September

 

Parade in September this year.  Michael Joe, Tia Sophia, Mason and the girls:) About 93 degrees out and Michael was sweating a lot holding an umbrella over me and Mason while the girls ran out for candy;) 

So my sweet Noelle was “exposed” to someone who had COVID so we were given two options.  Quarantine for a few days or wear a mask all day to school and then take a COVID test at the end of the week.  Which would you choose?!?! Haha.  OBVI she stayed home with mama and did such a great job helping me create amazing Halloweenie art.  Little hanging paper ornaments that are on our kitchen light, candy corn on the back of cotton candy for the bedroom and just perfect sweet painting to replace bathroom art for the season! LOVE it all.  Also helped me place spiders up there. 

Sia got student of the week, as well as Gwinna the week before. Both first in their classes so that was very exciting.  And actually as I am writing this (Oct. 7) Noelle got it this week! Woo! My girls.  They are very good little people. 

Noelle created a pillow fort around Michael as he took a nap:) 

Halloween kitty home for Halloween 

FaceTiming Remington.  He wanted a picture of all the girls. Too cute. 

Stacking Sia…still at it :)

Daddy cleaning out our popcorn machine for our weekly watching of Monsters Inc episodes….and most recently Dug on Disney + and this upcoming weekend Muppets Haunted Mansion.  Yay! 

We try to do it every Sunday.  Popcorn and a movie or episode.  

Noelle and Sia are set and Gwinna wanted her toddler pumpkin one until this past weekend when she found a hotdog at Target! Ha! 

Last spraying with the hose by mom session of the season, I hope! Haha! This was after picture day. 

Dancing with JACK. 

“Send this to Miss Cota.” 

Love our kitty

Love reading with this girlfriend!

Halloween tree this year….getting crazy!

 

First half of August

Last & cutest puzzle of the summer😢

LAST visit to Aunt Lili’s house in Merced 😢😢😢

 

Not quite the last swim of the Summer at Grandma’s

August 6, 2021 Michael Joe lost his sweet Grandpa. 

He said it was a really peaceful experience to be able to see him and talk with him right before & pray with his family after. 

Our sweet Sia’s first day of KINDERGARTEN! 

2nd day of school (technically Sia’s first full day)

 - made cookies, cleaned house & cried into my kitty

8/11/21

Fasting has been a recurring reminder that’s been jumping off the page at me and then deeply into my mind until I forget and then am reminded again and I need to write it down. I NEED to fast. I will fast in September and every month following. A real one. 
Another word feeling like it’s ricocheting around in my brain when I read it is “idle” which of course always brings me back to my mission days. It’s the reminder I needed daily & the scripture I chose for my plaque. A favorite but also a bold reminder to get in line. CEASE to be idle. Having the girls going back to school this week is an abrupt awakening as to how idle I’ve really been, unfortunately! Ugh. Grateful that I enjoy early to bed and early to rise and being organized, calendars & timers to remind me. My dad made fun of my “brush teeth” one when it went off at their house but I’m really happy that I am this way. It does make life smoother & helps us be in much better moods, I think :) 

8/13/21
Sia’s first official day of school
Popped her neck on the way to school and complained and cried of shoulder pain on the way home 🤷🏼‍♀️ Can’t tell how intense it is or if it’s just an overwhelming day for her little self too. I cried for a long while this morning not unloading any babies from the van when I got home. Grabbed my kitty and made him sit with me a while. Michael had an extraction and bone graft this morning. Ugh. FaceTimed Jet and Lil and Jet said I love you at the end and it set me off again to tears. I can’t believe they’re leaving in less than a week 😩 when it rains it pours. Life just SUCKS sometimes but proper perspective definitely helps me here. Sia is HAPPY to be going to school maybe overwhelmed but so excited! Gwinna and Sia are so HELPFUL for me. Taking her to class and reassuring her all the way to school that they will be with her. Gwinna prayed for me this morning that I would be strengthened by the Lord and know and remember that Sia won’t be gone all day. Michael’s dental stuff all went very well. Hoping he’s not in too much pain tomorrow. Hoping Grandpa will help sias shoulder. Love my fur ball baby that TRULY brings me peace and comfort. Grateful for cookie dough for my lunch and a great vacuum cleaner & my able body to make 2 trips to pick up my kids from school everyday even though it’s not ideal 😬
I AM excited for Lil and her little family to get where they want to be. Owning a house and renovating it soon:) this one is hard to look on the bright side because it will be HARD not to see them every week but they’re moving onward & upward & I am very happy for them still. Selfishly though. UGH. :(
But happy. But not. But yes. Ok. Done. Can’t think about it.