November 2023 - Agua Hedionda with Tiny, Ever's Sixth-Grade Camp, and Other Tidbits

 Another interesting writing by Wren, coded in some fashion.

Ever's soccer team, with Coach Madeline in the center.

Missy had a hard time getting the black tough-girl paint off her face. We tried the exfoliate-with-sugar trick, and it was ineffective. 

Jim finished building what we call the "mud room" in the garage, where the girls can put their shoes and backpacks. They have been terrible at keeping it clean, but it's better than having all that stuff in the house. 

After the backpack hooks went in: 

Ever went to sixth-grade science camp Monday-Thursday in early November. Full of optimism before they left:

L to R: Ever, Emalyn, Lucy, someone I don't know, Leela, and Grace

L to R: Grace, Ailana, Lucy, Leela, and Ever

The same girls, plus Hana and Rio and a couple other people thrown in there.

Ever's science teacher, Ms. Glancy, e-mailed photos in the evenings. 

The bus from camp arrived back at school on Thursday about an hour and a half before the rest of the kids got out, so I took Ever and Leela to Chick Fil-A. 

They said camp was pretty awful, except Ever loved the food, surprisingly. They had a tyrannical counselor. Kids were crying and calling home and begging to leave early. More than one (including Lucy Bowen) was picked up early. These kids are so incredibly coddled, it's ridiculous. I really believe modern parenting is ruining kids today. I don't know what to make of the kids' complaints, but I can't imagine it was that bad.

In case my children ever want to look back and see what their school or soccer pictures would have looked like had we purchased them, here are the proofs. 

Sometimes the Littles just spontaneously do cute things together.

Ever and Ella Rondo went to Sister Latteier's house with me for a Relief Society "foodie" night, where Sister Latteier and her friend taught us how to make tamales. (Turns out tamales are way more trouble than they're worth.)

The Littles found giant walking sticks on a trail jaunt by our house.

I went with Tiny's class on a field trip to Agua Hedionda. First stop was a fun little erosion exercise. I mostly like this video because it shows how micro Tiny is compared to her classmates. She is very appropriately nicknamed.

Then one of the workers did a show and tell with some animals. Tiny with her besties, Kaia Johnson and Maya Phillips:

I was pleased that Tiny touched the snake.

Mrs. Haseyama with the class

Maggie Long invited us to do Thanksgiving with them. Then no concrete plans were made. I was a bit confused because if I'd been in charge, I would have contacted her to plan what dishes we were each going to make, etc. Then about eight days before Thanksgiving, she texted and said that Al's aunt had invited them to Thanksgiving, and they were feeling like they should spend it with them, and they hoped we didn't hate them for changing plans. It was totally bizarre. I couldn't believe they would bail like that. It was so late by that point that I didn't feel as if I could ask Rebecca if we could join forces with them, so I resigned myself to doing the whole Thanksgiving meal alone. And then I piled on by inviting the missionaries and the Scottish soccer coach, Kenny, who was soon going to be moving in with us for about a month.

Tiny helped me make the rolls. (Check out the highlights in her hair.)

The turkey looked golden and lovely early. I stuck the thermometer in and thought it was done, so I took it out. Then right as people were coming over, I discovered that the turkey was totally raw. And then Kenny the soccer coach said he has an onion aversion, so that was a problem for the cheesy potatoes and I forget what else. We cut off a little tiny bit of turkey that looked done and started eating a meal of side dishes with a bite of turkey. I had called Rebecca in a panic when I learned that the turkey was not done, so she gave us a plate of extra turkey. By that time, everyone was done eating, but at least the missionaries were able to make up plates of leftovers that included turkey. In sum, Thanksgiving was a total disaster. 

I took the girls bowling with Cikaneks. 

Coach Kenny moved into the guest room. He was super nice, but I realized immediately that it was pretty weird to have a man living here while I am home (usually alone) all day every day. I wanted him to be comfortable and help himself to the kitchen, TV, etc., but he mostly hid out in his room. It was slightly less sad for him when we put a TV in the guest room for him. I didn't know how much to invite him to join us for things. Did he want to eat with us? Watch movies with us? Super awkward. I think these temporary coaches' favorite setup is when somebody has a guest house or other private space for them. Our house is not that. Anyway, he coached Wren's all-star team, and he was really great. He went on a Sunday afternoon walk with us early on. Jim loves little neighborhood libraries even though they generally contain terrible books. 

I loved the golden light.

And we had a beautiful sunset.

Wrenzy was dreaming about having her own room, to the point that she drew up plans for this room she'll never have.  

Ever's classmate at JCS, Grace, had a birthday party at Moonlight Beach, and all the girls from their class were invited. Grace's mom had supplies for them to make dried flower bouquets. It was really cute.

The mom of Ever's soccer teammate invited the girls for soccer golf. Only a few of them could make it, but it seemed like a fun outing. 

Little tiny Ever, Alina, Kendall, and Aubrey

Maya's mom, Melissa, texted during a playdate she was hosting and said the girls were having so much fun, playing outside the entire time - swings, climbing trees, jumping on the tramp. I said those were Tiny's favorite things, and Melissa responded, "I almost had a heart attack when I saw her climbing up too high in the trees!" That's our Tiny.