Need to Eat Lighter

Hey there, it's 10:48 pm the last day of the month! Yikers, I gotta get this post up and done stat. 

Spring break was at the beginning of the month, and sadly we didn't get to do anything super cool. Addie and Aani have jobs that prevented us from making plans to go somewhere, so that was sad. On one of the days, I took Aani and Ava to Sam's Club (yeah baby), Ross, and the mall where we got Build a Bears for all the kids. The girls all got frogs, and I got Anders an axolotl, which I had never heard of until that day. Then we ate Chipotle for dinner. Everyone seemed happy about our awesome spring break adventures, so there's that. 

Sam's Club vs Costco: We do love our Costco trips (3x/week) and that will never stop, but Sam's Club is also kind of fun. I have a secret desire to start a vending machine business, and Sam's Club is the place for supplies FO SHO. The problem is there isn't one super close- there are 2 within 30 minutes of us, one in Provo and one in South Jordan. I told Anders that if he found a used vending machine and a place to put it, I would start a vending machine business with him. 

Have you heard of RasmuRents? It's all the rage in random rentals! We have party speakers, a drywall lift, drywall tools, a chocolate fountain, and now scaffolding! Yes, it's true- you can rent by the day or the week. Contact me for more info. We rent out our crap and make a li'l money. 👋

This looks safe.

We took Anders and Addie to the Muse concert a couple weeks ago. Doug and Sandi and their son Gabe went, along with Dave and his daughter Bailey. Evanescence opened the concert, and boy does she have some pipes. Super impressive. Muse was fun and crazy with lots of fire and confetti and familiar songs. We were in the nosebleeds on the side and didn't have the best view, but it was still pretty fun. 

I made sure to wear my special "mom going to a concert" jacket. 👌

Here's Aani sitting slumping in a chair, probably being funny but I don't remember. 

Last weekend we celebrated 23 years of wedded bliss. We went to Ruth's Chris in Park City, watched a movie (Dungeons and Dragons), went to brunch the next morning, shopped at the outlets, and then headed to SLC for Red Iguana for dinner before heading home. 'Twas a nice li'l 24 hours away and we had fun. 
After all that, I said "I need to eat lighter". I ordered everything on the menu that sounded good to me at Ruth's Chris. Had lobster tail for the first time. I probably won't get that again unless someone else pays for it. :)  

Around the beginning of the meal

In the middle

Done- not too shabby. We did starve ourselves pretty good all day in preparation, just so you don't think we're total hogs. But we were pretty hoggy and it was good times. 

We were able to tour the Saratoga Springs temple this week! It's really, really beautiful. Nils and I were asked to be "speaker ushers" for a day in July. I'd rather be a non-speaking usher, but I'll do what I'm asked. 

We've been walking to the temple and around its perimeter for a couple of years now, so it's awesome to have it completed and that we can attend soon. Nils has been a temple worker for about 6 months and really enjoys it. He's excited to move to the Saratoga temple. I'm not yet ready to commit to that, I'm happy to be a patron for now. 

Ava played in her last tennis tournament of the season yesterday. She and her partner took 3rd place and she was pretty happy about that. She's improved a lot and wants to take some workshops this summer as well. She likes playing tennis and that's great. Also- we've actually had a warm week for the first time since October! 

We spent a couple of days this week in Cedar City at a YouTube mastery class (we go where the mentor happens to be at the time, hence Cedar City- pretty random). 2 days of class, connecting with others, learning...and this dog. He was there and was cute, but right after this picture was taken he had a few pungent minutes and I didn't know if I was going to survive. 

Updates on the peeps:

Anders has been struggling a lot and it's been difficult for him and us and everyone. He was able to get a job at a start-up this week doing software development. That is fantastic and a great blessing- software jobs are a little rough right now. He's a smarty pants and will be an asset indeed. At this point he doesn't want to return to the mission, and we've let him know that his health and happiness are all that matter. 

Addie is still working a lot, and getting ready to graduate high school. She's been ready to graduate high school for about 2 years. She got her cap and gown the other day, and walked in the front door wearing it while playing pomp and circumstance. 

Aani's been working at McDonald's and will start at a new store this week. She also babysits. She also gets 4.0 because she wants to. She's watching "Modern Family" for the second time through. She might be our only kid that likes watching actual TV shows as opposed to YouTube. She still likes YouTube, though, don't you worry.  

Ava LOVES YouTube, playing tennis, not cleaning her room, hanging out with friends, gets herself up and off to middle school every day. She's always happy to accompany me or Nils wherever we go and is a good little shopping buddy. 

