visiting, we listened to a Time Out for Women talk.  The time flew by.  I'm so glad I went.   I was able to come home and even get a nap before things got too crazy.  I also decided pizza would work just fine for dinner.  (I didn't want to undo my calm day.😉)

We had a Relief Society service project that same evening, and it happened to be at my house.   I tried to deep clean the two days before so I could enjoy my temple trip without stressing about the need to get home to get everything ready.  Bri was good, as always, to help as needed.  (This week, among other things, he helped by cleaning a bathroom, grabbing chairs from my parents, and vacuuming the den.  Definitely appreciated!)

Lft-rt: Vera Howell, Kristi Phillips, Jessica Parish, Ann Smith, Donna Thompson, Melanie Ormsby & Megan Bennett

We had a great turnout for our little ward.  If we have 10 or more, we call it a success.  Plus, the RS activities committee planned some yummy treats for the evening: a fruit tray with fruit dip, a strawberry cake, and chocolate chip cookies and milk. 

We all enjoyed visiting together as we made Valentine's for residents of a nursing home.  I love how we are all different ages and in different stages of life.  We come from different backgrounds and have many different talents and  interests.  However, we are all sisters in Christ.  We are trying to learn of Him and become more like Him everyday.   That is what brings us together and unites us as friends.  I love these ladies.

Lft-rt: Margaret Peterson, Emily Orsmby holding Luana Billings, Mattie Reynolds, Airi Billings, Lauron Ross, & Tia Harrop

Twinning

The boys leave for seminary and school before we are up in the morning.  They came home last week and were twinning!  They looked so cute in their Warriors jerseys and hoodies.  I thought it was a coincidence, but I guess it was jersey day for the pep rally at Permian, which actually made much more sense.

I really wanted a quick picture.  The boys were not cooperating.  I don't think they really wanted to document their matching outfits, and they never want to pose for a picture.  However, Parker really wanted to go over to a friend's house.  

Bri piped in, "after the picture, you can go."  Genius!  Tanner responded, "well, I'm not going anywhere....so no motivation here."  Brian replied, "That's okay...Parker will motivate you."  And he did.  

Some fun loving wrestling ensued....and when they finally stood for the picture, it only took a few more minutes and about twenty pictures to get one that could be called decent.

 

Had to get the crutch shot.

Not good enough yet boys.

Hiking up the short shorts doesn't help either...

I love how one went for the black hoodie and the other a white hoodie.

Finally!

Parker's Football Banquet

Parker had his football banquet this weekend.  He picked up his date, Madison, at 4:00 and did a few pictures at her house.  Then he met up at 4:30 with a big group to do pictures at Cole's house.  They were required to be at the banquet by 5:15 even though it didn’t start until 6:00.  

At 9:00, when it ended, he was GRUMPY.  He did come over to say hello and goodbye to Brian and me, but he was ready to move on with his evening.  (The football team and their dates sat at tables on one side of the banquet hall and the parents and guests sat on the other side.)  

I hear you Parker.  That is a long night of pictures, a stuffy (yet styling) suit, small talk with a date and a very long awards banquet.  

Park and Madison T.

One of the mom's said, "Wow, I did NOT look like that in high school."  Agreed.

Cole Brannan, Parker, Reese Rivera, Luke Bland, Cade Owen, Brady Digby, Harper Terry

The decorations were gorgeous.  I was trying not to gawk too much and just discretely take a few pictures.

This was the stage.  Each football player and his date were announced.  They would walk up the side stairs on the side of the stage and then pause at the front while a little bio was read.  You can watch his turn here.  They know Parker...but sadly very few know how to pronounce our last name.

The balloons in the back were over the dessert table.  They had at least seven extra large sheet cakes that added to the Mojo decor.

This was the head table.  Below is the ICE SCULPTURE...because why not spend $500 plus on an ice sculpture for a high school football banquet?!  I am much too frugal for a lot of the fluff that adds up but all the decorations were pretty cool. 

A big thanks to Kim for "stealing" this picture off of twitter and sending my way for the blog.  We were across the room from it, and I didn't want to embarrass Parker.

Here are a few of the items that were available for the silent auction.  

My favorite part of the evening was sitting with our good friends, Kim and David Terry.  We were so popular the four of us had a table all to ourselves...which was perfect!  We could move past the inclusive small talk and just hang out.

They are fun and thoughtful and in the thick of parenting just like us.  They have five children and their four youngest line up perfectly with our four children.  Our children attend the same middle and high schools and have been involved in similar activities over the years such as: soccer, choir, student council, football, track, AP classes etc....

We had a great time visiting throughout dinner and then quietly listening to the presentations together.  They made the long evening so much more enjoyable.

