Here are some highlights from the 2nd week of January.
On Monday, January 8th, after work, Carter and I went to the church for our boys' Primary Activity Day. I'm now over the boys' activities instead of the girls. It'll be fun to be w/ Carter this year. It's Carter's 1st year in activity days. We did some get to know you games this time. We first had them fill out a get to know you questionnaire, then had them try to guess who it was. Then I gave them different Skittles' colors and asked them different questions about themselves based on their colors. Then we played "Do you love your neighbor" and ate donuts afterwards. It should be a fun year w/ the boys!
Steve's first duck he ever shot hanging up in Hudson's room. Silly Piper licking lotion on the carpet. We are finally getting some snow!
On Tuesday, Nyles went to Young Men's for the 1st time. They were going to go bowling, but since itw as snowing, they went across the street and got ice cream instead.
On Wednesday, January 10th, we had Dave/Joann over for dinner (potato bacon soup), then Nyles was ordained to the office of a deacon and conferred the Aaronic Priesthood by Steve. Our bishop Blaine Awerkamp and 2nd counselor Dion Davidson came over to our house to participate in the ordination as well. We were able to get Grandma LuDean/Aunt Diane and my parents both on Zoom to watch/listen to it. It was a special night! We are so proud of Nyles and his decision to keep the commandments and follow our Savior Jesus Christ!
Dave, Nyles, Steve and Joann after getting ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood.
We got more snow!!! Piper doesn't care, she just wants to play fetch!
We got about 8 inches of snow!
On Thursday after school, Steve and the boys went over to Dave/Joann's place to help them w/ a few things. Hudson had fun playing w/ a strainer.
On Friday, the boys didn't have school. Steve and the boys helped clean the house and of course played as well! That evening we got Cafe Rio for dinner, then went and got a few groceries at Sam's Club.
Saturday, Carter had a basketball game. Steve wrapped up his knee brace so it wouldn't fall off while running. Cute Carter ready to play ball!
Carter did awesome, even w/ his brace on!
Good work Carter!
After Hudson got up from his nap, we went sledding!
That evening, Steve and Nyles met Rob at Scheels for a little bit to look at fish finders. Carter and Hudson were watching a movie, so I jumped in the shower. When I got out I heard someone in the boys' bathroom. I went around the corner and found Hudson having a good time. He had squeezed out a brand new tube of toothpaste, and was starting to empty the foaming soap in the sink.
Hudson's toothpaste and soap mess or masterpiece?
Silly Piper. Her lip gets stuck on her teeth ;)
Silly Hudson w/ goggles and a nail gun. Hudson went to Primary/Sunbeams for the 1st time today! Steve said he did pretty good! Steve is teaching Carter's Primary class this year.
Nyles also passed the sacrament today for the 1st time at church! Steve passed with him, covering the middle rows. There are 3 new deacons, and each of them passed w/ their dads. It was special to see. We went over to LuDean/Diane's place tonight for dinner. I made cheeseburger soup and Diane made her yummy breadsticks. Steve blessed the sacrament and Nyles was able to pass it to her. We then played a game and had Mickey bars for dessert. Thanks for the fun!
Happy New Year 2024! I can't believe it's January already and we are on to another new year. 2023 seemed to fly by! 2023 was a great year, and we're excited for what 2024 has in store for us all! Here are some highlights to the 1st week in January.
On Tuesday, January 2nd, it was our 15th year anniversary! Dave and Joann we kind and offered to come sit w/ the boys so we could go to the temple and do sealings. We had a really small group, so the sealer took the time to educate us as we went on the sealing ordinances. Once we finished all of our family names and most of what another guy brought, he talked w/ us further about some of the promises in the sealing ordinances. It was really amazing and eye opening. The Spirit was strong!
Great thoughts. Silly Hudson trying my lip-gloss on. Steve and I at the Draper Temple on our anniversary. Dave getting attacked with silly string from Carter.
I went into work on Wednesday. The SLC Temple is making progress, along w/ the rest of temple square. Silly Piper w/ her ear up in the air. Steve smoked a pork butt for Dave that night since we were headed out of town to my parent's place the next day. Dave wanted it for our family dinner on Sunday, but since we weren't going to be back in time to smoke it then, Steve did it ahead of time. Steve just put it in vacuum sealed bags to preserve it. It turned out super yummy!
On Thursday, Steve checked the boys out of school 1 hour early so we could head up to my parent's place. I worked until 2pm, then we loaded up and left. Hudson fell asleep during some of it.
Friday morning, Steve and Nyles met up w/ Mark Gasper, his son, and another neighbor, and went goose hunting. Nyles shot his first goose, a snow goose!
Good work boys!
We went to visit my grandma VaLere while they were gone. Carter and Hudson had to play w/ the cat. Later my mom and I put together a cat puzzle that Rose gave her for Christmas.
While we were gone, Piper was at K9, playing fetch.
Saturday, they went out again. This time they got Canadian Geese.
They had another great hunt!
The boys had to go on a motorcycle ride w/ Grandpa.
Barbara came down w/ Dallin and Calley as well. We then went over to visit Grandma Valere.
Hudson, Grandma VaLere, Dallin, Carter and Calley. Then w/ Barbara and I.
We had fun playing games. It was great seeing everyone and visiting!
Mom, Steve, Nyles, Carter, Dad, Carter and me. We left to go home Sunday morning.
It was a cold, snowy morning. There was cows just crossing the road.
