Nicole made the basketball team! She has a lot to learn and grow since it's been so long since she played on a team, but it's been so good for her to work on overcoming challenges and obstacles.
Diana finally got her cast off so she and I went on a little overnight adventure. One of my goals was to get her to use her right arm without thinking about it too much.
She is a hoot to be with. Fun from start to finish.
We ordered a ton of tasty food delivered to our hotel room and had fun girl chat. She is such a fun friend!
I even had her learn to play pool! It was tough with her right arm but good stretching.
We went to a random festival "Fest in the West." Which was funny, since we're in the east. But hey, pink llamas and goats!
Bounce house! Since Diana's bone actually wasn't totally healed yet, but they wanted her to start to regain movement in the arm, she had to be careful for another month. This was torture, but you can see she was careful holding her arms in.
Painting in the freezing cold wind.
Robotics remote control car was cool because it could go in every possible direction.
Toilet seat horseshoes.
Diana with all her free stuff! She got some cute bracelets to remember our trip by as well.
As we left, we saw that the petting zoo animals were now wearing little outfits. So funny.
The dishwasher wasn't turned on the night before, so John found 2 plastic spoons and a bowl and was just fine eating with two spoons at once.
Nicole's team!
Jake and John joined the deacon campout at the beach.
They caught a shark! Jim is so great at making sure these boys experience excitement and fun. He swam bait out on his surf board, came back to shore, and before he could change out of his wet suit they had caught a shark! Each boy took turns reeling it in and then they took a quick picture before releasing it.
We put a hammock in the backyard and it's a new favorite place for the kids to gather and tell stories and hang out together.
Someone took this pic and one of Nicole's last XC meets. She really conquered some tough things and learned how to work harder.
More pics from the deacon campout!
Jim's truck got them all out using 4x4 onto a remote section of beach.
You can see that little section of bone not filled in- that's her bone not totally healed. It was crazy knowing that if she fell it would break again!
The grocery store did not approve of my choice in buying Peanut M&Ms.
John got to the bread first. That bread is definitely accessible now.
John wanted a dinner roll and a pb&j. So he created a carb delight!
Mike and Jake created detailed targets and sold them to Jim so they could practice shooting. They bargained very well, starting with a high price so they would be happy with the lower result. It was pretty funny.
John kept himself busy. I'm not sure what animal this is. But it's organs are quite interesting.
He was also busy helping Jim put the swings together for our backyard.
Diana and Katy have to do lists constantly up on their white boards. They'll think of something at night, and constantly come to my room, so I've said "If it doesn't need an ambulance, tell me in the morning." These white boards have been a great way for them to remember all those middle of the night thoughts.
We took passport pics since we plan to take the kids to Europe for a few weeks this summer. I neglected to think of how the color orange and non-smiling pictures gave them a bit of a prison mug shot look.
We got our tickets for the passion play in Germany this summer!
Diana really- and I mean REALLY- wanted to make banana bread. So she made this sign, photocopied it at least 10 times, and taped them up all over the house. When I came back from errands, I kept finding them everywhere! We did eventually make that banana bread thanks to her perseverance.
Nicole's team pic.
Johnny boy loves those Target stickers.
On Thanksgiving, we ran with Marian's family for a few miles. It was a nice morning and felt great to get out and run!
Nicole made her famous rolls. I think we all look forward to that more than the turkey!
Last year, one of the kids got sick so we couldn't be together. It was so nice to be all together! Brandon and Marian invited us out to dinner the night before so we got lots of great adult conversation and could enjoy the slightly more hectic kid-filled celebration as well on Tday.
The girls escape the noise and enjoyed the new swings.
The kids played hide and seek in the dark. The best hiding spots were in the pool toys container (Nicole), and under the two swings (Jacob and Devin).
Counting down to trying to find the older girls!
With Tday over, it was time to make tons of fudge! I took some pictures from my process.
5 batches at a time going on here.
The finished product ready to be sealed and delivered!
Whenever it's not a school night, I let the girls move their beds and have a camping light from their great grandpa Ostler hang over their beds they move together. They love this mini-camping fun.
Jim's work party was to a basketball game this year. We were literally at the topmost part of the arena!
There were a few extra tickets so we had the girls come but sit to the side and have their own girl time. Nicole's schedule with seminary and basketball is crazy and sometimes she doesn't even see her siblings in the week for more than a few minutes a day. So it was some good bonding time!
Nicole participated in a Deca competition. She had no idea what it was because she had basketball during their mock practices. But she did just fine on the fly and enjoyed it. And she'll have a clue next time of what's expected :)
Mango holding a pretzel in his claw. It's always been so funny to me to see him use his claw like a hand to hold and move food while he eats!
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