Rest of Christmas Break.

We spent a few days at home between Christmas and New Year's. The kids played around with toys, we played the WII a bit, we cleaned, the kids played outside; basically we just had an easy going few days. Peter did get hit with a stomach bug that lasted for a day though, and Casey had a a cold that seems to be lingering. Casey was gone Thursday and Friday to Jerome for a basketball tournament. His team lost both games and the other Kimberly teams didn't fair so well either; however Casey says it was good experience for the girls. They have six more games till his team is done for the season then a few more weeks after that for the other girls to be officially done.
Friday evening we got to see Rhett, Aria, and their kids. We ate out at Culvers and then played a game at home while the kids watched a show / played around.

Saturday morning we headed out to Raft River. The whole family came for our Darrington Christmas party. We got to meet and gush over baby Maxwell. He is rolly polly perfection! The kids went sledding / pulled around by a razor after lunch. They played bingo with Grandma, played all around the house, and I did a relay race with them. We had a yummy dinner and opened cousin / adult sibling / grandparents presents. Kendal got a skip it and some tops from Grandma and Grandpa, she also got a color on messenger bag from David. Peter got Star Wars Legos, a new Maytor car, and some sweatpants from Grandma and Grandpa. He got a new Nerf gun from Becca. (He loves it all, and tries to sleep with his toys at night.) Alice got cute clothes from Grandma, Grandpa, and Grady! Casey and I received money to go towards our Disney trip fund from his parents, and games from Nicole and Jordan. They made us a washers game that we're excited to have! The siblings gifted mom and dad a painting of the Sake Lake Temple.

We let the kids watch shows with Grandma while the "big kids" played games upstairs. It was a late night, but so much fun.

Sunday we got to all go to church and see baby Maxwell get blessed. It was a nice blessing and wonderful that we could all be there for it. I got to steal Max for awhile during church and enjoyed waking him around and putting him to sleep.  We had a big lunch afterwards back at Mom and Dad's. The kids continued to play away. Terry, Sarah, Nicole, and Jordan left to go home and the rest of us stayed to celebrate New Year 's Eve. We snacked all evening and the adults got in more game time. The kids watched Mary Poppins and went to bed. We rang in the New Year, finished our game, and went to bed as well.
Monday we hung around for awhile. The kids happily played the morning away with cousins. We came home that afternoon. The kids watched Star Wars with Casey to end the day.

Tuesday everyone slept in!!! We had a lazy morning, then we headed out. We went out and found a new tree for next year! (Hopefully we'll have it in a new home as well.) We took the kids to Chick fill a for lunch (Thanks Mom and Dad for the gift card!) That afternoon we hiked Shoshone falls. The kids donned their winter gear and we made our way down to the falls. It was icy, and chilly; however the view was amazing and it made for a fun adventure. It was nice to have a couple of weeks off, to Relax, spend quality time with each other and family, and to just enjoy the break. We're back to the grind now with schedules and life. Here's to 2018! Looking forward to Alice's first birthday, family adventures, with luck a new house, and growth of one kind or another I'm sure.

President Monson passed away Tuesday. He's been our prophet for nine years and a church leader for decades more. I'm grateful for his light, his wisdom, his love, and service. I'm grateful to know he is  back home with our Father in Heaven and his departed family.
I keep quotes / scriptures in my phone - here are a few treasures from President Monson.
- Aim high. It is better to aim for the stars and drag your feet in the treetops than to aim for the treetops and drag your feet in the mud.
- We are responsible for the home we build. We must build wisely, for eternity is but a short voyage. There will be calm and wind, sunlight and shadows, joy and sorrows. But if we really try, our home can be a bit of heaven on earth.
- So much in life depends on our attitude.
- Of this be sure, you do not find the happy you make it.
- Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weakness and shortcomings. It is seeing people as they truly are. It is looking beyond the physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others.
- One of God 's greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final.
- May we ever choose the harder right than the easier wrong.
- Choose your love, love your choice!