While Hazel took the SAT, the rest of us went to Alameda to cheer Luna on in her soccer championship tournament. It was super fun to watch her and her team out there, a funny mix of impressive moves and novice mistakes.
Gemma started basketball season. It's been fun to go to her games and cheer her on. She's playing point guard. She's speedy, and when she figures out how to calm her focus and make her layups, she'll be a monster on the court.
We had the youth over for a fireside. The young women's president gave a spiritual lesson, and then we broke out into tables for a super fun Bunco tournament.
We had a couple days off of school around Veteran's Day. Hazel and Noah wanted to start a long-term Field Biology project where they free-dive to observe the kelp forest in Monterey. We decided to make a cute overnight trip out of it this first time around (they'll need to go back two or three more times on Saturdays on their own). We invited Karrie and Jane Harrison to join the fun, and we absolutely lucked out with the weather; it was sunny and low-60's, quite comfortable for Monterey.
We all headed to the observation spot first, and while Hazel and Noah dived, Jack, Henry, and Jane browsed the Cannery Row shops, Gemma searched for shells, and Rebecca, Karrie, and I chatted.
When the kelp diving was completed, we headed to Asilomar state beach for the rest of the afternoon. The kids and I had kelp battles, and Hazel, Noah, and Gemma played in the water. We walked the beach, played in the sand, and enjoyed a spectacular sunset.
Todd and Levi drove down after work and joined us for the following day. We all went back out to the beach after dinner, hoping to find a spot to make a bonfire, but all the beaches had signs banning fires. Noah and Hazel still went night surfing, and they said there was bioluminescence in the water. It sounded like a magical experience to me.
The next morning, we played at Del Monte Beach. All the kids - and Todd - went body boarding and surfing. They played in the water for a couple of hours. Noah's already broken surf board took its last ride, unfortunately.
We grabbed pho for lunch, then went hiking at Point Lobos national preserve over to China Cove, the same beautiful spot our family explored over spring break.
That weekend, Todd and Jack went back to the beach at Santa Cruz for a ward father/son campout. They were worried they would get rained on, but ended up with amazing weather, including no wind! Todd said he ran on the beach and got hot and sweaty. It was an exciting miracle! They came back happy.
While they were away, I left Hazel in charge of Gemma and had a game group gathering. We had originally planned to meet up at my cabin, but with the father/son campout, neither Katie nor Elaine felt they could leave their daughters home alone overnight, so we we adjusted our plans and did a local hangout. We came in pajamas, brought mountains of games to play, and made dinner and breakfast together. We listened to Taylor Swift and played tons of games, talked a lot, painted nails and did face masks. It wasn't the same as a real getaway, but it was pretty darn good still!
Todd and I celebrated our 21st anniversary. We went on a lunch date because he had Gargon for youth night and didn't wnat to miss it. It's the game where they turn out all the lights in the church building and he chases the kids around trying to tag them all before they find and assemble the pieces of a flashlight. It's a huge hit with the kids. Ot, at least, it was before this particular gathering. Mike Nelson and Delaney Becerra crashed into each other; Mike got a split lip and a loose tooth; Delaney got a cut above her eye that needed stitches They both went home early and stayed home from school the next day. Todd felt so bad.
That next weekend, Hazel went to the beach with Noah and Todd went to a birthday party. With the prospect of another weekend evening alone, I asked Gemma if she wanted to invite friends over for a hangout. We reached out to the girls in her age group from church, and luckily, all four of them were able to come over. They made personal pizzas, played games, and drew pictures of each other. It was a cute gathering.
The next night, we had the Dix family over for dinner. Jack led them in making homemade pretzels. We also had corn chowder and played lots of fun games. Gordon was just released as bishop; it was interesting to hear how the transition was going.
For Thanksgiving break, we flew out to Utah. We spent a couple of days in Logan and one in Mapleton. We rented an Airbnb to stay at in Hyde Park since we anticipated lots of people sleeping at my mom's house and their basement is in transition getting "finished," so we would all be sleeping on air mattresses in the cold basement or on couches in the living room, the public space where everyone congregates. It was definitely more comfortable to go somewhere else at night, with beds and our own bathroom, but it also left us feeling a little disconnected.
It was bittersweet to visit with Grandma Holley. She has degenerated since we saw her in July; when she spoke, it sounded like her mouth was full of marbles; she couldn't remember any of our names; and she was quiet and subdued, instead of spunky and frustrated. It was sad for me to see her like that. She can barely hear anything and she can only sort of see out of one eye. I am so grateful I've had her in my life for so many years. I am sad that her quality of life is so reduced at this point.
We got to meet Scott and Caprice's newest baby, Peter, who was born in August. He was fun to spend time with, babbling and smiling and laughing. I'm sad we missed the newborn snuggles, but we get what we get.
We had good food and enjoyed a couple fun games of flag football. Mostly, we played a lot of games and chatted and did a thousand dishes.
Friday morning we headed down to Mapleton to enjoy second Thanksgiving with the Bonners. Almost everyone was there! We were just missing Easton, who's on his mission in France, and Aleah and her husband and baby. It was a good time to gather, since Larry and Ellen are about to leave for another mission to work in the temple in Germany. We took family pictures, which was pretty tough with so many people.
David smoked the turkey and a ham, so we had pretty scrumptious meat. Hazel partook enthusiastically.
The kids had a blast; someone was almost always on the sports court. They played pickleball, soccer, and basketball. There was a lot of ping pong played as well, and at least some of the kids used the hot tub.
Missy taught us a new card game that included sleepover-esque dares the losers had to do. We all laughed as we filmed her and Erika running down the street, slapping their booties and shouting out that their "family is fat! P-H-A-T!"
We flew home Saturday morning and went straight to the Four Winds tree farm in Los Gatos to cut down a Christmas tree. I must say we found a beaut.
Todd forgot to pack any equipment for tying the tree to the roof rack, so we stuffed it inside the van instead. I smooshed a bug I found crawling on the seat and we all enjoyed the pine scent as we drove home.
Hazel had Delaney and May over for a little birthday dinner. We made steak and potatoes, played some games, watched an episode of Gilmore Girls, and then Hazel wore her Lorax suit to Target to buy ice cream and stun customers.
Sunday evening, the Lloyds had us and the Andrus family over for dinner and made a combined birthday celebration for Noah and Hazel. We all sang to them and they blew out candles together. It was really nice of them to do that for Hazel.
