Movie Pass, Pleasanton and Bolivia

Ok, so our whole family has MoviePass. It's a monthly subscription to an app that allows you to go to one movie/day for $9.95/month. It's true. It really is that simple. Since getting it, we've gone to a lot of movies. I'm loving it. I went to see "The Greatest Showman" with Kobi, Allie, Kamiko, and Joclyn on Thursday night while Keenan was working late. That is such a good movie. It was the 4th time I've seen it. Keenan and I saw "Jumanji" on Friday and "The Post" on Saturday. We have popcorn buckets for both theater chains and really know how to do the movies. Last night I even took a blanket so I could really enjoy the recliner at the Cinemark.

Me, Kobi, and Allie at the movies

I was a guest lecturer in my friend Nancy's class. I said I was from the Bay Area and asked if anyone was. A cute student raised her hand and said she is from Pleasanton. I said I was from there, too. Then I talked about coming to BYU and graduating in Home Economics. Then I talked about my mission. Did anyone go to Bolivia on a mission. There is usually dead silence to that question. Well, the same cute girl raised her hand. She even went to Cochabamba. I told her she had to stay after class. We visited for a bit and got a picture. It was so fun.

My twin, Aria, and me

Disney 2018...Let the Magic Begin (and never end)

Allie called me at 9:30 am on Thursday, January 4 (Derek's birthday), and said "you want to go to Disneyland for the weekend? I can leave after work at 3:00." What? I was still in bed. I had planned to get TOTALLY organized for the upcoming semester with meetings for my new assignments on Monday morning. I'm supervising 5 student teachers and am teaching SFL 378, a practicum for our pre-student teachers. Luckily I had gotten all the prep done for 110 and had little vital prep to do for the other classes, so I got out of bed and got to work. I called Derek to arrange our stay. He said "of course." I said "see ya tonight."

I barely got all emails sent and documents loaded to my learning suite courses, but I DID IT. Allie and I headed out from Provo around 3:00. We drove and drove and got to Derek and Rachel's around 11:00 pm. We talked a bit, then went to bed. Friday we hung out at home with all the Hunters. We took Rose to McDonald's and to the mall. We got tickets with our movie passes for Derek and Rachel to go that evening to see the new Star Wars movie while we watched the kids. We got Round Table pizza for dinner. It was a blast! Such a fun day. Allie and Rose really are cute little friends. Charlie is a delight and Milo is getting so big. He has 2 tiny teeth on the bottom of his mouth. His smile is so cute. They had just moved the kids' bedrooms around so we were able to ooh and ahhh over Rose and Charlie's new bunkbed. Milo is in his own room (what used to be Derek's office) and they moved Derek's office into what used to be the playroom. It should all work out great. Saturday Allie and I went to the park. Jenny was finishing up a couple of days at the park with Andrew and his friend Brayden, so she met us there for a couple of hours in the morning. On the way, Allie (an annual pass holder) said "mom, you know you're just gonna buy an annual pass." To which I responded "I probably will." How can I pass up the chance to take quick weekends with Allie? Also Jen had just bought an annual pass. While Derek can get us in free, it's hard to count on that all the time because he has blackout dates. Also, I know he'd like to be able to use his passes for people other than me. Trust me, he's used a lot of passes on me and my family. We've had so much fun.

Anyway, we got to the park and I bought my pass. I'm making significantly more money with my new responsibilities at work, so I decided to treat myself. YES! We had so much fun. We started on the California Adventure side and used that Max Pass. We actually left the park around 8:00 pm because we'd done everything we wanted to do and we knew we'd be back soon. I already have a plan to go with Jenny in February and Allie and I will probably go in March and April, assuming the weather cooperates. It's gonna be a fun 2018. I'm pretty sure we're going to go in December when Mel comes home, so it'll easily pay for itself.

Allie and I watched the Hunter kids while Derek and Rachel went to a movie. Milo didn't want to go to bed. He finally fell asleep on me.

McDonald's

Yummy ice cream at the mall

Look at the very top of this shirt. 

