New Year's Eve!

 We woke up to about 6 inches of snow.

It was perfect snow for a snow angel.

Allen, Cortney and Henry stopped by to say hi before heading back to Vernal. They had come down last night to pick up supplies in Salt Lake that Cortney needed for her shop. Henry was a little nervous with the dogs at first but then loved petting them.

Millie loved the snow and kept wanting to go out and play it in. Too bad no one else wanted to play with her.

We had our traditional smorgasbord for dinner and ended the night watching the movie Free Guy. I'm glad Hannah and Jacob decided to stay over again. 

Say yes to the dress!

 Lauren ended up flying back a few days early from Georgia to stay with us until Nathan heads back. Her mom and grandma drove out to bring her sister back to college in Rexburg and then visit relatives in Utah. Since they were in town and wouldn't be back before the wedding Lauren decided to go dress shopping. She was sweet enough to invite me. We found the one at the first store! She looked absolutely beautiful and her face lit up as soon as she put it on. I loved being able to be a part of it.

Isaac Week 19

 Isaac said this week was a little tough. He wants to focus on missionary work but with the holiday, it is harder to teach people. He was happy to be invited to members houses for Christmas Eve and Christmas but of course that feels a little weird. He is so glad to be there though. This was my favorite quote from his email this week:

"I am so grateful to be where I am right now. You see more than half of our mission is reassigned missionaries and a lot go to their original assignments and we hear from them and they are stuck inside all day on Facebook and want to come back. I am lucky enough to be somewhere Covid doesn't really even exist and can do normal missionary work. Yes, I want to go to Japan but at the state of things right now I would also be pretty sad to leave this mission life." 

Christmas!

 Christmas looked a little different for us this year. Hannah spent Christmas Eve with Jacob's family so we did our normal Christmas Eve dinner on Christmas day instead. The day before Christmas Eve Rylan let us know that he would be spending the night with us so I hurried out and bought some PJs for Christmas Eve and a few things for a stocking for him on Christmas day.

Nothing quite says Christmas Eve like sharpening knives and cleaning guns, ha. Of course, the guys all had to play magic too. That left me alone to watch a Hallmark movie while I worked on a puzzle.

Before bed we watched one of the Harry Potter movies. According to Nathan, it is a Christmas movie since they have Christmas break in it. Our $1 tree Justin got years ago on Black Friday broke in half. The top half still worked great so I stuck it in a bucket with rocks and put it in the basement. I love having it down there! It is a perfect size for the room.

Justin, Nathan and I got up and opened presents while Rylan slept in. It was very quiet with only one kid at home.

Justin hurt his ankle back in May and it wasn't healing so the doctor told him to wear a boot for six week. It has not been fun for him.

Hannah, Jacob and Millie opened their presents later that day. They had a nice Christmas Eve and morning with his family.

I finished my puzzle that Lauren and Nathan gave me. Well, Hannah actually finished it while I was getting dinner ready. I ended up asking Nathan if he and Lauren were dating or friends and he confirmed they were dating. Apparently, they have been since October.

Dinner was delicious.

We got to talk to Isaac! It was so good to be able to talk to him and see him. He said they had a good morning. They all brought their mattresses into their living room and slept under the tree and they were going to a member's house for dinner.

We finished the night off playing games. 

Later that night Allison Park sent me this picture that she saw on a Facebook post on the missionary mom page.

My heart is full. I love this family of mine!

Isaac Week 18

 Isaac was super excited to get a Christmas tree. I think it looks so cute in their apartment. Here are some of my favorite quotes from this week's email:

"We did a district P day to mount Rushmore. It was awesome getting to see Paul walker, Trump, Michele Jackson, and Kevin Hart as well as what photosynthesis and erosion can create. But if I'm going to be honest I don't buy that. I think it was the Decepticons and pretty sure that's where they hide the all spark."

"My Sidney Montana people are popping off. Someone on date that I gave a blessing to was answered and they just got married and had their kid and are getting baptized in I think 2 weeks which is really awesome.. I wish I was there for it but I have been messaging them to stay in touch. Anyways I have got to go." 

"We are going through spearfish canyon to cut down a Christmas tree. We ended up with a permit, don't ask how, but we are gonna pull up to district P day with a pine tree on top of are mommy missile Ha. Gotta go pick up a saw from president as well. Then we get to watch the animated grinch which I am hyped about and tomorrow I get to usher in a theater and watch the chosen holiday special in theaters which is pretty hype."

Trip to Vail

 Every year since we moved away from Vail, Debbie Jensen has sent me an invitation to her Christmas ornament exchange party. Every year I tell her I cannot come. This year she called me and told me that I had no excuse. It was a short flight and I didn't have any kids at home. Justin said he wanted to come too so we made a short weekend trip. It was good to see so many friends! We got in Friday night and headed to Justin's favorite pizza place called Rocco's. It is deep-dish Chicago style pizza and it is delicious.

One small pie is definitely plenty for both of us to share!

Saturday morning we took a drive to see our old house, Justin work area and the Tucson Temple. They had announced it before we left but hadn't started building it yet. It is beautiful.

It was so nice to not have to be in a heavy coat, hat and gloves! We then met a group of our friends for lunch at a Mexican Restaurant that is new to the Rita Ranch area.

Charlotte and Randall Thornely, Stacy and Sig Winstryg, Stacey and Norm Trepanier and Tracy Baird Stan was unable to make it. These people were such a big part of our lives when we lived there.

That evening Justin dropped me off at Debbie's house for the party and then went and looked at a card store. There were some new faces in the group that I had not met yet and many of the friends that were there every year when we lived there. It was fun to see so many of my running friends, Tracy, Alisa, Janet, Heidi and Cami.

Debbie told us to dress festive and then her and David handed out hats/headbands to everyone to wear as well. They even made Justin put one on when he came to pick me up.

We flew home the next morning. It was a great weekend and really made us miss living there. So many good things about every place we have lived. So thankful to have friends all over.

Hope had a great time at the dog sitters and got to go on several walks in the snow.