September 2023

September was pretty much full of Hawaii trip prep and recovery. We loved that trip, and I will talk lots more about that on a different post. 

We tried to fit in other fun things with the kids. We watched Night at the Museum with the older girls. They were so enthusiastic and squealy about it. We did parent/child dates. Holland and John picked out a treat at Smiths and then drew together in the basement. Miriam and I picked out treats at Smiths and then watched a Hallmark movie. 

Holland and John's dream houses

We set up this toddler play structure that we got from my mom's things. It was a big hit with my kids. 

Of course we also had plenty of work time. We started laying boulders for our patio retaining wall. Jess and Cherilee generously helped us do that. 

We got set apart in our new callings. John was called to be an assistant executive secretary, which just means making a lot of appointments for the counselors in the bishopric. I was called to be in the RS presidency again, but the first counselor this time. I loved how I was told my time would be multiplied and to have courage to do the new required things (like welfare). 

On Labor Day we spent some time working on the patio. We also tried playing pickleball in the rain with Jess and Cherilee. It was too rainy to make that work actually. We also spent some time organizing the house. I love organization projects. 

I went to the aquarium on the free day with Erica and Brielle. I think it was actually $2 per ticket, but it felt free compared to the normal price, which is something like $30 per adult and $20 per kid. Yikes! It was crazy crowded, but I expected as much, so it was no big deal. 

It is funny how expectations are what dictates your experience. Expectations with an experience or a person really make or break a situation. Unmet expectations can really throw someone. Moderated expectations lead to a happier experience even if you feel like you are not looking forward to it as much. Realizing that all vacations are not pleasant all of the time helps you have a better time. You don't feel cheated or mad that you are uncomfortable or inconvenienced because you knew it wasn't going to be rainbows and unicorns the entire time. I have a harder time with expectations with people. I expect people to act a certain way, and when they don't act the way I think they should, I am hurt or upset. I think it is important to remember that everyone has reasons that they act a certain way in a given situation. This person might be extra tired. That person might be in a particularly stressful season. This isn't making excuses for people. You just don't have to waste your energy getting upset about something you don't have any control over. Easier said than done. 

Alright, I will get off my soapbox. I loved the aquarium even though it was wall to wall people. The girls were darling. "Is that shark real?" "Is that whale real?" (No the whale was not. :) ) They had giant eyes peering at all of the things. 

We loved the outdoor playground.

Such fun aquariums and fish displays. Except when a docent had to tell us all about how this species is endangered, and how terrible the human's actions are that are destroying the planet. Thanks for bringing it down, man. 

These lobsters were kind of wild to watch. They are kind of gross looking actually. 

I spy a little Darcy looking up at the shark. 

So many fruit snacks were eaten that day. 

Sea turtles! Little did we know that we would see more in the wild very soon. 

The penguins were a huge hit for everyone! They swim crazy fast through the water. I have been telling Darcy stories about a penguin named Poppy who lives in a nice icy land named Antarctica with her friends Freddy and Macey. She loves these stories, and I have really had to stretch my imagination about what the trio could do today on an adventure. They have faced off sharks and seals, built ice slides, survived a crazy storm in a cave, built snow penguins, had fishy snack picnics, and even sailed to a tropical island on an iceberg. I should basically be a children's book author. :) 

The jungle area was so fun! 

No question, the fresh water fish are uglier than the salt water fish. 

Another day we delivered birthday gifts as a presidency, and Bailey Mena gave Darcy this stunning Dahlia. I want to learn to grow them in our yard. 

We hung the shade sails up! We both managed to hurt ourselves on the cabling. We got them up just in time for the weather to cool down, but I think hanging them up again next year will feel like a breeze compared to the initial installation. It felt like such a milestone. This was the end goal of this whole project was to have some shade on the patio in the middle of the day. We love, love it. But we also were surprised at how much it changed the light in our family room/kitchen area. It is not only dimmer because of the shade, but it is yellower. It took a little getting used to, but was hardly noticeable after a week or two. 

Cherilee and Jess helped us with the rock wall, and we had a long chat about their experiences with gospel things. They are both remarkable women with astounding faith. We also love playing pickleball with them. 

They love playing together. It is the sweetest. I hope that relationship doesn't dwindle too quickly. You would never think they had the largest age gap of the family. 

Getting ready for the trip with trying on some flippers. They are not Darcy's size, but she still loved clomping around in them. After a few days they ended up disappearing mysteriously. 

Just a couple days before our Hawaii trip we harvested our garden, and oh boy, it was our biggest harvest ever. I spent the day canning tomatoes. I haven't done that for so long. It made me miss my mom, but weirdly made me feel close to her. It seemed like something crazy she would do too--spend the whole day canning tomatoes instead of getting ready for her trip like a normal person. It was tons of work and honestly didn't really feel worth it to me. I think in future I am only going to be willing to can if my family is around to help me. It saves a little bit of money, but who knows how much our gas bill went up with all of that processing time on the stove. In all fairness, the home processed whole tomatoes tastes better than the store bought canned tomatoes. Also, it is satisfying to use our harvest to provide for our family. But still too much work to do solo. 

Adorable reminder to Holland from herself. 

I love her little pep talk to herself. 

After we came home from Hawaii, it seemed like Summer had turned into Fall. One Sunday afternoon we packed a picnic dinner and went up South Fork to see the leaves and take some birthday photos of the girls (long overdue). It was crazy busy. Like crazy. We were able to get some cute photos though, and enjoyed the colorful leaves. We were unprepared for how cold it was, and how long the line was to turn to get out of the canyon, but it was still a nice time. I think next time we will avoid going on a Sunday. 

Finished rock wall!!!

I loved it when one day Darcy asked me, "Mommy do you have a job for me?" Later she said, "Mommy i have a job for you. Can you carry me this?" 

One night we had a RS activity that I helped put on. We had a good turn out, and it was good to meet so many new people. One funny thing was that all of the women in our cul-de-sac ended up wearing a striped black and white or just a black and white shirt. We were just missing a couple of people. I am not best friends with any of these women, but I am so glad that I can be friendly with all of them. 

We're standing in order of where our houses are. 

As much as the harvest season can be kind of overwhelming. I love this time of year. Freezing a bunch of peaches for smoothies throughout the year is fantastic. Holland still riding her bike to school because it hasn't gotten too cold yet. I love when she stops, looks back, and signs "I love you" to me. 

Life is so good. I know it can be tricky when expectations aren't met, but sometimes the light just shines through and it is so easy to feel hopeful about the future. I love when hanging out with Erica, and I just feel better about my life and less stressed. I love listening to the Follow Him podcast and all the light that brings into my life. I love working hard with and for my family. They are my whole world. On the day that we finished the rock wall, we celebrated with shrimp and chocolate ice cream (not together). And as a little extra smile from God I found an inflo on our plumeria. It ended up dying, but it feels like such an echo of what happened when my Grandma died. The banana tree bloom died also. I don't know why this feels so appropriate, but it does. I hope in time those can bloom for real.