We had planned to be in Idaho for Christmas this year but, just like everything else, Covid put a kink in that plan. We decided that it would be best not to risk bringing it to Eddie and Bernie where they have cows to feed. It turned out to be a good decision because Jesse's sister, Jenny, got Covid.
We still had a wonderful Christmas with good food, lots of chocolate, and fun toys. All the kids got what they wanted and Cosette loved that Santa brought her a Mickey toy.
I try to make sugar cookies every year at Christmas time. I got busy this year, so I didn't get a chance to make them until right before Christmas. We delivered a few plates to some friends from church on Christmas Eve and the kids were able to decorate the remainder of them.
I didn't think that we were going to be able to see Santa this year, yet again, because of Covid. This farmer's market type store called Nature's Country Corner said on their Facebook page that Santa would be visiting their shop. I got the kids all dressed up and we headed over. Atreyu is getting to that age where Santa is not as magical so he wasn't as excited to go but he put on a happy face for the pictures. The kids were able to talk with Santa with masks on without the plexi-glass. It wasn't the same as usual but Cambria and Cosette both loved the opportunity.
The kids have been having online activities every few weeks for church. This past week, Atreyu and Jack were able to make Christmas angels for their activity. Jesse helped them both and they turned great! I am so grateful for the leaders who put the effort in to plan and execute great activities for the kids. Atreyu gave his angel to me. It will be a little gift I will treasure forever.
We may not be able to physically go to church because of Covid but we still have a lesson and Jesse blesses and passes the sacrament for us so we still have the kids get dressed up in their Sunday best which means they needed new outfits for Christmas.
I love these kids and their fun and different personalities so much.
My sweet friend, Krystle, planned a baby shower for me. We haven't had a baby boy in 10 years so it was fun getting things for a little boy again. The theme of the shower was "Baby It's Cold Outside." Krystle had hot chocolate (one of my favorite things) and a bunch of different yummies to go with it. I'm thankful for all the ladies that came out and supported me. It was such a great girls' day.
Our baby girl is 2! She loves Mickey Mouse, tagging along with Sis and Mai, fruit snacks, her "bis" or blankies, singing and dancing, and her mama. She is such a joy in our family. She is easy-going and usually just goes with the flow. I was going to make her a Minnie cake but she also has gotten into princesses and it was a good way to give her some princess toys. We were able to celebrate with the Huynhs and the Elders.
I am about 30 weeks and everything is looking good with baby. He's growing well and I feel him moving quite often. I'm excited to meet this little guy in January.
We have been able to have the Elders over for dinner and lessons quite often recently. It's been wonderful to feel of their spirit and love. They've also been helping our friend, Michelle, with some family history which she has really been enjoying.
One of the elders, Elder Garrett, was finishing his mission and was supposed to have dinner with us the night before he left. He ended up going home a day early and wasn't able to eat with us. We thought that he had left without being able to say goodbye and Cambria was so sad about it. He and Elder Johnson surprised us while we were doing school. He was leaving a little later that afternoon but he made sure to stop by and say goodbye to us. It was so sweet.
The kids and elders had fun jumping on the trampoline, playing laser tag, and enjoying some magic tricks by Elder Garrett. I am so thankful for these young men who are willing to leave their families for two years and share the gospel. They are such wonderful examples!
I don't really have a reason for this post other than to show off this cute girl. She knows how to cheese it up for the camera so well.
We did K12 for a little over a month and we had so many technical difficulties, lack of communication, and so many daily lessons that we decided we needed a different program. The kids are now doing Time-4-Learning for their math and some science and we are using The Good and the Beautiful program for language arts and history. It is working out so much better and we are all a lot less stressed.
One of the assignments had Atreyu make different flowers out of food, choose his favorite, and then right down the steps to create it. He made some pretty flowers.
In August I sent out a text to a bunch of ladies from church asking if anyone would be interested in having a Halloween party since we didn't know if the kids would able to go trick-or-treating. Many of them said yes but by the time Halloween rolled around, most of them made different plans, which was a bit frustrating, but it all worked out. We only had our family and three others come, but it was fun with games and food and the kids still got plenty of candy. I forgot to take pictures, which I blame on pregnant brain, but I did get pictures of my kids in their costumes.
Atreyu was a Soul Taker with this creepy costume. He loves to be anything scary.
Cosette was the cutest Minnie Mouse ever even though I couldn't get much of a smile out of her. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is her favorite show.
