Charlotte's Baptism

Charlotte turned 8 on Valentine's Day.  We share a birthday and are 40 years apart!  She was going to be baptized on her birthday, but due to the winter storm week, it was moved to February 28th.  They also had to move it to the Midland building due to our building flooding.  

However, it was filled with our extended family and plus a few of the Bird's favorite families.  The great part about being in the church here is our ward families are our extended families in so many ways.  I guess I am trying to say, the extra families the Birds included are some of our very favorite as well.  (The Jackman family, The Stromberg family, and The Martin family...but the Martin's are related to Chris and Angelique so they really are family...kind of....)

Front row: The Bird family, Braddock, Britney, Charlotte, Ella, Adam & Hudson 

Second row: Gram, me, Brian  Third row: Chris, Ang, Adam, Christian, Megan, & Lincoln

Fourth row: Stromberg family  Fifth row: Wendy Linde, Laurel & David King 

Sixth row: Parker, Aubrey, La and Tanner (I think.  They are pretty far back in this picture.)

Charity played the piano.  This is after the baptism and Jake was hanging with her until postlude music was over.

Sweet Charlotte

Me and Char.  

Tate Stromberg shaking Charlotte's hand and congratulating her after her baptism.  Britney cracked up about this exchange.  Tate and Char have been great friends for years but his family moved away about 1.5 years ago.  Tate was so formal and sweet in his congratulations.  Charlotte had no idea what to do with his outstretched hand.  She just stared at it until Britney prompted her to shake it.  He got the dead fish handshake for sure.  Isaiah Martin, Hudson and Cara Stromberg are also in this picture congratulating Char.

Tanner & Parker

Afterwards we had "Sunday night" over at the Birds.  We did it out in the shop so we could social distance better.  It was freezing but fun.

Wendy Linde (my mom's sister), Gram (aka my mom, aka Laurel Vore), Me and Laurel King (my cousin & Wendy's daughter)

Parker hanging out at the kid table w/ Ella and Penelope Jackman.

The Jackman boys used their 3-D printer to create this replica of the Lubbock temple for Charlotte.  So sweet.

Hudson and Grandpa

Parker holding Holden and Tanner  (He had been in this position for a little bit before I whipped out the camera....that's why his face is a little red.)

Last week of February...I think

Well, we went from freezing weather last week to 70s this week.  It was so beautiful.  I went on several walks and just loved to see the sun shine again.

Here is a little about our week:

So fun to see Parker coming home mid-morning from a mission interview.  He is hoping to have his papers turned in by the end of March.  He also had his first track meet.  He placed 1st in his heat in the 100.  (I think he got 4th overall.)  Sadly, his super fast relay team had some rough hand offs and were disqualified.  It's kind of fun because until last year, Parker hasn't really run track.  (He was in it in 7th grade and Coach Wright would tease him that he was as slow as Christmas.)  He has speed now.  Woot woot!

Park snapped these pictures.  I am so grateful they are somewhat flattering of me.  Often he will say, "Hey...Mom..." and then snap a random picture to send to someone on Snap Chat.  He thinks it's hilarious.  At first I was like, "Stop that!  Who are you sending that to?"  But know I just go with the flow.

I walked over to Gram and Grandpa's.  He is always so good to Buttercup.

Aubrey had a bowling activity for Young Women's.  This was one she was looking forward to going to.  Lft-rt: Analise Howell, Georgie Knieper, Jahlila Sio, Aubrey, Lizhet Sio, Trinity Ormsby, Ali Crissinger, Melanie Ormsby and Luna Head.  

She also had a track meet.  Here is the back story.

I can't remember if I've said anything about this, but Aubrey did not want to join track.  She told the coaches no several times.  First they tried to convince her.  Then they tried to coerce her.  Then they threatened to call me.  Aubrey told them to go ahead because she knew I was behind her choice.  Then they told her she had no choice, she was on the team.  

I told Aubrey if she decided to be a part of the team, I didn't want to hear ANY complaining.  Last year was pretty miserable, and the season ended after one meet due to Covid.  Aubrey cried and complained and made every morning and night pretty rough around the house.  

Well she caved and started track.  She has been biting her tongue for the most part and will just mention she is not a fan.  There has been a lot less whining and a lot more silently enduring.  She also said, with a little smile, that it's kind of nice to be told how fast you are by several teammates and it makes track a lot better .

Her first track meet was on February 27th, and the entire week Aubrey was a hot mess of nerves.  I don't mind her sharing her fears and concerns and anxieties about competition.  I just don't want to hear daily complaining about early morning track and wishing she never joined.  Well she shared and shared and worried and by the night before the track meet, she had made herself sick.  It was pretty pathetic.  She was bawling in her room because she was just so nervous.  Poor girl.

Luckily she did great at her meet.  She placed first in the 100 and 3rd in the 400.  That really bolstered her confidence.  I teased her that when she gets a track scholarship from BYU, she will need to write a thank you note to Coach Patino.  One meet down, four to go.

Aubrey also had friends over on Saturday for a little going away party for Amelia.  I LOVED hearing them squealing and laughing and just having fun throughout the day.  (Hide and Go seek inside, Just Dance, Truth or Dare, lots of treats and lots of giggling.)

Amelia, Breena, Aubrey

Madelyn, Briana, ?, Breena, Amelia, Aubrey

I was teasing these three that it was obvious they were in athletics and not cheer.  Good thing they have enough muscles to pull off silly stunts.

Tanner has had a kind of boring week I think.  He hasn't had after school basketball because JV season was over and Varsity was in the playoffs.  He has been watching a lot of "24" and "Wanda Vision."  I think in a week or two after school pickup games will start up.

The basketball goal, which was very heavy and filled with sand and water, got destroyed a couple of months ago due to high winds.  Even though we were mostly living on savings, Brian and I felt it was worth it to buy a new base.  We love it when Tanner goes out to play, and we want our kids outside being active.  (That is a challenge in this digital age for sure.) 

I love seeing Brian helping the boys learn to put things together.  He knows a lot and is a great teacher.

 

A Snow Storm, Power Outages, A Visitor, An Icy Pond

Well our snow storm saga continued for several days.  The extremely cold weather covered many states but Texas had a big problem.  Our power grid crashed and so many people were without electricity.  Then people were without electricity and water.  Then, several days later, when things began to thaw, there were tons of water leaks/pipe issues.

On Monday, Gram and Grandpa Vore hung out at our house for several hours because their electricity had been out since 2:00 am.  Their house was frigid.  We enjoyed having them over.  Their electricity had trouble for the next three days, but they decided to just hunker down by the fire.  We walked over and visited them in their dark, cold house a couple of times.  (It wasn't too bad by the fireplace.)

Tanner and Grandpa

We let Butter stay inside in the laundry room.  She was in heaven on day one and two I think.  However, days 3-7 she was conflicted.  She was in and out a lot.  I think she liked being on the back porch so she could at least see us through the windows.  Aub was good to play with her.  

Parker and I took her on a walk one day.  Big mistake.  She was so tired of being cooped up.  She was pulling the leash, and I was trying to walk on the icy street without falling.  I decided to unleash her which was a huge mistake.  She almost caused two accidents when she darted into the cross streets just as a car was coming.  She wouldn't let us near her.  Parker and I were cringing.  When the two cars skidded as they braked, we tried to pretend we had no affiliation with Buttercup.  Dumb dog.  (Really dumb me for letting her off her leash.)

I am still serving as our Relief Society president and on Monday afternoon I received a call about a sister in need.  The part I love is the call came from her ministering sister.  When Michele, a member less than a year, could not get a hold of Sister Donna Wood, she asked for a county welfare check.  Michele found out Sister Wood was in the ER due to no electricity and needing electricity for her oxygen tank.  (Michele couldn't help much more due to her own water and electricity issues.)

Long story short, Sister Wood ended up at our house for about four days.  She mostly stayed in the recliner in the den, and then Parker's room at night.  She was sweet.  She just watched her shows and slept.  She told us about all of her medicine and her illnesses over and over again in great detail.  

I was so glad to have Brian helping.  He is the medical parent/person in our family.  With his physical therapy, he has worked in hospitals and in homes of elderly patients.  He knew how to work her oxygen tanks and help her in and out of our van safely.  I grew more comfortable over the days but to be honest, I was pretty terrified on day one when we picked her up from the hospital.  Especially because on the way home she was listing off all of her many sicknesses.  I said a little prayer right then, "please help this lady not die while we are caring for her."  And she didn't!  Whew.

