January

For the second year in a row we went snowshoeing on New Years Day.  Brody was gone to SLC to ski for the day with his friend Landon, and Brad was in Texas selling for a week, and we couldn't convince Cam to come, so it was just me, Mike, the girls and Salomon (who is always thrilled to go anywhere). We went up Logan Canyon to Temple Fork and walked along the road until the trail to Temple Fork Saw Mill starts.  It was a beautiful day and especially nice to get out of the Cache Valley inversion and see the blue skies.  We had a fun afternoon. 

Cam and his friends bought a season pass to Park City this year (as well as one to Beaver) and he has loved having somewhere else to go skiing besides Beaver.  He doesn't even mind the long car ride, or when he crashes into a pole and gets a big scrape on his leg.  

One night, about 6 weeks before the upcoming girls choice Sweethearts dance, Cam got asked to the dance by three different girls.... all in the same night!  It was crazy!  He felt really bad for the 2 girls he had to turn down, but he's going with the girl who asked him first (technically...) This is the way the first girl asked him... (yes, she drew that picture of Cam- which I think is amazing.  She had previously turned it in for credit in her art class)

Brooke, the girl he's going with asked him this way- She left 7 frozen heart shaped blocks along with the Melt My Heart poster and a bunch of heart shaped candy on our front doorstep.  When he melted the hearts, the letters to her name were inside.  The other girl asked him by leaving a trail of Hershey kisses from our front door all the way to the driveway, with the poster at the end of the kisses and he had to search through the kisses to find the letters to spell out her name.  I thought the way each girl asked him was so cute and creative. 

One Sunday night we decided to have a taste testing party.  So, along with Jess (Brad in Texas) and the Bundys, we set out to discover the best kind of: marinara sauce, spaghetti noodles, brown soda pops, ranch dressing, tomatoes, cucumbers, string cheese and butter vs margarine on garlic toast.  We found that we all liked best whatever it was we were used to- but it was still fun to try different kinds of that many things.

Jess and Brad were tending the Hess kids that weekend, so all 5 kids had fun playing together- even favoring us with a musical number and a dance.

My living room hadn't been rearranged for over 3 years and I was ready for a change.  I found the new chair and ottoman at Sams Club so that was the push I needed to get it done.  I love the new look, and it's nice to have another place to sit.

I spent much of last summer and the last half of the year working on my first blog book.  It ended up being 160 pages.  I'm done scrap-booking and making family history books because I love doing it digitally so much more.  It's rather addicting.  I love how this one turned out and look forward to making many more.  I redid my wire picture holder in my room with all pictures of Jake- I love seeing those pictures every day.
MISC- Jess helped Kylee make a cute Christmas tree skirt- Mom trying to keep warm while spending an evening with us- I took my cute activity days girls ice skating at Merlin Olsen park- making some delicious fresh squeezed oranges from a box that Lorene sent me from AZ.

MORE MISC- An awesome winter picture of the temple- Cam got asked to Sky View's girls choice dance (but just by one girl...)- Mike's freaky fingers which go numb during the winter if he gets the least bit cold. It's so irritating to him and feels weird.

December

This month has been chuck full of parties and lots and lots of awesome family time.  I don't know how I'll survive the regular routine of life come January....Our first party was on December 8 and was hosted by the Bundy's at their house.  We ate delicious chicken enchiladas, then played catch phrase, and the trivia game.  It was a delightful evening. 

Sadly I don't have pictures for all our parties, but on the 13th, the Skeens invited me and Mike, Carol and Mom out for dinner and games.  We had fun playing taboo and cards.  I just love getting together with extended family.  The next night Mike and I went to our friends Allen and Sandy's for dinner and visiting. We had a nice evening, and since this is a second marriage for both of them, I enjoyed learning more about Sandy.  Turns out we have a lot in common, so it will be a fun friendship to continue.  The next night (Sunday the 15th) Carol had us and the Wheelwrights and Mom over for dinner, games and the Survivor finale.  It was a fun evening.  The next night we went to Steve and Janet Broadbents for dinner along with the Wood's and Measoms.  We 4 were the RS presidency and we've decided to get together for dinner 4 times a year- once each at each other's homes.  It's a great way to stay in touch.  Ty and Sue had bought this little band at a YSA service auction so we got to enjoy their amazing music for an hour while we ate and visited.  I loved it!  The top two pictures were from that evening, and the bottom left is the awesome Amaryllis that Teresa gave me for Christmas that I absolutely loved watching grow and bloom.  It was so beautiful and lasted all month.  The bottom right is the much anticipated neighbor gift from Marnie Corbett that I look forward to every year.  It's delivered hot out of the oven and literally melts in your mouth.  That's a full size plate by the way, not just a dessert plate.  Oh, the deliciousness of this thing is next to nothing!

