January snow!

 Brett Welch took Kendal and Pete up to Magic Mountain on the 2nd to ski with Netta; Casey joined them at lunchtime and finished the day with the kids. It hadn't snowed much, so it was a bit icy,  but they had a great time. 

We went back to school on the 3rd. It was hard for the kids to go from two weeks of being off schedule and going back to 6:30 wake up call, but they dealt with it. I actually had a very short week because Kendal got to have her braces off on Friday the 5th! Her appointment cut into my work day so I took the day off. I got some studying in and then grabbed Kendal for her long appointment. She is beautiful! She's still getting used to her retainers and bare teeth. 

Pete had basketball games the last two Saturday's.  He had a great game on the 6th with a three point shot, a couple of other baskets, and some good playing time. His team won by a couple of points! Yesterday his team was down most of the game, but they made their way back and won by one point with one second left! Kendal got to go and do the clock at games for a few hours on the 6th then spent the afternoon at Netta's playing her new game Villainous. 

Pete was ordained a deacon this last Sunday by Casey! It still feels weird that Pete is old enough to be in Young Men's, but he is and he's so excited for this new chapter in his life. We're so proud of the young man he is becoming! Kendal and I also got callings on Sunday. I will be serving as secretary in a new primary presidency and Kendal is first councilor in her YW presidency! 

Kendal and Pete got to join the youth for temple baptisms Tuesday evening. Pete was so hyped and excited to go and Kendal was a proud sister telling him all the things and helping him get ready. They had a wonderful evening serving in the temple only to be topped off with frozen yogurt at Orange Leaf with the Bishop!

We had the last week of the quarter this past week in school. Pete is sad to not have PE anymore and Kendal had fun being Casey's aide this last quarter. We had snow come in during the week which made our drives to school not so fun on Wednesday. We continued to get snow and ended up having school canceled Friday for a severe storm warning. We didn't get a ton of snow, but the wind was insane and the snow drifted a ton. Games and practices were canceled as well. 

We had another severe storm warning last night into this morning and had church cancelled as well. We had drifts up to three feet in some places and waves of snow all around the house. Casey, Pete, and I got our driveway cleared (and part of the road, so we could get out tomorrow). After that Casey and Pete headed out and helped some neighbors with their driveways this morning. The girls and I played around in the backyard for a bit. The snow was too fluffy to pack into a snowman, so we made snow angels and tromped around getting stuck in the drifts. After our snowy morning Peter got the opportunity to pass the sacrament for the first time as we did "home church" today. We were given permission to have the sacrament at home today and it was so neat to have Peter and Casey bless and pass the sacrament to our little family. It's been a lazy few snow days. The kids went out sledding in the snow yesterday, but other than that we've been homebodies.

A few extra pictures from the last couple of weeks.

  

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.