November started off a bit rough but ended on a fun and high note. We did a lot of traveling and this month flew by fast.
It was a big birthday month for our family. Reilly turned 25 and Kameron turned 21! How are my babies this old? We had a family birthday dinner for Reilly the night that she and Hunter got back from Utah. She wanted a Yellowstone viewing party. She requested that a table be set up in the living room so that we could watch the season premier. Bryn definitely needed some earmuffs and a blindfold for most of it and she was good to oblige. Reilly requested Broccoli Divan for dinner, limonata pellegrino to drink, and homemade cherry pie with ice cream for her birthday dessert. No problemo!
We had a fun night celebrating her and just relaxing and hanging out together after getting back from Utah. She wanted as her gift a family night at the arcade. She is a kid who would always rather have *experiences* rather than gifts.
Two days later Kameron turned 21 and we celebrated him from afar. We sent him two care packages and ordered him a birthday cake (Red Velvet) from the bakery at the Hy-Vee grocery store in his little town and he was able to pick it up on his birthday.
He also got to spend the day with his district. He was able to go out to lunch with all of them at Chipotle so that was extra fun too. It was nice that he could shake up his routine a bit on his birthday!
We talked to him on his birthday too which was nice! That week was a phone call bonanza! We talked to him as a family on his regular Monday night phone call, then again on Reilly's birthday, and yet again on his birthday! It was great!
The next night I was texted this picture from a branch member who took Kam out for a belated birthday dinner! Kam in a sombrero. Historic!! I love it! He hates when restaurants sing happy birthday to him and *usually* refuses to allow it. Looks like he really is a new man! LOL.
I took down the Halloween decorations and decorated for Christmas. Thanksgiving is wonderful but I'm ready for some Christmas cheer. I used to be such a purist. No Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Kameron even argued the validity of this very point with someone in his branch about how his family wants Thanksgiving to get its due and then that night we told him that we had already decorated for Christmas. Oops!
Bryn had a few glorious weeks of volleyball which she absolutely LOVED and then she fell down in the carpool lane. She tripped on her friend's backpack and sprained her wrist and thus ended her illustrious volleyball season. I didn't even get one picture of her playing! Poor kid. She got her wrist X-rayed and ended up in a splint for a couple of weeks. Luckily she could still somewhat play the piano and cello in her splint. She has a Christmas piano recital and a Christmas orchestra concert coming up.
Waiting for her wrist x-ray.
Ailey and Bryn had parent/teacher conferences. All were virtual. Now that we don't have kids in elementary school anymore I am all for virtual parent/teacher conferences. I hope we never go back. LOL. Both girls are doing well in school and are enjoyable to have in class. Good.
After Bryn got her cold... Ailey got it. Neither one had COVID. Thank goodness. But a lot of people we know got it this month. It seems that most of our unvaccinated friends all got COVID this month and some were really sick...even the teenagers. Two of our friends' kids were hospitalized. Several of our vaccinated friends had breakthrough cases but didn't get as sick. I tried to see if I could get my booster shot before we headed out of town for Thanksgiving but our delightful state of Washington wasn't allowing it for the average person yet... even though all of my in-laws and Kirk and Meki were able to get theirs in Utah last month. It is SO FRUSTRATING. Shame on you Washington State and Governor Inslee.
We want to do some bathroom updates in the next few weeks. We had someone come in and give us a bid and it was laughable. Tyler decided that he will do it all himself! It will be nice to get that done and hopefully get our family room flooring done too before New Years. All of the unexpected travel this month ate up any free time for big home projects. Tyler did a few little projects: a new faucet for the kitchen sink, new door bell, a new overhead light in the family room, and a new plug/wiring system for the garage. Those little things made us both incredibly happy! And should keep our garage from starting on fire! Always a good thing!
