Ashley's day date

 One of the presents Ashley got for Christmas was a day date with mom. I  got her the 

'fiss-y kissies' at SeaQuest and off we went! But first, remember how I was going to be in that celiac study? Well, I got kicked out because I got a cordisone shot in my knee (and shoulder), Oh well, I didn't want to drive up every month. 

So after that, Ashley and I went off to the mall. You sit on this tall chair and stick your feet into a big tank filled with cold water and little fishes. It was like nibbling (for sure), and a little suction-ing and tickly for sure. 

The cold water did help my swollen ankle (walked off the treadmill and sprained something bad, very swollen) a lot. We shopped around the mall, got Ashely a VERY nice navy dress, etc. Then we went to Olive Garden  and drove home. 

A good day! I love spending time with you Ashley.

Bluemlein party

 We also had a delightful Bluemlein party. There was some illness, so some of the activities were cut short. Still there were two awesome boards to eat and rice pudding. Go Team Bluemlein!

Herron party

 We motored up the Logan to see Grandpa and Susan and all the family.  We played Bingo ( I LOVE bingo). Did the famous left/right game and ate delicious good. Go Team Herron!!

Christmas!

 Ashley didn't get up until 7 a.m. this Christmas!

And here is the traditional picture on the stairs. Everyone had fun and good presents abounded. 

I love Christmas and my family!

Savior of the World

 In my quest to find fun things for us to do this winter, we went to see Savior of the World at the conference center. It was a nice, new perspective on Jesus. A bit draggy at places.

We liked the lights and got to give our annual donation for chickens and diapers for the Light the World Machines.

Happy Christ-mas!

Covo-Mono-trep

 Michael has had a rough new months. About three months ago he just started not wanting to go to school. So tired. So gucky. So I let him stay home a lot. 

Then Dad and Ashley got Covid. Then we and Mike got Covid.

Finally I took him to the doctor for his on=going stomach and backaches. And he has very high levels (active) mononucleous. So we let him stay home some more. After a few more weeks I took him back to check on his stomach.

And he has strep throat. 

Poor kiddo. The NP gave us a note for the school suggesting long-haul mono and getting a 504 to ask for a medical accommodations. We will work on that next week.

He gets up, eats, sits for about 10 minutes, and goes back to sleep. He has been awake for about 2 hours so far today, and it is 6 p.m. I am going to get him up for dinner.

Tree

 Or course we put up the tree this weekend. Last year with Ellie here all the time . We, of course, had the Bluemlein tradition of eating chocolates while we put up the tree. (This year I ordered a HUGE box of chocolate and treats from Mrs. Cavanaugh's).

A good time was had by all.

I won!!

 In thanks for being an awesome foster mentor - I won a gift basket from the foster care people!!

It had Thanksgiving stuff AND a Costco gift card for $75!!!

We went and moosied around Costco and got a turkey and some stuff.

Thanks foster people!!

Turkey day

 We had turkey day with just our family at home. It was nice. Josh brined and smoked the turkey, there were side dishes. Everyone and I am pretty sure a lot of people took a nap.

Be Thankful!

Van

Yes, after the hit and run, Hi Ho Silver went to the shop. 24 days later we went to pick him up! (Guess how many miles I put on the rental car in 24 days? 1, 563. Crazy)

Cousin Brian also left for a new/better job - but he said he stayed until our car was done. So nice!

 

Sickness

 Well it started out when I finally took Michael to the doctor for his excessive sleeping and tiredness. Mono (high levels). So looking back I am glad that I let him come home whenever he wanted the past few weeks. It makes sense when he would go to bed when he got home from school. Wasn't interested in food. And then would go back to bed after dinner. So mono. It happens.

Then Ashley got sick. She took a Covid test, positive. Had to miss the end of the play. Then Josh got a horrible cold, Covid. Everyone is finally recovering. Then I get to tired. Covid. So I made Mike take a test. Covid. 

Ellie stayed clean!!

So now, two weeks in, we are all finally feeling better and went to church.