Three very happy annual pass holders

Charlie loves his Maui doll

It was a CRAZY Tuesday

I have a couple of new responsibilities at work, one of them being a student teacher supervisor. On Tuesday, I had just entered Mountain Ridge Junior High to supervise Jessica, a student teacher who recently had her wisdom teeth out. I was checking to see how she was doing now that she was back in the classroom. I got a text from Allie. I'll post the exact messages between me and Allie and Keenan/Kamiko below:

Allie: I think I might have an appendicitis??????????? I could barely sleep last night and I can't bend over without my right side hurting so I'm gonna go to the student health center right after I'm done at the schools. (note: Allie was observing at a middle school in Lehi for a class)

Me: (insert eye roll) oh no. Take your insurance card. I'm at Mtn Ridge. I'll call later.

Allie: it hurts just to sit down. My insurance card is in my wallet at home balls will you send me a pic of it? I'm at Willow Creek if you want to come visit me.

Me: it might be a better idea to go to our doctor's office in Lehi. Premier Family Medical near Jack and Jill's. Call and make an appointment.

Allie: Ok I'll call after this class. Thx.

Me: I'm done at 9:35

Allie: I'll go out and call now and see if I could come in then. Could you pick me up and take me? Lol I went to call and they don't open until 8:30 hahahahah. I have an appointment at 9:00! So you can come after if you want to.

Me: I'm glad you have an appointment. I'm supposed to meet Star for a movie. Do you need me to skip the movie?

Allie: I'll let you know. I'm heading there now.

Me: I'll check with you when I'm leaving the school.

Allie: Ok. It better not be an appendicitis. I've had the pain since yesterday. Need to go to the hospital for a CT scan and blood work so you should probably skip the movie. lol. They're calling me right now to see what time I should go in. Ovarian cysts or appendix is their guess. Kaipo is here. Lol. Love her.

Me: on my way. You're still at dr. office?

Allie: Yes!

Me: our hospital is the one in Lehi.

Allie: yeah. either that one or timp in Orem. They're seeing which one to schedule right now.

Me: Does Alyssa need a ride? (Allie had given our TA Alyssa a ride up to Lehi. When Allie left the middle school, that left Alyssa without a ride back to Provo)

Allie: I just texted her! We get done at 2:45 and I feel like I'll be done by then?????

Me: I can get her. I'm free all day.

I meet up with Allie around 9:45 at the doctor's office. We go to the middle school to get all of her stuff before her 11:00 appt for a CT scan. Allie says that the dr. said if it's appendix, it's the strangest case he's seen since she has no fever and isn't vomiting. She looked GOOD, too. She had gotten all ready for school. Hair. Makeup. Etc. We were sure it'd be ovarian cyst and she would get on meds and be on her way back to Provo.

I let Keenan know what was going on.

We just laughed through the whole process. We also watched TLC, a channel we don't have at home.

The staff at the hospital was great. It took a few pokes to get a vein for the scan, but it all worked out. Allie and I just laughed. The scan went well. They said to wait a few minutes while the radiologist looked at it. Then, the nurses came scrambling in. It's your appendix. What did your doctor say to do if it was your appendix? Allie: Um I don't know. We didn't think it was appendix. The nurses called a surgeon and Allie's doctor. They prepped her for surgery. The anesthesiologist and surgeon came to let me and Allie know what to expect. She was wheeled in for surgery at 1:00 and the surgeon came out at 1:45 to report that all went well.

top left: inflamed appendix. bottom right: no appendix

what a beautiful patient

In the meantime, at 12:17, I texted this to Keenan:

me: taking her into surgery. Can you come to Mountain Point Hospital around 2:00? I have to get Alyssa and take her home and pick up stuff for Allie. I'll be back by 4:00 I would guess. Then you can go back to work/class. YOu might need to take tomorrow off to get Allie home.

Keenan: K. I've just informed my boss. I'll be leaving around 1:00. Anything Allie needs on my way to the hospital?

me: Nope. She can't eat anyway.  Thanks. Can you take a medical day tomorrow? Or work from home?

Keenan: I'll just take a medical day.

I was back at 4:00. Allie was recovering. We got her dressed and up and going. She was home by 5:00 and on meds quickly thereafter. She actually went to the movie with Kamiko and Kobi that night.

She didn't go to school Wednesday or Thursday. She did hit the movies Thursday and went to class on Friday. She figured she was just sitting around at home. She might as well sit in class and get points.

Allie is thrilled that she will never have to worry about her appendix again. It all happened on her aunt Rachel's birthday. Rachel said "What a great way to celebrate my birthday...by getting rid of a nonessential organ."

Cute Starlyn put this note up at work

And that was last Tuesday.

Happy New Year

Allie got back from Florida the night of the 29th. It's good to have her back. She's been at home and we made some yummy food. We also have certificates for manicures/pedicures that Keenan gave us, so I'm excited to use those this week. We also have plans to see "The Greatest Showman" the movie about P.T. Barnum starting the circus. I've seen it and it's great. Allie will LOVE it. She's been waiting for months to see it and then she was in Florida when it came out.

We got invited to go to Cathy Newton's house for new year's eve. She lives down the street. Her son, Christopher, is one of our home teachers. We had a fun time. We stayed til about 11, then came home. My leg bothered me a bit, so I wanted to get off my feet. A fun, but not too eventful, new years eve. Danelle Prince and her new husband were there, so that was fun to catch up. In fact, we all went to High fitness last night together. May do that a lot on Monday nights since Danelle lives near the gym and I have a pass that allows me to bring Cathy.

On New Year's Day, James and Allison DeVuyst and cute Audrey came to visit. They are living in Arizona now. They had come for James' grandparent's anniversary celebration. We got them for an afternoon. Mom and dad and Sykes came for lunch. Deb and Mark were going to come, but they got colds. Audrey loved Keenan and that might be an understatement. She followed him and wanted to be with him all the time. It was so cute.

James, Audrey, Allison, and baby boy DeVuyst

Awesome glasses from the dollar store

some yummy pho that Allie and I made

Uncle Mike Came to Visit

Mike came from Pismo Beach, California, to enjoy Christmas here in Utah. We had a great time. We went to Salt Lake City and enjoyed the interactive stuff at the family history museum. A definite highlight was buying a goat. Here's the story...as part of the church's Light the World initiative, they had vending machines in the Joseph Smith building where you could buy stuff that would benefit others. You could buy eyeglasses, nursing pads, clean water, and even a goat. My neighbor Joan wanted to buy a goat. I told her I did too. She said she didn't have enough money and I didn't either. She also said she wasn't going to get to SLC. I told her I'd go and buy what we could. She said to get lots of donations and go for the goat. Well, a sister I visit teach pitched in, so did Jenny and Mike. We got the goat. Jen and I waited in line, but when we got to the vending machine, there were no goats. They were in another vending machine, so we nicely kicked people out of the way so we could get our goat.

We also saw a couple of movies. We saw "The Man Who Invented Christmas" and "The Darkest Hour" (that one's about Winston Churchill). We had a nice Christmas Eve dinner at mom and dad's house with some Swedes. I made a yummy salad that Marci had brought to Dr. Moore's retirement party. Kamiko, Keenan, and I came home and opened our pj's.

Christmas morning was pretty quiet since there were very few presents. Kamiko just wanted cash and Keenan and I had gotten each other a couple of presents, but that's about it. The great part was talking with Melia. Kobi, grandma, grandpa, and Mike came for her facetime call. It was so fun to see her. She is so happy and is loving the mission. I'm so happy for her. She's a great kid. In fact, I'm just realizing how amazing she is now that she's gone. She loved all of her Christmas presents, especially the meat and cheese from Kamiko. Lol. I knew she'd love that. We didn't get any pictures of Mel's facetime because things were a bit crazy, but I have great memories of it. I love that girl.

Dad, Mike, me, Jen, and mom

We bought a GOAT!!!! I was so excited

It would have been so fun to be in California with this crowd

I Love Christmas

This year Christmas was so fun. I helped a few friends make Christmas presents and that was so fun. Both my crafting girls were gone, so it was fun to work on projects with friends.

