post Halloween, post Addie :(

Nov. 1, 2015

Dear Sister Kristina,

How did time fly by so fast in October? We just had a wonderful week with Kirk and Sarah and Addie here in our home. Man, it was so fun having Addie here. Just having her here walking around our house, checking out everything, jumping on my bed, playing ball with Roxy, running away from us, going on walks, going trick or treating with her as a little bumblebee, giving kisses, etc etc. They leave in the morning and our house is going to feel soooo empty. We’ll probably just sit around and stare at each other.

Here are some pics from the week-there a lot of them-hope you don’t mind:

Nikki needs a bit of shaving practice

We made sock snowmen one night. They were so easy and lots of fun

Nikki tested for her high blue belt over the weekend

I put vinyls on the windows so Addie could play with them

Addie loves playing duets

Addie had to have her passport pic taken. She refused to smile. haha

Getting ready to go trick or treating

Visiting with Blaine and Jean Sorensen with their homemade donuts on Halloween

Great, great Aunt Nancy reading to Addie

Savannah sent us this picture of the corn rows she did in Alex's hair

When we say it's time to pray, this is what Addie does. So cute!

Pumpkin carving

Kirk and Sarah's new minivan

Playing in the backyard

Kirk and his funny shirts

Fun at Linder Farm

Feeding the animals at Linder Farm

Linder Farm

Riding the ponies at Linder Farm

Linder Farm fun

The slide at Linder Farm

Our lame attempt at a selfie

A fun dessert that Sarah made for all of us

Deadman meatloaf dinner

Deadman meatloaf for our Halloween tradition

So how was Camilo’s baptism?? I can’t wait to hear. I prayed for him every night this past week because I know how hard Satan will try to stop baptisms. I hope everything went well and that he feels very at home in his new ward. Do you have a good Bishop that will watch over him for a while? 

Church was fun today with Addie but I don’t think I heard a complete testimony at all. I forget how much work it is to have a toddler in church. There’s a few years there when you’re raising small children that you don’t hear much at all in church. Kirk took her to priesthood so Sarah and I could go to Relief Society, but I could hear Addie out in the halls saying Nana, Nana. Sarah and I were laughing.

We had a really fun visit at Bill and Nancy’s on Halloween night. Addie got to go up to Nancy’s grandchild room and see all her beanie babies, remember that room? Uncle Bill let Addie pick two beanie babies to take home. I just love both of them.

One night Kirk and Sarah went out on a date which they haven’t been able to do for a long time, so that was really nice for them. They went out to dinner-Sarah was craving steak, haha and then to a movie at the Village. Me and the girls babysat and had a lot of fun. She’s such a good little girl and has such a cute personality. She likes to tease too.

I hope you had a wonderful week, I know you must have with Camilo’s baptism. “How great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father.” We can’t wait to meet him one day. 

We are well here, just plodding along. Dad is still working hard. On Friday night I went with Kirk and Sarah and Addie to his hospital in Emmett and Sarah got to see her little baby with his ultrasound machine. We could even see the tiny heart beating, very fun. Nikki is doing well in school and has really started to work hard and getting good grades has become more important to her. Leah is trying to find some new friends now that Dixie is gone, but I had a good talk with her the other day and told her to think only about what she does have and what she does know and not to dwell on what she doesn’t have and what she’s not so sure about in life and in the church. Sometimes she dwells on the negative and that really gets you nowhere. I reminded her that what she does have is a great family who all love her very much and we will always be there for her. Friends come and go. I also told her to remember that when she doubts things in the church to turn that around and think about what she does know and that is that she’s loved and families are forever. It’s just baby steps for her, but this life is not a race, it’s just helping each other getting turned in the right direction. It’s where we’re facing that matters. I have a good relationship with Leah and that means a lot to me. I love her so much. Thank you for your letters. She loves them!

I hope you are happy, healthy and living close to the spirit. I know you are guided each day and that means a lot to me. Send my love to your companion and your roommates. You all seem so happy together. Have a great week.

Love you,

Mom xxoo