3rd Week of December

Here are some highlights from the 3rd week of December.

Buddy, our elf, is watching a show under the Christmas tree, eating gold fish.  Carter lost another tooth.  The boys had Lego Advent Calendars this year, so each day counting down to Christmas they opened a new Lego (small figurines).  They also had 2 chocolate Advent Calendars.

Great quote.  Flashback to last year for Carter (fishing) and this year (at his gymnastics class).  

Steve is making progress in the attic (Lego Room).

On Tuesday, Carter had his Spanish Christmas Program (grades 1-5).  Each class sang a Christmas song in Spanish, then they sang one together at the end.  Carter is in 2nd grade, so his class went 2nd.

Carter Spanish song at Christmas program.

Carter Spanish Christmas song.

Cute kids!  I worked downtown this week, so I hurried home to make it in time for Carter's program.

They all did awesome!  Their excitement was fantastic!

Dave came to watch as well.  They didn't have a Zoom, so unfortunately others couldn't join that way.

Fun comparison from last year to this year (he has his front teeth in now).

Going by the SLC Temple on my way home from work.  Wednesday evening I went and did Initiatories at the Draper Temple.  Funny we saw a tow truck carrying a UPS truck one day.  It was really tall!

After I got back from the temple, we had dinner, then went over to Draper Park to look at the lights.

It's always fun to see the "tree of life."

Great quote.  The kids of course wanted to play on the playground for a while, even though it was dark.

Steve sold more firewood.  A lot of people want the wood for their wood burning fireplaces in their house during the winter, and we've got a request for wood to use to smoke a pig.  Next year Steve plans to have more wood available in the winter, as it's still selling.  

Cute Hudson asleep w/ his hands above his head.  Firewood ready to sell.  The stairs Steve built in the wall going up to the attic/Lego Room.  Cute Hudson ready to go!  Steve bought a few chairs on clearance to use out on the boat while hunting, as they swivel and the legs can be adjusted.  This way they don't have to sit on buckets anymore ie a little more comfortable.

On Friday, I worked from home because I went to have a MRI done on both of my hips at 12:30pm over at Altaview Hospital.  They first did an Arthrogram to put contrast dye into my hips which helps visualize the structure of the joints.  I wanted to get it done as it's been 6 months since I went to the ER w/ extreme hip pain.  I wanted to see if anything has changed and/or if further inflammation buildup has occurred.  

It definitely wasn't fun to have injections put into my hips.  They did that first, then I went over to the MRI scanner to take pictures of my hips, each side taking 20-25 minutes each.  I had to hold really still on a really hard board.  It was really uncomfortable.  They were nice though and played Christmas music for me both during the arthrogram and the MRI, so that was nice.  After it was done, I came home and worked the rest of the day.  The initial results came in saying both hips have a small labral tear (we knew the right had one and I suspected the left had one too since I'm weak on that side), but no further inflammation, so that's great!

On Saturday, December 21st, Steve and Nyles went duck hunting w/ our neighbor, so I took Carter and Hudson to the aquarium.  We got there shortly after it opened so it wasn't as busy, but soon got busy.

The boys played in the playground for a while, then it got busy, so we left to see the animals.

Fun animals!

Cool sea-life, like sharks!

We played outside for just a little while, but most of it was roped off for the night light events.

We then went to Sam's club so they could get a salted pretzel from the food court, and I got some groceries.  Hudson wanted to stop by the Toyota Dealership across the street (where we bought our Sequoia), to play on the pirate ship for a few minutes as well.  Buddy the Elf brought some M&Ms for the kids.  After lunch we went to the library and a park to play.

Nyles and our neighbor Cory Milne ready to shoot ducks.  Unfortunately they didn't get any.

Pretty sunset picture I took from the playground.

Sunday morning, we had only 1 hour of church.  We had a wonderful sacrament meeting w/ music and a speaker about Christ.  It was beautiful.

Quick family pictures.  Piper getting in a stretch.

We then went over to Pauline's house for dinner and fun.  We had tacos, then decorated sugar cookies.  Then the kids acted out the nativity scene.  No one wanted to be Mary, so Nyles volunteered ;)  Hudson was baby Jesus, and Carter was an angel.  We sang songs in between reading the scriptures.

We then played a few games, then did a white elephant gift exchange.

It was a fun evening as usual.  Thanks Pauline!

Back at home, Carter getting licks/loves from Piper before bed.  Buddy the Elf went camping :)

It was a fun week.  The kids are getting excited for Christmas!

Great quotes:

2nd Week of December

Here are some highlights from the 2nd week of December:

 Flashbacks of Nyles, then and now.  He's getting so big!

Steve is making progress on the attic.

On Tuesday we had our last activity days for the year.  We discussed the true meaning of Christmas and then made gingerbread (graham cracker) nativity scenes.  Some used hot glue to make them stick, others tried frosting.

Making nativity scenes.

The boys and girls w/ their completed nativities.

Hudson showing us he's "cool" like dad.  Nyles giving Steve a horsey ride, then Hudson.

Tuesday night the YW/YW also got together and made graham cracker houses, but from the scriptures. Nyles group made King Benjamin's tower.

Buddy, our Elf, having fun w/ the yodeling pickle we got at the family white elephant gift exchange.

More progress in the attic, taking out the original boards after adding new ones, in order to make the room a little bigger.  Good work Steve!

