Ballet

Cambria and Cosette still love ballet and Cosette still looks as cute as she originally did when she first started. 

Magnus loves to come with us and play in the nursery with all the other kids. He somehow got in this position and thought it was an awesome way to drive around.

 

Starbucks

Cambria earned a couple of Starbucks gift cards at school, so we had to go yesterday with her friends. We even got Lexi a puppuccino.

Olivia

Today heaven gained a sweet angel. My dear friend, Olivia Harper, passed away this afternoon after a six-year battle with cancer. During the six years, she remained completely positive and optimistic. She continued to lift others, as she had always done, and was a light to all those around her. I don't think she ever lost hope and at one point in her cancer journey, she had a completely clean bill of health. It was a miracle that I hoped would last a much longer time than it did. I remember when they told me that the cancer was back. Olivia was full of optimism but her husband, Ron, told me her prognosis, which wasn't good. Quite honestly, based on what he had told me then, I didn't think she would live as long as she did. 

I think the fact that the temple workers needed a place to stay when they did was actually a tender mercy from my Father in Heaven. Bernie told me about a week before we headed up that Olivia wasn't doing well and that the Relief Society sisters were volunteering to go to Olivia's house daily to help with cleaning and to visit with her. Ron called me a few days later and let me know that Olivia was now in the hospital. Jesse, Atreyu, Cambria, and I had the opportunity to go to the hospital and visit with her, hug her, and hold her hand. An opportunity we otherwise would not have had. I was able to hug Ron and all six of their beautiful girls. My heart breaks for their family. It's so hard to understand why Heavenly Father would take a mother with young children back to Him. 

I was visiting with Ron's stepmom, Sally Harper, who is also a friend, and she reminded me that Olivia is just being called on a different mission. She has such a special spirit full of love for everyone and He needs her and her talents on the other side of the veil. I'm struggling with the fact that when I go back to Bern, she won't be there. In this life, I'll never again see her radiant smile that filled up the room or receive one of her hugs that felt like she was squeezing the air right out of my lungs. My heart is hurting for myself as well as her family, but I know that we will all see her again someday. 

The example she set has really motivated me to strive harder to be that same example to those around me. She was always joyful and looking at the bright side of things. It did not matter who you were or how old you were, she loved you. She was always so good to my kids, and they always felt loved by her. I'm saddened that Cosette and Magnus don't get the same opportunity to get to know her and feel of her love that Atreyu and Cambria did, but I am so glad Atreyu and Cambria did get to experience her love. Olivia, I love you so much and I am so eternally grateful for you, your friendship, and your unconditional love. God be with you 'til we meet again, my dear friend.

The Roaring Twenties

Jesse and I went to his work party the other night. The theme was "The Roaring Twenties." It was so fun to see everyone all dressed up and I loved getting to be a flapper girl for the evening. There was so amazing food and fun dancing with Jesse's coworkers. Jesse has some pretty great dance moves, too. It was good to be able to have a fun date night.

Lexi

Seth texted me to let me know that Alora was missing Lexi and she was wondering how she was doing. We sent her some pictures to show her that Lexi is being well taken care of.

Sweet Flowers

The other day Cambria and Magnus were outside, and Cambria kept coming in to grab different things. I asked her what they were doing but she wouldn't tell me and asked me not to come outside. I was definitely curious what was happening, but I waited for them to come in and they gave me this sweet bouquet of flowers. Such a happy surprise.

AirBnB

We weren't planning to take a trip to Idaho in January as the weather can be rather awful that time of year, but we ended up going last week. The renters we had in our house moved out at the beginning of November and we haven't found anyone else yet. They are building a temple in Montpelier, and one of the workers reached out to Eddie to see if we'd be willing to rent our house to them for at least six weeks. We decided to do it which meant that we had to drive up to Idaho to get the house all furnished. When we don't have workers in it, we plan to use it as an AirBnB and hope to be able to make some money from it. It will be nice that we will have it available to use when we visit as well. 

The drive to Bern which normally takes 12-13 hours ended up taking 16 hours. There was a two-hour delay in the Sierras caused by an accident and Emigration Canyon was closed to due to bad weather which forced us to go up by Twin Falls. There were some pretty bad roads, but we finally made it to Montpelier at about 1:00 AM. We got to the overpass and there was a "road closed" sign and a cop sitting there who wouldn't allow anyone to go past becasue they were no longer plowing roads. So, we ended up staying the night in a hotel. We finally made it to Bern the next morning and got to work.

While we were there, we were able to see some of the progress they have made on the temple. It's so exciting that there will be a temple right there on the main street of Montpelier. 

There was a beautiful sunrise the morning we headed back to California.

Emigration Canyon was so stunning and peaceful. 

We had a good drive back until we hit the Sierras, where there was rain in the lower elevations and snow and slush in the higher ones. I'm always so thankful that Jesse drives the bad weather for us. 

Oral Surgery

Unlike Atreyu and Cambria, Cosette seems to have gotten bad tooth genes. Last year at her checkup they told me that she had cavities in all eight of her back molars. I was shocked! Within two different visits, they were able to get crowns on four of the eight teeth but when we went back for appointment three, she was done and would not cooperate any longer. I then had to find a dentist in our insurance network that could do the oral surgery. Cosette had her appointment last week at Daddy's work and she did amazing! We had to wake up early in the morning and drive to Modesto. She didn't seem nervous at all, and Daddy was able to take her back for the procedure. 

Most kids wake up a bit grouchy after anesthesia, but Cosette was so sweet. She woke up and then went back to sleep for the majority of the time they had to monitor her and when they did finally wake her up, she happily ate her popsicle. I'm so glad that we finally have those cavities taken care of. Now, to even better oral hygiene and fingers crossed that she doesn't get any more for a long time.

Playdate

Cosette constantly asks if she can go to friend's houses or if they can come to ours. We invited Hadley Wardle over and the two of them had fun playing Barbies and dressing up. I love watching their imaginations hard at work. 

Woodland Cake

Cambria's friend, Izzy, turned 11 and she asked me to make her cake. She had a woodland theme, and she found a picture of a cake that looked like a tree stump with mushrooms growing all over it that she wanted. With the accessories she and her mom gave me, I was able to make this cake which turned out adorable. I had fun with this cake and I'm glad she asked me to make it.