Prepping for company

We have company coming this weekend.  I have been shopping and gathering and washing and cleaning :) 

I am excited to show them the house.

Yesterday was picture day.

My beautiful girl.

And her beautiful hair. She doesn’t wear it down often but I sure love it!! 

Last night I got to watch a cute 6 year old for a friend while she served at church. 

It was so fun! Kelli and I had a great time!  

We started with a treat!  Yum! 

Haylee had gotten out some of her old toys before she left.  Kelli was in heaven.

She decided it was Christmas time. I happened to have this styrofoam tree on hand. With a few pins we were able to decorate it right up. The Air Force One shelf became the North Pole. I don’t think that shelf has ever been that cute! 

See how she made a star on top out of pins? 

We had a great time playing for about an hour before her dad came to pick her up. She is the cutest!!  

Haylee went to a combined 4 ward mutual. They made commercials. Her teams product was RM Ravioli- they won for best jingle.  :). She had a good time. 

Tonight Joe and I sat by the fire for a while since he is off tomorrow. Work has been crazy stressful for him this week.  He needed to vent and I am a good listener.  

Firelight is complimentary. :) 

New friends

Braden picked Haylee up for seminary this morning. Super cute and  super appreciated.  After school I asked Haylee if they had chatted on the way to seminary and she replied in a slightly annoyed voice “uh, yeah mom! It’s not like we just sat there in silence for 5 minutes”. lol.  I wanted the scoop but that was all I got. Ha! She also said a boy from her psychology class sat with her at lunch.  Yay! She did have a sad moment in gym when she was missing her friends again since they had an awesome gym group. But she met a girl in that class and they hit it off too.  So glad for new friendships! 

Tonight I went to the Spouses Club social.  It was really fun.  We played bunco.  It is a bit intimidating to walk in and only know a few people but I ran into Keva walking in so that helped a lot!  After that I jumped right in and walked around introducing myself.  I am the sunshine chair on the club board so my job is to welcome people and send birthday cards and that kind of stuff.  So fun!!!  It was a great night. 

Me wearing the fab Bubco headband. 

Keva and I at the head table. 

Sugar cube dice!!!  Cutest idea ever!!  

This afternoon Haylee and I inflated the blowup mattresses in preparation for the grandparents to visit this weekend. We stacked them here to have them out of the way and re-enacted “Princess and the Pea”. 

Tomorrow is picture day!  :) 

Sunday Monday

Sunday Joe had to work a 12 hour shift.  Haylee and I went to church.  The talks were about charity and kindness.  My Sunday school lesson went pretty well.  I am not loving my calling but it isn’t about me.  The Lord has asked me to serve in this capacity at this time.  And so I will.  And I will have faith that it will get better.  It was hard to hear two boys in my clsss report they had the same lunch as Haylee and that she sat at a table next to theirs.  Hard because she sat alone. And they saw her. But they didn’t say anything. 

Lame.

Today brought day 3 of school. Haylee forgot her lunch today, I gave her $$ last week before school started for just such an occasion. After thinking about it this morning I knew she would feel awkward about taking cash up to the register so I quickly set up and put $$ in her account so she wouldn’t stand out for paying with cash. I texted her and she said she would be ok.  I knew she wasn’t going to eat. And she didn’t. I also know that she is going to have to do things that make her uncomfortable in  life.  I wish I could give

her anxiety the boot so her awesome self could shine through.  But her anxiety makes her who she is. And she’s awesome so there ya go.  I can’t imagine being a junior at a new school. She sat alone again today.  Clubs start next week and she will find people.  Her people. ❤️ I made chocolate chip cookies for her that were coming out of the oven when she got home.  

Each day after school she and and I sit in the study and chat about her day for a bit.  I make sure my phone is in the other room and that I don’t have anything pressing at that time.  It has been great!  

After we chatted I got a text from a friend that her daughter needed help with her geometry homework and asking if Haylee would be willing to tutor her.  Chelsea came over and Haylee spent about an hour going over her homework.  Haylee had her own homework but ya know “Service before self” I am thankful for my smarty pants kid.  

