The Break and New Year's

We were planning on heading to SG right after Christmas and spending our Christmas break down there, but we just couldn't seem to muster up enough energy to do everything that needs doing in order to make a trip. We decided to save the gas money and stay home while Richie had time off work for Christmas. And man, it was just what the doctor ordered! We got projects done that needed finishing, slept in, and had lots of time together doing fun things. I actually felt on top of everything! (Which is a rarity) It was awesome. Here's some highlights:

Cute Benson and Grandpa


The kids "helped" me with some projects for about 2 seconds. Then my OCD comes out and they have to leave. Over the break I painted a "new" bed frame for Richie and I, painted some shelves Richie made me for the downstairs, and painted a little microwave table some neighbors were getting rid of. It's amazing how much life can be breathed into old furniture with a little love, and how new it makes the house feel.


We took the kids to see "The Tree of Life" in Draper. It's no secret Richie hates seeing the lights at temple square, so we thought we'd give this much smaller version a try...after Christmas...when we hoped there would be less crowds. Success!


Thanks to a gift card from Ben and Becca, we took the kids to see "Coco". We arranged for Benson to sleep at Grandma and Grandpa's house while we took the 3 older ones, but right before we left Gwen knocked her head on the concrete as they were pulling each other in the wagon on our street. She was throwing up and not feeling so hot. So she stayed at G&G's house too. The next day Grandma and Grandpa took just Gwen to see "Coco" so she didn't miss out too much. :) Lucky girl to have G&G all to herself!


We painted lots of thank you notes! Benson thought it was awesome.


We used another generous gift card to eat out one night at Dairy Queen (Thanks Christensens!)and since it was near Lehi, we used our newly renewed pass to Thanksgiving Point (Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Crosby) to go to the Curiosity Museum. It's so much easier taking the kids when Richie is with me, and we've found the perfect time to go: 6pm! Everyone is heading home, but the museum is open till 8, so it's 2 hours with much less chaos than normal.



New Year's Eve this year was really low key and perfect. We measured the kids and after Sunday dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's house, we headed home and instead of making the kids go to bed immediately, we got in our cozy pajamas, brought all of our blankets into the living room, stoked the fire, and watched "It's a Wonderful Life". We never got around to watching it during the Christmas season, but we've decided it works pretty well as a New Year's movie also. Lindy and Gwen zonked out eventually, but Miles managed to make it till midnight, and humored me by going out to bang pots and pans. I left my 3 babies snuggled up together next to the fireplace and went to bed. It was perfection.


New Year's day for dinner we got together as a homeschool group at BreAnn's house for fondue! It was a new experience for most of the kids, so it was chaotic and really fun. I'm really grateful for these families who push me to be my best and who are my partners in crime with this whole crazy home-schooling journey. We missed having our newer family there, the Braithwaites, but we'll get 'em next time. Welcome 2018!

Christmas Day 2018

My favorite Christmas tradition that we started a few years ago is that Dad is the first to wake up. He makes a nice cozy fire and starts breakfast, which consists of German pancakes and grapefruit. If we're lucky, we might also spoil ourselves with some bacon. We woke up to delicious smells and enjoyed our breakfast and fire, then let the kids see what Santa brought.


Gwen was thrilled she got "Just Dance" to play on the Wii, Lindy was thrilled with her "My Little Pony" set, Miles was thrilled with his Minecraft game (but bummed he had to wait till our computer was fixed to actually use it), and Benson was thrilled with his wagon. After I felt like they gave those gifts adequate attention, we moved onto wrapped presents. Hands down, my favorite was watching the kids when someone was opening a present they had given. They were so excited and just couldn't contain it! As siblings they drew names and picked out gifts for each other at the DI, and then we washed them up here at home. Lindy gave Benson a toy car, Benson gave Gwen some barbies, Miles gave Lindy a barbie, and Gwen gave Miles a doggie stuffed animal. I loved that Gwen gifted me a rock she found on a walk, and some mixing bowls I had bought myself a while ago and stashed downstairs. I loved that Miles gave Richie and I each a book he bought with his own money at the library. Check out the one he picked for Richie!:) After those favorite moments, my next favorite was watching the girls open their presents from Richie and I. I gave them my old American girl dolls. They were over the moon about it, and I was a little more sentimental about it than expected. They are already 100x more worn in these few weeks than they ever were when I had them for years, but I wanted them to be really and truly played with.


We paused the gifts for a moment to go over the Grandma and Grandpa's house so that we could Skype with Elder Garner! It's always nice to see their face and chat for a bit, but I admit I feel a bit awkward doing the missionary call thing.


We came home, opened our stockings, cleaned up, and then the kids proceeded to play Just Dance for 3 hours without stopping. No joke. Talk about a work out! Then family came over to hang out and they played with them too! It was a really wonderful Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve

I loved having Christmas Eve on a Sunday. It seemed so appropriate. We had a lovely sacrament meeting, both Richie and I had to give mini-talks, and Richie "debuted" as the choir director and did a great job.

When we got home, I cooked, and then got the kids to be sneaky and get Richie out of the house so I could finish a present for him from the kids (fire starters). Gwen helped me with it later. It was a sweet, quiet moment with her while we listened to Cori Connors, and she capably worked away while singing "When I'm worried, and I can't sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep, and you'll fall asleep, counting your blessings."


Before leaving to eat at Mom and Dad's, we made sure we checked the Santa Tracker to see where Santa was at. We feasted, then had a little talent show, acted out the Nativity scene, and opened a few presents. It was a wonderful night with our family.


The kids were anxious to get home to see if they got new Christmas Jammies and keepsake books (which are still on their way! Boo) They left some cookies out for Santa and anxiously settled down in the girl's room to sleep.

3rd-ish week in December

It's all running together now. So, exact dates for these happenings aren't going to happen. Sometime in December. Good enough, eh?

Joy School Group again with Lindy's friends. I still don't feel like I'm getting it right, which is frustrating since this ain't my first rodeo...oh well. Lindy's enjoying it, which is the main reason I signed on.


Our friend's the Andersons invited us to go to a Mommy and Me music class they go to. It was mostly geared toward little kids, but Miles and Gwen decided they mostly enjoyed it, but don't want to do it again. :) Lindy got out of her shell a little and actually participated. Benson made it really hard. What else is new?


"Hey Mom! I made us lunch!"-Miles


"Sisters, Sisters...There were never such devoted Sisters..."


Richie and I had a real treat. BYU had a live jazz band playing for a themed swing night. Tucker and Belen agreed to watch our kids for us, and Richie and I got all "dolled-up" and danced until my shoes broke! They are 10 year old shoes, and they have been limping along, but I think they finally kicked the bucket that night. These aren't the best quality pictures, but it must be documented that we did this! He ran into some old swing friends, who all agreed the band was more "dixieland" and less swing, which was kind of a downer. We tried to determine at what point we'll be so old that our skills won't be as great...Cause we've still got it! And although it's prideful, we do kind of love it when people come up to us and ask us to teach them, or say that we're awesome. :)


Another Dance Recital for Gwen!


Decorating our gingerbread house. My kids can't wait until I allow them to eat the candy off it. Am I the only one that doesn't get this? I never grew up eating the candy off the gingerbread house. It gets all old and stale....anyway.



Bye-bye 10 year old computer. It was FULL of dust inside. Yuck. That was the first big thing Richie and I bought. I was a little sad to see it go, but grateful that upgrading a little didn't cost as much as we were expecting. Whew!


Brothers! Miles just came into my room like this one day. I don't know how he managed to get Benson on his shoulders, but he was very proud. Made me a little nervous. :)


We went caroling as a homeschool group to some people in Makenna's ward up in SLC. We've done some sort of caroling as a group for the past couple of years, and it's always something to look forward to.


I finished a blanket for a Christmas gift. I tried a new technique and really enjoyed it.


Caleb and Brendan had birthdays and we got to celebrate with them!


We had a Mexican Christmas dinner with the Beckstroms the weekend before Christmas. It was yummy and so fun to get together with friends.

2nd week in December

Making cinnamon ornaments!


Gwen reading to Benson. She was (and is) thrilled when she gets to read to him. They both love it equally I think. She just kept snuggling him as much as he would allow, and had the most content look on her face.


Kids making treats for their teachers!


We lost the spinner part from the game "Twister". Apparently that doesn't mean you can't play! They frequently have friends come over and just take turns calling out random color and appendage combinations. Plus extra little funny things they have to do. It's a hoot.


Richie's getting better and better at this whole teaching group uke lessons thing! It baffles me that he works with (mostly) apathetic kids all day at seminary, comes home and proceeds to muster up even more patience as he teaches 5 young kids a new instrument. It's not a pain free process, yet he still is positive, upbeat, and encouraging-while being demanding.


Bless Sister Marliee Withers. She's an older widow in our ward that we've tried to cultivate a relationship with. It's not that hard cause she's so darn nice. We asked if we could come over and do FHE with her one Monday. I said I'd plan a lesson and craft of some sort, and she said she'd provide a treat. Well I forget that sometimes when you're not used to having little kids over a lot anymore, that tiny messes, and tiny noises, seem really big. And here I go bringing cinnamon ornaments and glue and GLITTER. Bless her heart, she didn't seem to mind at all. She was all smiles and fed my kids ridiculous amount of cake, and showed them how to make a snowflake. Right as we sat down at the table and started chatting, Gwen leaned over to me and whispered in my ear, "I love her!" :)