Feeling Green

I've been busy painting. Now that we have three kids at home, our kid to room ratio has changed. Everyone gets their own room! I even told them I would paint their room a color of their choosing, within reason. I did veto Topher's original pick. Sorry to my friend Elise who loves orange, it felt too bold for walls. He went with this spring green instead. Now that it's done, he calls it his earth room. He seems pretty pleased with the result.

Lock It Down

Here's something fun. And by that, I mean not at all fun. I get anywhere from 15 to 50 views on most of the posts on this blog. I looked at it this morning and we're now between 150  and 300 views on several posts. Considering that it's already unsearchable, we suspect that bots have found their way to the blog. After a consultation with my in-house technical support (Bryan), it looks like we need to lock down the blog and make it private. I don't love this, but I don't want bots to have access to it.

If you would like to continue to have access to this blog, please send me a message (email, text, Messenger, Marco Polo). I'll figure out the logistics of adding specific people.

That is all.

Up, Up, and Away

We rolled out of bed extra early (those of us not heading to seminary or an airplane) to say our goodbyes and get hugs before Bryan and Cooper left.

Answering the Call

Tomorrow is the day that Cooper flies to Utah to go into the MTC.

For the last week our great room has been a disaster while he's worked on packing.

This looks like the mess was contained.

But if you look in the background of this one, during our farewell dinner of Cooper's favorite foods, the chaos is a little more obvious.

Cooper is currently finishing the packing. The chaos will be put away. And then he'll be off, learning how to me a missionary.

We're so excited for him.

Forty-Six Sounds Like a Lot More Than Forty-Five

I had a birthday! 

The day before we took the kids to see Toy Story 5 for an early celebration. The kids enjoyed it, but the messages definitely hit harder for the parents. There were tears. Many tears.

On my actual birthday, Bryan and I were able to go to the temple (a birthday miracle!) and have lunch together. I failed to take a picture of us at the temple, but I did take a picture of some of our lunch.

While we were gone, the kids decorated the house for my birthday. We always do this for the kids, but almost never do it for the parents, so it was a sweet surprise.

I was in charge of singing time this Sunday, so of course I made it birthday-themed since it was the day after my birthday. Cooper, Phoebe, Sophie, and Topher colored and cut the candles while Bryan and I were sitting in our in-person ward council meeting before church on Sunday. And Phoebe drew the cake. I'm so glad they carried out my vision and made the activity possible. That was its own birthday gift.

 And Topher told the whole primary how old I am. I'm fine with it, but the other adults in the room had some worried looks on their faces.

The actual birthday was kind of crazy busy (and included writing some of the talk I posted on Monday), so I opened my presents and enjoyed delicious enchiladas that Bryan made and ate my sweet potato-based gluten-free cake the next day. 

Also, I've been tired all week, so maybe being 46 wears you out?

Pomp and Circumstance

Cooper graduated from high school a week ago. It was a sunny, sweltering evening until the sun went down. But I think that was preferrable to the rain and cold that our friends experienced at their son's graduation a few days before.

All the seniors from concert choir were invited to sing the national anthem at graduation. That included Cooper, which I think is very cool.

Cooper wore pink cords because he was in chorus.

He also wore a cash lei and a candy lei. I offered to make a flower lei as well, but he felt like that would be too much.

It was a great graduation! I'm so thankful we could all be there to celebrate Cooper.

Phoebe snapped this great picture of Cooper.

Peter got artistic with this picture.

Here's the stadium, post graduation.

We got home very late, but that didn't stop Topher from trying on all of Cooper's commencement paraphernalia.

 I think he's looking forward to following in Cooper's footsteps someday.

Congratulations on your high school graduation, Cooper!

We Are Fam-i-ly, I Got All My Sisters With Me

Cooper graduated from high school tonight! There are so many pictures to go through and my brain is too tired to do that right now. Instead, enjoy this picture of a sister hug that took place after the ceremony tonight.

Father and Daughters

One of the pictures from the Valentine's dance reminded me of another picture. These were taken a little more than 10 years apart from each other. I love that the feeling is still the same.

Rise and Shout!

Cooper got some very exciting news today!!!

Looking Forward and Back

I checked my final post of 2024. These were my goals for 2025:

"In 2025 I hope to keep learning, reading, and strengthening the relationships that matter the most. And while it's probably useless to continue counting it on my resolutions list, I'd like to sleep a little more next year too."

I had no idea that I would spend the first two and a half months of 2025 in an exhausted stupor that left me sleeping many days while the kids were at school. After getting my thyroid medication straightened out in March, I felt more human. But when I wished for more sleep in 2025, that is not what I had in mind.

I feel like 2025 was full of learning experiences, both the happy and the difficult. I relearned that patience is a lesson I need to keep learning, exercise helps my brain and my body, it's important to serve others, and it's important to make time to take care of myself.

I read a lot (that post will publish tomorrow), but not as much as last year. And that's okay. I think there was a little more balance with how I spent my time this year. And by balance, I mean time listening to my kids instead of listening to books.

Did I strengthen my relationships this year? Hmmm, that requires reflection. I think I did. All that extra time listening to my kids helped. And I feel like Bryan and I have worked to carve out more time for each other this year. I've said yes to all the girl nights and book clubs I could squeeze in, which is maybe not good for my sleep but it is great for my soul. I've continued having regular family calls and writing on the blog as a way to maintain long-distance relationships. And continuing to serve in my calling, study the gospel, and spend time in earnest prayer has strengthened my relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

It looks like I met all my goals this year.

And what will I do in 2026?

I want to continue nourishing my spirit, mind, and body. I need (this comes as a strong and loving suggestion from Bryan) to find better ways to take care of myself. I want to spend more together time as a family without screens. And I want to get rid of enough stuff that I spend more time on projects that benefit our family and less time on managing our possessions.

I think that's enough to fill a year.

Called to Serve

Peter got a very special, much anticipated email. With his permission, I'll share most of it here.

Snip Snip

I kept putting off Topher's haircut because I knew we were getting closer to school and I figured it would be better to send him to second grade looking tidy and not with a few weeks of growth. That meant that his hair got longer than I intended. Yesterday he went from this:

To this:

He looked through a book of haircut ideas and he picked this one. I think he looks very handsome and ready for school.

She's an Old Girl

How can you tell when your vehicle is getting older? The door handle comes off in your hand.

Don't worry, Sophie was able to put it back on.