Things have been busy here. The weather has been great and I enjoy the cooler mornings. The leaves are turning colors and falling and it is a pretty time of year. We have finished stage one of our garden plot, we finished moving the landscape rocks out of the area. That was a big job. The boys helped with it. Neal did a lot with a shovel and rake and then the boys and I helped sift through with our hands to get out the big rocks. I am glad that we are making progress on it. I have done some other yard work things too. I am glad we don’t have a big yard because it would be harder to keep on top of. I have enjoyed some pretty flowering plants this fall. We also have done things inside. Neal installed handles on our cabinet drawers in the kitchen and bathrooms. I like having a handle to pull the drawers out. Neal and I also hung up the large pictures last week. We still have many smaller pictures to hang up but it is good we are making progress on it.
It has been two weeks since I wrote. I thought I would write a little about what each child has been doing. Ruth had a band concert. She has worked hard practicing every day. She is sounding nice on the clarinet. The concert was enjoyable too. After the concert Ruth and I went to the church to a Relief Society activity. We were about an hour late but it was nice to go for the ending and a little socializing. Ruth wanted a princess dress for Halloween. She wants to dress as the “Goose Girl” from the Shannon Hale book that she likes. She wanted a green, flowing dress. We went to a couple of thrift stores. Then we tried one more. We hadn’t been there before but found they were a big store with lots to look at. She found a nice prom dress that is green and fits. It was sleeveless but she found a pretty blouse that matched the color well to wear over it. It worked out so well. We were happy to find something. Then we went to pay for the items we found out they are a cash only store. Ruth had some money and I started digging in my wallet to count my change because I had used most of my cash. We were coming up short and I felt bad I was holding up the line counting coins. Then the lady behind us handed me $2. I thanked her and she smiled and said she understands, she was there for Halloween costumes too. It was such a blessing to have her help, that way we could leave with the items that Ruth really wanted. Last Saturday Ruth was invited to play night games with some kids from the ward. Neal and I were a bit concerned about what exactly they were going to do. So Neal volunteered to go with her and see what they would do. He stayed and played the game with Ruth. They ended up walking around the neighborhood a lot but said they didn’t see much “game” going on. Ruth is happy to have friends here.
Andrew has friends too. He went to a birthday party last week at a swimming pool. He enjoyed that. One Saturday Andrew and Neal went for a bike ride with two of Andrew’s friends and their dads. The six of them were on the trails at the foot hills of the mountains. One morning Andrew told me he had finished reading the Book of Mormon. It is the first time he has read it all on his own. I asked him what he thought of the book. He told me simply “I know it is a book from God.” The next morning I saw him reading and asked where he decided to read from, he told me he started at the beginning of the Book of Mormon again. He has been good about getting up early and reading from the scriptures every day. He is a good example with that. Andrew has enjoyed the boy scouts. Last week end Neal and Andrew went on a scout campout with the Stake. They were doing a 20 mile bike ride with it too. They enjoyed the time together and with friends. It was a campout to commemorate the Mormon Battalion that marched through New Mexico. The week before I did a lesson during our Monday Family night and read from the journal of Charles Hancock who served in the Mormon Battalion. I wanted Andrew to know that he had an ancestor who was there. Andrew is the Patrol leader in his scout group. He needed to go to a Patrol leader meeting this last Sunday. We teased that he was now old enough to go to other meetings.
Andrew and Spencer were invited to sing with a special Stake children’s choir for a Christmas event the first week of December. Sunday was their first rehearsal. I went and stayed to listen. There were about 30 children there from all the wards in the Stake. They sounded beautiful together as the conductor worked with them. Afterwards I asked the boys how they thought it went and they both said they enjoyed it. Spencer had fun going on a tour of an old historic theater with his cub scout den. He enjoys participating with them. He has started reading more and will spend an hour or more reading. He is also interested in robots and building things with Lego. He works hard on his creations.
Caleb had a fun play date with his friends Xan and Miles. They came over to our house and enjoyed time together. Caleb had a field trip that I went on with the class. We walked about a half mile to a Sprouts Farmers Market store. The kids picked out a pumpkin to buy and take back to the school. Another mother drove her van and loaded up all the pumpkins in it to drive back to the school. We had a nice walk on a pretty day and they kids loved seeing all the pumpkins. I stayed in the class to help with their pumpkin activities. They did measurements on them and some worksheets about pumpkins. The next day Caleb came out of the school carrying his 18 pound pumpkin, of course he had to get a big one. His teacher had put it in plastic bags to give handles to carry it. I started carrying it but knew it would be hard to walk the half mile home with it, so I called Neal, who was home. He came right over and rescued us by giving us all a ride. That was Friday, right before Neal and Andrew left on their camp out.
I have been busy with things. One day I got a call from a friend who has a baby and toddler. The toddler was sick and she asked if I could come help her with the baby for a bit. She was frazzled from the toddlers neediness and the babies cries. I held the little two month old baby for about an hour and enjoyed helping her a little. It is nice to be of service. I also went visiting teaching this week. We have four sisters to visit and were able to see them all. I enjoyed the visits and hope I can be of service to these older sisters I am getting to know. My companion and three of the four sisters are elderly.
I haven’t had too much luck with appliances this week. My sewing machine isn’t working right. I need to take time to look at it more and clean it up, hopefully that is all it needs. But the needle isn’t going up and down quickly, it is like the motor is dragging. Then on Saturday Ruth was vacuuming and came to me to say she thought the vacuum didn’t sound right. Sure enough something was wrong. The roller got jammed up some how and burned the bearings. I spent a lot of time researching things and looking for parts. I did find a used part on ebay and it came today, so maybe we can get the vacuum working again. I was frustrated that the company doesn’t sell new parts, only the whole roller unit floor part. I hope this used roller works. I was feeling frustrated that things were breaking on me.
Our friends are moving to Redlands CA this week. We will miss them. Ruth and Andrew have enjoyed doing things with their children and I have enjoyed a friendship with Erica. Last week they had a farewell outing for the women. We went to a ice cream parlor and visited for a couple of hours. I enjoyed being with the group. Tomorrow they are doing a party for families to come visit and say good bye. It is hard to see friends go.
Last night we had the cub scout Pack Meeting at our home. It went well. I thought it was good that many came and the boys had fun running around our back yard. Neal did a nice job with things. The den leaders did great doing the games and treats. It got a little cold but over all went well. We had to do it last night because tonight, the normal time for Pack meeting, they are doing our ward Truck-or-treat activity. The kids are getting excited about costumes and getting candy. Spencer also has a school music program this evening. Neal will take Spencer to the school and when it is over come join us at the church. I will go listen to Spencer sing Friday morning when they do the program again. Things are always so busy. But I wouldn’t change it, I love being a part of a family. I didn’t take any pictures for awhile. I am sure I will take a bunch tonight. So I might add some later if I have time. If not, next week there will be a lot with Halloween!
We are happy that the Hubbard’s made it home from their mission safely. That was wonderful that they were able to serve.
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