The Good Stuff, Day 14

THE GOOD STUFF - DAY 14: JANUARY 18, 2017

* I TOOK A BATH TODAY

Because I didn't have to wash my hair, I decided a bath was the way to go. I still miss our jetted tub, but not the mess. But a bath beats a shower most days for me.

* ANOTHER VOICE LESSON DONE

I am finding that one song I wasn't so thrilled about is actually kind of fun and is kind of growing on me.

* I WENT TO THE STORE AND ONLY BOUGHT WHAT I WENT FOR

This might be a first in this history of my life. I only went in for 2 things and came out with 2 things. Way to go me!

* ACTIVITY DAYS WAS FUN

It's even more fun when I don't have to do the planning. We had a lesson on prayer and then we went about making rugs to remind us to pray. It'll take me probably 2 years to finish mine. HAHAHA!

* WATCHED THE KIDS BEING CRAZY

It's totally loud when they're all messing around together, but super fun as well.

The Good Stuff, Day 13

THE GOOD STUFF - DAY 13: JANUARY 17, 2017

* I GOT STARTED ON FILLING UP THE COLLAGE FRAME

So it's only the part I'll put in the middle, but it's a start. Still not sure I love it though, so thinking on it.

* I MADE A SOUP FOR THE RELIEF SOCIETY/YOUNG WOMEN ACTIVITY

I normally pass on things like this because I don't feel I have anything good to offer. When they asked for soup, I immediately thought of something quick and easy and YUMMY! I lost the recipe somewhere, but thanks to my sister and the wonderful online world, I figured it out.

* I ACTUALLY MADE DINNER FOR THE KIDS

True, it was just the same soup. But, I made sure to leave some for them AND they had rolls to eat with it. I'm not so great at planning and we usually just eat whatever jumps out at me on any given day. But I actually had something planned, prepared it and all they had to do was serve themselves.

* SHAYLYN GOT TO COME TO THE ACTIVITY WITH ME

And she did so willingly. I love that she doesn't mind doing things with her mom and that she didn't mind sitting at a table with no other young women. The challenge was issued to memorize The Living Christ in sixteen weeks. The Relief Society presidency provided us with books, pictures and paragraphs to help us each week. Shaylyn and I both chose a purple book. Now let's pray my years of prepping for plays helps me out.

And I can't forget to mention that without Tanis and Lex being willing to watch the younger kids, I never would've been able to go. (Eric is at the game store on Tuesday nights)

* THERE WAS NO SOUP LEFT TO TAKE HOME

I don't really know if I consider this a good thing or a bad thing. I kinda joked that it'd be okay if there was leftovers, cause I like the soup so much. However, there was nothing left so I suppose a few other people liked it.

* THE KIDS THAT WERE HOME ACTUALLY DID AFTER DINNER JOBS WITHOUT ME BEING HOME

It was so nice to come home to a clean kitchen.

The Good Stuff, Day 12

THE GOOD STUFF - DAY 12: JANUARY 16, 2017

* I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE DAY OFF FOR THE KIDS AND HAD THEM START A NEW CHORE LIST

It went over pretty well. Only had complaints from the 6 and 8 year olds. Everyone else did what they were supposed to and made it work. 

* ERIC AND I HAD A LUNCH DATE

We had originally planned to go to Rodizio as we had a gift card, but ummm - they don't open for lunch during the week....we ended up at Applebee's instead.

* THE WAITER MADE SURE TO GIVE US THE 2 FOR $25 DEAL

We had looked at the meals for the 2 for $25, but somehow missed something. We both ordered the same size steak and then because I wanted Mozzarella Sticks, the waiter said, "I think you can get the 2 for $25 with this." Sure enough, we did.

* WE GOT SOME GROCERIES

I need to make a soup for an activity tomorrow, but while we were shopping I found a collage frame that I'm super excited about. There is an open wall space that's been making me crazy, but I think this frame will be perfect for that space. 

* PLAYED THE DICE GAME WITH LEX, AGAIN

It was a super close game, but I won in the end. I'm telling you, that's not normal for me.

* I GOT ON TOP OF MY GAME FOR THE DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK DESIGNER I 'WORK' FOR

For a few months, it seems every one of us on her team were just busy. So the blog side of things went down the drain. With the start of the new year she wanted to be more on top of things and asked for all of us to do the same. I'm the blog editor and part of my job is to get the schedule planned out ahead of time. Well I got February's schedule up and running. Yay!!!

