27 October 2024
VOLUME 12 – NUMBER 579
Family dinner and Mom’s birthday
On Sunday we started up our monthly family dinners again, and it was so nice to have many of our children visit. We enjoyed a big breakfast-type dinner, and the children spent the time playing games and talking.
We also celebrated Mom’s birthday, so I wanted to take a minute to celebrate her here in this newsletter. Jenny (Mom) is one of the greatest people I have ever met. I consider myself so lucky to have found her, and even more lucky to have convinced her to marry me! She is still as beautiful and elegant as ever after 30 years of marriage!
She is also such a kind and loving person. She believes in looking out for the downtrodden—the “least of these.” She sacrifices so much for others.
She is responsible for coming up with the original ideas for many of the best decisions we have made as a couple and as a family. This family exists today because of her vision and her heart.
Playing games at family dinner
For Mom’s birthday present, I wanted to do something special. I thought about giving her a candle, since she loves them so much, but Brooke did an amazing job at providing that gift. Instead, I decided to frame what I believe to be one of her favorite pictures of us—taken while we were staying in a villa outside of Venice during our trip to Europe with Endia in 2018.
As companion pictures, I selected four additional photos that we took while Endia, Mom, and I stayed at that villa. I’ve scatted them through this newsletter, hopefully as a reminder to Mom of a magical time. Jenny, I love you! Happy 51st birthday!
Dad and Mom at villa outside Venice
This week, Kai and I finally were able to schedule a time to go over to Rima's house to finish our amigarumi animals. Mine was a corn inside of a husk, and Kai's was a whale, but sadly we couldn't find the instructions for Kai's whale, and he had to start a new one. The one he chose was really cute. It was a turtle with a little booty under his shell.
I had a lot of fun making my corn husk, because I had already finished the corn the last time we came. This time it took me a little while to get started on the husk, because I kept miscounting, but eventually I got it down, and I think I did a little bit better job than I did on my corn.
Kai's turtle ended turning out great. Rima got started on a hippo, which looked way better than mine and Kai's did! I'm so glad we were able to do this, it was a lot of fun, and I hope we can do it again sometime soon!
Playing games at family dinner
This week I went to Endia and Cougar's house where I am going to stay for a week to help Endia, since she is feeling very sick, and this is one of the weeks where she has to take care of Dorothy.
I helped her with Owen. I also did school. I went to church with Endia and Cougar and Owen. It was cool to see the church building. It had like an olden day feel because the inside was brick.
I went to class with Endia because it was only her second time in this new ward, and she did not know where my class was. I just decided to go with her. It was a really good lesson.
After that, we got ready to go and celebrate Mom’s birthday. We were almost there, and then Cougar remembered that we forgot the orange juice so he dropped off me, Endia, and Owen and he went to the store and got more orange juice. The food was delicious, and I had a fun time playing games with the family.
Villa outside Venice
Lots of things happened this week. We had Gloria’s first birthday celebration on Tuesday at the Nelson’s. Then I had a ton of homework to do this week. Midterms are really picking up.
On Friday I got to give Elder and Sister Buckner a tour of the MTC. It was an unforgettable experience, especially seeing how kind and real they both were. Seeing their testimonies of the gospel and living prophets inspired me.
Playing games at family dinner
On Saturday, I went to the temple with my friend Daniel, and we got out in time to watch BYU improve their record to 8-0 against UCF.
Later that evening Braden, Luis, Caleb, Christian, and I met up at the Herriman Rec Center to play basketball. We all got to be on a team a couple times and it was so fun!
On Sunday it was Mom’s birthday. She is so incredible, and I love her so much! The more I learn about the world, the more I realize and appreciate how special she is! Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you!
Swimming party at Nelson’s house
This week has been busy for me. Mom, Veidi, London, and I all went to Gardner Village and met up with Natalie and Jen. Later that night, I went to Castle of Chaos with Riley, Josh, and Chyanne. It wasn't that scary for me—I might have only screamed once—but it was a fun experience. On Wednesday I went shopping with Riley for my birthday gift.
I started my first day on Thursday of work at Sunridge Assisted Living. I had to be there from 6:00am to 2:00pm, so an eight-hour shift! I learned a lot, but it was kind of hard at some points because I was tired, and Katie my trainer was tired as well. We did not have a lot of downtime, and we were always on our feet.
I had many new experiences and a lot more to come. Friday I had another morning shift from 7:00am to 11:00am. This time it was not as busy and long. I got to know more of the residents and I got used to the work knowing what to do.
Room in villa outside Venice
Later that night we went to Aunt Amy's house for the get-together with the Danielson's and the family. Riley and I have been trying to do this for about a year and a half!
On Saturday I had another shift from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. I had a new trainer named Daniel. He was super funny! He made me laugh most of the time.
After work, I went to the ward Halloween party. It was fun. Most of the time there I talked to people. After the party, I went to the region dance with Riley. It was boring, so after 30 minutes, we decided to do something else. There were mostly ninth and tenth graders there.
Family dinner
Happy Birthday Mom!
Ashton and Caleb came up to go to sacrament meeting with us. After the family got back from church, we played some games, then at 3:00pm, Ashton and I started making dinner. I was in charge of making the French toast, while Ashton worked on the Mountain-man Hash.
By the time dinner was prepared, people started arriving. Braden and Brooke and their kids came, Endia and Cougar and Owen came. Rima, Selvin, Yaretzie, Itzel, and Mattias all came. It was so fun to hang out with family and celebrate Mom's birthday!
Swimming party at Nelson’s house
After dinner, we played some simple games like Boom, (the better version of Zoom) Cock it, Shot it, Block it, etc. After everyone left, Mom and Dad left to pick up London and Keaton from the airport cause they were flying home from San Francisco.
While London and Keaton were here, we played the VR Acron game. It's a game where everyone is on their phones and they are squirrels trying to grab acorns from the tree who is the VR player. It was pretty funny playing with everyone.
Breakfast at a villa outside Venice
This week we went to the 2nd Ward Halloween Party that was actually at our old 5th Ward building. I was deciding whether I would go or not, because I had just got on Fortnight with Kai and we had been playing for about five minutes, but then I decided to go.
I went as a SWAT guy. Quinn went as a warrior and Monte went as Darth Vader. Then we picked up Gloria from her work and she went as a nurse, since she was already wearing scrubs from her work.
It was okay. We had dinner there, and the food was delicious. The dessert was also delicious. Afterwards we went home and watched Blue Bloods.
Swimming party at Nelson’s house
Happy Birthday Mom!
This week was the 2nd Ward Halloween party. I decided to go as Darth Vader. It was really fun just walking around interacting with people, while shrouded in the Darth Vader helmet.
The interactions with children were split 50/50. Either they would run in terror, or they would come up to me yelling, "It's Darth Vader!" as they jumped up and down. I got home and immediately showered, because that suit is like your own personal sauna.
For Mom's Birthday, the adults came over as we celebrated. We had our Sunday dinner, and then Mom opened up her presents. She got some photos from Dad, and a homemade candle from Brooke. I love you Mom!
Villa outside Venice, Italy