December birthdays!

 We started off on the 1st with Brynnli's 23rd birthday.  She wasn't in town for it, but we gave her her present at Thanksgiving to take home.  I just took a picture of her at Thanksgiving since I knew we wouldn't be seeing her the day of.  She's our oldest grandchild...crazy how they grow up!  She's had some hard times, but she's on the upward now.  Love her so much.  Hate having them grow up, leave home and be away.

Now it's time for Paul's birthday.  Too bad he had to miss the big birthday dinner with the family that was planned for the day after Thanksgiving...dang Covid!  But we got some gift cards from a former employee that borrowed our scaffolding last week, so for our date we ate at Texas Roadhouse.  He said he wanted a great steak for his birthday...and he got one that he didn't even have to pay for!  It was a really delicious early birthday dinner.  Today he'll be cooking a lot of his birthday dinner - pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans with almonds.  The family will come over for cheesecake tonight to celebrate.  This is a big one, #70, but big plans just weren't his plans, so it's not a big party like it could have been.  We made cheesecake for many last night and bought one from Costco too.  They are both really good!  Paul is the love of my life and I can't think of any bigger blessing in my life other than the gospel.  He's such a loving, kind husband, father and grandfather.   He's a hardworking, taking care of everyone.  I don't have words to say how wonderful he is.  He's truly the sunshine in my life in so very many ways.  Happy Birthday Paul!  I love you more than "birds (words) can say" or tongue can tell!  Happy #70!!!  Can't believe we are getting that old...you and me!

"Good temper, like a sunny, day, sheds a brightness over everything; it is the sweetener of toil and the soother of disquietude."  Washington Irving

This was the quote of the day in my Franklin Planner today, and it is a good description of Paul. The kids, in-laws and grandkids wrote things they love about Paul in a book for  him. It really shows what an impact he has had in lives of  family members and how much love and "sunshine" he does bring to all of us.  I wish I could put them all here, but I'll just leave you to read them in the other book instead.  

We had as many here as could come and it was great crowd! Juge read the cute book they made for Paul on his 60th birthday - "60 things we love about Dad".  It was pretty sweet!  We sang and Jem helped Paul blow out his candle.  We opened presents and visited and ate 2 kinds of cheesecake - both yummy!  It was a fun evening.  Jem is the only little one right now, and he was pretty darn cute and helped entertain all of us.  Happy 70th Paul!  We love you! (Jay, Brynn and girls gave him a sweet call just before it all started.  He loved it!)

(The only thing I didn't love about this whole thing was the idea of 70 YEARS OLD!!! We are both getting way up there and the thought of one of us kicking the bucket and leaving the other is not a pleasant one.  We've just been together so long - 48 years now - that it will be really hard to be apart even for a little while. It's just a worry in the back of my mind that if Grandma kicks the bucket her revelation about him being the child that would take care of her will be taken care of the the Lord will decide Paul can then be done...and I'll be here without him for a while.  Not good! Guess we better keep G'ma here as long as possible, but I know she'd sure like to be moving on too. Guess it's all in the Lord's hand no matter how I feel about it anyway.)

(On December 9th, Kaia Kawehiokalani Lillywhite was born to Jerel (Supe) and Kalehua (Beacher) Lillywhite.  She's getting her very own, separate birthday post this year!)

Last up for the year, and December, was Gaige!  It was #17 for him!  He's such a cute, smart, fun guy! The girls really like him...well, everyone just really likes him,  He's easy to like! He has a great friend group that have been really supportive in the hard times he's had with his parent's divorcing.  I'm really grateful that he does have good friends there for him.  He's a super athlete even though he's small in stature.  He was a really little baby and has had some struggles with getting his growth, but he's large in heart.  He's a Junior this year.  His sport is running now.  He's done others, but is happy with this now.  Happy Birthday Gaige!  We love you!  

 

The unexpected Christmas tree!

 The Friday after Thanksgiving was a little quiet for us since we didn't get to have company.  After hanging out way too long by ourselves at home we decided to take a drive over Cottonwood Road.  Paul felt fine enough to do that.  As we got up into the trees I noticed some pretty nice looking Pinon trees...ones that were actually shaped like Christmas trees!  There has been a lot of snow up on Cedar Mountain and with Paul not feeling that great I hated to expect him to go up there in the cold to get a Christmas tree, but wanted to get out there pretty soon for one.  (This seemed to be a great opportunity to find one down here instead.  We used to get Pinon trees when our kids were little, but it seemed too be hard to find nice looking ones and we ended up getting a fake tree for a while when they were all such busy teenagers we could never find a time to get out together to get anything.)  We found a road we had never even explored to boot!  So we went up there and started making cairns by the side of the road near possible Christmas tree choices.  We hadn't brought a saw and didn't have a permit on this drive, but decided to look and then come back Saturday morning early to cut one down. 

And that's what we did.  We also did a little hike that turned out not to go to where we thought it would.  So we turned around and went back down and got on with getting our tree.  We found the cutest little one for Grandma too!  This was kind of a sweet little bonus in our otherwise sweet, but sort of messed up holiday time.  

Here's Paul at one of his favorite stores...Lowe's!  

And here's how our tree and Grandma's tree turned out!  

Thanksgiving with a twist

 It was a real bummer when Ross told us that Lerlyn had Covid...the same thing he was unknowingly sharing with us the day he came over for an unannounced visit (practically) and spent the night and all of the next morning with Paul the Tuesday a week before Thanksgiving.  I was pretty upset when he came in coughing and blowing his nose continually.  I even spoke out and said I really didn't want what he had to to ruin our Thanksgiving with our family the next week.  Well, we heard about Lerlyn on the day before Thanksgiving and hurriedly went out and bought Covid tests.  Paul, Bean and I tested, and Paul came up positive!  Jay and Brynn were already on their way down to stay with us for the  holiday.  We called them.  They stopped for dinner and tested to see if Paul had shared it with them the week before when we were up at their house and Paul first started feeling a little sickish (the Friday after Ross had visited us).  Thankfully they were all negative and they ended up staying with Moss and Christie.  Paul doesn't really feel very bad.  We checked with everyone and they all said to go ahead with Thanksgiving at the church with everyone with us sitting at a different table and wearing masks most all of the time except when eating.  (Supe, Beacher, Jem and Koen and Torin are not in the group shot as they had to come a little bit later.)

Grandma had been on us about having Thanksgiving with us, but not able to really stand us as a whole group.  So the answer was to set her up in her own little dining room at the church just down the hall from where we all were.  Then people took turns going in to visit with her...and it worked out wonderfully!  Whew! Glad we got that right.  

The rest of us enjoyed a wonderful time feasting, playing in the other half of the gym - basketball and 9 square, etc. and all of the kids just enjoyed pairing up with other cousins and playing in different rooms around the building.  

After lunch and some time just visiting, most of us took a walk across the street to the university campus and enjoyed the cool sunny weather and getting some exercise before the pie devouring began.  Then it was more time for visiting and some more gym time, kids playing and table games.  The day went too fast and it was time to clean up and say our goodbyes.  It was especially nice to have Ferf's kids - Brynnli and boyfriend Ryan, Kennis (from college in St. Louis) and Tavin (from BYU) and of course Kaebri (home from her mission) there with us.  Ryan had the Ferf's little boys, but let them come over for a while which we were happy about too.  (A fun addition this year was having everyone bring table decorations; so cute and festive! And we love having it at this YSA building with the divided gym!)

It turned out well in spite of the last minute Covid twist. Our house has felt quiet without Jay and Brynn and girls as expected, but we did spend a little time with them on Saturday afternoon outside.

Unfortunately the special birthday dinner for Paul on Friday afternoon at a new amazing Italian restaurant had to go on without us.  A few other people ended up not being able to attend as well.  That was the most disappointing part about all of it.  As of Saturday afternoon Bean and I are still negative thank goodness.  I hope we miss it entirely.  

 Happy Thanksgiving 2022!  I do feel so grateful for so very many blessings 

that I have personally and that we all enjoy as a whole family group.  

Sister Smith (Kaebri) comes home!

 It was a sweet time to see Kaebri arrive at the airport after honorably fulfilling an 18 month mission in the Florida, Jacksonville mission!  We are so proud of her.  I know it wasn't all easy for her with her anxiety issues as well as losing her other Grandma thrown into the mix while she was out.  BUT she DID IT!  WELL DONE SISTER SMITH!  We are happy to have her home and to see what she decides is next for her life.  Her travel buddy was Christie's niece, Madi Smith (also Sis. Smith) from the same mission.  They had some mix-ups on their flights and came in a little later than originally planned which caused some confusion, but it was a big party at the airport with both of them coming in at the same time!  Double celebrating!

November birthdays - Eliza #10, Brynn #38, Zion #9

Another month and more birthdays!  We start November off in a hurry with Eliza's birthday on November 1st!  This is the beginning of the double digits and the beginning of the really growing up years for her.  It's great, but kind of sad too.  Sorry to see the little girl years passing by and the pre-teen, teen years coming when I never know what to get for them anymore!  (Hopefully they don't start being one of those "everything is so boring" type teens either.)  But she's not there yet!  Love you Eliza!  

Happy birthday #38 Brynn!  We couldn't make it up for the day of, but very soon after we did go up to watch Madi perform in her first school play, "Annie"!  She was one of the orphan girls.  She was offered the part of Annie to begin with, but being her first year in middle school and first play she felt just a little too unready to take on such a big role.  At the end, she knew all of Annie's lines and kind of wished she had take the part.  But one of her good friends she made in the play did a really great job and she was happy with her own performance.  Love you Lillywhites!  Glad we got to visit with you a little bit and be part of the love and fun at your home.

 I was so glad I was so prepared for Zion's birthday - found lots of fun things for him that I already had stowed in my present box!  And he liked all of it - the bug light, socks and paper airplane book!  He's at a cute age, #9, and it's fun when they are still easy to please!  Happy birthday Zman!  We love you.  And it was so fun to face time with you while you opened your presents! (Working hard to blow out all of those candles - great cake choice!)

Ironman 70.3...at Bryce Canyon!

 St. George hosted the Ironman World Championship in May, the St. George Marathon in early October and now the Ironman 70.3 Women's/Men's at the end of October...and each time they close down the streets in our neighborhood for the events which culminate just down the hill from our house at the Town Square.  We don't mind the St. George Marathon so much because it's on Gen. Conf. weekend and we just stay home and watch conference.  But these other two are much more as far as closures up here and around the whole downtown area go. They even closed school on Friday because buses could not run.  So we left town Thursday evening after work and went over to Bryce Canyon NP for a little get away.  It was wonderful!  We ate at home and then left and arrived in time for a bit of evening and bedtime.  We stayed at the old Ruby's Inn.  We had a great room.  

Friday morning we slept in and then had the breakfast buffet that came with the room and it was great.  Then we went to the Park Visitor's Center where we watched the Park film and then spent pretty much the whole day driving the view point road and seeing each one and doing a little hike also.  We brought our lunch and ate at one of the view points, in the car, because it was a little too chilly to eat outside.  There was frost on the car windows in the morning and we needed long sleeves and jackets most of the time.  Snow had fallen a week or so ago and made it very pretty.  That night we had the dinner buffet and it was so good that we ate way too much!  Afterwards we sort of laid around feeling full and ended up watching a really good movie on BYU TV and then taking a little inside walk around the facility.

Saturday morning we slept in some and again enjoyed the buffet and then got an early start on the Queen's Garden/Navajo Loop hike down in among the Hoodoos' in the canyon.  It wasn't crowded at all at the beginning because of our early start.  We had to wear jackets and gloves, but once we got moving we were just fine.  SO VERY BEAUTIFUL!!!  Toward the end it was a bit more crowded, but still great.  After that we headed out and took the scenic route stopping at the Shingle Creek rest stop, one of our favorites, near Orderville, to eat a picnic lunch.  We had to wear jackets, but we sat in the sun and did fine.  Then we headed to Zion NP and did the Narrows hike and met some people from Whales.  We had walked near then on the trail and talked a little and then more on the shuttle.  She had completed the Ironman Women's the day before and there she was out hiking the next day with her husband and kids.  Crazy!  It was a beautiful, but very different, hike in Zion.  It was super crowded there.  We got home after all the hoopla was over and had dinner with Bean.  It was a great, relaxing little trip for Paul and me!!!

Zade and Trigg Kick it in Karate!

 These guys went up to SLC and participated in a big tournament!  Zade earned his black belt.  They both took 2nd place in their divisions and Trigg is also a brown belt now.  I really need to get to some of their things.  They are doing so awesome at this!  Supe proud of these guys!  

Halloween 2022!

 Didn't see anyone in person for Halloween except Jem and his folks, but thankfully we got to see how fun they all dressed up via the family GroupMe site!  

October Birthdays! Jared, Koen & Tasia

 Jay celebrated #46 this month while on an amazing campout at Canyonland NP.  He has such a huge book Wishlist on Amazon that I could not even decide which one to pick...so he got to pick himself and ended up getting a fun game that he could play with Brynn!  Good choice and Happy Birthday Jay!  

Next up is Koen on #14 this year!  He celebrated several times on different days!  Lots of good cakes!  Stance shark socks, Captain Crunch cereal and a new and very sought after candy bar - "Mr. Beast" which is made from milk from grass fed, organic cows filled the bill for him! 

Tasia is up next with the big #18! We went over on the evening of her birthday and had a nice visit.  Got to hear all about her exciting antelope hunt, etc.