Life in a Northern Town: FAMILY LETTER 10.01.17

Dear Loved Ones,

Well, it’s October. September is in the rear-view mirror...that was super-fast. This has been a fantastic week because AUTUMN. And CONFERENCE!

I had a trip hangover on Monday and actually felt a little ill. Luckily my schedule was loose enough to sleep it off and get back in the groove Tuesday. Monday night my family had a little birthday party for me, which was awesome. Rich bought an ice cream cake and Addie gave me a sweet little necklace and my favorite Crabtree and Evelyn Avocado hand cream. I looked and felt yucky but it definitely cheered me up. My sweet visit teachee/neighbor/friend/other daughter Cali Dixon brought me flowers and love. I went to be feeling adored. I slept hard and rocked Tuesday. Finished laundry, cleaned up bedrooms, cleaned out fridge, planned weekend meals, took Niles to soccer and attended Pack Meeting where James finished up Webelos and I got to paint his face!

Wednesday I took James to the doc to get his ankle x-rayed. It has been bothering him for 3 weeks but it never swelled up or looked weird so I kind of ignored it. But he was limping around in his quiet unassuming way and I thought I had better have it looked at before he has another soccer practice. He looks fine so they gave him a brace and some ibuprofen and he played pretty well the rest of the week. Since we got out of the clinic during his lunch, I took him and Ammon to get some lunch at Gil’s then took him back to school. That night was a combined youth activity of a soccer game and barbecue that was a little rocky behind the scenes, but Rich saved the day as usual (I keep telling them they need to let these things fail big time so the kids can learn that planning, delegating, and keeping your word MATTER in life--that is what they are supposed to be learning right now! It’s better to learn it at a weekly youth activity that in your job or in college or in your marriage. Make a plan, work your plan, and do what you say you are going to do! Lord knows we already have too many adults who are not trustworthy.) *steps off soapbox* At any rate, the kids had a great time and that is awesome.

Thursday was super busy for Rich, but it was the start of the weekend for the kids and me (no school Friday). While the kids were at school, Ammon and I tried to help get our firewood put away and made kindling buckets and cleared out the flower bed for winter. We baked conference treats and prepped shredded beef and chicken for a Sunday taco/burrito/nacho bar. We folded and hung laundry. When the big kids got home, they helped, too. Niles went to Porter Tyner’s birthday party and I took Addie to do some errands and to the JV soccer game, then home to feed my people and clean up and host a post-game youth fiesta. The kids came home from the game and had popcorn and brownies and watched Ryan Hamilton and were just generally silly. Addie did a good job cleaning up after her friends so it was a good night for me!

Friday we did morning chores, took Heidi to spend the day with friends, and the other 5 of us headed over to Bozeman. All throughout the day I enjoyed updates from family gathered to say goodbye to Grandma Post in Tucson. It looked like a sweet gathering. Addie and I went to Macy’s and stocked up at Clinique and got 3 bonus gifts--woohoo! We picked up and order at Target, a few groceries at Costco, and an hour at Museum of the Rockies hanging out with some dinos. We came home and took Niles to soccer practice and picked up our other daughter, Izzi, to come hang out with Addie. Addie and Iz made pizzas and I made a kick-butt salad and dinner was great! I did some kid reading and mom reading and waited to pick up and drop off kids at 11pm and get to bed to prepare for an awesome conference Saturday. It seriously felt like Christmas Eve.

We got up around 7 and got Niles ready for his soccer game at 7:45am and Addie to work at 8am. Ammon came; the rest of the kids slept in. Niles was entertaining a usual and it was 20* warmer than last time but still too cold-windy to be fun. I stopped by the local grocery and got some donuts and oj for the kids and some apple boxes to store and stack our last bits of kindling from our 2 cords of wood. Daddy and the boys gotter done today--only took 9 days, and boy are we cozy! We had a fire and conference on 3 tvs throughout the house and the kids were so good and quiet. So refreshing! Rich left during Sister Oscarson’s (awesome LOSE YOURSELF) talk to get James to his game, and I followed after Christofferson and missed Holland! Thank heaven for instant replays! We had chicken veg lettuce wraps for lunch per Heidi’s request, and an array of brownies, and 2 gluten free cakes--carrot and chocolate zucchini. Yum. Grandpa and Grandma Melin came and watched second sesh with us cuz they have limited data out at the ranch. It was fun to be with them. They had to leave right away, and I had to go pick up Addie from work. She looked so cute in her sous chef coat (she worked the early prep shift, which she loves) and it started to rain on our way home (yay). James decided to attend priesthood session with his dad tonight even though he is only eleven. I was surprised he wanted to go, and it may have just been for the pie, but I am glad they got to do that. I am so happy that he and Rich will be spending so much time together now that James is in Boy Scouts. Perfect timing--just what he needs to get through middle school, I think. I snuggled Ammon watching the priesthood sesh on Roku on my bed. Addie joined us after a while and Heidi and Niles watched a Disney movie. Again--a remarkably peaceful evening.

Sunday has been equally peaceful and beautiful. The grandparents joined us for lunch and second session and its always nice to have them here--they bring a little Billings temple to us ;). Right after lunch we learned that Elder Robert D. Hales passed away. We enjoyed watching together his biographical sketch/tribute after the last session of conference. He lived a great life. We look forward to sustaining a new apostle.I am so grateful that Grandma Sine’s funeral was a comforting and sweet experience by all accounts. I am also grateful that Cousin Dave got to take Lucy and Peeps to conference in SLC with Aunt Marti and Uncle Ralph. Some of my best memories and testimony-building experiences happened on temple square with my grandparents and it kinda smooshes my heart to see that tradition continue. Beautiful, strong girls!

We love and miss you all and wish you a happy week full of sun, rain, leaves, cool breezes, warm beverages and interactions. We wish Uncle Sam Layton a super Happy 40^th Birthday on Thursday…he’s a good ol’ goat and I always think of him as my very own belated birthday gift ;) Keep in touch!

Love,

Jamie and Richard and Family