The January Birthday Celebrities for 2020

We got 'em all...Bryan #44, Afton #9, Brady #15, and Brenden #11!  It was fun to wish all of these wonderful peeps a happy birthday!  We had dinner with the Randalls and did 3 at once, and then later in the month we had a private cake/presents/ice cream party with Brenden and family at their house!  We love them all!  

The grand "edventure" dates for 2020 begin!

We are getting off to a quick start!  With all of the lovely snow on Cedar Mountain we just had to take these 3 and let them try it out XC skiing!  (Brady had been before with scouts.)  We had to rent some for Brady - size 15 - since he long since outgrew any boots we own.  Eden and Gaige had to wear plenty of sox to fit into what we had.  It was our first trip to the Deer Hollow Winter Sports recreation area...and it was so much fun!  Other than Gaige feeling a little under the weather as soon as we started skiing, it was a good time.  (He was a great sport and tried hard even tho' he wasn't feeling in top form.)  What was cool was trying out a groomed trail.  They were actually grooming them while we were there and it was fun to see the way cool machines at work.  I'm so glad we still have the health to get out and enjoy these fun times with our grand kiddies.    We stopped on the way home for Maverik hot chocolate and Lin's donuts!  (Be sure to notice Eden's beautiful smile...she just got her braces off!)

We went again for a XC ski date with Kennis and Tasia on Martin Luther King Day - Jan. 20th.  We were out of school and they were able to fit in time to go with us between all of their other activities of the day.  Kennis had been on an 8-mile run that morning and had to be back for work at 5 pm.  Tasia went late to a friend's sauna party so she could come.  Their lives get pretty complicated as they grow up, but we had great time with the trails being even better groomed this time and again had perfect weather and road conditions.  We made some very funny videos of the girls trying out a little downhill run at the end - it left us all laughing!  Then we stopped for Orange Julius and french fries on our way out of town.  Fun stuff! The girls were much improved in their skiing from the time we took them last year.  The groomed trails made a big difference I think.

Sometimes we wonder if it is worth it to do these dates...it is so hard to mesh everyone's schedules.  We seriously considered not doing it this year, but after these two dates we are reminded again what a wonderful thing it is to spend time with these kids no matter how hard it is.  All too soon they will be leaving the nest and we won't get that chance.

Happy 2020 plus 1 day! XC skiing at Pine Valley

It was time to get the skis out and Pine Valley had enough snow so we could enjoy our first trip of snow of the year there!  It wasn't perfect conditions since the sun was out, but we enjoyed getting out there! 

Happy New Year & Fun with the Lillywhite Chicas (and their parents)!

Jay, Brynn and girls (chicas) came down for some fun after Christmas.  They stayed with Juge in Cedar, then Moss and Christie for Sunday, and then with us for a couple of days!  We had fun hanging out and getting out!  We all spent New Year's Eve with Moss and Christie and kids eating yummy food, watching football and playing games.  Another day we visited some of the Church historic sites - the Tabernacle and Brigham Young Home.  Clara wanted to take a hike, so we did our backyard beauty - Owen's Loop part way.  She got sleepy and missed then end.  It was a fun visit!  Too bad they don't live a little closer so we could hang out more often, but we do feel blessed to have them pretty close.

Girl's Party - 2019

Hmm, I'm not quite sure how many this makes, but it was fun.  We did it on Friday, Dec. 27th at noon in Cedar City at The Park Place Eatery.  Lou kind of spearheaded this one.  And it was a lot of fun.  We did miss Beacher this year as she and Supe are in the middle of moving into their new house.  Too bad on that.  We had yummy lunch and visiting and then afterwards we went over to Bryan's office and played some fun games and visited some more.Juge and Brynn brought a Christmas gift for all of us that they went together on - a giant sheet pan. It was a fun time for us to visit in Ferf's car on the way up and back too.  Good times with good ladies.  Kaebri, Kennis, Tasia and Ellie were there from the younger set. 

Christmas 2019!

Christmas was a little different this year with Anna Lou going to Ross and Lerlyn's in Farmington.  Other than that, we did pretty much the same thing - Christmas eve was small with dinner with Moss and Christie and Bean.  One new thing we did was to have the kids open a few new toys for at Grandpa and Grandma's house.  They really enjoyed that.  In the morning Supe (and Auri) joined Paul, Bean and me for breakfast since Beacher had to work.  After breakfast we opened our presents and then it was off to visit the families and bring them their presents.  We always enjoy this because it's so much more manageable than doing it all in a big group.  It's one of my favorite improvements on Christmas and came about since Anna Lou couldn't stand all of the noise of the big group.  

We started at the Smiths house where everyone was happy and doing well.  They still struggle - couldn't bear to put up all of the old family ornaments because it made them miss their mom too much - so they got some new ones and it was a beautiful tree.  

Next stop was at Moss and Christie's.  They were enjoying their Christmas morning...especially Kai who is just at that cute, funny age that keeps everyone entertained!  

Then we went to the Borrowmans and were glad that the newlyweds had made it down the night before - Braden and Brynnli.  They seem blissfully happy as they should be!  The family were all trying out their new virtual reality equipment and it was fun to watch them!  (We tried it out before Christmas!)  

After we had lunch the Weavers stopped by on their way to Lance's parents for Christmas dinner.  It was fun to hear about their Christmas present - an upcoming trip to Costa Rica! 

Last stop was at the Randall's up in Enoch.  We drove up in rain and back in snow, but made it just fine and enjoyed our time with them and especially the chance to meet their Christmas puppy - Winston!  He's one loved pup! 

Then we came back home and Beacher and Supe joined us for some leftover Christmas dinner and opening of presents.  Auri liked her present!  Supe and Beacher made our Christmas with their announcement that they are expecting their first baby in July!  It's due right between their July birthdays!  It's so exciting! They are also in the middle of moving into their new house just barely purchased.  They paid off her student loans this year and then got on with their next goals!  We are so excited for them!!! 

Jay and Brynn are coming down tomorrow and we just had to settle with a few minutes on Skype with them Christmas morning and a picture.  We are looking forward to visiting with them in person soon! 

One thing that made Christmas especially nice for me this year was that I got an idea for presents for everyone in July and did nearly all of the family Christmas shopping then.  I still had a few things and friend/neighbor gifts to make, but it was so nice not to be stressing around trying to figure out what to get.  I hope I can do it again next year if possible.  This year all of the kids got new beach towels in anticipation of our Family Camp to the beach in CA for 2020.  We also got a beach shelter for each family that they can use there and for lake/sports/outdoor events.  Moss and Christie were the exception as they are not able to attend the beach trip unfortunately, but they still got the shelter and I found other things for their kids.  

Paul and I enjoyed the Christmas more because of my less stress and he didn't have work stress either which made it nice for him and me.  We enjoyed watching a Christmas advent series of videos that helped us feel closer to the real reason for the season - the birth of the Savior.  We are so thankful that we have the blessing of knowing that He was born, lived and fulfilled His mission in behalf of all of us.  It is knowledge that truly brings peace to our souls for so very many reasons.  It was a very Merry 2019 Christmas!

December fun - Gaige #14 and lots more fun!

December has not been as busy as it usually is for me since I actually did most of my Christmas shopping during the summer this year...a first!  We have been busy with YSA and finishing up neighbor/friend shopping and visiting.  

This is our final FHE of the year at YSA.  We went caroling at the Season's Assisted Living home.  I'm not much of a fan of it sometimes...just don't feel overly comfortable in that scene, but it went really well.  And the thing that made it more personal to me was seeing an old ward member/friend that we had lost touch with there.  Kind of sad seeing him there because he seems too young, but I was glad we tried to visit with him after the singing.  Afterwards we went to the church for chili and nachos and a crazy white elephant party.  I love spending time with these young adults.  They are amazing people and this has been a calling that we have really enjoyed...which was a surprise to me.  

And other fun things have been a part of the month so far.  Lou and Bryan were down with Afton and Joel and invited us to go and enjoy the lights at the Desert Garden.  Afterwards we had hot chocolate and donuts.  

Gaige turned 14.  His folks were out of town at on the day of and we knew we might not be available to go to his late celebration, so we took our gifts by that night!

Kaebri called up invited us to her school orchestra concert.  I had been wanting to go to a Christmas concert and this was a good one. So glad she invited us.

One Saturday we took Anna Lou over to Page to meet Ross so he could take her home with him to spend Christmas with them.  One the way home we took the long way going through Jacob Lake and Zion Park and we stopped by Lee's Ferry where we enjoyed the Balancing Rocks and the Paria Riffles along the Colorado River.  

One more fun outing I didn't take pics of was going to get our Christmas tree.  We just went for a drive up to Brian Head thinking there would be no place we could pull off to get out and get a tree because the snow was too deep...and it was and the road was closed right after Brian Head because the road hadn't been cleared.  But on the way back we saw some people stopped at a little pull out and they had loaded up some fresh cut Christmas trees.  We stopped and asked where and they pointed out a path they had just stomped down to get their trees.  It was just a little off the road and we walked down and found several good prospects of fir trees there.  We decided on one and Paul sawed it down and we had done the deed in record time amazingly!  It was a very unexpected harvest. 

My blog side gadgets...

I have some side gadgets on my blog that never show up in the printing.  I have decided to include them here.

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." ~Pablo Picasso

"Keep close to Nature's heart...break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." -- John Muir

There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one.

Wilderness is not a luxury, but a necessity for the human spirit!  -- Edward Abbey

It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit. 
-- Robert Lewis Stevenson

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. -- John Muir

Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written. -- Ether 2:12

...all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator. -- Alma 30:44

Love -- Real love stories never have endings.

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.

 -- Ralph Waldo Emerson


Being happy...

doesn't mean everything's perfect. It means you decide to see beyond the imperfections.


Little drops of water, little grains of sand...

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. I do not agree with the big way of doing things.
-- Mother Teresa

Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Noah #11 and Paul #67

Noah got an early birthday present while they were here for a few days after Thanksgiving.  One more of the 4 boys is now 11 - only one more to go!  We celebrated Paul's birthday unexpectedly on the evening of.  We were supposed to be leaving for Havasupai with Supe and Beacher that night, but due to very recent flash flooding damages there along with snow, we decided to skip the trip.  So we made cheesecake and invited who could to come over to celebrate sort of last minute.  It was good!  Happy birthday #67 Paul!

Tavin is off to the Philippines

Monday evening we went over to wish Tavin and early Christmas and farewell.  He liked his present - a portable bidet - which may come in handy where he is going.  The next day December 3rd, his family took him down to Las Vegas to board his flight to head off to the MTC in Manilla, Philippians.  We are going to miss him here, but we are proud of the fine young man he has become and the preparation he has made to be a missionary.  Knowing he's on the Lord's errand will see us through until he comes back.