Happy 2nd

My cute baby turned 2 today. I can hardly stand it. I'm so happy that he mostly felt good today. I think he had a nice day, despite 2 dentist appointments today and whatever else. We got an ice cream, after all. ;) And he's always happy to go for rides in the "bus." (That's what he calls the van.)

Henry loves cars. He loves to carry them around, one in each hand. His favorite are busses. See, one day last school year we were outside waiting for Timmy's bus, and I showed Henry, "Look! It's a bus!" He was so excited that he knew what a bus was and soon after that he started calling the van that. He gets excited when he sees a school bus and exclaims, "Bus!" And when it's time for us to go somewhere he runs right out to get in the van, giggling and saying, "Bus!" So, obviously, we had to do a bus cake. I cut the shape and frosted most of it. Jill and Michael helped. And Henry was a happy boy. :)

V for Victory

So. I've been a little slothful about going to the gym the last couple of weeks. We've had every sort of sickness known to man in the last month, and I've been trying to get us all back on our feet. That and I've had lots of headaches. And poor Henry has been so, so cranky. I finally got him to the doctor yesterday, and he has an ear infection. Poor fella!

Anyway, yesterday I woke up with a massive headache, like I often do lately. I think it's from my pillow being flat and not supporting my neck very well while Henry snuggles against me all night. (If I weren't so good at falling asleep that would be an even major annoyance. When I'm going to sleep I don't like people to touch me.) Anyway, so I knew I had to ear something before I took medicine, so I did. And headaches also cause my stomach to ache. And I needed to let my food digest a bit before going to the gym.

Anyway, I did get to the gym, though, and it was incredible. Remember how I've been running 2 miles at a time? Yesterday I ran 3. It was an amazing experience for me. I went and cried through my stretches. If that's what I can do after waking up with a huge headache, man! What CAN'T I do?! And what can possibly get in my way?! It was actually kind of a spiritual awakening. I'm thankful. And then I texted Jeremy to tell him, and he responded, "That's how it's done!" And that was the cherry on top.

Today I ran another 3. I did walk a lap between miles 2 and 3 because my muscles are still tired from yesterday, but I did it! We'll see what I do on Friday. I may just do two again, and that would be ok.

News

So remember how I said our friend Lilly (Stefanie Smith) had a tumor removed? Here is a picture. 

Anyway, said tumor was sent to pathology for testing, and guess what! It's not cancerous! It could have turned cancerous if it was left in there, but now it won't. :) She is quite happy and relieved. She told me, "I get to live!!" I'm quite happy for her.

And the other thing - another semester is drawing to a close. Benji is passing his classes fine. Hooray! 

Hyrum has had a more stressful semester than we planned on. Spanish and World of Music both turned out to be quite a bit by themselves, but he also had math. I had no idea so much work would be required in World of Music, nor did I anticipate the struggle he'd have with Spanish. Poor fella.

 I don't think Joshua can pass English this time. I feel like I should be disappointed. Maybe I am a bit. But he did better this time! He actually did most of the assignments. This teacher was nice but more demanding. He learned that it would have been better to pass with the first teacher, a guy whose class he really liked. He also learned to get some work done this time. AND best of all - he learned that there's such a thing as an accommodation plan!! (I had no idea!) He can go see the school counselor and get one, and then I betcha he can pass this class! I love that the teachers have been so nice and willing to help. I feel quite optimistic for him. :) Also, this teacher told him he's very smart and is handling adult level themes. Yep, he is. :)

Also, I love that Timmy says whomade instead of homemade. It cracks me up. Made by Cindy Lou herself. ;)

Grandma McDermott

Jeremy's grandma Waldene McDermott died on November 22. She is the last of our grandparents to die. I sure love her. She will be missed. I remember when Grandma Peterson died I was just so sad that I didn't have any grandmas alive anymore. I decided I would kind of adopt Jeremy's grandma just so I'd still have one. 

What I remember of her is how welcoming and loving she was. I felt like I'd known her all my life. It was always a pleasure to sit and chat with her. She had a fun and ready laugh. 

