2nd Week of December

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

Steve's weight loss progress:

Buddy our elf hang-gliding (which he does every year), and he dressed up as Harry Potter since the boys were going to a Harry Potter birthday party for our neighbor.

We were sick this week.  Hudson ended up w/ Croup, Carter w/ 2 ear infections, and the rest of us w /a cold.  Hudson stayed home from pre-school all week and Carter stayed home on Friday.  It's that time of year I guess ;)

Hudson at the park.  Getting ready for read scriptures, prayers then bed.

On Saturday, December 16th, Nyles and Carter had a martial arts graduation and belt advancement.  They've both been working so hard!

Showing us their moves.

More moves.

Breaking boards.

Now with their new belt colors: Carter is now green and Nyles is red w/ a black stripe.

Awesome job boys!!!

Nyles with his gingerbread house he made at activity days and his certificate and T-shirt he got from completing the NOVA program at school.  Cool rock art someone made I saw online.  Buddy hiding.

We went fishing that afternoon.  There was some ice on the water we had to break but we managed.  

We even caught some fish!  Nyles and Carter caught the most.  

We caught Perch and White Bass.

Good work!

We brought home a good amount of fish.  Nyles kept the perch to eat, then Rob took the rest for his brother's in-law who are from the Philippines and LOVE any kind of fish.

The Primary acted out the nativity scene in Sunday school.  Nyles played Joseph, Kaitlyn as Mary, Zoee was the donkey and our neighbor's little boy Taft was baby Jesus.  They were so cute!  

Great quotes.

1st Full Week of December

Here are some highlights from the 1st full week of December, back at work/school after our cruise/vacation.  It's always hard to get back.  We had a busy week too.

Steve took Hudson to the Butterfly Museum.  Hudson loves to hold the butterflies.

Monday night, December 4th, we made rock art w/ the activity girls.  They turned out really cute!

Buddy our elf, brought fishing poles for the boys.  Hudson trying out his martial arts skills.

Nyles and Carter took an art class after school.  I had a regional conference at work.  We did a team building activity at an archery place after work on Tuesday night.  It was a lot of fun.  I had quite a few good shots too.  We had dinner brought in afterwards.

Steve took the boys fishing down in Provo, while I was at my work activity.  They had fun and caught a few fish.  Hudson had fun playing in the dirt w/ plyers.

On Wednesday, the 2nd day we had meetings at the Grand America Hotel all day.  There was a life-size gingerbread house in the hotel.  That's a LOT of ingredients.  After meetings, we had dinner w/ just my SLC team, then did a quick white elephant exchange.  I got some big Plus Plus toys.  The boys, especially Hudson thought they were pretty awesome.

Hudson playing w/ the Plus Plus, pretending to eat a candy cane.  

Buddy the elf saying it's movie night.  We watched Elf Friday night.

Steve also took Carter to a birthday party at the roller skating place.  Nyles and Hudson wanted to join in the fun as well.  

Hudson is getting better at his scooter.

Carter had a basketball game on Saturday.  He did great and even made a basket.

After Carter's basketball game Steve went fishing again.  

Hudson and I stayed home and went to the park.

Sunday the boys practiced Christmas songs during Primary time.  Hudson came to join them.  One of the only times all 3 of my boys will be in Primary at the same time.  Nyles will leave to YM in January and Hudson will come in from Nursery.  We went to Pauline's place that night for dinner.  Lincoln is getting taller.  He's 4 and Carter is 7.

Carter w/ his Turkey Santa he made ie turkey in disguise as Santa.  

Our neighbors, Ron and Becky, gave us this beautiful Disney globe. 

Great quotes:

Last couple days, 1st week of December

Here are a few other highlights from the week we got back from our cruise.

Cute Hudson wrapped up in his blankets.  Steve and I were able to sneak away to a movie while Hudson went down for a nap.

We then got out our Christmas decorations and set them up.  Miraculously I found my keys again!  I took my bag to the movie and when we got home I went to put it away.  I looked in my front zipper and saw what looked like a key sitting at the bottom.  I reached into my bag, and sure enough, it was my missing keys!!!  Crazy enough that's exactly where I told Steve I last put them!  Even more crazy is that we had both looked in the bag multiple times and couldn't find them!  It had been months of us looking and not able to find them.  We had even asked several stores if they had found them, but didn't of course.  Apparently there was a side pocket in my bag that they slipped into and came out this day, even though my bag wasn't heavy like they were in there.  It was a miracle!  I now have a tracker on them ;)

Sunday evening, December 3rd, we had our family dinner like normal on the 1st Sunday of the month.  

