Christmas time

 We had two days of school before Christmas break started. Alice had grinch day on Monday and PJ day on Tuesday as her dress up. The middle school had pj day on Monday, and ugly sweater day on Tuesday. (Let's just say I whipped up 3.5 designs all before 8 in the morning. A yeti for Pete, a ribbon tree for kendal, a gingerbread girl for me, and Casey stuck Christmas bows all over a sweater vest. Kendal was in charge of 3 assemblies with her executive council group. I got to skip work for an hour and help with Alice's class Christmas party.  We played don't eat Pete! 

Tuesday night (19th) was kendal's Christmas recital. She played a duet with her teacher and a beautiful version of deck the halls. 

Since Casey had basketball we spent the first  day and a half of our Christmas break at home. I took the opportunity to clean the house and get all ready for Christmas. Thursday we headed down to Logan for a few days. Friday we all went out to Hardware Ranch to see the elk. We got to go out on a wagon ride amongst the elk and enjoyed some hot chocolate and time in the lodge after our ride. We had a late lunch at Cafe Sabor and celebrated Katherine and Anica's birthday a bit early. That night Casey, David, Anica and I went to the USU basketball game while the kids had a movie / game night at Grandma and Grandpa's house. 

Saturday morning we opened presents from my parents / Aunt Katherine.  Kendal and Pete got cute Harry potter lego sets from Aunt Katherine and Alice got an outfit for her doll. The kids got some fun books as well. Pete got a basketball hoop, a fun puzzle, and pocket knife from my parents. Kendal got a jewelry box, earrings, and a couple of games from Grandma and Grandpa. Alice got a doll outfit, game, and fun craft supplies. Casey got a globe, bat, sun charger,  and sweeper! I got a new Christmas book, paper cutter, pitcher, and spatula I wanted from them as well as a cute Christmas story from Katherine. 

After lunch I took the girls and Campbell to visit Nana. Pete had been whisked away to play with the boys earlier. We came back and had dinner all together.  Poor Andy had surgery earlier that week and was miserable on the couch. The kids played away the evening. 

Christmas eve Sunday we joined my parent's and Katherine for church. It was a beautiful sacrament meeting highlighting our Savior. After church we had a nice dinner together. We said our goodbyes, gave Nana a quick love you visit and headed home. We made it home unpacked our very loaded car and then went to eat Christmas eve tamales at Brett and Vanessa's house with the Darrington's. We got to have Kenny and Cheryl stay with us that night and into Christmas morning. 

Christmas morning the kids slept in till about 7:45, and then they burst through our wrapping paper barrier we put up at the bottom of the stairs. We started off with our traditional nativity ornament story. The kids got right into presents next. All three kids got a big lego set from Santa. Kendal got a the Harry Potter castle, Pete got a big Millennium Falcon, and Alice got a princess castle.  They went through their stockings next finding goodies, gloves, and a few other things. The kids each got a new outfit, and books. Pete got a personal blender and basketball. Kendal got a laundry bag, retainer cleaner, and whitening steeps since he braces come off this week! Alice got a couple of barbies and outfits for them. I gave Casey new church shoes, a book set, a new dutch oven and new earbuds. I got boots, a couple of tops, and the light we put above my family chart in the entry. 

Casey's parents got to be with us opening presents and having breakfast. (We had mini waffles for breakfast.) They left after breakfast to go see what their other kid / grandkids Christmases. After the fun of opening presents the rest of our day was full of Lego building and taking it easy. We didn't fuss over meals, and just went with the flow of the day. We ended our day playing games into the night. 

This rest of our Christmas week was spent playing. With toys, Legos, games, pj days, a few shows, and giving ourselves some simple days at home. We did go out on a snowy Tuesday afternoon to see the new Wanka movie. It was a cute movie! Casey went up to Boise for a basketball tournament Thursday into Saturday. Last night Kendal went to a new years "eve" Stake dance in Filer. She finally got Netta to join her since she turns 14 this year. She had a fun night with friends and even got in a hand full of dances. It was a late night for her. (Casey and I aren't ready to have a teen staying out so late.)

(A few pictures from our week)

Today is New Years eve! We got to go to church (last time at 12, now we go to 9). We had on a chill afternoon together and then went to the Dansie's for some New Year's eve fun tonight. 

Holiday Catch Up

 We went to Raft River the day before Thanksgiving. It was just us with Kenny and Cheryl for Thanksgiving this year. It snowed overnight and into Thanksgiving. We anticipated the snow and the kids were able to go out and play in the snow, and make a snowman! We had a nice Thanksgiving day together and played games that evening. 

