Today we decided to go ice fishing at Utah Lake. We saw people doing it last week on our outing and it looked fun, so we thought we would try. On the way, I stopped by Al’s Sporting Goods store to buy some neon green grubbies to use. When we got to the lake, I dropped in my line and caught this beautiful white bass within about 5 to 10 seconds.
I brought pictures of fish to help me identify them, and I thought this was a white bass when I caught it (which is good to keep and eat), but I figured if it was going to be that easy to catch fish, I could throw this one back, identify it afterwards with the pictures, and then keep later fish I caught after I was more confident in my identification capabilities. After looking at pictures, I confirmed that this definitely is a white bass.
We got skunked after that first catch and Lydia and Mary went on and on about how I should have kept that bass because they really wanted to eat it. I was still hearing about it hours later on the way to dinner, haha.
All in all it was a very good time. Clarissa was so sad that she didn’t catch a fish at one point, and wanted to try again when it was getting to be time to go. I need to do more research so we can have more success, but it was so fun to be in nature and on the ice! Here is a video and some pictures:
Today, I helped Lydia with her Rube-Goldberg machine for school. I was so tired, and so grumpy. I made the kids clean the basement with me before I helped, and I found myself constantly getting after Lydia (and Mary) for making messes, or doing things wrong, or playing when they should be focusing, or quiet. I was definitely not in “fun dad” mode as I was feeling tired and stressed. But, they put up with me, and honestly, I was super thrilled about the product, and the whole thing turned out to be a huge bright spot in my day. Here is the video of our machine. I love those girls!
Here is a cute video of Clarissa telling a story, and Clarissa and Ammon sharing about cute things they made.
Today was the most wonderful day. The Bishop asked to talk with me this morning, and when I called him, I learned I was being invited to be a Second Counselor in the Sunday School Presidency. I let him know I would probably be declining since I plan to move fully into the Community of Christ, but I let him know how much I love the ward, and how grateful I was to be considered for the calling. We have a follow-up next week. Over the past week, I’ve been letting friends and family know of my intentions to move to the Community of Christ church. I haven’t really been announcing anything, just kindof mentioning it as it comes up. So far, everyone in my circles has been so so supportive and loving, even if I sense that my decisions might be hurtful or confusing. I’ve felt so loved, and have been so in awe at the support from the people around me in affirming the path I feel I want to walk right now with my family. My dad and Suzanne especially were loving and affirming and that meant the world to me.
Then we went to the Community of Christ online children’s session, then I chatted with my AXB friends (who also generously affirmed my decisions around faith right now), and I stayed on longer to chat more with Anthony (we talked about parent stress) which was really nice. Then we did the adult session with the Community of Christ, which Lily joined me for. It is so fun to participate in the Community of Christ church with Lily. We both really love the messages, and we both felt spiritually uplifted.
After that, I fed the kids lunch and did some cleaning, and then we all went on a walk to give out Christmas neighbor gifts. After that, we dropped off some chocolate chip cookies Lily made for Georgia. While I took the kids to Georgia’s, Lily finished up dinner preparations and set the table. It was so wonderful to come home to such a comforting and heart-warming meal and table setting. Lily made meatloaf, corn soup, Brussels sprouts, squash, and wassail. It was all so delicious!
The squash was delicious. Aren’t those colors fun?!
After dinner, I played Uno with the older girls and worked on a giant puzzle my dad and Suzanne gave to us. It was such a nice day!
We had intended to drive to California today to start our two week stint in Palm Springs first and then Stallion Springs. Lily has been a visionary and super motivated about getting the house clean and organized and she did a ton of incredible work during the week, but since I was so focused on work (and feeling tired when I wasn’t), we decided to push our departure date one day and just work on the house together for a full day.
It was so fun! I love playing house with Lily. Lily already had gotten the entire house organized so the big focus today was for Lily to wrap and organize all the Christmas presents and for me to organize and clean the garage. Lily also helped me with the garage both today and by clearing so much stuff off the sorting table earlier in the week.
While we were cleaning, we got a notification that California went into strict lock-down orders for Carona Virus. Our Wyndam reservations were cancelled and refunded, and we were told that there was a no-traveling restriction in or out of California. Well, so much for those plans! I was sad because I was in the mood for sun-shine even though I wasn’t taking any days off and would be working most all of the trip. Lily was actually relieved. The more she thought about the trip after booking it, the more she felt stressed about how to pull of Lydia and Mary’s school curriculum, music practice etc, and manage everyone during a pandemic with less space while I was tied up working the whole time. It probably worked out for the best. Covid just complicates everything! Obviously this is an inconvenience. Others are seriously suffering from it right now. I’m also glad we are not going given how things are spiking, and we don’t want to contribute to the spread.
