November 2021

 We love getting pictures of Tyler.  Sometimes people will just send me pictures of him and tell me how much they love him.  I think that is so sweet because I've never thought of doing that for someone else. When I get these photos though it makes me smile.  He looks happy.    

I don't go downstairs often.  I just feel like I am in a better mood if I don't know what it looks like down there.  I have named it the man cave, and usually allow it to stay that way.  However, sometimes I have to go down there and when I do...it kills me.  These boys are so messy!  I've tried so  hard to teach them how to be clean, but despite my best efforts, they can live in this and be just fine.  

Maybe one day they will grow out of it.  Maybe...

Makai wanted to make some money, so Monty told him he could earn $40 if he raked the leaves.  He took him up on the offer.  Here he is happily working.

Sometimes we find new things to do.  We love hanging out as a family.  On this day we went to the Durham Museum.  We had no idea it would be so cool.  It is the old train station here in Omaha and we learned so much about Omaha.  We had a great time together.  I don't know that I would have enjoyed traveling on a train, but it would have beat walking.  

Kory and his girlfriend love to go to get BOBA.  We decided to go try it as a family.  Then we came home and played some games.  We had a fun night together.  

Happy Thankgiving.  Instead of turkey we decided to do a Roast.  This year we did Thanksgiving on our own and the meal was nice.  We have so much to be thankful for.  The district I'm in gave us the whole week off and to be honest it was wonderful!  I enjoyed everyday!  A much needed break.  

The day after Thanksgiving Monty had the idea to go shop for Christmas decorations.  I kind of like the Grinch because I find Christmas difficult sometimes.  I don't love buying presents and feeling like Christmas has become so commercialized.

We decided to buy this little Grinch.  I think he is cute.  We decided to hide it around the house.  It reminded me that Christmas should be fun and we enjoyed hiding it in a few places.  Seeing where people hid it made me smile.  

Christmas is about Christ!

We also bought a new tree this year and it really made our front room feel like Christmas.  I love the tree because getting out all of the ornaments reminds me of all the fun things we have done as a family.  We always enjoy decorating it and talking about when we got each ornament.  

Our tree us up the day after Thanksgiving.  I wanted to get it up before going back to school.  

October 2021

 

October began with Makai needing to get some shots.  Turns out he missed a short when he was a baby and his new school noticed!  But it worked out just fine.  He just got his 7th grade boosters at the same time.  I'm happy to report he was a trooper.  He didn't even cry.  Can't believe you are so big Makai.  He's taller than most kids kids age...like off the charts and off the charts in weight.  I knew from day one he wasn't going to be little, but he's even bigger than I would have guessed.  

We continue to occasionally do some "Task Rabbit" jobs.  This job was to clean two apartments and make them ready for new tenants.  Monty and I have done this, but Kyle never has, so I felt bad sending Kyle to do it by himself.  Since I had the day off, we went to tackle the job.  The first job was pretty standard.  Took us a few hours.

 

The second one had us baffled.  It looked like the person was still there.  There was like 4 broken cell phones on the bed.  Clothes all over, hair products all over, tons of food in the fridge.  We didn't really know if the person lived there still or not.  All we knew was it was filthy.  Long story short, they told us to do it anyway and then about 2 hours into cleaning they told us to stop.  The whole time we wondered if someone was going to walk it and ask us why we were in their house.  But, that never happened.  The longer we were there the more we felt like the person was gone and long gone.  Kyle found that he was a criminal and even found a container that had drugs in it.  The drugs were gone, but it still smelled like drugs.  Again...it was another bonding experience.  And whoever this was LOVED their hair!

No matter how hard I try, the boys just keep getting older.  Kory is officially 17!  He LOVES Spiderman.  He can't wait for the Movie that is coming out in a couple months, so Monty had the idea to make his party fun and get some decorations.  He wanted to have enchiladas for his birthday and cheesecake.  Kory loves cheesecake and homemade enchiladas.  Sadly I wasn't feel well on his birthday, but I couldn't let him down, so I made him enchiladas.  We had to uninvite his girlfriend because now when people get sick we never know if it's COVID.  Kory went and spent the day with his girlfriend, so we didn't go cake until past midnight.  So, it was actually the 24th, but we still had fun.  Happy birthday Kory!  We love you so much.  

Halloween in Kindergarten.  I haven't dressed up for Halloween in a while, but when you teach kindergarten you need to be fun.  So, I went as a blue crayon and matched the other kindergarten teachers in my building.  It was pretty fun.  