Nils and I are just happy to be here and are surviving all the things. Maybe eating our feelings a little? Who's to say? 

March Tings

This month has been a real kick in the teeth, but I don't really want to talk about it... so I'm going to talk about all the other things. 

We had an amazing lady in our ward pass away. She was 91 and fit as a fiddle. She died suddenly and it was a real shocker, even though she was 91. We were able to put on a nice funeral luncheon for her family and friends, and I think it turned out great. Thanks to Sandi, Carol, Jackie, and all the people who brought food and helped with all the things. The best of the best!

We took a trip to IKEA, and got ice cream at the end. Looks like someone needs more practice making ice cream cones. We had a nice li'l chuckle. 

Swim banquet: Carol, Amber, Dayna and I set up and decorated, and got the coaches gifts. It was some work, but the children are worth it. Amber did the most work and she's just all around amazing. 

Seniors

Got to go see Brian Regan with Sandi and Doug. I laughed a lot. Sometimes when things are hard in life, I laugh extra hard at comedians. We saw Jim Gaffigan with Sandi and Doug several years ago, and I remember a similar experience of laughing way too much after a rough week. 

Funny youth announcement about the spaghetti dinner fundraiser. Aani is 3rd from the left. 

Aani (I think) laying in my mom's entry...probably waiting to go home. 

Nils was a "rando" ward member when the youth played "Where's Waldo" at Target, trying to find ward members who didn't look like themselves. 

Nilsy Nils was asked to speak in stake conference. The kids stayed home and watched on Zoom, which is nice cuz they were able to take pictures of him. He did a real good job. His topic was on how the Holy Ghost is the real source of truth, not social media. 

Aani got a job at McDonald's! She's been desperately wanting a job for months now, but since she's not 16 yet it's been a little tricky. McDonald's hires 15 year olds, and they seem to pay more than lots of other places. This is a girl with lots of tabs open on the laptop of things she wants to buy, so she's gotta earn them dollas. Cutest McDonald's employee ever! 

After about 18 1/2 years, our washing machine stopped spinning. We've had the same washer and dryer for all that time, which I feel is an impressive feat. Nils had repaired them both multiple times over the years. The dryer took about 2 1/2 hours to dry a load of laundry, so getting all the laundry done has been taking quite a long time. When the washing machine stopped spinning, I was OVER IT. I ordered a new set, nothing fancy, and am hopeful and curious to see how long they last. So far I'm enjoying their newness. 

This picture is of all our clothes in the dryer at the laundromat- they have the biggest dryers ever there! Going to the laundromat once was enough for me! Ain't nobody got time for that- especially since the nearest one is in American Fork. 

Summary of all the people: 

Anders is home and it's been hard. I hope I have a happy update next time I post. 

Addie is working at the indoor pool again, as well as teaching lifeguard classes. This has been keeping her really busy. She's interviewing as head guard for the summer. She's also going to graduate high school in a couple of months. She's also hoping to graduate from MTECH in a couple of months and be a medical coder. It's a 2 year program, and she's been trying to speed run it and get it done in 9 months. She's super stressed out about being an adult and how she's going to provide for herself. She keeps saying she doesn't think she can work a 9-5 job, but is often working and going to school for 12 hours a day. So...she's already doing it. 

Aani: See above McDonald's picture

Ava: In the midst of tennis season, but it's been a little hit and miss because winter will not end. If it snows or rains and the courts are wet, they have to cancel. That's happened a lot. 

Nils: Still rocking the YouTubes, works hard, is on a soda fast for 6 months total and has about 2 months to go. He hates it and says he doesn't feel any different or better, he just wants soda more. Always wheeling and dealing and looking for ways to earn mo' $$. We just purchased a camper trailer with our neighbor and fellow wheeler/dealer Dave. The plan is to rent it out over the summer, and then use it when we want to. 

Katrina: I don't even know, ya'll. Just trying to keep it together and not have a public meltdown. It's fine. 

The Boy Cometh Home...and Disneyland

Oh heeeeyyyy! 

A couple things: 

Anders is coming home in 3 days. He's been struggling a lot emotionally, more than is normal or acceptable. He knows Denmark is the mission for him. He loves his mission president, loves the people, loves the food, loves his ward, etc. etc., but he has bouts of depression that can't be solved with external factors. We let Pres. Mattsson, the mission president, know that we thought he needed some help. That set the wheels in motion. He talked with a counselor, and a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist said he has ADHD, and his depression is a symptom of that. He needs to come home so we can figure out a plan with medicine that will help him. His mission president is amazing in all the ways- the perfect guy for Anders. He's funny, he's direct, he's lenient, he loves his missionaries like crazy. He told Anders that if he doesn't come back to the mission, he'll hunt him down and kill him. 😂 We're hoping he's home for one transfer, but it could be 2. We'll see! 

