The Elf

I hated Elf on the Shelf so we made up an elf that came randomly  and left little things. When they were really little, we'd do projects and arts mixed with little gifts. As they got older the crafts that were fun when they were 7 or 8 weren't as fun. We thought this year they wouldn't care if the Elf didn't show, but apparently they were all waiting for it. I guess it's a little easier this year since we are one child short, until the 19th. 

Yesterday the Elf left Gingerbread houses and today we watched the Grinch while putting them together.  

Super cute! It's the little things they used to love to do as kids that they grow out of that I miss the most. I miss my shopping buddies each week for groceries, or doing the little painting projects and making treats. I guess holding onto the Elf for a few more years will actually be nice. 

Thanksgiving Weekend

It's nice when school breaks come up, it means we get time with Cam and Cailey. They cook a lot at school, so when they come home, they will cook a meal that they tried out and liked. They did orange chicken and it was really good. 

We went to Twin for Thanksgiving and were at the Barnes. A lot of family showed up, we had around 40 I think. It was nice to have a big crowd. 

I didn't take many pictures, only a few of Buddy, the chunkiest dog there is.  

We came home and put up the tree. At the end of last season we tossed out other one and bought this one on sale. It was the first time opening the box and seeing it. I think it ended up being a nice one. 

I put out the sleighbells finally this year. I'm so worries about them getting ruined but think this case will help. My Grandma Arrington's dad Frank Stevens, he had a brother Nathan Stevens who bought these when he was a kid and they have been passed down. The sound they make is my favorite and each year when the kids were younger Grandpa Arrington would dress up like Santa and ring the bells outside our house. That would be the clue for the kids to go to bed so Santa can visit. 

I went with a co-worker to some of her families house and made a Christmas Wreath. It was attaching all the greenery and the decorations too. It was a lot of work, but I was fun to do, and I think turned out pretty good, considering I'm not very artistic. 

Good 'ol Catch Up

 This was the first Halloween we did not have a kid go trick or treating. It was kind of nice to not have to worry about costumes. Jackson handed out our 'candy.' We've been going through out Pops and had a bunch we didn't want anymore and don't want to take the time to sell. Brad had the amazing idea of using them for Halloween. The boys ages like 7 up loved all of them. We had a good amount of girl ones, but once they ran out, the younger girls chose candy (we had backup just in case). A few boys were so excited. One kid couldn't believe it and kept saying Thank You Sir to Jackson; the kid was probably a year or 2 younger than Jacks. It was a fun idea. May have to do it again someday when we get rid of  more. We gave away about 50 ish Pops. 

Five days later Emery's room is ready for Christmas. We went to Hobby Lobby and got a mini tree and ornaments. It makes her room look really festive. According to her, now all she needs is holiday sheets and she's set. (I told her to get a job)

Yesterday I went down to Twin so Mom and I could can apple pie filling. It's been years since we have and we have missed having it. We ran out about a year, maybe two years ago. It's a lot of work but with Mom, Dad and I cutting the apples and working together, it wasn't too bad. We ended up with 41 jars of filling. We did not think we'd get that much from 3 bushels of apples, but we're more than happy we did.

I remember as a kid loving to cut the apples this way. We'd eat so many when we cut them up. 

I didn't waist any time and have an apple crisp cooking in the oven now. 

Life is Weird

 

Being married for 20 years means we have gone through a lot. Income is one of those things. When I was staying at home and Brad was the only one working, as you can imagine we didn't have a lot of extra money. Loved being at home and it was worth it. Now we both work full time and make what I feel is a good income combine, but my head in some ways still thinks we have leftover what we used to have. Our first time in Boise to pay rent it would take the whole of one check and about a quarter of the second. After other bills and food, you can imagine how little we had left. Then when all the kids were younger it felt like we'd do great then a car would break down or kid would have a hospital bill or something would need fixed, but that's life so little extra things we didn't get a lot. One of those random things was Wallflowers or wall scents. These aren't crazy expensive but when it came to buying those or going on a date, date won. Last week I told Brad we need to get another candle. He asked why I didn't just get the wall things and I said because they are too expensive and we can't afford them. He laughed a little and that's when it hit me, I still had the 'younger marriage' thought vs now. I was very happy to go out and get one and now our house smells good all the time (or at least I hope so, teens boys and dogs work hard to make that not happen.) I wouldn't change the struggle to be where we are now. 

Fun Activity

I love Jacks leaders. He's had a lot of good ones and right now they have done a lot of activities the boys have loved. One night they did a Bread and Jam night. One of the leaders makes really good bread, a boy brought jam and everyone brought an instrument and they jammed out. Jacks has a Bass and took that. They did send a video but the quality was really bad, but all the boys loved it. 

Then they did a bonfire and hot dogs. Not the biggest bonfire, but still a lot of fun.

Emery's Been Busy

 

The past couple weeks Emery has done a lot of fun Halloween things. 

She painted pumpkins with Jenna. This is the third or fourth one she has done. 