Kim and David with their son Harper and his date Holly.

Harper was the back up QB this year and actually started in five games and did an amazing job.  I think there were about ten awards given out and only two went to underclassmen.  He received the Ed Gray award for outstanding contributions to the team.  Woot Woot!!!!  

Kim and David were stunned by the announcement.  I felt like a proud mom as well when his name was read.  Harper is a well rounded young man, a hard worker, an amazing leader and a great friend to many, including Parker.

I was glad Parker was willing to come over to the dark side of the room and give us a hug before he left.  He was definitely ready to change out of that suit and just hang out with friends for the evening.  Doesn't he look so handsome?  I am proud of him and all of the hard work he has put into workouts.  I can't wait to watch him play again next fall.

A Week of Aubrey

I love this girl.  Here are a few photos from this past week that give you a glimpse of Aubrey.

I was working in the craft room on a couple of projects, and she came in and saved the day.  She worked for at least an hour organizing some of the chaos and cleaning the room.  We had a nice time visiting, and I felt so grateful for her thoughtfulness.

Briana, Aubrey and Breena W. having fun hanging out.

Face masks are the thing.  She has given and received them as gifts over the past couple of years.  They are all equally terrifying when applied. 

And this is worth noting...see Grandpa's book on the couch next to her?  We placed the order for 33 copies this week.  I am looking forward to that order arriving, but I am especially glad that we are D.O.N.E.

Aub was playing in her b-ball game on Thursday night.  She came down weird on her ankle and had instant pain in her knee.  She collapsed, under the basket, to the floor. She was crying, and I could tell she was in a lot of pain because she didn't stop even after 20-30 minutes.  Bri was home with the boys, and I was texting him updates.  We ended up leaving early.  I carried her to the car and then into the house.  (It was hard.  I'm a wimp.)

Bri has been working with her some at home.  (He has a degree in Athletic Training, and he is a licensed Physcal Therapy Assistant.  His skills come in handy.)  We borrowed Grandpa's crutches, and she made it through a full day of school.  It's been three days though, and she is still limping and in pain.  We will get her knee further checked out this week.

She came home from hobbling around all day and crashed, exhausted, in the recliner.  Poor baby.

Aub has to put up with a lot of teasing from her brothers on a daily basis.  This week they have been calling her "Hobble Leg Joe" and making underhanded comments about her faking it.   Bri and I try to keep them in line.  We need our Brinley to balance the boy/girl sibling ratio around here.

 

Aubrey occasionally tries to get a new pet.  Mostly it's half-hearted efforts because I've made it pretty clear it's never going to happen.  Last week she was hoping for a hedgehog.  A few days ago, she was super dramatic about wanting a Spider Monkey.  On Saturday, when she showed me this cute puppy and saw my reaction, she saved it on my phone so I could really "think about getting one."  That dog is pretty adorable.  (It's still 110% no way though.)

We had our "thing" on Saturday.  We ate at Chic-Fil-A and then went and got a 15 minute massage at the mall.  Aubrey was talking non-stop the entire time, and it made me grateful that I paused my busy Saturday to have our date.  When my children want to talk, I want to listen.  I think creating opportunities for that one-on-one time is huge.  Sometimes I do better than others.

It's been months and months since I've found Aubrey selfies on my phone, but I found these today.

 Sure love this girl.

Snuggle Time

I do enjoy a good snuggle with my big boys.

Tanner is a boy on the go from 5:45 am until 5:45 pm.  He starts with early morning seminary, then basketball from 7:45-8:30, then morning lift for an hour, then regular classes, then afternoon workout from 4:30-5:45.

He then wants to come home and do mostly nothing, which I get.  He rarely has homework and will play about 45 minutes of XBox.  Then he just hangs out on the couch and reaches his arms out to me every time I walk by and says, "snuggle?"

I like to snuggle with him.  I want to snuggle with him.  I just don't want to snuggle with him all evening!!!  

I need to finish making dinner.  I want to do interactive things with him like going on a walk or playing a game.  I want to  pick up around the house, interact with Bri, Aubrey and Parker, blog etc....

If I walk by where he is sitting though, he will hold out his arms and say, "snuggle?"  (Sometimes I tease him and let him see I am taking the long way to the kitchen rather than walk right past were he is sitting.  It's safer!)

Honestly, I think more than all of that snuggling, a lot of it has to do with him seeing my forward motion and wanting to halt it.

Also, it works...so he feels the power!

I often stop whatever I'm doing and snuggle for 5-25 minutes.  I then try to untangle myself and move on with the night until an hour later when I stop again...to snuggle once again.

Sometimes, on days when he is giving me no attention whatsoever, I will purposely walk by him acting super busy.  My ploy usually works too!  He will set down his phone and instantly reach out his arms for me to join him on the couch.  He thinks he made me stop...and then we snuggle.

Last night I was heading to bed early, about 9:30.  Tanner acted perky and said, "do you want to play a game?"  Hmmm.  New strategy on his part to derail me?  Did he really want to play?   I paused and said "sure."

We chose Rummikub.   I got comfortable on the floor while he grabbed the game from the other room.  Then he came within about 8 feet of were I was sitting, and with a gleam in his eyes said, "Nah, I don't really want to play."   He then did an abrupt turn around and headed back to the other room.

Turkey boy.

He did come back in and put his arm around my shoulder and walk me to my room.  I jabbed  him in the ribs and gave him a bad time for not really wanting to play the game in the first place.  We then snuggled in bed and visited about nothing for 10 minutes.

He may have the power, but I definitely consider the whole daily scenario a win-win with my boy.  (Shhhh, don't tell him.)

Sunday Night

We were finally able to have Aubrey's family birthday party out at Kerry's shop.  Here are a few pictures from the gathering.

We had cake issues.  We have a delicious candy bar cake that the kids usually request for their birthday.  The cake turns out super moist.  It has a yellow cake mix with a small box of chocolate pudding mixed in.   The frosting is a yummy cool whip/butter/powdered sugar frosting, and we sprinkle crushed Butterfinger on top of that.  

Aub wanted to help with the icing, and I just had her soften the butter rather than melt it.  Sadly, it turned into a weird, lumpy texture.  So we scrapped the frosting/candy bar plan and just added cream cheese frosting.  Aub scraped hers off because she is not a regular frosting fan.  Oh well, next time.

Ella above and Grandpa and Quetta below

We don't watch TV on Sundays at our house but Uncle Kerry made my boys, including Brian, very happy.  The NFC championship games were on and their team, the 49ers, were playing at 5:30.  Kerry just happened to volunteer to host, and he moved the time up to 5:30.

 GREAT Aunt Brit holding Christian.

I actually didn't go to this Sunday night gathering.  My mom broke her knee cap the night before.  I talked my dad into going to the gathering, and I went over to their house to hang out with her.  We had a nice couple of hours...wish we would have thought to take a selfie together.

 Charlotte, Lincoln, Aub and Ella.

This picture is from the day before.  Gram and Gramp stopped by and gave Aubrey her gift: wireless headphones.  She loves them.  And just for history's sake, I am going to list some other gifts which I didn't already mention in her b-day blog post. that she received from family.  

The Birds gave her $20 and new socks.  They added the socks because, in the summer especially, Aubrey is always leaving her socks at their house.  I thought that was hilarious and Aub loves how comfy they are.

The Kerry Vore's gave her cash as well.  Teens are all about the money.  I think a random $23...it was what he had in his wallet.  

The Chris Vore's gave her a gift on her birthday weekend, and she and Lauron hung out together all afternoon.  It was a new "Pink" shirt along with some other clothing items from "that" store.  La was going to make her a cool cake for the family birthday gathering as well, but they were out of town the Sunday night we had it.

Hooray for wrapping up this cute girl's big birthday and another fun Sunday night get together.

Crafting

I have been crafting some the past two weeks.  I really love having a hobby.  Sometimes in the evenings, everyone has their own project going.  Aubrey will be wrapping up homework or in bed.  Brian and the boys often have some sort of game to watch or the boys will be on XBox.  Sometimes I feel a little lost or lonely.  It's nice for me to have something of my own to focus on.  I feel like I am learning knew things, which gives me a sense of  fulfillment as well.

This was an order I made a couple of weeks ago.  I purchased the metal/wooden plaque on clearance from Hobby Lobby last year.  I removed their saying, and created my own.

I learned how to make a mock up.  This basket doesn't have the vinyl on it yet.  I made the design in Silhouette studio and then imported the picture of the basket into SS.  It gives me good idea about colors and sizes.  It is also nice to be able to post (for sale) on Facebook without having to waste material.

I customer (who is also a friend) asked me to make this for her.  Again, just nice to have a project to work on.

I made a stencil and etched my first mug.  I gave it to Brian.  I am thinking of making some fun mugs for Father's Day in hopes they might sell.

Last night I worked on a small decoration for my nephew and his soon to be bride.  I am going to find a floating frame and see how this will look on it.

I paired this basket with these fun dinos I found on clearance after Christmas.

Lastly, I have been making some car decals for a lady who contacted me on the internet.  This one stretched me a little bit.  I learned how to make the outside box and inside rectangle.  I also learned how to make the font thicker.  Baby steps.....maybe one day I'll be a pro.