HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EILIS!

 How could the last 18 years have gone by so fast ?????

 One thing is for certain Eilis has grown into a beautiful young woman.  She is thoughtful, kind, a wonderful daughter, sister, and friend.  She is a great student, and hard-worker. 

AND, she is an amazing granddaughter who often stops by either before or after work to see us.  
Hope you have a happy day, Eilis ~  It will be birthday cake and ice cream tomorrow

             🍨🎂🎈🎉🎵     HAPPY BIRTHDAY

 Has our family become a CAT family?

 It would seem so . . .

What is 

happening

here ???

The Hopkins Zoo 😂 (this is what Adam called it)

Adam said that this week while the missionaries were over visiting with them, Stevie brought a dead mouse into the house and was batting it around under the table, while Adam and the kids were trying to retrieve the dead mouse, the missionaries were holding back Milo - 

I WAS SAD TO SEE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS GO 😕 Am I the only one????

I wish we could just stay on Daylight Savings time year-round - but guess I'm not in charge -

Sendai doesn't like it either.  She was ready for her dinner at 4:00 tonight and had a hard time being patient until 5:00

FROM SUNNY CALIFORNIA TO COLORADO SNOW ⛄

We landed in Colorado Springs Wednesday evening to a snowstorm.  However it is always good to get home after being away for a week, so we really didn't mind.  We tried hard to get in the spirit of Halloween but it didn't seem as much fun without having Jake to go Trick-or-Treating with.  We missed him, but that's what happens when adorable 5-year-olds grow up to be adorable 8-year-olds.  Watch out Angella and Kate!

Kate did send me some great photos of Sayre though -

Sayre was Sasquatch and Kate was the park ranger.

(And Jonathan was a tired Trombone instructor)

I think Kate should go into the costume-making business.  She is amazing!

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR   

 Adam and Chris spent a couple of days in the mountains hunting.  Adam came home empty-handed, but I'm sure he will try again next year.  I do appreciate that he doesn't just go for the sport, but he is great to freeze and use the meat throughout the year.  

THANK YOU FOR THE SUNDAY SELFIES!

Kate is going on a Hallmark cruise this week

Kim and Chris in London

Today after Church, our good friends Steve and Terri Jenkins came over for lunch.  We were stationed with them in both Tokyo and in Okinawa.  They are currently senior missionaries assigned to the Air Force Academy working with the cadets and the young adult wards.  They have so much energy and are perfect for this calling - they will be an amazing blessing to the Singles Wards.  

FINAL THOUGHTS

 This week in my Family and Child Advocacy class our reading and assignments were focused on technology.  I love that we always study from the secular perspective and in this case, there were so many evidence-based research articles that cited the effect of the over-use of cell phones and devices.  We also did some reading about AI companions (something I had never heard of before) and how all of these things are not only affecting young people but adults as well.

So, I thought it was interesting in the devotional for youth tonight from Elder Bednar, that he focused a lot on the blessings of technology but also the dangers.  He asked 2 questions which I think we should all consider - 

1. Does the use of various technologies and media invite or impede the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in your life?

2. Does the time you spend using various technologies and media enlarge or restrict your capacity to live, to love, and to serve in meaningful ways?

Good questions to think about!

Have a wonderful week and do good things.  Be kind to others and to yourself.  Have some ice cream.  Love you!

IT'S TRUE!  Nothing quite beats the California sun - unless it is Colorado mountains + sun, or maybe Iowa sun + cornfields + Sayre, Jonathan, and Kate, or Illinois sun + the Ellsworths backyard + Grant, Spencer, Blythe, Kim, and Chris, or Provo sun + Temples + Max - ok, I'm done 😎

 We have had such a great time these last few days visiting with Francie and Ray, looking at old photographs, scrapbooks, and letters.  Thursday, Mike, and Ruthie and Ken arrived so we could take Francie to lunch for her birthday.  They have a little Mexican restaurant they love, and the owner, Frank, treats them like royalty.  

 After lunch, I took Francie shopping for something new to wear to Church and then we went back to the house for birthday cake.  Matt and Jenny came over, as well as, Matt's 13-year-old son Max, who played "happy birthday" for us on his trombone.  He is so cute and was excited to perform for us.
  
 

We left Modesto Friday afternoon and it just took us a couple of hours to get to Marysville.  Sad to say I have a research paper due for school next week so yesterday I stayed busy trying to catch up from the days I didn't get much done.  I did take a break though and Dad and I ran a couple of errands.  We stopped at my Mom's favorite Walgreens to pick up a couple of things and then headed to Yuba City with a stop at Staples and the Yuba City Mall.  I wanted to get a little something for Allyanna (Cortland's 5-year old).  We left the Mall and decided we needed lunch, so we stopped at In-n-out for a hamburger and elixir, and then went to Kohls and found a couple of really cute things for Allyanna.  This is a photo I took of her last year - I was in Mike and Barbi's room ironing, and she came in wearing JiChan's reading glasses and earplugs 😁.  Hopefully, we will get to see her tonight.  

 Yesterday, as we walked out of In-n-out, life showed up right in front of me.  A man was going through the trash looking for food.  He found a couple of soda cups that were not empty and was drinking from them.  It was so sad, but what is really sad is that there are probably many in the same situation as he.  Dad gave him some money but unfortunately that is just a quick fix for a long-term problem. 

Last night Mike and Barbi went to their Halloween chili cook-off.  Mike spent half of the day making chili (which was delicious) and corn bread.  Of course, Barbi made their costumes and they were fabulous - 

 We went to Church this morning and tomorrow we are going to the cemetary, to the Temple on Tuesday and on our way home Wednesday morning.

Thanks so much to Sammi and Paul who have taken such good care of Sendai.  Sammi has taken her for good walks, on another trip to Scheels (which she loved), and brought Milo down for a play date.  Thank you Sammi and Paul for being so good to her.  

FAMILY ADVENTURES THIS WEEK ~

Kim and Spencer made banana bread 🍌

  

 

Ben looked so handsome in his new Church clothes today 😍

Sayre donned a Frankenstein mask to eat his pizza today 😀

 

Ok, Grant, you are turning my blog into something a little risque -  but just look at those muscles 😇

 Chris ran a 5-mile marathon in Houston this week 🏃 Way To Go Chris!

We haven't seen much of Emma lately because she is so busy with her work, but she did stop by the evening before we left and I was able to pawn off on her some of the food we had left in the refrigerator.  Thanks Emma!!! 

 Blythe is Student of the Quarter!

The Modesto Temple is really taking shape.  Mike said it takes just as long to complete the inside as it does the outside of Temples.  They are hoping it will be completed within a year.

SUNDAY SELFIES ~

FUN VIDEOS FROM THIS WEEK ~

Sayre in their Primary Program, and practicing his flying techniques.

I am so grateful that we could be in California this week.  Being her makes me think a lot about my Mom and Dad and remembering what a great example they were for me and for many others.  I hope as a family we can always be close, learn to forgive, cheer each other on, and rely on our Savior's atonement to be together always.  

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TO JONATHAN TOMORROW! 
 He is an incredibly talented trombone player, teacher, lego builder, pizza maker, and   an awesome husband to Kate and dad to Sayre.  So thankful you are a part of our  crazy family.  

WHAT IS A HARVEST MOON?

This may not necessarily be interesting blog material, but I have been fascinated with a Harvest Moon over the last few years.  Growing up, I don't remember ever seeing one, but Colorado does not disappoint.  Each year in the Fall, we always see one - they are huge, orange, and it looks like the moon has just found a place to rest.  In case you didn't know, the reason for the harvest moon - it happens when the Sun is exactly above the equator and the angle of the Moon's orbit compared to the Earth's horizon is at its minimum.  The full moon rises above the horizon much faster than normal and this is why a harvest moon could appear for 2  or 3 days.  

And speaking of Fall - I finally got my pumpkin lights on our outside tree, pumpkins on the porch, leaves and lawn mowed and raked, chrysanthemums bought (not planted yet), the house semi-decorated, and wreaths hung.  We have a couple of trees on our street that turn vivid red as the leaves change color.  I made Dad take a selfie with me this week before the leaves are all on the ground.  It really is my favorite time of year!

MEET LUCY!

This is Jake's new kitten (snuggling into Lily's hoodie).  I've heard that Stevie (Sammi's cat) doesn't love Lucy, Lily, Jake, or Milo right now.  Maybe it's a little feline jealousy or maybe because her hunting days are over for awhile.  She brought a dead mouse into the house the other night and put it in bed with Sammi. 😁

HOLLIE
spent last weekend with us and Monday we went to Hobby Lobby, and then shopping with Eilis, Angella, and Ben to find a prom dress for Eilis.  Her prom isn't until the Spring but she wanted the dress for Senior pictures.  She found a beautiful dress and I felt a little like I was on Say Yes to the Dress - "You need to pick the one you like the best", "Her eyes just light up when she puts that one on", "it's good to step outside the box and try something different". 😍 After dress shopping the girls wanted to go the the Sally Beauty Supply store, so we made a quick trip there and Hollie got what she needed to change the color of her hair - It looks good Hollie, you did a great job!

AMOS  also got his hair done (though not by Hollie).  He looks pretty fancy with his new "do" and a tie!

A FUN SURPRISE for us this week when GRANT and MAX showed up on Thursday for a short weekend visit.  You know who was so, so happy to have anyone under the age of thirty show up and pay attention to her,  Grant and I took her for a long walk this afternoon and she was so happy!  It was fun to visit with Max and he was able to spend time with his friend, Levi, and former missionary companion who is currently a Junior at the Air Force Academy.  Grant brought his working clothes and did some painting for me, and cleaned old stars off of our bedroom ceiling.  Tomorrow morning he is going to help JiChan blow out our sprinklers and hopefully they will have time to put trim up in our bathroom.   

PAUL has been busy these past two weekends - with two campouts. Last weekend he went with friends from his youth group to Mt Herman for a couple of days.  I think he had a great time and I'm so happy he has some really nice friends. 

BEN loves Halloween as much as I do although I haven't worn my Halloween pajamas yet 😀

 KATE has spent the last two years in braces/invisalign with the help of the University of Iowa dental clinic.  She has all kinds of "machinery" in her mouth but this past week everything was removed and she has a beautiful smile!

This is her before and after photo.  You look beautiful, Kate!

THANKS SO MUCH for all of the Sunday Selfies today - I miss you all so much so I love to see your photos - even Dad and I remembered to take one this morning.

Rumor has it that Elder Kearon is coming here in a couple of weeks for a mission conference.  I love listening to him talk and I love the down-to-earth messages he shares. 

“Jesus specializes in the seemingly impossible. He came here to make the impossible possible, the irredeemable redeemable, to heal the unhealable, to right the unrightable, to promise the unpromisable. And He’s really good at it. In fact, He’s perfect at it.” 

Have patience, have hope, and have a really wonderful week!  Love you 💖