Some friends went to Farmstead. It was nice for part then mid corn maze it started to rain and hail, with no where to go. 

They went to Haunted World. I think this is the third or 4th year they have gone. 

Then a friend had a Halloween party. She went as Subway Surfer Girl. 

She carved pumpkins tonight too. Hers are the two on the bottom.

More Memories

I was able to get a few pictures from Danny my cousin. 

I remember this camp out so much. The photos say May 24 '98. We went on a hike, camped then hiked out. I hated the pack, it was weird to carry. The hike in wasn't bad that I remember. That night was so cold. You do see snow in a picture, so yeah. But because it was so cold and super dark I didn't want to wake anyone up. Really the fact I slept the night at all is a surprise (I didn't do well with sleepovers) but I also woke up and had to go to the bathroom but I held it until morning. I waited until Aunt Gerry and Uncle George woke up (I slept in their tent). On the way out we walked up to a part that I think other people were at the side of the trail and told us to stop. On one side of the trail there was a rattle snake and it was not happy. I was so scared and remember Paul holding me to the far side of his body and walking me past.  Aunt Gerry and Uncle George always had a camper like we did, but they always had a motorhome, and the last one I remember was decades old. Even being so old, she made it super nice inside and fun to be in. I think Brittany and I had a few sleepovers at her house in that too. 

I didn't get the just "lean over a little bit" part of the picture set up.

One of her motorhomes. I love seeing Grandma Nickels in that. Jayson there looks like one of his daughters now. I don't know who is on top.

Game nights happened often at her house. This is when I thought it took hours to get to her house. Don't know what Jayson is doing here... or mom.... or me. She always had the new game. I remember playing BobIt at her house for the first time. 

Grandma makes another appearance. She refused to remotely touch playing card. They were the devils doing or work or toy, I can't remember which but she hated them. I don't remember this trip but I do remember other camping trips we all took together. And I wore bucket hats way too much. 

Speaking of hats and trips. I remember going to the Oregon Coast with both families together. We drove there and camped along the way. At one point I got a hat. I think it was sunflowers. A little later Aunt Gerry got one. It was denim and had to have something else on it but I don't remember. I think I told her I liked hers and she liked my hat and so we traded. The next day I regretted it, I don't remember why and felt so bad. Finally told my mom and she asked if we could change back. It really wasn't a big deal but I remember being so embarrassed to do it. 

I hate grief, the waves of it. I hate it takes this to bring back all these wonderful memories, but I do love remembering them.  

This Past Weekend

 

I hung out with a friend from work this Friday. We have a few times and did a craft last time. We wanted to paint doormats but couldn't find anything blank ones, so we went for a paint by numbers. Her painting had a hundred squares, so she didn't finish. It was fun to get together to paint, talk and eat dirt cake. 

A couple weeks ago Emery called me around 7:45 am; that's not a time I want a call. She did start by saying everything is okay but the car is making a really loud noise when she turns left. It's no secret she hates this car, so while I believed her there was a noise, I didn't think it would be that bad. A few days later she had our car and I needed to go out so I took hers and I hate to say it, she was kind of right. It was sluggish, little loud running and turning left made a loud noise. I told Brad but still that car had issues before so we weren't super concerned. The next day I took her to get her car washed and it was much worse. Much louder, felt hard to get it moving and the engine didn't sound good. I made Brad go out with me right after that to drive it and he hit Eagle and thought about turning back. When we got home we checked the oil and there was almost nothing. We aren't that bad of car owners, the last time it was changed was in July, so this isn't normal. We got oil and filled it up, let it sit then drove it. It sounded better but not good still. We now had a choice. Take it in, spend whatever that would cost in hopes it lasts to April. We did plan to get a different car around then. Or just junk it out. We called a few places and looked and we could get $125 for the car, so putting money into it isn't worth it to us. So Emery got her wish and a new to us kids car was bought. We did Carvana again and would use them again. So easy. We got a Nissan Kicks, a cute little SUV. 

She is already decorating it. 

We have said a few times that is it a kids car, but I don't think she hears it. She's happy the car runs better and really, Brad and I are happy to have her in a safter car, even if it was 6 months earlier than we thought it would be. 

Birthday Gift

 

While I was in Twin with my mom, Emery had the appointment to get her birthday ear piercing. This one is called an industrial. It is a little too big now, but that is for healing reasons. She said it was the most painful of all the ones she's had so far, but she loves it. 

A Weekend We Weren't Ready For

 Growing older is fun in some ways but in other ways it is the worst. One part of getting older that sucks is those who were older than you in the first place, they also get older. Last week Mom text us kids to let us know Aunt Gerry was in the hospital, not doing great and to pray for her. She has been in and out of the hospital a lot this past year with different things, so this time didn't raise any alarms, other than praying she felt better soon. Saturday morning Mom called and let us know that Aunt Gerry has been given very little time to live and would probably pass that weekend. It didn't seem real. She held on until Gary got there and passed away Sunday morning. She was only 66 and it was a shock. While I know she is with her parents and grandson and I know her earthly pain is gone, it's been hard coming to grips with it. It felt so quick. 

