Braces, Temple Trips, Ouchies, and Plays!

The big day for Camille finally arrived!  She went from this:

To this:

Yup, she got braces!!!  She's actually had upper and lower expanders for quite a while now, and had been waiting on pins and needles until the big day when they'd put the braces on, too.  I kept telling her that it wouldn't be a surprise, that we'd need a longer appointment, not just the five-minute check-ins we've been doing every 6 weeks.  But I don't think she really believed me.  So finally she got so desperate she was actually praying that they would decide it was time.  And she was so happy when the orthodontist said she'd get her braces at her next appointment!  I've never seen someone so excited for such a thing!  Anyway, she's been handling the pain like a champ and is very proud of her braces.  (And for those of you keeping track, that's 4 out of 5 kids with braces so far-- I'll be glad when we're finally done paying for that!!!)

That same evening (after much planning and rescheduling), Wendy and I took Kendra and McKinley to the temple!  Oddly enough, the day we could finally go was a Tuesday night, because our normal youth group activities were canceled so they could all go to the temple on Friday!  This landed on the same week that I was teaching seminary AND working extra hours to fill in for Corinne while she was on vacation.  So having a late night was kind of a lot for me.  But that didn't stop us from getting ice cream afterwards!

While we were at the temple, Craig somehow got roped into helping out with the Elder's Quorum service project (since the youth activities were canceled, they figured any youth who were bored could come and help?  I guess?)-- and then hardly any of the EQ people even showed up, so it was mostly Craig and our kids and a couple other families doing all the work.  {Sigh.}  But it was nice that they could be stacking firewood and helping people get ready for winter.  Unfortunately, Camille got a tiny sliver of wood in her eye and was in so much pain she couldn't sleep that night and we had to take her to the doctor first thing the next morning (when I needed to get to work and Craig was teaching seminary that morning for me, but I was still supposed to be there as the second adult) and it was all extremely busy.  So.  Busy.  Craig ended up working from home while Camille mostly sat around with warm washcloths on her eye so I could go to work.  (<--- This is the thing I need to remember if I ever get it into my head that I should be working full time!!!)

The good news is that her eye is fine.  But I think she was in more pain from that than from the braces!

And then on Thursday of that week, we headed over to Staunton and got to watch the dress rehearsal for Sarah's Harry Potter-adjacent dinner theater that she wrote and directed for the Mischief and Magic Festival (which was a Harry Potter Festival until they got in trouble for copyright issues).  Apparently I didn't take any pictures, but it was super fun to see and I was very impressed with all the work Sarah and her actors put into the show!  (Ironically, we'd been planning on watching Deathly Hallows that night since Camille just finished reading the book, and had to postpone for a different Harry Potter activity!  So much magic!!!)

Part of the reason we were okay with a late night on Thursday was because there was no school on Friday (I still had to go to work, but at least I didn't need to teach seminary!) and in the evening Camille and I stayed home while Craig took a van full of youth to the temple:

Gideon, Cedric, Ryder, Sawyer, Daniel, Jason, Kendra, Marianne, Colton, Jayden, Alex, and in front, Truman and Topher

Also that Friday, Emmett officially asked Kendra to homecoming.  He'd actually already asked if she would be around and willing to go with him since there was talk of us traveling that weekend.  But then he also asked if she wanted an official invite with the poster and all the stuff and she'd said Yes, so he very sweetly complied!  Apparently this is called a "HoCoProPo"-- HomeComing Proposal Poster?

They'd been taking turns stealing each other's windshield wipers-- so the poster is decorated with extra wipers!  How cute are they?

I really enjoyed myself the next week not having to teach or go to work!  I got a little solo hike in at the new Biscuit Run Park near my house!

I live in such a pretty place!

And I ended up going to Staunton again, this time to see Two Gentlemen of Verona at Blackfriars with Sarah!  She'd gotten free tickets from the library (is this a thing???) and we had so much fun!  It's not my favorite play, but the actors did such a great job with it (and getting Tex Mex beforehand was pretty fun, too)!

