My Village

I am so grateful lately to have a village that has been so supportive.  Being far away from family can be hard, but I feel like I have the next best thing here.  I want to remember all these amazing people, and basically no one reads this blog anyway, so it is the perfect place for a record.

Christmas gatherings hosted by the Fallers and Leybases gave us people to spend the holidays with.  The Webers having us over before Christmas to play games gave us stand in grandparents and friends.

I am working on prerequisites to start a Physical Therapy program.  Mike has been so supportive of whatever I choose and in giving me time to get things done.  Over Christmas break I observed at a local PT office and they offered me a job as a tech this semester so I can get some more experience and education as I make my decision about a career.  That required that I change which days I teach preschool.  The Bucks, Majewskis, Jones, Haltermans, and McKenzie were all so accommodating.  I also have to switch my gym classes or stop teaching.  My neighbor Manny has gone out of his way to offer me one of his classes temporarily if it will allow me to keep my job at the gym through this busy semester.  Kendra has been so patient as I repeatedly rearrange my schedule which changes her schedule because she will be helping with Asher while I'm working.

I will also be taking Anatomy and Physiology this semester which will require me going to a lab on Fridays.  I only had to ask one person to be my babysitter and she agreed enthusiastically right away. Adriann has been so helpful answering all of my questions about text books, etc. as I start back to school. Angie gave me advice for my class and even offered to study with me if I want because she just finished the class.

I am also exploring teaching options and our school principal immediately agreed to let me observe specials teachers when I asked.

For the Record

This school year we started a new routine method that has worked really well.  The boys have a checklist each day.  We have done that before, but this time, I give them tickets for the things they finish.  Anything they finish before 3pm gets triple the tickets, 3:30pm gets double, and 4pm gets single.  By the end of the year, they don't really remember to ask me for tickets anymore, but they are still pretty consistent about getting their lists done.  Here is what they have to do.  Morning: Get dressed, brush teeth, get lunch, shoes, and ID.  Afternoon: repack lunch and put it in the fridge (I LOVE not packing lunches. I still prep home made lunchables or freeze pizza rolls for them every couple weeks.), daily chore, weekly chore, homework, practice (piano/Spanish/reading or writing), reading, family and community service (this has faded away).

These documents were cluttering up the fridge, so I took pictures so we could clear off the fridge.

 This was a thank you note Ethan did without prompting once, a year or more ago.  "Dear Mom, Thank you for the one doller. you got me to the spy kit. I was rily itsideid about the spy kit!"  The I love you because sign says "you gave me money and allowance."

 "I like that ou let us have story time."   "I love my mom because...she gives me hugs...she gives me yummy food...she loves me...she takes me to fun places..."

 "I am thankful for my mom and dad because they keep us safe and take care of us. I am thankful for my Teddy because I had him sence I was a baby. Love Ethan"

 "if you like Brith days sowt hooray here's a speshl card from Ethan to shelbat your Brith day everyday."  This was probably from 1st grade.

 "she loves me and I love her"

 "let's me go swimming"

 "2 boxs of chocolate!"

 "She is sweet...She is nice...She is smart...She is loving"

December 2018

We started out December at a great party at the Faller's. Mike got this fanny pack from the white elephant exchange and I ended up with a poop emoji plunger.

 I spent a few months battling a rezoning case.  We had a bunch of meetings and preparation over trying to get bigger lot sized and longer driveways.  Seeing this stretch limo fit in its driveway made me laugh.

 Mike started a project to redo our landscape lighting.  The wires were laid in very strange ways, so it has been an adventure!

 Ethan got back into Pokemon cards and was disappointed that the library stopped hosting its club in December, right when we were talking about finally trying it out.  Instead, he invited friends over from school for his own Pokemon club.  He would like to have weekly or biweekly meetings, but hasn't convinced me yet.

 Ethan was chosen as Student of the Month!  He didn't get that award in 2nd or 3rd grade, so he was really excited. The excitement may mostly come from the donuts.

We had a ward Christmas party that ended with cookie decorating.  Asher and Caelyn are such cute little friends.

The loving gazes are adorable.

 
A great example of our boys' common activities.  They love magna blocks and stuffed animals.

 We went to get Santa pictures done and explored the farm while we waited.  There was a contest that you could enter by finding the elf and taking a selfie with it.

 The boys and I went out to Gilbert to buy from the Light the World Giving Machine.  They all got to pick something to donate.  Ethan chose toys for a family a local organization had adopted.  Benton chose meals for a Food Bank.  Asher chose learning toys.  I chose an infant resuscitation kit, chickens, and a fish farm.  Ethan used his own money to get jump ropes and Ethan and Benton both used their money to buy water (donating to a water charity).

