Thanksgiving Trip to Utah

For the first time in many years Tarl was able to come to Utah with us for more than 24 hours. :) Though it still felt packed. There is always so much to do and not enough time to play and visit everyone and everything else we'd like to fit it.

These two are best buds.

Decorating our table toppers.

Grandma Jan and Kaly 

 

Heather and Kaly were pro's by the end.

They turned out so cute! What a fun idea.

In Jan's family they dress up for the Thanksgiving meal. I just couldn't get enough of my handsome boy. 

Tyce and Makayla cuddling up for the movie.

We went down to Utah County to visit Grandma Ruth after our yummy Thanksgiving dinner. She got moved into a new facility about a month or two earlier and it's beautiful. Feels very home-y, clean, and nice.

Heather is so great to grandma. She made her her very own pecan pie without the pecans (since she can't chew them). It was so cute to watch her enjoy her first little slice of her favorite pie. 

The next day we stopped by my Grandpa Duffin's place. It takes so long to sort through things after somenoe passes. As I'm finding out so much since I've lost 3 in the last 1.5 years.  My dad had put aside a handful of things that he thought Tarl would get a kick out of, vintage art supplies and tools. I found a few things I wanted like a bust of Brigham Young, and a few knick knacks. The kids all got to choose a few things to take home too.

But the mostly played while we searched. 

(I didn't take this but I wanted to document how cool it was!)

The Marriage Certificate of B. Cecil Gates and Gweneth Gibbs signed by Joseph F. Smith.

B. Cecil Gates was my Grandma Ruth Gates Duffin's father. He was also the son of Jacob F and Susa Young Gates and Susa was the daughter of Brigham Young. 

If you're wondering, Brigham Young is my great great great grandpa.

Tyce found this cool hat that he got to take home. He had my dad try it on too. I'm not certain but my best guess, I think this was the hat he wore around the construction sites at BYU? 

We also stopped by my moms grave. My friend shared an interesting thought last week as she was preparing for her mother to pass on in the next few days. After reading her thoughts I was sharing with Tarl what I came away with and wanted to note it here. I have faith in Jesus Christ. I have faith in the plan of Happiness. I have faith in my temple covenants. I have faith in my testimony. But it still hurts. And it's still painful. And it's still difficult. So while I'm sad at times, or tearful or sometimes I just want to do nothing for days it doesn't mean I don't believe and it doesn't mean I have lost trust in God. It just means it hurts. 

October Stuff

She gets to use her bow now!

Oh this girl cracks me up.

Tarl getting ready for one of our Scary Movie Night parties.

The movie, the snacks. Good times. I totally screamed. Really loud!

Tyce lost his tooth while playing out on the swing. The entire family went out to help him find it. Thought it'd be funny to look for it like Honey I Shrunk the Kids style. 

Always a good time when Dad's around.

What Tarl did during conference.

What we did during conference. Kaly and Makayla made friendship bracelets. Tyce built a fort. I sewed a giant bean bag.

FHE. We started the "Boo" in our neighborhood. We tried to make eyeball cookies, but not sure the people we gave them to will get that. :) The kids dressed up like "Ninjas in the Night" (something they started a few years ago) to go deliver the goods. 

A before and after of Tyce's teeth. 

A super gross picture of Kaly's teeth. She lost her back molar with a brace on it. Around 9pm at night so no calling the orthodontist. She finally got it ripped off the wire. 

Decorating for Halloween. Each year is different!

The next morning we went in and the orthodontist cut off the wire and off she went to school. However when she'd gotten home from school it was cutting up her lip so we went back in. He'd taken xrays and decided (we had an appt for 3 weeks anyway) that we could just take them off. 

Kaly and about 5 other kids in choir got pulled out after class and their teacher told them they should go try out for this Christmas Story play happening at a local theater. So she spent the day after school at her friends house practicing their song and went and tried out. She didn't end up making it (and neither did her friend, however a few other friends in her class did) but I think it was fun for her to try. And I'm so proud of her!

Makayla earned a free pizza for reading. 

Tyce earned a free dessert from Applebees and Kaly got straight A's on her midterms.

Random drawings on the kids. This happens often.

Sometimes after I put them to bed I find them like this. 

Jan came through town to visit her granddaughter up at BYUI so she stopped in on her way up and took me to lunch. Then stopped in on her way home to visit with the kids. Grateful for her efforts in cultivating a loving relationship with my little family.

Another Scary Movie Night. The kids get to stay up stairs with their own, non scary movie so they have their own snacks. 

I work out every morning. 6x a week. 

I finished my 10 weeks of T25! On to another adventure. 

We got BOOed. The kids loved the treats.

Sunday dinner at Tarl's parents house. Always enjoy the company.

I volunteer in Tyce's class for a couple hours on Mondays. He always begs me to stay for lunch. 

FHE. We wrote letters to my Grandma Farmer. She's been in an assisted living center and we wanted to make sure she knew we were thinking of her. Afterwards we had a talent night. The kids even had a spotlight. Kaly played the piano, Makayla sang a karaoke song and Tyce did cartwheels. My friend dropped off this yummy family sized apple turnover (she came and picked apples from our tree last week).

