Happy New Year!

Brittany’s family celebrated a day early and I got such a kick out of their fancy dinner.  Brittany said she got everything at the dollar store.  So cute and the girls look so excited! 

We started off spending three hours taking down Christmas.  It would have taken me forever by myself so I was grateful to have all hands on deck! 

Our dinner did not look fancy but it tasted good!  Scott’s parents gave us Omaha Steaks so we grilled some of those and ate their bread and scalloped potatoes along with sparkling juice.  

Ashlyn is at the New Years dance but we played a game of scategories before she left.  Annaka wanted to play pickleball so the four of us played four games.

Game 1:  Tyson and I against Scott and Annaka.  Tyson and I lost.

Game 2:  Tyson and Annaka against Scott and I.  Scott and I lost.

Game 3:  Tyson and Annaka against Scott and I.  Scott and I lost.  

Game 4:  Tyson and Scott against Annaka and I.  Annaka and I lost.  

If you noticed the common denominator was me!  Whatever team I was on lost!  I need to definitely practice before this summer when I play my brothers!!

After the dance Bishop McCrery (Sunrise Mountain ward) hosted a gathering for the youth so Ashlyn went to that.  She got home quite late.  Good thing it’s a new year only once a year!  Bishop saw me as our wards exchanged places and he said how much he enjoys her and apologized for the late hour!  I was at my post on the couch in the library ready for her return!

The Cravens

Scott and Scott were in dental school together.  They were both part of the RDEP program so their first year of Creighton  was spent at the University of Utah with 8 other dental students.  They took several classes with the Med students.  Then we all made our way to Nebraska for the last three years.  Scott C is a general dentist in Utah but he also went back to school for his masters and PHD in mental health counseling.  He has written a book for dental practices.  That is a lot of ambition!  He’s also been a YSA bishop during that time.  Crazy!

Jill is the same sweet, lovable, social girl.  She is the one I visited with for like 8 hours this summer.  We only spent about three hours today so not too bad!

Their family is here for Christmas vacation and  they were able to sneak away for lunch.  

 

Temple Togetherness

We got to go to the temple together on Thursday afternoon.  Ashlyn wasn’t able to join us last minute.  It was nice being there together.  

“The Face of My Beautiful Mother”

I remember we girls did your hair and makeup and this is Elena’s shirt.  I think it must have been when I came home from college because it’s also the time we were playing football in the front yard and when we had the family picture below.

Because I know you’ll like this one of dad…

I think that is a look of adoration on my face!

You look so much better when you smile….see proof above!

My mom turns 77 today.  In her honor I wrote a little something.  It’s not quite a poem but hopefully it still adequately expresses my sentiment.

When I think of home

My memories come flooding back 

With the sound of laughter—

The feeling of love and warmth

And the face of my beautiful mother.

We had our fair share of fights 

Teasing was definitely plentiful

But even thoughts of those moments back then 

Are remembered now with a smile and a chuckle.

Six siblings who have merged into friends

Is a luxury not many families enjoy 

And the laughter rings even louder now 

When the family all gathers together.

And smack dab in the middle

Usually causing the raucous

With no thought, plan, or intention

Is the visage of the one who created this blessing—

The face of my beautiful mother.

Happy birthday mom!  You didn’t answer when I called to hopefully that means you are being treated to lunch!  Enjoy!!

I was collecting sayings of my mom on my other phone so I’m going to add them here before they get lost..  dang….only one is on there.  I’m not sure where they all went.  

The one that survived:

“My problems ARE reality!”

Jesse’s Song

Here are the lyrics to the song Jesse had made for Brittany and put on a hand-picked record:

Winter 2014 in Rexburg

Coming back from a mission for church

Ready to open my heart to love

But I just couldn’t find the right one

Until one day you caught my eye

And I knew I just had to try

Went out on one date and I knew

There was something so special about you

There’s nothing like your love

You’re the smile on my face every morning I wake up

You light up every room without even trying

You make this world a beautiful place to be alive

Proposed to you on your doorstep

In a month we were wed

We’ve come so far through so much

Overcame it all and fell more in love

Brought our two kids into the world

You’re the most amazing mom they could ask for

Dancing in kitchen laughing every day

Every moment with you is a memory to make

There’s nothing like your love

You’re the smile on my face every morning I wake up

You light up every room without even trying

You make this world a beautiful place to be alive

There’s nothing like your love

You’re the smile on my face every morning I wake up

You light up every room without even trying

You make this world a beautiful place to be alive

ARTIST BIO

John Russel

Christmas Day

We had a lovely day yesterday.  The girls woke me up at 5 am to go through their stockings.  Tyson never got up until it was time for church.  I went back to bed after stockings.  Then we had a beautiful Christmas program with our choir.  Scott was part of it and they sounded so good.  We had a couple small group numbers as well and we had a cello with several numbers and the piano and organ together.  It was very well done.  Our poor choir director has had blood clots after a surgery and just got a boot off on Monday.  Her feet were all swollen and in pain from clots after but she counted it a miracle she was able to be there and make it through!

Justin checked in as we were leaving church.  We visited with him and watched him open his presents (he graciously was excited about everything) as we worked on making the three food boards (can’t spell the actual term!).  Then we munched on those.  

We then turned to opening the presents.  We were all very spoiled as usual!  

Scott got some golf things including a club he didn’t remember putting in my Amazon cart! 

Tysons main gift was a portable smoker that Jesse recommended.  It might be a challenge getting it back to Provo!  We should have had it sent directly to him there!  He also got some spice sets for curry etc and some travel items for his upcoming Europe trip.  

Ashlyn got a bunch of hippie chick type items for herself and her car.  She found a site that had a bunch of just fun color and happy vibe items that she fell in love with.  She’s also had a thing for dinosaurs (who knows why) and so she got dinosaurs from friends and some little dinosaur things to add to her crocs.  

Annaka got a new gab phone and some new headphone things.  She also got a couple new records but one came scratched so we’ll need to try and exchange that.  

Santa brought the girls a Nintendo switch and Mario cart and the sports package.  They are excited to be able to play Jesse.  I am not a video game fan.  But we are ok if they play these harmless ones together from time to time.  I told them if they abuse it they lose it.  It is something the two girls can actually do together which is why we decided to finally get one.  I hate the killing games and we will not have any of those!

I got the scissors and stapler I asked for plus some wonderful things I hadn’t asked for.  Some new kitchen items we needed…a kitchen aid mixer since my Bosch is breaking down (this is my second one so we decided to try a different brand), a set of knives, and I got a silicone cupcake pan and the cute flower food board we used for the fruit.  Scott gave me a coupon for two new restaurants for us to try for date night!  Tyson gave me a year subscription to this story site that will send me a question every Monday for me to respond to and at the end of the year my answers can all be printed in a book.  Right up my alley!  I’ve already responded to my first question!  And Annaka gave me the sweetest card she made.  She has changed a lot lately as she’s shifted into these teenage years so her card meant a lot!

After naps we had a dinner of French dip sandwiches with ranch roasted potatoes and a salad.  The potatoes needed more seasoning but I was worried about adding too much.  Then we watched the new Chosen episode together.  

Our group was small but it was a nice day together.  It did make me wonder what it will be like in just a couple more years.  Alisha sent me her family picture.  They were missing two of their eight children (the two boys that live in Colorado) but with in-laws they still have a full house.  I don’t know if my kids will ever live close enough for this to happen!  

Robby disappeared this year and has had no contact with the family for months but he showed up this week and he made this picture of the Savior for Alisha.  Hopefully he will continue to give the gift of his presence throughout the year.  

Brittany called before church and it looked like she had been crying.  She was calling to share about her gift from Jesse that had hit an emotional cord with her.  She recently got a record player and had just a couple of records. Jesse gave her a customized record that had songs that he picked to go on there that were meaningful to them.  But then he told her he didn’t think she was familiar with the first song.  Turns out he had an original song created and recorded just for her about their story!  She was blown away!  Jesse definitely spoke her language this year!  So very sweet.

T and Tanner spent Christmas with T’s family so we didn’t hear much from them.  

Christmas Eve

Fondue is a Pace tradition 

Annaka played her more secular Christmas songs for us tonight.  She will play her sacred Christmas songs tomorrow. She is getting quite good.

Tanner made this fudge!!  It looks incredible!

Ashlyn’s 

Annaka’s 

We couldn’t do breakfast in bed until around 11 because Tyson played bball with his buddies this morning so it was more brunch but the kids still enjoyed it and climbed back into bed (except Annaka) for it!

We did a little traffic jam race (Tyson won every time).  Tyson and I did Jenga while the girls did gingerbread houses.  They did an amazing job and spent several hours on it.  We are just having frozen pizza for dinner and then doing a little fondu!

I have a Readers theater Christmas story “A Stranger For Christmas” I want us to do tonight.  I did it years ago for a young women thing when Tyson was a baby.  I can picture the copies printed and highlighted but can not find them anywhere.  But I found one on-line!  I had to purchase the review copy but it will work!

We really don’t have any set traditions for Christmas Eve so we just make it up each year.  Brittany’s family goes to her in-laws for Christmas Eve so they had their own little family Christmas Eve the night before.

Tanner and T went to her family tonight and will stay for tomorrow.

Christmas At Home

I started this book the beginning of the Christmas season and I finally was able to finish it tonight.  The blanket Brittany gave me for Christmas is perfect for a cozy evening!  

Scott and Tyson did the shopping for breakfast in bed, Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day so I could stay home.  I was so very glad to have an evening NOT going anywhere!  A Christmas hallmark movie followed the book!

It’s been a little quiet here without little kids or hardly any big kids around for that matter.  I’m not sure I’m ready for this stage of life.  But like it or not….I guess it’s the point we are at!

Pickle Ball

Tyson and Annaka played some pickle ball together.  Annaka has wanted to learn and today was a perfect day to do it.  I tried but let’s just say the sun was in my eyes…a lot!

Ashlyn tended Link this morning then went ice skating with friends and now she’s playing pickle ball with friends.  

Old Fashioned Fun

Several ward members are helping to create a little Christmas morning magic for a mother-daughter duo who can definitely use some cheer.  Annaka had never strung popcorn before and we both enjoyed doing that together.  It was quite fun and I’m sad we no longer do this for our actual trees.  Maybe I’ll bring it back next year!

 

Evening together

Thursday night Brian Brooksby’s band was playing at the Glendale Glitters outdoor stage by the giving machines.  I signed my family up to help man the two machines from 3-6 pm,  the missionaries are also on shifts to man them SO it feels a little redundant for us to be there. BUT it was still a chance for us to serve together.  

We saw several members of the church come through to donate including Heather Brooks (now Hayward I think).  Scott was her sophomore seminary teacher!

Scott was working but was able to meet up with us for dinner.  Tyson and I ate Mexican and Scott took the girls to grab Subway on the corner and bring it back to us.

Then it was time for the concert.  They did a great job and it was fun to listen.  Brian was so instrumental in the success of our Christmas celebration with providing and manning the sound system that I was glad to be able to support him!

Taste of Home (I hope!)

Tyson and I made two batches of mom’s apple bread the other day which filled 12 bake and take pans.  Ashlyn claimed three for her people and the rest went to my people.  We need to make one more batch to enjoy here at home!

We didn’t get to sample so hopefully they turned out right!

Friend Time

Michelle is my ministering sister.  She invited me to come see her nativity collection and today was the day that worked out.  She has an extensive collection of nativities from around the world, snowmen, and Disney!  It was fun to get a tour.  

These were some of my favorite ones.  The orange peel nativity is from Ecuador and it reminded me of the orange peel necklace Brittany brought home from her mission.

We went to lunch afterwards.  Tyson and I are making a dinner for a family so we started the bread before I left and placed an online grocery order.  Now I’m grabbing the groceries snd we’ll finish the meal.  We are making a salad that Tyson loves that he said he wants during his trip.  One wish granted!