Grandma lived in half of an old farm house that she rented, the same house all her children grew up in. It was surrounded by pumpkin fields and peacocks that wandered freely. Part of her rent was paid by taking care of the donkeys that lived nearby. She raised one from just a little thing and named him Eeyore. 

In recent years that old farm house and the fields were swallowed up by the ever encroaching city.  Grandma was beginning to suffer from dementia at the time, though. The family cleaned out that old house and moved her to her daughter Jane's house, where she mostly stayed until her death. She suffered a fall a month or two ago, and she had surgery from it, but just never recovered. 

Jeremy's grandpa Floyd died while Jeremy was on his mission, October 16, 1998. So Grandma has been waiting a long time to be reunited with him and her daughter Marie who died as a baby.

Grandpa is buried on a grassy hill in a little town in Idaho. We went there near sunset once, on a rainy day. The sun was just starting to peek out a bit after the rain, and it was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.

I'm happy for Grandma, but I'll miss her.

Most of November

So as I was saying a couple of posts ago, Lilly and Os are having troubles.  So far they've stayed strong in the church and are raising those little girls, and mostly they've been just fine.  But then all of the sudden Lilly has a tumor in her head.  What?!  So they obviously couldn't come to Thanksgiving.  They are actually doing surgery today.  It's crazy.  Crazy!  She will probably have to do chemotherapy and/or radiation, but they'll know more about that after surgery.  Just praying that things go well today!

Hyrum is taking Spanish 101 or whatever this year, and he has the same teacher I had when I went to EAC.  And he remembers me!!  He was such a fun teacher, and sounds like he still is.  Anyway, Hyrum's class went on a field trip.  They couldn't go to Mexico (bummer), but they went to San Xavier and I can't remember what border town.  Probably Nogales.  The teacher had these sombreros for them all to borrow.  Hyrum had such a great time.  He made some friends and came away with inside jokes.  I was really glad for him.

Inside San Xavier

I sang in this little church when I was on tour with EAC's A Capella Choir!  The acoustics are great.  It's really a small church, but a pretty one.

Timmy "made" this at school.

Hyrum's souvenir from his Spanish trip

This is one of the best things about living where we do - fireworks ALL THE TIME!  This particular night there was a huge bonfire.  You can see the smoke from it on the left half of the picture.  We could actually see the flames behind those trees there.  Anyway, fireworks too.  I don't remember what the students were celebrating, but it looked like it must have been fun.

This little boy likes to climb.  He likes to sit in this window whenever its open and play with the dogs.

Timmy came with us to the college on a walk.

Jill came too.

Jeremy and I finally found a gym!  It's close by us.  We considered going to the college one, but Jeremy's work reimburses for other gyms but not that one?  Something like that.  Anyway, it's a gym.  I've been using the weight machines and running.  Since November 7 I've run 13 miles.  I don't look like a girl who runs 13 miles, but I'm working on that!  And this gym has a pool and hot tub and sauna.  The treadmills mostly all need some help, but they work.  But unfortunately, there's only one ceiling fan in that entire cardio room.  ONE!  It's not enough, as you can see above, but it's still way worth it to go to the gym.  I try to go every day, but the last couple of weeks, between Thanksgiving and sickness (stupid cold) it's been a bit sketchy.  Still, last time I weighed I was 2 lbs. lighter. XD Progress.  It feels good.

It's Iron Man!

Half the time, though, he sees these pictures and says, "I'm Captain America!"

How on earth does he sleep like this?!  I took the picture and then straightened him out on the couch or something.  I'm bad about naps.  I always have been.  I just let him take them when he feels like it, so he usually falls asleep on the floor.  With some of my kiddos I would actually have to go lay by them to get them to go to sleep, and then I'd usually fall asleep too.  Dang it!  I prefer it this way, though because it just happens and I don't have to worry or schedule it.  I just have to pick him up off the floor.  All good.

Bubby made toast puffs!  (Timmy's recipe.  I took a video just recently.  You toast some bread, and then you cut it and put it in a bowl and voila!  Toast puffs!  Bubby thinks it's fancy too.)

Hyrum bought flowers!  For a girl!

We were trying to get Benji to walk because he needs to cut a few pounds for wrestling so he can wrestle at 180.  He didn't wanna.  Ha ha!

Hyrum went on his first date!  It was Ladies' Choice for Pima, and this girl, Moriah Guy, invited him.  She comes from a pretty big family, but that's about all I know except that she's pretty and nice.  So a few months ago there was a tri-stake dance, and were traveling home from somewhere but Hyrum wanted to be sure to make it to the dance.  But he was also lamenting that he doesn't really know anyone here.  I think he felt like there wasn't a girl anywhere that he could be friends with.  He's not sporty like all the other guys here.  We teased him and said, "If you go to that dance you'll meet the girl you're going to marry!"  We all had a good laugh.  Lo and behold, though, at that dance he met not one but two cute girls that wanted to be his friend.  Nice!  One is named Jenny, and she's from Safford, but she's not 16 yet.  But Moriah is 16.  Anyway, Jenny doesn't have a phone yet, but Moriah does, and so Hyrum and Moriah text back and forth now and then.  They're just friends, but he's so happy to know there's actually someone out there for him, ya know?  He feels encouraged.  Not that he's trying to get a girlfriend, but just that he can eventually find somebody.

So they doubled with one of Moriah's friends and her date.  They went to the duck pond out at the fairgrounds and had a picnic.  He actually bought her some chocolate too.  Then he said, "How did this happen?!  I bought flowers and chocolate for a girl!"  Ha ha!  He wore his tux from Men's Chorus, and as you can see, he looked pretty nice.  We told him that since it was a formal dance he needed to get her a corsage, but the other guy didn't get his date a corsage.  Poor girl.  I think she was a bit jealous.  It sounds like they all had a great time anyway, and then they went to Sodalicious afterwards.

It almost looks like the other girl is saying, "Where's my corsage?!"  And the guy is saying, "What have I done?!"

I found this laying around in Joshua's room.  He made it in Graphic Design.  Don't ask me what it says, but it looks cool. ;)  He says that he has a better version of it now, but this one got a near perfect score on it. It sounds like he's doing pretty good in that class.  I'm so glad.  I think he's enjoyed it.  I think he's going to pass English 101 this time.  I think maybe Jeremy was right letting him experience the natural consequence of failing instead of withdrawing him last semester.  He now sees how good he had it, because his last teacher was so much better.  I think he learned a few things.  That's a toughie.

Next semester we may have him take C#, the other class he failed that semester.  We're also planning to put him in a GED class so he can get that over with.  

The yoga mats have been used for all sorts of things, all but yoga.

I'm glad to know that Bubby can finally stay covered up, now that its' getting cold, but check him out!  He wrapped himself in his fitted sheet.  XD

Timmy's teacher sent me these two.  Someone brought kittens to his class.

These next few pictures are from the Model Team Express orders.  They arrived November 14, and it took 6 days before the last one was picked up.  Phew!  Jeremy's mom ordered this 40 lbs. of potatoes.  Other people ordered the other things.  I wanted some pictures to put on my Facebook page so people could see some of the things we sell.

Check this out!  It's dipping chocolate, but you can see it's a chunk cut off a HUGE bar of chocolate!!  The lady who bought it says she makes turtles every year.  I wish I was on her Christmas treat list! ;)

We had some extra boxes to play in too. :)

This little fella is obsessed with this old tablet.  Every now and then he'll change some settings, but mostly he does fine with it.

Thanks for the selfie, Michael?

See?  Bubby can stay covered!

Our street got paved the week our orders came in.  According to the schedule they gave us, the grading got done early, and the paving happened several days late.  Some people weren't even able to get in to get their orders until later that day.  And I was stuck!  It was actually exactly one week before Thanksgiving, and I needed to get out and buy a turkey.  All day I was stuck, and then when it was almost time to get Timmy from school I went out and looked to see if I'd even be able to get out.  (The bus completely skipped us and whoever else lives on our street that morning.  The stinker construction people had already blocked off the street.  I had to basically ask permission to take him to school.)  Then as I was looking out there I saw our neighbor come driving home from behind her house and start unloading groceries.  What?!  There was a back way!  So I hopped in the car and went out the back way that I just kind of figured out as I went along.  It went between the cotton fields and out to Reay Lane.  Anyway, then I took Timmy to get a turkey.  He liked that anyway.  He was excited about turkey.  And then the road was finally open by the time we came home.

Bubby was ready for me to make pie, so he got a little bowl and the pumpkin out.

Hyrum and his brothers have discovered that Bashas' gives all their older food that they can't sell to the college.  So they stop by the tutoring building and see what they have a few times a week.  This particular day they had this cake.  OK then.

Taylor had a party for her 4th birthday at this park.  It's newly reopened, and it's out by Discovery Park.  Not a bad little park.

The birthday girl

Carrie made a rainbow cupcake cake. :)

Timmy got a hat and a cupcake. :)

Jill saw somebody with hats like this, so she had me help her do it too.

Taco pinata!  Paul said it was the cheapest one. XD Yeah, that's how we used to do it too.  The cheapest one was a lizard back in those days, so we had a lizard a few times.

They had Timmy whacking and done before I knew what happened, but I did get pictures of Jill and Bubby.

Sunglasses and a bag o' candy

I had this lousy belt that fell apart in less than a year.  Check it out.  It was stapled together!

We had a Burk Thanksgiving party at the Stake Center in Globe the Saturday night before Thanksgiving.  It was Grandma Burk's birthday, too, so that worked good.

Serena

Evelynn

Jill

Aaron's potato mashing was pretty intense.  Ha ha!

The traditional show - Helaman, Celeste, Noel, and Brookie

Val and Bubby playing ball

We took turns holding Aaron and Kenzie's twins while we made dinner.  Hyrum stole this one and didn't ever want to give her back.  Ha ha!

Ryan, Ammon, Helaman, Teancum, Michael, Brookie, Noel, and Celeste

Hyrum, Rachel, Aaron, Kenzie, Jill, Jocee, Joe, BreAnna, Grandma and Grandpa holding Keelynn and Quinnlynn (Don't ask me which is which. Ha ha!), and Jesse

Same group with Val over by Hyrum too

Timmy, Joshua, Ammon, Anne holding Gideon, Rob, Serena, Charity, Bubby, Ryan, and Helaman

Susie

She cut her fingers at work that day.  Poor girl.  She's a supervisor at a hair salon.  She and Rachel work at the same salon, and they just got an apartment together.  Susie's been working there longer, though, so she's the supervisor. :) Also, Rachel was briefly engaged a few months ago to a guy she met at BYU-I, but that was called off.

Rob said, "Christine, look at your son's plate!"  So I took a picture and left him to it.  Ha ha!

Playing on the table rack

I know it's a bad idea, but nobody got hurt this time.

Jill and Jocee sang a song.  Earlier that evening I found these girls in the nursery, and Jill sang a song she made up right there about how we should come to Jesus and love him.  It's a cute, sweet song. :)

Charity and Brookie singing.  Paxton came up behind them and made bunny ears on both of them, so Ryan came up and made them behind him.  Ha ha!

I had Rachel cut Jill's hair.  It really needed it!  She's been having a hard time keeping up with it, and it's so damaged.  I'm happy for her, but she's a little sad to have the length gone.  She lost a few inches.  It's easier to take care of now, though.

Michael and Grandma

That day there was a wrestling tournament in San Manuel, so Jeremy and Benji weren't able to come to our party.  It turned out, though, that just as we were getting ready to leave these guys were stopping in Globe for dinner.  So we stopped picked them up and brought them to eat what we still had at the church.  It worked out nice. :) 

Benji was .6 lbs too heavy for the 180 weight class.  He won two and lost two and came in 4th, so he has another medal.  It's funny because he has the exact same medal from the same tournament last year.  Jeremy has really enjoyed helping coach this year.  He only goes to practice a couple of times a week, but it's enough.  If he hadn't gone on this trip the head coach would have been by himself.  That would have been stinky!  Jeremy says he ended up coaching on two mats at once a few times because there were four mats going at once.