On Thursday the 19th, me, Carol, Mom and Paul (who was in town for 5 days) went to Ann's for a cookie exchange, candy making and game playing.  It was a lovely evening.  The bottom right picture is a work check from a year and a half ago made out to Jake from Westates theater that he irresponsibly tossed into the trunk of his car (who does that?) and it was discovered by Cam when he and Mike went to get the spare tire out of the trunk to change a flat and there was the check wet and frozen to the tire.  Luckily for Jake, he has a nice mother who went to the trouble to track down the person who could re-issue him a new check.  It was fun showing it to him on Christmas (complete w/ the new check) and telling him all about it and making fun of him.

The next night we had a blast at a party at Carol's school.  We ate pizza and other goodies, then played a super fun scavenger hunt that Carol and Taylor had made that was throughout the school.  It was great.  Then we played some minute-to-win-it games in the gym.  A great evening.  We enjoyed having the Romney's spend the night w/ us that night and enjoyed visiting w/ them for an hour while soaking in the hot tub.

The next day Mom had her Griffin family Christmas party that was 20 years in the making.  All her children and spouses were there except for DeNae.  We had a lovely afternoon feasting on a delicious dinner that Gary made, sharing Christmas memories, playing cards and just visiting and enjoying each other.  It was wonderful.

The next evening, Sunday the 22nd, we had a fun progressive dinner that started at our house with soup and a game, went to the Griffins for lasagne and garlic bread, stopped by the Searles for salad and name that Christmas tune that Carol played on the piano (I loved listening to her play- she's awesome) then finished at the Skeens for dessert and a spiritual message.  It was a great night.  We hurried home to welcome Ky and Brody who were just arriving for their Christmas break.  Our ward's primary did a live nativity the next night that Ky and I went to. It was very well done and attended by so many people. It was so great.

 On Christmas Eve day, the girls and I started off the day with an awesome Zumba class at the Sports Academy.  We then met Brody, Brad, Cam and the Bundy's at the Jump Zone for an hour of fun and practically had the place to ourselves.  It was perfect.  Came home for a delicious breakfast that Mike had been kind enough to bake since he couldn't break away from work to come to the jump zone with us. 

We played some games that afternoon, then Ky and Brody went to Brody's moms for the evening, and the rest of us went to the Weyerts for dinner.  We had a delicious feast of crab, shrimp, ham and french dip, played the present game, then went to the Bundy's for the rest of the evening.  Ky and Brody were able to meet up with us there about 10:30 and we had a great time playing a survivor type game along with Trace and Ann who were spending the night there.  This is the only picture I have from dinner at the Weyerts.  I sure love this baby boy of mine.

 I absolutely love my house at Christmas.  Well, I especially love it.  On Christmas morning, Mike and I made a big breakfast of fresh squeezed OJ (thanks to my friend Lorene who sent me a case of oranges from Arizona), red buttermilk pancakes, red potato hashbrowns, sausage and hot chocolate.  For the first time ever we ate before opening presents.  It was because of the timing of Skyping with Jake.  The day revolved around that and I love that it did. 

We spent a wonderful hour opening presents.  We enjoyed the addition of Brody's BFF Landon who lives in SLC but doesn't have any family nearby so he spent the day with us (and Christmas Eve with Brody's family).  It was special to have Mom with us for the morning.  That hasn't happened since we lived in Arizona. 

We went to the Weyerts as soon as we were done to open presents from them and eat leftovers, then we rushed home to be waiting at 1:30 when Jake was scheduled to Skype with us.  We anxiously waited for 10 minutes before the call came through, then it was pure heaven for 85 minutes talking with him.  It was all that I dreamed it would be.  He looked great, he was happy and his same ole fun self.  It was the best part of the day without a doubt.  I was so happy that he wasn't homesick and wasn't too sad to say goodbye.  And I was happy that I got my tears shed while waiting for the call to come and not during it.  (the top picture is of us waiting...)

 We had an hour to clean up, do dishes and make chalupas for later at the Skeens, then we all met at Trace's YSA building for a rousing game of glow-in-the-dark ultimate frisbee. Everyone who lives in the valley was there except the Griffins.  It was so much fun!  I hope this becomes a tradition.  I really loved it.  We all went to the Skeens after that for dinner and more games.  It was a delightful way to end a perfect day.

On the 27th the Bundy's and Ann came over for lunch and games.  

Saturday the 28th we attended a morning session of the temple (Ky had never seen the new film so was happy to finally get to do that), then we all went to the movie "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty."  It was a great movie.  That evening the Densleys joined us for dinner and games.  We had a great time with them and were so happy they were able to fit an evening with us into their lives.

The next day- Sunday the 29th, the Bundy's joined us for dinner and more games. I had a table full of prizes I wanted to get rid of, so we played games until they were almost gone.  It was a blast with them as always.

