Perfect Fall Day

We had a gorgeous fall day. Nathan started to learn how to ride a bike without training wheels. Eliza roller bladed. We threw around the baseball, played some basketball, Jonah climbed the tree, and we just had fun playing outside. Westley was at work and Caleb hanging out with a friend. Corey had to work that night. But it was a glorious day, one of those days that you just want to capture in your mind forever.

 

General Conference

General Conference was this weekend.  Back in about May they decided that they would not hold a regular conference at the Conference Center but hold it virtually like they had done in April.  We watch it in TV anyway, so it's hardly any different to us viewers.  But I cooked up a storm just to have some delicious food.  We had pulled pork with homemade buns, salads, and I made two pies--apple and pumpkin.  I love food.  We also set up some puzzles and bought some conference treats like we usually do.  Corey was only home for the morning session on Sunday.  He worked Saturday day and Sunday night (starting at 3:30, so missed the afternoon session that day).  Eliza and I went to Paige's for the women's session and then got ice cream at Braum's afterward.  We met up with Sarah Ewell and her daughter Emma for the treat. 

Afternoon Walk

Nathan asked me if we could go on a walk with Willy. So we did! It's so nice to have this time to spend with him. This was all before the bad news broke out. I got an email just a few hours later that Westley had probably been a close contact to someone who tested positive for covid19, so he had to quarantine from school for two weeks. He went to work anyway but when he got home, Corey told him that he needed to quarantine from work too. With Corey being a store manager, if Westley were to get covid and knew he should quarantine but didn't, Corey could possibly get heat for that. So Westley told his work and plans on taking sick time for all the time he won't get to work. I'm super annoyed by it because there's no way to verify he was close to this person. Just supposedly he was. At least he will be back for when the band performs at their first football game of the year (only barely though, he can go back on October 15th, and that's the day they perform!).

 

Playtime Fun!

We told the little kids they couldn't watch TV so they ended up coming up with these fun things together, making shapes on the floor with their bodies. And Nathan really enjoys building with the linking cubes and built a really tall tower.

 

Travis is FOURTEEN!

Travis had his birthday this week. He turned fourteen. I can't believe how grown up everyone is getting. He had a football game on his birthday, so we didn't celebrate until later in the week. He didn't get to play, of course, due to his collarbone. Travis is such a great kid. He works hard in school and at football, he loves to cook, he's fun to hang out with, he's just an all-around good kid.

 

X-Rays, Tacos, Lawn-mowing and Oreo Cookies

Travis had another x-ray of his shoulder. The doctor said it's looking good.  He is not cleared to play tackle football yet but it is fully healed.  He can participate in running and exercise drills.  He has another check in five weeks, at which point he might be cleared to play.  We are crossing our fingers and hoping for it.  The season is starting and he has to sit out the first few games on the sidelines.

We made homemade Oreo cookies.  They turned out good, but were a little salty.  I think if we make it again, we'll add less salt and do something to make the cookie part a little less dry.

We got to have a free taco night for dinner one Friday this month because our friends in our ward who are realtors do these promotional events for clients and people who've given them referrals.  We've given them a referral, so we are on their list.  I like getting free stuff and free tacos are great!

Corey is teaching Jonah how to mow the lawn now.  We realized that he is already nine and the other boys had started learning around this age.  Time to step up our parenting game!

 

Lacey's Birthday

Austin and Paige's youngest, Lacey, turned one on September 4th so they had a family swim party to get together and celebrate her birthday. Adam and Eve's family was able to come and I came with all the kids who were able to come. Corey was working and came later and Westley had to leave for work during the party. But it was great to get everyone together and spend that time. It was probably our last swimming party of the summer too, since we just are so busy and the water is getting colder now. And, coincidentally, Adam and Eve's youngest, Claire, turned two earlier in the week (September 1st), so we brought her a present as well. Adam and Eve are busy moving to a new house so we were esepecially glad they could come.