Thankfully Hudson fell asleep on the way home. It started snowing as we got closer to Idaho.
It got down to one lane for a while, which was scary, but we got through to dry roads again, and made it home safely in pretty good time.
We had snow at home as well, so the boys were excited to go play in it.
Piper was happy to be home and to play ball in the snow!
We were all still off work/school this last week, so we got to spend a lot of time together, which was nice. We played games, watched movies and enjoyed our time together. Here are some highlights from the last week of the year!
Monday, December 25th was Christmas! The boys slept in until after 7am, then we had Dave/Joann over at 8am to open presents together. The boys were super excited that Santa came!
Ready to open gifts, then go time! Nerf guns for all the boys.
Hudson got a robot from Grandma and Grandpa McGrath and they also all got a Lego car to build. Nyles and Carter also got another Lego set from Santa and Hudson got Lincoln Logs.
Hudson helping me open my puzzle. Nyles and Carter got Pokémon cards. Nyles also got his 1st duck he shot mounted. Piper snuggling in on the blanket w/ Joann.
We also got a fun axe throwing game. Hudson trying his new Water Wow Activity Pad. Carter sitting w/ his hurt knee-cap at the couch, starting to build his new Lego firetruck set.
We went over to LuDean/Diane's place for dinner that night. Hudson loves to see the train go around and hear the music. Hudson also got a submarine for Christmas and the tugboat from Pauline's house on Christmas Eve. Nyles working on his submarine Lego set.
On Tuesday afternoon, we went to the Aquarium w/ Pauline's family. The elves were gone, but we were still able to find the letters to decode the secret message. It was fun!
Hudson watching the shark and stingray swim by. Lincoln, Hudson, Nyles and Ezra looking at the otters swim. Carter was getting pulled in the wagon by Steve w/ his hurt knee cap.
Playing in the play ground inside, then walking across the rope bridge.
Carter getting loves from Piper and vice versa. We finished the new 500 piece puzzle in a day.
Hudson helping us read scriptures before bed, with his Book of Mormon upside down.
Carter wearing his brace to help his knee cap heal. The Taylorsville temple.
Wednesday, we went out to Rose's place for lunch.
After lunch we did a White Elephant gift exchange.
Later, the kids played tag outside on the playground. I also passed a football around w/ Sophia, Ezra, Nyles and Carter. We had brunch for lunch, which was yummy.
Group pictures.
On the way home, Hudson fell asleep. We then stopped to drop off some water bottles to LuDean, then the boys had a free ice cream coupon, so we picked them up.
We watched the 1971 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory that night for movie night in preparation to watch the new Wonka movie the next day. Steve helped finish both Nyles and Carter's Lego cars, then did Hudson's car. Hudson's car was a Lego Lamborghini.
Carter's Lego McLaren car and Nyles' Lego Jeep Wrangler.
Steve's weight loss progress, now 6 months in.
Thursday morning, Steve was able to get Carter into Primary Children's orthopedic specialist. He had in fact broke his knee cap in 2 spots. He will need to wear the brace for 3 weeks, then follow up again to see how it's healing. The Dr. said he can walk on his leg and put pressure on it, as long as he's wearing his brace. We were happy to hear it wasn't worse and he didn't need crutches to walk around.
When they got back, we all went to the chiropractor. Then after Hudson's nap, we went to see the new Wonka movie w/ Dave, Joann and Diane. It was really good!
Silly Hudson with some Yeti teeth (in a sucker). Carter at the Dr.'s office. At the movies.
Friday morning, Steve took the boys to the Butterfly Museum, while I slept in, then got some things done around the house. Pretty butterflies.
That afternoon, Steve, Nyles and Nyles' friend Lincoln went fishing at Utah Lake in Provo. They met Zach and his wife Erin there. The lake was more frozen than last time, so they had to break ice. They had a good time and caught a few fish.
Pretty Christmas Cactus our neighbor gave us. Carter playing in the sand.
Nyles and Carter organized their Pokémon cards and put covers on the cards. I also finished another 500 piece puzzle of the state of Utah. Nyles took pictures of Piper just for fun. The boys playing in pretend "snow" since we haven't gotten any this whole break!
Sunday morning at 1am, Hudson came into our room and said his stomach hurt. He then proceeded to throw up in our room. Luckily it wasn't projectile onto Steve, and went on the carpet. He then continued to throw up every 30 minutes to 1 hour until 8am. Steve was the one getting up w/ him mostly, so he stayed home w/ Hudson while I took Nyles and Carter to church. It was Nyles last time in Primary and would have been Hudson's last time in Nursery as well. Nyles will start Young Men's officially this week and Hudson will move up to Primary. I can't believe Nyles is old enough to go to Young Men's now and Hudson will be in Primary! I'm a little in denial at this point.
That evening, Steve took Nyles and Carter over to Dave/Joann's for dinner, to play games and bring in the New Year. I stayed home w/ Hudson. We put together puzzles, watched a short show, and read some stories. I put him to bed before Steve was home w/ the other 2 boys.
Nyles and Carter all dressed up for church. Carter and Nyles ready to bring in the New Year.
Claire got a nail set, so she painted the boys nails a little before dinner.
Carter, Nyles and Conor w/ their New Year fun! Nyles opening a popper w/ confetti.
We had a fantastic 2023 and are excited for 2024! We built many memories that will be with us forever. We are so grateful for our family, friends and faith in our Savior Jesus Christ.
