Ghana MTC, Girls Pref, 30 day no sugar challenge and Macro counting

 Once we moved Nora up to Charles' room, we changed Nora's bedroom into an office space. It still has the twin daybed in there that we can use as a spare bed when we have visitors.  

I work at a local elementary as a reading teacher. I've been at the school for years, but last year was my first year teaching reading and I'm loving it. As another part of my job, I get to work with the kids at the school who are learning english, doing some one-on-one tutoring which I love! Since my dad's from Mexico, and he always struggled with the language, this is a passion of mine and I'm grateful I get to help. 

Charles' first pday at the MTC came and went and no one knew or got to talk to him except for Elisabeth who was up super late at night which she was staying in Idaho for a weekend. He's between 6-7 hours ahead (depending on daylight savings) and his pday started in the morning and ended at noon in Africa which means it started in the middle of the night for us and ended by 6am. Had we known ahead of time that it was gonig to be on a Saturday morning, we would've set an alarm to get up early to talk with him, but we didn't know. And we also learned that while in the MTC in ghana, his pday changed days every week. Luckily after that first pday, he was able to communicate with us and let us know when his next pday would be, and then each week we talked to him while in the MTC, he'd let us know when the next week's pday would be. We always wake up early to visit with him and we love our visits. Here are pictures from his 3 weeks at the MTC. 

Charles quickly grew to love the people and he doesn't mind the food either (he's eaten some strange things like goat teeth and cows skin). He really likes Fufu(cassava and plantain). 

Good thing Charles took piano for 6 years when he was a little boy, and then decided to pick it up again this last year because he's been playing more in Africa. He can play a few hymns and knows a few other songs, and gets asked to play and to teach. Just before leaving the MTC he asked us what we though about him buying a keyboard that he could keep with him wherever he goes. They were $100 and he had the money, so we said if he doesn't think it'll be a problem carrying it around when he gets transferred then we didn't mind. So he bought one just before he left the MTC. 

His companions name is Elder Adomako, and he's from Ghana, but will be going to another mission in Africa once he's done at the MTC. The MTC is right next to the temple so they were able to go each week. 

Annabelle had her Girls Pref dance and the kids had brunch at our house and came back for games. All the girls brought something to share and we made cinnamon rolls. It all turned out well. They played Signs and Badada. 

I wanted to do a 30-day, no sugar challenge. I asked if anyone else wanted to do it with me, and Jane said she would. We decided to get a prize at the end of our challenge: I'd buy her a new pair of sweats. Then Nora decided to join the challenge. And she wanted perfume. Our challenge went up until Thanksgiving and then we stopped. But I decided to keep going with mine a couple of days after thanksgiving, and I'm trying to keep that going through Christmas. Although I decided to have a treat a couple of times between Thanksgiving and Christmas.We printed out these charts and colored them in each day that we didn't have sugar. It was sort of satisfying to color in a box each day. Nora with her Acai bowl.

Scott and I try to go to the temple together a few times a month (so we can do endowment, sealing and initiatory monthly). After we went to the Taylorsville temple we stopped off at this new Tree of Life display on the way home. It was beautiful. And we were the only ones there which made it even better! 

Getting Charles ready to go on his mission, and he's off!

I've been collecting the things Charles will be bringing on his mission in our laundry room. Most of it came from Amazon and went straight into his new, big suitcase (that he got as a bday gift last year). Once I knew I had just about everything, and as we approached his travel date, I started unpackaging things and washing his shirts etc. although I kept half of his shirts in their packaging which I'm hoping he'll save for a year, so that he 'll have new shirts to open once he's halfway through his mission. The black packing cubes you see under the ironing board are a life changer! Elisabeth had some and loved them so I got even more for Char. We had one for shirts, one for socks, underwear, medicine, pday clothes etc. I labeled all of them (used my label maker and then stuck a piece of packaging tape over top to help it stay on over time). Next time I'll wait until a month or two out to buy some of the things because Amazon has a cut off return date and so for example, I got him a couple of pairs of sandals, since that's what was on the packing list to Africa, and then a couple of weeks before his departure we got a message that they're not using sandals anymore. I couldn't send them back since it was too late for that, so I just sent them with him and told him to see if in some areas he could use them, and if not, maybe he could gift them to somewhere there who needed them. 

Grandma Sugar still takes the kids to the temple monthly which we love. I got to go with them last time. 

We asked Charles if there was somewhere he wanted to eat before he took off for Africa for 2 years. He said, Outback Steakhouse. So we went there the weekend before he left and he enjoyed a nice steak :). 

Nora and I took Penny to a dog park for the first time ever. We actually went to two in one day. First we stopped by one in Draper which had some fun equipment for her to play on, but there was a big doberman pincher dog there that made me a little nervous so we didn't stay too long, just long enough for her to test out some of the equipment. Then we went over to a dog park in Herriman, K9 Memorial Dog Park. This one had a sort of cement track around it so Nora and I could walk around in circles while Penny mostly followed and stopped to sniff other dogs. 

