Our Week in Review

 It was like Christmas this morning for Elsa. We looked through some clothes that I had packed away that Rhaevyn and Aeva had worn. She was excited to inherit a pair of warm pajamas, three dresses, one skirt, and one sweater. She decided on this purple dress and white sweater for church today. And to make the day even better, her sweet friend at church was wearing a purple dress and black shoes too. They were twinners! I got the opportunity to sit with Elsa's Primary class (7-8 year olds) today because we couldn't locate their teacher. So, it was me just asking them a bunch of questions and talking with them during their class time. Her cute little friend, Mari, said one thing she was super excited about for her birthday was that her turning nine meant Elsa would be turning 8 and they would be in Activity Days together. I thought that was the sweetest thing ever!

 Love my little chatterbox :)

I love this picture because my little Meg decided she needed to be in the picture too.

 Here are most of my kiddos. Myles is sporting his new sweater, which has a great story behind it.
I found it at a second hand shop here in town. I'm always on the look out for a nice sweater for him. I took him in to try it on because he has sensory issues, and I had to make sure it would work before I went and bought it. He kept telling me that he was being "honest" and really liked it when he tried it on. So, I bought if for $3, which I was so excited about because it looked brand new. I got it home, washed it, dried it, and he put it on straight from the dryer. He wouldn't take it off for almost four days. I had to promise that I'd wash it and have it ready to wear by the next morning. The funny thing is he later admitted that when he had tried it on at the store he really didn't like it, but could see how much I liked it on him. He's glad he said he liked it though, because now he truly loves it as you can tell.

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So, remember the smell from Thanksgiving. Well, it wasn't gas. Nope, it was a dead field mouse up in the rafters. We had one night were we did everything we could think of to find out what the smell was. Chris and I decided the next night he'd either have to go under the house to investigate or up in the rafters. He chose the rafters first and found the culprit of the stench. So thankful it was just that. Poor Chris had to really try and not lose his lunch while disposing of it. Now the smell is gone!!!!! Hooray!!!
We are on the hunt for a new dentist. Poor Rhaevyn left the dentist office in tears on Thursday, and Mama Bear had been riled up!! At least they definitely know why we won't be patients there anymore. I didn't mince words. Nobody makes my Rheavyn cry :(
This is finals week! I think the girls are most excited for their Japanese final and want to sit in on each other's Japanese class to see how their advertisement goes. They can have note cards, but the advertisement has to be 25 sentences. I know Rhavyn is doing an advertisement for Manga.
Sad news..................Rhaevyn has decided to stop taking violin lessons. I know Aeva got to a point with piano where she was just burnt out and needed a break. It was sad at the time, but I see now that there was wisdom in it for her. She came back with an actual love to play the piano, and she is more dedicated at leanring to play piano music until it's flawless. So, I'm trying to keep that perspective with Rhaevyn. The orchestra she is in performed a little Christmas concert on Friday at a 55+ community. It was lots of fun, and there was a sing along at the end. I think the couple sitting next to us got a kick out of how jubilantly Elsa sang. At the end Rhaevyn turned in her sheet music for Handel's Messiah. She decided that she just didn't feel like she knew it well enough to play on the 18th. The lead violinist and violist both hugged her and begged her to come and play what she could and air bow what she didn't know. They told her they had been doing this for over 25 years and that is why they know it so well; when they had played it for the first few years they were horrible and got lost most of the time while playing. They expressed to her just how much they needed her there. I'm pleased to say that she ran back and got her sheet music and will finish up with Handel's Messiah :)

These aren't the best pictures, but Rhaevyn is in the first row of violinists (middle) sitting to the right of the lead violinist.

 You can see her in this one, although she didn't want her picture taken.

 And here are a couple of snippets of the orchestra from Friday's performance. It is hard to get actual video footage of Rhaevyn playing the violin, as she gets nervous and self conscious. Chris tried to get some footage where there was a lot of violins playing.

Until the next update I bid you all a wonderful week :)

It has been a while since I last posted. What can I say??? Life has been busy.....
The girls have been busily working on their final English Essay, which basically accounts for 90% of their grade. Rhaevyn is preparing for the Christmas program with the orchestra she plays in. Aeva was asked by her Japanese teacher to help illustrate her next packet for the Fall Japanese class. The younger kids and I are plugging along on schooling and drum roll please...............

Meg is officially potty trained!!!!!!!

I dropped off the last three quilts the day I attended the Remembrance Ceremony at the hospital. I am so glad I went. I met some really nice people who share the same grief. I can't really put my feelings into words of what a relief it was to be among people that wear a very uncomfortable coat much like i do, and it's really hard to explain I guess unless your reality is that of losing a baby. I think it was just what I needed.
This is the quilt that my visiting teacher had done, and I just had the easy part of sewing on the binding.

Myles did a science experiment on elements and leavening. Best part is that we got to eat the science experiment when he was done. 

I'm sure so much more has happened since I last posted, but I can't seem to think what I'm forgetting.


This morning after a breakfast of plain, and banana, pancakes we scooped up the leaves off the back cement patio and then brought the Christmas tree. We put some Christmas music on, set up the tree, and decorated the tree.

 Myles wanted this angel bunny on the tree this year to feel like our little one was a part of all the celebration.

 Myles worked on setting up the train around tree.

 Aeva was tuckered out after decorating the tree.

And now it's time to start Thanksgiving dinner. We had everything on hold because the gas company had to come out and check a possible leak. Thankfully it is nothing catastrophic and should be an easy fix. The kids are happy we can still cook mashed potatoes. This has proved to be an exciting Thanksgiving :)
From our family to all of yours....................we hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Flag Football, Halloween, and Twinners

 Yesterday was the end of the flag football season for Elsa. She has enjoyed it so much, and we've seen her improve over the past two months on understanding the game. She made a new friend, and it was fun to see them high five each other out on the field after each play. We are happy to not have to sit out in the rain each Saturday. Elsa didn't mind the rain one bit, but she is ready to sleep in on Saturdays.
Notice all the mud on her legs:)

 A beautiful sunset from the back yard.

 Friday night I went and hung out with my best friend, Jill. Although we live about a mile from each other, we are both so busy with kids, homeschooling, getting kids to college classes, along with all the other things that come with being a mom, we don't get to see each other or even talk very often. Her husband was so sweet to message me on Friday morning to see if I was free that night to have a night out on the town with her. I feel blessed that Chris is always quick with a "yes and have fun". I think we talked non stop for five hours while we had dinner and went to a few stores. We always come back to our families rejuvenated. I had done a bit of grocery shopping before heading out with her and picked up a pizza for the kids. Chris and I got them all settled at the table when Chris announced that we had a casualty......

 Friday morning Rhaevyn and Myles went to one of my friend's house and made blueberry and marionberry jam. Myles got to help with the blueberry jam, but then he hung out with their dog (which he was totally thrilled about).
Their spoils:

 I put some butcher paper on the table this last week. It has been so fun to see the kids gravitate to the table all day, and week, long to draw and color on it.

 I finally finished up my four quilts. The binding is done, and they are ready to be taken to the hospitals. It feels good to finally have them completed. I just have one more that one of my visiting teachers gave me. It only needs the binding. I guess she just didn't like it or want to keep it. My friend Dee Lee let me come look through her fabric to find some fabric that would work for the binding. So, I'll finish that up in the next day or two. I am thrilled at how they turned out. I'm reminded, when each quilt is completed, of just how much love is put in to these sweet mementos.

 

 

 

 

 Aeva drew this last Sunday. It's a drawing of a girl her age at church.

 Meg and I made oatmeal cookies this past week. She is such a good little helper. We had so much fun making cookies together.

Here are our Halloween pictures.
We had a Witch, a Hogwarts student, Little Red Riding Hood, Kiki (from the movie Kiki's Delivery Service), and a character from Attack of the Titans.

 

 Aeva had a sister from the ward work with her so she could sew her costume.

 

 Rhaevyn made Meg's hat.

 

 

 

 

This is Myles with our friend's( Dee Lee) dog. Have I mentioned how badly he wants a dog? This is a topic of conversation daily. The entire Senior Primary at church is even aware of just how badly he wants a dog. I'm glad we have plenty of friends who let him come give their doggies some love.

Aeva and I were twinners last Sunday:

I'm documenting how tall Myles is getting:

And that is our week in a nutshell. Until next time.............