November 2025

November started out with a bang! The first Saturday we fit in a swim meet, baptism, dance photos, getting Ellie ready for a dance, and two birthday parties. I didn't get home until 1:30am the next morning.

Ellie went to her first school dance. She went with a boy named Davin George, who had never been to a dance before either even though he was a senior. It was Sadie's which is a dress up dance, so she asked him in "Anne of Green Gables" style. She ended up having a great time, which I love. They didn't actually stay at the dance that long, but that wasn't the point I guess. We did pictures, then they had homemade dumplings that they had made the night before at her friend Siqi's house. Then it was the dance and then a movie night. She didn't get home until pretty late too. 

Ellie: Sadie's was so fun! I went with Mori and her boyfriend and Sophia and her date. It was super stressful the whole month before to plan it, but the day itself was way fun. I loved picking out my dress and a fun theme. Davin was super nice, and right now we have a couple of classes together and are friends. The dumplings for dinner were delightful, and Stardust afterwards was such a good movie! The dance was fun, too, but not as much. The DJs the school hires never play very fun dancing music, but there were a couple of good songs. I love the pictures I have from it.

I (Kylee) took their dance photos. It is the first time I had taken dance photos before, and I definitely called Patti for all the tips. I think they turned out nice, and Ellie's friends told her their favorite part of the date was taking the photos. The only funny moment was when Mori's boyfriend tried to give me advice for the photos. I don't think they are together anymore. 

Holland went to Sophie's 11th birthday party that day. Erica went all out with a Harry Potter birthday. Holland ended up staying the night because she always asks, and Erica is the nicest. Holland went to church with them the next day, and Erica sent me the photo of them in the purple dresses. 

John and Darcy went to McKenzie Armstrong's belated 40th birthday party that evening. I met up with them after the dance photos. McKenzie went all out and rented a venue. It also coincided with Armstrong family lore where an Archbishop cursed their family 500 years ago. Duel party. 

The next day I taught a gospel doctrine lesson on D&C 124. It was so great to deep dive into the scriptures and look at the original sources. I spent a lot of time on the history of that time, and I felt like it went well. One funny thing was how Joseph Smith just went up to the White House and knocked on the door, asking to meet with the president. We had just gone to DC and the security around the White House was intense. 

It was a warmer fall so I did a lot of biking in November basically all of the places I could think of--up the canyon, down to Mapleton, out to the airport, and more. I loved pushing my body in this new way. One scary day though, I almost saw someone get hit by a train. I carried my bike over the overpass and as I was riding away, I heard a ton of train honks. Then I hear a bunch of sirens not too much later. When I was heading back, the whole area was closed with police tape, and as I was carrying my bike over the overpass, I looked down and saw a body shaped lump under a white cloth on the tracks. I later found out via the news that the man was younger than I was. So sad and kinda freaky. I am so glad I didn't actually see it. 

We spent one Saturday cleaning out all of the flower beds. Ellie and Miriam were at a swim meet (Miriam got 2 PRs!), and Holland and Darcy were actually very helpful. It was an adorable time playing in the leaves afterwards. They are cuties. I just love playing with my kids, even just silly moments pretending they are food and I am going to eat them. So many giggles. The end of season yard work is a lot but it made me glad we weren't building a pool this year. We dug up dahlia tubers (it didn't work to over winter them inside. How can they be too dry and also molding?) 

That night we had a campfire and s'mores (minus the graham crackers), which was surprisingly delightful. 

Date night this month was awesome. Fat Daddies with John - buffalo cauliflower, fat daddies pizza, and garden of eatin. Uptown Cheapskate with Miriam - so many good finds! 

John gave a talk in church about the most recent talk by Elder Uchtdorf. He did such a good job, and I was proud of him. It was funny because all three speakers in the meeting selected what talk they wanted to speak about and everyone happened to pick the same talk. His main takeaways were that progress is slow and that's okay. God helps us, but it takes effort. That evening Ellie and I went to her friend Elizabeth's Acting Up fireside. It was lovely and touching to hear the songs and messages about Christ, and Ellie is super fun to go with. 