Great quote.  We got a little snow.  Carter has been taking a gymnastics class every Thursday afternoon.  He's working hard and learning a lot, working on backflips.

Thursday morning Steve and I went to the chiropractor, then I had a Dr appt w/ my Rheumatologist.   I did Physical Therapy for 8 weeks, and it seemed to help strengthen my hip area.  My hips have still been hurting, but not necessarily getting worse.  I'm going to get an Arthrogram MRI on both of my hips on the 20th.  We're going to see if there is more inflammation that has built up the past 6 months, if so I'll start some medication to treat it.  We're also going to see if my labral tear has changed. 

Buddy, our Elf, hiding by the piano.

Friday night was our Ward Christmas Party.  The Primary kids sang a song.

The kids singing.

Steve w/ the progress in the attic.  Looking good!

Buddy, our Elf, ready to play laser tag w/ the boys.  Great quote.

Saturday evening we picked up some Dominos pizza for dinner and went over to Dave and Joann's.  We had dinner together and watched the new movie Wild Robot.  It was really good!

Sunday evening we had our Jerusalem Dinner.  The kids also put together some bags for homeless people that we can all give out.  After dinner we had our testimony meeting.

Great quotes:

1st week of December

I can't believe December is here!  This year sure has flown by.  Here are some highlights of the first week of December.

I went into work the whole week, taking the train.  After work on Monday, Steve and the boys came and picked me up at our office downtown.  We were driving down South Temple to go visit Barb, Rich and Ryan in the hospital, and I saw the BYU Creamery there in Dessert Book. Barb had been asking for the cookies and cream milk from them, so we stopped and I got them the last 2 they had.  We then went to the hospital.  Steve had smoked a beef roast, potatoes, and carrots for them for dinner.  Ryan was moved out of the ICU, and could eat what he wanted, so he tried the milk, which he liked.  Barb and Rich ate their dinner and we visited for a while, then left to get the kids home to bed.  It was great seeing them, and especially seeing the progress Ryan had been making.  He ended up being released from the hospital on Saturday, and was able to go home, yeah!!!

Christ is the reason for the season.  The cookies and cream milk.

Ryan trying the milk, w/ Barb and the boys in the background.

Steve has been making great progress in the attic for the "Lego Room," adding supports on the side so he can then cut down the middle beams, to make the room "bigger."

Buddy the Elf is back!  More progress in the attic.

Our neighbor Ron taught Steve how to change the oil in our cars, so he's doing it now, yeah!

Thursday night Nyles had another band performance.  I had a work event, so I missed it, but Steve recorded it for us to watch later.  Dave was able to come watch as well, while others watched via video.  Thanks for your love and support; we really appreciate it!

Nyles' band performance here.

So funny.  Apparently this week in preschool they were talking about the letter V.  The teachers were giving words that started with V, then asked the kids to say a word that started with V as they went around the circle.  When they got to Hudson, he sat there thinking, then said Vomit starts with V!  It's another word for throw up!  Haha, that's true!  He is so funny, and a pretty deep thinker!

Thursday and Friday I had training at work.  My boss came in from Texas, and we had other reps from Colorado come in.  We had dinner together Thursday night as a team, as I mentioned.  Thankfully we got done earlier on Friday though, so I hurried home on the train.  Nyles got on the same train as me, so we rode the rest of the way home together.  We then packed up our stuff and headed out to Idaho, to go visit my parents.  Steve and Nyles were planning to hunt with Mark Gasper on Saturday.  We made it to my parents by 8pm or so.  We then got unpacked and settled in, and went to bed.

Leaving SLC and the gross inversion (smog) behind.

The next morning, Steve and Nyles left early (5am) to go goose and duck hunting.  The other boys and I were up at 7am.  Carter and Hudson wanted to hold the little kittens as soon as they could, even though it was really cold outside.

Carter and Hudson holding the kittens.

Instead of smog, they had fog and frost all over!  Pretty cool to see!

Thankfully they were able to find the geese!

And some ducks!  They did great!

My mom and I worked on canning the boys' 3 pumpkins while they were hunting.  

Carter and Hudson wanted to hold the kittens throughout the day.  They even played on the slick ramp.

They had a successful hunt!  

Hudson wanted to hold them when they got back, but the geese were too heavy haha :)

Mom getting the pumpkin ready to blend up before putting in bottles, then the pressure cooker.  

The boys wrestling w/ grandpa.  We also played games, and I got pictures from my parents for the family calendar I'm putting together.

Later, they sat down to watch a show and Hudson fell asleep.  After he woke up he wanted to wrestle w/ his brothers of course.  Hudson and I getting ready for bed.

We canned 23 bottles of pumpkin from the boys' 3 pumpkins.  It took all day!  It was a lot of work, but we'll be grateful to have it later.  We gave my mom a cat advent puzzle calendar.  So everyday she opens a new puzzle and puts it together.  To my surprise they all actually stick together, so it'll make a 1000 piece puzzle in total!  Also kind of smart, the makers of the puzzle put numbers on the back of each mini puzzle, so you know which puzzle pieces go with each other, in case you wanted to do it again as an advent calendar.

Pumpkin and puzzles!

Taking a group picture before he left to go home Sunday morning.

Fog on the river as we were going home.

When we got home, Steve vacuumed sealed up the goose and duck breasts.  That evening we went over to Diane/LuDean's place for our family dinner.  After dinner we did a white elephant gift exchange.  Steve got a toilet seat (soft close).

Great quotes: