Bus rides and birthday parties.

Highlights, again. Most of our days are routine. 

Mary's party was on Friday night. A party planned, prepared and executed by 12 year old girls is bound to have a lot of food. She planned a Secret Santa Baking Party: lots of cupcakes, pizza, doorbell ditching and games.

Abraham forgot to pick up Maeser after school on Thursday.  Poor Abe, I tried to allow natural consequence be the punishment, after stopping at 4 different homes and having Abe knock on the door, he began crying in the car saying he'd lost Maeser. By the time we found him, Maeser had been waiting in the school office for an hour and then walked himself "home" but stopped at a friends house on the way, Abe was so anxious. Here's hoping he never forgets again.

Mary also graduated, officially, from Primary. In our church culture that is such a big step, bringing new responsibilities and it's crazy to think that she'll start hanging out with 16 and 17 year old girls several times a month. Totally not ready for her to be growing up so fast. 

Dan's making a quick trip to the USA today and hitting the Philippines on the way back on Saturday, I'm glad he'll get to see you. I forgot to make sure he booked our tickets before he left! Mary got her temple recommend and is so excited to go with Caelyn, Juliana and Zerah.

With the two little growing out of naps, we've started adventuring more. We're usually good for a couple days and then everyone is overly tired and we crash and burn for long naps on the third day. On Monday I took the bus on a test route (during their naps) to figure out how to get to the shopping center and back all by bus or trains. Moses is really into cars and I thought he would love it. On Wednesday when I tried again with the children, we immediately got on the wrong bus and it took us an extra 40 minutes to get to the store. I imagined tears and fussy kids but Moses loved every minute of it. We even got all our errands in (post office, hair cut for Moses, playground and picnic).

I tried the bus again on Sunday, leaving early for Ward Council. I've been spoiled and never had to take public transportation to church because I usually have a car full of children. But because I was the only one going early I took the bus. 60 minutes later (the projected time of arrival) I had already missed two bus stops on two different busses and was footing it the rest of the way. I really think I could have made it without any errors, but I mistakenly thought I could get my scripture study done on the way and I kept missing my stops. I was trying to research the amount of effort it would take for a single mom to come to church, by bus, for extra activities. I'm sure if I had to make that trip weekly with children, by myself, then I would rarely come. I imagine I have more faith than that, but arriving childless, out of breath and ready for a shower wasn't a pleasant experience. Not to mention that she would need to take the bus home. Her combined efforts to get to church would double her church block. Some women are unbelievably faithful and strong!

We found time to decorate and demolish a gingerbread house. Photo essay follows. Self explanatory.

Oh, and just a funny moment. I'm sure no one has a closet as pared down as Dan's, haha.