Susie and Rachel

Rachel was wearing a dress when she arrived, but then she changed into what she says are her Thanksgiving leggings. :)

Jill drew Iron Man for Timmy

Michael has been freezing even though it hasn't really been that cold.  He was so happy when he was finally allowed to make a fire.

Timmy turned 7!  I made the cake and put on the chocolate frosting, and Timmy drew Iron Man and then filled in the colors. :)

Benji and Jill "helped" ;)

Papa gave Hyrum pigtails.  He didn't like it.

I thought these looked pretty. :) Also, yes, twist ties make an acceptable closure for icing bags.

Timmy got blobfish slippers!  He is always asking to see pictures of them.  He thinks they're so funny.  When we saw these I sat right down and ordered them within 5 minutes or so.  Definitely worth it.

Jeremy's goji berry bushes we thought were dead are actually doing just fine and have some blossoms!

Read that first paragraph.  Ha ha!  This is from my current book - The Undoing Project.  It's not my favorite ever, but it's interesting.

Apparently, Timmy is thankful for fishing.  (We've never taken him fishing.)

Sword vs. light saber

I made this fire.  1 match.  I've still got it. ;)  It burned long and good.  We don't have a good seal on our fireplace door, so the damper just puts the fire out.  Bummer.  But it works OK anyway.  It makes a difference.

The day before Thanksgiving I made this beautiful apple pie, some cornbread for stuffing, and pumpkin pies.  I found a crust recipe that just has butter, flour, and ice water.  It works good as long as it's cold when I roll it.  By the end of rolling out for the pumpkin pies, the dough was falling apart bad, so I was piecing it together in the pan.  Ha ha!

Benji and Michael killed our pumpkin.  The boys even chopped it all up for me so I could cook it.  Hallelujah!  Less work for me.

Harry "helping"

I tried a new recipe that I found in the Better Homes and Gardens book.  Delicious!  I've been adding some oat flour to most recipes I would add wheat flour too.  It makes things nice and soft.  It doesn't work well for everything, though.  It makes bread a bit more crumbly and pancakes WAY more crumbly.

Harry helped wash the table for Thanksgiving dinner.

Yummy!

And then we watched this movie.  Val had never seen it.  I'm still not sure if he liked it or not, but we watched it. :)

I thought this was cute. :) Poor Timmy has been sick.  He's been congested and coughing.  I kept him home on Wednesday, but I can't keep him home forever.  He went back yesterday with instructions for covering his cough.  Stinking coughs last forever!

We put up the tree on Saturday.  Hooray!

I think Papa may have been annoyed that I took a picture.  He was just ready for bed at this point, but he helped Timmy read.  You should hear Timmy read scriptures!  He's getting pretty good.  Bubby likes to "read" too.  He makes sure he has a turn with a "traptor" every night.  (I think he means chapter, but we help him read one verse.)  And Henry even wants to read sometimes too.  He still doesn't talk much, so when he does it he just says, "Uuuuuhhh?  Uuuuhh?" as we tell him what to say.  But he's trying!

And here we have a guy who finally passed that stinking driving test!!  You would not believe how many times we've been to the MVD with this boy.  He had to try at least twice to pass the written test to get his permit.  And then we went at least 6 or 7 times to try for the road test.  I think he was only allowed to try 4 times.  One time when we went they said, "You can't test right now.  You have to have an appointment."  (Nowhere online does it say that.)  Another time the truck's brake light was out.  When he tried the van he ran over a cone trying to do a three point turn.  When he tried the little car he kept stalling because he was so nervous.  This time Aaron let us borrow his little car that's automatic.  Thank heavens!  I guess that did the trick.  It was just a lot of attempts, and we're so happy that he finally passed!  (It's also time to start that roller coaster with Joshua.  He's old enough to get his permit.  Argh!)

Skeletor picking his nose

This was at the San Manuel tournament the day of the Burk party.

And here's a couple of bananas from before Halloween.  Jeremy got his from his mom, and Michael wore the other one last year.  Timmy was so happy to have a turn being the banana this year, especially with Papa. :)

And with that I'm once again caught up.  Phew!