Lily and I were still working at night time, and I called the girls into the garage to answer questions about authorship and timing of different art pieces I was wanting to save. Before I knew it, the girls, with their creativity, had launched into pretend fencing using gardening gloves, tomato box poles, and bicycle helmets strapped to the front of their faces. I was so amused!
Today Lily made Gingerbread people with the children. The cookies were so delicious and adorable!
Also, I had a very hard and stressful day at work. Things are going well at work, but we are so busy that I just feel like I’m breaking down a little bit. To cheer me up, Lily, Lydia and Mary brought me a plant they brought at Trader Joe’s and one of my favorite candies, black licorice. It was so so so sweet of them. I’m in love with my family.
Today was a wonderful Sunday. I slept in and attended the Community of Christ children’s session with the older girls. Then the older girls and I drew with their spirograph sets. Then I did my 11:00 church session with the Community of Christ. While I was doing all of that, Lily was giving very dedicated focused play time to Ammon who said to her he wanted to play with her and not by her self. It was so sweet to see Lily devoting so much attention specifically to Ammon.
Then we all sat on the couch while Lily read Christmas books to us. Then we were delighted to be surprised by my dad and Suzanne at our door, who came to visit bearing Christmas gifts. They only stepped in for a moment with all adults wearing masks and windows open, but then fortunately, it was sunny enough outside to be fairly pleasant so we chatted a fair amount more outside. They are so peppy and cheerful and it was just fun to chat and connect. Also, they gave all the kids Christmas PJs. We told Ammon he should save them for Christmas, and he said, “no” and immediately ran to his room with them, and emerged within minutes wearing his new PJs. The girls followed suit (picture at the end of this blog).
After that great exchange, Lily and I spent time outside with the children. I played corn-hole and trampoline with the girls. Then I did some cleaning and put dinner on for everyone. After that, I spent time in scriptures and journal writing.
After that, it was Lydia’s long awaited game of witches. She asked three days ago if we could play witches and I said we could do it for family night on Sunday. She was literally counting down the hours today and asking me if it was time so often that I finally threatened to cancel if she asked one more time, but I did tell her how happy I was that she was that excited about it.
When it was time everyone got dressed in witch costumes (I didn’t have one, but played along anyway.). Mary, Clarissa and I were good witches. Lily, Lydia and Ammon were bad witches. Good witches lived in Clarissa’s room. Bad witches lived in Lydia and Mary’s room. The common room between was the forest where we scuffled. The plot involved turf war when food was wanted where the other witches traversed, changing youngest kids like a student exchange, Clarissa’s wing ceremony, some fighting (mostly from Ammon), witches brew, a trick from Mary to get Lydia to like her by dressing up as her cousin, me suggesting that good witches and bad witches compromise and together eat sandwiches, and me and Lily falling in-love. It was a really really good time. Pictures below!
Ammon cast a freeze spell on me while I was holding him. It was so funny, we created the moment in this photo.
When we finished, Lydia said to me, “Dad thank you so much for doing that, that really meant a lot to me.” That was such a sweet sentiment of gratitude. I love that girl!.
I also want to take a minute to mention how incredibly helpful Mary has been these four days I’ve been off of work. She is so quick to clean, fetch things, help a younger sibling and just all around be helpful. It has been so much fun to be home so much!
I slept in super late today, which was an incredible gift she gave to me. While I was sleeping, Lily got out all of the Christmas decor and started on her Black-Friday deal finding. That is a huge process for her, and it took most of her day. She’s such a deal-finder and does such a good job making sure the home is beautiful, organized and the family is well clothed for the most affordable price. Lily’s head was in a fog at the end of the day from all the decisions she made, but I’m so grateful for how she takes care of us!
Aside from Lily’s Black Friday shopping, we spent the entire day cleaning the house (and removing fall, Thanksgiving and other home decor) and putting up all our Christmas decorations. The kids and I also went to buy our tree. Lydia and Mary picked out this one. After bringing it home, Lily mentioned that she had suggested a small tree, which apparently, I had completely forgotten, haha. Fortunately, everyone loves this tree.
The pictures below are from Saturday, and include some additional decorations Lily got from one of her favorite decor shops Sun Garden.
It was a huge lift of shopping, cleaning, organizing and decorating today, and after it all, Lily and I decompressed watching “The Good Place” on Netflix, which is so so so good.
