The Niederhauser Chronicles: November 2020

We did Thanksgiving with Tanner's family November 1st. It was kind of weird to have it that early but it was actually really fun and delicious. (But then I forgot that I had made a switch to have that day off and was hanging out doing a puzzle in West Valley when they called from Ogden at 5:30 wondering where I was. BIIIIIGGGG oops. I FLEW up in my spandex pants and borrowed dad's shoes and missed dinner that was going to be ready in like 10 minutes. So stupid. Luckily they weren't mad, I still have a job, and Tanner and kids brought me a plate a little later).

We still love our Bogey!

Soon after conference I decided to look for a service opportunity. I just felt like I was really getting caught up in my own life and busy-ness and being to self centered and wo is me with all that is going on. I found a hospice volunteer service where you get assigned to a hospice patient and commit to an hour a week to visit, run errands for the care take, or clean or chat or read books or whatever they want and need. So I had to have a couple meetings with the volunteer coordinator and do a bunch of reading and quiz stuff in between those and then I got assigned to my person. Charles Foote. He's 76 and has dementia and diabetes and has been blind for the last couple of years. This was my second week. It was November 3rd. (it's the end of December when I'm writing this and I've only missed a week since then, because they were having a lazy day). I love it. He is so great and usually we just sit and chat. He likes to hold my hand. He likes to tell me about his baby hair and have me feel it. He always says my hands are cold (which they are when I first get there and then it's super toasty in their house so they warm up quick and then he tells me about how warm they are). He eats corn pops every day for breakfast. I've read him western stories and Christmas stories and he tells me lots of the same stories and it's great. He had a long military career. I love him. And his son John is so great too. He's the only one that takes care of him, despite Charles being the oldest of like 11 siblings and having 3 or 4 of his own kids. I think John gets overwhelmed but he's got such a happy attitude and he's ALWAYS so grateful when I come. Sometimes I bring my kids, which makes it a bit more challenging but I hope they learn something from being there and around someone that's different and recognize it's good to help others. I don't feel like it's a volunteer assignment. I feel like they are family. It has been so good for me.

Laura invited me to hike Adam's canyon and I was thinking the leaves were going to be completely gone by then but it was still so pretty. I took Lottie again and she did great. So fun.

That same day we ended up taking the rest of the crew on a little bike ride/walk/whine on the Farmington trail. It was pretty fun and such a lovely day.

I went with Ariana and her sister in law to a salon in Salt Lake to get a pedicure. The timing is always a little off and chaotic with them and so I ended up having to ditch out early and Francisco picked them up, but it was still a lot of fun and I love her and wish my spanish was better.

Eric, a nurse I work with, let me take this picture. I wanted to show my kids and talk about people being different and what kinds of things you can say or ask etc when people have uniqueness :) We'll see if anything sticks.

Lucy drew this picture for Greta and I think it's too cute.

Getting to hang out with Brooke. And they recently got some mice. The girls weren't too interested but Harvey held them for a few moments.

This is basically how their room looks all the time. But I went in one morning after I dragged myself out of bed and they were laying by each other and Greta was reading to Lottie. So I snuck out and got my phone and took this picture. Too perfect.

We went to Ariana's birthday party. It kind of was a cluster from the get go. Triggered a little disagreement between Tanner and I, haha. And then we picked up food for them in Clinton so really not on the way AT all. But still we sat waiting for them to get home in the car for 20 minutes. My kids were starving but wouldn't eat the sushi (even though they didn't even get it out for like another hour and 15. So I'm trying to door dash food. There's quite a few people there and I can't hear or understand anything. Harvey's being a huge butt because Francisco can't play with him, which I told him he wasn't going to be able to like 30 times. And then they turned on skanky latin music videos and my girls were GLUED to the TV at that point. So I asked Francisco to turn it off because it was so bad. And Greta was so mad they turned it off. FACE TO PALM. So we left really soon after that. Oh well.

I donated blood for the first time in I don't even know how many years. Mostly I just wanted to know if I had covid antibodies. I don't, but I still liked donating and think I'd like to make it more of a regular occurrence.

She just likes to have her picture taken all the time :)

Little monkey!

I can't even remember why we ended up going to Culver's this evening. But we did and it was fun :) Didn't get a picture of Harvey but he was with us too.

Yay! The girls got to have their dance recital! I'm so happy it didn't get cancelled. They were both so excited. Especially Greta. Greta did incredible. Danced her heart out perfectly. Lottie was quite a bit more shy...kind of like Greta's first recital (or two, haha). But she stayed out there and was as adorable as they come!

Videos are elsewhere. Heather was awesome and invited Harvey to sleep over the night before. He was SOOOO excited. He got to play video games and minecraft and pokemon with Austin. They ordered sushi and she made him breakfast cake in the morning and the whole experience about made his life!

Some Greta art. And photography above :)

Little pilgrim costume from preschool.

Our Thanksgiving! We hosted. Heather and Shane didn't come. Ben and Julie came for a few hours before but didn't stay for the meal. We had a great time. Lots of fun cousin time, obviously tons of awesome food. And my parents stayed and hung out after. Rubbed my feet, played some games, etc. A very happy day!