We had some fun visitors for Halloween.  TJ, Dora, and Mahonri came for Halloween.  It was fun to have a little guy in our house again.  He has grown so much and learned really fast that I would pick him up.  He is heavy.  The boys loved this pirate ship when they were younger.  We've never been able to get rid of it and it's a good thing because otherwise we wouldn't have had anything for Mahonri to play with.  He loves it.  He played with it for a long time.  

Kory and his girlfriend carved a pumpkin together. It looked pretty cool.   

Mahonri ready for a driving lesson frmo Uncle.

The cuttest Russel ever!  

Mahonri's first trick or treating house.  He only made it about 3 houses before falling to sleep. 

Trey introducing Mahonri to a basketball.  

Dora braided Kory's hair and his hair is long enough that she could do all of his hair.  I can't believe he talent.  He likes the way it looks.  

Some things are worth waking up early for.  Thanks for a fun visit.  

September 2021

Rugby!  Kyle needs a sport.  He is just a team sport kind of guy.  He decided to give Rugby a shot, so he joined the UNO Rugby team.  Today is their first game.  

He looks like he means buisness.

This game was hotter than Hades!  In fact, the other team was dropping like flies.  Guys throwing up, passing out.  They finally just started giving water breaks between sets.  Kyle played a great game.  He scored a few times.  Once, he almost scored, but he dropped too soon, but he made up for it and scored at least two more times.  Halfway through the game we moved to some shade.  After the game Kyle was pretty bruised up, but he loved the game.  Unfortunately this was his only game.  He learned that for the season he wouldn't be able to wear his knee brace and he decided it wasn't worth getting injured for this sport when he really wants to try and play football at BYU.  So, this was his first and last rugby game.  But it was fun to watch.  He's on physical dude.  

Kyle's rugby game was hot, but Kory's football game's are cold!  Always love watching these boys play.  I even don't mind Kory's long hair.  I am a little jealous of how thick it is though!  Thanks for a fun night Kory.  Makai didn't want to go to the game, but when he saw his old friends from elementary school he cheered up.  They were happy to see him as well.  

The time has come to apply for residency!  Looking good Dad.  We'll see where our next adventure takes us.  Monty is applying to stay here, maybe go to Arizona, Lincoln, or even back to California.  We'll see what happens.  

 

August 2021

 We loved summer, but all good things must come to an end.  Another school year is about it begin.  

I didn't get any pictures of the boys first day of school because this year was a different year.  This year I started school.  But, Kory is starting his Jr. Year, Trey his freshman year, Makai his 6th grade year, Monty is starting his last year of medical school and Kyle is Starting his freshman year of college at UNO.  With everyone back in school everything is crazy busy!  But, all is well.  This year will be great.  

I did get a picture of Kory at his first scrimmage.  It was super hot and for the record he looks good in the picture, but man doe he smell!  I will say he looks good in his uniform! 

My classroom is coming together.  

One day after starting school I had a little breakdown.  I was feeling pretty overwhelmed by working and life.  I tend to melt.  Monty knew just what I needed-- an off day.  He recommended that we go to the zoo.  He was right.  A few hours at the zoo was helpful to the soul.  It reminded me why I am working and what life is really about.  Here the boys were petting sting rays and watching them laugh and enjoy themselves was relaxing.  I loved this day.  

These beauties are from our neighbors garden.  Summer is so nice when our neighbor keeps beautiful fresh veggies on our table.  

Yes, more football.  Once football starts, it keeps going.  He's enjoying his season.  We always go to support.  Love this kid.  

We've lived here for almost 7 years and never knew there was a museum of Natural History in Lincoln.  We also didn't know that if you are prior military you get in free in the month of August.  We decided to head down on afternoon and it was actually pretty amazing.  The boys loved the weapons exhibit.

Um...a pretty big Mammouth!

About how I am feeling about life right now.  

Tyler with Elder Baker.  His companion that was in Samoa before Covid.  They grew to really enjoy each other.  

One day I got home work, Monty was working a night shift and the boys were down stairs, so I made 12 pot stickers and ate them all for dinner!  I love these pot stickers.  During COVID they were not making them and I was so sad because these are my favorite ones.  They are not restocked and sometimes a girl just needs pick me up!  It isn't that I don't like my job, it's just hard to balance everything and there is so much to learn.  I always feel tired and still have a fear of failure.  I wonder if the whole first year will be better.  Sometimes food is a comfort.