Elisabeth worked at Cornbellys at Thanksgiving Point which was a good fit since it's seasonal and we're not sure how long she'll be home. Brooklyn, our neighbor, was her boss which was fun for her as they got to hang out while they worked. She got a few free passes to Cornbellys for working there so I took the girls one afternoon during their Fall break and we hung out there for a couple of hours. It wasn't very crowded on this particular Friday afternoon which was really nice. They have lots of included activities like basketball, football targets, bubbles, swings, haunted house mazes, circus entertainment etc and then they also have some paid food and activities. We bought a ten punch pass and Jane got a brownie with icecream with her punches and Nora did the bungee jump trampoline.  

Our family friend Abby got married. Her and Elisabeth and Maddie were best friends in elementary. Elisabeth and I went to her reception and had a nice time catching up with previous neighbors. 

We flew Scott's dad in to see Elisabeth and Charles while they were both here, and so he could be here for Charles' farewell. He flew Frontier and had a bad experience since he missed his layover flight (he was there with plenty of time but didn't hear it boarding) and then had to pay for the new flight he had to set up since he missed his other one, plus he didn't know you have to pay for your carryon (you only get to bring a backpack for free) so that sorta tainted his trip here I think. I'm sure he'll never fly frontier again. I don't mind the airline and am grateful actually we have them because there have been many times where we wouldn't have been able to make the trip to North Carolina to wherever had we not flown on their budget airlines, but we also knew their policy in advance and we pack light and/or check one big bag that can hold more items for everyone in the family to share. 

Charles room is not often tidy, and add on top of that packing everything up and moving him out and it was a disaster for a couple of weeks. We got everything he would need for the next two years to fit into his large suitcase and duffle bag. We also had a garbage bag, a donation bag (several of those actually), and then everything else we packed up into four costco bins which we've labeled and stored under our basement stairs. 

Charles spoke in church Sunday, as did Jane, and Elisabeth played a song on the piano and Nora said the opening prayer and Grandma sugar said the closing prayer. It was a beautiful. After church we drove to bluffdale park and took a few family photos. 

And of course, Charles had to get a photo with his favorite family member, Penny. They're sure going to miss each other. 

Tuesday morning October 29th, Scott dropped his dad off at the airport, and that afternoon we checked the girls out early from school (neither me or Scott worked that day) and we drove Charles to the airport around 130pm where he'd catch his flight to Africa around 5pm. We learned that SLC airport has an area downstairs where all the missionaries check in for their trips so that was fast and easy. As soon as he was done checking in and we were saying goodbye, a busload full of missionaries arrived and got in line to check into their flights as well so we were lucky to have just missed the rush. 

We all said our goodbyes and then he was off. 

That night after dinner we drove to Daybreak and drove around their community to look at all the crazy decorated homes for Halloween. My favorite is the Harry Potter house. 

Nora and I started taping the bedroom that night since she wanted to paint it before moving in. We didn't just paint the walls but the ceiling and baseboards and doors as well since they were all one-tone, tan. Now she's got a white ceiling and trim and the walls are a Sea Foam color. 

Elisabeth and I did a lot of the painting during the day while everyone was at work/school. (I don't work Fridays and Thursday was Halloween so I only went in for a couple of hours in the morning to help with the school parade since the kids didn't have their normal rotations that day, so we got most of it done then). 

Before and After:

garden, temple w/kids, date night suspension bridge

Scott and Charles built garden boxes, in the backyard, last year and filled them with dirt, and this year we planted some things. We planted tomatoes, onions, snap peas, bell peppers and a couple of other things but I can't remember what we planted anymore, especially since the only ones that actually grew were the tomatoes. And we only got about 10 of those from our 6 tomato plants. Only 2 of those plants actually produced fruit. The onions did something, but they didn't ever get big enough to be considered an onion; they were more like the size of a nickel, although not flat like a nickel. Welp, better luck next year! :)

Now that these two kids have both been endowed, we've been able to have a couple of family temple nights together because Charles left for his mission which was so sweet. 

Speaking of sweet, I have a sweet tooth, and I always have. I don't like cooking much, but I love baking; figures. October I made several pumpkin treats including pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (CSE), pumpkin bread, pumpkin waffles, and pumpkin white chocolate chip muffins. 

Scott and I hiked the suspension bridge for a date night in October and then went to dinner after. It's not long, just over 2 miles, but it was a beautiful day to do it and I think we timed it just perfectly as it was perfectly cool for a hike and we got to see the view at the top near sunset time. 

That same night, both Elisabeth and Nora went to Lagoon frightmares; elisabeth went with Tayson(her boyfriend; she met him on her mission and he lives in Idaho) and his dad and brothers, and Nora went with some of her girlfriends. Both of them had free tickets they offered to the girls which they were thrilled about and it was fun that they caught up with each other while they were up there and were able to go on a few rides together. Elisabeth said Nora wanted to go on this one scary ride with her (cannibal maybe?) and they got on the ride and Nora was in front and turned to Elisabeth and said, "I don't want to go anymore," and she started to cry. Elisabeth said, "sorry, too late." She ended up liking it and going on that one again. Trying new things can be scary. 

