Things here in Fremont seem to be well. Here is our report.
Sunday December 30 was like any other Sunday. Church, after church relaxing and then dinner and bed.
Monday December 31 was CLEAN day. We needed a big cleaning of the house due to no cleaning going on during the weekend. We pretty much cleaned from sun up till sun down. Scott did make some homemade rolls to take to the party. They ended up being the hit of the party and we had calls the next day to bring over more!! Then all the kids showered and got jammies on. It was our big New Year’s Eve party. Unfortunately, by the time it was time to go I had a headache so big I was not in any mood to be socialable. So Niah, Afton and I stayed home. It actually turned out to be a very pleasant evening. Afton went to bed about 15 minutes after Scott and the kids left. I let Niah choose the events of the evening. We did puzzles for about 15 minutes, then played a couple of games and then played a computer game. After that hour was up we ate dinner together. Popped some popcorn and gathered some goodies and headed upstairs for some movies. We started the first movie about 8pm. We ate snacks and laughed and had fun. Then about 8:30 I feel asleep. She woke me up to change the movie and then I was out again. By 10, when she wanted to watch another movie, I suggested it was bedtime. So her and I slept till dad got home at about 12:30. He moved her to her own bed and then Scott and I ended up staying up till 2 talking about the party that him and the other kids attended. It sounded like a great party and I was bummed to have missed it, but I think Niah really enjoyed and really needed those two hours with just me.
Tuesday was a late morning. We got up slowly and got breakfast and dressed even slower. I had a meeting at 10 am at the church and so I arranged to take Niah and Milo with me so Scott could do school with the older girls in a more quiet environment. My meeting was about three hours long and the kids endured it well. Scott got TONS done with the girls. I came home and played with the little one’s outside so Scott could get more done with the girls. Then we loaded everyone up, paid rent (and put in our complaints about a few things wrong here) then headed over to Joey and Gayle’s. They had invited us to a New Year’s day dinner where you eat black eyed peas. You always have to leave one pea on your plate for good luck. It was so cute to watch the kids pick out the one pea they were not going to eat and then very carefully keep it out of the way. Niah got a little confused about the whole thing and was taking off all the “black eye’s” from each of the peas before eating them. It was funny. We left there by 7 and had everyone in bed by 8. It was good to get everyone in bed on time, it was needed. I headed over to a friends house so she could teach me how to make boutineers and corsages. It was actually really fun and really easy. The hardest part is making the corsage look nice (finding the right flowers, the right greenery and making the bow just right). The boutineers were EASY!! About 15 minutes. I got home about 10:30 pm. Again, a late night!!
Wednesday “reality” started. Scott went back to work, I had my daycare kids all day (they were still off of school) and things were in full swing here at home. The little kids played most of the day with the daycare kids while Jaime and Alix did school. Everyone was good about doing their part and getting things done. Up till now we had had BEAUTIFUL weather. Blue skies, warm in the sun, cool in the shade. Perfect California weather. We had been warned a storm was going to hit, boy did it hit!!
Thursday January 3 it RAINED and RAINED and RAINED!! It did let up for about 2 hours in the afternoon and so I sent the kids outside to get some fresh air and run off some energy. But then it was just pouring after that. Winds at about 30 mph and COLD!! The wind whipped through this house at about 5 mph (count your many blessings…..). Anyway, we spent the day doing school and chores. Scott made it home safely and that was a blessing too.
Friday was much of the same thing except no break in the weather. It rained ALL day. Again we just did school and chores. Scott’s fishing trip for the weekend got canceled due to the weather. We weren’t too tore up about it. The weather was scaring us too.
Saturday was the busy day!! Saturday was our first primary activity of the year, a baptism that the primary presidency was in charge of and a date night for Scott and Sami. Friday night two families had car problems and needed rides to the church for the primary activity and baptism. They both called me!! So I redirected one of them to someone else in the ward and opted to pick up the bigger family (they have 5 children as well, we had the perfect size van…..). So I was down at the church at 7:45 in the morning helping with the finishing touches of the activity. We had planned a continental breakfast (muffins, bagels, fruit and juice). Each teacher was to represent a different country and decorate their table accordingly. Then each teacher planned a game or other activity to play at their table. I left at 8:15 to go get the family that needed a ride. I got them to the church by 8:45 and then went back home for my own family. We got back to the church by 9:10. The activity was AWESOME!! The kids had fun and the teachers really came through with their assignments. We were very pleased and really enjoyed the outcome of our first activity. The activity ended at 10:30. We had 1 hour to get all cleaned up and set up for the baptism. Scott came to the church (he had stayed home with Afton during the activity) and picked up all the kids. Brought them home and got Jaime and Alix ready. Then brought them back to the church to attend the baptism. I helped clean up from the activity, set up the refreshments and the baptism room, then went and changed in the bathroom in enough time to sit down before the baptism started. I was given the assignment to give the baptism talk. I enjoyed myself thoroughly and even got quiet a few compliments on my presentation of what baptism is and how it works. The baptism ended by 12:45 (that included the refreshment time) and we were cleaned up and home by 1:30pm. Up till now the skies had been free of clouds, but with each passing moment more clouds came into view. By the time I left the church it had started to rain. By the time I pulled into the driveway, it was pouring. Scott and I were to drop the kids off at the babysitter by 2. It was POURING rain!! So we loaded the kids and all the stuff and drove over. While we were trying to get to their apartment, Milo fell and was soaked. Poor kid!! Luckily for him, they have a boy that is his size. After changing Milo and saying goodbye, we left and headed to the temple. This was the first time Scott and I have had a date in who knows how long, we couldn’t even remember! We did the 3pm session and then did sealings afterward. It was a wonderful time. Last year for Christmas someone gave us a gift card to The Olive Garden. We have been waiting to use it till we could go on a date. So we finally had the chance to use it. NOT!! It was an hour wait. We went next door to Appleby’s and were done eating before an hour was up!! We picked the kids up and all seemed well and happy. We are grateful for such wonderful families in our ward who are willing to sacrifice an afternoon for Scott and I to enjoy each other’s company. We got the kids home and to bed by 8:15pm. I was asleep by 9:15. Scott didn’t make it to bed till midnight, but hey, it was a good book!!
Today, Sunday, has been a very low key day. We got to church early so Scott could set up his classroom and I could set up the primary room. We enjoyed our meetings and have enjoyed our “quiet time” here at home. We are having the missionaries over for dinner tonight and that should be fun. This next week is filled with lots of appointments. Milo has a “big” one on Wednesday. We will be sure to report on the outcome of that.
Much love to all.
