And a Happy New Year

*January*

Events:
Annual picnic/hiking adventure on Human Rights Day, and a round of laser tag afterwards. It was a bit cloudy and chilly, but a lovely day and so much fun to explore the red rocks with our St. George M. family. It's crazy to have a whole pack of teenagers running around.

Just Life:
9:00 church begins! Hard to get there on time, but we had been at 1:00 for most of the last 4 years, so we're pretty happy about it. No serious colds/flu/etc, the first time healthy January in years! Realizing that my calling comes with many meetings. Here's to hoping that Cub Scouts gets a little more streamlined in the future. Grandma and Grandpa M. are getting ready to go on their mission and we're trying to wrap our heads around that fact, I took some pictures for them to use for their invitation. (Combined with the pics from last summer, we found perfection.) Jeremy is rock climbing more again, and finding much satisfaction in it. One night the boys were driving around, playing, and giggling on Simon's 4-wheeler and ride-on bike. Simon took to standing on his 4-wheeler when he drives it. Little daredevil. We finished that evening with ice cream cones, which have become a new favorite around here.

Accomplishments and Milestones:
Frankie loses a tooth at school for the first time. He got elbowed in the face (on accident) by another boy and out it came, he got to bring it home in a little treasure chest which he thought was super cool. (5th tooth lost.) Simon kept getting in trouble for peeing in the tub, so I had been telling him that if he needed to go I would let him sit on the potty. One day he wanted to, and sure enough, was quite capable of going. We're not potty training yet, but whenever he asks to -  he uses the potty successfully which I think is amazing.

Celebrations:
Sophie's 3rd birthday party, dinosaur princess themed. It was cute and we all had a fabulous time, we stayed after the festivities and ordered pizza. Also go to Emma's birthday party the next weekend.

(Sometimes all your nieces and nephews are really close to the edge, and the vertigo sets in. Being lower to the ground helps the world stop spinning. So do Frankie snuggles.)

Oh, What Fun

      *   December   *

Events: (Many.)
Family Pictures with a local photographer in the Santa Clara river bottoms near Gunlock, I had my camera along and took a few shots as well. Dicken's Festival and pizza buffet lunch afterwards. Downtown St. George Gingerbread house art walk. Made our own Gingerbread houses at Grandma M's. Dinner and Tuachan live Nativity with G&G A's, and Grandma Pat. M. family progressive dinner, we served salad and didn't make it to the first stop at Greg's because we were still scrambling to get ready for visitors and then Simon scattered a whole box of Wheat Thins everywhere to make us even less ready. Kony Koins for Kids shopping adventure. My company party at Rib and Chop. Brenna and family come over for pizza, cookies, and fun. Drive around to see lights, walk around at the temple.

Just Life:
Getting our house slowly recovered from the complete chaos that was the new floors in November. Jeremy takes a business trip to Texas to learn more about a Paramedicine program there. Decorating for Christmas, we had a pretty, fluffy tree this year. Advent treats, the favorites were a dinosaur Transformer for Frankie and a little motorcycle for Simon, also a new train to go around our tree for the first advent treat. Made sugar cookies with Frankie. Made salt dough ornaments with Brenna and Simon. Jeremy bad stomach pain at the beginning of the month for a few days, kidney stone perhaps? A few colds passed around, but thankfully nothing terrible. Sarah receives a new calling to be the 2nd counselor in the Primary Presidency. It seems like almost every day there was something scheduled, but some of the best Christmas time days are the quiet ones at home.

Accomplishments and Milestones: 
Finally took Simon's 18 month pictures (only a few months late), Chrissy and her whole family helped. Jeremy finished his Bachelor's degree from (online) UVU in Emergency Services Administration, we celebrated with a date night. Sarah turns 32. Frankie was the Performing Arts Superstar this month! Simon has started to smile and say cheese for pictures when he wishes to, he squishes his eyes up, it's adorable. Frankie can get dressed in his snow clothes all by himself.

Celebrations:
Grandma M's talent show and party, Frankie made an origami frog and played Jingle Bells (from memory) and Deck the Halls on the piano; Simon showed off some animal sounds. Friend Christmas party: (kid free this year) dinner at Benjas and white elephants. Frankie's class party and pajamas to school, I got to go in and help again which is great fun. A very Merry Christmas! We fit in all the usual traditions on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Jeremy was off for both. Santa brought Frankie a microscope and Simon a little ride-on 4-wheeler. We splurged and got the whole family a Wii-U. A wonderful few days spent with loved ones and being amazed how blessed we are.

Adventures:
Off to the cabin on Saturday the 27th, Simon is now in love with Snowmobiles. ("Sno-mo, vroom!") Much sleighing and snacking and fun to be had by all. Jeremy went home to work on the 30th, the rest of us caught rides home on the 2nd of January.

Simon story:
After going on a ride on the snowmobile with Grandpa M, Simon refused to get off and asked for Daddy instead. Jeremy started to get his snow clothes on, and after a minute I realized that Simon had truly not been brought back in to the cabin. I asked my Daddy where he was, and was informed that he was still on the snowmobile. He was. Just sitting there holding on and waiting.

     {Dickens Festival}

 {Grandma's talent show and party}

 {Sharing some guacamole with Tayden at lunch}

 {A beautiful mess after playing with Moon Dough}

 {Gingerbread house walk}

                                                                        {After the 2nd grade class party with friends}

{Tuachan live Nativity}

   

{Progressive dinner}

{Chrissy and Ryan had a Polaroid photo booth at their house}

{Christmas Eve Lunch}

{Tripod photo after Christmas Dinner}

{Santa decided to stop by}

{Testing out Christina's new selfie stick}

{Off to the cold and the cabin}

{Happy New Year!}