Nadia and I made Christmas pillowcases for our primary kids. I also helped Nadia make pillowcases for her siblings.

Then I helped my Chick fil-A friends, Laura and Jessica, make Christmas presents. Laura and I made aprons for her nieces and a Christmas pillow for her sister and brother-in-law. I helped Jessica make aprons for her friend and for herself. We had so much fun. During it all, Laura got her dream job and we got to be a part of it all. Laura and I also saw a great movie, "The Man Who Invented Christmas." It's a movie about Charles Dickens writing "A Christmas Carol." We both fell in love with the movie and the story. I since have read about Dickens and have been reading "A Christmas Carol." Laura gave me the most thoughtful gift...a copy of a little-known book by Dickens called "The Life of our Lord." It's basically Dickens' telling of the Saviors life as read in the New Testament, but in simpler terms for his kids. He never meant for it to be published, but it did get published in the 1930's. I just love it.

I also had fun watching "Arthur's Perfect Christmas," Kamiko's favorite Christmas movie, with Keenan and Kamiko. Allie got invited to go to Florida with a friend and her family, so it was just the 3 of us at the house, but that's ok, we had a great time.

Oh, and let's not forget lots of Hallmark Christmas movies with Starlyn. I went to her house most weekends to watch a movie or two. She also bought us matching Hallmark tshirts. I packed it up, but had to dig it out. I just couldn't stand to pack it away. Plus, I'll need it in October, way before I unpack my Christmas boxes. So, the shirt is just in my drawer with my regular tshirts.

Bolivian nativity gifted to me from a student

the lovely book that Laura gave me

the family on Christmas Eve

Hallmark buddies

Mel's corner...Joy to the World and a cat

I made these JOY pjs for all 5 of us in the family. Mel got hers in Missouri and Allie got hers in Florida

While I was downstairs sewing in my corner, Mitty wanted to get in. He came to the right place to get my attention.

Me and Laura with our awesome projects

Me and my boy watching Arthur

Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert

Karen surprised Elle for her 12th birthday and flew to Utah to spend some quality time together. They got in Thursday night, December 14. We packed in a ton of stuff while Elle was here, including a movie, JCW's, JDawgs, and Coco, the new Disney Pixar movie. We also went to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concert. I lucked out with 8 tickets, so we also invited Cathy and Bill Voorhees and Starlyn and Lee Hjorth to join us.

That evening was crazy. SLC gets so busy and crowded. It wasn't the night I expected. I was really, really bummed because we didn't get a picture of all 8 of us. We got to the food court late, the Hjorths and Voorhees' had already eaten. Then when we left to walk to the venue, Karen wanted to check a store at the mall. I told the others to go ahead. We had different spots for seats, so that was the last we saw of each other. I was really bummed. Something seems to always go wrong when we go to this concert. I love the concert, though, so I keep trying to make it the perfect night.

Well, the concert was fantastic. We even got to sing with the choir. Yes, the director lead us all in Jingle Bells together. All the numbers were fantastic. The guest was very young and energetic. She's a broadway/TV personality that I didn't know. I did, however, know the narrator. Hugh Bonneville from Downton Abbey came and it was GREAT.

Well, wouldn't you know it that while we were walking back to our car, Lee and Starlyn found us. We parked in the same garage, so we walked together to our cars. While we were taking a picture of the 6 of us, who came off the elevator? Bill and Cathy!!!!!! So, I did get a picture of all of us. God blessed me. I need to be nicer next time things don't quite work out. I was admittedly a bit of a turd when the night was going a bit not like I expected.

Took Elle to get a birthday cupcake

Elle's crazy party with all the old ladies at JCW's

Jen came down and stayed here, too. Sisters' walk

Cute Elle got my phone for a second

All my friends...Lee and Starlyn, me, Keenan, Karen, Elle, Cathy and Bill

singing with the choir. Elle had to borrow my glasses, so I put in a contact lense.

with Lee and Starlyn before Cathy and Bill showed up