We ate dinner that night at an Italian restaurant called Fratelli's. It was yummy. And it's always fun to try a new place. 

Grand Canyon Rim2Rim & R3: Day 2

 We began our hike down the south rim Kaibab trail around 530am on Friday morning. (Scott and Mark were kind enough to wake up early and drop us off at the trailhead before they returned back to their rooms to sleep). We had the Calls, Matsons, Jones and me, and Shauna's group started about 20 minutes ahead of us. The sunrise on the south kaibab trail is breathtakingly beautiful. The mules passed us after an hour or so in the morning. 

Day 2 we went to Ribbon Falls. It's a nice break from the heat during this time of day, just before we start climbing, and taking it going from south to north allows you to bypass one steep climb. So refreshing! We ate and I filled up my filtered water here. 

Scott, Charles and Elisabeth (and ludwigs) drove from south rim to jacob's lake(to go back and get some less expensive GC clothing etc) and then onto st george but they took this pic in south rim before heading out. 

Caitlin started feeling a little sick after Phantom Ranch and Ribbon Falls. We slowed down a little and then Justin asked us to keep going but he'd stay back with Caitlin to not put pressure on her. So we continued on. Once we got to Ranger Pumphouse, Justin's brother and his son decided to wait for Caitlin and Justin and the rest of us continued on. That last mile or so is rough. I didn't realize that both Jeff's started feeling a bit under the weather, until after I'd climbed out and was waiting. 

They only came out about 15 minutes or so after me. Then we got into Ludwig's van that was waiting there for us on that side, we drove a few minutes to the North rim so we could use the bathroom and wipe down, and then we drove onto St George. After a little while, they guys started feeling better, although the driving on curvy roads with constant quick stops because of deer, made me feel a little motion sick, but no one threw up and we were all good. We drove to Ludwig's St George home and stayed there for the night and then drove the rest of the way home in the morning (4 hours from St George). It was such a fun trip and I'd do it again! 

Grand Canyon Rim2Rim & R3: Day 1

October 9th we left home around 11am and drove to the Grand Canyon North Rim. On the way we stopped off at Jacob's Lake for dinner. The service was pretty slow this time around and they weren't busy yet as we stopped off around 4pm, but I there's not many options around there so it is what it is. I think next time we'd probably wait til we got to Kaibab Lodge, if we stay there again, and eat there since they had a restaurant which I didn't know about. From Jacob's Lake we drove straight to North Rim lodge area so that we could do the short walk out to the lookout point and see the sunset. It was beautiful as always. I'm so grateful that I was able to share in this Grand Canyon experience with some of my family this year! This was my 5th time doing Grand Canyon rim to rim (3rd time doing R3) but first time with family, as all the other trips have been girls trips. Scott, Elisabeth and Charles were able to hike North to South rim with me and some of our friends/neighbors, and then on the way back I hiked with friends/neighbors again. It's nice having a couple of groups going, some starting in south rim and some in north, because then you can send a bag ahead of time with pjs, toiletries and my hiking food and clothes for day 2. 

We drove up with Elisa and Mark Ludwig, and then we met up at Jacob's Lake with Kassie and Alyssa. Shauna, Tiffany and their groups met us at Kaibab Lodge. 

We stayed in a room called Sam's Cabin this year, we shared with Ludwigs, and it was nicer and bigger than our rooms in years past. I'd definitely stay in this one again. We had the bunkbeds plus two full beds for the couples, and they had a mini fridge and microwave. 

We met up with Kassie and Alyssa at the north rim trail and started hiking around 530am. It started out around 40 degrees or so that morning, but within half hour, I think everyone had their long layers off as we were warm from hiking, plus it gets warmer as you descend. 

We stayed together for most of the down, although once we got near Ribbon Falls (we didn't go to ribbon falls on day 1, but we did on day 2) Alyssa and Kass stayed together, Scott and I stayed together, and our adult children were with Ludwigs in the front. 

We all met up at Phantom Ranch and ate lunch there. We also ran into Shauna and Tiffany's groups there. After Phantom, Ludwigs and Smith's stayed together for another couple of hours, and then Charles went ahead with Elisa and Mark, and Scott and I stayed with Elisabeth who needed to slow down a bit. Kassie and Alyssa brought up the rear.  

 

It's hard climbing out after you've been on your feet for so many hours and over 13 miles already, but we did it. We ended up getting out of the South Rim around 510pm. So we did 25 miles in just under 12 hours. Kassie and Alyssa finished about 1.5 hours after us. Everyone was tired and sweaty and ready to eat a real meal and shower. 

There was some northern light action going on in the sky that night and the following night. The first night was more faint pink colors, although when you take a picture of it it's more pronounced. 

 We stayed at Yavapai Lodge on South Rim. We took the free Blue shuttle there (there's a shuttle that is right outside the South Rim bright angel trail), showered and then went to their cafeteria for dinner before heading to bed.