Pics loaded out of order but here we go anyway.
One trending phrase kids say frequently is calling something aggravating or annoying “rage baiting”.
Corbin has suggested we start “joy baiting” for the opposite effect. Our Valentine weekend was full of joy bait.
These lovely lovers scored free tickets to Brian Regan from Logan’s work for Valentine’s Day.
Our Saturday evening was all about games and starting a puzzle with the kids. Paul and HolleeAnn dropped in and visited for a bit. Jamae called. We listened to a Noah Kahan vinyl (busyhead) and it turned out to be the best night ever. We had more company later that night.
Saturday: The Krusty Krabs had a game and beat the Hogs. While we were there, we were so happy when Micah B came over to visit with us! Micah was the twins court appointed attorney as litem through their entire case. She fought HARD for the twins to be adopted by us, and it was such a treat to see her. Micah did not back down when pressured by DHS to ignore red flags and close the case. She stood up and spoke truths and defended the twins right to stay with us. We are so grateful for her.
Friday: I ordered these cute scratch off cards and filled one out for each family member. They loved this! Joy bait!
Saturday: The order I placed in the fall with distribution services online just arrived! No garments in the package though. I was hoping they’d be here before I go to Utah so I can drop them to the MTC. I ordered this Korean Book of Mormon stories for Jamae to practice with so it’s nice that it’s here at least!)
Saturday: Aaron and I slipped out for a lunch date while the Littles went to Taco Bell with grandpa. Our server brought us a rose and a bag of free churros since we have the Torchys app! Let’s gooooo. We also stopped into the farm supply store for a new water feeder for our hens, and some potting soil.
Saturday: A FaceTime with q for pday is my favorite thing. I miss her and the daily dose of joy she brings into my life.
Saturday night: Corbin did a brave new thing and let me sign him up for a group date valentine activity thing in Centerton. He went on his own and was relieved when he saw a few people he knows were there. They did speed dating/get to know you games, a dinner, blindfolded partner cookie decorating, and a ballroom dancing lesson.
Corbin met lots of people and went with a group to Andy’s custard after. He was super chatty when he got home just after midnight and my day was made when he stayed up talking with me until 2am. I’ve missed late night sofa chatter so much. Heres a pic I grabbed from another mom’s fb page. Corbin is in the back.
Sunday: On Sunday morning I remembered I’ve been assigned by my Sunday school class to bring treats, so I whipped up a heart shaped pan of brownies with a semi sweet chocolate ganache that turned out SO GOOD.
Friday: Aaron gave me tulips on Friday 😍 I love him and they ways he knows to show love to me.
Saturday: in the afternoon, we had a fun surprise! Corbin wasn’t home yet, but Neal stopped by with his cutie valentine date. I love all the titles I wear, but I felt a surge of love swell up in me when Neal proudly introduced us, “Sadie, this is my Sunday School teacher.” We ate the cookies we had baked with Corbin the day before, and then I had to leave to catch Soren’s basketball game and they headed out on their date and dinner with the Ratsachaks.
But we had a bonus surprise later Saturday night after Paul and HolleeAnn left when Sadie and Neal came back. Corbin wasn’t home, they just came to puzzle and hang out with Aaron and I. Neal played our piano a bit and we had a fun double date at home hanging out with these cute young visitors. Kind of an unconventional Valentines Day and we wouldn’t change a thing.
Sunday: We went for a family walk/hike after church. A few kids were cranky about it but we powered through. Then Ryan called and that cheered up the grumpiest hikers.
This post is all over because the photos are out of order.
Saturday: Our Saturday PDay call with Jamae was fun! She seems genuinely happier and healthier than she’s been and our call was very cheerful and optimistic this week. She has a new sister in her district and her room. Bae Jamine is from the Seoul area of South Korea and will be serving in Busan. Since she is fluent in Korean, she is only in the MTC for 3 weeks. Quincy’s district is doing “Speak Your Language” from 9am-9pm each day. Having a fluent sister move into Q’s room and join the other Korean companionship as a trio, plus the Korean Jamines getting to move all into the same room for the last 3 weeks in the MTC was a huge valentine love letter from Heavenly Father to Quincy. They are getting along well, and with a fluent native speaker around, Quincy is “getting cracked” at Korean. Quincy’s visa still has not arrived, so she’s waiting on that, but she hopes it arrives soon!
Valen-teenager had a fun weekend. On Friday. Corbin’s buddies Chase, Hyrum, Ammon, and Neal got word that they did not get BYU acceptance letters. Chase was working, and Ammon and Hyrum are out of town, so Corbin had Neal over to cheer him up.
They decided to go “Joy Baiting” to cheer Neal up. I helped them make chocolate chip chip cookies to deliver to friends. They posted some basketball cards and Pokémon cards on eBay. We got scrap wood from neighbor Terry and then I taught Neal to use a nail gun and air compressor so he could make a Valentine craft for his girl.
Then I got a call that Eunice is expected be passing very soon so Corbin and Neal decided to “joy bait” Eunice and had me record them playing “I am a Child of God” (her favorite song) and text it to Eunice’s daughter and sister, hoping their recording might bring some peace to the room. Then they played through Amazing Grace to potentially play for sacrament meeting sometime, and God Be With You Till We Meet Again to play for Euni’s funeral. They were just laughing and jamming and having a good time, playing Star Wars and other silly things in between. Olympics going in the background. Little kids running around, helping with cookies and cutting the wood for Neal. Random bench pressing between everything. Cookies, cards, church music, and crafts. Definitely boys night activity. Definitely joy bait for a mom on a Friday night.
This was sent on Friday night, and I received a text Saturday night from Eunice’s sister thanking Corbin for the music. Eunice had been unconscious, but then opened her eyes and half smiled when they started to play the video.
Later that night she woke up again right after hospice left, saying she would pass within the hour. Pat said they played the recording again and Eunice was mouthing the lyrics, so they played it over and over for her until she fell asleep. Ultimate joy bait.
Neal was so proud of his creation I helped him make on Friday. Such a creative idea. And 3 visits from this great kid in one weekend? Lucky us!
Other joy bait: flowers to bestie Kasey for her birthday, and then a walk with her tonight when she stopped by after dinner.
And perhaps the thing that made me the most happy this week: we will never have to make another valentine box. Hallelujah. This year, Bear made the twin towers…when we punted out that it’s a little dark, he removed a box and made it the One World Trade Center. Esme made a gigantic food truck, and then ended up taking a cardboard Pusheen that Sloane made for her.
I love all my valentines.
I love this day we get to celebrate the people we get to love.
I love love!!!)
No comments:
Post a Comment