15 October 2023
VOLUME 11 – NUMBER 525
Kai’s birthday celebration
My birthday was this week. We celebrated it by going to Nickel Mania. I had a great time! I wasn't trying to get any tickets. I just wanted to play the games.
I didn't know what I wanted for my birthday, so Mom and Dad decided to just give me some money in case I knew what I wanted later. We had Dunford Donuts as my cake. They were mini ones, so we could all have a lot. We also watched the new Haunted House movie, since it is getting close to Halloween. It was really cool!
Gloria and Riley at a haunted house
To celebrate Kai's birthday, we went to Nickel Mania during the week, which was nice because it was not too busy.
School has been good. We had our fall break and I did some school during it so I could finish early before the end of the semester.
I also went to Nightmare on 13th with Josh, Cheyenne, and Riley on Wednesday. I was so terrified this time! The other haunted houses I have gone to weren’t as scary, but this one I was jumping and screaming like every five seconds. I think I was more scared than Riley this time. After it was over, we went to get Nelson’s Custard, and got ice cream.
On Saturday, Mom, Veidi, and I went to Endia's baby shower. We got there early to help set up and make sure things were ready. I am so excited for Cougar and Endia, and I can't want to be an aunt again!
Decorated onsies from Endia’s baby shower
This week I had my baby shower! It turned out really great. London hosted and helped plan all the food, while Mom helped with the decorations and activities.
I feel so blessed to have so many amazing people and women in my life who are supporting me and Cougar as we become parents. My sisters and mom are incredible, and so many aunts and friends have really done so much to help Cougar and I feel loved and a bit more prepared for when our baby comes!
Boys after finishing the dog fence
This week me, Isaac, Kai, Monte, Dad, and Quinn—all the boys—put up the fence for the doggie area. While we worked on the side fence, all the girls went to Endia's baby shower.
We put the fence were the concrete starts on the side yard. We had to put holes in the concrete first with our drills, and that was the hardest part. It took forever, and Dad even had to buy a second drill so we could speed it up a little.
Me and Quinn were in charge of cleaning the fences while the others put holes in the concrete. So the plan was that we put holes in the concrete, then we make holes in the bottom of the fence feet, and then we put screws in them. Hopefully it will help them not get pushed over by the wind.
Children playing video games in Bunkhouse
After a long day of work, we went down into the basement, and Monte, Isaac, Kai, and Dad played Minecraft while me and Quinn watched them play.
Later that week, when we finally got the computer working, they set up my account, and I was able to play with them. I started out in Minecraft by working on creating a good life and helping Dad with his projects. Part of the help he needs is because he is too scared to fight monsters, so sometimes I protect him while works!
Charlie resting
Happy Birthday Kai! I feel like I didn't do much on Kai's birthday, but we did go to Nickel Mania the day after.
We also got to install the dog fence in the back. And by install, I don't mean set it up and just let it sit there. I mean that we drilled into concrete and bolted those suckers to the ground. It was very tiring work.
The drills constantly overheated, and their batteries kept running out, but after hours, and hours of vibrating arms, and smoking drills, we finished it. It came out nicely, and was well worth the effort to keep the rest of our yard clean form all of the dogs’ business, if you know what I mean!
Mom and Veidi taking dogs on field trip
Me and Mom took Kona and Kevin to Lowe's and PetSmart for a field trip to test their obedience around lots of new people, smells, and other dogs. They were really cute walking in to PetSmart and seeing all the animals. I like helping Mom with the dogs, especially when they are going on a field trip.
Dogs in the basement during dog client visit
This week for Kai's birthday we went to Nickel Mania. It was a lot of fun. I think Kai also had a lot of fun too. After I had used all my nickels trying to get tickets, Kai came up to me and asked me if I wanted to play the Jurassic Park game in one of the booths with him, because he had a lot of nickels left. He wasn't there for the tickets, he was there for the games that didn't give tickets, like Guitar Hero, Jurassic Park, or the racing games.
We had a lot of fun playing, shouting at each other to protect each other, and swiping the card fast again, when we died, before the other person died, and we had to restart.
We ended up completing the whole game, and during one of the levels, Gloria came up to the booth, and while we were shouting and playing, she scared us. Both Kai and I screamed.
London, Ashton, and friends in Costa Rica
London and I got back from Costa Rica this week, which was so awesome!
Friday and Saturday were spent catching up at work for me. On Friday night, Jen, London, Selvin, Emerson, Yaretzie and I went to a haunted house. I am usually the bravest in those types of situations, so they had me and Selvin lead the way, since we don’t scare easily, but it was so fun!
And honestly, while I am a baby when it comes to stuff like that, I think Jen convinced me I could handle the next level of scary since this haunted house wasn’t too bad at all. Halloween and the holidays are right around the corner! Summer went by so quick this year.
London, Ashton, and friends in Costa Rica
Costa Rica was absolutely amazing! You can ask Ashton, but the whole time I was there I couldn’t stop saying how beautiful everything was. It’s been on my bucket list to go there and I’m so glad I was able to go with Ashton and a couple of friends from my ward, Brit and Erin.
It feels like too much to sum up, but it was the right balance of activities between jungle hikes, zip lining, massages, snorkeling, relaxing on the beach, a cooking class, and exploring the city.
I feel like it is such a neat experience to see a small part of a different culture, and it was honestly such a vibe! The beach town we stayed in was so chill and everyone was so kind and just seemed to live life! It was my type of place for sure!
London, Ashton, and friends in Costa Rica
We are all getting excited about Caleb coming home in just a couple weeks! For a while now, we’ve been aware of a problem Caleb is having with his leg. He’s not sure how it started, and he can’t remember a specific incident that could have caused the pain he is feeling. Over the past few months, he has downplayed the pain, and tried to focus on positive things.
By the way, that is one thing I like about Caleb—how he always has such a positive and upbeat attitude, even in hard times.
As we’ve talked to him on video calls over the past few weeks, Mom and I have realized that his leg problem is pretty serious. Sometimes it’s so hard to walk that he has to take time off in his apartment to rest.
He is struggling to balance two important things—a desire to work hard to the last day of his mission, and a realization that his leg needs time to heal. So I think he goes back and forth a lot on that dilemma. If he works, his leg suffers, and if he rests his leg, his work suffers.
Mom and I are excited to have him home, not only because we have missed him very much while he has been gone, but also because we are grateful that he will have a couple months to rest his leg before starting school at BYU in January. Hopefully that will give him enough time to help his leg heal up, and finally get the rest it needs.
Caleb and Elder Licon on exchanges