Just a Few Things

I've put off thinking about Hyrum actually leaving as much as possible, but now it's actually sinking in, and I don't like it. It's a lot to ask of me to give up my son. Two years is such a lot of life. And once he leaves they'll all start leaving me. And when they come back it won't be permanent. It hurts. I'm proud, but I don't like it.

 We have some pretty spectacular sunsets here. We all went out to look at this one, and it turned our faces orange. It was quite beautiful.

Benji had EAC Band Day on Saturday. His group performed 3 songs. They did well. They got a Superior. This is actually the first time we've been able to go watch him, but I'm so glad we could!  Yay, Biggee!  (That's what Henry calls him.)

Also, I asked Geoff DeSpain, the EAC band director (who was in band with me in college and married my roommate) if marching band would go away with football if they decide not to keep football.  He said, no, there will still be marching band. They can perform for high schools. Plus, if he got rid of Band Day he'd be run out of town on a rail, he says. 😅 Well, I'm glad to hear they'll keep it. Hearing the band across the street every morning is another one of the best things about living here. Makes my day.

Also, our Prophet, President Nelson, is definitely inspired. I've been working on his challenges, and it's been so good. I've actually been trying to finish The Book of Mormon in a month because I don't know if I've ever done that before. It's a lot of reading and a lot of marking, but it's been good. I also finally officially started my social media fast. I needed to pray about what to fast from, and I also wanted to wait until my MTE orders were in since I use Facebook for it. I had already been staying off Facebook as much as I could, but now I'm also now I'm going to stay off other people's blogs (but not mine because it's productive to work on mine), and all my game apps. I actually took those and Facebook off my phone's home screen to make it easier to remember . It's been different. All I can do on my phone is check my email. 😅 Well, and I can use my browser to look up good things. I've been more conscious about staying away from the News because it's all bad news and not uplifting.

So far it's been nice. It's different, but it's a good different. After my fast ends (next Saturday) I'll just be staying off Facebook for the most part. Facebook is useful, but maybe I don't need to know about other people's drama, even if it's people I care about. I mean, I don't need to get wrapped up in my old high school friends' hard times. It's not beneficial, and there are other people who will do that. Plus, endlessly scrolling through Facebook is depressing. Also, just last night I realized I could be working on the hints I have piling up on Family Search in my spare moments (if I ever actually have any). That's a much better use of my time! I'm happy about all this, and it was easier to let go than I thought it'd be.

Just stuff

I really meant to wrote more this month, but it's been non-stop busy. We got Hyrum's mission papers to the Bishop. He'll be getting ordained on Sunday. I rented the Rug Doctor (all day process for one room). I covered 2 computer chairs. (Just slip covers, but still!) I've done a lot of laundry. We've had Conference and family pictures. We went to Anne and Rob's boy Helaman's baptism and stayed at Susie and Rachel's new house. IIgot orders for Model Team Express done again, though it was such a painful experience I'm thinking again of quitting. I'll have to talk about that later. And just last weekend we finally met another member of our guild. (Game name: Verdes. Age: 47. Raised in Oklahoma and has a fun accent. Current residence: Fayetteville, NC.  Religion: Christian and proud of it, but not really interested in our church, just happy that we're Christian too because she likes to talk about being Christian. She paints, and she's quite active in serving in her church however she can, despite having MS.) That was interesting.

Anyway, it's just been a lot. Oh, that and helped Hyrum petition for graduation. Turns out he was one class short. It kind of worked out because he had a class that ended at the beginning of the month and he was able to add one that started around then. So he's on track to graduate as long as he can keep his grades up. He's been working hard. He was so worried about becoming an adult, but just watching him you know he's going to be just fine.

Anyway, yeah, a lot going on. I feel like my to-do list gets longer and longer every day. But I'm plugging away still. We'll get through it.  I'm feeling butterflies in my stomach every day about those mission papers and they aren't even off to Salt Lake yet. I'm happy and proud but anxious. I feel like it's all going to snowball once my first child leaves me and before I know it they'll all be gone and I'll be sad. But I'm so proud of them too, and I'm excited to watch them, you know?! It's complicated.

Anyway, mostly I just want to say that today my favorite moment was when I was cutting out fabric for costumes. I had a long skinny piece, so I tied it on Henry like a karate headband. He was so thrilled. He kept running around the house either hsi fists closed and his arms out behind him, and then he'd stop and pose with his eyes half closed, trying to look tough. It was so darn cute. What would I do without him?! Every day I appreciate the things that make me laugh. I should start writing them down. I love laughing. And I love my cute boy!

Nie Nie

You guys, I just have to say - after all these years, I still read Nie Nie's blog. I kind of skim some parts. I don't really care much for the every day a new dress part of it, but her love of life jumps off the page and inspires me. It boggles my mind how they can afford the things they do, but I love her honesty and her simple gratitude. Always an uplift read.
Also, it's about the only blog I read anymore. 😅

Band

I know I've said it before, but I LOVE having the band practicing across the street! Makes my day!  What's going to happen if they do decide this is the last year for Gila Monster football?! :(

Henry

Just now I was laying bybhenry in his bed waiting for him to go to sleep, and maybe it was Buby that was saying, "Happy boy."  I can't remember. Either way, next thing I knew, Henry said, "Happy Hammy." I said, "Hammy? Whos Hammy? Is it Timmy?" He said, "No. Me." He seemed all pleased with himself. Cute boy!! I've heard him try to say Harry before, but not Henry. :)

Conference

Wasn't Conference great?!  I am curious to see how the new two-hour block will play out.  Part of me is sad that we'll only have Sunday School and Relief Society every other week.  But I also remember that the weeks just whip by so fast these days, maybe I won't notice.  I also think that it's going to be interesting to see it play out and to see how it feels normal this time next year!

Also, I wonder what is going to happen with Primary.  I guess that's the end of sharing time, but that's going to make so very little time for learning new songs and having lesson time!  I bet the nursery leaders are quite happy, though. XD

We got a new scanner, and I'm so excited!  I'm scanning my wedding photos.  I'd like to get the ones that Mama and Mom have and scan them as well.  The photos got split up 3 ways, so I wonder if I'm missing any or if we got duplicates and the mothers split up the other set?  I don't remember.  Still, this scanner is doing a good job, and I am looking forward to having all my photos scanned and hopefully reducing my piles of papers as well by scanning the ones I need.

We got new pictures in between sessions of Conference.  None of the family ones turned out. :( We'll have to try again when Hyrum is ordained.  At least that is soon.

End of September

Happy steak - either Jill's or Michael's

The day Marshmallow died Timmy was so sad.  He came home and started drawing, and it really helped him calm down.

He drew several pictures that day.  This is one of them.  It lists all the pets he remembers dying.  Apparently, he doesn't remember Hyrum's 2 birds that died last winter.  But he does remember Scratchy, Mordecai, Altepixe, and Marshmallow.

Let me see if I remember this.  Top right is Marshmallow dead.  Then there's his spirit below him, thinking about, "What?  I'm a ghost?!"  Something like that.

Papa and the little guys dug a grave.  I think this was good for Timmy.  He needed to do something to help him with closure.

I found this cool luggage tag to go on Hyrum's new suitcase!  Nobody needs a luggage tag like this, but I thought it was fun. :)

For Hyrum's birthday I took him to lunch and then took him for a haircut.  Bishop was so happy about that haircut!

Looking good! :)

Papa hates wrapping presents.  This is as good as it gets. XD

We invited Aaron's family, JD, and Ashlynn and had a birthday party.  Ashlynn gave him a whole lot of things before everyone got there.  Here he has been given his suitcase, and hes unwrapping a plate Michael got him at Dollar Tree.  I like to take whoever wants to go to get presents at Dollar Tree.  Just silly little gifts, but it's fun. :)

Cap gun - oh boy!

Groucho glasses - they lost an eyebrow right out of the box.

P-day birthday shirt!

This is what Papa got him.  It's a toiletries bag.

Jill LOVES her teacher!!  Katie has been such a good teacher for her.  I'm so thankful!  

This project she's holding is a knee-high nylon with dirt and grass seeds in it.  The hair got pretty tall over the next few weeks!  

Also, doesn't Jill look pretty in this picture?!

Henry came with Jeremy and me to pack meeting.

Jeremy helping our boys build a toothpick and marshmallow tower

One night when Ashlynn came over Henry demanded that she carry him around in this laundry basket. XD She's such a good sport.  Bubby and Henry lover her so much.

Here's Jill's little project again.

Jill

We got new swings for our swing set.  I think we're getting a whole new swing set for Christmas because this one has lost screws and gotten wobbly, and the pieces are bent.  I guess that's the hazard of having an aluminum one.  We want to get a wooden one.  For now, the new swings are great. :)

Amy Jensen gave us this squid hat.  The kids love it!

Michael made this in his art class.  It's the two eels on The Little Mermaid.

Timmy brought Mario to church and then put him away for Primary.

Michael's orchestra concert

This is the suitcase I bought for Hyrum. I think it'll be great!  It's light but tough, and it rolls really nicely.