Keva and I went to lunch today and to run an errand.  It was so fun!!!  I am so thankful we are stationed here together.  I think we could talk for 17 hours straight!  Seriously. Lol.  It has been nice getting to know her better. ❤️

Ice skating

We spent our Saturday planning to do things but doing a bunch of driving around lol.  We left base, Joe forgot something so we went back home.  Left base again and drove to the mall, no sooner had we parked the car than Joe got called into work.  We drove back to base and dropped him off then headed back to town to the ice skating rink.  Lol.  Haylee’s favorite thing to do is skate. She hasn’t gone a bunch since tbe rink in Missouri was an hour away.  Good news for North Dakota it’s only 20 minutes! Yay. We will be singing her up for lessons in a couple of weeks.  I skated with her today. For about 20 minutes, the rental skates really hurt your feet!!!  The bottom of my feet felt like they were on fire.  I did ok though and didn’t fall down. Haylee was surprised I was as fast as I was :) I did jam my pinky finger at the beginning when I was pulling myself along the rail.  Lamest skating injury ever.  Lol.  After skating we went to Target, WalMart and Hobby Lobby.  It was a fun girls day. 

 Bonus picture of Joe since I thought he looked extra cute today.  Not too shabby for 40. 

Skates off!  Ouch! 

My skater chick 





On the way home the sun was shining through the clouds and if you squint and use your imagination it looks kinda like the bat signal.  :) 

First day of school, first formal event with Team Minot

This cute girl started her junior year yesterday!  How cute is she??  

Big smile before the bus came. When she got home I asked her how her day was “it started out pretty rocky!” Uh oh!  Poor kid had left her brand new phone on the bus.  Thankfully the bus driver had it for her after school. A little sad she spent the morning in panic mode. She said a prayer though and felt peaceful about the situation. She sat alone at lunch but was ok with it.  She gave the day a 7 out of 10 overall.  Today was day 2, she came home feeling kind of down.  She was just missing her “tribe” that is in Warrensburg.  This part of moving stinks. I know it will get better, and so does she, but it is hard in the moment.  

Tonight Joe and I went to Airman leadership school graduation.  I didn’t think it was a nice as the ceremony at Whiteman but the club is smaller -sort of- and it was hot in there!  However, the Chief that spoke was great.  Boring speakers are the worst.  Lol. Brian Noetlich was funny and relateable. 5th AMXS had a lot of award winners so that was fun.  

I also went to lunch with the Spouses Club President today.  I am going to be the Sunshine Chair (it’s my job to make people feel welcome ☀️- love it!) so I needed a binder and a box of stuff since I was gone during the first board meeting. It’s going to be a fun board position and I look forward to getting to know some new people.  It seems really well organized so that is awesome too! 

Another good North Dakota day. 💜

My baby

This picture is from 7 years ago, my sweet fourth grade baby. 

Tomorrow she starts her junior year of high school!  Only two more years with her at home.  Time goes too fast!  Tomorrow she starts a new school.  I can’t imagine doing that my junior year.  She is so brave!  I know she is going to be a rockstar.  
Look at our family 7 years ago.  I treasured those times when they were all at home.  

We toured the school the other day.  This is Haylee by her new locker.  The locker bay has a super 70s vibe lol. 

It’s going to be a great year!! 

Tuesday

Fed the sisters, I had signed up to feed the Elders to but Joe attended a memorial service for his Airman that was killed last week,  Haylee wore makeup today!  I have been trying to get her to do that for forever!  Ok just last year but still.  She was adamantly against it but I talked to her about it the other day and she was really open minded.  Awesome!!

 I also visited with a good friend today and played with her cute six year old. It was so fun!  We had breakfast for dinner and the missionaries seemed to enjoy it.  Also, FaceTimed with this cute boy.  I am so happy when his little face lights up when he sees “Tia” my sweet Dean-o boy! 

Too cool for school with his sunglasses on. 

Auntie is funny even through the phone.  ❤️