A Morales Minute

We got his license printed from the DOL and now just have to wait until the official one comes in the mail.  Tyler didn't want to do anything really big to celebrate his birthday. For all the others I've thrown big 16th birthday parties for them and their friends. Tyler didn't want to do anything like that. He just wanted his birthday dinner with family at home. So that's what we planned. However, he came home from school not feeling well and had a fever. So I called Bel and mom and dad and told them not to come. I didn't want anyone to get sick so close to Christmas. After Tyler slept for an hour or so he felt much better he said. He was able to eat his dinner of ground beef tacos and mini huevos rancheros. I'm glad he was able to feel better to enjoy them.  He's getting in to clothes more and more so he was happy to get some new ones.  His Lego technic car collection is still going strong! It was Tyler's day to open Koda's advent calendar. Look how...

Since mom and dad and my family will all be out of town for Christmas this year we had a Christmas dinner and opened gifts with Elizabeth and Lori's family. It was good to give and receive the gifts we had for each other and enjoy a yummy dinner together.   

We have had so much wind lately! Strong winds with gusts up to 40-50mph. Today there was finally no wind and it was sunny outside! Because of the winds we've been warmer than normal for this time of year. Today we were in the 60s! It's looking like it's going to continue to be in the 50s through all next week and should be good traveling for us when we head out of town for Christmas.  Because today was so nice I went on a walk. I saw broken fences, trampolines blown over and stuck on fences and then I walked up to this massive mountain of tumble weeds.  It was so long and tall. There was no way to go through it so I walked along the grass to go around it. I hate tumble weeds and don't envy anyone who has to clean them up. Even the Walmart parking lot had a bunch of them blown into the alcove between the two front doors outside. I saw a worker picking them up and putting them in the trash. At least the city has a burn truck so workers will come by this giant wall of tumb...

  End of football season awards dinner. The team didn't make it to state this year but they were MCC champs again and made it to the second round of playoffs. I'd say that's still a really good season! Tyler received his varsity letter and of course the scholar athlete award. He's been working to keep his grades up. Always shooting for that 4.0. Such a stud. 

Students and staff have been celebrating the 12 days of Hawkmas. (Always working to help school spirit be strong.) Today students were to dress as staff and staff was to dress as students. Jaime and Tyler pulled it off to a T. Everyone loved it. Tyler even had a keycard hanging from his belt like Jaime does. It really worked out that they wear practically the same size too so Jaime could wear Tyler's DECA sweatshirt.   

I made cookies and treats for the annual cookie exchange with Mom, Elizabeth, and Lori. These chocolate peppermint bark cookies are so good. I've definitely learned over the years the beset way to make them turn out better. This year I decided to add chocolate chips to the cookie dough. Best decision! They turned out so good.  Because I had so much going on the week of the cookie exchange I made the dough the day before then kept it in the fridge. The cold dough makes for thicker cookies and easier to dip after they're cooked. I made fudgy oat bars and maple nut goodie bars. The maple candies were a new recipe. I've had it in a cook book since mom gave it to me when I went to college. I came across the recipe when I was looking for candy ideas for the cookie exchange. I made them ahead of time for a ward activity so that I could get an idea of how hard they were to make and if all the work was worth it to make a bunch for the cookie exchange. I'm glad I did! It isn'...

Jaime's school was awarded the AWSP Culture Kickoff award! It was given for being a school that was embodying school spirit and improving the school's culture. Congratulations! They have put a lot of work into building school spirit. With the new high school opening and having 900 less students Jaime, the staff, and leadership have worked hard to really help the student body have more school spirit. It's been awesome to see the student turn out to sporting events.   

Jaime made our Thanksgiving breakfast. Protein crepes! They're one of my favorite breakfasts.  Our Thanksgiving feast table! We gathered at Mom and Dads. Along with us was Uncle Curtis, Elizabeth and Jon and family, Lori and Stuart and family, Emma Covington, and Olivia's boyfriend Chaz. We couldn't leave Emma to spend the holiday by herself in Rexburg! So we invited her to come with Olivia and Chaz. We sure missed Lindsey and Isaac but they were with Isaac's family.  The kids table James, Aidan, and Tyler Later in the evening we headed home and brought James with us. Time for the cousins to "Just Dance!" They all did such a great job. It was fun watching them and just seeing them be happy.  Black Friday shoppers! Olivia and Emma woke up early and went shopping with Makayla. They had a lot of fun. Afterwards Makayla came over and stayed for the afternoon. We had fun visiting and playing games.  We were ready to start the Christmas Holiday Seasoning by going to...

I do! I love sourdough bread. I never cared to really make it. Maintain the starter and such. But I decided to learn when I went to our Relief Society Super Saturday Activity.  My first loaf! It turned out great. I love the flavor. Not too sour, soft in the middle. Light crispiness on the edges. We made sourdough grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch yesterday. I had mine with turkey, avocado, light Swiss cheese, a little jack cheddar, and tomato. It was delicious. I've already made a second loaf. I think I'll make a couple more and slice and freeze them. It's so easy to just grabbed a couple slices when I need to and that way it won't spoil and go to waste.   

I only had 3 quarts of applesauce in my food storage. So I planned to can a lot of applesauce this apple season. I friend picked 6 boxes of golden delicious apples for me! I was able to can 76 quarts of applesauce! It was great to see my canned jar shelves be full again after this canning season. I canned tomatoes and peaches as well.  I thought I was all done canning for the year but then I ended up with a large box of Hunnyz apples. I bought it so that Diana could have some when she was up visiting from Arizona. I game some to her and Bel. Then I gave some to Lindsey and Isaac when they were here in October. I wasn't quite sure I'd use up all the rest of the apples. We still had so many! Then I thought I should make more apple pie filling. After doing a little search online, I learned that Hunnyz are great for apple pie because they hold their shape well and have a good complex flavor. I had enough apples to make one batch of pie filling.  They look so pretty!  I had to...