As I stated in a previous post, Midtown Market had their big holiday open house while we were in Utah. They had it a week earlier this year and I think that it made an incredible difference. So while it was stressful trying to get everything done before I flew to Utah... I was there all day the day before we left... It turned out to be a great idea and a great success! I sold twice as much merchandise in November this year. Sales were really wonderful with the Holiday Open House...Black Friday... Small Business Saturday...and a Customer Appreciation Day too. I am so pleased with how it all turned out even though it kept me busy and I had to make a few extra trips to Coeur d' Alene to restock my booth. It has been a fun month with awesome sales totals!!
Ailey has been super busy this month with dance team practices. Competition season starts in December and so does basketball season. The dance team is also doing a dance camp next month for elementary age kids. Ailey is in charge of planning that. Then Rubber Chicken is in January and Ailey will once again be the chicken. She is thrilled! LOL. She has also been busy applying to colleges and helping Kam apply too. That has been a bit stressful!
Ailey is a typical high school senior who is very ready to go to college. She is never home and when she is she is not the most...how shall I say it...friendly. LOL. I know that each kid goes through this but it doesn't get any easier. The power struggles really suck. Ailey got her car taken away from her for a few days this month. Tyler got fed up with her and literally went to the high school and removed it from the parking lot in the middle of the school day. Having a car is a privilege around here not a right. She had to earn it back which she did. 17 is precious!
Ailey was also potentially exposed to COVID from a girl on the dance team (along with the rest of the team) and it caused quite a ruckus with the parents. The sick COVID positive girl kept coming to practice! WTH? Luckily no one else on the dance team tested positive. Good grief. Stay home if you are sick!
It's been a wonderfully social month for our family! Yay for friends and fun times! We never see much of Ailey these days and Bryn is getting busier and busier with her friend group. I've had some very fun friend gatherings this month that were MUCH needed. Oh the joys of a girls night! I don't care if it's out doing something or hanging out as a group at one of our houses. Just the joy of all of us being together! I had several of those this month!! There is nothing better than talking late into the night with a big group of your closest friends!! Happiness!
I got to visit with several of my good friends from my vintage world. I have missed them! Most of us are in stores or own stores now so we don't see each other as often as we used to. It's been so nice to catch up with a lot of them. One afternoon Tyler and I drove down to my friend Teresa's store in Rockford, WA. It is gorgeous! It is one of my very favorite places. We were going to do a little early Christmas shopping. I was able to have a really good visit with her and while I was there I saw another one of my good friends, Pam, who has also been one of my very best customers over the years. I got to have a long and chatty visit with her too.
Teresa's beautiful store!
Teresa surprised me with two big shopping bags as we were leaving. It was the most beautiful (and expensive) Nativity set. She said that it was a Christmas present to me from my mom. I sobbed. I am so lucky to have such loving, supportive, and generous friends! I also got to see my friend Deb twice which was so fun!! I've missed my vintage tribe!
In addition to those fun times I also had book club this month at my friend Summer's house...mask free! (We are all vaccinated.) We read The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. A crazy trippy book and we had a great discussion! I also met with my Stake Primary Presidency at my friend Katie's house which was fun too. We are planning a big Stake Primary Missionary Activity in January. I attended two Primary Programs this month and a Temple and Priesthood Preparation Night. Bryn spoke at the Temple and Priesthood Preparation Night. She did a terrific job!
Tyler has been busy this month. He was scheduled to go back to the office on a hybrid schedule...Tuesdays and Thursdays...after Thanksgiving but the new Omicron COVID variant has put that on hold. Now his employers are thinking that no one should come back to the office until after the holidays or even potentially until February. He got to participate in some fun activities with the youth this month. He had a big shooting activity with the YM that he had a ball at! I was nervous all day but they had a great time! He attended a combined YM/YW Family Favorites Potluck Dinner Activity with Bryn. They brought our family's favorite Broccoli Divan. He attended the musical that our high school put on this year with all the youth from our ward. Several kids from our ward/stake were performing in it. Tyler kept busy with several service projects too and helping out various members in our ward and community. This calling has been so great for him. He hates conducting and things like that but he really enjoys being more involved in the ward.
