Kicking off the season

Chad and I kicked off the season with a trip to the SLC temple! We love to do December temple trips in the evening because when we come out we get to see the temple lights! This was our last session at the temple before it will be closed for 4 years to undergo major construction to make the temple more earthquake proof. 

 It was eerie and foggy but the lights still shone through the fog.

 It will be so weird with the temple out of commission since it has been or temple for 7 years! We love going to the live session there and the feeling of history that is there. I know it is a holy place and it is the House of the Lord. Afterwards we went to our favorite spot and had an Almond Joy. YUM!!!!

Happy December!

Thanksgiving 2019

We had thanksgiving this year with Chelsey and her family at their house. There was lots to be done as there always is! So we went right to work helping make the traditional hymas noodles, rolls and all the other things

Clyde had to give Chels a lesson on dipping the roll into butter the way grandma hymas did.

The kids played well and shared tablets well.

Beautiful AND YUMMY rolls.

Waiting for the big meal!

We had ham and turkey in the smoker and then Chris showed up with a brisket. There was plenty of meat for this meat loving family.

IT WAS A FEAST! And we ate so many rolls before the meal that Chelsey turned around and made another batch!

Giving Thanks.

And its not Thanksgiving without Brielle's olive finger picture!

We sure love getting together with Chelseys kids because they all play so well together.

Love these silly kids and watching them grow! And we were introduced to Kari's new SNAKE! Brielle actually really loved it! EW!

Then we went to my parents house for another T day dinner! We had all the regular yummy things.

And we all loved our time with baby Camry. She loves to look at herself so in an effort to keep he happy, we played with ALLLL the filters.

My Gratefuls
Day 1 SALES
Day 2 silly kids who got great grades!
Day 3 modern miracles - Uncle Jims Safety
Day 4 freedom to vote
Day 5 phoenix sun and palm trees and awesome parents
Day 6 my villages (those who have raised me and my kids through different stages in life.)
Day 7 temples and peace
Day 8 massage - getting and giving
Day 9 technology that simplifies life
Day 10 Team Santa
Day 11 service men and women
Day 12 brielley-bean and her wonder woman attitude
Day 13 exercise for my mental health
Day 14 Hair!
Day 15 Chad
Day 16 Mol
Day 17 our prophet
Day 18 heaters
Day 19 Chad's job
Day 20 Thursdays
Day 21 Cheese
Day 22 games
Day 23 times when I get to serve
Day 24 laughter - giggle fits with Chad
Day 25 cookies & snow
Day 26 Friends new and old
Day 27 snow plows and their sacrifice
Day 28 a full belly, naps, family and pinochle, blankets, comfortable chairs, warm socks and reliable cars and my comfortable life. There's so much to be thankful for.

New Hair!

I finally found someone to trade with to do my hair!! I have wanted to do this fun red for a long time and it finally happened!! 

 LOOOOVE this second picture! It shows the red off so well!! YAY for pretty hair again!

Lamest 37th birthday everrrrrr

Chad turned 37 this year! We had all sorts of fun plans with friends and EVERY SINGLE ONE had to be canceled because of a tummy bug. We celebrated Chad the best we could though and it started with gifts and Chad staying home from work because of his cold. 

 I bought this jersey as soon as it came out because I knew he wanted one.

 A few hours later, this was our life. Poor Bri got SO sick. We knew we didn't dare leave. I was BUMMED! But Chad held it together pretty well.

 After a super disappointing day I decided to pull out the cake that we had planned to eat with friends and EAT IT! In the basement and eat as much as we wanted! It was late and I just didn't care. AT LEAST ONE THING had to go right on Chad's birthday and that was going to be CAKE! Through tears (mine) we all sang happy birthday. 

 

 I realized after the fact that while I was so upset about the birthday plans being ruined, Chad was glad he was home to help with Brielle and spend the whole day with his family. He's just like that. Always putting himself last and sacrificing for our family without a word. Selfless and so generous.

The next day, Chad looked like this. HE caught that stupid flu bug and was down flat for 2 whole days. After a priesthood blessing he started to mend but man he was sick for a long time. NO FUN! And I'm dubbing this birthday the lamest one ever. And next year will be AWESOME!

Happy Birthday my love! It only can get better after this, right?!

Things

When we got home from our trip our new skinny tree had been delivered so we set it up to check it out! I love skinny trees and the kids tree was being overflown with their ornaments so it was time for a new one. 

 Mol and I escaped one evening for a hot chocolate date at Dennys. Trips like this help us reset and enjoy being together.

 After our little tree was up I was anxious to get our other tree up! Chad let me do it a little earlier this year since it was a BSU tree! It was so fun to have but the flashing orange and blue lights really threw me off sometimes. I always thought there was a cop nearby. And there's just something about the soft white glow of christmas lights that makes it Christmas.

 I'm still working out alot at our stake center and recently have joined in with the Tongan branch doing cardio dance. They are such a fun group of ladies and it has been having fun having some zumba back in my life!

 Me and Ry soaked up the last few days of sunshine in November .

 Mid November we joined in with the youth of the church watching the face to face event regarding the new youth program. There are so many cool, inspired changes for our youth and I'm so excited that Carter is in this first group of BIG changes. I'm sure we will learn lots. My heart almost burst when they announced the new YM's theme and Carter, without prompting, stood and recited the new theme. How cool. I love that the prophet and apostles are so involved with the youth and their concerns. This church is so great!

 I signed the fam up for turkey bingo and it was a fun night! And we walked away with a BIG cooler bag!

 As we were pulling out snow clothes, the snowboards came out too. Carter was quick to strap Bri in and show her the way. I was surprised she could hop around in it. Maybe she'll be our next snowboarder. Then I'll have to get a job to support the snow habit we are creating.

 Morning snuggles!