Tyler loves being part of DECA. He was excited to go for a few days to the FLC event in Seattle again this year. He felt more prepared than last year for sure. He said he learned some new things which is good. He doesn't really take pictures and send them to me so I was happy to see some on the DECA instagram page.  Eating Chinese food for dinner in the hallway of the hotel because they all wanted to be together. They're a great group of friends who really have a lot of fun together.  I'm grateful Tyler is getting these opportunities for learning and growth and creating fun high school memories. He's such a social bug and everyone just loves him. I love hearing comments people tell Jaime at school. It can come from staff or other students! He really is just a likable kid. I love him!  

Today Jaime and I took the boys out to lunch and did a bit of shopping. We wanted the boys to get out for a while and to spend some time with them. Tyler said he would drive. It's good he gets more practice in before he turns 16. We had some rain this morning but in the afternoon we had beautiful blue skies and a rainbow!! Tyler requested we do a special dinner for dia de los muertos. I asked what he wanted. He said enchiladas and all that comes with it.  Sounded good to me! And when he asks for something special like this that I could do I want to make him happy. So I made chicken enchiladas, Spanish rice, refried beans, pico de gallo, and guacamole. Wish a side of horchata to drink. Jaime picked out these cute chocolate desserts in flute glasses. It was a delicious dinner! The boys were sweet and thanked me multiple times and said it was so good. Olivia and Lindsey were missed. They love when we do themed dinners like this.  It was a good start to a new month. Bring on the h...

This pup is just the cutest! He sure knows how to give the cutest looks and when he does the head tilt with his ears raised he's just the cutest teddy bear! This was Tyler cuddling with Koda to keep him close during the door bell ringing with all the trick or treaters coming by. I have to say, this was actually a fun Halloween for Jaime and I. Neither Aidan or Tyler felt like going out trick or treating. They wanted to stay home so Jaime and I went out shopping! Stores were dead (no Halloween pun intended 😜) it was really nice! We hit up both Costco stores! And yes, we bought stuff at both stores. This could be a new tradition for us. hahaha  

Most days I'm happy. I go about my day doing the things I need to do. Other days, I feel sad that I miss my girls. I miss my little kids. My boys are still here but at the same time it's different than when my girls were here. The boys do their own things. Often they're gone to their own activities. They're quieter and don't come talk to me as much as the girls did.  I feel sad that they're not here. Almost like a loss. But grief feels too heavy of a word to use for this situation, one where I am also feeling pride and joy and hope. I was thrilled that my daughters were acclimating so well and a little guilty that I was so sad they were gone. I just felt off.  I came across a word that resonated with me. "Momancholy." And I can't stop thinking that's exactly how I feel.  Momancholy, like its derivative word melancholy, is a depression of spirits, feeling pensive for what was, an abnormal state of sadness for things past.  My life has been a whi...

My girls are home! They're home just for a short few days. I love that they tried to come as early as they could. Lindsey flew in on Wednesday morning from Las Vegas because she had dental work done by Brian. The Olivia and Isaac and Chaz got in late Wednesday night.  I loved spending the days with them home. We went to the Country Mercantile for lunch and browsing. They loved it. Isaac had never been.  She's so happy to be here! Olivia brought Chaz for us to get to know a little better. These four do a lot together. Double dates, dinner at Lindsey's, play games, and shop together. And now they travel together.  Saturday we went to Yakima for Valeria's (Aide's youngest sister) quinceanera. Our table was serenaded by the Mariachi. All of Jaime's family was here so it was fun to be with everyone again. It was the first time Isaac and Chaz had ever been to a quince so it was a new cultural experience for them.  The time went by so fast. It was hard to say goodbye t...

October games means bring on the pink! Breast Cancer awareness month. Tyler and one other player were the first to start wearing pink. Then of course there will be way more on Pink Out night. I'll tell you one thing though, with Tyler wearing the pink socks he is always easy for me to see when he's on the sidelines or on the field! I love it.   

I'm making a bunch of applesauce! I only had 3 quarts left in our food storage room. I asked a friend about getting some apples. She said she'd let me know if she finds out if theirs an orchard to glean since she has contacts to many apple farmers.  Well she messaged me and said that her and her family were going to Othello to glean golden delicious apples and they would get me the six boxes I said I wanted! Wow! I didn't have to pick or pay for my apples. It was so kind of them. I feel so grateful that I'm able to process our own and build up our stock again. I was able to can 76 quarts!  

Jaime had asked me if I wanted to get a way for my birthday. I said it'd be nice but he doesn't need to do that. I'm happy to stay home and just be with him.  He surprised me and took half a day of work so that he could take me out to lunch.  He took me to a new acai bowl place that just opened. He knows I love them so much. And it did not disappoint! It was delicious! I will be going back there again I'm sure.   After lunch Jaime took me shopping. It was fun browsing stores and looking for things. He had planned to take me out to dinner but Tyler had a game that wasn't originally scheduled for the 8th so we went to his game instead of going out to dinner. Jaime apologized for it but I said that was where I wanted to be, supporting our family.  In the evening with the boys Jaime and the boys gave me a birthday card and a gift card for a massage at the Couerd A'lene Resort. So it looks like I'll be getting my weekend getaway with Jaime sometime in the future....