The Bits: November 1st Through November 13th

November Bits, Part One:

Tommy and Adam's team at the Parents vs. Kids end-of-season party!

I do adore my husband, and these homemade caramels for his birthday (just a little late) are proof!  Adam's Love Language is Homemade Chocolate Dipped Sea Salt Caramels.

Colorado!

Only at School in the Woods does the director of the school learn of a dead owl on the side of the road, make a detour to pick it up before school, and then use it during library time to teach the kids about bird/owl bodies, bones and the significance of the different kinds of feathers on a raptor's body.  It's a little disturbing, yes, but, still...SO COOL!  I am so glad Luke has a chance to be out there this year.

When the boys start talking about Pokemon, I get a little glazed....

There aren't a lot of opportunities to volunteer once the kids get into middle school, so it was so fun to volunteer with these whackadoos for Josh's 6th grade team's field trip to Albertson's to buy food for Care-and-Share for Thanksgiving.

Election Day 2016!  I had so much hope that we'd see our first woman president.

The feelings I had after Donald Trump was elected were rough and are still raw.  I was disappointed that so many people could be comfortable with someone who is lacking in any kind of moral fiber and who was so obviously duping people into buying something that was impossible.  False news, sexism and a racism stirred anger and created a voting base that didn't have its feet in reality.  Our new president spewed hate and division everywhere he went and it disturbs me how many people were comfortable with that.  I am still angry about this future we face, one that feels like it is led by an autocratic lunatic.  Our planet, our poor, our educational system, our diversity are all at risk and four years may be too long to reverse some of these trends.  And although I'd like to focus on what I can control, as the picture says, I also feel pretty hopeless sometimes.  I wasn't clueless about the dissatisfaction with Obama, but I didn't believe that the segment of the populace that was homogeneity-seeking, angry, self-interested and hateful was the majority, and this election feels like I was so wrong.  The one thing I know I can do is raise my boys to know better and be better than the awful man who now holds the highest office in our land.  

A midday belated birthday movie date to see "Doctor Strange."

November sunset.

A Short but Sweet Visit with Nana

When Nana heard that Zac would be in his school's fall play, she quickly found a cheap ticket to fly out and support him.  It turned out that it was a great weekend to come, because Ben ran in his Junior Olympics State race that same weekend (more on that in another post) and she was able to watch him fly and cheer him on as he did so.  We also celebrated the October birthdays together at Red Robin while she was out here.  It was a packed weekend, for sure!

We are so blessed to have her unyielding support for our boys and all the things that they do!  It means so much to us all to have her make an effort to travel and sacrifice to be here for us.

Zac in "The Ash Girl"

The first weekend of November, Zac participated in his first play, "The Ash Girl" put on by the RHS drama department.  The play touches on major themes such as depression, temptation and loneliness, all through a dark take on the story of Cinderella.  Throughout the play, the characters are tempted and tormented by the Seven Deadly Sins and Sadness, working to overcome the hold that these menacing characters have in different ways on each of them.  Zac played the part of Sloth, tempting the characters with laziness--and also providing a bit of much needed comic relief.  He did a wonderful job, if I do say so myself!  We sure do love watching him there on the stage.  He loved being a part of another production, and his love for theater and the friends he's made through the program has only grown.

Bravo, Zac!  You are our star!

The Bits: October 17th Through October 31st

Bits from the second half of October:

After an amazing summery early-autumn, we had a temperature drop that was a bit of of a shock to the system!

Our lead for the PTO Teacher Conference Dinner had a last-minute hang up, so I stepped in and got 'er done!

Book Fair Family Fun Night!

Done!

Zac's Number One through Seven Fans!

The things Zac thinks.

Running with Ben is a lesson in humility.

These boys did a great job with the annual Primary Program, well done, my darlings!  This year's theme was "I Know the Scriptures are True."  I have a vivid memory from twelve years earlier.  It was Zac's very first Primary Program in our BYU ward while Adam was working on his MBA.  Although I had a brand new baby, only 4 days old, I wouldn't miss it for anything.  I snuck in the back after the opening prayer and snuck back out before the closing prayer so I could see Zac.  Sweet little baby Josh slept soundly through the whole hour.  It was so nostalgic to have that same sleeping baby boy participate in his very last Primary Program this year.  He shared a lovely testimony about temples and accompanied one of the songs in the program.  Later in the church block, he was ordained a Deacon and is now an active participant in the care and keeping of the ward.  We are so proud of the young man that dear baby has become.

A picture of the mom!

Luke rocked the SITW Turkey Trot fundraiser by hitting 24 checkpoints in an hour, traveling almost 3 miles!  Extra impressive for our boy who would rather be curled up with a good book.

Colorado!

Tommy, me and the Venentucci Farm field trip!

Middle school?  No problem. 

What Luke and his friend, Ashton, do for fun.

What a bunch of wallflowers!

Every other day, I pick up Ben, he eats lunch in the car, and then goes to math at the high school because there are only three other kids in his school who attend Algebra 2.  It's a short time in the car that I always look forward to spending with my boy!

Tommy's last soccer game of the season!  I'd post a picture of him on the ball, but he wasn't interested in actually touching it that last game, so running on the fringe of the clump was as good as I could get!  He will tell you again and again how much he loves it though, so we keep signing him up for more.

From a soccer game to a baptism.

How many Conlins does it take to solve one of Luke's 4th grade math problems?

Ben went to the High School State Cross Country Championship to cheer on Rampart with our friends, the Barkers.  Here he is with his friend, Emma.  The RHS boys' team has been super nice to Ben this season, inviting him for a few training runs and letting them know that they are excited for him to come up in the ranks next year.  It's really been awesome for him!

We always say that Tommy is like a little old man in a little boy's body because he acts like such an old soul.  Recently, he was munching on some candy he got from the church trunk-or-treat and he exclaimed, "Yum!  This one is so good!"  I asked him what he was eating and guess what: it was Raisnettes.  I'm pretty sure no one under the age of 80 enjoys Rasinettes.  What's next?  Good and Plenty?!