He's also been trying to check in more with his mom. Judie has been doing okay. She got both of her cataract surgeries done so that she can drive herself now which I know is a huge relief to her and to all of us. She gets lonely but tries to stay busy. She asked me for several book recommendations. She decided to hold tight through the winter and stay in her house. She is sorting and organizing things to potentially move in the spring or summer. Joel's truck sold this month so I know that was a relief for her. Brett and Marissa went down over Thanksgiving and helped her decorate for Christmas.
Tyler and I managed to squeeze in a few fun date nights here and there. We tried a great new Indian restaurant in Post Falls that I wish I had known about years ago and a fabulous new Chinese restaurant in the valley. FINALLY!! It's been good to dedicate some time just for the two of us. It's been a much needed recharge.
We had yet another windstorm. Luckily there was no damage at our house and we didn't lose power either. My book club had to reschedule because it was too treacherous to be out driving in it. I'm so glad that we did. A big tree came down on the street where book club was to be held and another one came down on a house a few houses down from where we were going to gather. Ugh... I hate these storms.
There were some tragic events that occurred to people we love and care about. A dear family that we know lost their only daughter in a tragic car accident. Bridget was hit by a drunk driver while away at college. All of our kids have grown up together. Every one of our kids have had a Kirby kid in their grade and classes. They are the nicest kids and the nicest family. My heart is broken for them. Tyler also lost a co-worker and friend to cancer this month. :(
The school shooting in Michigan has me absolutely ENRAGED. Those families... I just don't even know what to say anymore. Children should be safe in schools. Period. What was a terrible but rare event at the Capital Building in Washington DC with politicians facing shooters is an everyday occurrence for the children in our country. More needs to be done to protect THEM!! My kids have never known one day of school without thinking that they could potentially be killed while at school. Every single one of them has learned to lockdown and hide since kindergarten. It makes me sick. In addition to this horrible shooting in Michigan...in our town our local libraries all had to close for several days due to threats. Ailey and Bryn's schools were in lockdown multiple times this month due to threats as were other area schools. I want to scream! We can't keep going on like this...
Also the dedication of the clinic that is to be named after my mother was postponed due to construction delays. I'm not sure when it will be rescheduled. It's looking like January now. So that meant that our plans to gather with Kirk and Meki and family for five days in December is off. So disappointing. We were all looking forward to being together.
Ailey and the dance team got to dance with Santa downtown! Our town had a Christmas parade...the same weekend as the tragic Christmas Parade in Wisconsin...what kind of world do we live in?! Anyway, the dance team performed and accompanied Santa Claus to River Park Square. She had a ball and it was so fun to be downtown and feeling festive.
We've seen a lot of Reilly and Hunter this month which has been really fun! We went over to their apartment one Saturday to help put together their new bed. Reilly has always loved helping Tyler do repairs around the house ever since she was a little girl. She wants a drill for Christmas and ...fun fact...she LOVES putting together IKEA furniture! Just like her Dad! Weirdos.
One Saturday Reilly came over to learn to make my version of Funeral Potatoes. This was her contribution to Hunter's family's Thanksgiving feast. They were a hit! They had never tasted such magic! LOL. We were in Portland for Thanksgiving. That will be another post. Reilly wasn't able to take time off of work so she and Hunter spent Thanksgiving with his family here in town.
We've also gotten to bum around with Bryn quite a bit. We've done a lot of shopping, Christmas shopping, and just plain having fun! One day we found the most incredible used book store! I never even knew that it existed! Tyler, Bryn, and I bought stacks of books. It is going to be a little weird next year when we are down to just one kiddo at home. We are starting early to try to get used to it by doing quite a few things just the three of us. It's been fun!