Unfortunately, I missed dinner and ice cream with Craig's parents to celebrate Tom's birthday.  There just isn't time for everything!!!  Apparently the Boo Batter was a popular choice-- and it made Ryder look like a Goth!!!

Oh, dear...

(Later on, everyone was troubled to learn that this ice cream turned their poo blue?!?!  Is that okay?  Maybe I'm glad I missed out after all...!)

And then it was General Conference weekend, and Craig and I were so happy to not have ANY OTHER PLANS.  We stayed home watching all the sessions, and making lots of yummy food, the way God intended Conference weekend to be!  Kendra and Ryder had a band competition at JMU for most of Saturday and had a good time.  One of these days we'll convince Ryder to wear sunscreen at these things...

Also that same weekend, Camille was kicking her stuffed animals down the stairs and accidentally dragged the top of her big toe across the steps-- there was a loud pop, and we figured she had broken it.  Kind of a rough month for Camille, now that I'm typing it all up!  She was supposed to go to a birthday party Saturday afternoon, but as soon as we walked into the house she burst into tears because her toe was hurting too much, so I just took her right back home.  Poor girl!

Craig ordered her a boot right away, which has helped

Ouch

Worn out and taking a nap during conference

And here she's actually awake, but trying out one of those face mask things.  They look so creepy, though!!!

And one last picture that Kendra took-- who knows why?-- so we can end on a happier, less creepy note:

Next up-- New York and Homecoming!

Teamwork

Recently at work, Craig was asked if he helps with the cooking at home.  He answered, "Alanna does about 95% of the cooking, but I usually help out whenever it's stuff that needs to be flipped."  His coworkers were understandably confused by this, so he went on to explain, "You know, like pancakes, grilled cheese sandwiches, or quesadillas.  Alanna doesn't like cooking things where she can't see if it's done or not."

Truer words were never spoken.  But I certainly had never thought it through in such clear terms.  But I honestly do hate cooking flippy stuff*.  I always get worried that it's burning on the bottom, so then I end up flipping it too soon and making a big old mess.  Seriously-- if you flip a pancake or a quesadilla before it's ready, the ingredients fly all over the place and all the bits and pieces burn all over the pan and it's just the worst.  I hate that.  All that work and you're left with a burnt mess.  

I will also point out that if Craig is around, I like to make him grate cheese or shred meat.  Those chores often make my wrists hurt and I hate that.

But Craig is the best sous chef ever!

*The one exception is when I make fried ramen, which is basically a ramen pancake-- similar to Okonomiyaki, except with ramen noodles instead of cabbage, so obviously WAY yummier; I can usually see the egg cooking around the edges and get a pretty good idea of when to flip these babies.  I don't know why they're so much easier for me than anything else!

UVA Stuff, the Rodeo, and Everything In Between

A couple weeks ago it was "Paint the Town Orange" night, so we donned our best UVA swag and headed to the downtown mall to watch the festivities-- welcome back, students!!!

We ended up being right next to where the drums were playing, so that was fun!  (But could Craig have gotten a worse angle on me???)

Which reminds me-- this video that UVA released a couple years ago was so great!!!  (And goodbye, Jim Ryan, sniff!)

And then the YM went to a fire station for their weeknight activity:

Craig was super excited to see how the jaws of life have changed since his firefighting days

There's Wylan showing them stuff

And now all the young men (and half of the leaders) want to be firefighters!  Success!

We went to another football game, just to watch the marching band!

As they marched past us, Camille commented, "Ryder looks taller in a uniform!"  They all do, Camille, they all do...  (That's Ryder in the back, holding an FSY bag in one hand!)

Camille was very proud of this sunset picture that she took

There's Kendra playing the bass drum

They held a multi-ward YM/YWs activity to watch a church broadcast.  Everyone watched it outside at a member's home, and I love the young men all grouped together being adorable:

And there's a pretty sunset!

Can you read their shirts?  It says, "I read the whole Book of Mormon and all I got was this T-shirt...  And a testimony"  😂

Camille got a Costco hotdog with her father

Craig and I had another temple date (I'm wearing the same dress as last time!) and then went to Torchy's after-- a lovely evening!

Tracy sent me this awesome picture of the family-- 

My Aunt Ann, Tracy, Cora, Adam, Dad, and Bentley!

To celebrate Adam's birthday (my friend, not my BIL), we joined him and the Holbeins for a little kayaking!

But then Hazel was offended by something (probably me asking her if she wanted to get in the kayak?) and had to go sit and pout at the end of the dock....

THAT FACE!!!  No one can hold a pout like Hazel!!!

Adam with two of the Holbein children on the paddle board

Craig and Camille took a spin in the double kayak

They rowed so perfectly in sync!

Camille really likes paddle boarding

She decided this little hideout should be called Camille's Cove

Oh, look, I got in the water, too!  (But not for very long-- I'm pretty happy sitting on the shore letting everyone take their turns)

Colton went home with the Huffs after church one Sunday, and then after my nap Craig and I called Bentley and were chatting with him when we suddenly realized we should probably pick up Colton!  So Craig headed out and I texted Megan to let her know Craig was on his way, when she suddenly called me back to inform me that she had dropped Colton off at our house a half hour ago!  Somehow we'd missed him!  I felt terrible, until I went looking for him and this was what I found:

Well no wonder we hadn't seen or heard him!

Parents of the Year, right here!

Within a week of arriving in Seattle, Bentley started his new job at Ace Hardware Store on the island!  We were very proud of him for finding work so fast.  It pays slightly less than the job he had here at the SPCA Store, but they give him way more hours AND overtime pay, so he's making more (and keeping busier), so that's all great stuff!  In the same vein as first day of school pictures, Tracy sent us a first day of work picture:

The really funny thing about this is that Tracy has always thought it would be really great working at the hardware store on the island!  She was literally telling me this as Bentley was on the plane flying to Seattle and I was like, "Actually, I'm pretty sure he has a job interview there this week!"  You can't plan stuff like this!  A few weeks later Adam stopped by and got a couple pictures of Bentley working so we could see!  

I'm not sure what he's doing here, but I DO know that sorting out all the screws (in the foreground) is the bane of Bentley's existence these days!

And THIS is a very Bentley look!  I'm glad he gives it to his uncle, too, and not just his parents!!!

A couple more Bentley shots-- here are he and Cora enjoying some time on their electronics.  Cousin bonding at its finest!

And here the Nilsen's decided to go out in their boat one evening-- it looks very windy!

This picture makes me laugh

Meanwhile, back in Virginia, we hosted another new member open house (I feel like this was the third one we've had, but there could have been more and I've just lost count).  It was...  not well attended: several people who said they would come just seemed to forget or something.  Which is kind of annoying because I cleaned the entire house and made a ton of food for it.  But the good news is, that should be the last one we ever do!  (Fingers crossed...!)

But the bishopric was all there, and they were all wearing blue polo shirts!  How cute are they?

Kendra loves calling people "silly little guys" so this random bumper sticker that I saw in a parking lot made me laugh

Gotta love a girl using power tools!  Craig has been taking down the wreck of our deck stairs...

Colton manages to grab my phone when I'm not looking...

Oop, and he did it again at home!

And THEN, on another night, we decided to go to the rodeo in Orange!  It was the last one of the season, so even though we were all really tired, we decided it would be a shame to miss out.  And I'm so glad we went-- I LOVE the rodeo!!!  (It was two nights in a row sitting on very hard bleachers since this was the day after a football game, but our tushes survived!)

(Ryder was at a friend's house, and Camille spent the entire night standing by the fence so she could see better)

Like so

Watching the horses warm up for the barrel races

At one point they put out a line of candy and then let the kids race for it.  But who wants to eat a tootsie roll that's been sitting in that dirt???  (Camille threw hers away)

Craig lucked out and video-ed one of the best rides of the night!

This is the absolute craziest thing ever, right?  But it's so awesome!