We decided to let the roads get clear so we had an easy going morning and then headed to Logan. We went out to Smithfield so the kids could play and Casey helped David move a safe. We had pizza back at my Grandma and Grandpa's house and the kids watched a show. 

Saturday Casey took Kendal and Peter off to Salt Lake to see our high school boys play at the Delta center and then they got to see a Jazz game that night. They had the opportunity to sit close to the court during the high school game. The kids had fun hanging out with friends and watching the game up close. In between games they went with the Welches to the Planetarium and ran into Brett, Vanessa, and crew afterwards. From there they all went on trax and went to seen a huge gingerbread house at a hotel. They ate dinner over at City Creak mall and then headed back to the Delta Center to enjoy the game. 

Alice and I stayed back in Logan. We joined David, Anica, and the boys at the Home Depot craft. We all ate lunch at Del Taco and then played back at my parents for a while. Alice and I had a little visit with Nana before we went to Preston with My Mom and Katherine to see the fireworks and parade with David, Anica, and crew. 

 

We headed home Sunday after a family dinner, so that Casey and I could run the missionary prep night at the Stake Center. 

Kendal had her last three games on the 28th, 30th and the 4th. They played at Home vs Wendell on the 28th. It was a good game that started out tough, but they got a win! They played at Lighthouse on the 30th. It was a hard fought game and the girls came up a bit short with a loss. They played in Jerome for their last game and had a win to end their season on a great note! Kendal got to start in her last two games and worked hard to help her team. She had a great season! She grew and improved in many ways. 

I got to go to Shaylah's 40th surprise party on the first of December, while Casey was off at a game and the kids were home watching a show. Unfortunately a transformer blew and the power went out just before I got home. I came home to some very anxious kids, and it took a while to get them settled and to bed. Thankfully the power came on late that night so we didn't get to cold. 

On the second Kendal was off helping run the clock at the KYA games in the morning, and then later she was off to help with the Executive counsel booth at the St. Nicolas festival. We came a bit later to enjoy the festivities. We watched Santa arrive and Alice and I went to greet him while the boys got food. Alice was excited to see Santa, however she didn't talk to him either. Kendal performed some piano pieces in the round building where the nativities were being held and we hung out for a while till it was time for fireworks. It was raining when the fireworks started so we were a bit wet in the end, but it was a fun night nonetheless. 

Pete had his last ever activity days on the 7th. The group just played around at the church. It's crazy to think Pete will be in Young Men's at the start of the new year! I had an activity days activity this past week with a little service project and then we took the girls to Dasiy's as a last hoopla before we loose a handful of girls in the new year to Young Womens. 

Last weekend we had a ward breakfast at the church. Afterwards we went to Barnes and Noble to let the kids find books for their sibling gift exchange we do every year. We went out to Raft River in time for the web family party and lunch. It's always a good time seeing family and catching up with the Webb's. The kids had fun playing around. We totaled up numbers and Allan and Carol posterity includes 152: kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. We had about 76 of us there. That evening we hung out at Kenny and Cheryl's playing games. 

I ended up with a wicked stomach bug and had a rough night. So everyone else went to church in the morning and I stayed back. We had our Darrington party after lunch and had a great afternoon / evening together with the kids playing and hanging out. Kenny and Cheryl gave all the kids robes which they've been loving ever since! We got to Include Cody's family in via a video session. It was good to see them and everyone else! 

Casey celebrated the big 40 this past Monday! He had early morning practice and a long day at work before we got to see and celebrate with him by going out to dinner. Casey works so hard in his many callings and capacities. I'm so grateful for him and I love him so very very much! Instead of gifts Casey and I have a trip booked to go see Garth Brooks in a few months in Vegas! Casey has loved Garth Brooks sine he was a kid and we're so excited to go! 

Yesterday we went to see the Live Nativity in Twin! It's become a tradition and it's such a special and unique experience. The family that puts this on sets up the whole town of Bethlahem on their property, with shops, booths, animals, and characters going around making you feel as if your in Bethlahem. Then you get a moment to witness "Mary and Joseph, with their baby Jesus". Since we weren't too frozen we also headed out to walk around the botanical gardens that they light up every year.

 

 

Today was a day full of errands and laundry. We also delivered some neighbor gifts and now we're ending the night watching home alone 2. 

Casey has had 2 - 3 games a week in the past month and is working so hard with his team. They've only had a couple losses and is hopeful that his season will continue to be successful. We've had two weeks full of food at School with "Stuff the Staff" and only a couple more days of school before Christmas break. Stricker has started dress up days. Alice and I were reigndeer, elves, and wore ugly sweaters so far. Friday was spirit day at the middle school with Pete in white, Casey in green, and Kendal in red.  

A few extras from the past few weeks: