Nov 23 - 29

Monday, November 23 - Our little Grandma Howard is in a rehab center to get her strength back. She fell and broke her collar bone so mom came solo today to get her nails done. We did some fun Christmas nails and we both love how they turned out. :)

 

Tuesday, November 24 - Amie and I had lunch together today. Even when we haven't seen each other for a while, we just pick up right where we left off. I love spending time with my BFF. After I left her house, I had about an hour before I had to be to the school for carpool pick up so I ran to Walmart. I got some really good Christmas shopping done including Amie's family's gift, "The Office Game". 

Wednesday, November 25 - This is the first time I have made a pumpkin pie, from scratch, without my mom standing next to me telling me how to do it. Kendra and I gathered up all of the ingredients and got it made! We were happy with how it came out. Nick and I also made a couple of Jell-O's and a banana cream pie. All ready for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow!

Thursday, November 26 - Viv is so sweet. She made a whole entire Thanksgiving dinner and brought it over to, not only our house, but ran it out to Gary & Alexis and Ryan & Ashley too. When they got home, we all got on a Zoom conference and ate dinner "together" in our own homes (stupid Covid!). It was enjoyable and the best way to be with our family without actually "being" with our family. After dinner, we got the Christmas tree all set up. Despite how this year has turned out, we have so much to be thankful for!

Friday, November 27 - Now that most of our gifts are purchased, it's time to start wrapping. I actually love wrapping Christmas gifts. I put on a Christmas show, get into the zone, and make ordinary things look beautiful! This is Amie's gift. It's The Office themed. Everything in the package has something to do with The Office. Nick and I had fun finding quotes to put with all of the items. :)

Saturday, November 28 - Oh happy day! We had one treatment with a dermatologist to remove the giant wart on her knee. She, and we, figured it would take a few appointments but the whole dang thing fell off today after one freezing! Yay! 

Sunday, November 29 - I'm not doing much decorating in the basement this year for Christmas but we have been spending quite a bit of time in the theater room watching movies so I wanted to make it a little festive. I was happy that this garland fit the entertainment center perfectly! It feels even more homey in our little theater room.

Nov 16 - 22

Monday, November 16 - Poor Grandma Howard had to have a MOHS surgery to remove the cancer on the end of her nose. I won't show the really gruesome picture but they basically had to cut her whole nose open. I feel so bad for her but man, she is one tough lady! She just takes it all like a champ! And kudos to my sister for taking her and handling it all so well!

Tuesday, November 17 - I was having a rough morning. It's true. I get anxiety and I was near vomiting with stress this morning but I got through it and went to work. When I was almost done, I got a text from Jessie Price that she dropped a treat off at my door. A drink from the gas station! She didn't know I was having a hard morning. Yup, I cried at work! Then this afternoon, mom and grandma decided to run out a plate of cookies and a thank you card for the help that we are giving to grandma. I am so thankful for these people in my life that make my bad morning turn into a perfect day!

Wednesday, November 18 - Knotted Fern photo shoot day! They are fun and they are oh. so. exhausting! Our super cute Christmas line is coming so this was a shoot to get ready for that release. Can't wait!

Thursday, November 19 - Busy day! First of all, Ricki has outgrown and given away all of her winter coats but it has been an unseasonably warm October and November so it hasn't been much of a problem. However, it is getting colder so I asked mom's permission to give Ricki her Christmas coat early and she happily agreed. That is one happy girl there! Nick's school is currently closed due to the percentage of Covid cases in his school. He got done with online school by 1:30 so he and I went to Walmart so he could get his Christmas gifts for his siblings. Tonight, we had social distanced, outside, with masks card exchange. Haha! It was fun but pretty cold! :)

Friday, November 20 - President Nelson had a special announcement to share with the world today at 11:00 am. He, as a world-renowned surgeon, gave the world a prescription - to flood social media with posts of gratitude and hashtag them #givethanks. Social media has gotten so negative lately. There is so much that we are going through as a society that the negative is stealing our focus and causing anxiety, depression, separation, etc. He was inspired to have us flood the world with gratitude and positivity and see what that does. I'll tell you what, it is making a difference!