 I recognized the Sister missionary and realized that I taught her older sister in my first class.  I told her I was Sheridan's 4th grade teacher and she said, "Mrs. Abegg?!? You're famous in our house-you changed Sheridan's life!"  I was so touched!  I sent this picture to Sheridan and got to have a fun interaction with her.

 We went straight from there to the Science Center and saw Tesla coils...

virtual aliens and sand.

 Benton had left his shoes at home and then got his socks wet at a fountain near the vending machines.  Asher was wearing his pants pulled enough to see his pineapple socks, so we were quite a sight.  I didn't want to go home after planning the whole outing, so we just stayed conspicuous so no one noticed Benton was shoeless.

 I ran a Christmas race with a coworker.  I failed to train for the 10k, but ran it in a 9:13 average and got 4th in my age group, so I was really pleased.  As I approached the finish line I was near a guy that I had passed and been passed by during the race.  I sped up to try and pass him and he did the same down the whole home stretch.  I ended up crossing first and I'm going to ignore the fact that there were more strollers near him.

The Webers invited us over for a pre-Christmas activity.  We ate pizza, had a Light the World lesson, and played Christmas BINGO.

The boys' school's annual Posadas at the Pointe was great, as usual.

 I hosted our annual Christmas cookie party for the preschoolers and one for the big boys and their friends and the Sandhauses.  I can't believe I don't have any pictures, but it was a  fun event, as always.

We checked the boys out of school early on the last day and went up to the Fairmont Princess.  I used my birthday money to pay for two days at their Christmas event.

It was great having to set all the Christmas preparation stress aside and just spend time together.

We started out at the pool playing in the sand and pool.

 Then we hit the Christmas festivities.  This is the view from the top of the Ferris wheel.

 

 The ice slide was a good sledding substitute.

 There were Christmas lights and Christmas light shows all over.

 We all went ice skating.  Ethan went both nights and really liked it.  He improved a lot while we were there.  I was proud of his tenacity.

Asher really liked the singing Christmas trees and would dance to them.

 

In the mornings, the boys went to Kids Club and we got to relax and exercise.  We saw this hawk and then noticed his handler.  This is how the resort controls unwanted birds.

One of the boys' favorite things is this giant chess set. They played for hours.

 The second night we rushed to the train and rode it twice because the line got up to 2 hours long each night.

 

 The little boys wanted to take a picture with the elf.

It took a lot of encouragement to get Ethan to get in the picture because the Elf freaked him out.

 Asher wasn't big enough for the Ferris wheel, but liked the carousel.

In our trips to the sand, Ethan build Pompeii and on our last day, we built this Medieval village together. 

 Goofballs!

I really enjoy hiding out, watching Christmas movies, and wrapping presents.  This year I also last minute found animal print blankets, sewed two pockets on, and put a matching Beanie Boo in one pocket and Teeny Ty in the other.  Ethan got a leopard print with leopards, Benton got a yellow blanket with bees, and Asher got a zebra print with zebras.

 
On the 16th Mike and I played in church, then we played again at the Stake Musical Fireside on the 23rd.  We did the First Noel for one and Oh Holy Night for the other and they were really fun.

On Christmas Eve, Mike grilled tri-tip and smoked a ham and I made rolls, sweet potatoes, Jello salad...I love that we can eat outside.

 We let the boys open two gifts.  We got them robes since Ethan prefers to sleep in his underwear and Benton and Asher often try to follow along, only sleeping in pants.  They were super excited.  It helped that while we were at the resort they were very impressed by the robes in the room.

I meant to have them open a game, but instead they opened this puzzle and were SO excited!

 We also made and ate our traditional molasses ginger cookies and Danzeisen egg nog.  So yummy!

 Everything was ready by 8pm and we had a relaxing evening watching TV.  I follow my mom's precedent of strategically placing the presents to make it look like there are more than there are.

 On Christmas morning I made biscuits and gravy and ate them on the porch.

 The big boys got new shoes, but Asher didn't need any, so I got him these no tie silicone laces.  He still can't get these on by himself, but at least they don't have to be tied.  He loves that they are "beautiful, especially with his pineapple socks".

 Enjoying Legos from the Cottles.

 I read Mary Poppins to the boys and we watched the original (plus I watched Saving Mr. Banks).  We didn't end up reading Mary Poppins Comes Back, but we still went to see Mary Poppins Returns.  We met Mike at the downtown theatre after work.

 The boys wrote all their thank you cards and I was really impressed with how they just sit and write them without any input or encouragement, plus, they are entertaining, so we took pictures.  Asher wrote his all by himself, too!  He sometimes copied "thank you" off of the front of a card, but the rest he sounded out.  McKenzie has done a lot with him with his writing and he does that for his practice at home.

 Christmas Cycle!

Mike took the big boys to the drive in.  Asher and I were going to do something special, but mostly he fell asleep watching a movie while I wrapped presents and worked on blankets.