Cabin Trip!

 We were able to go up to the cabin the week after Christmas.  Stacy was there for the first part with Josh, Michael and her dogs but left during the week. 

Ian and Vader

 After Stacy left Kim and Brian came up.  We had a great time hanging out, enjoying the snow, eating and playing games.

Kim's birthday cake

 

 We celebrated Kim's birthday while we were there. I love my sister Kim.

snow angels

 The boys had a blast riding the Razor and pulling a sled.  Ian and Michael were the drivers. 

 Cold and snowy!

 Grandpa, Michael and Max made a few cobblers.  Michael also made some delicious steak.  They are quite the chefs!

 Kim, Brian and I worked hard shoveling snow.  Kim and I went for a walk and found some tracks.  Wolf?  Bear??  Mountain Lion??  My dad thought dog :/

Games

We had a great time relaxing and spending time together.  It's one of my favorite traditions.

Christmas Eve and Christmas 2018

A Mountain

At the top

 On Christmas Eve we hiked A Mountain per tradition.  We hiked a little early because Michael and Xander had to work.  After we went back to the house.  I got Elmers and then I took the boys to see The Amazing Spiderman.  I thought it was going to be lame because it was a cartoon but it was really good.  That night we opened our pjs and then went to bed.

Elder Trezise with his companion and other Elder's on Christmas Eve

 Christmas morning we woke up and opened presents.  Mom and dad were staying with us so we made a big breakfast and had everyone over.

me with fancy Lola

 Elder Trezise called around 11 and we spoke for about an hour.  He was able to speak with some of the family who were still over.  That was cool.  After that we went over to Nana and Papas.  They got the boys a mini motorcycle.  I'm sad the only picture I took over there was Evan riding it.

We had a delicious Christmas dinner there.  It was a good day.

December 2018

 We had our family Christmas party a few days before Christmas.  It was so fun.  We had yummy food and did our annual White Elephant.  The best was when Kim and Brian gave each family a white envelope with a donation they had made.  For us they donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Fund.  It was a great night and sadly I only have 2 pictures.

 The next night we were supposed to do zoo lights with Kim and Brian but the zoo was packed.  Instead we went to different neighborhoods to see light displays (see picture below)

 It was a fun night.

December 2018 continued

 We were able to have everyone who could come over to do gingerbread houses.  We got Costco pizza and hung out.  Most of the boys played Super Smash Brothers the whole time but we still had fun. 

 Xander and Shayna's house was awesome.  I didn't get a picture of Kim's house but it was amazing!

 Ollie liked cuddling with dad. 

 Later the next week we went Christmas caroling to Great Grandmother.  It's a tradition that I love. 

Just wanted to include this cute pic of Evan and Ollie.

December 2018

 As usual December was a crazy month.  Added to everything was Max's recent diagnosis and trying to get everything squared away with medication and getting things moved in his school schedule (he felt like he could no longer do track because of it).  Anyway I was slower than usual getting our tree up.  Evan helped and Kim came over a few times to help. 

 Finally by December 9th we had a tree.  And it was beautiful.  I love our Christmas tree so much. 

 On Sunday, December 9th, Evan gave his first talk in church.  He did amazing!

 Ben sent some pictures of him playing a shepherd at one of his ward parties in Idaho.  A sister in Idaho sent me a picture of him and his companion doing service.  It made me so happy!

I ordered an ornament with his name, mission and service dates to put on the tree.  December didn't feel the same without Ben there. 

Sept 5, 2018

This day was easily one of the hardest of my life.  We got up early to take Ben to the airport.  I didn't realize that Xander wanted me to wake him up so he wasn't with us.  He was really upset that I didn't wake him up and I feel super bad about it. 

We got to the airport early enough to see other missionaries and their families arrive.  I still wasn't all that comfortable about what would happen once he got to Salt Lake so I told him to just follow the Sister missionaries - they usually know what's up.

 Even though Ben look serious here - it was hard for him to say good bye to Max.  They have been best friends forever and Ben's leaving took the biggest toll on Max out of all of us. 

Last pic with the parents.  He walked through security then came back and told us about something funny that had happened.  He was shocked then when he walked back I was crying my eyes out.  It was so hard to watch him leave.  I am so thankful for my friends who texted and came by.  Who listened to me whine.  I am so lucky to have some many awesome women in my corner. 

It was a hard day.  Later Ben told me that the first day in the MTC was so hard for him and he prayed for hours for comfort.  I am so proud of him and his desire to serve a mission.