Happy Christmas Eve

Happy Christmas Eve.

Sunday, December 21, was the Winter Solstice. Our choir director reminded us that on the darkest day of the year, it is important for us to think about Christ's light and share that. It was a beautiful Christmas program at church.

After church we managed to get a couple family pictures of everyone looking pleasantly at the camera.

We also got pictures of Jeremy and me together. It was a great way to emphasize Short Girl Appreciation Day.

It was also Humbug Day but I was so happy because of church. There was only some grumbling later. It happens. 

The kids took a couple days to build our balloon Christmas tree. Sunday, Jeremy decorated it and we had a little tree lighting. We got Jeremy's parents to join with us on a Zoom meeting then we got to chat with them for a while.

Monday, December 22, I got out for a morning walk at the park with the lights. I listened to some Piano Guys Christmas music (great for feeling the Spirit) and felt such strong gratitude for my Savior. After the shortest day of the year, feeling his light meant so much to me. I was crying so much while walking around the park, I don't know how helpful that was for my breathing while I was trying to exercise. Ha Ha.

In the Come Follow Me manual and on Instagram, Elder Soares shared some thoughts about Jesus Christ being our light, our life, and our hope at Christmastime. It went right along with my thoughts that morning. I do feel so much gratitude for my Savior when I've been thinking of some stressful things.

At home that day, Jet and I enjoyed a Discovery Kit from the Provo Library. This time, we read books and did activities (puzzle and fishing game) about Ocean Life.  

That night we went to another Interactive Movie at the Provo Library- The Nightmare Before Christmas. We went to one before when we watched The Princess Bride and unfortunately last Christmas, we missed the one for The Muppets Christmas Carol because too many of us were sick. 

We loved this one. We got to sing along with the songs, cheer and clap, etc. It was great for Jet because he loves that movie so he knows the songs and enjoyed doing the activities.

 

Tuesday, December 23, I got out for my morning walk again. The light of the sunrise was gorgeous. It was National Roots Day so I sent a text to my in-laws telling them we're grateful to all be part of the same family tree. 

That night, Jeremy, Nichole, Jet, and I went for a drive looking at Christmas lights and decorations. We've been so busy this was the only night we could do it. It was nice and we even drove up to see the Christmas Star on the mountain in Pleasant Grove. 

I am grateful for celebrating Jesus Christ's birth this season. My life is so much better because of Him. He is my light, my life, and my hope.

Merry Christmas! 

Yet More Bonding Time (With a Little Alone Time Thrown In There)

Saturday, I had time to myself in the morning. I was able to go for a walk in the park with the lights. Since I don't have any audiobooks checked out right now (I have two physical books I need to read ASAP), I listened to music as I walked. It's been a while since I've done that. It was quite enjoyable. And it wasn't raining like the last time I went walking there.

That alone time didn't last long. Lucky and I had choir practice and choir brunch later that morning to get ready for our Christmas Program for church the next day. I'm glad he sings with me in choir.

Remember the blue pancakes I made the other day? There was a reason for that. Since the first few episodes of the second season of Percy Jackson came out recently, we've been planning to start watching them but things keep coming up. The day I made blue pancakes was one of the days we were going to but it didn't work out with everyone's schedules.

Saturday evening we finally watched the first episode as a family and ate blue jelly beans and gummy sharks and chocolate wrapped in blue foil. 

Even More September Catching Up

September 12 was Hug and High Five Day. Some of the teachers at the elementary school were giving high fives as students were leaving. Lucky made sure to give his dad a hug and "high five" when his dad came home from work. 

 

September 12 was also National Video Games Day. I remembered to wear my Mario shirt this time. Woohoo. I went shopping and the gal helping me to check out remarked on my shirt so I told her it was National Video Games Day. She was very happy to find that out because it gave her an excuse to play later. 

I never got to play video games that day but the kids did.

 

September 12 was also Chocolate Milkshake Day. We made woo-woo.

That evening was Lucky's elementary school Fall Festival. He volunteered to help out since he is on the student council. He got to run a booth during the second half of the festival and got to play and eat earlier. And being the sweet boy that he is, he shared his cotton candy with me.

 

September 13 was International Chocolate Day and National Peanut Day. You know what that means. Parfaits! 

 

It was also Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day. I asked the kids to take care of dinner. 

 

It was National Day of Service. I helped tie quilts and took some time to do other service that day. 
Jet had Primary Program practice then got pizza afterward. 

The next day was the Primary Program and he did a pretty good job this year. He sang some of the songs and stayed in his seat when he was supposed to and stood when he was supposed to for the most part. When it was his turn to say his part, he said it so quickly that it was unintelligible but that's okay. Still cute.

After church, Lucky came to choir with me then we decided to walk home together. I walked. Lucky somewhat walked, somewhat ran. Cute kid.

 

September 15 was Agatha Christie's birthday. Nichole and I discussed it because you know she's into mystery writing. 

 

September 16 was Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day. We had cinnamon toast with raisins on top for those that preferred it.

 

September 17 was Monte Cristo Day so of course we had Monte Cristo Sandwiches. We love celebrating that holiday that way. 

 

September 18 was National Cheeseburger Day. I didn't make cheeseburgers but I took some ground turkey and made stroganoff to go along with sauteed zucchini from our garden. And toast because toast is popular around here, especially with homemade bread.

Balloon Trees and Choir Parties

I said we're balloon artists.

