Saturday David went to work and then went to get some snow tires put on the car. Aaron and the kids did some leaf raking. Then they went up to the mountains to find a Christmas tree. They wandered around and saw a few they liked and then got a little turned around. Aaron didn't want the kids to worry. so he didn't say anything, but eventually, after a intense prayer, he figured out where they were. Then they found the perfect tree. They had been walked for a while, and needed to get he tree back to the truck. Aaron noticed the road wasn't too far from them, So he told the kids to stay with the tree, and he'd walk up to the truck and drive it closer to the tree. When he got to the road the truck was only 50 feet away - haha! They had walked in circles.
Ready to go home
Allison and I had some quiet time together at home. This tree was just perfect!
We got it inside and set it up in the tree stand, but left the rest for the next day. That night Aaron and I had our first Christmas party. First we went down to a farewell party for Victoria, Andy and Leo. We saw lots of people. We got to the clinic party a little late. Phillip and Julianna saved us some seats. We enjoyed some food, and talking and celebrating. We didn't win any of the raffle prizes. Julianna bonded with Allison after sharing her mangoes with her. It was a fun evening.
Sunday morning was pretty normal with church, and then choir practice afterward. That evening, while we listened to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, we decorated the Christmas tree. We also set up some of the nativities. This is the new one we got from Hawaii. Made with wood from olive trees from Israel.
We realized we didn't have a stocking for Allison. My mom said she was almost finished with it, and would put it in the mail that week.
Lots of nativity scenes
new ornaments from Hawaii
Once we were finished trimming the tree we took a picture of the kids in front of the tree.
Tuesday was back to normal. It was a new term for the high school kids. New classes, new schedules. It also meant David's independent study class was over, so I didn't get to see him before he went to work. I'm sure I went shopping, but I don't remember much else. Piano lessons after school, and that's it. I was getting ready for David's Eagle Court of Honor. He didn't want to make a big deal about it. If it were up to him he wouldn't even have it. But we did it anyway. Really low key.
Wednesday Michelle got sick. She fell asleep at 11:30 am!
That evening I had a practice at the church. I was in a small group singing for the Stake Nativity Program. I had been practicing on my own for a while, but we were finally meeting together. I brought the kids with me. Then we went home for dinner, and then the boys came back to the church for mutual.
Thursday I worked on cupcakes for the court of honor, and then helped in Melanie's class. Then I made brownies as well. I also cut up veggies for a veggie platter. After dinner we went over to the church. I had put together a short program.
I read a poem.
We had a few in the Eagle's nest
Lincoln agreed to MC for us.
Michelle wouldn't sit still
There is the pin
and the neckerchief
I got the mother's pin
Aaron got the father's pin
proud of my boy
He took an Eagle Oath
He gave the mentor's pin to Aaron!
The refreshments after the first round
A couple of David's friends from school came - that was awesome!
Some others who came to support David. I didn't get pictures of everyone. Eventually we wrapped it up and went home.
Allison was trying to eat the baby doll while I was putting the girls to bed.
But she has the cutest grin!
Friday I didn't get much sleep, so when Michelle woke me up at 5:15 I told her to go back to bed. She came in again at 5:45, and I told her to go downstairs. She did, and then fell asleep again.
She did eventually wake up and then she wanted to match Melanie.
Aaron helped me get all of the totes down for Christmas decorations
That's a lot of totes!
We started getting out some of the decorations. We didn't do a lot since we didn't have a tree yet. I love how Allison likes to do what Michelle is doing.
The older I get the less I like Black Friday. I love the deals, hate the commercialism, and the crowds. Aaron and I went shopping with David and Allison. We left around 9:00 am. I thought I would avoid the crowds, but it was still super busy. We went to several stores, and got home in time for lunch. The kids had already eaten some lunch and Michelle was ready for a nap.
I don't remember the specifics of that afternoon. I think that was the day Stephen really wanted to watch the head to head golf match between Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. So that's what was on the TV for pretty much the rest of the day. The kids played with cousins, and we go to talk to family and relax. We got to see Beverly and her family at various times during the weekend.
That night Sara brought her kids over. TJ wasn't feeling well. She stayed for an hour or so. My kids got more cousin time, and then eventually they headed home, and my kids went to bed. Amy was sad to see all of her cousins leave. Stephen and his family headed home as well.
It was a little quieter with half of the kids gone, but that meant my kids were "bored". Really they just missed their cousins. We still had fun together on Saturday, but I really don't remember what we did. I didn't take any pictures. I think it snowed a bit. I think that's when Mom got out the Christmas decorations and the kids helped her decorated.
Sunday we got ready for church and enjoyed attending church with Mom and Dad. Mom took Dad home after sacrament meeting. Mom was recently released as the Relief Society President, so she didn't have to conduct the meetings. It was fun to talk to people I hadn't seen in a while.
After church we had some lunch and eventually packed up our stuff and headed back home. Mom brought out the cookies to decorate one last time. We loaded up our stuff and headed out to Becca's. We were hoping to get there in time to help Eva and Dave unload the trailer they brought back from Arizona, but got there a little later than we expected and they were done before we were ready to come help. Becca fed us some turkey soup and the kids played for a while. Allison sat in Ezra's toy and had fun.
Then Michelle decided she wanted to play in there too.
We played and talked at Becca's for a while and then we went over to Eva's. Melanie and Amy slept in the middle room, Aaron and I slept in the play room with Michelle and Allison. The boys were on the couches again.
Eva and David both had to work in the morning we were meeting Mom and Dad for breakfast. We got ready in the morning. We enjoyed our breakfast, and then finally headed for home. It rained pretty much the entire drive. We stopped for lunch, and then stopped at the temple. Just as we pulled into the parking lot it stopped raining. Aaron took the kids to walk around the temple and touch the temple, while I fed Allison. When we got back in the Yukon and on the road it started raining again. We felt like it was a tender mercy. Eventually we got home, unloaded and made dinner. It was a great trip, but we were tired from traveling.
Wednesday morning we tried to sleep in, but the kids got up early. Some showered, some did not. I brought muffins for breakfast, and orange juice. Except I was using them to keep the cooler cold and Aaron didn't know they were for breakfast, and put some of them back in the freezer, oops! After breakfast we went over to Mom and Dad's. Dad finally got to meet Allison in person! Mom had some things to eat there as well. We stayed for about an hour and then we went to Becca's. Aaron had a couple of meetings he had to call in for, so we hung out there for a couple of hours, and the cousins played, and we talked. I took a few pictures.
Emry really wanted a close up!
After Becca's we drove over to see great Grandpa G*. It's been a while since we've seen him. Probably 4 years since Brandon's wedding. We chatted for a while and then took a picture before we left.
We stopped by Burger King for lunch. We tried to convince Michelle to use the bathroom to no avail. She hasn't gone since almost 2:00 am after we got to Eva's. We were at an impasse. I just wanted to leave and get to our destination, Aaron didn't want her to have an accident on the way. Finally Aaron came up with another solution. He asked if I had any diapers she could wear. I remembered that I had a couple of size 4's left in the diaper bag. She agreed to wear one, and finally we were on our way. Again, much later than we had planned. Almost everyone took a nap on the last leg of the drive.
Around 6:00 we finally arrived. Stephen and his family were already there, as were Bryan and Emily. They had already eaten dinner, and were working on decorating cookies for dessert. My kids jumped right in and decorated cookies, and then ate some dinner as well.
I think we may have played games, but I don't remember. We did some online shopping with sales that started at midnight (11 our time). Eventually we went to bed. Timothy and David were on couches Amy was downstairs with her cousins. Melanie and Michelle were in the room next to us. We were in Brittany's old room with Allison.
Thursday morning Aaron went duck hunting with Brandon. I slept in a little bit. The kids had fun playing with cousins. It's kind of blur, but we all worked together to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. I was in charge of the stuffing, and green bean casserole. Mom had the kids make cornucopia's out of ice cream cones, frosting and candy.
Kaylee and Emily made this turkey veggie tray.
Quite the spread.
The table was ready
we served the goose I smoked on Monday
After the prayer I found Michelle like this.
Apparently she couldn't wait
Aaron took a picture of me taking a picture!
After we ate, some people did some shopping. I didn't. Later that afternoon I got a text from Shannon. She told me Sandi's house burned down. My heart fell. She sent me pictures.
I'm guessing from Jen and Shane, their former neighbors. I hated being
hundred of miles away. Thanksgiving Day, and their house on fire. I talked to and texted several people. I didn't want to overwhelm then. I knew she had chemo the next day. I found out that Bob had received some severe burns, and needed to go to the hospital, but Sandi was OK. Jen was going to take her to chemo while Shane took Bob to the hospital. I said many prayers in their behalf that day.
Brandon and Kaylee arrived a little later and the kids loves playing with Ridge. Ashley had asked everyone to write down a favorite memory of Dad. That evening she presented him with the box of memories, and a pair of warm socks, and then played some songs for him on her cello. I recorded a short clip of one of the songs.
Later that evening Kaylee (Stephen's daughter - not Brandon's wife) asked if David would play the piano for her as she practiced her violin. She had an arrangement of O Holy Night.
I snagged a video.
David had never seen this music before or played it before that night. I think he sounds pretty good for sight reading!
Stephen decided to watch TV sitting in Dad's wheelchair.
After baths that night the girls decided to do the "splits" on the stools.
I don't remember what else we did that night, maybe a movie or a game. I'm sure we stayed up way too late, and had lots of fun!
