A life changing month in the Marston home! We brought home an early Christmas present- a puppy for our family! For the first two weeks of Coco's new life here, we also tended her sister- Ruby- who belongs to the Judds. So it has been a crazy and busy month trying to become accustomed to our new situation. But the kids, and Anna in particular are loving it so much and it makes it all worth it. Early mornings, lots of clean up, lots of training and checking in.... I'm not sure I'm cut out for all of this, but we are doing our best and I'm even enjoying the slow down of sticking around at home more and getting to bed earlier to tend to the puppy in the morning. A new experience for sure!
So this was by far the biggest news of the month. But beyond our puppy adoption, we also enjoyed celebrating Thanksgiving with the Marstons, attending the temple with the youth, hosting a big Thanksgiving break dinner with the sister missionaries and many many teens in the neighborhood! Loved Celebrating Kinley's upcoming baby girl with a tea party shower which was SO fun to put together. Having all sorts of kids over all break to play with the puppies and watch Christmas movies.
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This month Dane and Grant spent a lot of time cooking, baking, surfing, and fishing. Grant had a BIG belated birthday party at the Buswells at the beginning of the month- he and KC celebrated together and it was such a fun night! Loved the gift exchange that Rebecca wrote up which was all about Grant and KC and many of their friends in attendance. The kids played nine square and ate cake and swam in the pool. Grant also loved spending the day at the beach surfing with all his girlfriends for Maggie's birthday. SUPER fun day for him.
Grant's Twin Peaks fag football team won 1st place in the league!
Really hard news for Dane a few weeks back; he did not make the varsity soccer team when most of his friends did. He made a decision to take a little break this year from high school soccer and focus on work and puppy and club soccer. This seems small. It has NOT been small for our family because being on the varsity soccer team has been a goal Dane has worked towards his whole life. So it's been sad for all of us, but at the same time, life throws curve balls and you move forward. Dane is resilient and he is working out, training in the backyard, working hard as a soccer coach many days a week. At first he wanted to give up on soccer entirely, but with a big pep talk from his dad, he's decided that soccer might still be a big part of his life even if he's not on the team this year.
Super sweet text from Grant to Dane:)
Ev is facing her own trials as she struggles through big decisions she is currently making about her life and her relationships. Eli is about to leave on his mission and that will be very challenging to lose her closest friend even though he has not been the ideal boyfriend. She is deciding on her next step and that's a big decision. Man, it's not easy raising teens and young adults. Now I understand why all those mothers used to say that to me when I had babies. They were RIGHT. It IS a lot and it weighs on my mind constantly. But I trust Ev and pray for her and believe in her and all that lies ahead. Life was never meant to be easy, that's for sure. We celebrated Evelyn's birthday which was a little sad because she wasn't home. She had to work over the holiday so she spent it by herself but we sent her gifts and a few fun visits from friends back home with cake and flowers. Really hard to believe that Ev is 19 years old!
Anna enjoyed her free time with less dance! She has had the best month attending activity days and hanging out with Kate as much as possible. Even though Anna is in middle school, Kate is still Anna's number one friend. Love all the ideas these two come up with- like cleaning out cabinets for money, washing dishes for a chance to go to the rescue center, helping decorate for Christmas, making friendship cookies, and spending SO much time with Sophie- Kate's lil'sis. If Kate is busy at a game, then Sophie comes over. Love that Anna is the go-to girl at church on Sundays with all of the little two to three year olds who come from all over the chapel to sit with her. Of course, playing with Coco, taking Coco to visit all of Anna's puppy friends and walking her pup all around the neighborhood has made for a heavenly month. It's just fun to watch her.
Keeping Blake SUPER busy is all of his Bishop responsibilities. He is the best bishop and he works so hard every day. Often, he comes home and falls asleep in his work clothes. He's not used to all of this yet but he really is incredible and I'm so proud of what an awesome father, husband, orthodontist and Bishop he is. He's constantly preparing talks, doing interviews, running meetings. And in between he still has time for double dates with me and inspiring pep talks for the kids.
As for me, I've been subbing less- but I still go in about once a week and enjoy those elementary kids SO much. I guess I just really love kids and it makes me happy to go to school and be with them, even though life is busy as can be. I've spent a lot of time this month helping a ward member with her son who is special needs and even went to family court ALL DAY and learned SO SO much about how the system works. It's another world that I've never known much about but it was eye opening and made me grateful for my blessings and also motivated to continue helping as much as I can. I was released this month from Primary music leader. VERY sad for me- but I'm really enjoying my new calling in Young Women. We have the best youth in our ward and I already know and adore them, so it was easy to attach myself to the program. We've already done some amazing things just in this first month! Repelling off a bridge! A pirate murder mystery that one of our girls wrote! Musical prep and class presidency meetings. It's a lot, but I'm enjoying it. And also- I was asked to conduct the Stake Christmas kids chorus and so that has been amazing and helped me not feel too sad about missing out on singing time.
Also VERY excited about our breakfast club- skills class that Melanie Burke and I teach to the middle schoolers on Wednesday mornings. We are meeting with a member of the General Young Women Board THIS week to discuss implementing our mental wellness curriculum into church curriculum. Very exciting. Celebrated Elizabeth's 43rd birthday this month with an awesome hike and then açaí bowls at my house. Cathy came to town and we talked all morning and made breakfast together- so fun to catch up. With the kids at home over the break and completely entertained by Coco, I had a little time to hike with friends- like Heather, and visit Sameen for her birthday, So grateful to have such a wonderful group of friends in my life.
So much to be thankful for. Most importantly, my family and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
family court