This was at my wedding. She always wanted a daughter and since she didn't have one of her own, she treated me like I was her daughter. We went to craft fairs a lot, I remember her doing my hair at times, although I hated having my hair done. She threw me a bridal and baby shower with the boys. She was the first we told we were having twins. We tried to find Linda but she had gone home for the day, Brad had to show someone, so we went to Physician center and showed her the ultrasound. She yelled out, she was so excited and then said, I'm doing a shower for you. My first memory of her house is being scared of her tub. I really don't know why, but she put me in the tub and went to get a towel and I freaked out. Aunt Gerry made the biggest monster cookies. I loved paying the Sega at her house and thought I was amazing at Sonic, but I probably actually was really bad. She collected bears for a long time and her house was full of them. She always had craft things to do. She took classes to know how to message and Aunt Gerry gave the best ones.  She even had the table for it. I remember when she had 2 foster girls at her house she took us to the summer movies. I think her and my mom switched who took us. I do remember getting in trouble for being a turd during one of those times, and I had to apologize. It worked, I didn't like getting in trouble after that. They had a creek in the back of their horse pasture and we swam in it all the time. How we didn't get sick is beyond me. They also had a fireplace and she was always up for smores. She lived so far out that it got very dark out there. The boys would play night games and I remember doing it a few times, but how dark it was scared me. I don't know what the occasion was, but she took me and Brittany out to dinner at Tomatoes and for dessert we got fried banana's. Then we went to her house and went in the hot tub had popcorn and watched movies, played games, I'm sure did a craft and stayed the night. I remember thinking it took forever to get out to her house. I loved going out there but I swore it took an hour to get there. It was maybe 30 minutes. She did try to set me up on a date. For some reason we canceled and I actually ended up going out with Brad that night. As I said she was so excited for me having twins, I think me having kids. She came to the hospital and the nurses made me walk around because of the c-section. She was in with the boys and when I came back she had somehow picked them both up. Later on I got good at that, but a few days old, I was so surprised. She also came over one day and helped me out. Then she took them for a walk so I could sleep. She was gone for an hour or so, I did not sleep because I was just wondering where they were at, and no one had a cell phone. I knew they were safe, just new mom nerves. She also had so many toys. I think she had jet skis at one point. She has 4 wheelers too and for prom my and my friends went out and road them. We even went camping as a family, maybe we just Aunt Gerry and Uncle George, my mom and dad and me, but they brought them along. I got the best summer job because of her. The doctor she was a nurse for at the time needed her barn cleaned out. Aunt Gerry suggested me and I did such a good job she hired me for the summer and even into the winter to work for her. I thought it was amazing because I was 16 and she paid me $10 an hour. She ended up being the nurse for the pediatrician the boys saw. It was fun going to all their appointments and having her take care of them. She also had so many animals. The ostriches were the weirdest ones, and she'd make art with their eggs. Then in the end she made sloppy joes with their meat. She always had things to do. Big inflatable balls you go into, tons of bouncy houses and water slides and she'd come set them up for everyone to enjoy. I've loved being the only girl, but there were times I'd see how her and mom were and I was sad I didn't have that. They had the real sister bond, fight like cats and dogs but love each other like no one else could. Even my kids knew how amazing she was. For a year, Emery and Jacks went to her house after school. They road the bus there then Brad picked them up. I used her cricket machine so many times cutting out vinyl letters. I don't have many of those projects still but they were fun at the time. 

I hate that it takes funerals for family to see each other. Every one says that and feels that, but it doesn't change much. I saw cousins that I haven't seen since I was in High School. A lot that had never met any of my kids or Brad, and we have been married for 20 years. It still feels too soon, and I don't know if that feeling will fully go away. She is and was so loved. I went through pictures and didn't have as many as I thought with her in them. I hope to get more from a cousin.

This is the card she made me when I got baptized. She could never spell my name right. Kali was how it usually was. 

One year just before Grandma and Grandpa Camp dad was in the hospital. They didn't want to cancel so Aunt Gerry and Uncle George went up to help. I did bring dad for a day so he could still have some fun with them. The kids loved that year, they loved every year, but it was fun having even more grandparent love. And they loved our kids like my parents loved them.

One of the waterslides she had. 

On Thursday Paul, Jayson and I drove to Twin to see mom. We all just needed to give her a hug and see how she was. I couldn't shake the feeling to stay until the funeral and I'm glad I did. Just being around mom was helpful and talking about memories and feelings helped a lot too. 

The funeral was really good. As I said, got to see a lot of family, but hearing the memories from her kids was beautiful. I hugged more people that day then I have probably ever. Most people did not recognize me, which I thought was funny. 

She's gone too soon and will me missed. While I didn't see her as much since moving to Boise I do cherish the time I did have with her and that she was my aunt.  I hate this song, maybe because it's so true, but until we meet again, you'll be in my heart.