We also did a white elephant gift exchange for fun!

Fun times!

Carter missing his 2 front teeth.  

Nyles loves to sing the song for him, "All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth."  

Hudson loves to sing Happy Birthday, so he asked to do it again and again so he could blow out the candles again and again.  Silly kid.  Cute Carter w/ his recent missing tooth.

Great quotes:

Flying Home

On Friday, December 1st, we woke up at 4am, got ready and packed the last few things in our bags.  We then went downstairs to take the hotel shuttle to the airport.  Unfortunately the driver never showed up, so they called another one to come take us.  It was a little stressful to say the least, so Stacie and Carrie's families ended up taking an Uber over to the airport.  

When we got to the airport, the Delta rep took FOREVER to check Joann's wheelchair and oxygen in.  Then they had both Conor and my date of birth's wrong, so we had to go back to Delta and have them fix it.  We finally made it to our gate.  We had just enough time to use the restroom, then they were calling us to board.  

When I gave him my ticket to board, he asked if we were going to LA, I said no SLC.  He pulled us aside and looked at my ticket.  It was for someone else going to LA!!! Apparently the Delta rep gave me the wrong ticket when she corrected my DOB.  Thankfully I found my original ticket w/ the wrong DOB and the rep let us on.  Needless to say we had a very STRESSFUL morning.  We all made it though on the plane, and took our seats.  All of us were on the plane home, except Melanie's family, who decided to fly out later.

Hudson looking out the window of the airplane as we take off.  Nyles and Carter ready to go.  We had a direct flight back to SLC thankfully.  

Dave and Joann all tuckered out.  Hudson finally fell asleep as well.

As we landed, it started to snow in SLC.  Snowflakes on the window.  Our bags getting loaded.

Back to SLC!  We definitely needed our jackets again, as it wasn't 75-80 degrees like in Florida:)  Our neighbor Karolen, was kind enough to come pick us up again at the airport w/ our Honda Pilot.  After getting home, Steve went and picked up Piper.  She was SUPER excited to see us again.  We were all happy to be home and see her as well.  Piper also made a cute Christmas decoration for us w/ her paws.

We were all wore out, so we took a nap once we got home.  We had a wonderful trip and made LOTS of wonderful memories as as whole family.  We will be looking back at this trip forever!  

Great quotes:

Getting off the ship, day in Fort Lauderdale

 On Thursday, November 30th, we got breakfast, then got off the ship.  Here are some highlights.

Carter in front of the Aquaduck entrance, waiting for our character to be called so we can get off the ship.  Nyles w/ his sad face at breakfast since we have to get off the ship.  We had to wait while Carrie took care of her stateroom (they were trying to charge her for a Disney excursion at Grand Cayman when we did a private one).  While we waited we did some stretching.  On our way out of Disney's port, after getting our luggage.

We were only 10 minutes from our hotel, so instead of taking a Lyft we decided to walk, along w/ Jeff's family.  We were early (before check-in time), so we hung out in the lobby for a while.  We walked over to a grocery store a little later and grabbed some food for lunch and dinner.  We got checked into 2 rooms early, so we changed and took a Lyft over to the beach.

Carter, Nyles, Hudson, Steve, Jeff, Kim, Cameron and Alexa walking to our hotel from the port.  Conor, Nyles and Carter playing while waiting for our room.

Back over at Fort Lauderdale beach.  The waves were higher than the week before and some jelly-fish, were washing in, so we had to be careful.

Fun in the sun and waves.

Hudson loves to dig in the sand.  Silly Steve drying Hudson's shirt off on his head.  Phill and Isaac.

Olivia, Alexa and Claire.  Carter digging in the sand.  

Conor buried in the sand.  Lynsie, Ryan and Carrie.

Carter, Jeff and Nyles watching the waves.  Hudson buried in the sand again.  Family picture.

Beautiful views!

After we got back to the hotel, Nyles and Carter wanted to swim in the pool and dive for toys.

We then ate dinner, took a shower and got ready for bed, especially since we had an early flight the next morning, at 7am, so leaving the hotel before 5am.  Hudson playing w/ some dice before bed.

What we are grateful for this day:

November 30:

• Steve- We had a successful trip!

• Penny- We made it off the ship safely!

• Nyles- Didn't get stung by a jellyfish.

• Carter- Playing in the ocean waves.

• Hudson- Playing in the sand on the beach.

Great quotes: