Ain't We Crazy!

Isn't it wonderful how time flies by so fast and every minute of our week is full of awesome activities?! Ok, it can be a bit exhausting at times. I even admit to a couple of my own personal meltdowns this week. Sara has been busy writing essays, some for scholarships, and I have had a lot of late nights helping her. I also have had lots of late night talks with different kids throughout the week. They just needed some extra love or attention and that was when I had time. However, I do not function well without my beauty sleep. We made it all work and we had a great week even with a few crazy mom moments.

The elementary kids all were honored for their great grades this last quarter. Daniel and Laney's teachers sent me pictures, but Susanna's did not. I offered to take a picture of her with her certificate and she said she didn't need a picture. Great job, kiddos!

Monday evening, Andrew and I went to the West MEC open house to check out all the programs he could join next year as a junior. Freddy was asleep or he would have joined us. We learned about the Dental Assistant, Physical Therapy, Medical Assistant and Security programs. He thought he was only interested in the Dental until we had our tours of the other programs. He loved the Physical Therapy and Medical Assistant Programs too. He also learned that he is not interested in police work or security. They had a simulation machine and he ran through a couple of different scenarios. One was an upset lady in a bar that had a weapon and the other was an aggressive man in a school office. He did not enjoy it at all. Although he appreciates the work that those people do, he discovered it was not for him.

Tuesday was Halloween! The kids went out through the neighborhood in 3 groups; the teens, the tweens and the little ones. Gram and Papa came and brought Ben's Madi, Ryan and Ella. Madi had fun running around with Daniel, Laney, Heidi, Averie and Kendall. Gram, Papa, Jessi and I took Susanna, Gwen, Tori, Ryan and Ella around. The twins were with their friends, Brandon, Rachel, Jackson, Blake, Kyler and Josh. Poor Richard got stuck with handing out the candy at home. He was a good sport about it. They all had a great time.

We have a great neighborhood for trick or treating. There are a lot of neighbors that go all out with the decorations, one does an awesome haunted house and there is a group that does a chili cook off every year and has the neighborhood taste test and judge.

We found the Andersons along the way and a bunch of other friends as we walked the streets.

Susanna and Corbijn

When we got back to the house the teens were all watching the old cartoon Alice and Wonderland, so the little ones joined them. Many of them had never seen it before. The tweens were all upstairs bartering and trading candy.

Leigh and Josh came and joined us after being out for the evening shopping and Sam was at the Glendale Institute for the evening with his friends.

Thursday evenings at choir are the best! The Christmas concert is going to be amazing!!!

Andrew, Freddy and Daniel are just to the left of center. Rachel Smith is in the front row of girls to the third from the right and you can see part of Lilli's face in the back row about six girls from the right.

Here's a clip from rehearsal. Prof. Stewart has amazing piano skills! https://youtu.be/iwCs-G2E77M

After choir we went to Costco, which of course means shenanigans for the boys. This time they ran across the tops of the carts. I couldn't believe they didn't break any ankles.

Sara and Brynn went to 2 concerts while we were at choir. They went to the Phoenix Zoo to meet Borns at signing event. She said he was super sweet and didn't mind talking to them and taking pictures.

 Then they went to the Borns concert which was "AMAZING"! He played Sara's favorite song first, followed by her second favorite song. The crowd was friendly and since it was a free concert, a lot of people didn't know who he was. Sara and Brynn were more than happy to educated them on one of their favorite bands. They left early and...

...then they went to the LANY concert late. As they walked in, one of their favorite songs was being performed. They wiggled their way up through the crowd and got pretty close. It was awesome because they could see the emotion in his face. They LOVED it!

A picture with one of the band members

After the concerts, they ran into KenaDee and Mikael Anderson, Lilly Jensen and Lauryn Berry at In-N-Out. They had been at the Borns concert and just happened to stop at the same place for food.


Friday night, we went to Valley Vista High School's production of The Wizard of Oz. They had some pretty incredible leads. It was impressive to have so many strong guys! Our friend Isabelle played Dorothy. She did a beautiful job! Such an amazing voice!

One of the munchkins was a friend of the boys from when they did Into The Woods at Legacy a couple of years ago. She is a super tiny and adorable freshman now.

Tyiss Goodman was in the chorus. He is one of Richard's seminary students and is a friend to several of our kids. This was his tornado costume.

When we came home the kids watched Rapunzel. Freddy and Laney were sound asleep and did not look comfortable at all. Love the snuggles though!

Saturday afternoon, Brynn took Sara out for some fun and she took these cute pictures of her!

Saturday evening, the young men and women from church had a bonfire at the Beals' house. Sara, Lilly, Brynn and KenaDee took charge of the music after Brandon attempted and asked for help. They leaders got a kick out of their jam session. They were really boogying!