We have enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving break. Only 2.5 weeks til the next break.

Sad news

 Adorable, the chicken, has gone to that great flock in the sky.

Ashley, ever the practical girl, stuffed her in a bag and threw her in the trash can.

When asked about her sorrow, Ashley said, "I gave her the best life a chicken could ever have."

Well said.

Performances!!

 All the kids had performances this month: Ellie dance, Mike play, Ashley musical.

Ashley got sidetracked by having Covid for the play performance and didn't get to go. We also had to have another family host the cast party, which we were super excited about. Anyway, life.

 I love it that all my kids are theater people/performance people. Go Team Herron

Lovely weather this week...

 Josh is done working nights! AND he gets four weeks off until the end of the year!! Here he is fixing the roof of the shed. Several shingles blew off in a storm, and of course, he had thrown away the rest of the shingle pack. Oh well.

Michael hasn't been feeling well lately, including another trip to the ER. He is trying an reflux reducer. I am going to make an appt with the pediatric gastro person.

I took him to work with me last week. He enjoyed being a college student, even if they were doing team work projects and he didn't get to take notes. 

Ashley and I went to give blood this week. She is excited to learn her blood type. Nobody passed out.

The next two weeks are super busy with plays, rehearsals, tech rehearsals, performances and dancing. Also I am grading BYU-I speeches, which takes time. 

We are being financially smarter. For sure. 

Accident

 So I had taken Michael and Ellie and Gabe to get them (not Gabe) our flu/covid shots. Ellie hated it. We passed by Chris walking home from play rehearsal. We stopped to take him home.

On the way to turn into his road, a motorbike and the van collided. I threw it into park and ran over, yelling to Ellie to call 911. The guy, (like teenager-ish) was laying on the grass (landed right on the grass? Miracle did not scrape on pavement. Laying there, me saying ' are you ok, you have to stay right there, are you ok?????"

He looks stunned - obviously. Then he starts saying, 'I am fine, I am fine'. And then he starts to get up and I am yelling 'you have to stay.' Michael gives him back his shoe and he puts on his baseball cap (NO HELMET???), gets the seat back on his bike and drives off, the fingers on his left hand looking NOT normal. And me yelling ' stay here!" He drives off.  I talk to 911 - they send a police guy over. 

The police guy takes down the story. All the kids (minus Ellie) are telling their stories. I am freaking worried about the guy. 

Apparently he was driving, illegally on his street bike : no lights and not registered, down the road and ran into the van (I  had my headlights on and turn signal). I just saw him the minute he hit the hood. I am worried for him.

Good new: I am not driver 1 (driver 1 always the cause of the crash). The biker has bad fingers. I am praying for him.

Another police car came by to look for the bike/r, didn't find it. They both agreed the bike was behind a garage or a fence. They sent a note to the hospital in case someone shows up with that injury.

Did a claim. Supplied information. Spent all of yesterday taping up the car to drive to Toyota, getting rental car, driving home. Cooking dinners, etc,

AND other good news - insurance premium is not going up! Because "you are a good driver" ( little do they know.)

Anyway, here is the damage, and here is the new car (for the next three weeks!)

Garden

 Here is the bucket of tomatoes we got from our garden. 

Also this year from our yard:

raspberries, carrots, crenshaw melon, peppers (like 5 kinds), carrots, tomatoes, rhubarb, grapes, peas and spinach. Go garden! Next year we will do even better.  (I rescued the raspberries).

Other stuff

 Romeo went to the vet and got his shots. He is not overweight! It hurts Michael about as much as Romeo               to get shots. 

Josh and I went to '80 Days Around the World' at the Hale. We only have one play left of our season tickets (I didn't renew - too many weird show.

Apparently I have a wandering joint here in my most painful/arthiritis finger. Nothing you can do about it. Nice. 

There was a partial eclipse in Tooele! It was cool. We went about stood around outside. Super cool. Here we come April 8, 2024! (Total eclipse in Vincennes, Ind. and we are GOING)