On Monday the 30th, Ky, Brody, Cam and Jess (Brad is in Texas for the week selling for Vivint) went to lunch at the Crepery then I met up with them for the matinee of Frozen (me and Jess) while the other 3 went to The Hobbit.  Jess and I LOVED Frozen.  It was so cute.  Ky and Brody spent most of the rest of their time home with Brody's mom, so on New Years Eve it was just me, Mike and Jess as Cam had gone to Park City snowboarding for the day, then stayed there to go to a party with his friends.  We three ate leftovers while watching 2 movies- The Impossible, and Hachi- A Dog's Tale.  Both were very good.  And then we went to bed at 10:30.  I know, I know.  Boring- but we were tired!  It was sad to say goodbye to 2013 because it's been a good year, but I look forward to all that 2014 will bring.

November

Another month has come and gone.  If time keeps going by this fast, Jake will be home before I know it!  Speaking of Jake- one of the highlights from my month was getting a memory card from the Elder full of pictures and videos from the past several months.  There were so many that it took almost an hour to look at all of them.  And he did so many video logs, that it felt like he was in the room with us chatting away.  Who knew that boy would be so much like me and his sisters in doing such a bang up job of documenting everything.  I'm proud about that!  I just love looking at his smiling face.  I'm so happy that he's happy and doing well.





Here he is with 3 of his 4 companions.  Elder Haviland was #1, then came Elder Tongish (bottom right picture, the one on the far left) then Elder Mitchell (the red head) then Elder Campbell (the one in the top left picture).  Jake loved Elder Mitchell and took great strides in loving his mission during that transfer.

We had an early snowstorm before we'd had a chance to do winterizing, but luckily it melted and we were able to get the yard ready for winter the following Saturday. 

Me, Cam and Mike worked for most of the afternoon cleaning up- mostly in the backyard.  Mowing, raking leaves (or blowing rather with our new leaf blower/sucker/mulcher. It's awesome!) cleaning out the rain gutters, and putting the patio cushions away in our new handy dandy shed.

Cam and his friends Parker and Chase were Logan's #1 football fans this year.  They were front and center at every home game, and even traveled to a couple away games.  The team was undefeated until the QB  got ejected from the first playoff game (and the following game) for 2 unsportsmanlike calls, so Logan was out of it when they lost the second game without him in the game. Cam and his friends had fun until that game.  And, after 15 plus years, Mike says he's done doing the stats for the team.  With Cam graduating, he thinks this is a good year to call it quits.  We'll see next fall when the season rolls around again. He might not be able to help himself from wanting to be down on the sidelines amid all the action.

We attended a fun party one Sunday evening at the Searles to welcome Matt home for a week's leave from the Navy.  We had fun eating, visiting, and playing bunco.  I was happy I had someplace to go and take my turkey relish tray appetizer. 

Cam's Eagle Project was completed one Saturday at the Middle School where I work.  He and I worked on getting numbers made and laminated, then on that Saturday, along with the help of 13 family, friends and leaders, we put them all up in the windows of each classroom for emergency purposes.  It was a great and fairly easy project.  And a relief to have done! Cam was a great organizer and and did a great job delegating.

Kylee and Brody came home for Thanksgiving for the first time since they moved away 4 years ago.  Happily we've been able to be with them for 3 of those 4 years.  But it was great to have them home this time.  They decided to keep their arrival a secret from Jessica so Ky had fun surprising her the first morning.  We three girls went to one of my favorite classes at the Sports Academy- Paddlefit. 

Mike and Cam played in our wards Turkey Bowl and had a fun time- especially Cam.  I went to watch for a half hour, and it was so much fun to see him throwing the ball, catching the ball, and intercepting the ball. He's a great football player. 

Jess and Brad spent Thanksgiving in Willard with Brad's family, and the rest of us went to the Weyerts for dinner along with Teresa & Brad and their kids, and Tommy & Jessica and their kids.

The rest of the weekend was spent shopping, playing cards, sitting in the hot tub and spending half a day in SLC playing mini-golf, looking around City Creek, looking at the lights on temple square and eating out at Bella's Mexican Restaurant.  All too soon it was time to say goodbye to Ky and Brody, but only for 3 weeks!

Misc items (going clockwise starting with top left):  Mom turned 87 on the 16th.  Me, Carol and Nancy took her out to lunch at Sizzler, then the next day I made her a birthday dinner.  Doesn't she look so cute?  Cam and I went to Thor in honor of Jake and so we could tell him about it.  It was a pretty decent movie.  We had my friend Dani and her girls over for dinner to celebrate Dani's birthday while her husband was out of town. I met Dani while she was a student in Mike's ward about 8-9 years ago and we've kept in touch with her pretty well, but then when she joined my gym last January, we've become great friends, even though I'm old enough to be her Mom.  In fact, we've been asked numerous times if that's the case. I love her! Cam went to 2 girls choice dances this month.  This is a picture of the SkyView one. He had a fun time at that one.  The Logan one, not so much.  Me and Mike and Jess and Brad surprised Lindsey at work on her birthday with balloons and presents.  So lots of birthday celebrations this month.  I didn't even tell about Brody's golden birthday on the 29th while they were home for Thanksgiving.  Kylee threw a fun party for his high school friends and their wives at our house and it turned out great.  She is a master party planner.