She is new in Odessa and had visited her at her home, one time, for maybe 10-15 minutes.  Parker and Tanner kept growling that I had picked up some random lady I didn't even know...which was much truer than they knew.  The kids mostly avoided the family room for the week, but we ate meals together and did scripture and prayer all together.  All of the kids helped at one time or another by helping Sister Wood to the restroom, helping prepare a meal for her and helping her get safely back home.  (We loaded her up to go home on Wednesday but then then her power went out again.  She stayed until Friday...so then we loaded her and her belongings up again.)

A few things that were cute from her visit.  One day we were gathered around the kitchen table and Parker mentioned taking Bethani, a girl he is "talking to" somewhere.  Sister Wood cooed in a sing song voice, "It looks like someone has a girlfriend."  We all just busted up while Parker turned red.

She didn't sleep real well at night due to health conditions.  She would do paint by number pictures on her phone and show me each morning.  She has sent me a few since she has been home.

Sister Wood watched the two hour Bachelor special on the first night she was here.  (The Bachelor is a steamy, cheesy dating show.)  She was excited for the next TV program she liked which was coming on at 10:00.  Even though it would have been easier to have scripture and prayer in our bedroom, I thought we should move to the den so she could join in.  Well, when I asked her if she would like to join us for scriptures there was a long, awkward pause.  She didn't want to!  She wanted to continue watching her shows!  I felt like I had another teenager in the house.  (After she found out we could pause the show, she was happy to join us each night for scriptures and prayer.)

When we took her home on Friday, Brian was back at work so both boys helped.  Once we got to her apartment, they looped arms on either side of her and walked her through the snow about 300 feet to her apartment door.  I went back and forth to the van to carry in her belongings.  We got her settled and said her goodbyes.  She gave me and Parker a hug.  Then she went to hug Tanner and he was as stiff as a board.  He was definitely out of his comfort zone.  Parker was cracking up.  

When we got in the van, Parker retold the hug from his view point.  I happened to take a drink just as he began, and I started choking on my water.  All three of us were laughing, but I thought I was going to have to pull over because that water definitely went down the wrong tube.  (See the video here)

All in all, we survived the crazy snow week.  The district had the kids do school from home.  Our electricity never went out although we had several families in our ward who had no heat and water for days.  The church had a pipe burst and it flooded the ENTIRE building.  We are back to home church for now, and it's projected to take 6 months to repair the building.  This crazy snowstorm definitely shut down Texas.

Oh...and one of us almost did not survive the weather.  Here is a video of Parker falling into an icy pond.  He went with Austin over the weekend to help with damage at their ranch.  Park thought the pond was frozen (enough) through.  He also thought it was shallow.  When he fell in, he never even felt the bottom.  He was totally immersed in freezing cold water.  He said his first thought was, "I'm going to die."  His next thought was, "when I come up, I will be stuck under the ice and not able to get out."  

He had scrapes and bruises all over his upper body.

I am so glad he is strong and that his dumb decision to walk into the middle of the frozen pond didn't have lasting or deadly consequences.  Crazy teenage boys.  It's amazing any of them survive themselves.  (Here is the video.)

 

February 14, 2021

Valentine's Day/my birthday landed on Sunday this year.  We also had a huge winter snowstorm come to town.  It snowed.  The roads were awful.  I think it got to -8 with the windchill.  We don't really do -8 in Texas.  School on Friday was cancelled.  We mostly stayed home on Saturday.  On Sunday, church was moved to "at home" church.  Charlotte's baptism and our Sunday night gathering were cancelled.  We just hunkered down and had a lot of family time.

Aubrey was so cute.  On Saturday, she quizzed me on different breakfast options and what time I would like to eat.  She made this yummy breakfast, and I really felt loved and cared for by her kind act.  She also decorated the mantel with our b-day banner and balloons.  (And I know the Comfy makes me look humongous but I don't even care.  It's so comfy and warm!  Here is a post from two years ago singing the Comfy's praises.)

I set out Valentine's for the group and we had b-day celebrations around 11:30, home church around 12:00 and 2nd hour at 12:30. (Relief Society, Elders Quorum, Young Men and Young Women classes.)