Saturday, November 21 - Dave and Viv stopped by this morning. It was perfect timing because we were going to swing by their house anyway. We had a birthday gift to give to Dave. We gave him a new sweater. :) I love these sweet in-laws of mine! And I'm glad we live close enough that they can just swing by and hang out for a few minutes. Even though that means masks and standing really far apart. 

Sunday, November 22 - Ricki's teacher, Jewel Smith, drops stuff off about once a month just to remind Ricki that she is loved and cared about. She is so great! Ricki absolutely loves when Sister Smith drops these care packages off. :) For my #givethanks today, I was very grateful for technology. It allows us to sit home in our living room and participate in Sacrament meeting as well as Young Men's, Young Women's, Relief Society, and Elder's Quorum. 

Nov 9 - 15

Monday, November 9 - I have been finishing up my Christmas tags for card exchange and organizing the office as I go. It is such a nice feeling to have it all organized and done! I also had Simon take off the doors to the closet because it is so hard to access the drawers with the doors on. I need to buy some curtains and close it off but I'm happy to have so much open space now!

Tuesday, November 10 - I went over to Jenni's after work this morning to can applesauce. Not only did we work for hours today, Jenni and mom worked for hours yesterday on it too! We got about 45 bottles of applesauce when all was done! It is such a nice feeling to have it all done and know that the apples from our trees are going to such great use!

Wednesday, November 11 - I got to go on a much needed day-date with this handsome man! We started our Christmas shopping together then had lunch at a new Mexican restaurant here in Herriman called La Garnacha. We got to do this for Veteran's Day and I am so grateful for all of the brave men and women that have gone on before me to provide me with the freedoms that I enjoy today.

Thursday, November 12 - Well, the rona is finally affecting my life personally. Marisa and her family have all been diagnosed with Coronavirus and Liz flew out Tuesday morning for Disney World in Florida so...I'm on my own at work. Yesterday was a little scary to be alone but today, I'm feeling like I have the hang of it. :) P.S. We work on a computer that has a broken screen so it really is this hard to look at but funny enough, now that we've worked on it for so long, we hardly notice it anymore. :)

Friday, November 13 - We can't just let our friends be sick and not drop off chicken noodle soup! Kendra, Nick and I made dinner and then Kendra and I dropped it off on the Olson's porch. Marisa is wearing her sweatshirt that I made her last Christmas which made me feel good. I hope they get better quickly.

Saturday, November 14 - It's that time. Christmas time is here! Everybody knows there's not a better time of year. Hear that sleigh. Santa's on his way! Hip, hip, hooray, for Christmas vacation! 

Our family has been watching a lot of movies and enjoying our new theater room. Playing tonight: Christmas Vacation! We just can't resist a good old fashioned fun family movie night!

Sunday, November 15 - It's been a great Sunday!! After we had church online and home sacrament, I painted Kendra and Ricki's nails. Later, we got everything ready and had fondue for dinner. This is one of those rare awesome meals that all of the kids love and devour!

Nov 2 - 8

 

Monday, November 2 - Well, all of these cute kids stayed home sick today. It was a good thing because the pediatrician's office called first thing this morning and said that Zack's strep culture came back positive even though his rapid test on Friday was negative. Ricki still has an elevated temperature and poor Kendra's nose is just raw! Tonight, I had a massage so I stopped by a ballot drop to drop off our voting ballots. Yay, we voted. I don't feel great about this election, whichever way this election goes but...we'll see what happens. 

Tuesday, November 3 - Kendra has been working for a while on this 1,000 piece puzzle and finally finished it tonight. She loves puzzles and I love that she loves them!

Wednesday, November 4 - I started not feeling super great today. I can't tell if I actually don't feel well or if it's a migraine. Simon was going to Sam's Club so Nick asked if he could pick him up some candy (since he didn't get to go trick-or-treating) so Simon grabbed him some Reece's. I asked if he could grab dinner so this is what he came home with. It was perfect! The kids were happy and I didn't have to make it! Win-win!

