Daily Happenings

These have been some busy, busy weeks and I don't see signs of slowing anytime soon. I'm looking forward to Christmas vacation already! Last Saturday we went as a family to see the Queen Creek community Theater production of Willie Wonka Jr. There were a lot of kids from our ward in it and it was really fun to see. Both Jacob and William said that they want to be in the next one that they do. We'll see what we're doing when that time comes!

Last Tuesday night William and Jacob had their Christmas concert at school. It was really well done this year and the boys looked great. It was kind of hard for the little ones to sit still through it, but it was still very enjoyable.

Jacob with his teacher Mrs. Martinelli

William's grade got to sing Christmas carols in the lobby as people came into the theater.

We had to sit way in the back where they had the wheelchair section and unfortunately my camera didn't zoom enough to be able to see the boys very well. This is William's group singing. Since he is short he is on the front row and so if you look closely you can see him. He is the ninth person in from the left.

Thanksgiving ended up being quite nice although throughout the day I kept thinking that it was quickly becoming my least favorite Holiday. I know I've thought that in years past as well. It just seems like a whole lot of preparing, cooking, and cleaning for one meal. I know it's all about family and being thankful, but we are typically on our own for the most part for Thanksgiving, so it is just like any other meal...only more work. OK, now with that being said, it did end up being a nice day. John's cousin Nanette and her parents came into town and spent the afternoon/evening with us. Aunt Margaret made the pies, Uncle Arden made a cranberry relish, and Nanette brought some Shrimp (a favorite of Williams) and little toys for the boys. Also, my sister ended up not having to work, so she was in town and came over for a few hours. We ate, talked, and played games. It was nice.

I didn't do the early morning Black Friday thing this year. Instead I spent the morning with my kids. I am using some of the rent money that we receive from our renters...who are the best renters ever by the way...to have a cleaning company come out every other week. Yesterday was their first time. The first two times they come, they do a deep clean, so they were here for longer than I even expected. They cleaned from 8 until about 1. It was so nice to come home to a clean home. There are still many, many piles of stuff/projects that I need to go through, but it is so nice to have the basic stuff clean and now maybe I can focus on getting the other "stuff" taken care of. For the past year and a half (at least) most of these things have just been sitting untouched. It's driving me crazy and I am excited to finally be diving into them again soon, I hope! Anyway, so while they were cleaning, John was working on the new laundry room that we are adding to the guest house and I took all the kids to the new Chick-fil-a near our home for breakfast and playing. Everyone did pretty well there. It was tough for Bryce because he wanted to get out and play on the playground. We took him in there for a while, but the noises from the toys in there kept startling him and he would cry. So Bryce, Annalise, and I sat outside of the play area and watched the older boys play. They kept looking out and waving to Bryce which he really enjoyed.

The Chick-fil-a cows were there and were willing to pose for a few pictures.

It was hard to get them all in from where I was, so I just did the best I could. Bryce seemed very intrigued by them. It makes you wonder what he was thinking about these very tall cows.

Just hanging out at Chick-fil-a. Annalise was getting very tired by this point.


Playing in the play area.

William entertaining Bryce from the play area.

After Chick-fil-a we stopped by the house, but the cleaning crew was still there, so we went over to the park to play. The two little ones had fallen asleep so I stayed in the car with them while the boys played. By that time it was past lunch time and I thought for sure they would be done cleaning so we headed back. They weren't so John suggested we go to Burger King and pick up some food from the $ menu. Now the boys thought that was a great idea...two meals out in one day, that never happens! William didn't want to come, so he stayed with his dad. The rest of us got some lunch and brought it home. We ate lunch together in the back yard. Just as we were finishing, one of the cleaning crew came out and said that they were finished. It was nice to be able to spend some fun time with the kids and to have the house cleaned while we were out. Now if we can just keep it clean until they come next time.

This morning John is at rehearsal for the Stake Christmas concert that is tonight and tomorrow night. He should be home around noon and then some friends of ours are coming for a late lunch...of Chili...not turkey! It will be great to hang out with the Crandalls again.

One more tidbit of information is that we are thankful that John still has his job. They have been laying people off periodically throughout this year. I think they have lost about 57 people just from his Chandler office. About a week ago they called his group together and said that there had been more layoffs, but that their group was safe throughout the end of the year. So, I guess we can breathe freely for a few more weeks and then we have no idea what will happen. Luckily he has made himself known in good ways and he received a very good year end review. We continue to pray that they will continue to have work for him to do throughout the new year!