New Years Eve

From all of us,

Happy New Year!

Can't believe we'll be a family of 8 in 2020!

The Rest of December

Lots of random happenings this month!

All of us watching "A Christmas Story" together in my room...

Decorating gingerbread houses:

Hailee had an appointment one day after lunch, so I took her out of school early and we went out to lunch- she chose Chinese:

Dallin was awarded the 'responsibility' character of the month last month... 

...not that he told me!  I noticed it whilst walking into the middle school one day!

Hailee has been doing neurotherapy for a few months-

She's loving it because she's watching all the Harry Potter movies as part of her bio-feedback.

Jace just being Jace...

Cutest little reindeer around!

Did a little jumping and bouncing on Christmas break when the older boys went to a movie...

To be clear, it was the kids jumping and bouncing, there was no jumping OR bouncing for this bladder 😬

Bryson is loving his 3D printer!  He's constantly using it... it's fascinating to watch...

He made the switch controller cradle on right, it works pretty good!

Awww, and he printed me this heart:

"Thanks for the 3D Printer"

Definitely the most unique thank you note I've ever gotten 😍

Extended Dog Sitting

We are my parents designated dog sitters for when they go out of town.  It's kinda nice because it's the perks of having a dog without the commitment.  Missy is so so playful with the kids and pretty well trained... if only she didn't shed to dang much!  But I tolerate it because, kids.

So we got Missy for the two weeks that Mimi and Papa were going to be gone to Hawaii.  Except that the two weeks turned into an open-ended stay when Mimi fell on her e-bike rental (that we gave them as an early Christmas present 😕) and broke her ankle.  They came home early and, since Mimi ended up needing surgery, they didn't want their sweet but high energy dog jumping up on Mimi or getting under foot.  While the kids felt bad for Mimi, they were SO excited to have Missy living with us again for over a month!

Missy tolerated it...😅

For sure some of the excitement wore off as they responsibilities of being dog 'owners' set it, but overall, Missy was well exercised and the kids did a good job taking care of her.  IF we ever do get another dog (we'd all have a lot of work to convince Nathan), it for sure would need to be an inside dog, they are just so much more part of the family when they're indoors!

A Merry Little Christmas!

Christmas already?!?

We spent Christmas Eve at Mimi and Papa's house with our annual white elephant gift exchange:

When we got home that night, we let each of the kids open one present from under the tree, which meant it was a gift from one of their siblings (since we hadn't put our gifts under the tree yet...)  They all tried to open something they could play with that night... 

Jace got a sweet rifle and pistol set from Hailee:

Eli got a basketball from Dallin:

Hailee is in love with her sword from Jace:

To complete her joy, she got a matching shield the next day!

Bryson got a sweet Star Wars Lego set from Hailee and Jace:

And Dallin a bow and arrow from Jace:

Perhaps the best Christmas gift for Nathan was that I had already wrapped ALL the presents for the kids- he was SO excited to not have to stay up until 0'dark thirty wrapping gift after gift!

The kids were forbidden from coming downstairs until 7:30 the next morning, but starting about 6:45am, we could hear pretty consistent stirrings upstairs, so we got up and got started!

Bryson was absolutely floored that we got him a 3D printer!

Hailee's Lego Avengers HQ:

I think Bryson was just as excited about it as Hailee was!

Backtrack to the end of November, Bryson saw on my phone that I had was shopping for a Nintendo Switch.  I figured I couldn't fool him, so I told him we were getting one for Christmas, but obviously for him to keep it a secret!  As Christmas approached, I kept hearing more and more discussion of Nintendo Switches, until just a few days before, there was an extremely confident undertone amongst ALL of my kids that we were getting a Switch.  Naturally, I couldn't let it pass unpunished, as the only way the other kids would know about the Switch was if Bryson had told them.  So when Nathan and I put the gifts under the tree after the kids went to bed on Christmas Eve, I kept the Switch (and all associated paraphernalia) hidden in my closet...

On Christmas morning, Bryson made a big to-do when several appropriately sized gifts labeled for the whole family were about to be opened, sure each time, that it was the Switch.  When all the gifts under the tree were opened, he looked rather confused and even a little embarrassed.  All the kids seemed kinda deflated.  They got over it and started in on building their Lego sets and setting up their other gifts.  But Bryson was feeling it... he felt pretty bad because he'd gotten everyone's expectations up and then there was no Switch!  So after a decent amount of time, Nathan subtly put the wrapped box in the middle of the family room.  It took a few minutes for anyone to notice it, but once they did, they swarmed it like vultures!  Oh the relief and joy!

Merry Christmas to all!

So thankful for the multitude of blessings we enjoy every day of the year, but most of all, for the gift of our Savior Jesus Christ- His birth, His exemplary life and especially His Atoning Sacrifice. 💗

 

Snow Fun

'Tis the season for snow (so I'll try to not complain about it!)  I really do love the snow, but it's just so cold!! 😂

Jace was determined to shovel off the back deck all by himself.

I think his enthusiasm cleared out much sooner than the snow did, but he stuck with it and got it done!

Eli's snowman!

We took our first trip up skiing to Silver Mountain on the 23rd and 24th, staying overnight up in Kellogg.  It was super foggy and windy!  Hailee and I mostly stuck to the bunny hill/magic carpet...

She's definitely improving and getting more confident!

After skiing, we hit the water park where I took exactly one picture...

(you're welcome Eli!)

We had pizza and then slept in.  The boys all went up skiing the next morning- Hailee and I were going to join them around lunch time, but they called us pretty early because it was so windy they were not enjoying themselves.  Jace at one point was pointed downhill, but the wind coming up the hill was so strong that he wasn't moving... he yelled at Daddy, "Daddy, I'm too light!"

Overheard at the Restaurant...

As a special treat, we took the kids dinner at Red Robin last week. Since we don't eat out often, especially at sit-down restaurants, they thought it was pretty amazing- burgers and fries are their soul food! The kids all poured over the menu, deliberating on what delicacies to order.

Eli is, by far, our pickiest eater. He doesn't like cheese, pasta or other random things, and he really doesn't eat all that much when he does like what's being served anyway. As a result, we often have him order off the kids menu... but this time he begged us to let him order from the full menu... He promised he was starving and would eat it all, so we relented. When his turn came around to order, I kid you not, he asked for a "Master Cheese{burger}, with no cheese" 😂 After we all got done with a good laugh, the server steered him toward a similar burger, that isn't made to be piled high with assorted cheeses. It didn't disappoint:

He polished it off no worries at all😀

Winter Concerts (and their collateral damage...)

All within the same week...

Bryson, Dallin and Eli all performed in the band concert:

Jace performed with his 2nd grade class:

and Hailee had her 4th grade recorders concert!

That's a lot of music in a short amount of time *wink*

So, to set the stage for this next explanation, we were running late to get Hailee to her concert.  It was dark and snowing a wet slushy, slippery snow.  I pulled in front of the high school to let her out since there were no parking spots close by.  There were cars parked along the side walk, so the lane was more narrow than usual.  Plus, as I pulled ahead, I was actually looking over my shoulder to make sure she got inside without slipping in the wet snow in her dress shoes.  Did I mention that my car is really long with a ridiculously wide turning radius? But basically, I really wasn't paying attention and I totally swiped the entire drivers side of my car along a (yes) bright yellow pylon.  And we had JUST gotten the passengers side fixed from when I messed it up along Nathan's car.  *facepalm*

It's so so bad.  But I just don't have it in me to anything about it right now.  I'm holding out for a deer hitting us on that side 😔