Thursday, November 5 - Unfortunately, Simon wasn't feeling well last night so I was questioning whether to work or not but we had a big pop-up tonight so I did end up working. Savannah and Amy came and I made Savy try on this super cute top. She's such a doll!

Friday, November 6 - Oh Simon and his fu manchu (she hits forehead with hand). He still is not feeling well so he made an appointment to be Covid tested. However, the numbers are reaching into the 3,000/day so they are running low on tests and he can't get in until Sunday. Simon and I went to Kneader's yesterday for lunch and after sitting in the drive-thru forever and getting home, I realized they gave me the wrong salad! I was mad!! So...they put me on the manager's list to receive a free salad - which I cashed in on tonight for dinner! I was super happy about that!

Saturday, November 7 - I spent the whole day trying to get ready for our upcoming card exchange. It's Christmas tags and I have to do 15 sets of 3 so 48 total tags. I also got an itch to organize my office so now the whole room is pulled completely apart, there is tag stuff everywhere, and to top it off, I hated what I made (the top tag with the green). However, after consulting with my personal consultants (Jenni, Mom, Marisa, and Liz), I decided to change it for the bottom tag. :) Still not done with them but I have a good start. 

Sunday, November 8 - We did church at home again today. It works out so great when we have family members that aren't feeling 100%. Everyone is definitely on the mend and all of the kids have been back to school since Wednesday but I still don't think Simon should be in public yet. He went this afternoon and got tested for Covid so we should know in the next 48 hours if he is positive or not.

Oct 26 - Nov 1

Monday, October 26 - Jenni and I took the kids to Gardner Village to get one final Fall Break peak at the witches before Halloween. Of course, it has been an unseasonably warm October and today the high was only 32°. That's my luck! Haha! It was really fun and at the end, we went to the candy shop and I let the kids all pick a treat to try. It was a fun outing to finish off a good week break.

Tuesday, October 27 - I started thinking about Christmas and neighbor gifts today and got Google-ing. Look how cute these tiny masks for 2020 are! However, Jenni already bought a bunch of glass ornaments so I might do the toilet paper idea. :)

Wednesday, October 28 - It was crazy hair day at school today so this is how we did sister's hair. Unfortunately, it turned out really beautiful and I think she could wear it like this to a prom someday! :) Tonight, Jenni's Relief Society did a craft night so I went and made a block snowman. It was really fun and I got to meet her cute neighbor Crystal. It was a good night!

Thursday, October 29 - I took grandma to get her hair done and then to her doctor, Dr. Harold. It was a long day out (like 5+ hours) but it was fun being with grams. Tonight, I took a cookie making class and it was so fun! I enjoyed learning some of the in's and out's of cookie decorating.

Friday, October 30 - We unexpectedly had Kenny and Katie's kids tonight. Katie is still in rehab and Kenny has to work tomorrow so they were going to sleep over at Jenni's house tonight. Jenni started feeling really yucky today though so she couldn't have them. However, Zack started feeling crummy yesterday and he's been pretty darn sick. Kenny can't miss work though and with all the Covid stuff going on, mom is out so they came to us. We had a fun and exciting evening with them!

Saturday, October 31 - The weather today is super beautiful so we carved pumpkins in the backyard. Dave and Viv came over to watch us and it was perfect because we were able to social distance and not be too close together. Later tonight, poor little Ricki wasn't feeling great and Zack was still on the mend but they went trick-or-treating for a little while. Nick went over to his friend, Wil's house to watch a scary movie. He may regret that decision but I guess he's old enough to be having those experiences. It was a spooky fun Halloween!

Sunday, November 1 - Ricki has a fever, Kendra has a red stuffy nose, and Zack is finally feeling a little better but isn't sure yet about school tomorrow. At least they all have candy to make them feel better. :)