Chocolate party

We all had the flu last December when we were going to do the chocolate party.  We rescheduled it for January and it went well.  There were so many people that asked where Jer's cute dad was.  It was so cute. 

Sam's "taller"

 

Mom

My Mom had a knee surgery a few weeks ago.  While she was recovering, she stopped being able to keep anything down and ended up in the ER twice.  They found a tumor in her kidney and ended up taking it out.  It was cancerous, but thankfully an operation to get it out is all that they're recommending.  The type of cancer had something to do with cancer of the veins around the kidney.  She's slowly getting better and I've been so happy to spend time with her and my dad.

 

Beginning of January

Ada had to do her instructor driving hours and I just happen to have a friend that's a driving instructor.  Robyn did really well with Ada and I'm proud of Ada's maturity and ability. 

Evelyn, Ada, Seth, Jack, Beth and I made candles together.  That was fun.

Then Evelyn and Rose made a cake on Evelyn's new cake maker.

Jer and I had scheduled a sealing session with my parents and Inez and Tom at the Provo temple to say goodbye to it before it gets torn down and rebuilt.  My mom was sick and Tom had to work, so it was Jer, Inez and me.  

Dedication

After Ada's driving, I introduced her to Red Maple.  The best chinese food I've ever tasted.

The cats aren't allowed to just walk around the house, so the kids have been bringing them in to cuddle on their blankets.

 

The week after Christmas

I ended up working the week after Christmas, but Jer was not so they did lots of things.  They used Sam's new molds.  They had so much fun and just got it in before the snow came to stay.

Evelyn likes to do those diamond dot paintings.  She got one for Christmas and immediately she set herself up in a little corner of the kitchen.  She's always been more comfortable on the floor. 

Ada was joking with Jer that she was the bad guy in the chair with the cat.

Jer was able to take Seth and Sam sledding. They were happy and cold when they came back.

Seth likes the airvent and listening to Audible.

Jer went to an event and Dan Well's new novel looked fun.

 

Veronica Espinoza

My Ecuadorian/Utahn friend came to visit.  Everything I wanted to show her was closed for the holidays. But it was fun to say hi and a blessing to be able to share my memories of her dad with her the week after his passing.

 

christmas and new years 2023

 

Since I haven't blogged in almost 6 weeks, I have lots of pictures to post.  Here were our family Christmas party pictures and our personal New Years.

Rae, Vivien, Grandpa, Seth, Grandma, Evelyn, Lance and Thea

Sharon and Grandma did a cookie decorating activity.  The kids had a blast.

Evelyn went with her friend Maylee to the children's museum.  These two girls are so cute together.

These were "tough" laser fighters.

New Year's this year was 123123.  It's a fun number and Seth decorated a sign for us to put up.  He decorated it with a bunch of A frame cabins and told me that it was Bear Lake.

We played lots of games for New Years.  The kids didn't want to play Marrying Mr Darcy until we showed them that we had the zombie expansion.  Then they were all in.

I sat this one out.  Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

Seth's chip was almost the same size as his head.  He was pretty pleased.

Jer and I just before midnight.

Seth said he's the mad hatter, so he had to wear his hat upside down.

Merry Christmas!

Ada made me and Jer little dinosaurs.... then little bitty ones for her and her siblings.  It was so cute.

Ada also made us Christmas lunch.  Yummy salmon sadwiches.

Sam and Maisy pulled out their flutes.  It was beautiful and I could have listened for another couple of songs.  

Ada and I during sing along.

Robertson sing along. It was us, the Tarkington's, the Hansen's and Grandma and Grandpa.  Then everyone got sick at their house the next day, but we were glad to have seen them for the day.

Christmas jammies this year and the kids mostly love them.  I think they're too warm, but I have camping in my head when I think of Christmas jammies.  The cats really like when Sam wears it and holds them on his lap.

One of my daycare babies right now.  He wants to be held all the time.  Cutie pie, I'm glad that I always have a helper.