This is Brian's V-day basket.  Of course I had to utilize the cute scratch off cards.

I set these out for the kids.  I loved buying these dollar store boxes and filling them with treats. (We gave Aubrey her card to scratch off each day leading up to Valentine's Day.  That is why it isn't set out.  We also sent Bryn a little package.)  This was my big celebration purchase after Brian was offered his new job.  I just felt relief and felt free to buy a few extras.  (A few bigger purchases followed.  We have brought in take out a few times and I purchased a comforter set for Parker's room.  He hasn't had anything besides a blanket on his bed for the past year and a half....not that he cares.  Seriously though so fun for me!)

The boys scratching off and comparing what was written.  Everything is a friendly competition with them.

 Aub continued to spoil me with the sweetest card, chocolate and three pairs of loop earrings.

I think Brian, Parker and Tanner all "wrapped" their presents in these gift bags which I purchased for 10 cents each at Target on clearance probably five years ago.  They have served us well.

Tanner resupplied me with HUGE Hershey candy bars.  He knows my love language.  (Not the best picture of him...I'm not sure why we were cracking up.)

Parker gave me this large tin of Dove chocolates.  Delish!

Brian gave me chocolates (are you seeing a theme here?), a necklace and bracelet and a cute jacket. 

Sunday afternoon Brinley was able to call and wish me happy birthday.  We had a great visit, and I loved hearing all about her week and sharing ours with her as well.  She also sent a really sweet letter in the mail sharing many of the reasons she loves me.  I am so glad we were able to visit on Sunday because the winter storm got worse on Monday.  I had some RS responsibilities and wasn't able to visit w/ her very long on Monday. 

Brinley's cute STLs (sister training leaders) had the great idea to gather videos from each family to share with their missionaries.  This is a screen shot Brinley saved from the one we sent her.  We each shared a few things we appreciated about her.  (peacemaker, good listener, fun, her laugh, sister time etc...)

Aub got all bundled up and braved the outdoors.  Doesn't she look cute?  She was the only one brave enough/interested enough.  (I have since ordered snow boots.  I think if I can keep my feet warm, I would be much more willing to venture outdoors in snowy weather.)

She stayed out a bit and she, Park and Tanner were thrilled when school was moved to remote learning for Monday.

 

MASKS

February 2021

Tanner: “Mom, it’s been forever since I washed my school mask...like weeks...maybe months.”

Me:

1. Apparently he has ONE mask he has designated as his school mask. Why? Just why?

2. Trying not to micromanage my teens but Apparently I need to step it up.

3. Why do we have three hundred disposable masks ready and available that are not being used? Tanner has several cloth masks as well. I am still shaking my head at this crazy kid. He has designated ONE mask for school? Just one. And he wears it everyday? And he hasn't washed it in weeks...maybe months?????? I have no words.

While we are on the topic of masks, here are a few pictures from around our house. Masks are haunting me. I can't keep up with them. I have too many people who live here who have their own ideas about masks.

I took these five masks off the counter in Brian's bathroom and threw them in the trash. They have been stacking up through the week. I think he probably just wore them for a short time and plans to reuse them. I do appreciate the thriftiness but would rather they not be out on the bathroom counter top.

These two masks are on Parker's night stand.

These seven masks are on Parker''s desk and bulletin board.

These two masks belong to Aubrey. I confiscated them from the floor of her room and the fireplace mantel, washed them by hand and hung them to dry.

Our mask station in the laundry room. (Not pictured, our disposable mask supply under a kitchen cabinet nearby.)

Aubrey's mask hanging on her bulletin board.

My mask container, that holds about 10 masks, that I keep in the car.  (I love this thing and searched quite a bit for the perfect car mask solution.)

My masks I keep in the van that I use throughout the week. (That Christmas one is terrible.  It's made of flannel and is really weird.  I don't use it.  It just has been hanging there for two months.)

The mask pack Brian brought in from his truck.  He's had it in there for months.  He offered them to Tanner this week..  Tanner declined and they have been on the kitchen counter for a couple of days.  Nobody is quite sure what to do with them.  (I just had a great idea.  Aubrey can tie dye them.  Maybe we will have a taker.)

Masks....they are taking over our lives.