Busy days, happy days

Kendal had her Christmas piano recital on the 6th. She has worked so hard on her piece "Believe". She did a wonderful job and it was fun to hear the other Christmas songs from the other kids. To celebrate we grabbed some crumble cookies and shared them at home! 

Kendal had her well check on the 8th and got in her first covid shot. She is growing and is 57in tall and weighs 82lbs, with perfect eye sight!

Casey turned 38 on the 11th! We got to have a wonderful morning together. I made him biscuits and gravy and he opened gifts and cards from the kids. I don't say it enough, but I'm beyond blessed with the best with Casey. He is amazing in so many ways and I love him so very very much! He's had a lot on his shoulders this school year, and I know life isn't often easy for him. I'm grateful he continues to teach, serve, love, and do so much for so many. He is our rock and everyone's favorite around here!

After Casey's birthday morning at home we headed out to Raft River for the Webb extended family party. We had a nice lunch and got to see family we haven't seen in a while. The kids ran around with second cousins. We got to sing songs and do the traditional cereal game. We stayed for the afternoon and ate dinner and had birthday cake to end the evening. 

Kendal had her choir performance on the 13th. It was a big concert night with every band from middle to high school and each school choir performing. Cheryl went early and watched David play in the middle school band then stayed for Kendal and the other school's choir songs. Kendal's group only got to perform a couple of songs, but they gave a wonderful performance. 

Peter had his basketball observation on the 14th. All of the 3rd and 4th grade boys got to run through a bunch of drills and plays while the coaches observed them. Peter enjoyed himself and got in there. We're looking forward to his season starting in January! That same night Kendal had a Temple trip with the Young Women. She's been wanting to go to the Temple and was happy to go! 

Both Peter and Alice spent the last week before school getting out wearing Santa hats. Alice wore hers to day care and preschool while Peter wore his to school. He also wore jammies to PJ day on Friday!

Alice had her last day with Miss Ellie on the 16th. I'm so bummed I didn't get a picture of the sweet girls with Miss Ellie. They've had such a wonderful experience this fall. Miss Ellie has been amazing and we're heartbroken to loose her. Thankfully the girls get to stick together and join most of the boys from Miss Ellie's other class with a new teacher located here in Kimberly! 

Peter had his class party last Friday. I got to help out. I was over a relay race that we did with tic tac toe as well as shuffle board with gingerbread cookies. Peter played a couple of other games and made gumdrop designs ( his was a 3D star). Alice tagged along and was having a good time sneaking sweets and helping with the relay race. I got to dress up a bit as well last week. Santa hat day, elf, reindeer. Work is busy but good. Not going to lie, I'm thankful for a break from busy and being at home this week with the kids!

Our ward party was also last Friday. We went to dinner at the church. It was a nice dinner with a simple program. Santa came at the end. Kendal and Peter rushed over to join the line, but Alice refused. After coaxing her a bit we got her to join the line, but only moving a little bit closer made her regret her decision and she backed off completely refusing to see him.  We took our time getting home driving around and looking at Christmas lights; stopping to enjoy the house that's has a light show set to music. 

Casey had games this last Saturday I went and watched for a bit while the kids bummed around at home. Saturday afternoon Kendal and Peter got a surprise visit from their friends that moved away this summer. They played the afternoon away with Adi, Deacon, Tayven, and Austin!! After dinner that night we went into Twin to see a living Nativity. There is a family that owns a couple of acres and they put on an elaborate representation of Bethlehem as it was. Minus it being really cold it was truly a wonderful and interesting experience! The kids were in awe, Alice was a bit leery of the animals - while Kendal and Peter pet the sheep, goats, and llamas. I hope to make it a tradition every year! After the Nativity we drove out to a neighborhood that puts on an elaborate display to drive down.

After church on Sunday we headed out to Raft River for our Darrington party. We added Cody and Mia in via video chat as we opened gifts to each other. It was a buzz of activity and fun having so many there! Alice got a Bell doll from her cousin Madi and an Elsa costume from Grandma and Grandpa. Peter got a nerf football from his cousin Grady, and Harry Potter Lego's from Grandma and Grandpa. Kendal got a gift card for books from James, and Harry Potter Lego's from Grandma and Grandpa. Casey and I got a gift card to eat out from Nicole and Jordan, and money for our much needed new vacuum. We enjoyed some dinner and then did songs and the cereal game. Brett / Vanessa / kids, and us were the only ones able to sleep over, but It was fun with everyone else while it lasted! We got to have a nice morning at Casey's parents and come home around lunch. Casey had games Monday night, and since we didn't have a school night I took the kids. They mostly ran around with buddies, while I watched and chatted with friends. 

Casey and I got in a date to the Temple yesterday! Sarah was a sweetheart and took the kids (mostly for Alice and Jemma's benefit - those two have missed each other fiercely!) We got to do an endownment session and got to be the witness couple! I love the calm I feel at the Temple - it was a nice respite from our busy days. Kendal had a movie / Christmas party with friends in the afternoon. 

We decided to give the kids one on one time this year for their need gift. We're spreading it out over the break so today Casey took Kendal out to Depot Grill for lunch and then to the climbing gym. Kendal is our climber and it was her top pick. Casey got re-certified to belay and got to assist Kendal on her hours of climbing! She came home all smiles!