Kameron is doing well. He is *actively* teaching SEVENTEEN people in his little tiny town and area that he and his companion opened. His area doesn't even have a ward it is only a branch. They found all of these people without tracting or street contacting. God does move in mysterious ways and his work rolls forward despite the obstacles! Kam's companion finally got his visa to head to Italy which is where he was initially called to go. Kam delivered him to the mission home in Bloomington at the end of the month and then temporarily joined a trio in Albert Lea, MN until the next transfers.
We got our house all decorated for Christmas and had all three trees up by the first of the month. We winterized our yard and put the lights up on our house. It felt good to come home from our Thanksgiving trip and be all ready for Christmas!
We went to my cousin Paul's house for Thanksgiving and he requested that I make my Grandma Ellersick's Lemon Meringue Pie as one of the pies that I was bringing to Thanksgiving. I had never made it before but I got her recipe from my Aunt Bonnie and did a trial run before we went out of town. It was a success! I will be making it again at Christmas. It was so good!
Ailey also had to make a family Thanksgiving recipe for her ProStart class. They did a big Thanksgiving dinner. She made my Grandma Ellersick's Chocolate Cream Pie. It is a very tricky recipe. You cook the filling on the stove and it is super finicky but it is well worth the effort. Her pies turned out fantastic and were loved and devoured by her ProStart class. I love that these family recipes are being carried on and enjoyed by my grandma's great-grandchildren. Granny would get such a kick out of knowing that Ailey was making her recipes.
This month was chilly but with very little snow. Just how I like it. We've eaten a lot of soup and homemade bread and rolls this month. We've made my mom's chili, her tomato bisque soup, and her chicken artichoke soup. I am so happy to have my mom's recipes too! Whenever I make a recipe of my mom's or any of my three grandmas it feels like a hug from them. I feel close to them. They come alive again when I eat their food. Although seeing my mom's handwriting and her note to Reilly on the tomato bisque soup recipe brought tears to my eyes. I am so lucky to have their recipes and to have been loved by all of them.
Before we left town we sent off a Thanksgiving care package to Kameron. We also did all of our Thanksgiving baking. We were in charge of pies and rolls. We brought a few other things to eat and snack on too while we were at Paul and Whitney's. I made pecan pies, pumpkin pies, and lemon meringue pies. Ailey made the chocolate pies (since she is an expert now!) Tyler made his Grandma Kofford's famous parker house rolls. They take FOREVER but they really are the very best rolls and Thanksgiving isn't Thanksgiving without them!
Our specialty cheese from a little dairy in Wisconsin arrived too! We found this when we were in Wisconsin last fall visiting Rebecca. We made her go back and track it down so that we could order some last Christmas and this Christmas too. It is out of this world delicious. We brought some to Paul and Whitney. They loved it!
When we got back home from Portland it was time to start up the Hallmark Christmas movies! Last year during COVID quarantine and online school we watched a movie every night. That was fun! This year we will be lucky to squeeze in one or two a week but we are here for it! Even Tyler! He is always like, "I'm not going to watch it." and then he'll come in and be like, "What's happening?" LOL. This year he just sat down and watched the first one from start to finish!
We started our Christmas shopping. We are hoping to be done early so that we can enjoy December! I hate madly shopping all month long. I like to get it over with and then have time to enjoy the holiday season.
Tickets for Ailey's high school Winter Concert (choir, band, and orchestra) went on sale and Ailey had to stand in line for hours to get four of them. It's insane. This concert is so popular that they have to do it on two nights and kids have to stand in line to BUY tickets for their families ($5 a ticket). Kids brought camping chairs and set them up after school to buy tickets that went on sale at 5:30 pm. It's nuts! We got tickets for Tyler, Me, Reilly, and Hunter. Bryn is going with the YM/YW and they bought tickets for the youth. So many people come who don't even have a child that is performing. They just love the Holiday concert. It's craziness!
Daylight Savings was also this month which is not my favorite but when you've got sparkly Christmas lights up it's not quite so bad!
We are definitely looking forward to CHRISTMAS!
