Wow Lucky

 I pick up Aaron from his Bridges music class.  He hops in the car and says "Mom where have you been?"  (I wasn't  home when he got back  from school like usual).  I respond "I had to stay late at work to get a covid vaccine."  Aaron says.  "Wow lucky"

That's exactly how I felt ending this week in January.  Although my arm was so sore it kept waking me up at night whenever I tried to roll over,  I am grateful for this vaccine and feel like President Nelson that the blessings of Heaven is pouring down on us with it.     It felt very lucky to get it.   

I also am so lucky to have such thoughtful wonderful family members in my life.    My mom always gives thoughtful gifts and Pauline hosted Sunday dinner for me.  Emily made me my favorite chocolate on chocolate cake.  

I'm lucky to work with such thoughtful ladies at work who brought in a yummy lunch for me on my birthday and pitched in all together and got me a much needed Home Depot gift card. 

I was lucky to have Bart home for my birthday who usually is at Sundance.    Bart doesn't like running errands in general and especially after a long day at work but the night before my birthday Jane convinced him to take her to the mall so he could buy me a present from him and the boys.  Bath and Body works shower cream and lotion for the win.   The girls cherish their hydroflasks and decided I needed one as well.  They generously both pitched in their money and got me one with a straw knowing I prefer straws to screw on lids.    We had take out Pei Wei and I enjoyed my quiet evening with my family!

 

Emergency Visits

With four active kids spending some time in the ER should be expected.  December was one of those months.  

We were in Teasdale working on the house.  Bart & Aaron were tearing out and cutting away the carpet.   Aaron was working really hard with a razor blade and swiped a little too close to his knee resulting in a big gash.    Soon we were off to the clinic and left with 4-5 stitches.   The hardest part was because it was on the knew he had to be very careful not to bend it and rip out the stitches.  So he walked around like Frankenstein for a week until Bart took the scissors and cut them out himself.  

Last year spending time at the Escalante Cabin I left knowing snow in these parts isn't a constant thing that if we spent the break there to not expect snow.   When it started snowing after Christmas while in  Teasdale and I looked at the forecast for Escalante my excitement grew for my kids to have another snow filled fun time at the Cabin.  Fun it was as my kids spend hours and hours sliding down the driveway.  Bart knowing the track gets slicker and slicker built a jump to divert the kids from sliding into the cabin.    His trick worked and created so much joy until Jane went down on what she referred to as the "crazy green sled" and lost control went over the jump used her right arm to catch her fall and crack went the bone above the wrist.  

Bless Pauline who went through this before with Max willingly drove a very upset Jane and I to the Panguitch hospital where we were graciously greeted with kind and friendly nurses and Dr. Birch who came in with his cowboy boots and carhart jacket.    Love Southern Utah folks!    They took great care of her explaining the process, took time to point out the exact fracture on the x-ray and she left with a splint in a sling and directions to wait a few days to cast her arm.   

Jane fretted for days until her appointment about what color to get her cast.   She definitely did not want blue unless it was baby blue and not hot pink but baby pink would be fine.   Back and forth she went and then when they pulled out the drawer of colors the orange caught her eye and was just what she wanted.  She mentioned she only wanted those with good handwriting to sign her cast (it's hard to be particular about everything) but in the end kindness won and she let anyone including her younger brothers sign!  

 

Joy "full" December

December felt a little bit different without all the social events but our little family continued all some very important Christmas traditions that normalized life and helped up all feel the Christmas spirit. 

Zoey our Elf luckily escaped getting Covid at the North Pole and came with her traditional Advent Calendars for all the kids as well as other fun  tricks and surprises like a gingerbread house kit and a request Santa Beard by Spencer who considers himself Santa's best helper.    The kids after watching some Elf on the Shelf movie really wanted her to bring her Pet Reindeer but unfortunately he was exposed to Covid and had to stay at the North Pole but hopefully next year he can come visit.  

 

If it was up to my kids we would decorate for Christmas late Oct/ first of November but with finishing my blog book getting Christmas Cards ready and mailed in addition in the normal busy life I'm lucky if it's the first of December when we get out the boxes of decor.  Spencer was anxious as ever to try on the Santa suit and the kids were giddy to see all the decorations again.  

Spencer's little corner he decorated himself 

We also had a few Holiday excursions.  Emily went with her friend to a light show at the fair grounds and then ice skating with some other friends.   We went to the Elves at Gardner village, the Grand America Holiday Windows and Gingerbread house  and of course our favorite Christmas light house.  

The girls and Aaron had Piano Recital at the same time.  Sorry no pictures of Aaron but I heard he did excellent.  Spencer also had a short Christmas program with his preschool that they broadcast through youtube to the parents.  Emily's orchestra also performed a virtual concert as well.  

The YW continued with a few fun zoom activities.  Emily won the most creative cookie decorating project.   Our ward also sent around  luminaria  (candle in a paper bag).  We all lighted them up one night and drove around the ward looking at all the yards and then drove through the church parking lot where the Bishopric handed out a present and then drove past a waving Santa.  

My kids were gracious enough to pose for our classic Sunday Christmas dress photo. 

Nona gave out the Christmas jammies early and my kids enjoyed them all season long 

My kids were heartbroken at the thought of Christmas eve without presents, cousins and pizza at Nona and Papa's house.   I'm glad others felt the same and we celebrated with a few.

Christmas morning brought lots of smiles, hugs, joy and a few surprises.  

  

I was so happy to get a new table runner from Pauline and my mom gave me a new Santa for my collection.  

Celebrating Jane's birth is always a joyful part of December.    She wanted to bring Crumbl cookie up to Papa and Nona's on Christmas Eve.    Christmas night after everyone including Jane had gone to bed Emily and I made a big poster, blew up a bunch of balloons that we threw into her room in the middle of the night and then the next morning I snuck out and picked up a Jamba Juice just for Jane for when she woke up.    Jane was over the top excited when she opened her big sunset pillow she wanted for Christmas but was sad she didn't get.  We sure love our "practically perfect" Jane.  

We headed back down to Teasdale for a couple of days to spend time with the Pace's then we ended 2020 with Papa and Nona and JB's and Mary's family where we spent lots of time sledding and being pulled behind the cam am.    

Look at all these cute faces we were able to welcome 2021 in with!