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November 2025

November 30, 2025

We had a really nice Thanksgiving break, spending time with cousins as well as Nana and Grandpa in Provo. The boys especially loved riding bikes in Provo Canyon, which was a big hit. There were some cute pine cone turkey crafts, plenty of amazing food, and lots of good company. I had a great time swimming with the three older kids at the Lehi Rec Center, and a few of us went to see the new Wicked movie — which we all agreed was “mid,” not as good as the first.

Bike boys

Greyson turkey

Hinckley and Kay Boy Turkeys 

Laughing with Grandpa

Girl turkeys

Turkey making with Nana/Grandpa

Let the feast begin

Feasting cousins

Letters with Katie and Nana

On the bike path with Katie and Lucy



Addie had a fun week, including a field trip that I got to join at Junior Achievement City in Orem. Each student had a different job in the simulated city, and Addie was CEO of CompuTech and Gabb. She did a fantastic job leading her team and really seemed to enjoy the experience.

Greyson was thrilled this week because I finally built the bike jump he’s been begging for. With some scrap lumber and a few borrowed pieces from a neighbor, we made it work — and it’s been a big success. He’s able to get some serious air on it, and I'm enjoying that rare moment of accomplishing something with my own two hands.

Addie the CEO

JA Biztown!

Bagel SLC Tour

Big Jump!

Christmas boys

 
Hinckley was a big help in building the jump and also joined me for a fun dad–son date in SLC, where we did a bagel food tour. We visited four different shops, sampled and rated each one, and both agreed the clear winner was a place called The Dough Miner. It was a great time, especially listening to BYU take on Central Florida on the radio as we drove.

Desi really enjoyed all the people and attention once he got over his initial shyness. He was doing somersaults, playing with the baby dolls, and pointing out all his cousins on the wall alongside cousin Katie who seemed equally fascinated. Lately he has started giving us "uga muga" snuggles (Daniel Tiger) and making lots of growling noises. He continues to love birds and all animal life.

It’s hard to believe we’re already moving into December — the year’s winding down fast!


November 24, 2025

This week was a tough one. Desmond cried what felt like most of the time, and we’re still not sure what’s going on. We’re hoping it’s just a phase of growing pains, but it definitely made for a long, exhausting week.

Addie did an assessment at gymnastics at the rec center and is thinking about starting that up again. She seemed to enjoy being back in that environment and testing her skills. Greyson has been out biking and scootering every spare moment he gets. He continues to beg me to build him a “big jump”....

Des finds Addie's bed

Desi decides it's time for Halloween again

Desi in a box

Stuffing Teddy Bears

Bro cuddles


One of the highlights of the week was a service project in American Fork, where I took the kids to help make kits for schoolchildren and stuff teddy bears.

At home, we’ve been struggling to find a consistent sense of peace. We’re working on setting and enforcing rules in ways that feel predictable but still loving, which has been challenging in the current chaos. Kassie and I were able to go to a ward temple night sealing on Saturday evening, which was good - and fun to come home and watch BYU win with Hinckley.


November 16, 2025

This week brought a mix of recovery, creativity, and fun adventures. Greyson bounced back from being sick on Monday and Tuesday and quickly filled his time with projects. He spent the days writing a book, making a Perler bead skateboard, and listening to countless Diary of a Wimpy Kid audiobooks. On Saturday, he and I went on a dad–son date to the Eagle Mountain Bike Park, where we both caught some big air — and, thankfully, neither of us wiped out. It was a great time.

Greyson gets big air

Date at Eagle Mountain bike park

Greyson celebrates with friends

Reading boys

Desi takes the pen

Greyson climbing

Addie climbing

Desi plays in the pile with Hinckley looking on

Little helper man

Hinckley has been really enjoying his art class and brought home some of his recent work this week. It’s been fun to see his creativity coming through, and he’s already talking about wanting to continue art next year. It’s also become something he and Greyson have been bonding over lately, which has been nice to see.

Addie had a good week with friends and enjoyed seeing two of her best friends perform in a Lehi community play on Saturday. She and Kassie had a fun Friday night date watching Demon Hunters. Addie has also been helping me rake leaves, often with Desmond joining in. The two of them love it — Desmond especially.

Desmond has been fascinated by the fall colors and can’t resist running and diving into the leaf piles, laughing and yelling with joy. He’s been a little fussy lately and not sleeping well at night, so we’re wondering if it’s a growth spurt or something minor passing through. Still, his energy during the day hasn’t slowed down.

We wrapped up the week with some family time at the Rec Center, where Greyson, Addie, Desmond, and I climbed, played basketball, and explored. It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through November — the year is moving fast.


November 9, 2025

This week Addie got sick and then passed it to Greyson and he's currently running a fever and throwing up. We had stake conference this weekend and Hinckley went with me to the leadership session. He had a swim meet up in Holliday on Friday and Saturday and did some new races (200 Breast, 100 back) along with some oldies/goodies. He's improving even if he doesn't think so! Desi got a haircut and started saying "uh oh!" which is pretty cute. He loves animals and has started making different animal noises if prompted. 

Hinckley and Des on the slide

Happy guy


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