Daddy's Birthday

We celebrated Jeremy's birthday in February. Jet really wanted to wrap a present for him so I helped him wrap a package of Andes mint chocolates/chocolate mints(?) for Jeremy to open.

Jeremy had an appropriate reaction when he opened them.

Have I mentioned I love my family so much?

Jet also helped me make Jeremy's birthday dinner.

Ah, my kitchen helper. 

Jeremy was thrilled about that, too.

I do love my family so much. 

Christmas 2024

On Christmas Eve, Nichole made us cheeseball. Thanks, Nichole.

We had a simplified Christmas Eve dinner because we were sick (thankfully we had funeral potatoes in the freezer to heat up).

The kids got to open up a present each- pajamas.

Jet set out cookies for Santa. I was pleased with myself because I saved some cookies in the freezer from a batch we made earlier in the month. Cookies for Santa is hit and miss in our home. 

Christmas morning, Jeremy made us scones (American scones, not English scones). 

We opened presents and were all sick.

Jet got a camera for Christmas and loved it.

One day while we were driving, I heard Jet taking pictures over and over and over so I asked him, "What are you taking pictures of." He answered, "Everything."

The kids and I decorated a bowl for Jeremy. It said, "I love you," and had hearts around it that the kids wrote their names in. Note my present in the back of the picture- a new family picture to put on the wall. The one it replaced was taken in 2011 and only had three of our five children in it.

Jr.'s Birthday

We celebrated Jr.'s birthday in August.

He of course got video game time without having to do chores (he still had to do homework).

Whoever put the candles on the cake, used seven candles to make the 1 in the 10s place and ten candles to make the 7 in the 1s place. Ha Ha Ha. 

Someone joked about turning the fan on. It wasn't even in the room, thankfully.

Jr. was very pleased with his present, a cordless controller that he could use on computer games.

Jr. Jr.'s Birthday

Back to catching up on October.

I don't know how it came up but Jr. Jr. decided to tell people he was turning 14 on his birthday. He turned 13. He had 13 candles on his cake in the shape of a '14.' That kid.

When he opened his present he said, "Thanks, Dad. Finally. Physical proof that the world is full of candy."

There was a "world box" filled with candy and a note to tell him where he could find his actual present (besides the candy).

Graduation

My beautiful, amazing, talented, (not so) little girl graduated from high school. I'm so proud of her and for all she accomplished. She worked really hard and did amazing things her high school career. She kept her grades up including with advanced classes. I already mentioned that she composed two pieces of music that the orchestras played and she conducted. She and Jr. both played in the orchestra at graduation.

When we got home that night, she got to open up presents. Art stuff, of course, and gummi bears. Then she went off like such a big kid to her senior grad night with all the other big kids.*Sniff.*

 

She has also kept up with her scripture study and gospel learning. She is such a good example to us. This is basically what I shared with her Young Women class about Nichole:

We've always said she is the best oldest child for our family. From the time she was little, when she helped, she would tell us, "I'm a heper."

She continues to help (with four younger brothers including one rambunctious three year old, we definitely need the help) and has always been a good example to her brothers and us.

One time when she was little, I was frustrated with her and didn't know what to do and told her so. "I just don't know what to do." She told me, "Then pray, Mom." You can imagine she got a big hug for that.

She continues to be a good example to us with her daily scripture study, has a strong testimony, and really is an asset in our gospel discussions at home.

I will miss her when she does off to college but am grateful she will always be a part of our family.

She graduated from seminary as well as high school and I'm happy to see her testimony grow.

Celebrating Other Than Holidays in March

There were opportunities to support and cheer on family members in March.

Lucky had a 3rd grade concert at school and he did a great job.

 

The elementary school had a read-a-thon that was Harry Potter themed. The students tried to read the most minutes possible. Jr. Jr.'s "house" got the most minutes of the school and won the "house cup."

Lucky got one of the highest amounts of minutes in his grade.

Jeremy, Jet, and I went to school with Jr. Jr. and Lucky one morning for "Parents and Pastries" to listen to a storyteller and have breakfast.

Lucky participated in Battle of the Books. His team made it to the final battles and got second place overall. He got his first trophy! He also got a book for being in the finals. For reading all 20 books, he got a box of candy and another book. And earlier, all the students who participated got a box of candy. 

I know he worked hard on this and it paid off. I got to go to four of his five original battles and Jet and I went to his final battle.

I was going to support Nichole by going to see her get an outstanding student award at school but I ended up sick that day so I couldn't go. She was understanding. She is such a sweet girl. Her orchestra teacher nominated her and had this to say, that she "has been a consistent example of hard work, dedication, and quiet service through her three years at Orem High. She notices things that need to be done and goes about making a difference without any request or expectation of acknowledgement." Way to go, Nichole.

The kids supported me a few times by coming on drives with me. The boys were content if they got to bring devices. Nichole and I got to chat. One day she and Jet and I went for a walk while the boys hung out in the van.

Another day we drove into Provo Canyon and were able to see where avalanches were.

That second picture is Bridal Veil Falls. There was an avalanche back in January. This picture was taken while driving by in March. I'll talk more about it and share more pictures when I catch up on May. Stay tuned... for a while. Let's just say it's now June and the road down by Bridal Veil Falls is still closed (it usually opens the beginning of May).

Jeremy got me a present. The kids wanted me to open it so Lucky tried to hurry me through eating my food so I would open it sooner. 

It was a comfy hoodie. Jeremy has a matching one but in a different color (and size). They are so comfortable.

 

March was busy and chaos and exhausting. But we made it through. Go, Telfords!

Christmas Day 2022

So let's talk about Christmas Day.

First of all, we got the star on the tree.

While I was working on Christmas Eve dinner, Jr. and Nichole made breakfast sandwiches to put in the fridge so that Christmas morning, we'd have something quick to eat before church. Thanks, kids.

Christmas morning we got to come out to see what Santa brought and what was in our stockings. 

I carried Jet out still asleep but after a while he woke to see what Santa brought him then had fun opening the wrapped presents in his stocking- dino cars! He was excited with each car and started roaring (as he does) but as soon as Jeremy handed him a new wrapped present, he immediately handed back the dino car so he could unwrap the next one.

Then we didn't open any presents from around the tree but got dressed, ate our quick breakfast, and went to church where there was a beautiful musical program with special words from the bishop. Lucky got to sing with the Primary and I was able to sing with the choir.

It was what I needed and wanted that morning. I'll be honest that Christmas Eve was rough. I had a nice breakdown. Well, it wasn't so nice. There has definitely been some stress lately. But Christmas Day was just right.

 

At home we were able to Zoom with Jeremy's parents while opening presents (later that day, I called my parents and had a nice chat with them and two of my brothers).

One thing we found out about Jet is that he really likes unwrapping presents whether they belong to him or not. The kids helped bring out some presents Christmas Eve and one present had to be rewrapped. Then during our main present opening Christmas afternoon, we took turns opening presents and Jet was practically launching himself at the presents to try to tear the paper off them. In some ways that determined what present would be opened next when it was the recipient's turn. Three year olds are fast, man.

Nichole was sweet and made this for Jet for Christmas:

 

Christmas Day was nice.

Now we're dealing with the aftermath.