Makayla has been working hard towards earning her miles for her 100 mile club. She finally hit her first mark of 25 miles and earned her shirt! She wore it proudly to school the next day.

Tarl needed to follow up on a few reports and needed a place to park to do it. We didnt know he was out there until we saw out the window so we ran out to say hello. 

We always love a visit.

A few card games before bedtime.

Tyce drew this picture of the movie Jaws and came in to tell me all about it, even though he knew it was bedtime. I figured Tarl would appreciate it though so I took a picture.

The kids cousin Amaya (Shaelyns daughter, a bit older than Makayla) challenged the girls to share their latest piano piece they're working on. She sent us a video of her playing so we sent her one too. They were too big to send in email so I put them on YouTube. 

Makayla https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GySLy7QLgQY&feature=youtu.be

Tyce https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJojYcaWCdA&feature=youtu.be
Kalyana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uOdZGLSDVM&feature=youtu.be

September happenings

Every Friday day is Spirit Day at school.

Just playing Legos.

Makayla and Tyce joined the schools 100 Mile Club. The goal is to walk or run 100 miles during the school year. They can earn miles before and after school and during some lunch recesses. One to two times a month they also have family nights for an hour or two when we can all go and walk. This was at their first family night and they usually have random things to give out to the kids (like these shirts). Makayla did a 5k this night! I was so impressed with her. It's pretty fun to get weekly reports on her miles. 

Now that Tarl doesnt work weekends we started a weekly "Lambson Family Movie Night" with the kids. Every Saturday we watch a family movie together. This is just me and Tyce being silly.

Enjoying the afternoon with the family outside.

Trying to swing.

I can't remember what her job was, I think it was to use the leaf blower to clean off the porch. 

The second week of school his little tummy hurt so he stayed home. It got awfully boring awfully fast though having to stay on the couch all day, but he sure did look cute!

I thought this was pretty darn adorable finding her asleep like this. 

At Back To School Night for Franklin Middle School. Kaly shares her locker. Kaly gets the bottom and her friend gets the top.

Kaly asked if she could run in and get our pizza all by herself. 

Picking apples to make apple chips. 

Kalyana passed off our family scripture 3x's so she earned a date with Mom and Dad. Sure love hanging out with her!

During one of our business meetings I snapped this picture of the kids with Mom.

And also this one of Tarl and Dad on my way back into the meeting. 

Lambson Family Movie Night in full swing. Tarl even brought supplies to make mummy decorations so everyone is busy at work. 

Tyce looking handsome for church with his new (DI) stylin jacket.

Kaly being silly.

So about a month after school started I took myself out on a lunch date just because I could. Everyone's in school and this particular week Tarl was working day's to do some training. And it was really nice to sit and read and eat my most favorite food.

Scary Movie Night has started. Every fall we have a weekly scary movie (and invite anyone who wants to come). We decided to start in September to give us a few more weekends to enjoy scary movies. We decorated the downstairs but we'll need to move it out to our porch for Halloween.

Group date night we went up to the hills behind Pocatello and went skeet shooting. I've never done that before so I was pretty darn proud that I actually got a hit!

Cute kids walking to church.

This year we decided to try to make apple chips from our apple trees. Sadly the kids weren't all that impressed with our finished product but Tarl and I loved them.

FHE Got a new board at a yard sale so now I need to find little things to hang on it. We talked about the Tree of Life and played 10,000 with our giant dice.

Mustache day? Don't know what it was for but Makayla made her own (even used my laminator) and Kaly made one for Tyce. Tyce told me he had to bring a  mustache or they'd kick him out of school. Apparently he really wanted to make sure he participated in this event. :)

Always a visit each time I'm in Utah. I took this one because I wanted to remember the pixie dust. We wanted to put Mickey ears on but copyright and all so instead we went with a wand. I think it is the perfect touch.

Headed down to Utah again for a sisters retreat with my ladies. It was a tad rainy but we mostly stayed inside playing games and chatting. We did venture out for one afternoon though to enjoy nature and walk up main street for some shopping. (I got the girls each a bracelet and Tyce a bear claw.)

One of us all together.

I instagramed this one so I just thought it'd be fun to include it.

FHE. Read a few scriptures in 1 Corinthians about our bodies and why we need to take care of them. Talked about a variety of ways we can care for them and also how we can prevent illness & injury. We did spa stations; face masks, hand scrubs, massage chair, pedicures, manicures and snacks.

Makayla got rainbow braces. She's making this face cause I told her to show me her teeth and it's sorta tricky to do. :)

Playing board games but gosh these kids are cute. And I'm pretty sure I won this one. 

Playin. 

The kids are at such a delightful age where honestly they get along 80% of the time and it makes this mamma heart happy!

Oh yes while in Utah I stopped and had lunch before I headed back. It just so happened it was the weekend of my Dad and Jans first anniversary, and unbeknownst to them Jenni had saved the top of their cake so we had some for dessert.