Happy Sweet 16 Jonas!

Dear Jonas,

     Happy, happy birthday to you Jonas - the big 1-6! Unfortunately, due to the birth certificate fiasco of 2020, you won't be getting your license today. But, in less than a month you will and so that's pretty darn cool! And hopefully by then, the non-running truck you recently bought will actually be up and running. Dreams sometimes do come true . . . we'll see . . . 

     Yes, you bought a truck. As evidenced by your weird hick/Pit Viper/hiker style showcased in the above photo, you have embraced the hick crowd and their styles. You had a mullet, cut it for homecoming per your date's requirement, looked good for a couple of months, girlfriend broke up with you, and now you cut a mullet again. So sad, ha. But, back to your truck. You got your mind set on having a truck and it's all you wanted. You never even got to drive your awesome little mini around on your own - so sad! But, although we advised you against buying a truck that doesn't run, it was ultimately up to you. So you ended up selling your MINI to Miles (he'll be selling his Studebaker any day now) and getting a small loan from your awesome parents, and bought a diesel truck. Yes, diesel. Why? I don't know, but apparently it was the only way to go for you. Your dad and I tried showing you other trucks for the same price that actually ran, but nope. Sigh. 

     So you and Miles (most likely illegally - which we parents didn't realize until you boys were driving away . . . ) went and got the truck and towed it home. Miles had never towed and it was most-likely illegal for you to be "driving" the towed vehicle . . . The truck was way south, almost in Ridgway. You had to take the backroads all the way home since your top-speed was 25 MPH. It took you a few hours. But you boys did it and, as your exclaimed to your father, you had "the best day of [your] life." I am sure it was pretty chill illegally sitting in your new truck and "driving" it alone. Besides not running, the truck has a bent hood, rust on some of the wheel-wells, etc. But you think it's grand. We hope this is an "experience" that you learn from. Who knows what you'll learn? Not to buy old, broken down vehicles? Or maybe you'll learn how to fix old, broken down vehicles. Only time will tell . . . 

     It's been a bit of a challenging year with you (do I say that every year?). You don't put much focus and attention with your school work nor with seminary, etc. You never made it on time to seminary until I made the rule that you wouldn't be driving at all (including just with us while you have your permit, and then on your own when you get your license) unless you make it on time to seminary 5 days in a row. If you miss a day, no driving and you have to start all over . . . So far it has seemed to do the trick.

     We ruined your social life, according to you. YOU ruined your social life, according to me. :) Bad grades = no hanging out with friends. You got bad grades, and so you haven't been able to hang with your hicks too much. However, we have definitely let you hang out on quite a few special occasions (football games, hanging out at Sonic after biking practice, going up to Junction with Miles and your church friends on a no-school day, and more ) - which I have to remind you of . . . We really do want you to enjoy life and friends and a fun social life. But we also want you to put some effort into you education, too. I think, and hope, next semester your grades will be better . . . 

      You're still a fun and a cool person and kids, all sorts of kids from babies to young men, really like you and like to be around you. You don't really love your job lifeguarding, but I think you do a good job at it and take it seriously when you're there. You've grown tall . . . as in, you're taller than dad - well, at least in your cowboy boots you are! When you're happy and nice, you're awesome. When you're not . . . aiyiyi. Pray for me.

     Love you.

     Love, me.

And there went November . . .

Seems super crazy that it is already December. With the mild weather we've been having, it sure doesn't quite feel like it. But it is!

Thanksgiving week was pretty good. Ben, Miles, and Jonas all worked a bit. I think Ben worked the least of the three of them. :) Nothing for him on Monday or Wednesday, and a half-day on Tuesday. Which was nice for him as he works a lot. Of course he worked on a ton of projects at our home - one of which included picking up our fridge! Long story possibly made short: Ordered a fridge one year ago, delayed for 5 months, arrived damaged, thought about buying it anyways but didn't, bought another fridge, delayed 6 months (and counting . . . who knows when/if it would have ever come), went back to the original store and offered to buy our damaged fridge at a discounted price, done. (The damage was to a mounting panel in the back of the fridge. Ben worked on something to somewhat "fix" it. Hopefully it does the trick!) It was a huge project getting a fridge in our tiny, old doorways, hallways, etc. But Ben managed to do it and it's great! Oh, I worked all week - well, Monday thru Wednesday. The kids had the whole week off from school.

