November 30, 2017

Received an awesome random text tonight from a senior Sister missionary from the ALRM mission that was just released.  The text warmed my mother heart and put a big smile on my face. 

Sister Draper, this is Sister Rasmussen.  Your son was in our district.  My husband and I just left Jacksonville to come home (Alpine) from our mission.  We just didn't get to spend nearly enough time with him.  He's a great guy, so personable!  He's going to be an awesome missionary.  You'll be so proud of him!!

November 29, 2017

Ry has some serious mini orange peeling skills.  She can peel it in one peel.  Impressive, right?!

November 27, 2017

Put together a little Cmas package for Mason tonight.  We included a daily quote by President Monson book where we added quotes and a few memories on random days.  Our go to quotes were from Nacho Libre and School of Rock.  Apparently Jack Black is the one to quote.  :). There were also a few from The Office.  Fun, I know.

November 24, 2017

Cam and Kenz were way funny tonight as they solo sang some Troy and Gabriella duets turning sideways for the different parts.  Cracked us up!

November 23, 2017

Two awesome things today on Thanksgiving - 1. Text of my missionary from someone I don't know.  2.  Sitting in Cam's room with all of us laughing and chatting at 10pm.

November 22, 2017

Happy D's birthday!  #46 was celebrated with a birthday eve movie (Justice League), a hike to Desolation Lake that needed spikes, a closed museum, and birthday dinner at Los Hermanos.  Kenz and Ry joined in some of the festivities while Cam and Sadie had a sleepover in South Jordan with the Kynastons.

The hike was awesome.  It was quite the workout with slippery snow and coming down it was sloshy and really wet but the frozen lake was worth it.  So pretty.  5 things to remember:

1.  D's Sneeze echo at the lake.
2.  Darren saying, "Don't eat too much" and then Kenz looks over as she has just inhaled her Jimmy John's sandwich.  The look on her face was priceless.
3.  Kenzie's lettuce face from #2 while taking pictures that we didn't notice for a bit.
4.  "Smells like Christmas."
5.  Bunting a snowball and thinking how good of a snowball thrower Mason is.

November 21, 2017

Pickleball at the Bateman's was an awesome 1/2 hour.  So was watching the cousins play knee soccer in the basement.  It was D's first time playing pickleball.

November 20, 2017

Email days are so awesome.  This week included a blurb that every mom loves to hear:

"Thanks for everything mom.  I just want to say thank you for literally everything everything you do.  I don't thank you enough.  I appreciate the dinners you made (I miss your dinners ha ha) and I miss you doing my laundry for so many years :) and just all that you do.  I don't say it enough but I love you and appreciate you mom."

November 16, 2017

That moment when Cam is dancing around the kitchen when there's no music on and you ask her what music is in her head ad she says - High School Musical.

And then later I ask her for chocolate and she says, "You provide me with a house, I guess I can provide you with chocolate."  :)

November 15, 2017

After two weeks off of running (where I run a wimpy mileage of 3.1) with back issues, a 31:11 3.1 mile run was a little painful.  Left knee hurt, right groin hurt, and back hurt.  And yet it felt so good to get out.

November 14, 2017

"Gratitude is a Spirit-filled principle.  It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God.  Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest things, which gladden our hearts with their messages of God's love." - Sister Bonnie D Parkin

November 13, 2017

Another awesome email day complete with photos and a video diary recap of the day with Mason and Elder Andersen.  Loved seeing that boy laugh. 

November 11, 2017

Cabin 2017 went way too fast.  This year was movies and lot of chatting.  Good time with Tara and Patty.

November 8, 2017

"Nature is one of the most underutilized treasures in life.  It has the power to unburden hearts and reconnect to that inner place of peace."  - Janice Anderson

November 6, 2017

Monday's are just the best.  Who knew that emails could make a Monday the favorite day of the week?  This week's lesson from Mason - even when things are super frustrating, just sing a song about it and get back to work.  Love the Elder!  His companion has been a good fit for him.  Here's a little of his group email, "Anyways that was my week.  It has been a really tiring week but as of right now I'm in a good mood and as Nacho Libre would say - my life's good.  Reaaaaal good.  I love my companion and we have already had such an awesome time so I'm excited for the next 10 weeks with him."

November 5, 2017

Sunday game playing fun including K and T.  Telestrations funny of birthday poop.  Or party pooper for the win.  :)

November 4, 2017

Today marks one month down for Mason and the mission.  I hope the rest of the months go by faster than this one because this one took for-ev-er.

I helped coach Sadie's soccer team this fall and had such a good time.  Sadie really improved this season.  She's always known where to be, but this season her ball contact has been solid.  She had quite a few solid passes today, one for an assist to Becca.  The team came back and tied a really good team to end the season.  Wahoo. 

November 3, 2017

Such a great hike to Desolation Lake today.  I love this hike.  We (me, Lorien, and Sariah) had so much fun.  We laughed and joked and froze and tied our hoods on tight and huddled by a rock to have a snack, and just had a great time.  Apparently we spotted a rare bird on our hike.  A goshawk.  The nature nerd in me was geeking out after I posted a pic on FB asking people if they knew what it was and everyone was excited and impressed that we saw this.  Oh, and we saw a far away moose at the end of our hike.

November 2, 2017

Cam is so funny.  Tonight she asked Darren if sometimes when he's at work when he goes to the bathroom does he sit there for awhile to get out of a little work?  :)  Silly girl.