I woke up with a cold one day but still made it to Holland's Veteran's Day assembly. She is adorable. I am so grateful for a body that heals from illness. I sometimes think negative thoughts about my body, but really it is amazing. Actually I was sick a lot in November. I think I had a version of the flu. 

I got a walking pad to go with the standing desk. The first one was a lemon and didn't work for more than an hour or two, so we went to a lot of effort to work with their customer service, but ultimately decided to return it because it wasn't working. We bought a different work, and it has worked great for months. We returned the first one in the most cobbled together box, but they gave us a a refund. 

We started our Taylor Swift dress up Sundays. Miriam's tightly curled hair was everything. I think I am going to do a whole post about that. 

Miriam's friend Alessia stayed at our house while her mom was out of town. I think it went well! We went to see them swim at a swim meet. I took Miriam and Alessia to the mall, and they had a great time buying jewelry. While they were there John and I went to two different bike shops and ended up buying a new dryer. Our dryer broke that afternoon. Then we took everyone to Cinnabon and to get everyone specialty cinnamon rolls. They were so fancy! 

Darcy got student of the month, and was recognized in an assembly. Ellie actually got student of the month too. Ellie laughed because she got it for a class that she doesn't really try hard in. 

We hosted the Deru Thanksgiving this year. We use our china and everything was so pretty and yummy. I loved it! John washed all the china, silver, and crystal. He is the best. We took a photo of the four of us sisters and sister in laws, and Patti had so much fun turning our photo into various versions with AI. 

The next day we set up Christmas! And the Jacobsons came to visit! They were in town because of a nephew leaving on a mission. They gave us a Christmas present that is a new game Jeff help develop - Fight 5. We love it. The next day we worked on the advent and garage storage. Man, I am definitely middle age to be excited about better functionality in our garage storage, but it was super needed. Darcy was so cute helping John with the screws for the first shelf. 

On the last day in November we had our first snow of the year. Darcy was so so excited about the start of the advent the next day. We had the funniest 5th Sunday meeting. Our kids just aren't shy. They all spoke up. They are just the cutest. Holland said gathering Israel is like making everyone a big family. Darcy told John, "We're not in Israel, we live in Utah." 

The cutest Anne of Green Gables.

Hunger games couple, Queen of hearts and the mad hatter, Gilbert and Anne. 

I picked some roses before a freeze one day. They are lovely.

Holland is actually the funniest/most alarming.

Quotes for the month:

D: Holland, we're not tenacious.

One day when I was sick and trying to take an afternoon nap, Darcy came in our room and told me how once when she was lost on our DC trip the Holy Ghost spoke to her out loud. She doesn't remember the exact words, but she replied out loud, "Okay, I will." And she followed the instructions to find us. I don't even remember her being lost! 

D: Mommy, can I start paying taxes? Or is it tithing? I have a paper and a coin I can give them. 

J (singing): You don't know you're beautiful!

D: Yes I do.

While John was exercising: 

D: He must exercise at the gym a lot because I can see his muscles. 

J: His muscles are almost as big as mine. 

D: (Gives John an appraising look and says nothing)

J: Do you like the Christmas lights?

D: Not particularly

J: Why does my phone want me to translate it to English? 

D: Joseph Smith knows how to do that! 

November raspberry crop before a freeze! 

I was a biking machine before I got sick. 

One of Miriam’s special finds on our date. (We didn’t buy this!)

Cutest kids in the leaves.

We love Fat Daddy’s!

A portrait of mommy from Darcy.

She loves the tiny scriptures

Veteran’s Day assembly

Darcy spent the Fall working on riding a pedal bike. She worked so hard on it!

The kids worked so hard at swim team

Fanciest cinnamon rolls ever

Darcy got student of the month for trustworthiness

I loved our tablescape for Thanksgiving

Yummiest Thanksgiving

Patti used this photo and had a good time editing it with AI. It was a good laugh!

I think these were supposed to be Met Gala dresses.

Forever friends

Fancy tea party of sparkles

Darcy's 5th Birthday

Darcy has got to be about the cutest five year old that has ever lived. She is pure joy! I can't even. Sometimes I think, how is she five? But then I think, of course, she is. She is very much at that darling kindergarten stage. Darcy is smart, kind, creative, funny, and super strong. She is a super momma's girl, and I eat it up. Darcy truly has her Mommy love turned up to 110%. She says the funniest things which I try to document here. For example on her birthday I asked her, "What's the best thing about being 5?" She responded, "That I can help you with your hard, difficult things you have to do." :) 

Her favorite person (maybe besides Mommy) is Holland. They are best friends, and Darcy can't get enough of playing with her. I swear she throws a little celebration every time Holland gets home from school. It is the actual sweetest. 

Darcy loves audiobooks so much. She loves swimming. She loves playing Legos with Holland. She loves playing anything with Holland, but maybe especially building forts and homes together. Darcy does so well at working with me at home in reading and writing. She is learning how to read even though she'll tell you she can't read. But then she'll just whip out reading an early reader book like it is no big deal. 

During the summer, Darcy practiced reading and writing. She took swim lessons and learned how to swim in our pool faster than we could believe. Then she started Kindergarten! She loves it! She is the only half day kid in her school, but she loves coming home and spending one on one time with me every afternoon. Right now (February) we're working our way through a big list of fun activities to do together. We call it our "Yellow List" because it is on a yellow sheet of paper. It is such a happy thing to be so intentional doing fun things with my little one. Darcy still loves Bluey, and it is the funniest when she speaks certain words in an Australian accent.

I want to capture her words about her life so I am going to do some interview questions: 

If your stuffed animals could talk, what would they say?

Everything! I love being squished! 

What does it feel like when I hug you?

Nice. Nice!

If you drew everything that came into your head, what would you be drawing right now?

A dragon coming out of an egg.

What do you think you're going to dream about tonight?

I have no idea! Poppy the Penguin? 

What sounds do you like best and why?

I like to hear about our Alaskan cruise because our Alaskan cruise is coming up, and I love cruises!

If you were going to spend the whole day outside, what outdoor activities would you do?

I would play in the sand box. I would actually play with chalk. Go on the swings. And ask you to take me to the park. Nothing else.

What are the best ways to make a fort?

Using a sheet and pillows. So first you put up the pillows and get things that you can lean the pillows against. And then, you put stuff inside the fort. And then you put the sheet on top. And then you take away some pillows (just in one spot), and then you will be done. And then you put more things inside the fort.

I can't even with these photos. It is just so lovely and she couldn't be more darling.

How do you think animals communicate?

I just think they use their voice and their sounds. 

Describe a great day: What are you doing that makes it special?

Eating pancakes with butter syrup. I am also swimming in the pool. And I am on a cruise ship eating donuts with tea and nothing else.

What animal would make a great driver?

Sloths? Cause they are so slow at moving on their own, so a car could help. Also they have arms. 

Do you like it when other people share with you? Why?

I love when other people share with me because then I get more toys to play with.

Who is your favorite storybook character?

The dragons in Dragon Masters.

What one thing do you do now that you usually need an adult for, but would like to try to do all by yourself?

Turning on the TV!

If you had to give everyone in the family new names, what would they be?

Rose, Ruby, Tanya, Marilyn, and Penelope. Oh and Jack for Daddy. 

What makes you happy?

When I cuddle with Mommy!

If you could do anything right now, what would you do?

Go to the dinosaur museum and the library and get the whole series of Dragon Masters.

If you had a pet dragon, what would you name it?

Nectar for a flower dragon

What would you do together with your pet dragon?

Fly and make a place for the dragon to live

 

Holland was the best hype sister for her to smile and pose.

What movie, TV, or book character makes you laugh the most?

Bluey

If you opened a store, what would you sell?

Pets and I would have stuff for them.

How do you think other people feel when you’re kind to them?

Loved

How do you think kids who do tease others feel about themselves?

Bad

How do you think kids who get teased feel?

Sad

How do you help yourself face your fears?

Ask a grown up to help me

What's your superhero name, and what powers do you have?

Ruby, the power to make anything appear by just snapping my fingers

If you could grow anything in the yard, what would it be?

Corn, rows and rows of corn

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

I would change dinosaurs to dragons

What do you enjoy giving to people?

Unicorns! 

The little grass stem is a wand, obviously.

Did you smile or laugh extra today? What did you laugh about?

I didn't do either of those extra. I laughed about nothing. I just giggled for no reason.

Pretend you're a chef and tell me about your restaurant: What foods do you serve?

I serve pancakes and waffles and yummy sugaring things 

Where would you like to travel and why? How would you get there?

I would like to travel to Antarctica because I want to see Poppy and other penguins, especially baby ones. On a boat and a plane. 

If you could ask a wild animal any question, what would you ask?

Where do you live and who is your family

If your pets could talk, what would they say?

Everything again!

What are some of the most amazing things about nature?

That plants can come alive again. That's pretty crazy!

If you were a photographer for a day, what would you take pictures of?

Fountains and beautiful things like a dancer covered with real gems. 

Did you have a chance to be kind to anyone today?

Yes, I was kind to my school. I asked to play with somebody and they said yes, and I said thank you.

Holland isn't strangling her even though it looks like it.

If you could invent one tool, what would it be?

A nanabooboo is something that makes TV not take so long. You put it somewhere where you need a TV and supplies will pop out of it to make a TV. 

If you could learn any language, what would it be?

Dragon language

If you could make up a new holiday, what would it be?

Cougars Day for my school

What is the funniest thing you've ever eaten?

I have never eaten anything funny or crazy.

What would you do if you made the rules at home?

I would make it so the parents had to drop all of the chores so the children couldn't do them. And the servants would do them. And the walls of my bedroom would change to my favorite color which is rainbow with sparkles.

What makes someone smart?

If they make good choices and follow directions and respect others and respect yourself.

If you wrote a book, what would it be about?

How much I like dragons. It would be like Dragon Masters except they would come to the castle by themselves.

What was your favorite thing about today?

Cuddling you!

What do you like daydreaming about?

Not you because then I'll miss you when I am at school. I like daydreaming about my favorite books, tv show (which is Bluey), and I like thinking about going to the park.

When your brain makes you think negative thoughts—such as "I’ll never succeed" or "no one likes me?"—what are some things you can tell yourself to change these thoughts?

No, people do like me! It just doesn't seem like it.

What is something about you that I might not know?

That I make surprises for you and the presents that I give you.

What have your friends been up to?

My friends have been up to playdates. Fun playdates. I am up to a playdate with Maddie.

What's a memory that makes you happy?

Memories of cruises, trips, just anywhere we have gone that I have liked.

What do you look forward to when you wake up?

Birds singing, but I never really hear birds singing which is disappointing.

Let's say you're at the beach: What's the first thing you do?

Get out my sand toys and start playing in the wet sand that the water rushes over.

What makes you feel brave?

Watching Bluey!

What makes you feel loved?

You! 

How do you show people you care?

By saying "I do care, you just don't think I do." 

If you could achieve any goal, however impossible it seems, what would it be?

Learning how to read!

Is it ever OK to cheat in school or sports?

No, because that's the rule, not to cheat.

If you could give $100 to a charity, what charity would you choose?

TV watching

How would you design a treehouse?

It would be covered in white sticks. We would balance a floor so it would be straight. Then we would design flowers, vines, and gems.

If you designed clothes, what would they look like? 

They would look like my tree house. 

How do you best like helping others?

I like helping them when they're hurt.

What makes you feel thankful?

When people do something really nice to me, like getting 25 extra scoops of ice cream in a bowl in the middle of the day. 

What a view!

Next time let's bring water and proper footwear.

If you lived in a cave in the woods, how would you decorate it? 

I would get some strings from a coconut and I would get some leaves from the trees, and I would get a stick the priors that I have, and I would carve on a rock, and then I would tie the coconuts strings to rock and the other end to the palm tree leaves. Then I would eat the coconuts after.

What makes you feel energized?

Running around and playing around with Mommy.

What do you think about clothing styles that are popular today?

I think the color gold coats are pretty.

What do you think is the most important quality a person can have?

The brain

What is one thing you want to achieve before you finish school?

Do the 100th day, 7 times.

What are three things you want to do this summer?

Go swimming, library, and Thanksgiving Point

If you had friends all over the world, how would you keep in touch?

Do sign language because they wouldn't be able to tell what I was saying in English.

If you joined the circus, what would your circus act be?

Doing the thing where you hang upside down on the loop and bar and swing back and forth and flip on another bar. The Trapeze.

What do you think are the most important qualities of a good parent?

I think you and Daddy make a good parent. They give the kids a pool, and they make surprises for the kids.

What is your favorite family tradition?

Going on trips.

What are some things that you don’t need, but you’re really happy that you have?

Plants. I do like a good swimming pool. And picture frames. We don't really need to go on trips, but I am glad that we can.

If you were a teacher and could teach your students anything at all, what would you teach them?

I would teach them about animals. I would teach them especially about fake unicorns. 

Darcy wasn't interested in stopping here for a photo, but it was just so pretty so Holland stepped in.

Behind the scenes

I loved taking photos of my girl for her birthday. We ended up taking them up at Buffalo Peak, which we didn't really plan on and weren't really prepared for. We didn't have any water, and Holland was in flip flops. We just drove up that road and watched for a spot to take photos and landed there. It was so gorgeous though. While we drove we listened to Harry Potter 3, which was so fun for us and Holland. I wonder how much Darcy is going to remember about it. Those photos were just lovely though. It was only about a month after her actual birthday which is pretty good for me. 

Darcy's birthday was combined with Father's Day this year. They collaborated on food for the day, although I think Daddy let her have a bigger vote. We started out the day driving to Tooele to see Garret's homecoming. We listened to his great talk and had yummy brunch food at a nearby park. Then we drove home and crashed for naps when we got home. For dinner we had grilled cheese, watermelon and steamed peas. We had specialty cupcakes from Sam's for her birthday treat. She was pretty thrilled. They are fun cupcakes, but more fun looking than that yummy. They are a little too rich. 

For her presents, Darcy got a pool narwhal (which ended up nearly impossible to float on--it tips!), a piggy squishmallow (she named it Pinky obviously), a new swimsuit, sandals, a stickerbook, karaoke microphones and speaker from Miriam, a scarf and hat from Ellie for her Poppy the Penguin, and an Ariel swim toy from Holland. What an awesome birthday!

We are the luckiest to have Darcy in our family. She is such a delight. I am grateful everyday for this sweet girl. Happy birthday darling girl!

She had a ponytail break during the meeting so I redid her hair into a single braid. She was thrilled! I think that is her favorite hairdo, but I don't normally do it that way because it doesn't like to hold her hair well. 

Darcy's birthday party was so sweet. She invited friends from church, neighbors, and preschool. She wanted the exact same food as Holland had at her party. Of course she loved all of her presents, but two especially--the Ariel toy from her cousin and the "Sparkle Paper" from her friend Maddie. All she wanted to do at first was play with that Ariel, and she still asks most days if we can do sparkle paper together. It was fun for some of my friends to meet each other. 

I should stop hanging balloons outside during the day. 

Ahh, I love having a pool!