Goodbye, November

  It has been a good two weeks. The first week was filled with regular life stuff like piano lessons, dance, house work and grocery shopping. One night was book club and that was a good discussion. I had read the book in fourth grade and disliked it; in fact it was what turned me off to fantasy. So it was interesting to read it again as an adult. I can't say I liked it much more but I appreciated the symbolism and and depth of it that I certainly did not appreciate in fourth grade. That's part of why I love book club; I appreciate how it expands my understanding and I learn and read things I normally wouldn't have on my own. Plus it is fun to talk with friends and eat treats. 

Michelle and I also went to the temple that Thursday, which was awesome because we had just been two weeks earlier. Our Relief Society was invited to go either Thursday or Friday but no one else was there with us on Thursday so I hope a lot of people went Friday. I love having the temple open again and being able to go during the day. I made it back in time to pick up Lily and then I had to go get Curtis from school because he had been on a field trip to the Spy Museum. He also started basketball practice that night. It is so much easier than baseball to just have one one-hour practice and a one-hour game on Saturday afternoons. Plus I love that weather doesn't affect the schedule. 

Emma had a Veteran's day concert the next morning and it was really good. I was impressed with the singing and the songs were all fun. It was all very patriotic and made me happy. The boys went camping that night and I did laundry and packed. Lily had rehearsal on Saturday and the boys got home about an hour before she was done so they showered, packed up and then we went and got Lily and headed straight for Rochester. It was an easy drive and we didn't stop at all so we made good time. 

Sunday my niece gave her mission home coming talk so we listened to that on zoom and then went over to my home ward with my parents for second hour. It was a nice relaxing Sunday and so nice to have Josh around. We went over to KayLee's for dinner and talked and watched Disenchanted. Monday we went to the mall and then we went to Abbott's and I got my chocolate almond custard that I love so much. I love being in Rochester to just feel at home and have memories pop into my mind and to show my kids the houses we grew up in and such. While we were there it was actually the 25th anniversary of our first date so it was fun to drive by our high school where Josh first asked me out after English class one day and we drove by the Friendly's where we went to dinner (it closed a few years ago, so sad). We also went to see two movies at the same theater where we first held hands and had many dates because Josh worked there all senior year.  Fun memories.  I also love that my kids just love going to Grandma's house. I never did as a kid so it makes me happy that they love it and will have special memories and feelings about being with their grandparents. 

 

Tuesday we went to the Palmyra temple and it was beautiful. Josh baptized Lily and Curtis with my dad and I witnessing and we were the only ones in the baptistery, which was special. Josh did some other work too and then my dad showed the kids the special windows that President Hinckley designed and the pretty stained glass mural of the first vision. It was Curtis's first time being there and it was special to be in the temple where we were sealed with two of our kids and my dad. It was a wonderful morning. Then we met up with Josh's mom and aunt and cousin for lunch and then home to relax. Mom had fun with Emma and Brandon making cinnamon rolls while we were gone. Wednesday I made a pie and jello salad and to get out of Mom's way for awhile we took the kids to Chuck E Cheese for an hour. It was almost empty and the kids had so much fun. Then Josh, Curtis and I went to go see The Fablemans, which was pretty good. Kristi and Steve and Tatum had just gotten there when we got back and it was a fun evening eating Pontillos and talking. 

 

 

Thursday morning we watched the parade and then we went to Josh's cousin's house. His parents and sister flew in from Colorado so we got to see them, plus his aunt, uncle, and another cousin. It was fun for Emma and Brandon who had kids their ages to play with but Lily and Curtis were pretty bored. Everyone was watching the Bills game (they are huge fans) and we were all relieved when they won and it didn't go into overtime so we could eat. Dinner was great and I enjoyed seeing the cousins again. If we lived in Rochester, we would definitely hang out with them and be good friends. The kids were anxious to get back to Grandma's though so we left around 7. I missed being with my sisters and parents but I'm glad we got to spend some time with Josh's family. 

 

Friday we helped my mom put away all her fall decorations and get out the Christmas ones. Josh put lights up on the bushes for her and fixed my dad's sound system. He is such a good, patient son-in-law and I love him so much. Then we all went out to see The Glass Onion and I loved it; not as much as Knives Out but I love mysteries with twists and it was fun. It got mixed reviews from the rest of the family though. 

Saturday we packed up and drove home. It was another easy drive and we stopped in Annapolis to get a Christmas tree from a farm we like. We got home about 5pm and put the tree up, unpacked then watched Elf and ate pizza for dinner. It was such a good, relaxing week and it was so nice to have Josh around. I loved spending so much time with him and not worrying about schedules and responsibilities. It was a wonderful break and getting back into real life was rough, but we've almost made it through the week. 

 

Monday I was so busy with groceries and laundry and piano and such but then I also went to Brother Prettyman's funeral. Bethany was one of my young women and I love her so much and wanted to support her. She even spoke and did such a beautiful job. I feel like she is too young to have lost her dad already and my heart is so sad for her. I was glad I talked myself into going. This week is the Nutcracker so Lily has been at dance 4-5 hours a day with rehearsals and yesterday Josh and Curtis went to the temple with the youth and I've been trying to decorate for Christmas and get the house in good order and exercise again. There is a lot happening in the next few weeks but I keep trying to tell myself to just breathe and enjoy it instead of just wanting to check it off my list.