Our children built our balloon Christmas tree. The next morning, Jr. Jr. walked out to the living room and commented, "It smells like Christmas." I laughed and replied, "Because of the balloon Christmas tree?" "Yeah. The latex. It smells like Christmas."

We had a last ward choir practice the night before our Christmas Eve program then had a choir shindig afterward (families invited). Our choir director introduced us to some of his family traditions- games, treats, etc. It was nice and fun. Choir is my happy place.

 

December 23 was Radish Night so Jeremy cut up lettuce and radishes for salad because I was so busy. My hero.

 

Then the next morning we had a beautiful Christmas Eve musical program then family time at home.

We had our big Christmas Eve dinner. 

Jet decided at one point during dinner he was done eating and it was time to stand on Mommy's chair, lean on her head so it was hard for her to eat, and say over and over, "Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas." My child is so adorable. I love him. I love him so much. Everybody got a kick out of it and had fun. I love my family.

We took a video of ourselves saying what we each were up to in 2023, bore our testimonies for our last Countdown to Christmas scripture study, then the kids opened up pajamas to wear to bed (which I mentioned on my blog on Christmas Day).

Look at what a cute thing our Primary Presidency did for the kids and leaders. They put together a Nativity Snack Mix with different treats representing different parts of the Nativity. So sweet (and savory).

Easter 2022

It was a lovely Easter at church. Jeremy missed it because he was staying home with a couple sick kids but they were able to watch Sacrament Meeting online still. I'm grateful for that. We've had so much sickness this school year. I thought we were finally getting out of it (you know- Spring) but four of my kids have missed school because of sickness in the last couple weeks (and I only have four school age kids, the fifth missed church). This is what I get for mentioning about getting out of sick season to some people. I jinxed it. But Easter was still nice.

So like I said, church was nice. Lucky got to sing with the Primary in Sacrament Meeting. I got to sing with the choir. There were a couple Primary age girls sitting next to me in choir so those girls got to sing every time. They did a good job, too.

We had a pleasant Easter dinner (we made some last minute substitutions and that's okay).

Since April 17 was also Blah Blah Blah Day, we made sure to read a book to Jet about the busiest brontosaurus who just wants to talk and talk and talk. "Blah blah blah blah blah." 

It is one of three board books that Grandma and Grandpa gave to Jet while they were visiting. Jet looooves those books. He will bring them to us and have us read them to him over and over and over. Sometimes he will get the matching dinosaur toy out to "read along." Grandma and Grandpa also gave him a new triceratops which he will hold while we read the book about the tricky triceratops. Jet's triceratops will even look at the pictures. It is soooooo adorable. Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa. You hit a home run on these gifts.

P.S. I learned how to make a bunny out of a napkin.

Spring Break

For Spring Break this year, Jeremy's parents came to visit. I love them. They told us to plan things we wanted to do so we did. We dragged them out early in the morning to see the sage grouse. It was cold but worth it. It's becoming a fun tradition during Spring Break.

Everybody say, "Sage Grouse."

Jet was very happy when he got to get out and run around. He had so much fun and got upset anytime I tried to put him back in the van. Finally, we had the other side of the van open and he kept pushing me and dragging me until I got in, then he climbed up into the van and over me to get in his seat. Sigh. Toddlers.

Another day of Spring Break we watched a movie with Grandma and Grandpa then had burritos for National Burrito Day on April 7. 

 

Grandpa and Jeremy took the four older kids to Pioneer Book in Provo to get some new (to them) books. While they were there, I told Jeremy to get pictures of the blossoms on Center Street. He did. 

He also brought me a book, The Ultimate Book of Baking, which is huge. We joked that it's thicker than a Brandon Sanderson book. Jr. picked one of those.

Grandpa said the kids were very chatty on the way there but very quiet on the way back because they were all reading.

Jr. Jr. and Lucky made a fort in the living room that day.

The last day before Grandma and Grandpa left we made a long drive out past Delta to U-Dig Fossils Trilobite Quarry. 

We spent 2 hours splitting rocks and collecting fossils to take home. That was so fun. We could have spent longer but we didn't need to and now we have fossils to last us for many years.

At the end of our time, as others were sorting through rocks deciding what to keep and if pieces could be broken off to make a smaller amount to carry, Jet decided it was time to sit down and throw dirt all around and all over himself. Grandma and Grandpa got a big kick out of seeing where his face got wet and muddy looking and enjoyed reminiscing about Jeremy eating dirt when he was little. Ah, family history.

We got home too late that night to celebrate National Unicorn Day, April 9, with Unicorn Swirl ice cream so we had some with our at-home potluck the next day.

That next day I walked home from church again. It's just easier when choir is right after church. Of course it was the day I decided to wear short sleeves without a jacket and it was starting to get cold again. But the blossoms in the neighborhood were sure pretty. Nichole and I have been sneezing a lot lately. Ah, Spring. Interestingly, we had snow for the next two days in a row after that.

Our bird feeding station didn't fair so well in the storms.

The day I walked home from church, April 10, was also Encourage a Young Writer Day. Nichole had some writing to do and we encouraged her. She was happy with how it turned out.

 

So that is how Spring Break went for us this year. We enjoyed our time with Jeremy's parents. They were able to watch Jr. give a talk in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday then headed out to spend time with Jeremy's brother and his wife and the newest grandbaby in Idaho. I love family.