Sunshine through the Gate

One of the (early) birthday gifts Joy received yesterday was . . .

. . . a game called Blokus. 

The kids are really enjoying it (and Daniel's enjoying his new Creeper pajamas).

In fact, the Blokus craze is so big around here that when I told the kids to clear off the table for dinner, they just moved their game to the kitchen floor.

While the kids continued their Blokus tournament, I drove to the temple to talk to God about some things that have been weighing on my mind.  Although the temple itself is closed because of the pandemic, I thought it would be nice to walk the beautiful, peaceful grounds of that sacred building.

 

I arrived to find the gate locked.  It felt like a sad metaphor--one more familiar place shut down in this pandemic; one more beloved thing that I can see but not touch.

Was it truly a sad metaphor though?  I could still see the temple from the driveway, and that driveway was still sacred ground.  God could still inspire me there or anywhere, just like the sunlight could still reach me through the gate.  I parked my car facing the temple, and trusted God to provide the guidance I needed, since I had done my best to draw closer to Him.  He didn't let me down.  

I think the real metaphor of this picture is that we can still get the light we need, even though so many of the things that used to bring us joy aren't available right now.  In some ways these are tough times, but God will help us through them.

Partyin' Like It's December 12

Planning parties really stresses me out, so I almost never do it.  I make my kids a special birthday dinner and dessert, I buy them birthday gifts, and I give them lots of birthday hugs, but I just don't have the bandwidth to plan birthday parties.  Most of my kids are OK with that, but every year or two, Joy asks me to plan her a pizza party.  I thought I was off the hook this year, what with the pandemic and all, but after we attended a friend's pizza birthday party in the park a few weeks ago, Joy asked if we could plan something similar for her.

Joy's actual birthday is next month, but we couldn't wait that long.  Indoor social gatherings are strongly discouraged these days to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and nice weather won't last much longer in our area.  Fortunately, we had unseasonably warm weather forecast for this weekend, so we told some of Joy's friends from church to meet us in the park for pizza, soda, ice cream, and fruit ('cuz we're healthy like that).

The girls had a great time talking, eating the sumptuous banquet we provided . . .

. . . dancing to the loud music someone was playing nearby . . .

. . . and swinging on the playground.  It was so much fun that I may throw Joy another early birthday pizza party next year.  Maybe.

Anna's Favorite Things

Lately, three of Anna's favorite things are:

1) Writing in her gratitude journal each night.  I love the little illustrations she adds to each entry.

2) Going to the park.  We've enjoyed unseasonably warm weather lately, and on sunny days Anna often asks to go to a nearby park after homeschool is done.  One time, we even saw our two neighbors there, and Anna and Todd had a lot of fun swinging with them.

3) Pegabunnies.  Allow me to explain . . .

When Anna's ELA book instructed her to write about her ideal pet earlier this week, she said she'd like to have a pegabunny.  As soon as she told me what it was (a giant rabbit with wings like a pegasus), I had to admit that a pegabunny would be my ideal pet too.  What could be better than climbing onto the back of an enormous, velvety rabbit, then having it spread its wings and take you for a ride high above your town?  And as a bonus, you'd never have to mow your lawn again. :)

I think I'll name my pegabunny Mr. Snuffleupagus, and call him Snuffy for short.

A Haircut, a Globey Cake, and an Odyssey

When Todd woke up this morning . . .

. . . he was seven years old!  (And seriously needed a haircut.  It was the first thing he got for his birthday today.)

Todd requested a chocolate cake with Globey on it for his birthday dessert.

He was pretty happy with how it turned out (though, ironically, he's hugging a different toy in the picture).

Todd's gifts included some of his sisters' Halloween treats . . .

. . . along with an illustrated card.

He also received Mario Odyssey, which he could play on our new Nintendo Switch (which Daddy and I hid in the blanket basket).  We put it there partly because we didn't want to wrap something that will be shared by the whole family, but mainly because it was fun to watch the kids dash into the family room and tear blankets out of the basket looking for the colorful new game system.  We're all curious to see what Mario Odyssey is like, but we won't find out until tomorrow because it will take Daddy a few hours to get the system set up and the game loaded onto it.

Happy birthday, Todd!  I love your cheerful attitude and big hugs!

One Hundred Years and Counting

Most Halloween yard decorations around here tend to be ghosts and skeletons, but the house around the bend has . . .  

. . . suffragettes.  This year is the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote in the United States.

Thank you Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and everyone else who fought so hard for that amendment.  Every time I walk into a polling place and fill in a ballot, I'm grateful for the ability to make my voice heard!

 

Celebrating Day of the Dead with the Old Eagle

After we finished homeschool for the day . . .

. . . and Eddy helped me study the scriptures . . .

. . . Anna helped me decorate our family's traditional . . . 

. . . Day of the Dead gingerbread!

This year, we talked about my Grandpa Sorenson.  He earned the nickname "The Old Eagle" when he was a mission president, because he was a commanding figure who always seemed to know what was going on and what to do about it.  He is a shining example to me of both high standards and great love.  Recently, when I was having a tough day, I looked at his picture on our wall and I could almost hear him say, "You can do this, Kimmy."  And suddenly, I found that I could.  Thank you, Grandpa.

 

Seasonal Mashup

This photo is such a seasonal mashup.

The bones of the trampoline we bounced on all summer is surrounded by wintry snow, topped with a fine dusting of autumn leaves.  All the scene needs is some daffodils poking up through the snow, then every season would be represented. :)