Thanksgiving day was nice, except for when it wasn't. :) That morning, Ben, myself, Emmy, and Lucy went and did the town's Turkey Trot. There were a lot of people there - more than I have seen! So that was fun. Lucy rode her bike with her good friend and neighbor, Genevieve. Emmy started off running with Ben, but he got out ahead on the hills . . . I caught up with her on the hills and then we stayed together for all but the last hundred feet when Emmy picked it up. I was at my max already. :) I actually did awesome - we all did. It's the longest Ben had run in like . . . forever. He didn't start his watch right, but he was somewhere in the high 35 or low 36-minutes. Emmy and I both PR'd - Emmy with a 35:57 and me with a 37:01. (Emmy couldn't believe I kept up with her, ha.) My time has always been at least 40-41 minutes. I felt great. Later, we played some online games together with the Huband family and that was a lot of fun. Dinner was typical and delicious. We watched "The Croods" to get us ready for our backpacking trip the next day. :)

Ben had the idea to backpack Canyonlands over Thanksgiving break. But since we only thought of that 2 weeks before, all the backcountry camp sites we wanted were gone. We found some random one in The Needles district of the park and grabbed it. This area, Squaw Canyon, was part of all the loops in the Needles, but was a bit too far to hit the one area/loop we wanted: Chesler Park. I kept checking for a cancellation and opening at one of the 5 campsites in Chesler . . . and on Thursday, one had opened up! I was excited, but it was 1. Thanksgiving and so everything was closed, and 2. It was stated a "Walk-up" site. This was new as none of the sites in this area had ever said that. But I figured it was due to the late cancellation. Anyways, I called the Visitor's Center on Friday morning and was told as long as we saw the site opened on the online registration, it was available. So that's what we were hoping to get - but still had our campsite with a couple back-up options. 30 minutes from the center, I checked again and the site was still open - so I was pretty optimistic and hopeful! We got there, Ben went in, and then came out a few minutes later and said we didn't get it. What?! Well it turns out that someone had come by on Thanksgiving and had grabbed the site for 2 nights. They had to fill it out via paper form and it hadn't been updated in the electronic system. Ugh and sadness!

But we still had our less-desired, but still in a pretty area I am sure, campsite. So we began our trek . . . Well lo and behold we came across this family of 4 and chit-chatted for a few minutes. We discovered that they had been cold these past 2 nights and so had decided to come out early. Which meant. . . their site in Chesler Park was going to be unused that night! I asked them if we could use it and, of course, they agreed - and even gave us their permit. Just in case. So amazing! We had gone about 1 1/2 miles - but it was still part of both trails and so we didn't have to back-track anything. It was just awesome!

We began our trip at the trailhead, all geared up and heading out, at 1:30. The hike was gorgeous and just awesome. It was a lot more upwards scrambling and stepping up big rocks, but it was a beautiful day and felt great to be out in that beautiful scenery. One section of the hike was called the "Joint Trail" and it was really neat - a slot canyon for maybe like 1/4 of a mile. Very cool.

We made it to our campsite (passing and visiting with the Australian family who now lives in Park City - and had nabbed the one site we were hoping to get, ha) - campsite 5. It was a great spot and down a dead-end trail and so it was out of the way and perfect. We got there at 5:30 and it was quickly getting dark and cold. We quickly set up our tents - although the boys decided to sleep out . . . whatever. I learned something on this hike: do not bring food that requires water for heating and eating when you are in the desert and unsure of your water sources. We did not come across any pools of water or anything. So we started rationing water that night and opted to not eat our gourmet "Cup 'O Noodles" for dinner . . . instead we had our tuna meals (which was supposed to be for lunch the next day). We decided to not make up hot-cocoa either. Both boys, I am pretty sure, ate theirs anyways - just sans water. Nice.

It was quite chilly setting up camp, eating, etc., but by the time we were all settled and in our tents - it was quite cozy. Everyone came in our tent and we played some games and had a good time. Even Jonas. :) By about 8, everyone was in their own sleeping bags. It took me forever to fall asleep. But, for the most part, we were all decently warm. I think it got down to about 30 that night. By the time we were up the next morning, it already seemed warmer.

We packed up camp and then headed out - going on a different section of the loop. It was another gorgeous day with beautiful hiking. We finished by about noon. The kids got water from a water jug in our car and cooked up their Cup 'O Noodles. :) A good way to finish out our hike!

Ben and I ready to start running so we could warm up! It was a chilly, but beautiful, morning!

Here's our crew afterwards: Lucy and Genevieve on bikes, and then the rest of us. Go us.

The beginning of our hike at the Elephant Hill trailhead.

We didn't even mean to wear matching shirts. :)

(Pictures not quite in order . . .) This was a narrow part and our packs wouldn't fit (except for Lucy's - oh maybe Jonas' did, too). Miles came back and took our packs all up - awesome. I was happy about it as you can see, ha.

This was a cool section of the hike - the Joint Trail.

More of the Joint Trail.

And even more of the Joint Trail. It was very unique for sure.

There I am checking out the beautiful landscape and sunset. We were maybe 20 minutes from our campsite at this point.

Hehe, Emmy wasn't too happy here! Her feet were killing her - she had decided to wear unbroken-in hiking shoes. Oh well. She really did enjoy the hike!

So pretty!

Cute Lucy with the awesome Canyonlands in the background.

Jonas on the trail.

A happy Emmy. :)

Our campsite was basically right at the base of the rocks and then to your left for about 15 minutes. 

Lucy eating her delicious tuna dinner. :)

The boys in the tent.

The girls in the tent.

Pretty!

This was in the morning - our lovely campsite. The boys are on the left in their sleeping bags. The girls were on the right in the tent. Ben and I were in the middle in a different tent. 

The girls started exploring up high and early at our campsite on Saturday morning.

Another pretty view on our hike out. Amazing.

Our fridge, after forever . . . 

See ya November!

Random November Pics

We did a mini-pie making activity for YWs. The leader who was to be in charge has moved and so I did it - but made it pretty easy by using pre-made pie dough. That helped a lot. I had never made mini-pies before, but they turned out super cute. The lattice pie was apple pie and was baked in mason jar lids - so cute and worked out great. Then pumpkin pie baked in ramekins. Finally, pecan pie made in muffin tins. It was a fun evening. (Emmy is making her eyes wide because she thinks they are squinty like mine. :) )

Laughing is always good.

Mike Rowe, who is pretty famous and has thousands and thousands of followers, posted this on Facebook on Veteran's day. I actually commented on his post with his:

And then Mike Rowe actually commented back to me - I felt so . . . famous or something. His post ended up with over 3,000 comments. I had 100 likes, etc. on my comment. Kind of fun - that was my Happy Vet's day gift to my dad. :)

I just found these on my phone and thought they were cute. :)

Lucy was getting ready to go to the high school's football's semi-final game some Friday night. She's been quite busy with birthday parties these days . . . She had three in two weekends, including two on one day (one from 1:30-3:30 and then 4-10). One was even a boy's birthday party. :) This boy liked Lucy and "asked her out" (whatever that really means). Lucy said yes. But then was quite distraught when this boy wanted to sit with her and her friends at lunchtime. So I think their relationship lasted like 2 or 3 days, haha. But he's really a nice kid and now likes her friend. Perfect.

It's a little dark, but Emmy was eating an apple and both dogs were begging patiently for her to finish and give them her core. Which she eventually did. Silly dogs.

This is how my life feels right now. Plus, this has happened a lot to me . . . I pick up my groceries from Walmart's pick-up. Then I open the back door and something falls out. If I am lucky it is something like cereal or fruit. But it has been milk (on multiple occasions), a jar of pickles (like the first time I had bought pickles in like a year), a jar of marinara, etc. It's sad. I need to get a netting or something.

That's it for now! Hopefully we'll have some good pictures from Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

The End of October

Well you can definitely tell I am getting old and that my kids are, too. I only had one kid dress up for Halloween this year. It didn't help that Halloween was on a Sunday. Or maybe it did help, ha.

We didn't even all go to the pumpkin patch in Junction this year. I have, for a few years, organized a group to go but I just didn't have the right date to it (usually we go on an off-school day, but I had to work those this past month). But I did take my girls and their friends up to one in Delta - I just dropped them off! They had a blast, though, so I am glad they went.

For Halloween, Emmy took Lucy and her neighbor/friend Genevieve to Main St. on Saturday for some trick-or-treating at the stores. The girls had fun! Then that night, Saturday the 30th, our ward had an activity. We had a chili dinner, carnival games, and a trunk-or-treat. It would have been awesome if it wasn't so cold. But it was outside and just a bit chilly. The girls had friends come with us and then they all came home and watched movies (Lucy, Lila, and Jane all watched a Harry Potter and Emmy, Holly, and Millie watched The 6th Sense). The boys went to a party/movie night at a friend's house and had fun there. Ben and I watched the BYU football game. :)

Oh, the boys' best friend, Aiden, flew over from Denver on Thursday night. He stayed with us until Sunday and the boys had a good time with him. It was so nice to have him back in our home. We all miss him and his family! His mom, Sarah, is definitely one of my bestest friends. 

I think that's pretty much it for the end of October for us!

Lucy and some of the new friends she's made this year. They are cute and sweet girls (and both go to the Mount Sneffels ward). Ruby, Lucy, and Peyton.

Here's the whole group: Peyton, Ruby, Lucy, Holly, and Emmy.

For FHE one night (while both boys were working), the four of us played Rummikub. It was a family-favorite game of mine growing up. My mom found one at a thrift store and sent it back with Ben. So fun. The girls totally loved it, too.

Miles drew the dark mark on Lucy for part of her Halloween costume. She was Bellatrix Lestrange from Harry Potter. 

Ohhhhh, looks good!

Lucy, aka Bellatrix Lestrange, and Genevieve, aka Rey.

Lucy, Lila, and Jane doing Ben's EQ Donut on a String carnival game at our ward party. Fun, fun!

The calendar.

Now a few random pics from the beginning of November, but don't really need a post of their own . . . :) 

Jonas is back to wanting to be a hick/rancher kid. I don't know where this came from, so please don't ask. :) He just bought this shirt and proclaimed, "I am going to get all the chicks now." Oh the confidence. Hick chicks, of course. :) He is planning on growing back his mullet (his mullet-hating girlfriend broke up with him a few weeks ago). So please send all the texts you want encouraging him NOT to do this. He looks so good with normal hair. I mean, I do like a good mullet on some people. But Jonas is not one of them.

Lucy and her friends are doing a book club. They read the book Stargirl. I actually read most of it to Lucy. It was cute. So Lucy went to her friend's house on Friday for bookclub and ate pizza, discussed the book, did a few cute activities related to the book, and then watched the movie. Emmy and I watched it at home. It was really cute.

I organized an all-Montrose youth night (so that would include our ward, branch, and 3 other wards) - we had a couple from the San Juan Dance Club (just a local dancing group) teach the kids. They (the old couple) were a little slow with their teaching and basically just taught the youth the 2-step for the 1 1/2 hours they were there. But whatever. I think the kids still had fun just getting all together. I do regret asking the couple, however. I think some couples from our wards probably would have been better and more fun. Lesson learned. :) I think we had about 65 youth, so not too bad.

(Can you find all three of my teens?! They are all in the picture . . . )

My mom told me about this food truck, On the Hook Fish and Chips, a couple of years ago. Then the pandemic hit and they were nowhere to be found. But now, every few months, they make their way across the west (I think) and sometimes come through our little town. I missed them once, but this time we grabbed us some Friday night dinner. It was delicious - probably Emmy's favorite. So good and so fun and so nice that I didn't have to cook! :)

Fall Wrap-Ups

 Well the kids' fall school sports are now pretty much over. Mountain biking actually finishes up this coming weekend at its State Competition, but my boys didn't qualify and so it's pretty much over for them. They may or may not go to practices this week - more likely may not as climbing is starting this week . . . Emmy finished up XC with a final fun-run race this past Saturday. It was a relay - the coaches paired up team members and each member runs 2, 1-mile laps. But you alternate - you run, then partner runs, then you run again, and finally partner. She had fun and enjoyed, while crying a lot, the XC experience. :)

So last weekend Ben took the boys up to Eagle for their second and final mountain bike race. The weather wasn't super great and Miles' race got cut a little short due to the rain, but it worked out okay and the boys had a good time. They left Friday so they could join in the pre-ride and team-dinner. Then they camped out at the fairgrounds. Then raced on Saturday. They stayed for the whole thing, got caught in a traffic-jam due to an accident, and made it home by 11ish that night. I had really wanted to go as a family, but the girls had their own things going on (b-day parties, etc.) and so I stayed behind with them.

Here are pictures in random order:

While the boys were off in Eagle, Emmy had invited some friends to go and play at the gym - the perks of working there! So from 8-10pm on Friday, Emmy and Lucy and a few of their friends had the gym to themselves. They tumbled, played Hunger Games, and of course made some Reels (a new favorite past-time). Fun, fun.

I guess I can't upload the reels, so whatever. Here's a sample of what they did all night. :)

Then this Saturday, as I have mentioned, Emmy finished up her XC season. She and her teammate, Brandon, took 4th place in the co-ed division. Yay!

Pre-race. It was cold - 32 degrees at this point. But beautiful!

Go Emmy! She was the 2nd and 4th lap runner. The start of a race stresses her out and so she didn't want to start. :)

And bringing in the finish - yay!

Brandon and Emmy and their medals.

Before the race, Lucy and I went to get donuts for the family. Yummy! Emmy then went to work at the gym - her coach asked if she'd help out for a few hours at a couple birthday parties. Emmy was super-excited and had a fun time.  Then we went back to the gym a couple hours later (after I had spent a couple hours of mowing with Jonas . . .) and cleaned. Oh what a day. Ben is actually on-call this weekend and has been called in 5 times! It's a record! Once on Friday evening, three times on Saturday, and once this morning (Sunday). We'll see if he gets any more . . . Crazy.

After cleaning, Lucy came and the girls tumbled a bit:

And, finally, Jonas and I are done with mowing - YAY!!!!!!!!!!! It's such a pain, haha. I think Jonas will just keep two lawns for next year and he'll be able to drive himself - hip, hip, hooray. The girls might take a few of his, so I am not done with it yet . . . 

My pretty *ugly* toes after mowing. :)

It's felt like winter all week here, but will warm up to the 60s this week and will feel more fall-ish. Love it.