November 17-25, 2023

 Friday 17th

I got to the Las Vegas Airport at 9:20pm and saw that the kids' flight was delayed 25 minutes until 10:44. I got to the gate and tracked their flight on the Planes Live App until they got there. It was so good to see them and on the 2 hour and 15 minute drive back home we talked the whole way about our upcoming trip to Hawaii, Lizi's Freaky Friday play, kids in their Texas Ward, and all sorts of things. we got home at 2:30am the next day and went to bed pretty fast.

Saturday, 18th

Because we got to bed so late, I figured everyone would sleep in for a while but when I got up at 9:20 to feed the cats, I heard Trey awake and heading out to the back yard. He and I ate some breakfast and then Judi, Trey and I played Mario Cart. Trey hasn't lost his talent! He won just about all of the races. We went outside and played with the pets for a little bit and then threw the football a little. Lizi and then Shelby got up and ate some breakfast. Shelby found Splash and then loved on him for a while while Smokey climbed up on Trey's lap. Shelby and I went outside to play volleyball which was so much fun and Shelby caught on really fast and we had some really good rallies! Shelby went inside and played the new Ukulele and Lizi and Judi went outside and played with plastic animals and stranded family. We also ate lunch right around this time and Trey, Shelby, and I watched the Olaf Presents Shorts. When Lizi and Judi came back in, Lizi showed me her Freaky Friday performance. I especially loved the scene where she sings as a PE coach! She was so good! Lizi and I then went outside to play Volleyball and she did really good too. I made Wok Chicken for dinner and we watched Clear and Present Danger while we ate. We then watched 2 episodes of Lego Masters and went to bed (although I can still hear Lizi and Shelby laughing loudly as I'm typing this). 

Sunday, 19th

We woke up and walked to church. it was overcast but the rain held off on us. Trever Clayton, the boy that Shelby thinks is cute, spoke in church today. When we got home, Judi put on a few Mark Rober Youtube videos and we ate lunch. After eating, Trey studied for an Excel test he has tomorrow, Shelby took a nap, and Lizi and Judi set up Lego Disneyland. I helped Trey a little and then Lizi and I talked before we went outside and Lizi and Judi raked the leaves into a big pile and jumped in them and had a leaf fight. Trey and I started playing catch with the football but the football went flat and it started to rain so we came in and watched a little football on TV while Judi and Lizi went outside to play stranded family in the rain. Shelby, Trey, and I played Mario Cart while Judi watched. I made a roast for dinner and we watched Lego Masters while we ate. I then had to go clean the rock shop and the kids were in bed before I got home. While I was gone, Trey and Judi played Odyssey, Shelby called her crush, and Lizi took a shower. Then Lizi and Trey played Mario Cart and they went to bed.

Monday, 20th

I woke up and took Judi to school. When I got home, Trey woke up and we played Mario Kart. While we were playing, Lizi woke up and played with us too. Trey then had to go study for a Microsoft Excel test so Lizi and I looked at our Disney binders and Gumball Rally binders. Shelby woke up and she, Lizi, and I watched Newsies the Musical. It was cold and windy outside but Lizi and I decided to play a little volleyball for a few minutes. Shelby stayed inside and cuddled with the cats. She especially likes to "torment" Splash, holding him in her lap so he can't get away. Trey got a 90% on his test and I made him a couple of hot dogs. Lizi and I then started playing with our lego, designing a new float for the Christmas Fantasy Parade. Shelby then wanted to play a little volleyball too so we went out and played until we got too cold. We then all loaded in the car and went to pick Judi up from school. She was happy to see everyone. When we got home, Shelby played the Ukulele and Judi watched Trey play odyssey on the Switch. I then went to get Pizza for dinner and we watched a few episodes of Lego Masters. Judi then went to stay with her mom and Lizi we to get ready for bed while Trey, Shelby, and I watched an episode of Modern Family and a few episodes of the Office before going to bed.

Tuesday, 21st

Trey woke up and was playing Mario Odyssey when I came out into the living room. we ate breakfast and then played Mario Kart. Lizi then woke up, ate, and put together floats for her Lego Fantasy on Parade. Trey and I then went to practice pickleball for our match later in the day with the Scotts. While we were gone, Sheby slept and Lizi did Lego (Judi was at school). when Trey and I came home, Shelby, Lizi and I set up Christmas lights. It as so awesome to have help setting them up! Trey worked on a spreadsheet for the YouTube video we are planning on making tomorrow and then he came out to help with the lights too. We came in and had a light lunch since it was so close to dinner. Shelby and Lizi then went to pick up Judi from school (it was Shelby's first time driving by herself here in Utah) while Trey and I went to play pickleball against Micah and Treyson Scott. We won the first game 11-4, lost the second game 12-10, won the 3rd game 11-6, lost the 4th game 11-8, and won the last game 11-6. I was playing a little easy on them since it was just for fun and Trey played really good for not having played much. It was so much fun to play in a match with Trey. When we got home, I played volleyball with Shelby and then Lizi came out and the three of us played while Trey played on his phone. I came in to finish dinner and Shelby and Lizi stayed outside and played volleyball which was SO fun to see! We ate dinner and watched Swiss Family Robinson (Judi played Lego since she didn't want to watch it). After the movie, Shelby texted Sam, a boy that she likes and Trey, Lizi, Judi, and I played many rounds of Mario Kart. Lizi got tired of playing after a while and Shelby took her spot. We then got ready for bed.

