Angels on a church bench

I spoke at church on Sunday. Which most people who talk on Sunday’s often start their talk with something like,” I didn’t want to talk today” or “I knew I shouldn’t have answered the call when the bishop called…” But I actually really enjoy speaking so I was totally happy to talk. I was asked to speak on Sis. Craig’s talk from last conference titled, Eyes to See. It went well. Though I really enjoy speaking, my favorite part was getting a birds eye view watching my little family on the church pew. The last few weeks Levi has been so fussy he has been taken out and the girls get pretty wound up. But Levi just sat happily on Marc’s lap and the girls quietly played. I told him he must have had an angel sitting with him to keep that level of peace and calm. I hope it was Jenny.

This is the girls with their cute friend Charity

We did a good amount of cooking and baking and this little guy wanted to be right in the action of it.

On Monday, I had been herding cats trying to get my kids all ready to meet some friends at the park. I finally got everyone’s shoes on and then I ran to the bathroom and came back to find the girls giving Levi a “bath” fully clothed with his socks and sneakers on…

Needless to say, we had a costume change and were a few minutes late. The girls said they “don’t know what happened”. And Ruby claims she was not involved at all, though she was standing in the tub with them. It was a good laugh.

It was a Harry Potter weekend in Waco!!

We recently finished reading the first Harry Potter book to the kids (actually read “Marc read the kids.” He does ALL the voices and is a close second to Jim Dale) and the Walkers have blown through J K Rolling during COVID. So when we found out the zoo was hosting a Harry Potter scavenger hunt we decided to make it a whole weekend thing together.

We had Polly juice potion and dark mark cookies
Basilisk bread
Mrs. Norris & Hermione Granger
Dobby the house elf
And a wicked crazy dance party
We were told you got more points for creativity and Potter knowledge. We were more than ready. We have been preparing the last 15 years of our lives for this.
Clue: take a photo of an animal almost as tall as Grawp. Response: (giraffe pictured in the background) Yer’ have to stoke their spine to calm em. And maybe pet them between the eyes. Getting up their is the trick- probably Hagrid.
Clue: take a photo in the owlery
Response: How long does the average snowy owl live? A little over six books. #toosoon
Clue: take a photo with an animal the same color as the Weasley’s hair. Response: Red hair and hand-me-down robes? Let me guess, you must be a Weasley.
Clue: take a photo fighting a basilisk snake. Response: Hagrid and his stinkin pets! At least Fluffy appreciated good music.

Clue: take a photo with an animal with the same color as Dobby’s eyes.

That was just a few of the laundry list of clues and small trivia questions. Marc and I had a fantastic time geeking out with our kids who just started getting all of our references.

Levi on his Firebolt swooping in to capture the egg from the Comodo Dragon.

Then we spent the afternoon putting up our Christmas decorations. I am 100% team put Christmas up before Thanksgiving! Christmas lights are magical and having the tree up makes everyone happy. Give me all the Bing Crosby and Penatonix Christmas. Macklemore’s It’s Christmas Time, is still at the top of my holly jolly jams.

Levi really enjoyed the “chucking” the ornaments on technique.

And we wrapped up the week with the Taylor’s. Emily made amazing steak soup and we had hot chocolate and played Candy Land.

During dinner I was trying to help all the girls to calm down a bit and asked, “Thanksgiving is coming and it helps us to think about what we are thankful, what is something you are grateful for?” And Ruby just blurted out, “JESUS!” And Addy added, “The Lord!” I was thinking more along the lines of friends living so close. But yes. Those two are spot on.

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