First Rock Trip of 2021

 We just needed a little bit a stone for an upcoming job. We were feeling the need to get away so we were glad this came up. We were able to go in the little truck - not as comfortable as the big truck, but much more economical. It was a more relaxed trip than usual which is just what we needed.  We left after lunch and a nice little nap (after a crazy morning at school for me).  I kept busy reading Paul his book that he is writing.  Didn't take many pics, but really loved this old truck at Jacob Lake.  We stopped in for our usual cookie snack and pit stop.  That evening we enjoyed going out for dinner at the Outback and got our favorite coconut shrimp and wedge salads along with some soup.  So good.  Then we had a nice walk.  It was cold, but sadly, there was hardly any snow in Flagstaff.  In the morning we had another nice, cool walk and then had such a great breakfast at The Crackerbarrel.  We were able to split Grandma's Sampler and come out just right without going away leaving food or feeling stuffed.  We didn't have to pick up our load until noon which made the morning relaxed.  The load was bigger than we had planned, so the little truck was loaded heavy.  We lunched as we left Flagstaff and I finished reading Paul's book to him and then we finished another one we had started and not finished a week ago on a drive with Bean.  Got one more cookie at Jacob Lake on the way by and made it home in time for dinner.  And it was just such a nice, relaxing get away.  

Jem - 6 months old cutesness!

 From his mom - Jem is 6 months old today!! He growls a lot, loves going on walks, only takes 30 minute naps which really makes it hard to get anything done but we’ve accepted it and just don’t get many things done haha and he is still bald haha we love our Jem baby!!

Priesthood ordination day for Brenden and Gaige

 It was a sweet day today because we got to attend priesthood ordinations for Brenden (deacon) and Gaige (priest).  So glad they live close enough that we could enjoy these milestones with them.  Brenden's bishop asked the grandmas to say a few things/bear testimony - not my favorite thing to do last minute - before the ordination.  Words came out of my mouth and Paul said they were good (if he's telling the truth).  I hope so.  I am so not a speaker...and especially not a spur of the moment one.  But I still loved getting to be there for both of these events.  Another one of those shout for joy days!  

This is the sky over the chapel when we arrived at Brenden's. Kind of cool!

The Belly of the Dragon - just a little hike

 

Christie and Moss told us about this little hike over by Oderville.  It's actually a culvert under the highway that has been carved by water coming down from the waterfall.  Pretty cool little tunnel now that nature fancied it up a little!

More mini-golf fun - Brynnli & Braden, etc.

 

Yea!  Brynnli and Braden finally got some time off from school/work and were not cooped up from Covid, so we got to spend a little fun time with them and Ferf and some of the kids.  Afterwards we enjoyed pizza, salad and brownies together!  

Movie time at last!

 Strange as it may seem to write about it, we haven't been to a movie at the theater for months since the Covid-19 epidemic hit.  We were nervous about going the other night for a date, but we chose a weeknight when we thought it wouldn't be busy and wore masks the whole time.  And there ended up being only 9 people (that includes us) in the theater.  They came and made sure people were sitting in the seats they purchased so they would be far enough apart I guess.  They had one guy that wasn't in his purchased seat move.  So, it ended up being a nice date...mostly just like old times!  

Hello 2021 - Park time with family!

 In response to Covid-19 safety guidelines we spent a fun...albeit very cool...few hours together with family.  We missed Derek, Lance and Supe, Beacher and Jem.  All the other in town, Enoch, Cedar and Lehi family members were there.  We visited and ate picnic lunches.  The kids played soccer, rode scooters, played on the toys, hiked, hung out.  The adults did take just a short walk to the river - Brynn is still recovering from foot surgery, so there couldn't be too much physical activity and include her at the moment.  It was fun. We did freeze a bit after the wind started up.  (We were at a park - Grandpa's Pond - in Hurricane, so the wind was probably a given.)  But we still enjoyed our time together! Jay and Brynn came down for their after Christmas visit feeling very careful about Covid because after Brynn's family's Christmas party that one person came to feeling just a little bit of a sinus headache, many of their family has now come down with Covid to one degree or another (that person found out they had it after the party).  Jay, Brynn and family are the only ones who wore masks and didn't get it.  They didn't eat at the party either because they didn't want to take off their masks - the others did.  So, while they were down they wanted to be outside or inside (very little) with masks and mostly eat outside too.  They had tested negative before they came down. It's crazy to see the extent of how this disease has altered our lives in everyday ways.  I didn't take many pics, but here's what there are.  I'll be glad when this disease is over and gone!!!  Happy 2021!

Saying Goodbye to 2020!

 We said our goodbyes to 2020 by getting together with Moss and Christie and Jay and Brynn and families for dinner outside (staying safe from Covid measure) and then masking while inside.  Christie had fun activities for the kids to do at each hour - making party hats, a match game of things from the year 2020, a candy ball, Starburst game and then we watched the ball drop in New York (a little early for us) and then some fireworks and sparkler fun outside for the final celebration - we were done by 11:00 using the eastern time zone. It was a fun evening even with the crazy outside in the cold dinner and masked up inside (with windows open for ventilation) activities.  

Christmas 2020

Christmas 2020 - some Covid restrictions are still in place and wise, but we had a great time.  We did visit all of our local living kids.  And it was nice.  We wore masks in most places, but not all (as the family members felt comfortable).  We had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner with Anna Lou, Bean and Paul and me.  And we had a great Christmas breakfast with the same group in the morning and then opened presents.

Anna Lou didn't feet safe about going with us house to house this year, so we dropped her off and then went to see everyone.  We started with Supe, Beacher and Jem.  It was so good to see them.  We have missed so much time with people this year.  You don't realize how much until you actually get to see them.  Jem is growing up and we have missed so much of that.  But, we are happy we got to see them today!  

Next we visited the Borrowmans.  Ferf always does the family shopping for our gift, so we picked it up while we were there.  Lots of nice gift cards and some travel cash.  Just what we like!  So good to spend a little time there.  The kids are growing up too fast...and what good kids they are...great parents.  (Not enough pics here - shucks!)  

Then we visited Moss and Christie and kids.  Kai was so excited about his new motorcycle!  Such a nice little family.  

Then we visited Derek and kids...and enjoyed a little "snowball" fight.  And it's just good to see them too.  Derek and the girls worked hard together to make Christmas happen.  Doing all of the work of getting ready for Christmas without a mom to help is a lot of work, but they made it happen. My heart goes out to them.  (Roxie loved the Hover Stars a lot!)  Argh...not enough pics here either!

Next the Weavers stopped by at our house for a fun little visit.  Juge is always thinking of fun gifts to add to what is already a great gift from the group.  She has a real knack of remembering or seeing things you might enjoy.  Grateful for this family.

On the way to Cedar we had a nice Facetime visit with Jay and Brynn.  They will be coming down in a few days, but it was fun to share a little Christmas Day time with them.  Looking forward to seeing them soon and doing a little late Christmas with them.  We are glad they make the effort to come down.  We are glad they are as close as they are.  

We ended the day in Cedar with the Randalls...another great family.  They are nice to let us come and help them eat up their Christmas dinner with them.  And they gave us great new family pictures and homemade sourdough bread.  

Jay and Brynn came down on the 30th for some after Christmas fun.  We kept our growing Christmas tree up and opened presents with them by it.  It's been fun to get to see them too!  

Here's Jem enjoying his Christmas "turduck" in the bath.  We thought he would like it!

This has been a crazy year in so many ways.  Family dinners, activities and Family Camp have all suffered from they Covid-19 restrictions.  But we are so blessed as a family to have kept our jobs and our health with only Derek actually getting sick so far.  For us personally, our work hasn't suffered much other than me missing some of the end of school last year.  We have so much to be grateful for.  

 

The final 'Grand Edventure' date of the year!

 It was hard to get this last date to happen.  We had hoped to take Zade, Koen, Noah and Brenden together like we try to do most of the time.  But Zade was under quarantine at the time and Noah was not available.  We took Brenden and Koen, but still needed to take the other two to finish this year's dates.  Then we were going to try again and Zade was again under quarantine!  So here we are down to the wire for this year and finally both boys were available at the same time!  We took them mini golfing at the same place we took the other two.  And they had a blast.  I don't think either one had been mini golfing much, but they picked it up and did a good job of being encouraging to each other while they improved their games.  Paul and I actually didn't do as well as usual.  Noah was pretty excited that he ended up winning.  It was fun to listen to these guys talk computer games and do a little cousin bonding in the back seat on the way to and from.  We didn't have a clue what they were talking about, but they left hoping to be able to get together on-line to play.  I call that a win.  We stopped at Burger King for ice cream and French fries and called it a good date!  And another year of dates is completed!