New Years Eve

We celebrated New Years Eve by eating pizza, playing games, eating treats, and watching movies.  We are playing a new game called Beat That.  It was pretty fun. 

2020 was a hard year but we feel very blessed to have gotten over Covid and are healthy now, to have jobs and for the opportunity to spend more time with each other.  

New Family Photos

 

Christmas Dinner

This year we did something different for dinner.  Jeremy really wanted to try making a Brisket.  This is a huge chunk of meat.   He cut a lot of the fat of the fat off the meat and we slow roasted it for about 8 hours.   It was pretty good, but we used a really peppery rub.  

Then I decided to make a Christmas Roll.  I made a chocolate roll cake with a cream cheese and peppermint filling, covered in chocolate and sprinkled with more peppermint.   

 

Christmas Day

The stockings get put out for Santa on Christmas Eve, and all the presents get put around the tree. 

Then all the kids come upstairs at once for the traditional pictures of coming up the stairs to see all the Christmas gifts and open their stocking.  Santa gave everyone Zagnut bars in their stockings this year.  This is one of the favorite treats from West Virginia. 

 Then we eat cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate for breakfast.  I also made Devin Chocolate chip pancakes since he doesn't like cinnamon rolls.   Then after breakfast we open presents.  There is always so excitement.  The kids love watching other people open the gifts that they gave.  

I am so grateful for Christmas, Christmas traditions, Time with family.  But I am most grateful for the birth of our Savior and that he came to live and die for us.  

Christmas Eve

 On Christmas Eve we made Calizones for dinner and the kids got to open one present.  This year we all got Christmas Blankets.  They are the softest blankets.  Then we play games, and then we watch the Nativity story and sing Christmas Carols.  

Gingerbread houses

 Another Christmas tradition we have is to make Gingerbread houses.  Normally, they fall apart and they are hard to decorate.  This year, I bought mini gingerbread houses and we used hot glue to stick them together. No one eats them anyway.  Then it was much more fun to decorate the houses.   It was such a fun night all working together to decorate our little gingerbread village. 

Making Candy

 One of our Christmas traditions is to make candy.  I made Oreo mint balls, peanut butter cups, and peanut clusters.  Jenn came and helped make the Candy.  We gave some to neighbors, and the kids got a bag that they could eat from.  It is fun to make and we all love it so much.

Missionary Pictures

Livvy has a friend take some pictures before her mission.  She is going to be an amazing missionary.  We are so proud of her. 
 

Family Lunch

 We all went out for lunch today at Chilis.  

Christams Star

 From President Russell M. Neslson

Tonight, December 21, is the winter solstice, regarded in many traditions as the darkest and longest night of the year. How fitting that astronomers and scientists are predicting tonight’s appearance of a “Christmas star,” formed by the great conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, a rare event not seen in nearly 400 years.

While we don’t need to ascribe any special meaning to the actual phenomenon, tonight’s Christmas star will undoubtedly draw our minds and hearts to the original star that appeared in the heavens to mark the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. For the shepherds in Judea, for the Wise Men, and for the believers in the New World, the star brought more than mere physical light—it brought hope.

My dear friends, as we near the end of a challenging year, one that may feel to many as a time of uncertainty and darkness, let us never forget that the light of hope still shines brightly. Jesus Christ is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. As we turn our hearts to Him, He will pour out His love for us in unmeasured ways. I wish you all a very merry and hope-filled Christmas season. #LightTheWorld

We went out around 5:30 and watched the two planets! It was pretty amazing to see! We played Christmas music and looked at the planets through the telescope with the neighbor kids.

Straw Connectors

 Andi found a new way to play with the straws.  She took the connectors and has been spelling words.  She had the though for family home evening and she made this word and said, "Christmas is about Love"

Cross E Ranch Christmas Lights

 We drove up to Salt Lake to the Cross E Ranch to see their Christmas light display.  We ordered their Apple Cider Cinnamon Donuts and enjoyed the lights.  Devin and Andi got in the trunk and we opened the back door and let them watch them that way.  I loved all the animals.   Jennifer and Vince and Livvy were in the car behind us. 

Devin's First Band Concert

 

Devin is in Beginning band this year, and is playing the Euphonium.  He has struggled at first but I think he has gotten the hang of it and now enjoys band.  We got to go watch his concert in person too.  

Andi's Dance Recital

 Andi is still enjoying dance.  We had her annual Christmas concert that we go to actually go and watch in person. Only allowed 2 people per dancer could come and watch.  

Funny Saying

Nov. 2019: Andi making a fruit loop necklace: "This is if I get hungry in the middle of the night.

June 2020: Andi: Why doesn't Garrett have to sit in the back

Dad: He is Taller than I am

Andi: Maybe he should have married mom.

July 2020:

Neighbor kid: Does everyone have germs

Andi: Yes, even the ones that can't talk.

Aug. 2020 at pineview

Dad: Andi there is the Dam.

Andi: Yeah, but not the curse one.

Oct 2020:

In the Car:

Andi: Mom what do you think I will want for my birthday when I turn 16.

Mom: I don't know, maybe a wallet.

Andi: What about those things that hold up your nipples like you and Livia wear! 

Pie in the Face

 Our school did a Food Drive and if the students brought in so much food they go to throw pie at teacher's faces.  I was one of the teachers chosen for this honor.  I asked if Andi could be the one to throw it at me.  She got me good.  

First Grade Class Picture

 Her is Andi's Cute class and her amazing teacher Mrs. Nelson!