* I FINISHED MY POETRY BOOK SELECTION FOR JANUARY

Some of Poe's works are really hard to read, so I was thankful the book wasn't very long. But I am super proud I finished mid-month. I should probably start on February's selection so that it's actually done by March. HAHAHA!

The Good Stuff, Day 11

THE GOOD STUFF - DAY 11: JANUARY 15, 2017

* WE MADE IT TO CHURCH

We were late again, but we made it

* MY LESSON WENT GREAT

My primary lesson went well. I've been blessed with a great class this year and an awesome helper and the kids seemed to really pay attention.

* WE HAD A QUIET DAY AT HOME

* I PLAYED GAMES WITH ALMOST ALL THE KIDS

It started with a dice game, where I lost some and won some. We ended with a version of Love Letter called Adventure Time: Love Letter and I won.

* OUR HOME TEACHERS CAME

One of our best friends is our home teacher and so I find it kind of funny that he actually comes to visit. But, he knows the value of fulfilling this calling correctly and makes sure that we know he cares. They shared a very good lesson and enjoyed the visit. 

The Good Stuff, Day 10

THE GOOD STUFF - DAY 10: JANUARY 14, 2017

* WE DID A GOOD DEED FOR ERIC'S BROTHER/MOM

The car got a flat tire. While his brother put the spare tire on, a new tired needed to be bought. Eric's mom is out of state and couldn't do it, but wanted it done at Costco. Eric's brother isn't a member, so we took the drive and got new tires on the car.

* WE HAD COSTCO PIZZA FOR LUNCH

* WE AVOIDED CAR ACCIDENTS

People in the area we were in DO NOT know how to drive and there were a few times an accident could've happened, but it didn't, so we were good.

* WE MANAGED TO GET SOME LONG JOHNS FOR LEX

He thinks he should go on a winter campout or something...

* ERIC AND I HAD A FUN NIGHT PLAYING A D&D KNOCKOFF GAME

It's called Mutants and Masterminds and it's D&D with superheroes. I'm a psychic character and had an awesome time flinging incapacitated minions at their villian master. Don't ask me why I decided to play. Partly it's so that I can spend more time with my husband.

The Good Stuff, Day 9

THE GOOD STUFF - DAY 9: JANUARY 13, 2017

* I GOT TO MEET MY NEW NIECE

And a huge shout out to Eric for being my driver. To get to the hospital it required travelling on the freeway and to an extremely crazy, busy city. Not to mention it was dark and winter. HAHAHA. But my niece is such a cutie and definitely looks like she belongs.

* WE GOT CHICK-FIL-A FOR DINNER

* MY CHICKEN SANDWICH WAS SHAPED LIKE A HEART
Totally just means it was meant for me.

* TANIS WENT ON HIS FIRST DATE UNCHAPERONED BY MOM & DAD, AND IT WAS A BLIND DATE

He's not the take charge kind of kid, so I was thankful one of his buddies set the whole thing up. The original plan was to go bowling, but when the kid realized he didn't have any money - they figured out something else to do. They played board games and then made cookies. Tanis said he had a lot of fun.

* I WAS IN BED BY ABOUT 10:00

This is very rare, but things worked out so nicely that I was able to get to bed early. Wish I could say I slept well - but I'll take what I can get.

The Good Stuff, Day 8

THE GOOD STUFF - DAY 8: JANUARY 12, 2017

* ZACH WAS IN BETTER SPIRITS

He still had a couple of messy diapers, but he was more like himself and played for quite a bit today. Not so much snuggling happening.

* ALL THE KIDS WENT TO BED AT A GOOD TIME

This gave Eric and I a chance to relax and watch a show before bed without interruptions.

* LAUNDRY SCHEDULE WAS ON TRACK

* I SHOVELED THE DRIVEWAY AND SIDEWALKS

I was thankful it was fairly wet snow, it made it easy to remove.

* JACE WAS SUPER POLITE

I did something super simple for Jace this morning, but he said thank-you.

* MY NIECE WAS BORN

We've all been awaiting her arrival and are glad she was a girl. The boys outnumber the girls in this family, so it was fun to have another girl. I can't wait to meet her!