Week ending 1-26-20

We had a normal week. We got a lot of school done, played with neighbors, and read a lot. The weather has been in the 40's, which is nice for January. 

Last Sunday: Talea found a tablet we checked out from the library, got herself comfortable and was playing it in her room when I found her. I'm not a fan of electronics in general (glad they were due back in a week) and definitely on Sunday, but she was so cute I had to take a picture and let her play her ABC game while I finished my blog. :) 

Alexis and I made cookies to take to some new moms and friends. I took this to send to my brother and invite him over even though he lives in Iowa. I miss him.

Popcorn mishap. Somehow it got dropped on the way to the living room.

Monday: The 3 oldest went to a car show with Uncle Devon and the rest of the kids went to the Summers' next door to put on a play so I spent the morning playing Labyrinth with Sam and Andy. 

Can't remember why we took this picture. I think she was just cute making her own big sandwich and taking tiny bites out of it.

Madalyn, Spencer, and Alexis came home from the car show with these t-shirts folded into guitar shapes with a guitar paper on top. These 3 confiscated them and have been playing with them all week. 

Talea uses hers as a violin and is quite often found in a corner with her violin and a pencil as a bow, singing "Twinkle Twinkle." 

Tuesday: Nathan had the morning off so Andy and Tilly went down to play with him. They were so cute walking out of the house and down the street to where he is staying 3 houses down. 

While Andy and Tilly were gone we got a lot of school done quickly and then took a break. These 3 picked up the guitars and put on a concert with their dolls. 

Reading with Anderson.

I love winter nights!

We get our jammies on early and have a lot of reading time. Talea goes to bed at 7 and then I try to read with Sam or Andy and then read a chapter book with Kait and Kenna.

I love winter nights! 

I was making yogurt and had left it in the oven for the 24 hours it takes but forgot. I turned on the oven to make granola bars and smelled something. Not good. The jar and lid were burned but luckily the yogurt was fine. 

Wednesday: Anderson drawing in his notebook during school. 

Talea wanted me and Alexis to draw every animal out of these little animal books I got at a yard sale when Kylie was a baby. 

Mattress sliding. 

Kylie called on google hangout but only had 4-5 minutes. We couldn't hear her because we could hear everyone in the background trying to talk to their families. She couldn't hear us either. But we all grinned and waved and it was good to see her for a few minutes. At least we got an excellent detailed email from her that was really fun to read. I can't wait to hear from her next week. 

View of the kids reading from their own scriptures as we do family scripture reading. 

Talea walking around with a violin. 

Thursday: Andy and Sam played airplane with headsets and went on missions. 

Talea is saying, "I'm going on a mission to Brazil!" 

Looking at a tiny insect for science. 

Good night hugs. 

Friday: Every time I play the piano Talea comes running and has to sit on my lap and put her hands on mine as I practice. 

Playing her "violin" and singing "Twinkle." 

While I was making dinner she asked me to take pictures of her.  

We had a birthday party for Todd (D. Todd Christofferson) and made him birthday cards like we do every year. He became Andy's favorite when he was 18 months old and now the whole family loves him. Last year we got to visit him in his office, which was really special.  

Saturday: Cleaning the church. 

Sunday: The boys came upstairs and announced, "We're twins!!"

Week ending 1-19-20

Last Sunday: After everyone left from Kylie's farewell party Alexis made two big cookies for her half-birthday. 

Alexis Chloe Holladay 

Monday: I asked Kylie to give me a haircut even though she's never cut hair before. 

 

Kylie spent her last afternoon packing for her mission. 

Very last dinner with all 10 children in who knows how long. I'm so sad to be moving into the realm of having kids fly the coop. College, missions, someday marriage. Soon one after the other will be leaving. Wish the years I had all 10 could have lasted a lot longer. On the other hand, I am excited for them to be making decisions for their lives and going off and doing what they want. They're making good choices and I love to see them happy and confident.  

At 8pm we went to the stake center to see Kylie get set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to serve in the Brazil Santos Mission. I loved sitting in that room filled with the spirit and my loved ones. I didn't want the blessing to start and then I didn't want it to end. I just wanted to sit there all night. It was amazing. 

I know these all look similar but I'm posting them all because it's the last one I have of all 10 children. 

 

Talea and Anderson were so cute dancing. 

I really wish I'd gotten a picture with her too because the one I took the next day was awful. Oh well. 

At home Spencer and Madalyn formed a response puzzle for Brooke who asked Spencer to the Valentine's dance. 

Alexis and I helped Kylie pack till 1:30am. She and Madalyn did some more until 2:30am. 

Tuesday morning: Mad house packing! 

We left for the airport just before 11am for her 1:37pm international flight (it's 22 minutes away.)

Last time all 10 kids in the big van! 

When we got there Kylie didn't have her passport. She'd asked me to make a copy of it per church instructions and I'd left it in the copier at home. A friend went in our house and got it for us and met Nathan on the exit ramp. Luckily we had plenty of time and there were no lines. 

Checking the luggage while waiting for Nathan to bring the passport to get her boarding pass. At least we were able to get the luggage checked. 

We ate snacks and waited. Nathan came back just after 12. This nice guy chose Makenna to check Kylie in and tested her on Kylie's birthday and other info. He was super funny and in no hurry at all. It helped us all relax. 

 

 

The "K" buddies! 

Alexis and Kylie 

Talea and Kylie. It's so sad. Talea has no idea how long Kylie will be gone. 

Spencer hugging Kylie. I've always been touched at how much Spencer adores his older sisters. When Kylie went to girls camp for the first time and came home Spencer dove on her for a hug. They're 3 years apart. 

One more hug. 

Madalyn's turn. 

 

My turn but this shirt looks awful on me. I had no idea. Haha. 

This hug felt so good. I didn't want to let her go. She has been the best oldest child I could ever ask for. Always helpful with the younger kids, a great example to all of her siblings, sweet, kind, cheerful, obedient. Never a cross word or mood. She truly embodies the spirit of Christ and will make a wonderful missionary. I'm so proud of her and grateful Heavenly Father allowed me to be her mom. 

We tearfully watched as she bravely left us to go through security. 

We watched her go up the escalators and then she was gone. Her p-day is next Thursday. Can't wait to hear from her! 

In the afternoon I took the 5 little kids to the library for snack time just to have something to do. 

A friend saw this on a moms of missionaries in Brazil facebook group and screenshotted it to me. I had felt impressed to text her that morning even though I only follow her blog and hardly know her. I just told her I was struggling sending my daughter off and thought she would understand as she has 11 children and her oldest is a girl, just home from her mission. Seeing this picture made me so happy! What a tender mercy.

And here's the group leaving DFW.

Spencer finished his answer to Brooke. 

Wednesday: Mattress sliding. Kinda hard to see. I'll have to take another one the next time they do it. 

Thursday: Playing at the park. 

A friend gave me a missionary mom pin and candy bar. I was really touched. 

Friday: Breakfast was wonderful as we watched the birds fly on and off the table in the softly falling snow. We took a whole hour to eat and it's mornings like these that make me so grateful we homeschool. 

Alexis was so gentle and sweet with Talea helping her get ready and walking her over to the neighbor's to put on a play. 

Doing edible play doh while the rest of the kids do a play at the Summers' house all afternoon. 

Saturday: Putting on an improv show with cousins. It was so much fun! 

It was a show about a missing Hershey Kiss. 

Today: I took these pictures to show my newest member's mother that he was stopped crying and even let me put him down. Never thought I'd be a texter during church but it sure was helpful! I love my calling! 

The kids playing a game after church. We have morning church now and I love it!