Wednesday, 22nd

Trey woke up first today but slept in a little and he and I played Mario Kart until Lizi and Judi woke up and played with us. Shelby was the last one up, ate breakfast, and then we all headed to Aspiration Trail where we tried to find the rocks we had painted in years past. The first rock we found was Shelby's "Up" rock she did 3 years ago. It was in a prominent spot where the trail makes a "y" to head up to the summit. The next one we found was Lizi's Tea Cups rock she did 2 years ago. It was just a few yards from the summit marker on the other side. On the way down, we found 2 more rocks - Judi's nature rock with a moose and trees and a stream, and Shelby's desert cactus rock. Both were fading pretty bad but it was fun to find them. When we got back home, we had some lunch and then Trey and I threw the football around outside and Lizi and I played volleyball. Then Judi and I played a little volleyball too. Shelby took a Math and a biology quiz. We had dinner and watched Solo and then Trey, Lizi, Judi, and I played Mario Kart while Shelby texted Sam and played the Ukulele. Then Lizi and Judi did some water color before we all went to bed.

Thursday, 23rd

Happy Thanksgiving!! I woke up and started wrapping the kids' Christmas presents before they got up. Trey got up and came to my room as I was wrapping them but fortunately didn't see any of his unwrapped. We ate breakfast and then played Mario Kart, which has kind of become our morning tradition as we wait for more people to wake up. Lizi and Judi woke up and came to play with us also after they ate. Shelby got up and ate and then played Mario Kart with the other kids while I watched. It is so fun to watch everyone play. I then turned the football game on and Shelby, Trey and I watched it while Lizi and Judi played Lego. Trey and I then went outside to throw the football around and then worked on a project in the front yard - to add dirt to a trench that had been dug to replace my water main. I also tried to fix the fuses on one strand of Christmas lights to no avail. we came in and Lizi and I played volleyball and then Shelby and I threw the football around a little. We came in and Shelby and I started working on Thanksgiving dinner. Shelby made the mashed potatoes while I carved the turkey and heated the other food. Lizi and Judi continued to play Lego and Trey played on his phone. The dinner turned out great! The turkey was moist and Shelby's mashed potatoes were perfect! We watched Meet the Robinsons while we ate. After dinner, I turned the evening football game on and we watched a little while the kids had a webchat. Lizi wanted to play Mario Kart with just me which meant a lot to me so we played for a little while. Then Trey and Judi joined in too. Once Shelby got off the webchat, we all finished watching the football game and then recorded a YouTube video where we graded every ride in California Adventure. After recording it, we watched Pirates of the Caribbean II and then went to bed.

Friday, 24th

Lizi was the first one up today and we decided to eat some breakfast. As we were getting our bowls, Trey woke up too and ate with us. After breakfast, we played Mario Kart and Judi woke up and watched us. Lizi then went to build Lego, working on the Guardians of the Galaxy elevator. When Shelby woke up, she did school work and then Shelby and I went outside to play volleyball and were joined shortly by Lizi and then Judi. It was so fun playing with them and one of my favorite parts of the week. It was cold outside and a little damp from earlier rain but we played for quite a while. Trey was editing the YouTube video we made yesterday. After volleyball, we ate lunch and talked at the table. Lizi then rediscovered the old lollipop that I saved from when we used to go to Disneyland when they were much younger and she and Shelby decided that they wanted to lick it for old times sake! Shelby said that the taste brought back memories. We then went "black Friday" shopping, although we really went just to get milk and marshmallows for hot chocolate. When we got home, Trey, Lizi, Judi, and I played Mario Kart and Shelby played the Ukulele. I then got dinner ready and we watched Fox and the Hound while we ate. The kids then packed and Lizi put Lego Disneyland away. Trey played Mario Odyssey while Judi watched him and Shelby texted friends on the recliner. We then all got ready for bed and Lizi and I talked in the Disney room while I typed this up. 

Saturday, 25th

We woke up early and left for the airport at 4:15am. The kids made sure to find Smokey before they left just in case he doesn't make it to the summer visit. We talked about the Gumball Rally, their favorite things they ate this trip, and lots of other things on the way to the airport. We got to the Las Vegas airport at about 5:25 Vegas time, checked the bags, got escort tickets for Judi and I, and made it through security and to the gate with about an hour before the flight took off. We sat by the window and Lizi read her book, Trey played his game on his phone while Judi watched him, and Shelby and I talked about Sam, the guy she is texting. We talked with the gate agent about boarding after the "A" group boarded which is what they normally allow the kids to do, and then it was time to board the plane. It was a really fun visit!