Oh, how we love President and Sister Mattsson! 

In other news, at the beginning of February, we were all jonesing for a trip to Disneyland. None of us understand why this keeps happening to us. We keep going back, and we get so excited about it. Then we go and we have all the fun, but we're so exhausted and feel like we're going to die and vow to never return. 

At this point, we recognize the pattern, and we figure we can just plan on an annual trip and we are accepting that reality. We all sat down together to sync our calendars, and found 6 days where no one had anything pressing. It was the following week, so we made it happen. 

We CRACKED the Disneyland code! We figured it out this trip and did ALL the things, without the crazy crowds. It was awesome and we feel like we won! It was pretty cold the whole time we were there, and we went the weekend/week before President's Day, so we avoided that insanity. We bought the Lightning Lane passes, which is another way Disney squeezes you dry... but it was totally worth it. We hardly waited in any lines and it was fabulous.

Unbeknownst to us, the hotel I booked was about 2 miles away from Disneyland. We didn't realize that until we got there, since there are 2 hotels by the same name on the same road, and ours was the far away one. I was so bummed. We like to stay close to the park so we can walk there and not have to deal with parking. Wellllll, Anaheim has a bus that picks up close to all the hotels, and drops you off at the park entrance. When you're done for the day/night, it picks you up right at the entrance, and drops you off at your hotel. We absolutely loved it. 

We ate all the treats, rode every ride, some multiple times. Space Mountain is our absolute favorite, and we were able to ride it 3 times! We also took advantage of single rider lines as much as possible- that's the best part of having older kids at Disneyland! We were able to ride the Cars ride 2 times in a row that way. We are becoming such Disneyland nerds. It's like a challenge/mission to conquer the park and do all the things.

On our first day, my energy tank totally ran out. Around 6:00 pm, I felt like I couldn't do one more thing or take one more step. I've been exhausted at Disneyland before and felt depleted, but this was another level. I needed to eat! I ate dinner and within 15 minutes I was good to go again. It was so weird. I don't know how people don't eat and can still function. Katrina need food!

Driving through Victorville on our way there, and the sunset was 👌.

The Nemo ride was open for the first time ever since we've gone! It's cute. 

Gotta make our droids! 

Beignets! 

We rode Mr. Toad's Wild Ride for the first time ever as well! We were able to do so many things.

Nils tried taking a nap, but a Disneyland employee told him he couldn't lay on the ground, he had to find a bench to take a nap on. Haha!

I had to get my gluten free cupcake at Sprinkles in Downtown Disney- the girls were soooo tired. We all were, but I had just had my cheeseburger and was rejuvenated. :) 

Nils' heaven

We're Disney victims and are fine with it now. Take our money! 

After we had planned this trip, Nils was invited to go to YouTube headquarters the day we were scheduled to drive home. He has been part of a beta program with them, and they wanted to have him and others go there to talk and answer questions about their experience with it. SO, he flew out early early from LAX on Wednesday morning to San Francisco, spent the day at YouTube, and flew back home on Thursday. 

I drove home, and Addie helped me out for a couple of hours by driving from St. George to Fillmore. We made it, and Nils had a good day at the place that pays for our lives. 

Randoms: 

Nils and the girls went to Youth Conference at the beginning of February in Bryce Canyon. Addie gave a devotional and amused everyone. Nils took pictures of everyone cross-country skiing, and got mega sunburned. They had fun and were tired. I was home by myself for like 36 hours, and was so lonesome! 

Sometimes you make a milkshake and you just gotta go for it. 

Nils, Doug, and Dave (our neighbors/Melting Pot friends) bought a wall printer and have been experimenting with it and trying to fine tune it. The hope is to get some business. The little boy in this picture is Doug's son! And, I grew up in the same ward as Doug in Orem. So many coincidences. :) 

Anyhoo, Doug and his wife Sandi have volunteered to use one of their walls to print on, over and over, so Doug gets to do a lot of painting over them. 

We went to JCW's with Doug and Sandi on Saturday, and the kid at the register typed my name as Kachena, so that's what they're calling me now. 

Had a waffle brunch/ministering check-in yesterday, and it was a success! Nils captured this from the Wyze Cam. 

Anders and his zone were able to go to Lego House, which is in their area. He made this picture of Jesus out of Legos. We talked today, and he told me he bought a new Lego set that he's bringing home. This kid loves Legos. 

I think that's it. Another crazy, crazy month in the books. Thanks for reading! Go get yourself a snack!